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Glasgow Rangers decided to part ways with English head coach Michael Beale earlier this month after his dismal start to the 2023/24 campaign.

The 43-year-old tactician lost three of his four Scottish Premiership matches and failed to qualify for the group stages of the Champions League with a 7-2 defeat to PSV on aggregate in their play-off clash.

Beale failed to win a single trophy throughout the 2022/23 season after he was brought in to replace Giovanni van Bronckhorst during the break for the 2022 World Cup.

This led to an overhaul of the squad during the summer transfer window as the club allowed the ex-Gers assistant to revamp his options with a host of new additions.

Who did Rangers sign this summer?

Leon Balogun, Kieran Dowell, Jack Butland, Abdallah Sima, Sam Lammers, Cyriel Dessers, Danilo, Dujon Sterling, and Jose Cifuentes all came through the door, and this opened the door for a number of departures.

Glen Kamara, Fashion Sakala, Antonio Colak, and Ianis Hagi were all either sold or loaned out to make way for the new signings ahead of this season. That came after the likes of Ryan Kent, Scott Arfield, and Alfredo Morelos, among others, moved on at the end of their respective contracts.

However, Beale's transfer business did not have the desired effect and one move, in particular, that looks to have been a blunder was the decision to move Hagi out on loan.

The Romania international returned to action earlier this year after 69 matches out with a knee injury, that was sustained at the start of 2022, and only started three Premiership matches last term before he was sent out to Alaves on a temporary basis.

Rangers, however, could have been better off if they had kept their faith in Hagi instead of swooping to sign Dowell from Norwich on a free transfer.

How has Dowell performed this season?

The former Everton youth prospect has produced one goal and zero chances created in six appearances in all competitions for the Light Blues since his move from the Canaries.

Dowell has been out injured since the 2-2 draw with PSV on the 22nd of August but failed to hit the ground running in Scotland prior to that knock.

The 26-year-old maestro has played two Premiership matches for the Scottish giants so far and produced one goal and zero key passes in those games, along with a pass completion rate of just 71%.

Beale opted against starting him in any of the three Champions League qualifiers that he was available for selection for, which suggests that the English gem did not do enough to convince the head coach that he was ready to make an impact at that level.

How many goals did Dowell score last season?

The left-footed whiz arrived at Ibrox off the back of a five-goal season in the Championship with Norwich under Dean Smith and David Wagner during the 2022/23 campaign.

Dowell contributed with five goals and three assists in 23 league outings for the Canaries to go along with one key pass per game on average, as per Sofascore.

In total, the English midfielder scored 12 goals and assisted six in 75 matches for his former club in all competitions across three seasons at Carrow Road.

This means that he averaged a goal or an assist every 4.17 games for Norwich during his time in East Anglia, which shows that Dowell struggled to deliver quality at the top end of the pitch on a consistent basis.

How many goals has Hagi scored for Rangers?

Hagi, who was hailed as "impressive" by journalist Joshua Barrie earlier this year, has scored 16 goals in 99 matches in all competitions for the Light Blues since his £3m move to the club from Genk.

The versatile gem can play as an attacking or central midfielder as well as off the right as a winger, just like Dowell, and has the quality to chip in with goals and assists.

His horrific knee injury, which kept him out for 12 months, left him short of match fitness when he returned last season but his previous form for the Light Blues suggests that the potential is there for him to make a huge impact on the pitch.

During the 2020/21 campaign under Steven Gerrard, the Romanian wizard produced an outstanding seven goals and 11 assists in 23 Premiership starts. He also created six 'big chances' for his teammates and completed 82% of his attempted passes throughout the league season.

In total, Hagi has scored 16 and assisted 21 goals in his 99 games for the club and this means that he has averaged a contribution every 2.68 matches on average, which is significantly better than the aforementioned return that Dowell managed for Norwich.

How has Hagi performed this season?

The talented whiz, who is also two years younger than the current Gers midfielder, has created two 'big chances' and provided eight key passes in four La Liga starts for Alaves.

He has showcased his creative quality in the top-flight of Spanish football since leaving Ibrox on loan over the summer, whilst Dowell is yet to create a single chance in his six appearances for the club to date.

