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Scottish giants Celtic have only made three signings, including one outfield player, to bolster their squad during the summer transfer window so far.

The Hoops have brought in goalkeepers Kasper Schmeichel and Viljami Sinisalo to replace Joe Hart and central midfielder Paulo Bernardo has joined on a permanent deal, after his loan spell at Parkhead last term.

Brendan Rodgers currently lacks options at the top end of the pitch, though, as Kyogo Furuhashi is his only senior centre-forward in the group.

Hyeon-gyu Oh was sold to Genk earlier in the window and Ireland international Adam Idah returned to Norwich City at the end of last season.

Last month, Sky Sports reported that the Hoops had made an offer of £4m to sign the 6 foot 3 titan on a permanent basis but it was rejected by the Canaries, who value him at a higher figure.

However, Idah featured for the Yellows in their final pre-season friendly, against St. Pauli, on Saturday and appears to be in their plans for the 2024/25 campaign.

Instead of going back in for the 23-year-old attacker, Celtic could focus on a domestic target who has been linked with a move to Ibrox this summer.

Celtic's interest in Premiership powerhouse

Last month, HITC reported that the Scottish giants are one of the clubs in the running to sign Hearts captain Lawrence Shankland to bolster their attacking options.

The Scottish Premiership powerhouse, who won the division's Player of the Year award last term, has emerged as a target for the Hoops, who are looking at alternatives to Idah.

It was claimed that Norwich are demanding a fee of around £8m for the Irishman and that has forced the Bhoys to turn their attention to other strikers, including the Jam Tarts star.

HITC stated that Celtic were ready to step up their interest in Shankland and that they are set to challenge Glasgow rivals Rangers to his signature.

The Daily Record claimed that the Gers are considering a bid to sign the Scotland international and believe that a fee of £3m could be enough to secure his services, as he only has one year left to run on his contract.

This means that Celtic could, potentially, sign Shankland for £5m less than they would need to pay to land Idah before the window slams shut.

With this in mind, Rodgers must press ahead with a deal for the Premiership Player of the Year, as he could come in as an upgrade on Kyogo Furuhashi.

Kyogo Furuhashi's struggles in front of goal

The Japan international is still struggling to recapture his incredible form in front of goal from the 2022/23 campaign under Ange Postecoglou.

Kyogo plundered 27 goals in 31 starts and only missed 16 'big chances' in the Premiership that term in what was a sensational season for the prolific striker.

Unfortunately, Rodgers has not seen the best of his abilities at the top end of the pitch since his arrival at the club to replace Postecoglou in the summer of 2023.

His finishing left a lot to be desired in the 2023/24 campaign. Kyogo produced 14 goals in 31 league appearances – 13 fewer than the previous season – and missed a staggering 24 'big chances'.

He spurned far more 'big chances' and scored significantly fewer goals in the Premiership, which suggests that the quality of his finishing drastically decreased from the 2022/23 campaign to the 2023/24 one.

Kyogo, as the only senior striker at the club, was once again given the chance to lead the line for the Scottish giants against Kilmarnock on the opening game on Sunday, and struggled again in front of goal.

Minutes played

90

Shots

8

Big chances missed

2

Goals

0

Assists

0

Duels won

1/3

As you can see in the table above, the Japanese forward was incredibly wasteful with the opportunities that his teammates created for him, with zero goals from eight shots and two 'big chances'.

He scored zero goals from 1.26 xG and his performance is a reminder to Celtic and Rodgers that they need to bring in a player to, at the very least, provide Kyogo with competition for his place this season, which is why Shankland could be an excellent signing.

Why Celtic should sign Lawrence Shankland

The Hoops should swoop to sign the Scottish brute because he is a quality and proven Premiership striker who could come in and hit the ground running.

Instead of taking a risk on a younger player or on someone from abroad who has not experienced Scottish football, Celtic could move to sign a striker who knows exactly what it takes to score goals on a regular basis in the division.

Shankland has scored 208 goals in 418 appearances in his career, including 55 goals in 121 outings in the Premiership, which shows that he knows how to consistently score goals.

In the 2023/24 campaign, the 28-year-old forward racked up 31 goals and eight assists in 47 appearances for Hearts in all competitions – including three goals in four Europa Conference League qualifiers.

The Scotland international has plundered 59 goals and 12 assists in 95 games for the Jam Tarts and outperformed Kyogo in the division last season.

