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Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel has rejected a new three-year contract with the club after they couldn’t agree on all the appearance-based clauses.

The centre-back is the latest player at Anfield who hasn’t been able to agree terms. This season has been dotted with the Reds players who have been unable to sign their new deals. Steven Gerrard’s predecessor Jordan Henderson and young star Raheem Stirling have constantly been in the papers after talks grounded to a halt at different times over the season.

The 30-year-old has added yet more worry to the Reds’ fans and it looks like manager Brendan Rodgers has a lot to do. Napoli, Wolfsburg and Inter Milan have all expressed an interest and are watching the outcome with great interest.

There are not many who will doubt that Skrtel has been one of the best players for Liverpool this season. While some are not a fan of his playing style he has been consistent and his physical and defence style has been greatly needed throughout the campaign.

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In the club’s recent top of the table clash against Liverpool, the Slovakian defender was one of the stand out players due to his aerial presence and his ability to clear the ball.

Skrtel has grown and developed as a player since he joined over ten years ago, knowing his limitations and doing the “dirty work” while the other members of the back four deal with the marking.

Some believe the Reds have got the new contract offer right due to his limited style and his age. Many believe he is now on the wrong side of 30 and, although defender’s seem to keep their skill for long- you only have to look at the season John Terry has had at Chelsea this season to see there is an argument for it – Skrtel’s last-ditch defensive style needs him to be physically fit which is only likely to decrease as he gets older.

The bosses at Anfield have every right to offer Skrtel the contract they have as they have to protect their outlay, especially if the Slovak’s ability starts to wain. Rodgers loves to bring in young talent who can learn from the veterans he already has at the club – Henderson has come on leaps and bounds under the watchful eye of the Rodgers and Gerrard.

The manager is probably planning to bring in a new fresh pair of legs to replace the 30-year-old, hence why there are a number of bonuses per games played rather than a bigger basic contract, but there is no sign of any acquisitions just yet. While Rodgers is trying to do the best for the club he cannot afford to lose his strongest players due to disagreements with contracts.

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At the moment, Liverpool need Skrtel more than he needs them. They need to get him to sign on the dotted line before some other club draws his attention elsewhere.

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When he first came into the Liverpool team, it seemed as though the intensity and the drive needed for a midfield player in Jurgen Klopp’s system was simply too much for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

Over the last few weeks, getting used to the speed and athleticism needed was the main thing for the former Arsenal man. But physically, there’s no doubt he’s up to the task. It seems as though he’s beginning to get the hang of it by now, though.

Against Bournemouth this weekend, the plaudits will naturally gravitate towards Liverpool’s ‘Fab Four’, as normal – even if Sadio Mane didn’t start the game. But some special praise should go to Chamberlain, who is starting to put in some quietly impressive performances as a central midfielder with all the attributes Klopp needs in his demanding system.

Jordan Henderson managed the most touches of all Liverpool’s midfielders and attackers, but aside from him, Chamberlain was the next in line, with 75 touches of the ball and 53 attempted passes. His slightly more advanced role than Henderson and his other midfield partner, Georginio Wijnaldum, however, means that his pass accuracy is slightly lower than those two. On the other hand, only Philippe Coutinho could match the England man for key passes. He managed four, which is an impressive feat in itself, but matching the Brazilian in that particular area is arguably even more so.

Oxlade-Chamberlain’s two dribbles was bettered only by Mohamed Salah, his three shots was bettered only by two players, and no-one on the pitch made more tackles. It was a complete performance, and although it’s easier to pull out a good display on a good day than on a difficult one, there are signs that the summer signing is starting to come into his own and become a key player for Klopp’s Liverpool. That will be especially important given the boss’ controversial rotation policy.

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As far as years go, 2017 was pretty decent for Tottenham Hotspur’s Harry Kane.

The England international’s hat-trick against Southampton on Boxing Day took him onto 56 goals for club and country in 2017 – more than Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Kane also broke Alan Shearer’s record for Premier League goals in a calendar year, having netted 39 to Shearer’s 36, which was set in 1995.

