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Leeds United have had to wait all weekend to play but tonight they are back in action as they host Leicester City for the first time in 16 years as they go to head-to-head in the Premier League.

The Championship winners have made an encouraging start to life in the big time having lost just once in their last five outings – a win here at Elland Road could see them rise into the top five.

Marcelo Bielsa isn’t usually one to make many changes to his side, but there are plenty of selection headaches going into this tie.

Here’s the lineup we’re predicting this evening…

Bielsa was able to welcome back his skipper Liam Cooper to the fold this week, so he’s in line to come straight back into the starting XI.

Luke Ayling was selected to play alongside Robin Koch during their 3-0 drubbing of Aston Villa last week with Diego Llorente and Gaetano Berardi out through injury, but Cooper’s return sees him move back to the right flank.

It also allows Stuart Dallas to take stock on the left, meaning Gjanni Alioski is axed.

The Whites boss has a tough conundrum in what would usually be Kalvin Phillips’ role.

He hauled Pascal Struijk off after just 20 minutes at Villa Park as the youngster was a liability waiting to happen – his replacement Jamie Shackleton will surely get the nod this evening after they went onto win the match.

The 21-year-old is likely to partner Mateusz Klich in the middle with Pablo Hernandez coming in for €40m-rated (£36m) summer signing Rodrigo.

Jack Harrison and Helder Costa are seemingly untouchable on the wings despite the arrival of Raphinha late in the window.

Whilst Patrick Bamford will almost certainly lead the line once again.

AND in other news, Leeds should be kicking themselves for missing out on massive Klich upgrade…

Wolverhampton Wanderers are looking to bring in Wisla Krakow striker Aleksander Buksa in January, according to reports.

Buksa on Molineux radar

The 17-year-old has been described as the ‘new (Robert) Lewandowski’ by various outlets, which has attracted the interest of a number of elite clubs, including Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Inter (via Sempre Milan).

Buksa has started to pick up some first-team appearances, making six outings so far in the Polish Ekstraklasa (TransferMarkt).

According to Sportowefakty (via Sport Witness), super-agent Jorge Mendes and Israeli official Pini Zahavi are working together to get the Polish youngster to move to Wolves.

The report added that due to his contract talks with Wisla stalling, and with his deal due to expire in 2021, not 2023 as suggested, the West Midlands outfit are keen to snatch him for a discounted price before he turns 18 and can sign a more lucrative contract with the Polish club.

Transfer Tavern take

While Buksa is not a big name in Europe, he has been raved about and it is no surprise that there are a lot of big clubs after him.

But Mendes’ contact book will surely hand the advantage to Nuno Espirito Santo’s side, who have the pulling power to attract players with high potential to the Premier League.

Time will tell whether Wolves are serious about signing Buksa. It would be wise to get him sooner rather than later.

In other news, BBC Sport pundit gives glowing verdict to Wolves ahead of Monday night clash.

Liverpool were able to secure their place in the knockout stages with a 1-0 win against Ajax in the Champions League on Tuesday night. However, the performance of captain Jordan Henderson may have Jurgen Klopp concerned.

A solitary goal from Curtis Jones proved to be the difference between the two sides on the evening, but the Eredivisie side looked threatening throughout the 90 minutes and were perhaps unfortunate to leave with nothing, with only a brilliant late save from Caoimhin Kelleher denying Klaas-Jan Huntelaar.

Henderson made his first start for Liverpool since recovering from injury in the win although the stats suggest that he wasn’t his usual self against the Dutch giants.

As per SofaScore, the 30-year-old had just 56 touches of the ball during his time on the pitch and completed 36/44 passes, resulting in a pass accuracy rate of 82%.

Whilst his passing was fairly impressive, as he made three key passes against Erik ten Hag’s side, it was his defensive contribution that might have worried his German manager.

The England international made no tackles during the game, was dribbled past once and won zero of his four duels, suggesting that the Ajax players often had the better of the former Sunderland man.