Appearances

37

38

Goals

24

14

Big chances missed

9

24

Conversion rate

18%

14%

Assists

4

5

Big chances created

6

7

As you can see in the table above, Shankland scored ten more goals despite missing 15 fewer 'big chances' and this suggests that the Hearts man was a significantly better finisher.

They both offered a similar level of creativity for their teammates, with only one fewer assist and one fewer 'big chance' created by the Scotsman, but the £3m-rated star came out on top by some margin at scoring goals.

Former Celtic striker Chris Sutton described Shankland as a "ruthless" finisher on Saturday, when Hearts faced Rangers, and his statistics back that up.

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Whilst Kyogo continues to struggle in front of goal, Rodgers could swoop in for a striker who would arrive at Parkhead as a significant upgrade in front of goal to provide the Japan international with serious competition for his place.

Throughout the most recent Premier League campaign, Manchester United’s biggest issue was the lack of reliability of their centre-backs.

First-choice centre-back Lisandro Martinez was missing for most of the campaign through injury, and they really missed a Virgil Van Dijk-esque defender.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe is desperate to bolster the backline this summer, and therefore, signing a new centre-half will be the biggest priority at Old Trafford.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at a United target who could just become their very own version of Liverpool’s captain.

Man Utd's search for a centre-back

This week, reports in Germany via journalist Florian Plettenberg have given the latest update on Man Utd’s interest in Matthijs de Ligt.

It’s mentioned that the Dutch ace is still a transfer target for United this summer, alongside Jarrad Branthwaite and Leny Yoro.

Plettenberg says that "Ten Hag is still a great admirer of De Ligt", who will be sold this summer by Bayern Munich if a reasonable sum arrives.

It’s said that despite not making an offer yet, United currently value the centre back at around £42m this summer, with Plettenberg providing a further update that the deal is becoming "more and more concrete".

Why De Ligt would be United’s own Van Dijk

Back in the 2018/19 season, De Ligt was viewed as the most promising centre-half in the world by many, having led Ten Hag’s Ajax to the Champions League semi-final.

At just 19 years old, the defender captained Ajax to the league title and domestic cup, but since then, he’s not exactly lived up to the expectations that he once had.

The “generational” talent, as dubbed by football scout Jacek Kulig, is currently playing his football in Germany for Bayern Munich after joining in 2022.

His second season at the club saw him start just 16 times in the Bundesliga, with Thomas Tuchel opting for other options more often than not, but his statistics don’t match those of someone who’s built for being a rotation option.

Touches

92.23

81.72

Passes completed

75.50

67.81

Pass accuracy

91.3%

93.1%

Progressive passes

5.59

5.57

Tackles

1.10

1.11

Aerials won

4.00

2.47

As you can see from the table above, it’s no surprise that De Ligt is classified as the most ‘similar player’ to Van Dijk across the top European leagues by FBref.

Firstly, what separates the two Netherlands defenders from the rest is their brilliance in possession, boasting immense composure, retention, and technical quality.

This is shown by their pass accuracy, touches, and passes completed, while their progression stats prove that their passing range and vision are absolutely sublime.

From a defensive perspective, De Ligt and Van Dijk are both extremely dynamic and physical, often dominating every attacker they play against, regardless of whether they’ve got pace or strength.

On top of that, they are just as dominant in the air, often towering above opponents, which gives them a huge advantage in both penalty boxes.

However, it’s not just FBref that notices the Dutch duo’s similarities, with Manchester City’s Nathan Ake also mentioning that their athleticism, aerial dominance, and technical ability are alike – noting that De Ligt has "got a lot of the same attributes as Van Dijk".

Overall, signing a player of De Ligt’s quality could seriously elevate United’s performance levels, and he’s the type of defender who could ensure years of dominance.