The 24-year-old managed eight hat-tricks in 2017, meanwhile, and the fact that six of those were in the Premier League makes that statistic even more impressive.

There was a time when many thought that Kane would not make it at Tottenham, but he has developed into one of the best forwards in the world over the last couple of seasons.

Kane, who is valued at £72m by transfermarkt.co.uk, took to Twitter on Wednesday to thank his teammates for the part that they played in him breaking all sorts of records during a brilliant year.

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That sparked a reaction from the Tottenham fans, who were again on hand to hail their goalscoring machine as 2018 draws closer.

Cuco Martina struggled to win over the Everton fanbase when he signed for the Merseyside outfit in the summer.

Former manager Ronald Koeman worked with the right-back at Southampton and decided to bring him to Goodison Park a season after the coach switched Premier League clubs.

Initially, Martina, who has served as a replacement for injured Seamus Coleman, failed to impress on the pitch.

The Dutchman has since had an upturn in form following Sam Allardyce’s appointment as manager.

Martina has played in all four Premier League games that the new coach has overseen, and he has completed a full 90 minutes in each.

During that run, Everton have won three and drawn one, which was against Merseyside rivals Liverpool at Anfield.

The Reds were leading through Mohamed Salah, but a penalty from Wayne Rooney in the final 13 minutes gave the Toffees a 1-1 draw.

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As for Martina, the right-back told the club’s official website that he is growing in confidence under Allardyce, and the fans are noticing a difference.

Arsenal striker Alexandre Lacazette ended a run of nine matches in all competitions without a goal as he scored in the 4-1 win against Crystal Palace at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday.

The Gunners’ club-record signing took his place up top despite his barren run of form as the hosts raced into a two-goal lead after just 10 minutes as Nacho Monreal and Alex Iwobi both found the net.

Arsene Wenger’s men didn’t let up though and after defender Laurent Koscielny had added another three minutes later, Lacazette finally broke his duck in the 22nd minute as he converted Mesut Ozil’s clever back-heel.

It was an impressive first-half display from the hosts but they failed to add any more goals after the break, with their France international striker attempting five shots in total.

Wenger spoke about how the 26-year-old reacted to finally getting a goal after the final whistle, and according to Sky Sports he said: “It had started to play on his mind and was very heavy, so that’s a relief for him.”

Arsenal stayed in sixth but moved to within five points of fourth position with the victory, but the two teams above them – Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool – are yet to play this weekend.

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Serge Aurier is a statistician’s dream. Boasting an action-packed style of play and deployed in one of modern football’s most action-packed positions, practically the 45-cap Ivory Coast international’s every performance is greeted with a dose of numerical goodness hinting at a vibrant display.

This weekend was no different, as Aurier started Tottenham’s 1-1 draw with Southampton at St. Mary’s. Before being taken off in the 71st minute, the former PSG man won the most aerial duels, made the second-most interceptions, the second-most tackles and the second-most chances of any Tottenham player.

And yet, statistics can never tell the full story. While Aurier’s returns on Sunday highlighted the dynamism he offers Tottenham down the right flank, they didn’t represent how erratic his game can be as well, and how that often has a knack of costing his side dearly.

The most obvious example is the red card he received against West Ham during his Premier League debut, a dismissal that could well have cost his side the match. Against Southampton on Sunday, meanwhile, Saints’ opening goal was a direct consequence of Aurier’s positional error; as he pushed up tight on Dusan Tadic, an unchecked Ryan Bertrand galloped free on the overlap and slotted a ball across goal that Davinson Sanchez turned into his own net.

It was a split-second mistake, but that’s how fine the margins are in the Premier League. And while Aurier continues to be an impressive asset for Spurs, his all-action style does tend to cause problems as well as solve them. In many ways, Spurs saw the best and the worst of the 25-year-old against Southampton. So, Spurs fans, do you see Aurier or Kieran Trippier as your club’s best right-back option? Let us know by voting below…

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According to reports in the Daily Mail, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is increasingly confident that midfielder Jack Wilshere will sign a new contract worth £80,000-a-week before the summer.

What’s the word, then?

