Six points and one Premier League place separate Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United. This Sunday they face each other at Old Trafford. Pre-season title ambitions for both sides look a distant pipe dream, these days: Jose Mourinho and Mauricio Pochettino are now just honing in on a top four finish.

[ffc_insert title=”Cantona: The Iconic and the Ironic” name=”Golden Goal” image=”https://www.footballfancast.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/1997-04-23T000000Z_1_MT1ACI148037_RTRMADP_3_ENGLAND-SOCCER-MNU.jpg?admin” link=”https://www.footballfancast.com/premier-league/manchester-united/golden-goal-king-eric-and-a-story-of-delicious-irony” link_text=”Cantona’s greatest moment” ]

European football has finished – that’s one distraction out the way – until both teams return for the Europa League in the new year. As a lecturing father would say, its time to ‘knuckle down’, time for clubs to focus on what they really want from the 2016/17 season. For these two sides, that may well be as good as determined by the outcome of Sunday’s clash.

Manchester United’s one win in eight league games and penchant for draws does not tell the full story. Failure to convert chances and an ability to concede goals from almost any circumstance has cost Mourinho’s side, despite the fact that their performances have marginally improved of late. That being said, however, this is not a game where excuses or misfiring players can be accepted, anything other than victory for the Red Devils will deliver a potentially fatal blow to their top four hopes. A pattern of convincing cup victories in midweek followed by poor league results has emerged and they cannot afford that to continue after their 2-0 victory against Zorya Luhansk on Thursday.

In the other changing room, Spurs will see this as a chance to keep pace with the top four ahead of Manchester City’s clash with Arsenal next weekend. Seven points off league-leading Chelsea, the Lilywhites are unlikely to mount a significant title challenge this season, but are within striking distance of City and Arsenal. Mauricio Pochettino has stuck true to his principals throughout some tricky spells this season, but those principals will be tested further. His team selection will tell us a lot about his ambitions for this season, in fact. If Spurs are serious about a continued push for the Premier League crown, they must win this game. While Pochettino will welcome back Toby Alderweireld to the heart of the defence, his game management will reveal a great deal about his current thought processes.

The current deficit Manchester United are faced with can be talked down with this fixture in mind. Victory takes them to within a slip-up of catching Spurs, but failure to win this weekend would see Jose Mourinho’s side a long way adrift. Potentially overtaken by Stoke City, Everton and West Bromwich Albion, Manchester United’s season could yet hinge on this game. With each failure to close the gap, chances of another season without Champions League football increase and the subsequent financial consequences would be emphatic. The bare minimum expected, particularly for a manager of Mourinho’s calibre, is to keep a side within touching distance of the top teams. All the investment, all the promise last summer cannot be forgotten. The disappointment of the season so far at Old Trafford will swell even further with a poor result on Sunday afternoon.

A draw will keep Spurs content, but Mourinho cannot afford to settle into his trademark, cagey big game approach. Few games in the first half of a season will be as significant as this one. It can define the standings of two teams and give the clearest indication yet of who will make the top four at the end of the season.

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Wayne Rooney has grown up with instilled dislike for Liverpool given that he supported Everton as a boy and has played for Manchester United for the past 13 years, but he put the rivalry aside when he voted in FIFA’s Best Football awards.The United and England captain put Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp in third place when he selected his top trio for Best Men’s Coach of the Year.After taking over the Merseyside outfit in October 2015, Klopp guided the Reds to two cup finals – the League Cup and the Europa League.[ad_pod id=’now-tv’ align=’centre’]The team ended up losing both, but Rooney still deemed the former Borussia Dortmund boss worthy of his vote.Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri, who ended up winning the gong during Monday’s ceremony in Zurich, took first spot in Rooney’s list due to the Foxes’ historic title win.Chris Coleman was the second best coach of 2016 for the United forward after he guided Wales to the semi-finals of Euros, where they were beaten by eventual champions Portugal.

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West Ham have completed the signing of Jose Fonte from Southampton for a fee of £8m, bringing the Portuguese international to East London.

What’s the word?

It’s all official and West Ham have a new man to help them fend off the threat of relegation, bringing in 33-year-old Jose Fonte from Premier League rivals Southampton- and the Portuguese ace revealed Slaven Bilic was the key factor in a move.