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Late wickets for Trent Copeland capped a perfect day for the Blues, although Mitchell Starc was left frustrated

Alex Malcolm10-Nov-2020Centuries from Moises Henriques and Sean Abbott and two late strikes from Trent Copeland put New South Wales in position to pull off one of the most remarkable turnarounds in Sheffield Shield history.Having been bowled out for 64 on the opening day, the Blues third-lowest total in Shield history, and having trailed on the first innings by 175, a phenomenal batting display from Nick Larkin, Henriques, Abbott, and Mitchell Starc gave them a chance to declare their third innings and set Tasmania 347 to win, with 13 overs left in the third day.The declaration proved a master-stroke with Copeland removing both Tasmania openers to leave Matthew Wade and nightwatchman Peter Siddle to survive until stumps.Earlier in the day, Henriques cruised to his 12th first-class century and his partnership with Larkin, which had rescued the Blues from a perilous position on the second day, reached 250. Henriques was out shortly after, nicking Siddle to second slip.Larkin passed 150 for the second time in his Sheffield Shield career but his dismissal for 161 was a career-first. He was squared up by a peach of a delivery from Gabe Bell and held the pose of his squared up defensive stroke, but both feet were outside the popping crease. Tim Paine under-armed a throw at the stumps quickly and hit with Larkin stood still as a statue, dumbfounded and stumped.

Don't hold that pose #SheffieldShield pic.twitter.com/ElfcMTJpBf

— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) November 10, 2020

That was the last wicket Tasmania took as Abbott and Starc piled on the pain with a soul-destroying unbeaten 189-run partnership for the seventh wicket. The pair plundered 13 fours and seven sixes between them, feasting mainly on the part-time offerings of Beau Webster and Jake Doran. Drinks had to be called at one stage because one of Starc’s blows over midwicket could not be found.Abbott brought up his maiden first-class century with a delightful clip off his toes wide of mid-on and the Blues immediately declared leaving Starc 14 runs shy of his maiden hundred and less than impressed with his captain Peter Nevill. But it was the right move as Charlie Wakim edged Copeland in the third over with Abbott plucking a sensational catch low to his right at third slip.Jordan Silk, after holding NSW at bay with a fine century in the first innings, was Copeland’s second victim to leave Tasmania with a huge mountain to climb on the final day.

The Lanka Premier League (LPL) continues to run into teething issues, with some franchise owners describing the tournament’s organisation as “chaotic” less than 10 days out. Sri Lanka Cricket, however, remains adamant that in spite of late changes in personnel, and the major logistical challenges that continue to arise, LPL 2020 will begin as scheduled, on November 26. On Tuesday, the tournament announced its principal sponsor, My11Circle, a fantasy sports platform.Among the LPL’s personnel changes have been the exits of Dav Whatmore, who was to coach the Colombo Kings franchise, and that of Jon Lewis, who had picked the Dambulla team in the draft, and had been due to coach that side. Whatmore had been replaced with former England fast bowler Kabir Ali, but with Kabir now having tested positive for Covid-19, he is likely to withdraw from the league. It is unclear at present who will coach the Colombo side, but Herschelle Gibbs’ name has been floated.*There is also uncertainty about Chris Gayle’s involvement in the league. Although coaching staff of his Kandy Tuskers franchise said he is expected in Sri Lanka on November 19, ESPNcricinfo understands that Gayle is still negotiating the terms of his contract with the Tuskers, and that his arrival in Sri Lanka has already been delayed once. Fast bowlers Wahab Riaz and Liam Plunkett are out of the tournament for certain, however, and the Tuskers have picked former India quick Munaf Patel, and Pakistan fast bowler Sohail Tanvir. Munaf last played a T20 in 2017, but Tanvir is an active player, having been part of Multan Sultans’ campaign in this year’s PSL.The Jaffna Stallions franchise, meanwhile, have announced a slew of new foreign players, including former South Africa fast bowlers Kyle Abbott and Duanne Olivier. These players will replace Pakistan batsman Asif Ali and England batsman Dawid Malan, who is unavailable due to being picked for England’s forthcoming tour of South Africa. Stallions had also announced that batsmen Ravi Bopara and Shoaib Malik would be part of their squad, but their involvement is now also uncertain, as both players are understood to be asking for 100% of their fee to be paid before the tournament. Despite all this, SLC has projected confidence.”Everything is in the pipeline for the tournament, and all that is left is for everything to be delivered,” LPL director Ravin Wickramaratne told ESPNcricinfo. “Today there is a press release about the title sponsor, and a broadcaster will be announced soon also.”Most of the franchisees are coming to the island – the owners and other management staff. Players have also started arriving and Andre Russell is coming tomorrow.”Broadcast crews and staff belonging to IPG – the Dubai-based tournament organiser – have also arrived, and are undergoing quarantine in various hotels near to Sooriyawewa ground, where the tournament is scheduled to be played in its entirety. Players must isolate for three days in the hotel, before they are allowed to begin training in small clusters, until eventually the whole tournament goes into a big bubble, contingent on the results of Covid-19 tests.The concerns of some of the franchises centre around the ad-hoc nature in which this tournament is coming together. Some are also worried that player contracts have not been signed yet, and the advance that is due to go to players before the tournament starts, have not yet been paid in most cases. Wickramaratne confirmed that this has been an issue, and said that stricter financial controls put in place by many countries due to the pandemic has made international money transfers more difficult.”Player contracts have been delivered, and they will have to come back to us with their lawyers and all that,” Wickramaratne said. “There have been issues with transferring money. We’ll talk to franchisees when they arrive. Before the tournament starts they will have to pay 40% to the players.”Although several team owners are expected to travel to Sri Lanka, some are not traveling for personal reasons**. Only the players and some broadcast staff have been cleared for shorter quarantines by the Sri Lankan health authorities.*Details in this story have been updated as more news has come in./**This story initially mentioned Brindon Bagirathan as co-owner of the Jaffna Stallions franchise. He is not, however, a co-owner.