Well, the England international’s current deal with the north London outfit is due to run out at the end of June, but because of his injury problems in the past the Daily Mail says the Gunners are only willing to offer a new contract that would see him take a £20,000-a-week pay cut from his current £100,000-a-week wage, but would also include performance-related add-ons.

However, they are running out of time to convince the 26-year-old to stay at the Emirates as he can of course leave for nothing at the end of the season, while he is free to negotiate with clubs from abroad now.

The Daily Mail adds that while the midfielder’s representatives are pushing for a better deal with a higher salary, Arsenal are confident that an agreement will soon be reached between the two parties.

How has Wilshere done this season?

Following his loan spell with Bournemouth last term and the fact that he struggled to get much game time in the Premier League early on in this campaign, it seemed as though the 26-year-old would be on his way out of the Emirates.

However, things have turned more in his favour in recent weeks and months and he has made 24 appearances in all competitions in total, with 14 of those coming in the top flight even though he didn’t start for the first time until the 0-0 draw against Arsenal in December.

The midfielder has scored two goals and provided a further five assists in total, while according to WhoScored.com he has made 23 key passes across 20 outings in the Premier League and the Europa League, while he has successfully completed 57 of the 78 dribbles he has attempted.

How much of a boost would it be if he signed?

It would be a huge boost.

The 26-year-old is loved by the supporters and there was never any doubt about his ability, it was solely his injury record that had put his future at the Emirates into doubt.

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Wenger will be desperate to see the midfielder do well if he does put pen to paper on a new contract, and he has the ability to be a key first-team player for Arsenal for many years to come because of the quality he has and the fact that he loves the club.

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The first silverware of the season is on offer on Sunday as Arsenal and Manchester City square off in the Carabao Cup final.

While most of Pep Guardiola’s team seems set in stone, the sheer depth of attacking options has left the Spaniard with a selection headache ahead of Sunday’s clash. Kevin De Bruyne, David Silva, Sergio Aguero and Raheem Sterling are all likely to start, so that just leaves one attacking spot left to fill.

Leroy Sané, who started last time out against Wigan, would have been the clear first choice earlier in the season, but an injury to the German speedster against Cardiff opened the door for Bernardo Silva to make his mark on the first team.

Silva has scored or assisted in six of his last ten games in all competitions, and is tailor-made for a Pep Guardiola team. The Portuguese midfielder, valued at £36million by Transfermarkt, had a slow start to his City career but has made up for lost time with some superb performances.

The nine-cap winger endured a similar start to life under Pep Guardiola, who clearly has no problem taking his time to bed players in. Like Silva, the 22 year-old Sané has since proved his worth with his electrifying pace and clinical finishing.

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So, Manchester City fans, who should Pep Guardiola opt for on Sunday? Let us know by voting below…

Eight points clear of the drop zone, and having enjoyed a two week-long layoff during which time they took in a warm weather training trip to Dubai, Everton head into Saturday’s game at Watford knowing they have some breathing room if anything were to go wrong.

And it’s a good thing that they do, as the Toffees are currently braving an eight-man injury list that includes the club’s veteran full backs Seamus Coleman and Leighton Baines and a potentially season-ending blow to centre-back Eliaquim Mangala.

Here is a full report on these three players, according to Premier Injuries:

Eliaquim Mangala

When was he injured?: Only two games into his loan spell from Manchester City, Mangala sustained a knee injury during the club’s training trip to Dubai.

Potential injury return date: None given at the moment but likely next season.

Will he be missed?: Not that there’s ever a good time to be injured, but if the City loanee could have picked a time to go down, it would have been now. With Phil Jagielka, Leighton Baines and Seamus Coleman all coming back from injuries in the next week or so, Allardyce should be able to cope with his loss.

What the manager said: “The injuries this week were a blow, with Mangala in particular – that looks like it could be long-term, which is a great shame for him and for us because I think he was a very good addition to the squad.”

Seamus Coleman

When was he injured?: Coleman sustained a thigh injury in the 3-1 win over Crystal Palace on February 10th, but it is said to not be related to the double leg break which had kept him out for most of 2017.

