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Anthony Taylor has been appointed as the referee for Leeds United’s crucial playoff clash against Derby County next week.

Craig Pawson will take charge of the first leg, while Taylor will be the man in the middle for the return fixture.

Whites fans will be hoping that the 40-year-old can steer clear of any controversy this time around.

The official caused uproar amongst fans and staff when he refereed a Yorkshire derby in 2016 and supporters will be praying that there aren’t any conscientious decisions next Wednesday.

The incident

The referee caused a storm when officiating a Leeds game in 2016 and was the victim of a bitter rant by the then Whites manager Steve Evans.

He made a dodgy decision which cost the Yorkshire club a goal against Sheffield Wednesday three years ago, which incurred backlash from the man in the dugout that day.

Evans was furious with the decision to rule out Liam Cooper’s strike following Alex Mowatt’s 78th-minute free-kick.

The official had blown for a free-kick to be taken, but then called back play due to an incomplete substitution – Fernando Forestieri was still on the pitch – and after deliberation with his linesman, he ordered the set-piece to be retaken.

What was said?

The former Whites boss was far from pleased with Taylor’s ruling and went on a tirade, ripping into him for what he believed to be a poor decision:

“I’ve seen many times where the referee stops it for a substitution, someone’s taking for too long, and he restarts play, but I’ve never seen somebody going back to restart play again, ever.

“He’s a Premier League referee who’s stepped down to take a big derby – he should be with the under-nines on the park pitches on Monday.

“You cannot make a mistake of that magnitude in a game which means so much to both sets of supporters.”

By the letter of the law, Taylor made the right choice by calling back the free-kick. However, he shouldn’t have allowed it to be taken in the first place.

The FIFA-listed referee is one of the most respected referees in the country and for Evans to have suggested that he isn’t capable of performing at the top level is laughable.

Since that incident, he has gone on to be entrusted with officiating at an FA Cup final, and he was also in charge at Wembley for last season’s Championship playoff final between Fulham and Aston Villa.

It’s no secret that Leeds’ attacking style can be exploited by targeting their defensive weakness. Indeed, Pontus Jansson needs a partner and Liam Lindsay should be that man, not Yoann Barbet.

Lindsay has played 4o times at centre-back for Barnsley this season and he’s made their defence the most solid in the league. They’ve conceded just 37 goals, while league-winners Luton Town have conceded 41. This is no coincidence.

Not at all.

Remarkably, he’s just 23-year-old but makes decisions of a player way beyond his years. He’s got the potential to become a future star and he’d make the ideal replacement for Liam Cooper at Elland Road, if the Whites go up or not. In fact, The Daily Star have previously credited Leeds with an interest in their Yorkshire rivals’ gem.

Cooper has been good this season, but he’s not got the quality to defend the large spaces Leeds will continue to leave when they press so high up the field. If they go up, they’ll need someone who can deal with Premier League football and Lindsay has a better chance.

L’Equipe have linked Yoann Barbet to Leeds recently, but he’d be the second choice to Lindsay in our eyes. Despite his Championship experience, he’s not quite got that authority to deal with the space Leeds leave for their opposition to attack.

Liam Cooper needs to be replaced in the starting 11 next season, and either Barbet or Lindsay would be an upgrade. However, the latter’s potential and ability to thrive in big games means he’s the perfect man for the job.

Leeds fans, who do you think should partner Pontus Jansson next season? Join the discussion by commenting below…

Liverpool surely won’t hesitate to improve their team despite possible successes they could enjoy come the end of the campaign. 

That at least is true judging by the constant reports linking them with new players over the summer period.

And to be fair, as proven with history, the more a team tries to improve, the more success they’re likely to enjoy.

For Liverpool, their spending spree last summer has put them in the favourable position they now find themselves in as they bid to win the Premier League. Yet they could form into an even greater team this summer, with the right players added.

Only quality squad improvements can be justified so to recruit a player like Bayer Leverkusen’s Julian Brandt is exactly what they need to do.

Interestingly, the attacker was signed for just £315k back in 2014.

Brandt, (who is valued at £40.5 million on Transfermarkt) would join the likes of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Xherdan Shaqiri as another wide option but his creative is something the three don’t share with him.

Of course, a potential big fee won’t bother FSG as they’ve never been afraid to spend big in the past.

Seeing as the 22-year-old wing-wizard has been sensational for Leverkusen this season, it makes sense for Liverpool along with other top clubs (according to Sport Bild via the Mirror) to be enquiring for his signature.

With seven goals and 14 assists in all competitions, Brandt has taken his game to a whole new level this season and his contribution promotes him as a top signing for many teams this summer.

The German is more than capable of switching positions, whether that be on the wing, or playing in the middle of the park instead. He can do pretty much anything in the final third, whether’s it’s scoring goals, creating or dragging defenders out of position, which makes him such a dangerous player.