Hagi also provided supporters with a reminder of his talent with a stunning display for Romania against Andorra during the international break.

The 24-year-old magician is capable of producing magic moments with his ability to score and create goals from an attacking midfield position and has already proven himself at Premiership level for Rangers in the past.

Therefore, it was a big blunder by Beale to loan him out in favour of a deal to sign Dowell as the Gers could have been in a better position if they had stuck by the Romania international and helped him to rediscover his best form.

He is younger than the former Norwich man and boasted a better career record, in terms of goals and assists, than the left-footed gem prior to their respective moves over the summer.

New head coach Philippe Clement may want to reassess the situation in January and see if there is a possibility for Hagi to return to Ibrox in order to be given a chance to reignite his Rangers career under the Belgian boss.

Aston Villa have started the 2023/24 campaign in style, as Unai Emery continues to bring the best out of his squad just over a year after taking over at Villa Park.

The Spaniard has introduced a new level of performance since taking the reins from Steven Gerrard last October, firing the Villans from 16th place to 7th in his first spell as manager.

Based on his successes in the 2022/23 campaign and his strong summer of business in the transfer market, Emery was well poised to continue where he left off at the start of this season, which he has done so far in the Premier League.

Villa currently sit just one point outside of the top four and have found their feet in the Europa Conference League, however, the former Arsenal boss may be hoping to seek further reinforcements to bolster his squad in January.

Aston Villa January transfer targets

Villa started the season agonisingly, losing both Emiliano Buendia and Tyrone Mings to long-term injuries, and losing their opening game 5-1 to Newcastle United at St James’ Park.

The injury woes immediately left the Villans short to a degree, however, Emery opted to use the summer market to paper over the cracks, welcoming centre-back Clement Lenglet and forward Nicolo Zaniolo late into the window.

While the defence has found sanctuary without Mings as he continues to recover, Zaniolo has not quite hit the pace required to make a significant impact in the side, suggesting that Villa could delve back into the window for further forwards.

Reports in Spain, relayed by BirminghamLive, have suggested that the Villans are one of the interested parties eyeing Real Madrid outsider Brahim Diaz.

The former Manchester City academy talent is said to be available in January for a fee of €20m (£17m), as he continues to struggle to find a way into Carlo Ancelotti’s squad after returning from his recurring loan spells at AC Milan.

Another player said to be eyed by the Midlands club is Sporting CP forward Pedro Goncalves, who is well known to those in the Midlands for his inconclusive time at Wolves.

A report from Portugal, relayed by Sport Witness, claims that Villa may be ready to pay the 25-year-old’s €80m (£70m) release clause in the January window in the bid to strengthen their front line.

Returning to news in Spain, also relayed by Sport Witness, an update on the future of Athletic Club winger Nico Williams has been provided, with Villa named as a club that could be handed the opportunity to finally sign him.

It’s said that the 21-year-old whiz has already turned the Midlands club down twice previously, however, due to his ongoing contract disputes over extending his current deal that runs to next summer, he could soon be on the move.

Sport Witness relayed that the Spaniard is insistent on a short-term contract and a clause that could allow him to leave in the future, with a €50m (£43.5m) release clause currently in place in his contract with his boyhood club.

Nico Williams has had a strong start to 2023/24

Following in the footsteps of his brother and teammate, Inaki, Williams has prevailed as one of Bilbao’s best-performing players so far in the 2023/24 campaign.

In La Liga, the winger’s efforts have seen him rise to the top of the in-squad charts for his performances, ranking as the squad’s best when it comes to his averages of two key passes and 2.4 dribbles per game, via WhoScored.

The 21-year-old gem is third in the squad rankings of overall match rating, in which he’s maintained an encouraging 7.03 rating, with his contribution in the final third noted by him sitting in joint-second for assists, with two on the board.

While it is one strength to be one of the best within the club, it is another to stand out and perform alongside those elsewhere in the league, with La Liga being home to some of the best talents in the world.

As highlighted in the table above, Williams is a force to be reckoned with in the Spanish top-tier so far this season, ranking highly in the attributes required to be a winger performing at the highest level.