The Hammers have endured a difficult spell recently, with the major blow coming with Dimitri Payet’s demands for an exit, but a 3-0 victory over Crystal Palace last weekend has raised spirits- and the Hammers could be set for more signings before the window closes.

For now, Fonte will look to shore-up a defence that has conceded 35 goals in 21 games and the guidance of Bilic could bring the best out of him.

What was said?

Speaking upon his signing, Fonte praised Bilic’s impact on his decision.

“I signed for West Ham because they are a great club and a very big club. They have a lot of fans and I have known for a number of years how passionate they are. The manager was also a very big influence. I thought that he really wanted me and that he sold me the project and the ambition of the Club.”

“I also have part of my family living in London and they are big West Ham fans. It just made sense for me at this stage to join West Ham. It is a new challenge and a new beginning and I am looking forward to it.”

Will he make a big difference?

It’s difficult to say but Fonte’s experience could prove to be decisive. However, paying £8m for a 33-year-old is a large sum and question marks will be raised. That said, Fonte has the ability to provide a big boost to a struggling side.

Well-adversed to the challenges of the Premier League, Fonte could provide the inspiration- and any further signings will improve the squad vastly, particularly in attack, which could result in an enjoyable second-half of the season for the Hammers.

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In one of the biggest matches in the whole Premier League season, Manchester United play host to Liverpool at Old Trafford on Sunday afternoon.

Both teams come into the huge clash in impressive form with the Red Devils winning their last eight matches in all competitions to put themselves back in contention for a top four finish, while Jurgen Klopp’s side have won four of their last five top-flight ties.

However, the Merseyside outfit have drawn their previous two games – 2-2 away at Sunderland at the start of the month before they were held to a goalless draw by League Two outfit Plymouth Argyle in the third round of the FA Cup at Anfield on Sunday.

The two clubs will also have some key names missing at the weekend with United centre-back Eric Bailly and Liverpool forward Sadio Mane away at the Africa Cup of Nations, while the likes of Marcos Rojo could also be absent because of injury.

Without further ado, here is FootballFanCast’s Manchester United and Liverpool combined XI based on who is available for this clash and their form this season…

GK: David De Gea

For myself anyway, there was little debate when it came to deciding who would be between the sticks in the combined XI.

Whereas time and time again David de Gea has proved that he is not only one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League, but also in world football, Liverpool continue to struggle when it comes to stoppers.

Loris Karius was brought in to replace Simon Mignolet as the Reds’ first-choice ‘keeper during the summer, but he has lost his place to the Belgian following some questionable performances at the beginning of December.

RB: Nathaniel Clyne

The right-back has been one of Liverpool’s most consistent performers since he joined them from Southampton in 2015, and he is our choice to start on the right side of the defence in this combined XI.

As well as the threat he provides in an attacking sense, he has the stamina to get back down the pitch and defend – refreshing to see in a modern day full-back.

His only real competition for the spot was United’s Antonio Valencia, but we have opted for the younger model.

CB: Chris Smalling

Although he suffered a toe injury towards the start of the season, the Manchester United centre-back is fit again and has started three of their last four matches – showing how highly he is rated by Red Devils manager Jose Mourinho.

The England international has had his dodgy moments during his career at Old Trafford, but he has certainly come on leaps and bounds in recent seasons and deserves to take his place in the combined XI – ousting the likes of team-mate Phil Jones and Liverpool’s Dejan Lovren from the starting line-up.

CB: Joel Matip

The centre of defence has certainly been one of Liverpool’s biggest problems in recent seasons – especially during the reign of Jurgen Klopp at Anfield – but they might have just found the answer to their problems in the form of Joel Matip.

The Cameroon international – who moved to the Reds on a free transfer from Schalke during the summer – boasts excellent reading of the game, is good on the ball and is pacey too.

He looked to be forming a strong partnership with team-mate Dejan Lovren before suffering an injury in December, and Klopp will hope to have his impressive defender back for the trip to Old Trafford.

LB: James Milner

Although it isn’t his natural or preferred position, James Milner has arguably been the best player to feature in the left-back for both of these clubs this season.

While the likes of Luke Shaw, Daley Blind and Matteo Darmian have shared the spot at United, Milner has made it his own at Anfield, ousting the defensively questionable Alberto Moreno.

As well as his determination and impressive displays from a defensive point of view, the former England international has also chipped in with five goals – all from the penalty spot.