So therefore with age and quality on his side, what are you waiting for Liverpool?

Do you agree the Reds should try and move for Julian Brandt this summer… Let us know!

It’s safe to say that Spurs may stand a better chance of securing a Champions League spot for next season via this year’s competition, as their recent form in the Premier League has damaged their top four hopes massively as the likes of Arsenal, Man United and Chelsea have closed in.

Spurs fans have constantly been worrying about Christian Eriksen’s future in recent times as the club have reportedly (as per Daily Mail) accepted that the Dane is likely to leave in the summer.

The Denmark international’s potential exit appears to have forced Mauricio Pochettino into weighing up his options ahead of the summer transfer window, as according to the Daily Mail, Spurs are monitoring Jack Grealish.

Daniel Levy tried to sign the midfielder last summer but his current club Aston Villa refused to sell their star man for any price, which left Spurs fans very frustrated. But, with Aston Villa currently trailing in the race for a play-off spot and Spurs still monitoring his progress, perhaps they’ll get lucky in the summer transfer window.

Jack Grealish recently returned from a spell out on the sidelines but he’s already managed to play a monumental part as he’s found the back of the net in two of his last three games, as well as producing an assist today.

He has all the ingredients to become a hero in North London as an exciting attacking midfielder who constantly makes things happen whenever he’s on the ball. And, he possesses the ability to pick a defence-splitting pass and knows how to find the back of the net, so he could be a very dangerous asset with his best years still ahead of him.

Tottenham Hotspur fans, do you think Grealish is good enough to replace Eriksen?

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Jordan Henderson played the full 90 minutes as Liverpool drew 0-0 with Everton in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon.

It was a hugely important match for Jurgen Klopp’s side, but they were unable to take all three points, with Mohamed Salah guilty of missing some excellent chances.

Henderson has now made 24 Premier League appearances for Liverpool this season, but has not registered a single goal or assist, which is a bit concerning.

Meanwhile, according to WhoScored, the 6ft ace only made one tackle and managed just one shot during his 90 minutes on the field against Everton.

The England midfielder is not in the team to score goals, but the Liverpool fans have wanted a lot more from him in terms of overall performance this season.

It would be fair to say that the 28-year-old struggled to really contribute at Goodison Park, which has led to criticism from his own club’s fans.

A selection of the Twitter reaction can be seen below:

Ayoze Perez has always divided opinion among Newcastle fans, and his two-goal display against Everton, in many ways, epitomised his Toon career, with a lack-lustre first half performance being eclipsed by a match-winning second half.

The Spaniard — who has been tipped by Luis Garcia to break into the national side — struggled to make any impact in the opening 45 minutes on Saturday, spurning a couple of great opportunities, before blowing the Toffees away in a frantic final quarter of the game.

For us, here at the Tavern, it’s exactly these hot and cold displays that polarise fans, and why he continues to frustrate the Geordie faithful. But for one afternoon at least, fans were unanimous in their praise for him after the game.

A poll, run on Twitter by fans’ site @ToonPolls, asked fans whether they would keep Perez in the summer or sell him, with only five per cent voting to sell him. Certainly, the introduction of Miguel Almiron has helped, and along with the superb hold-up work of Rondon, the three amigos seem to be spurring each other on.

Some of the comments below typify fans’ feelings following the game.

But it has not always been so rosy for him, as the results of a previous poll showed that more than half the fans voting would have sold him. Although, one fan seemed to sum things up eerily accurately.

So for now, Perez is the toast of the Toon, but for how long? Newcastle fans, what are your thoughts about your Jeckyll & Hyde player? Let us know, and leave your comments below…

[ad_pod ]Leeds are set to be without Kemar Roofe for considerable time due to a knee injury, and Izzy Brown now has the perfect chance to make a huge impact at his loan club.

What’s the word?

Leeds have suffered another huge injury setback, as Roofe suffered knee ligament damage during the win over Swansea, reports Phil Hay of the Yorkshire Evening Post.

The 26 year-old, who has struck 14 times in the Championship this season, is expected to return before the end of the season, but it seems highly unlikely he’ll play a significant role in the run-in given the seriousness of knee ligament injuries.

Whether he returns this campaign or not, the Whites need a new number ten while the ex-Oxford United ace is out of action, and that offers Brown the chance to re-pay the club’s faith in him.

On the chalkboard

Brown stepped on to the Elland Road turf for the first time on Monday afternoon, taking part in an Under-23’s match against Bolton.

While he only played 45 minutes and was reportedlyÂlimping when he was withdrawn at half time, the injury is not expected to be serious, and he is now another 45 minutes closer to full fitness.

The 22 year-old is yet to feature for Marcelo Bielsa’s first-team after several setbacks on the road back from a knee injury, but his skill, vision and work rate can provide a fitting replacement for Roofe, who has adopted a slightly deeper position since Patrick Bamford’s return to the starting XI.