Considering the lack of midfielders available in Klopp’s side at the moment, with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, James Milner, Thiago and Naby Keita all sidelined, he will be relying on players such as Henderson to be at their best as we approach the busy Christmas period.

The former Borussia Dortmund boss was full of praise for his captain in January of this year, saying:

“He is exceptional; he is outstanding. Gini (Wijnaldum) and Hendo, especially, because they have had to play the biggest number of games this season.

“What they do is just incredible – absolutely incredible. I do not take that for granted for one second. If anybody who is with us still doesn’t see the quality of Jordan Henderson, then I cannot help them.

“Is Hendo the perfect football player? No. Do I know anybody who is? No. But is he unbelievably important to us? Yes.”

Therefore, Henderson will arguably have to perform a lot better than he did on Tuesday night in future matches, as the Reds attempt to retain the Premier League title, with their next match seeing them take on Wolves at Anfield on Sunday evening.

And, in other news… Liverpool made a big mistake in releasing “absolutely incredible” midfield maestro

It wouldn’t soon be a transfer window without West Brom being linked to a former loan star, only this time, he could be everything they need to kickstart and salvage their struggling season…

What’s the word?

According to ChronicleLive, Dwight Gayle is very much still a player on the Baggies’ radar going into January and they claim that a return to the Hawthorns may seem likely if the 30-year-old does not renew his contract at Newcastle United.

His current deal is set to expire in the summer, so the Magpies may look to cash in on his services next month should he not feature in Steve Bruce’s long-term plans.

Last season, Albion tried to bring Gayle back to the Midlands but the talismanic striker wanted a fair crack at the Premier League on top of the potential finances involved that would have been way out of their reach.

A popular call…

If Luke Dowling and Slaven Bilic are wanting to spark a reaction both on and off the pitch, then they should absolutely push to sign the £7m-rated marksman. They know all too well what they’d be getting and the fans would surely love to see Gayle back in a Baggies shirt.

During the 2018/19 season whilst on loan, Gayle spearheaded Darren Moore’s attack, leading to 23 goals in just 39 appearances as West Brom made the Championship playoffs.

Indeed, his overall goalscoring record is pretty respectable too, bagging 92 goals in 239 appearances across the Premier League and the EFL, via Transfermarkt.

Kyle Bartley was one Albion player who witnessed his first spell and he told BirminghamLive all about the striker’s impressive ability, he said:

“Dwight is a proven goalscorer and he is always going to get you goals and his work-rate off the ball is also immense. His movement is fantastic and you know at all times he wants to score goals and you know any little lapse and he is going to be in. I think he is very sharp and fit and has come in looking very dangerous.”

Karlan Grant’s summer switch to the Premier League outfit has failed to pay dividends thus far, scoring just once in seven starts whilst no other player has scored more than twice yet this term, via WhoScored.

Gayle is currently on £40k-per-week wages at St James’ Park, which would put him among Albion’s highest earners, though if the club can successfully offload Charlie Austin and his £52k-per-week salary, then it could free up a potential loan move – if not a permanent and free swoop in the summer.

AND in other news, West Brom dropped the ball over 32-cap speed demon with “exceptional qualities”…

Leeds United are currently in the middle of a huge defensive crisis after Liam Cooper picked up an injury against Manchester United. He joins Robin Koch on the sidelines ahead of their clash with Burnley at the weekend.

Speaking to Lancashire Live, Marcelo Bielsa has confirmed that Diego Llorente will return to training ahead of the Elland Road clash, but there is no guarantee that he will start.

Pascal Struijk, Leif Davies and 20-year-old Oliver Casey are currently the only central options the boss has to choose from unless he dips into the youth team.

The former came on in place of Kalvin Phillips in midfield last time out, but Bielsa now has no other choice but to deploy him in his natural position in defence.