Once hailed as “dynamite” by U23 scout Antonio Mango, the talented maestro has shown consistently explosive form when going forward, with his ball carrying and creative strengths the most valuable elements of his playing style, as shown by the aforementioned statistics.

Nico Williams could challenge Emiliano Buendia

In Williams, Emery could discover a player with a paralleled style to that of Buendia, with Mango describing the Spaniard as a player able to “play on both wings” while being a “highly creative thinker”.

As well as being the typical threat in the wide channels with his dribbling strengths and pace, Williams enjoys taking up the role of a playmaker, with traits identical to Buendia.

The Argentine was signed by Villa after recording a phenomenal season in the Championship with Norwich City, in which he netted 15 goals and recorded 17 assists in the Canaries’ promotion season.

Admittedly, things have not worked as swimmingly for the 26-year-old wizard at Villa Park, where in 78 appearances, he has scored just nine goals and registered only nine assists, representing a severe dip in performance.

Links to Williams come at an interesting time with reference to Buendia, with him set to return from injury in February, with little guarantee that he will immediately return to the fold amid additional competition being added to the squad.

Signing the Spanish sensation could be bad news for the Argentine magician, who already faces competition in the form of Moussa Diaby and the improved performances of Leon Bailey, who both epitomise the strengths the manager wants from his wide players.

As portrayed in the table above, prior to his injury, Buendia was performing at a lower rate than Williams during their respective 2022/23 campaigns, displaying that Villa could bolster their options by capturing his signature in January.

Relating to the strengths of Diaby and Bailey, the Bilbao whiz certainly fits the criteria wanted by Emery, showing an extremely direct style of play and being a player who can influence games in the final third.

Buendia is facing an ongoing battle to recover from his agonising injury, however at the point of his return, the challenges could become even more significant if Villa opt to explore the availability of Williams.

Liverpool did not truly believe they would be able to convince Xabi Alonso to join them this summer with the Bayer Leverkusen boss focused in Germany.

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• Alonso had been key target to replace Klopp
• But focused on task in Germany
• Amorim emerges as new favourite

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Alonso had been the Reds' main target to replace Klopp given his success with Leverkusen and the Liverpool fans' affinity with their former Spanish midfielder. Yet, have reported that the Anfield hierarchy never really believed they had a chance of coaxing Alonso to Anfield this summer and the news that he would be remaining in Germany only confirmed their initial understandings.

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  THE EXPLANATION

  The report explains that when Liverpool first contacted Alonso's representatives, they were told that he was concentrating on leading Leverkusen to an unlikely first-ever Bundesliga title and it was unlikely he would be leaving the potential champions in the summer.

  In fact, the success Alonso has brought at Leverkusen also convinced him to remain in his post. The Spaniard is intent on leading his team in the Champions League next season and wishes to continue to develop as a coach in Germany.

• WHAT ALONSO SAID

  Alonso's comments on his decision to remain at Leverkusen offer a greater understanding of why Liverpool never held out hope of securing their man. He said: "We have had a lot of speculation regarding my future. I wanted to use the international break to reflect and take a decision. Last week, I had a very good meeting and informed the club my decision to continue being coach.

  "My job is not over here. I feel this is the right place for me to be and develop as a coach."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR LIVERPOOL?

  With the expectation that they wouldn't convince Alonso to join in mind, Liverpool have been working on identifying alternative options. Brighton's Roberto De Zerbi has long been linked to the job but Sporting CP's Ruben Amorim is emerging as the new frontrunner.

Kylian Mbappe assisted Goncalo Ramos' late goal as PSG fought back for a 1-1 draw against relegation-threatened Clermont Foot.

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• Ramos' late goal rescues point against Clermont Foot
• PSG rotated heavily with Champions League looming
• Mbappe provided an assist in 30 minute cameo

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  TELL ME MORE

  Clermont Foot took the lead after 30 minutes, Habib Keita's deflected strike looping over reserve goalkeeper Arnau Tenas and into the net. The Parisians thought they had an equaliser on the stroke of half-time, but debutant Senny Mayulu's fine strike was ruled out for a foul in the build up. They eventually got their equaliser late on, with Mbappe setting up Ramos for a neat finish in the 86th minute to snag an unremarkable draw at Parc des Princes.