The Chelsea youngster will not offer the goal threat that Roofe is capable of, but his intelligence and eye for a pass in the middle of the attack will help break down deep defences, and could even pave the way for Bamford to go on a goalscoring run.

Roofe’s injury is a massive setback without a doubt, but Brown is on the verge of showing why Bielsa and the club have stood by him through his long road to recovery.

Reported Leeds United target Cyle Larin could be available for £5.2m this summer according to reports in Turkey, with Besiktas willing to sanction his departure.

What is the situation?

Larin arrived at Besiktas in 2018 after impressing for Major League Soccer side Orlando City FC, where he scored 44 goals in 89 appearances.

However, things have not gone quite to plan for the 24-year-old in Istanbul, as the Canadian scored just four goals in 22 appearances last season.

As a result, he joined Belgian side Zulte Waregem on loan last summer, where he has notched seven goals and 10 assists in 29 Jupiler Pro League appearances.

Reports in Turkey claim that Waregem were planning on a £10.4m bid for the forward to secure him on a permanent basis, but financial issues mean they could be forced to duck out of the race.

Besiktas, though, are said to be willing to part with the player for just £5.2m this summer and Leeds are one of the potential destinations for the Canadian.

Smart move?

Leeds are in need of a centre-forward given the struggles Patrick Bamford has experienced in front of goal this term, with the 26-year-old finding the net just once in his last eight league appearances.

Bamford has scored 13 goals in 36 Championship appearances and Leeds moved for Jean-Kevin Augustin in January, although the move is yet to pay off.

Larin struggled at Besiktas but looks to have rediscovered his best form in Belgium and at just £5.2m, he could prove to be a prudent addition.

Crystal Palace fans have taken to Twitter to react after Polish outlet Przeglad Sportowy reported that Krzysztof Piątek is well placed to join the Eagles in a £30m+ move.

The report reveals that West Ham and Tottenham are also interested in the 10-cap Poland international, although the south Londoners are best placed to land the AC Milan forward as they are prepared to stump up the cash for a permanent move, which would suit the Italian giants who are ‘desperate’ for money.

Piątek shot to fame at Genoa where he scored 19 goals in 21 appearances before Milan swooped in to sign him for £30.9m, although things haven’t quite gone to plan for the 24-year-old this season.

With 15 goals in 39 appearances for Milan in total, only a few of those have come this season as Piatek has found the back of the net just four times in 18 outings this term, which isn’t all that impressive.

However, he is a striker of some pedigree given his previous antics for Genoa and also his record of five goals in ten appearances for his country.

Roy Hodgson’s side are in need of goals having scored just 20 times in 22 Premier League games this season – the second-fewest amount in England’s top-flight ahead of Watford, who have 17 goals to their name.

Let’s see how the Palace fans on Twitter reacted to the Piątek news…

Firstly, these two supporters both attempted to express how big a moment it would be if Palace signed Piątek.

One said “the scenes if this happens” while another fan said “if this happens, I don’t know what I’ll do” – it seems that this pair are particularly excited about the rumours.

Elsewhere, this fan named Callum said that the Eagles are “winning the Champions League” if this deal goes through – we can only admire the optimism on show from this particular supporter.

Furthermore, Jonny said that this news was “utter rubbish” before saying that “silly season” was in full flow.

Lastly, Ollie and Mark both had their say on the Piątek rumours.

The former said that they were on their knees as if to say that they were begging for the deal to be completed, while Mark simply said “don’t do this to me” – it would certainly be a big transfer given the finances involved.

In other news, these Palace fans have been drooling over one moment from the draw against Arsenal…

Despite their superb run of form that had seen Arsenal go 22 games unbeaten until their recent loss to Southampton at the weekend, Unai Emery needs some new signings in January.

Arsenal are currently contending for the Europa League, top four and at the moment, two domestic cups. Considering the amount of football that will come as a result of being in those competitions, the club needs to reinvest into a squad that is already beginning to show signs of wear and tear.

In defence, Arsenal are struggling, especially considering the number of injuries that have cropped up recently. In attack, they also lack a quality winger and in midfield, if Arsenal were to pick up any more injuries, they would be in trouble.

One player Arsenal could target is current PSG midfielder, Adrien Rabiot who has recently informed the club that he will not sign a new contract with the club and wants to leave.

The Breakdown

Such is the talent of the midfielder that he will likely command interest from multiple clubs, especially considering that he will soon be available on a free transfer. The midfielder has played 14 times for the club in the league this season and still remains a crucial part of the squad.

Although Granit Xhaka and Lucas Torreira have formed a superb partnership, the Gunners lack depth in the middle of the park. In Rabiot, they’d have a midfielder that is great with the ball and can take it under pressure while being able to play forward. He also presents a much more agile option that Xhaka.

What do you think Arsenal fans?