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Steven Gerrard made a huge mistake by playing Ryan Kent as a number 10 in Rangers’ 2-1 defeat against Kilmarnock on Wednesday night, and it could even be argued that the Gers boss would be wasting the forward’s best talents and chances of development by using him out of position.

What’s the word?

Kent arrived at Ibrox on season-long loan deal, as per the club’s official website, from Liverpool back in the summer as Gerrard raided his old club for the natural winger, Ovie Ejaria and Jon Flanagan; but it is Kent who has impressed the most in a blue shirt.

As seen on WhoScored, the 22-year-old has three goals in 11 Scottish Premiership starts this season, and has been in eye-catching form thanks to his ability to beat his man and make things happen in the final third.

Check out Neymar’s controversial new haircut for 2019 and Xherdan Shaqiri as you’ve never seen him before in the video below…

However, Kent lined up in a No.10 role behind Alfredo Morelos and Jermain Defoe on Wednesday night as Rangers took on Kilmarnock using a 4-4-2 diamond formation to fit the aforementioned duo in the starting XI, and despite taking the lead through the latter of the two forwards thanks to a predatory effort, Gerrard’s men ended up losing 2-1 to slip up in the title race.

What went wrong?

Obviously, a strike force of Defoe and Morelos, the latter of which has notched 18 goals in all competitions this season (as per WhoScored), is a force to be reckoned with, but Gerrard ended up suffocating the pair in Wednesday’s huge defeat.

Kent’s best assets are his pace, trickery and ability to deliver a good cross, something that two poachers in Morelos and Defoe would thrive upon if the English winger was positioned correctly.

The move also saw Rangers operate with less width as they lined up in a 4-4-2 diamond formation, which was an odd switch to an unfamiliar system having usually lined up with either a 4-1-4-1 or 4-3-3 formation so far this term, as per Transfermarkt.

Could Gerrard have cost his side the title with his strange use of Kent on Wednesday?

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Manchester United want to sign Aaron Wan-Bissaka from Crystal Palace this summer, according to the Daily Mirror.

A number of clubs are reportedly interested in securing the right-back, who has emerged as a Premier League star this season.

The 21-year-old speedster has come through the youth ranks at Selhurst Park and has made his first-team breakthrough in 2018/19.

He has made 31 Premier League appearances thus far this season, providing two assists, and, according to the aforementioned report, is being watched by Manchester City and Chelsea as well as United.

The Red Devils signed young full-back Diogo Dalot last summer, but Antonio Valencia is said to be free to leave the club at the end of the season and Ashley Young is 34 in July.

And United fans are desperate to see Wan-Bissaka join the club ahead of next season…

According to a recent report from Sky Sports, Aston Villa are interested in a January move for defender Ben Gibson. The Englishman currently plays his football at Premier League outfit Burnley and has done so since leaving Middlesbrough last summer, although struggles for regular game time under Clarets boss Sean Dyche has called his future at Turf Moor into question.

And a recent report from Sky Sports suggests that Dean Smith’s Villa are one side keen on the 26-year-old, whose arrival could finally go some way to shoring up Villa’s leaky backline once and for all.

The Breakdown

Ultimately, Gibson’s move to the Premier League with Burnley back in the summer of 2018 simply hasn’t worked out at all for the centre back, what with the Englishman having featured only once in the Premier League for the Clarets this term, which came in their 5-1 thrashing at the hands of Everton on Boxing Day.

As such, it’s difficult to see how the 26-year-old, who was called up to Gareth Southgate’s senior England squad back March 2017, is going to command regular football in the second half of the season – a move away looks to be his best bet in terms of first team action.

And a move to Smith’s Villa could be exactly what Gibson needs to put the last six months at Burnley behind him, while it’s also a deal that would surely be welcomed by the Villans given their difficulties defensively this season.

Ultimately, while the Midlands giants are second only to West Brom in terms of goals scored in the second tier this season, they have been extremely leaky at the back in shipping 46 goals in their 28 league matches – only Rotherham United (48) and Ipswich Town (50) have conceded more, and they are both in relegation trouble.

Clearly then, while it’s all well and good continuing to score goals at the other end, there will become a point this term in which the Villans will have to defend resolutely to win matches – at the moment though, with just six clean sheets all season, that looks unlikely.