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• THE MVP

  Goncalo Ramos is starting to make it work. After a miserable opening to life in Paris, the Portuguese forward is looking more comfortable in the capital. He has made the most of his reserve minutes, and found the net here – a neat equaliser to rescue what would have been an embarrassing result. In truth, he perhaps should have ended the night with more; Ramos hit the woodwork multiple times. Still, he did enough to earn a draw, when a loss would have been mortifying.

• THE BIG LOSER

  It seems that every time Mbappe misses a game, another Parisian forward has a chance to show his quality. For some, such as Bradley Barcola, those opportunities have been seized with aplomb. For others, it hasn't been so easy. Such was the case for Randal Kolo Muani on Saturday evening. The French forward had little impact on the game in his 67 minutes of work, putting two shots on goal but registering little else in his chance to impress. He simply hasn't done enough to suggest he should be a regular in Paris.

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  WHAT COMES NEXT?

  This was a much-changed PSG side, which might make sense given the fixture coming up. The Parisians face Barcelona in the Champions League on Wednesday in the first leg of their quarter-final tie. Mbappe and co. seem certain to return to the fray from the start for that one.

On the pitch, Everton are back on track for survival and potentially more after a disastrous start to the season left them fearing for their Premier League status. Sean Dyche has gone from defeats at Luton Town to wins over Bournemouth and West Ham United, as well as a draw against Brighton & Hove Albion. In an ideal world, their form at Goodison Park would be matched with success away from the pitch. But that has been anything but the case.

As 777 Partners look to complete their takeover of the club, the Premier League's financial fair play investigation into Everton has brought new fears for the club. The investigation could result in major consequences, be it a 12-point deduction or transfer sanctions, or perhaps even both. That said, the Merseyside club may need to raise funds to pay any punishments and are reportedly open to selling one particular player in the January transfer window.

Everton transfer news

Everton did well in the summer to keep hold of some key players. The likes of Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Abdolaye Doucourse and Jordan Pickford all stayed put, as Beto, Jack Harrison and Ashley Young, among others, came in to reinforce Dyche's side. The result of a successful summer window has been a place five points clear of the Premier League's dropzone.

They are still happy to cut ties with one player, however. According to 90min, Everton are open to the sale of Ben Godfrey amid interest from a number of British clubs. Newcastle United, Rangers, Burnley, Bournemouth and Crystal Palace are all reportedly interested in signing the central defender in the January transfer window.

Godfrey, of course, has fallen out-of-favour at Goodison Park and could, therefore, do with a fresh start. So far this season, the England international has featured in just one Premier League game in what has been a fall from grace. Godfrey's price-tag once sat at £20m when Everton landed his signature from Norwich City in 2020.

Everton may regret sale of "fantastic" Godfrey

An England international once worth £20m who is still only 25-years-old, Everton may well regret allowing Godfrey to depart if he does complete a move away in the January transfer window. The former Norwich City man has impressed in the past at Goodison Park and, whilst he remains without a place under Dyche, the defender is an ideal back-up for the former Burnley manager.

Godfrey caught the eye of the legendary Carlo Ancelotti during the Italian's time in charge of Everton. The current Real Madrid manager said, via The Boot Room: "Fantastic. We signed him as a centre-back not a right-back, but he has quality to play in that position, He had a little problem when he went on the pitch at the beginning, but second-half was really good. Congratulations to him, he was ready and he’ll be ready for the future."

When the January transfer window opens, Godfrey certainly looks like one to keep an eye on. Whether Everton regret his potential departure or not remains to be seen, however, as they look to avoid relegation once more.

Glasgow Rangers secured just their second Europa League victory of the season as they overcame Sparta Prague 2-1 at Ibrox on Thursday evening.

The turnaround under Philippe Clement has been incredible, with the Belgian winning five of his opening six matches in charge of the Light Blues, conceding just three goals in the process.

Everything seems to be clicking at exactly the right time and with another two European ties to come along with a League Cup final before Christmas, the 49-year-old will be aiming for success before 2024.