Potential injury return date: None given but Allardyce says that he will be fit ‘very quickly’.

Will he be missed?: Should he not be available for this weekend’s game against Watford, Allardyce may be forced to resort to the three-man defence which was run so ragged by Arsenal in the February 3rd defeat. If he can get both Coleman and Baines back, however, the Toffees will hopefully see a performance more reminiscent of their 3-1 victory over Crystal Palace in their last league game.

What the manager said: “Seamus has a (thigh) muscle injury and will have a scan tomorrow,” Allardyce said. “It is not related to the broken leg he suffered.”

Leighton Baines

When was he injured?: Baines has been out since the November 26th trip to Southampton where he sustained a calf injury, but took part in full training sessions during the training camp in Dubai.

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Potential injury return date:  8/03/18

Will he be missed?: Despite his age, Baines is still one of Everton’s best players and his experience at full-back is a godsend for the youngsters in the starting lineup like Mason Holgate.

What the manager said: “He is running and we would expect by Watford he will be clear of the injuries.”

Everton will look to boost their chances of finishing the season in seventh position when they face Burnley at Turf Moor on Saturday.

The Clarets currently lie in that spot and are without a Premier League win since December 12th after surrendering a 1-0 goal lead late on to draw 1-1 with Southampton in Lancashire last weekend, but the Toffees failed to take advantage as they were beaten 1-0 by Watford at Vicarage Road.

The result left the Merseyside outfit in ninth position and three points behind their opponents on Saturday, and it certainly won’t be an easy task to take all three points back south.

While Sam Allardyce’s men have a decent record at home so far in 2018, they have lost five straight matches on the road in all competitions, and haven’t tasted success on their travels since they beat Newcastle United 1-0 in December.

The former England boss will know that his side can’t afford to slip up again this weekend if they are to keep alive their chances of ending the campaign in seventh, and they will certainly take some solace from Burnley’s poor form in recent months.

The 63-year-old made two enforced changes because of injury against the Hornets but otherwise stuck with the same XI that had beaten Crystal Palace 3-1 previously. Following the below-par display from a number of players last weekend, however, he may well be considering making more alterations against the Clarets.

Here is how Everton must line up against Burnley on Saturday, ahead of Jordan Pickford in goal…

Defence

Allardyce was forced into two changes in his backline for the trip to Watford with Seamus Coleman and January addition Eliaquim Mangala both missing out through injury, and the duo were replaced by Jonjoe Kenny and Ashley Williams.

With Mangala definitely out and Coleman a major doubt, those two are likely to continue but there may well be a change at left-back with Leighton Baines potentially making his return after injury.

Cuco Martina has been a reliable performer in Baines’ absence but he struggled against former Toffee Gerard Deulofeu last weekend, and Allardyce should prefer to have a specialist left-back in the form of the 33-year-old on the pitch from the start at Turf Moor.

Midfield

Allardyce has tried a 4-3-3 system from the start of Everton’s last two away matches and with that formation clearly not having the required effect, he should look to change things up at Turf Moor.

A 4-4-1-1 system may be better against the Clarets and would also match up to the one that Sean Dyche usually uses. It would allow the 63-year-old to play both Theo Walcott and Yannick Bolasie on the wings, with Morgan Schneiderlin returning alongside Idrissa Gueye.

Bringing the Frenchman in for Wayne Rooney, who was disappointing against Watford, and Tom Davies should make the Merseyside outfit more solid defensively. The Toffees also have the wingers in Walcott and Bolasie to provide real threat from the flanks and help their team pick up a vital three points.

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Attack

Gylfi Sigurdsson has been playing on the left side of a front three for Everton in recent weeks but he would probably prefer to play a more central role, and he would get that opportunity in a 4-4-1-1 system.

The Iceland international would have something of a free role behind Oumar Niasse up top, and it would potentially allow him to be more influential and have a bigger impact on the pitch for his team. That can only be a good thing for the Merseyside outfit in their quest to turn their poor away run around.

Do you agree, Toffees fans? Let us know below.