With Everton desperately needing to raise funds this summer, Sean Dyche has the job of being in charge of a rebuild job at Goodison Park to avoid a relegation battle in the Premier League next season.

The club are in danger of a further breach of PSR next season if they fail to offload any talents during the off-season, with the Toffees at risk of losing some of their key talents.

Jarrad Branthwaite and Amadou Onana are the two most likely to depart Merseyside this summer, with the youngsters subject to interest from various other English sides with any deal for the pair costing any interested party upwards of £50m for their signatures.

However, the club could also offload numerous other first-team members to combat their current financial situation, with the club able to sell a handful of other talents.

One player in particular could be set for a Goodison exit, failing to live up to the expectations he once had upon his big-money move to the club a couple of years ago.

Everton could part ways with talent this summer

According to journalist Graeme Bailey, Everton defender Ben Godfrey has rejected a new deal at the club ahead of the summer, prompting interest from Italian sides AC Milan and Roma.

The 26-year-old has just one year left on his existing deal with the Toffees, with Dyche’s side potentially losing him for nothing in January should any of the Serie A clubs offer him a pre-contract agreement.

Godfrey has previously been linked with a move to the likes of Nottingham Forest and Leeds United, but the defender rejected interest to stay at Goodison, but could now be on the move.

This summer could be the last opportunity for Dyche’s side to offload the former Norwich City man, in a bid to raise funds in their PSR battle, but they will undoubtedly lose money on the fee they paid for him under Carlo Ancelotti.

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Posts ByStephan Georgiou Apr 16, 2024 Ben Godfrey’s market value in 2024

After joining the club from Norwich for £25m back in October 2020, Godfrey looked to be a real coup for the club – with the defender previously being linked with Manchester United.

He made an immediate impact at the heart of the Everton defence, featuring 36 times for the club in all competitions. However, that was by far his best campaign at the club, with his minutes and appearances gradually declining after his first campaign.

During the 2021/22 season, Godfrey made 27 appearances for the Toffees, featuring for 2,345 minutes as the club narrowly avoided relegation to the Championship.

Ben Godfrey's PL stats at Everton

Season

Appearances

Minutes played

2023/24

15

1,121'

2022/23

13

803'

2021/22

23

2,031'

2020/21

31

2,683'

Stats via Transfermarkt

The arrival of Tarkowski last season saw his appearance tally drop further, with the former Norwich defender only able to play 13 times for the Toffees, with minutes decreasing by more than 50%.

As a result, the centre-back has seen his market value plummet to just £3.8m, as per Football Transfers – a drop over £21m from the fee the Toffees forked out for his signature nearly four years ago.

He's clearly the third-choice centre-back under Dyche, with the boss favouring the likes of Branthwaite and James Tarkowski at the heart of the defence, with Godfrey often having to feature at right and left-back as a result.

The club need to be brutal with outgoings given their current financial situation, with Godfrey personally needing a move away from the club in order to resurrect his once-promising career.

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Posts ByEthan Lamb Jun 9, 2024

Cristiano Ronaldo is being backed to make a sensational return to Manchester United at some stage, as he looks to “make amends for sour ending”.

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First linked up with Red Devils in 2003Returned in 2021 before being releasedTipped to take in third stint at Old TraffordFollow GOAL's official WhatsApp channel!Join nowWHAT HAPPENED?