CM: Paul Pogba

Despite making a slow start on his return to Old Trafford following his world-record move back to Manchester United from Juventus in the summer, the France international has probably been the club’s standout player during their recent winning run.

The midfielder is really starting to show why he is worth close to that £89m fee, and his dominance in the middle of the park, strong forward runs and link-up play with the likes of Zlatan Ibrahimovic – as well as the goal threat he has provided – make him a certainty for a spot in the combined XI.

CM: Jordan Henderson

The Liverpool skipper may be a controversial choice for some, but he has again been outstanding in the middle of the park for the Reds this season.

It is Jordan Henderson’s deep-lying positional sense that has allowed his team-mates to flourish from an attacking sense this term, and it is no coincidence that they struggled without him in the 2-2 draw against lowly Sunderland at the Stadium of Light earlier this month.

As well as being a leader, the England international has also shown that he is capable of the spectacular – he scored a stunning goal in what could prove to be an important win against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in September.

CM: Adam Lallana

Henderson’s Liverpool and England team-mate Adam Lallana has also been one of the best players in the Premier League this season, and looks increasingly comfortable in Jurgen Klopp’s preferred 4-3-3 formation.

The former Southampton man has scored an impressive seven goals and provided the same number of assists in 18 Premier League appearances, and it is his ability to find himself in the right place at the right time that is particularly impressive and sees him take his spot in midfield ahead of the likes of United’s Henrikh Mkhitaryan.

RW: Roberto Firmino

Although he had some stiff competition from United’s Wayne Rooney and he may not have been here had Sadio Mane not been away at the Africa Cup of Nations, we have opted for the Brazilian in our combined XI.

The forward was a joy to watch as he linked up with the likes of Adam Lallana, Mane and his national compatriot Philippe Coutinho earlier in the campaign, and his ability to create a chance or a goalscoring opportunity out of nothing mean that he is a welcome addition to the starting line-up.

ST: Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Some, myself included, doubted whether Zlatan Ibrahimovic could replicate the form he had shown in previous years at Paris Saint-Germain when he made the move to the Premier League during the summer, but the Swedish striker has proved me, and many others, wrong.

The 35-year-old has scored 18 goals in all competitions and been the main focal point up top for United, but as well as his ability to put the ball in the back of the net, it is his all round hold-up play, personality and relationship with his Red Devils team-mates that is particularly impressive.

LW: Philippe Coutinho

The Brazilian magician is the seventh Liverpool player to feature in our combined XI, and he fully deserves his place in the side.

With his quick feet, ability to turn out of tight situations, being able to create chances out of nothing and the goalscoring threat he provides from outside the penalty area and from set pieces, there won’t be too many United supporters that wouldn’t want Coutinho ahead of the likes of Jesse Lingard and Anthony Martial.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has attracted negative attention on Twitter after he screamed in the fourth official’s face during his side’s 1-1 draw with Chelsea at Anfield on Tuesday night.

The German coach, who tends to be animated on the touchline during matches, appeared to angrily confront official Neil Swarbrick after Simon Mignolet saved Diego Costa’s penalty.

Klopp then proceeded to celebrate with his coaching staff as Liverpool cancelled out David Luiz’s first-half opener to claim a point.

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In the post-match press conference, the 49-year-old told reporters that he shouted, “No one can beat us,” before apologising and then receiving a reply from Swarbrick, who apparently said: “No problem, I like your passion.”

Some football fans on Twitter, though, believe that Klopp should face punishment for his actions, particularly as Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger was recently given a four-game touchline ban.

The Frenchman was found guilty of misconduct when he pushed the arm of fourth official Anthony Taylor in a win over Burnley a few weeks ago.

After Klopp’s actions were caught on camera, football fans unleashed their criticism on Twitter.

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Due to the ever-increasing rivalry between the two sets of supporters these days, the fact both Aston Villa and Newcastle United started their season in the Championship was a big talking amongst their rather sizeable fanbases.

With the Toon effectively relegated at Villa Park twice within the last decade, the fact they were joined by the Midlands giants, who meekly surrendered their Premier League status, provoked much debate.

Largely, the argument centred around just who would win the league title and who exactly had made the best signings to prepare for life in the second tier. Well, how long ago that must feel now for those on Trinity Road.

Currently sat far too close to League One for their liking, the Villans trail Rafa Benitez’s black and white army by a whopping 30 points ahead of their meeting at St. James’ Park. While this season hasn’t been as straightforward for the aforementioned Spaniard as hoped, it’s clear to see the Tyneside titans dealt with their dismal drop down in a much better fashion.