Yet the arrival of Burnley’s Gibson could go some way to ending their defensive woes once and for all, as the 26-year-old played a lead role in helping Middlesbrough finish in the Championship’s top six last term with 46 league appearances for the Teessiders, in turn helping Tony Pulis’ side to the fourth best defensive record in the division.

Add in 38 appearances in their ill-fated Premier League campaign the season before, where Boro were again very difficult to score against and thus beat, and it’s clear just how resolute and accomplished a centre back Gibson is, and thus how much he’d benefit a Villa side that are having difficulty keeping the ball out of the back of the net.

As such, sealing a move for the 26-year-old would represent good news for Gibson as he bids for the first team football he’s unlikely to get at Burnley, while it’d also be exactly what Villa need as they seek to shore up their backline once and for all.

Aston Villa fans… what do you think? Let us know!

West Bromwich Albion failed to secure any points at the Hawthorns last time out as they were beaten by Tony Pulis’ Middlesbrough.

The Baggies now find themselves seven points off the automatic promotion places, with Norwich City and Leeds United both sitting on 57 points at this moment in time.

Indeed, the Midlands club managed to secure the likes of Mason Holgate, Stefan Johansen, Jacob Murphy and Jefferson Montero during the January transfer window.

However, Murphy failed to impress in the Premier League and he wasn’t able to secure too many minutes before moving to the Hawthorns, so it remains to be seen as to whether he’ll have much of an impact from here on in.

Instead, the Baggies should have tried to sign Nottingham Forest’s Joe Lolley after being credited with an interest back in December of last year.

Lolley has been one of the standout performers in the Championship this season as he continues to play a monumental part at the City Ground, with eight goals and eight assists to his name at this moment in time. He has the ability to operate on either flank, as well as down the middle, so the Baggies could have secured themselves a potential replacement for Harvey Barnes, despite signing Johansen.

Indeed, the Englishman should arguably be playing in the Premier League after witnessing his quality performances in the current campaign. He would have slotted right into Darren Moore’s style, and his pace, dribbling and creativity would’ve worked wonders in behind the likes of Jay Rodriguez and Dwight Gayle.

It’s safe to say that the 26-year-old would’ve sent the Baggies towards the Premier League had he made the move to the Hawthorns, as he’s very similar to Harvey Barnes with the ability to score goals and provide.

West Brom fans – thoughts on whether you should have signed Lolley? 

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In Benjamin Mendy’s absence, Pep Guardiola has commonly deployed centre-back Aymeric Laporte at left-back as cover for the France international.

However, the entire time that the Spaniard has been doing this, he has a ready made replacement right under his nose and a player that could even replace the misbehaving Mendy in the long term; Oleksandr Zinchenko.

What does he offer that Mendy doesn’t? 

Well, the pair are fairly similar when it comes to their style of play. Both players are left-footed, both enjoy bombing up and down the left flank, and both are equally dangerous crossers of the ball and are always looking to get involved in the attack.

Be sure to check out the incredible story of the man who rose from a Tanzanian refugee camp to become one of Australia’s biggest football stars in the video below…

What Zinchenko offers that Mendy does not, however, is a much more professional outlook on the game. Just last week, Pep Guardiola was told that the World Cup winner had tagged Hong Kong airport as his location on Instagram, when he told his boss that he was heading to Paris.

Whilst that may not seem a big deal, the former Barcelona boss has already had a few run-ins with the former Monaco left-back, notably after the 24-year-old turned up late for a physio session.

In stark contrast, Zinchenko has only made four Premier League starts all season, but has sat patiently on the sidelines and always been ready to take his chance when it comes.

What are the chances of Zinchenko becoming first choice?

Due to the fact that Mendy cost the Citizens a huge £52m fee when they signed him back in 2017, it is unlikely that Guardiola would drop such a huge asset and damage his value.

On just his fourth start in the league this season, however, Ukrainian international Zinchenko recorded his second and third assists of the campaign in the 6-0 win over Chelsea; he was certainly a candidate for the Man of the Match award.

When Mendy returns from his latest knee issue, one would assume that Guardiola would throw him straight back into the starting line-up. However, one more slip up from the social media bandit, and Zinchenko could stake a real claim for his spot in the team.