The positive start is an indication of the direction Clement wants to take the team, and by asserting his tactical ideologies onto the senior squad already, a campaign that looked set to be disastrous could well be salvaged.

The Belgian is having to work with a team that he inherited from Michael Beale and, despite offering a clean slate to everyone in the squad, there could be some activity in the upcoming January transfer window.

A few players may be shipped out, while it looks as though the former Club Brugge boss is already identifying potential targets in order to bolster his team ahead of the second half of the season.

Rangers January transfer news

Heading towards the winter window, the rumour mill begins to circle and, according to 90min, Rangers have shown interest in Everton defender Ben Godfrey.

They will face some competition, however, as Premier League sides Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United are also seemingly keen on securing a move for the centre-back.

Under Sean Dyche this season, Godfrey has dropped way down the pecking order and has featured for a grand total of just one minute in the league, signifying that his future lies away from Goodison Park.

With this in mind, Clement could potentially make a swoop for the player and, with his contract expiring in 2025, Everton may not stand in his way should a club come in for him in the winter.

The Gers signed just one centre-back in the summer transfer window – Leon Balogun – and he only signed a one-year deal, with Michael Beale missing out on a few targets in the position.

Godfrey could be an ideal acquisition for the club as Clement could restore his confidence by giving him regular game time north of the border, while his talents would allow him to thrive in Scotland.

It wouldn’t be the first time that the Light Blues have signed a player from England who had a bright future, yet their form had taken a dip, as Todd Cantwell has become an integral player in the Ibrox side.

Godfrey could have a similar sort of impact to that of Cantwell and this could give the Gers a monumental boost heading into the final few months of the season.

Todd Cantwell’s statistics since he joined Rangers

Once touted as a player who was worth £40m just over two years ago during his spell with Norwich City, Cantwell’s form was underwhelming during the first half of the 2022/23 season.

This was a talent who had starred in two promotion campaigns and had scored six Premier League goals, yet he had made only ten starts for the East Anglian side before the transfer window opened in January.

Beale came to the rescue and secured his signature for just £1.5m, and it is beginning to look like one of the best pieces of business the club has done in years.

The Englishman registered 11 goal contributions – six goals and five assists – across just 20 games for the Glasgow side in the second half of last season and gave them some added attacking dynamism.

While he began the current season slowly, not helped by Beale’s tactics and an injury picked up against Celtic, Cantwell scored his first goal of the season against Sparta Prague in midweek, and it looks as though he is shining under the Belgian.

If the playmaker can displace Sam Lammers and return to his favoured number ten role, the next few months could be profitable for the former Norwich starlet.

Godfrey is an ex-teammate of Cantwell’s and his return to prominence could give the current Everton defender something to think about regarding his next career move, as he could become a key player at Rangers.

Ben Godfrey’s career statistics

The 25-year-old made 78 appearances for Norwich before signing for the Toffees in a £20m deal in October 2020 and he made a solid impression during his maiden season on Merseyside.

Godfrey made 36 appearances across all competitions and he ranked sixth out of the whole squad for accurate passes per game in the Premier League (33.3), along with ranking in the top five for clearances (3.5) and interceptions (1.1) per game, showcasing his growing talent and maturity, while it looked like Everton had a wonderful talent who could become a mainstay in their defence over the years.

He was even dubbed as a “revelation” by former professional boxer and Everton supporter Tony Bellew, yet just when things were looking rosy at the club, his appearances became less frequent.

Indeed, over the subsequent two seasons, Godfrey made 27 and then just 15 appearances under a succession of managers, with the low point coming during the current term.

His one start came during the EFL Cup clash against Doncaster Rovers as Dyche prefers the likes of James Tarkowski, Michael Keane and Jarrad Branthwaite to play at the heart of the defence.

This opens the door for Rangers, who could rescue the 6 foot gem from what has been a year to forget and give him a platform to showcase his talents.

It has worked extraordinarily well for Cantwell since joining the Gers from Norwich and Godfrey could follow in his footsteps, putting a poor spell behind him in England in order to shine north of the border while challenging for domestic trophies.