The Portuguese superstar was put on a path to superstardom by the Red Devils after first moving to Old Trafford in 2003. It was during that spell in England that the all-time great won his first Champions League and Ballon d’Or honours.

AdvertisementGetty/GOALTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Ronaldo returned to Manchester in 2021, following memorable spells at Real Madrid and Juventus, but left under a cloud in November 2022 after seeing his contract terminated – following a falling out with Dutch coach Erik ten Hag. He has been in the Saudi Pro League with Al-Nassr since then.

WHAT BROWN SAID

The evergreen 39-year-old has admitted that he still “loves” United and that could lead to another reunion in the future. Wes Brown, a former team-mate of CR7, has – speaking to , who offer the latest Champions League betting – said of a stunning retracing of steps: “When it comes to Cristiano Ronaldo returning to Manchester United in some capacity you can never say never. Obviously when he left the second time we were all disappointed because he had been one of United’s best ever players, it was disappointing how it ended and I think he could return to try and make amends for the sour ending. Even in his first season back at the club he scored over 20 goals. I think the exit was a bit over the top but for him to come back in some way. I’d love it.”

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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR RONALDO?

Ronaldo is into the final year of his contract at Al-Nassr, but has stated a desire to play on for some time yet and reach 1,000 career goals. He is being tipped for a move into coaching once hanging up his boots, which could open up another route back to Old Trafford.

An "incredible" Newcastle United transfer target has informed his current club that he will be leaving this summer, according to journalist Fabrizio Romano.

Newcastle transfer news

The Magpies are working hard on getting some important summer transfer business over the line, ahead of what could be a busy period of ins and outs at St James' Park.

Newcastle have been in talks with sealing the double signing of defensive pair Tosin Adarabioyo and Lloyd Kelly recently, with the pair expected to depart Fulham and Bournemouth on free transfers this summer respectively. Defensive additions are needed after injury woes in that area all season long, and Sven Botman and Jamaal Lascelles could even miss the rest of 2024 with serious knee issues.

Leicester City youngster Kasey McAteer has also emerged as a rumoured target for Eddie Howe, with the Foxes expected to be forced to sell the 22-year-old amid their financial struggles. The attacker is out of contract next summer, so now is the last chance to earn good money for him.

Then there's Aaron Ramsdale, who continues to be strongly linked with a move to St James' Pak before the start of next season. He wants to bring an end to his time at Arsenal, having warmed the substitutes' bench for much of this season, and a reunion with Howe looks like a good fit, with the pair working together at Bournemouth earlier in their careers.

"Incredible" Newcastle target leaving his club

According to Romano on X, Newcastle target Kelly has now told Bournemouth that he is leaving the club this summer, adding to the likelihood of him moving to the Magpies:

At this point, it would be a surprise if Kelly wasn't a Newcastle player by the time the opening fixture of the 2024/25 campaign rolls around. The 25-year-old's exit on a free is now no great secret, and the Magpies are seemingly focusing hard on getting a deal for him over the line.

While not necessarily the most shiny and high-profile of new signings, the £30,000-a-week defender is now an experienced Premier League player, making 54 appearances in the competition, and his ability to shine as both a centre-back and left-back is key to improved squad depth.

Former Bournemouth boss Gary O'Neil has also spoken of his admiration for him in the past, hailing his performance up against Liverpool's Mohamed Salah last season: "I thought Lloyd was incredible. I think he had a 12-week ankle injury followed by a six-week calf injury. Didn't have much time in between, and then came back today having not trained much, to play left back against one of the best wingers in the world. I thought he showed everything, the potential he has to be a top defender."

Appearances

23

Starts

17

Clearances per game

2.6

Aerial duel wins per game

1.2

Tackles per game

1.0

Assists

1

Pass completion rate

77.6%

Kelly could be a shrewd addition who may end up being an effective member of the defence and the fact that he would arrive on a free transfer takes away the risk element of a hefty fee being paid.