This article is part of Football FanCast’s In The Pipeline series, which takes a look at some of the most promising young talent either linked with clubs or emerging from their academies…

There is not much going right for the Sunderland first-team on and off the pitch and even the U23s have lost 11 games on the spin.

However, while the youth team’s results aren’t getting much better, there are individuals still showing promise.

Jack Bainbridge has had glimpses of first-team opportunities and has showcased his skill well, though in his recent FA Cup appearance against Gillingham his substitution coincided with a late winner for the opposition.

Regardless, he is still learning and has displayed the attributes that could serve him well, both physically and mentally.

If he is able to train and learn from experienced players like Joel Lynch then he should improve, too, though introducing him to the first-team when things aren’t going well may not be such a wise move.

He has three first-team appearances under the belt, all in cup competitions, with one coming at defensive midfield, and the protection he provided in that match against Morecambe last season – where the Black Cats kept a clean sheet – means he may not be far off being ready.

Former Sunderland defender Glenn Loovens has also sung his praises in recent times, describing him as a “good player and a proper defender who likes to defend.”

That is exactly what Phil Parkinson needs from his side right now, as too often lapses in concentration late on have led to goals being conceded, and ultimately matches being lost.

With that in mind, Bainbridge should be considered, and perhaps slowly integrated into the side as part of a back five, as that would offer him more protection and better guidance from more experienced defenders playing alongside him.

Parkinson used such a formation against the Gills last time out so it is a style he could be keen to utilise more often despite defeat, and considering he has overseen seven defeats in the last ten games Bainbridge may be a gamble worth taking.

In other Sunderland news, Chris Sutton has delivered his verdict on the McDonald’s incident regarding Aiden McGeady and Chris Maguire.

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…

As quoted by Goal, former Liverpool man Jason McAteer has said Takumi Minamino would be “perfect” for the Reds.

What did he say?

Recent reports have suggested the 24-year-old is in advanced talks with Liverpool over a possible £7.25m move in January, with the RB Salzburg’s sporting director Christoph Freund even confirming that there have been discussions with the Merseyside club.

Watch Liverpool Videos With StreamFootball.tv Below

And according to ex-Liverpool ace McAteer, Minamino’s performances against the Reds themselves showed exactly what he can bring to the table, and simply labelled him as a “perfect fit” for Jurgen Klopp’s side.

He said: “If Liverpool are planning to make a move for Salzburg’s Takumi Minamino then I think it’s a perfect fit. They’ve seen the Japanese star up close and personal in the Champions League and, like me, they’d have been impressed.

“In the first game between the sides, the 4-3 win, Minamino was absolutely integral in Salzburg’s second-half improvement. He played in little holes, was quite clever and was a bundle of energy. He scored, taking his chance really well. He was probably their most impressive player on the pitch that night and in the return, he was a constant thorn in Liverpool’s side.

“He would certainly strengthen the squad. I wouldn’t say he’s going to displace any of the front three but if I was looking to throw someone on for half an hour with the energy and the brain he’s got, he’d be perfect.”

Fits into the jigsaw

Whilst Minamino may not be a Jadon Sancho in terms of his reputation, the Japanese ace has shown that he is an exciting talent this season with his performances in the Champions League. As per Transfermarkt, he has scored twice and provided three more assists in European football’s elite competition, and as McAteer points out, was particularly effective against Liverpool in their clash at Anfield.

Can you name the result these iconic Liverpool images belong to? Give it a go now…

He scored one and made one as Salzburg fell 4-3 in a dramatic encounter, and proved his ability to perform on the big occasions, something Klopp no doubt would have taken note of. Add to that his incredible versatility – already this season he has played on the left and right wings, as well as at centre-forward and attacking midfield – and the Liverpool manager would have a player who can perfectly fit into his jigsaw. Wherever the German needs him to play, Minamino can essentially offer him that option, and as McAteer suggests, he really does seem like the “perfect fit”.

Meanwhile, Liverpool fans react to this injury news regarding one of their first-team players.

Everton’s captain for the day Gylfi Sigurdsson was castigated by a number of Toffees fans on Twitter following his performance this afternoon.

Having not featured in their previous Premier League game, the Iceland midfielder came back into the starting XI for today’s goalless draw against Arsenal at Goodison Park.