Clement still has plenty of time to work out potential transfer targets, but he will be keen on bringing another one or two fresh faces to the club if he aims to end Celtic’s recent domestic hegemony.

It is an exciting time to be a supporter of the Light Blues, especially with the 49-year-old bringing the feel-good factor back to Ibrox and if he can sign someone like Godfrey in the coming months, it will do his reputation no harm at all.

Former Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer reportedly snubbed the chance to manage the Republic of Ireland.

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• Solskjaer sacked by Man Utd in 2021
• Turned down Republic of Ireland role
• John O'Shea set to land national job

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Norwegian and Old Trafford favourite has been out of work since being sacked as United boss in November 2021. The 51-year-old has been linked with a number of jobs but is yet to return to the dugout, and now he is reportedly out of the running to be Ireland's next manager, too.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  United journalist Andy Mitten claimed he spoke to Solskjaer, who politely declined the Ireland job earlier this year.

  He tweeted: "Keep getting asked about the Ole Gunnar Solskjaer for Republic of Ireland job story. Spoke to him. He has no idea where it came from. He has complete respect for the country and did speak briefly about the job in Jan, but decided it wouldn't be right for him. Have a good weekend."

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Solskjaer's former United team-mate John O'Shea is reportedly favourite to land the Ireland role after taking charge on an interim basis.

  On his future, the ex-striker said on The Overlap: "I have a few offers but I'm not ready. It's got to be somewhere I can be myself not like anyone dictating 'you need to do this, you need to do that'. Because when you have been at United and managed them. You learn a few things and you want to do it your way the next time."

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• WHAT NEXT?

  While Solskjaer is looking for a return to management at some point, his former side United are next in action in the Premier League on Saturday evening when they travel to Bournemouth.

The England midfielder made Spain's biggest game his own once again as he provided another huge goal to take down Madrid's biggest rivals

Jude Bellingham seems to like playing against Barcelona. The England midfielder is still to new to playing in El Clasico, but he is already having a major impact on Spain's biggest rivalry. On Sunday, in his third Clasico of the season, he came up with his biggest moment yet, as he capped off a chaotic, often controversial game with a dramatic late winner to secure a 3-2 victory – one that will surely sew up La Liga for Carlo Ancelotti's side.

Barca made it a game early on, taking advantage of a sloppy Madrid start. They opened the scoring from a corner, when Andriy Lunin misjudged a teasing delivery, leaving an empty net for Andreas Christensen to nod into. But Los Blancos woke up, and worked their way back into the game, though they were rather gifted their equaliser when a careless tackle from Pau Cubarsi on Lucas Vazquez gave Madrid a penalty, which Vinicius Jr dutifully tucked away.

Barca thought they had retaken the lead soon after when Lamine Yamal's instinctive flick at the near post appeared to cross the line – but a VAR check determined that the ball had stayed out. A glance at the replay, though, proved inconclusive, and La Liga's puzzling lack of goal-line technology will surely come under the spotlight in the coming days.

Xavi's side did bag a second after the break, as substitute Fermin Lopez took advantage of another Lunin mistake for an easy close-range finish. But once again, Barca couldn't hold on, as Vazquez snuck in at the far post to meet Vinicius' whipped cross. And then came Bellingham's moment; the boy from Birmingham darted in at the far post to meet Vazquez's cross, and smashed the ball into the roof of the net with his weaker left foot to win the game – and establish himself as the new king of this storied fixture.

GOAL breaks down the winners & losers from Santiago Bernabeu…

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  WINNER: Jude Bellingham

  Will Bellingham ever tire of this fixture? Probably not, but he'll have to go some way to match the impact he's had on his opening taste of the Clasico rivalry. He has now produced the crucial moments in two of the three games between Madrid and Barca this season, and was instrumental in the third.

  Back in October, Bellingham turned the game on its head single-handedly, scoring twice in the second half – including once in stoppage-time – to secure a 2-1 win at the Olympic Stadium. He showed up in the Spanish Super Cup final, too, assisting Vinicius' effort as Los Blancos ran riot in Saudi Arabia.

  And now on Sunday, he provided another match-winner, rifling an effort into the roof of the net with his only clear goal-scoring opportunity of the match for what was a deserved finish to another impressive performance.