But how exactly did Villa get it so wrong? The levels of investment were largely the same for both clubs and, while Roberto Di Matteo proved to be unconvincing to say the least in the dugout, both men to take charge of the claret and blue army this term have experience in winning promotion.

Considering all this, here are FIVE things Villa got wrong that Newcastle got right.

Clearing out the deadwood

Ok, so selling the likes of Moussa Sissoko and Georginio Wijnaldum is by no means a masterstroke in the transfer market, but Benitez largely cleared his ranks of the deadwood. That’s not to say these two, in particular, are bad players – moves to Tottenham and Liverpool respectively clearly indicate they aren’t – yet their attitudes at times last term were indicative of the poisonous mood within the club.

Furthermore, the likes of Fabricio Coloccini, Steven Taylor and Daryl Janmaat were all cut adrift as the Spaniard sought to completely change the atmosphere within the club. Meanwhile, Villa kept a hold of players such as Gabriel Agbonlahor, Libor Kozak and Alan Hutton, men who’d watched their employers fall from grace for years.

Not enough match winners

On paper, Villa have a squad very capable of winning promotion from the Championship and a manager who certainly knows how to do exactly that. However, frustrating draws have proved to be a big part of their campaign, despite the big money spent on the likes of Jonathan Kodjia, Ross McCormack and, more recently, Scott Hogan to bolster their attack.

Within his squad, Bruce lacks anyone to really make a difference in the final third should the forward line remain isolated. Over at St. James’ Park, Benitez boasts the likes of Jonjo Shelvey, Ayoze Perez and Matt Ritchie to supplement Dwight Gayle, Aleksandar Mitrovic and Daryl Murphy.

Perhaps more money should have been ploughed into that area of the park.

No set formation

Since taking over, the run of results Bruce has been through has forced him into switching between a 4-4-2, 4-2-3-1 and a 3-5-2. Clearly, that’s a reactive policy, though little about Villa’s season, on the whole, has been proactive.

Benitez remains largely unwavering in the 4-2-3-1 approach he’s been using since his Liverpool days, sticking with that formation through thick and thin. With a set philosophy (for this season, at least) Newcastle look in good stead to find solutions to problems posed, rather than tinkering every other week.

Too quick to hit the panic button

As much as Newcastle were expected to walk the league, their first two games sent shockwaves up and down Tyneside as their expensively-assembled squad lost to both Fulham and Huddersfield Town. Such is the frantic nature of life in the North East, a crisis was seemingly just around the corner.

However, the Toon quickly recovered as their faith in Benitez’s ability to turn things around never dimmed and, despite a few more hiccups along the way, those August defeats seems to long ago now.

In stark contrast, Steve Bruce is already fielding questions about his future in charge at Villa Park, despite taking charge in October. While these may be testing times in the Midlands, they need to be realistic about changing years of a losing culture so quickly.

Ambitious signings

The fact two huge names in English football started the campaign in the Championship obviously resonated differently between both clubs. In many ways, it’s rather a novelty to see two such big clubs in the second tier, so they really should have been battling it out for the same calibre of player.

There really wasn’t all too much stopping Villa purchasing the likes of Dwight Gayle and Matt Ritchie, two players with experience of both the lower leagues and the Premier League, though they instead opted to sign players such as Ross McCormack and Jonathan Kodjia.

Perhaps they thought that was a smarter move, considering their experience in the Championship, though look at how that’s worked out. Exactly why they didn’t even try and rival the Toon in that regard must be a huge mystery to the Villa faithful.

After hearing Everton manager Ronald Koeman wax lyrical about Wayne Rooney, some Manchester United fans have called for a swap deal involving Romelu Lukaku.

During an interview with Sky Sports News, the Toffees boss admitted that Rooney would make his team “stronger” if he were to ever return to Goodison Park.

The England skipper developed his craft through the Everton youth academy and eventually in 2004 went on to sign for United, where he has won plenty of silverware, including five Premier League titles and the Champions League trophy.

This season under manager Jose Mourinho, Rooney has struggled for game time, starting just eight Premier League matches.

It has been widely speculated that he could move on when the transfer window reopens in the summer, despite recently releasing a statement confirming that he intends to stay at Old Trafford.