England captain to help transport medicine and make calls to people in isolation

ESPNcricinfo staff28-Mar-2020

Heather Knight looks on•Getty Images

England captain Heather Knight has signed up to be a National Health Service (NHS) volunteer during the coronavirus outbreak.Knight only returned from Australia, where she led England to the semi-finals of the Women’s T20 World Cup, 10 days ago and is now living under the UK’s lockdown rules with her boyfriend in Bristol.She revealed in her BBC column that she had volunteered for the scheme that will see people support the health service by delivering food and medicine, transporting patients to appointments and making calls to those in isolation.”I signed up to the NHS’s volunteer scheme as I have a lot of free time on my hands and I want to help as much as I can,” Knight said. “My brother and his partner are doctors, and I have a few friends who work in the NHS, so I know how hard they are working and how difficult it is for everyone.”More than half a million people signed up when the volunteer programme was announced on Wednesday. The following day, people from around the country took a moment during the evening to applaud the NHS from their residences.”Standing on our doorstep, joining in the #ClapForCarers was incredible, and getting involved and volunteering will help even more,” Knight said.”I’m going to get the car out as I’ve volunteered to transport medicine, and also speak to people who are self-isolating. If someone is home alone, you can ring them up and chat. They have had so many people sign up.”The ECB, meanwhile, has indicated that it could consider installing coronavirus checkpoints and isolation units at grounds, as it examines the possibility of resuming cricket behind closed doors this summer.Steve Elworthy, the ECB’s director of events, said games would need take place inside a “sterile” environment, likely with fewer than 500 people in the venue. “So it’s how you test them at the gate, the isolation units that you have to put in,” he told the . “These are considerations we are thinking about.”

Rangers icon Ally McCoist has backed his former side to overturn the deficit against Celtic and be crowned champions this season, despite admitting they are now the underdogs.

Rangers hand Celtic advantage

Philippe Clement's side threw away their Scottish Premiership advantage thanks to a dismal run of form that saw them lose to Ross County and draw with Dundee, a run of games that saw them take five points from a possible 15.

It means that Celtic are in the driving seat heading into the final part of the season, with a three point cushion and a better goal difference than Rangers having played the same number of games.

Scottish Premiership as it stands

Played

Won

Drawn

Lost

Goal Difference

Points

Celtic

33

24

6

3

54

78

Rangers

33

24

3

6

49

75

It has led to plenty of speculation that the title is already effectively in residence at Celtic Park, with Rangers still needing to visit their rivals in the final league Old Firm Derby of the season.

McCoist – Title far from over

But one man still believes, in the form of former Rangers striker Ally McCoist. The Scot appeared over 400 times for the Glasgow outfit, and was quick to talk up his old side's chances to overturn the deficit.

Speaking exclusively to Football FanCast on behalf of talkSPORT BET, McCoist rubbished claims that the title race is over, though he admitted Rangers likely have to be perfect and added that it wouldn't be easy for his former side.

"I genuinely do [think Rangers can still win the SPL]. They are second favourites make no mistake about it. But, you know, you look at it. Celtic's form up until recently was a little bit erratic too. Dropping points in places you wouldn't imagine them dropping points and it's now getting to the stage where it's against the top six.

"And so, the big question is – are Rangers capable of winning at Celtic Park? Yes, they are. Would it be very difficult? Yes, it would be very difficult but they're capable of doing it. Can Celtic drop other points? You better believe it. I mean, KIilmarnock have taken all sorts of points off Celtic this season, and Kilmanock have taken points off Rangers. Hearts have taken points off Rangers and Celtic.

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"So is Rangers dream still alive, you better believe it's still alive. They had the favourites tag maybe three weeks ago, they've lost that that's for sure, but it's still not beyond them."

The two meetings between the sides left this season will almost certainly decide the destination of all remaining Scottish major silverware, with the two also meeting in the cup final next month.

For Rangers, their trip to Celtic Park could be their chance to set the record straight after a poor few weeks. Meanwhile, Celtic will know that even a point against their rivals, like they managed at Ibrox, could see them effectively seal the title.

Imagine if Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp had succumbed to the pressure last season.

His dynasty was in disarray after a staggering nosedive from the high-octane, swift-breaking brand of football that had lifted the club toward illustrious heights. Heights that had restored a city, etched his name into Liverpool folklore.

The German decided that this was not to be the narrative that would define his tenure, and the sweeping summer changes to a sapped and sighing midfield have proved significant, altering the pathway Liverpool were headed.

Klopp is now leaving but the Merseysiders have been revived and are competing for the Premier League and Europa League titles after clinching the Carabao Cup earlier in the term.

On Sunday, Manchester City host Arsenal in a clash against first and third; Liverpool will be keenly watching. But first, the Reds will host Brighton & Hove Albion in a must-win top-flight clash.

Liverpool have been hit with a catalogue of injuries but there is golden light at the end of that storm, with key members of the squad filtering back through.