In what has been a quiet season in front of goal for the 30-year-old, he remains stuck on one goal and one assist following his 17th league appearance of the season. [via TransferMarkt]

Sigurdsson failed to hit the target with either of his two shots against the Gunners and made just 20 passes – of Everton’s starting XI, only Alex Iwobi had fewer and he went off injured after only 11 minutes. [via WhoScored]

Chris Beesley of the Liverpool Echo said that “there were few party pieces for the highlights reel” from the Toffees playmaker, while Squawka’s Ollie Thomas bemoaned his “ineffective” performance, writing: “One would want more from a player with his ability in a game like this.”

These Everton fans took to Twitter to hit out at Sigurdsson over his display against Arsenal:

Watch Everton vs Burnley LIVE on Prime on Boxing Day

It is no secret that Charlton Athletic will be looking to recruit players in January, especially when their injury crisis is considered, as they were missing 13 players before the Swansea City loss on Thursday evening.

That number was recently added to by Lyle Taylor, who was forced off at half time during the 1-0 defeat due to a thigh injury, as reported by London News Online.

Having the Montserrat international unavailable, after he scored seven goals from 11 starts and four substitute appearances, is already a blow it itself.

Watch Charlton Athletic Videos With StreamFootball.tv Below

However, when that is added to Macauley Bonne’s absence and Jonathan Leko being ruled out for the rest of the season, it can be seen as pretty disastrous.

This backdrop is not necessarily the greatest for Andre Green’s arrival on loan from Aston Villa, as it means that Lee Bowyer is likely to find himself heavily relying on the 21-year-old.

That is not an ideal situation for somebody who has managed just 86 minutes of league football this campaign, indicating that he could have benefited from a bedding-in period.

It’s the dawn of a new decade in the Premier League, but how much do you know about the last 10 years?

All of this comes with the Villa man having his position altered from a wideman to more of a central striker, as suggested by Lee Bowyer upon Green’s arrival.

Despite these concerning indications, Green has shown signs of quality that can offer encouragement for Addicks fans.

The latest of those came in one of his two Carabao Cup starts this season, when he clinically volleyed home to open the scoring against Bradford City.

However, the big moment that should make people believe he can pop up when it matters came against Sheffield United last season during Villa’s promotion push. After they had gone 3-0 down, the now-21-year-old scored a 94th minute equaliser when he climbed highest to head the ball in.

Considering Charlton’s current circumstances, including a lack of forward options and their lowly position in the table, they may find themselves relying on Green producing similar levels of heroics.

In other news, Charlton are showing interest in a striker with Championship pedigree.

It appears as though some Everton fans want change for this weekend’s Premier League clash at home to Brighton and Hove Albion following the 1-0 loss against Liverpool in the Merseyside derby on Sunday.

It was a largely miserable performance – especially in the second half – by a full-strength Toffees team against a side packed with fringe players and inexperienced youngsters.

Supporters have not responded well with reports suggesting that more than a handful went to the club’s Finch Farm training base and demanded to speak to director of football Marcel Brands in the aftermath.

The game against the Seagulls provides an opportunity for Carlo Ancelotti and his men to put in a good display and bounce back, and the Italian has been left with some selection decisions to make after a number of senior players failed to produce at Anfield.

It’s difficult to see how number one Jordan Pickford, who has started every fixture in all competitions in 2019/20, would be a potential casualty as he had little chance at saving Curtis Jones’ wonder-goal, but that is exactly what the fans below want, although one argued the other way.

Call yourself a Premier League expert? How much did each of these big-money January signings cost?

The majority want to see summer addition Jonas Lossl, who is yet to play a single minute for the Merseyside outfit and who hasn’t even been in the matchday squad since Marco Silva departed, with Maarten Stekelenburg getting the nod instead, to be on the team-sheet at 2pm tomorrow.

However, not everyone saw the logic of the 30-year-old former Huddersfield man suddenly coming into the starting XI on Saturday.

The fact that Stekelenburg has been preferred by Duncan Ferguson and now Carlo Ancelotti probably tells you something, and in the unlikely event that Pickford does get dropped, it will be the Dutchman rather than the Dane replacing him between the sticks.

In other Everton news, one 25-year-old was a notable absentee from the club’s latest training ground video ahead of the Brighton game…