Koeman’s comments have got United fans thinking, with some more than happy to see Rooney return to his former club, while others want the league’s joint top scorer Lukaku to move the other way.

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It’s been a curious season at West Ham.

The Hammers started the season poorly, counter-intuitively picked up their form after talismanic midfielder Dimitri Payet was exiled from the first-team squad and are now amid a run of four games without a win in the Premier League.

It’s left the Irons lingering just below the Premier League’s halfway line in eleventh place and considering the investment last summer, not to mention their illustrious new stadium, anything other than getting to the other side of it before the end of the campaign will be deemed a disappointment.

Accordingly, question marks have lingered over Slaven Bilic in recent weeks, with West Ham yet to offer him the chance to extend his contract beyond the end of next season – which will undoubtedly lead to complications over the next twelve months.

With that in mind, we discussed the pros and cons of giving Bilic a new deal earlier this week, before giving Hammers fans the chance to have their say by voting in our exclusive poll.

Well, the results are now in and a staggering 76% of those took part believe the Croatian gaffer deserves a new deal at the London Stadium. Whether David Gold and Sullivan agree, however, remains to be seen.

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Arsenal return to Champions League action tonight for what could be the last time for a long time by their standards, trailing Bayern Munich by five goals to one, as well as the top four in the Premier League by two points.

Despite starting the campaign with so much optimism, the Gunners’ annual capitulation appears to have come around earlier than expected this year and the situation in north London has been made even worse of late following worrying reports surrounding forward Alexis Sanchez.

The Chilean was dropped for the weekend loss away at Liverpool, reportedly as a result of a training ground bust-up, and has since been linked with moves away from the Emirates Stadium. Exactly where the 28-year-old’s future lies remains to be seen of course, though there is the small matter of the home tie against Bayern tonight.

Wenger, diplomatic as ever, has claimed Sanchez was dropped as his side looked to go more direct. Still, whatever the reason behind his benching, we recently asked Arsenal fans if they wanted him back in starting XI.

As you can imagine, the answer was a resounding yes. An emphatic 80% want him back, leaving 20% in camp Wenger it seems.

Over to you, Arsene.

Earlier this week, the Championship announced the Team of the Season for 2016/17, with stars from the division’s top four clubs – Newcastle, Brighton, Huddersfield and Leeds – inevitably dominating proceedings.

But not all four can gain promotion to the top flight this season and after showing such impressive form, it seems inevitable the stars who miss out – and some of the ones who don’t – will catch flirtatious glances from Premier League clubs this summer.

West Ham have a pretty strong record when it comes to recruiting from the Championship, left-back Aaron Cresswell and this season’s current top scorer Michail Antonio being the obvious examples.

So earlier this week we asked Hammers fans to vote for which Team of the Season members they want Slaven Bilic to target during the next transfer window. Here’s a rundown of the top three…

3. Jonjo Shelvey

Unquestionably the most technically able central midfielder in the Championship this season, Jonjo Shelvey is probably a little too good for the second tier. He’s been a near permanence in the Newcastle lineup when not suspended this season, notching up four goals and seven assists in 34 league outings. Those rasping cross-field passes remain a defining feature of the former Liverpool and Swansea man’s game, but it’s never been a question of ability with the 25-year-old – the real problem has always been his attitude.

2. Chris Wood

Perhaps a consequence of how a reliable centre-forward has continually evaded the Hammers this season, Leeds target man Chris Wood ranked second in our poll. Indeed, whilst Andy Carroll, Andre Ayew, Simone Zaza, Diafra Sakho and Jonathan Calleri have netted just twelve Premier League goals combined this term, Wood’s amassed 24 in the Championship single-handed, rising to the top of the division’s scoring charts. Tall, powerful and aggressive, he’d be the perfect stand-in for the ever-injured Carroll.

1. Anthony Knockaert

An incredibly strong candidate for the Championship’s Player of the Season award, Anthony Knockaert – who once helped Leicester City reach the top flight – unsurprisingly claimed top spot in our poll. The tricky winger has been nothing short of phenomenal for second-place Brighton this season, notching up 13 goals and seven assists in 37 appearances whilst averaging the fourth-most successful dribbles per match of any player in the division. The Foxes hardly gave him a chance upon their promotion to the top flight but it seems more than likely the Frenchman will be there again next season, whether its with the Seagulls or another club.

Results

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