Liverpool team news

Andy Robertson has avoided serious injury after hurting his ankle on international duty with Scotland, though it's likely that the 30-year-old left-back will be sidelined against the Seagulls.

Thiago Alcantara and Joel Matip remain long-term absentees, while Alisson Becker, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Diogo Jota and Stefan Bajcetic will not be involved but edge closer to a return.

More positively, Ibrahima Konate is fit once again after missing the past few fixtures, while Curtis Jones could make his first appearance since the start of February.

A variety of senior options in the centre of the park is something Klopp has not quite had at his disposal over recent months, and he might now be tempted to make a tweak, with Dominik Szoboszlai, for all his quality, possibly moving to the bench against Roberto De Zerbi's men.

Why Dominik Szoboszlai could be benched vs Brighton

Szoboszlai hit the ground running and then some on Merseyside after joining from RB Leipzig last summer, Liverpool meeting the Hungarian's £60m release clause.

His power, skill and high-energy approach have been a perfect fit under Klopp's wing and this is reflected through his metrics, ranking among the top 7% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for goals, the top 3% for shot-creating actions, the top 19% for progressive passes, the top 4% for progressive carries, the top 17% for successful take-ons and the top 5% for blocks per 90, as per FBref.

Across 33 appearances for Liverpool, the 23-year-old has scored seven goals and added five assists, with his dynamic performances in the engine room leading talent scout Jacek Kulig to describe him as a "magician."

These skilful, influential efforts have indeed been key to Liverpool's success but he's not the only star in that department and given that Wataru Endo and Alexis Mac Allister have been in such fine and fluid form across recent matches, Szoboszlai might find that he enters after the break against Brighton.

Especially when fellow summer signing Ryan Gravenberch is pushing for a starting berth after recovering from a setback before the international break.

Ryan Gravenberch's season in numbers

Of the four midfielders welcomed to Anfield last summer, Gravenberch has probably made the least significant impact so far, though at 21 years old the Netherlands international has showcased the innate ability that may yet see him flower into a leading midfielder.

Completing a £34m transfer from Bayern Munich last summer, Gravenberch's stock had taken a hit after a year in Germany offered little promise, with just three Bundesliga starts all season and criticism regarding his work rate off the ball and defensive deficiencies.

Still, Klopp saw the promise within this multi-functional player's skill set and while he has ebbed and flowed during his maiden campaign in England, there has been plenty to get excited about.

And this has been reflected through his showings thus far, grabbing three goals and two assists across 31 appearances, starting nine games in the Premier League.

Why Ryan Gravenberch should start vs Brighton

As per FBref, Gravenberch ranks among the top 6% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for shot-creating actions, the top 13% for progressive passes, the top 6% for progressive carries, the top 5% for successful take-ons and the top 6% for blocks per 90.

1.

Joelinton

Newcastle United

2.

Conor Gallagher

Chelsea

3.

Dominik Szoboszlai

Liverpool

4.

Leonardo Bittencourt

Werder Bremen

5.

Khephren Thuram

OGC Nice

Given his stylistic similarities with Szoboszlai, added to the defensive security provided by Endo and Mac Allister, this might be the perfect opportunity to hand the Dutchman a starting role, especially with Liverpool hosting Sheffield United on Thursday evening before travelling to Old Trafford on Sunday.

Gravenberch, on his day, has been described as a "Rolls-Royce" of a midfielder by journalist Declan Carr, and while his displays in the Premier League have left much to be desired, Gravenberch need only take the soil of his efforts in the Europa League and cultivate a sustained level of performance on the domestic front.

As per Sofascore, Gravenberch has clinched three goal contributions from five games in Europe this term, averaging 2.2 key passes, 1.8 tackles, 5.0 ball recoveries and 4.6 successful duels per match.

Such an all-encompassing array of abilities is part of the natural ability that Klopp knows, as does Gravenberch himself, no doubt, is yet to be harnessed to its full, latent but waiting for a breakthrough.

This crucial late stage of the campaign will call for rotation as Liverpool fight across two fronts, and while Szoboszlai is unquestionably one of the finest players on Liverpool's books, the 6 foot 2 Gravenberch must now take this opportunity to make his mark.

Jones and Bajcetic are both returning from injury layoffs and there is no better time for Gravenberch to prove that he has what it takes to make his mark and aid his outfit in the fight for silverware.

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