  The Englishman has been subject to mild criticism in recent weeks after his goals dried up, and at one point, it seemed he could easily surpass 30 in all competitions in 2023-24. Sunday's strike was his 21st of the campaign, which may seem like something of a let down given his early season pace, but that would be harsh in the grander scheme of things.

  This is a 20-year-old making the world's biggest fixture his own; what more could Real Madrid ask for?

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  LOSER: Frenkie de Jong

  How unlucky can De Jong get? The Dutch midfielder finally looked settled in the Barca line up last season, and everything seemed geared towards his continued development – if not pending superstardom – this campaign. But he's been robbed of what should have been his best season yet by a series of injuries.

  It started in August, when he suffered a high ankle sprain – one that he reaggravated a few months later. On Sunday, meanwhile, he picked up another injury, which also resulted from a blow to his lower leg – and saw him stretchered off the pitch.

  It's unfortunate for the De Jong, not least because he has been a crucial part of Barca's midfield when fit. There are problems all over the pitch that Xavi has had to solve, but De Jong's 'pausa' in the middle of the park always gives them a chance. Without him, they're simply not the same. Factor in that this latest blow comes so close to Euro 2024, and De Jong, who was understandably distraught upon his substitution, just can't catch a break.

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  WINNER: Lucas Vazquez

  Perhaps not the Clasico hero that many were expecting, but Vazquez turned out to be the man Madrid needed to keep them on the track to success. Defensively, the Spain international kept Raphinha quiet, leaving the in-form Brazilian to feed off scraps for long stretches, but he was even better going the other way.

  His marauding run down the right-wing led to Madrid's first equaliser, as he breezed past Joao Cancelo and cleverly embraced contact from Cubarsi to win the penalty that Vinicius converted. Later on, he scored Los Blancos' second, tucking home an awkward bouncing cross from the opposite wing. And although Bellingham will rightfully claim the plaudits for the winner, it was Vazquez's angled delivery that fell kindly to the feet of the Englishman in the 91st minute.

  Bellingham labelled the full-back a "f*cking legend" on X post-match, and while Dani Carvajal remains Madrid's first-choice right-back, Vazquez's longevity and ability to pop up in crucial moments means many Madridistas will agree with their midfielder's assessment of the 32-year-old.

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  LOSER: La Liga

  Not a great evening for the Spanish top-flight. First, the league's lack of goal-line technology threw jeopardy into what should have been an easy clarification when Yamal's near-post flick potentially crossed the line. It remains unclear as to whether the ball did indeed go all the way into the goal, but it will undoubtedly become a talking point when the league really should jut invest in the technology.

  It all led to an embarrassing tweet from La Liga president Javier Tebas who defended his stance by pointing to rare instances when the technology hasn't worked elsewhere. Such an incident happening in the league's most high-profile fixture, though, threatens to deepen a crisis that really shouldn't exist.

  And then, there is the question of the title race. It was probably over before Sunday, in all honesty, as Madrid's eight-point lead seemed secure, while an inconsistent Barca couldn't be trusted to win out. But this result ended it for good, meaning fans will have to look elsewhere for excitement during the final six rounds of fixtures.

Everton have finally turned a corner under Sean Dyche to steer themselves away from the relegation zone and onwards towards mid-table comforts. On the pitch, the Toffees have enjoyed an excellent last month or so, advancing in the Carabao Cup against Burnley as well as losing just once in their last five Premier League games, which came at Anfield in the Merseyside derby against Liverpool, when their performance arguably deserved a point.

Whilst the threat of a points deduction still lurks, it may well be Everton's current form that keeps them up come the end of the campaign. If they avoid any further punishment alongside a potential deduction too, the Toffees could be in a position to land one specific Serie A target during the January transfer window.

Everton transfer news

Considering their financial difficulties, Everton did well in the summer to recruit a number of players for Dyche. The former Burnley manager was able to welcome the likes of Jack Harrison, Beto, Arnaut Danjuma and Ashley Young, who have all played their part so far this season. If 777 Partners complete their takeover of the club, we could yet see more arrivals at Goodison Park and that could include a deal from Serie A.

According to TeamTalk, Everton are set to make an offer to sign Samuel Iling-Junior, who has found himself out-of-favour at Juventus. The winger has made just four appearances all season and now looks set to move on amid reported interest from the Merseyside club, as well as Aston Villa, Tottenham Hotspur and Fulham.

At just 20-years-old, the Englishman looks likely to have a big decision to make in January. At this stage, after failing to receive enough game-time at Juventus, minutes on the pitch should be the key to his decision and that's something Everton could offer over the likes of Spurs and Aston Villa.

"Menace" Iling-Junior could hand Everton a surprise boost

If Everton can convince Iling-Junior to choose them over fellow Premier League sides, then Dyche could be handed an unexpected boost. The winger may still be young, but the fact that the Chelsea academy star got the move to Juventus in the first place says all you need to know about the talent that he has at his disposal. Iling-Junior's stats when compared to Everton's current wingers show that he is more than capable of keeping up with those more experienced, too.

From those stats, it's clear that Iling-Junior would also only benefit from more game-time. During limited minutes on the pitch for Juventus this season, he has already produced impressive numbers. Now, if he received consistent starts for a side like Everton, then those numbers would only improve to create one of Dyche's best offensive options.

Iling-Junior has been at the centre of praise at times whilst in Italy, including from U23 scout and journalist Antonio Mango, who posted on X: "Was handed a surprise start at the weekend, away to a touch Atalanta team. He scored the opening goal and was a constant menace throughout the game. High energy and work volume as well as dreamy ball skills. Definitely one to watch"

Liverpool's midfield rebuild during the summer transfer window was extensive to say the least. Out went Jordan Henderson, Naby Keita, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, James Milner and Fabinho, and in came Dominik Szoboszlai, Wataru Endo, Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch. Swapping the old for the new has since paid dividends, however, with the Reds sitting just one point adrift of Premier League leaders Manchester City, who they play next in their return from the international break.

The summer transfer window failed to see the arrival of one specific type of player though, and Liverpool have once again been left exposed at times as a result. The January transfer window should give them the opportunity to solve a glaring issue and that could see the arrival of a long-term target.

Liverpool transfer news

After such a summer overhaul, it was difficult to know what to expect from Jurgen Klopp's new-look side. Some may have expected them to take a while to get going, given that the Reds had an entirely new midfield to work with. But that's been anything but the case. Instead, Liverpool have been flying. The likes of Szoboszlai and Gravenberch have settled straight in. Now, if they can solve their defensive midfield problem, Klopp's side could become serious title challengers once more.

As good as Mac Allister is, he is not a defensive midfielder, which has been exposed for all to see at times. Alas, reports do suggest that those at Anfield are attempting to find a solution in that area. According to Goal in Brazil, Liverpool have made contact with Fluminense over a potential deal for Andre Trindade.

It's no secret that the midfielder has attracted a lot of admirers, with Fulham also reportedly enquiring about the Fluminense man. If either of the Premier League sides want to sign Andre, it will reportedly cost them at least €35m (£31m) in January. Andre's value is at a higher point than ever before, with the player at the absolute peak of his power currently.

"Perfect" Andre could be the final piece to Liverpool's rebuild

When looking at the current Liverpool side, only the defensive midfield role stands out as something they can strengthen. If they find a natural defensive midfielder, not only will they complete their rebuild in the middle of the park, but they'll also finally get the best out of Mac Allister in his preferred role. Andre's stats stand out compared to the Argentine's in a full season.

As a result of his performances, Andre has earned deserved praise, including from Maurício Alencar, who said via Liverpool Echo: "Andre plays more as a six; he is obviously very strong and agile, really good on the ball, plays two-touch football, great first touch. He is always appearing in those pockets of space between the defence and midfield, and the midfield and attack sometimes. He is a very versatile player.

“I think he is a cut above the rest of the Fluminense squad, and when I watch Brazilian matches, he is always a standout player, so I am surprised he has yet to move to Europe.”

He then went onto say: "He is the perfect player that Liverpool need, playing from the back and being able to intercept. He is very quick to react to the loss of the ball and reading the game.”