Bielsa must start Struijk vs Burnley

Despite being an excellent option to select, Struijk has made just three Premier League starts so far, tallying five appearances in total this season.

However, his absence is not something that’s new. Since joining the club’s youth ranks in 2018, the Dutchman has made a total of 11 appearances for the Whites, as per Transfermarkt.

In the absence of key players like Koch and Cooper, now could be the perfect opportunity for Struijk to show his worth at the Yorkshire outfit. It would be a huge confidence boost for the £25k-per-week workhorse, but it will also resurrect team morale following their lofty 6-2 defeat to Man United.

According to MOT Leeds News, Paul Robinson has expressed his concern over Leeds’ injury worries. He described the loss of captain Cooper as a “massive blow” that would “cripple any team”.

Indeed, the Whites will be fearful of Burnley’s star striker Chris Wood, who could seriously trouble their backline on Sunday. They should know all too well about his abilities.

Bielsa has been deploying Luke Ayling in the middle of the defence recently, but to maximise his chances of coming away with a result, the Argentinian needs to put faith in Struijk.

The 21-year-old could be vital against Burnley, allowing Ayling to perform more comfortably in his natural role at right-back.

In other news, Orta must move for “real talent” Michael Olise to replace Forshaw…

Carlo Ancelotti has confirmed that changes are on the cards for Everton when they host Manchester United in the Carabao Cup quarter-final on Wednesday night.

The Toffees welcome Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s Red Devils back to Goodison Park for the second time in two months looking to avenge a 3-1 Premier League defeat and secure progression through to the semi-final of the EFL Cup for the first time since 2016.

Everton lost 4-3 on aggregate to Manchester City the last time they reached the final four, and have not gone all the way to the final since finishing as runners-up during the 1983/84 season in the sole domestic competition the Blues are yet to ever win.

So, with changes likely from the side which beat Arsenal at the weekend as Ancelotti looks to rest and rotate his favoured players over the hectic festive schedule, here’s a line-up the Italian could name…

Jordan Pickford’s relentless stay between the Everton posts in Premier League games was brought to an end when the goalkeeper was benched at Newcastle United earlier this season before again being rested at Leicester City last week, and he may find that Robin Olsen earns the gig against United in the midweek Carabao Cup clash.

Ancelotti has confirmed he is yet to decide on who starts on Wednesday night, but wishes to name as strong a side as possible.

“I didn’t decide yet for tomorrow but for sure because we are going to play a lot of games, I’m going to rotate the goalkeepers,” the former Chelsea boss said, via quotes by the Liverpool Echo. “If Jordan plays tomorrow, then Robin will play against Sheffield United or vice versa.”

The performances of defenders Ben Godfrey, Michael Keane and Yerry Mina against Arsenal should see the trio retain their starting places alongside midfielders Abdoulaye Doucoure and Gylfi Sigurdsson plus wing maestro Richarlison in Wednesday’s cup meeting.

Mason Holgate, despite impressing, may find that he misses out, though, after Seamus Coleman made his return from a hamstring injury as a late substitute in the weekend’s win.

Question marks also reside over Tom Davies’ involvement against the Red Devilswith him having struggled to fill Allan’s void at home to the Gunners, with Andre Gomes a potential replacement should Ancelotti consider a more attacking box-to-box presence.

Ancelotti will be without summer arrival James Rodriguez after noting the Colombian has failed to overcome a calf injury in time, despite hopes of the 29-year-old being fit to face United, and he will now look to the Sheffield United game for his return.

Alex Iwobi has stood in for the former Real Madrid playmaker in recent weeks yet he too could sit out to afford academy graduate Anthony Gordon, who David Unsworth lauds as a “special talent”, only his second first-team start of the season after three assists in the early EFL Cup rounds.

Cenk Tosun will be hoping he, too, earns a rare start against United in place of top-scorer Dominic Calvert-Lewin, with the Carabao Cup clash a potential final chance for the in-demand striker to put in a performance that could save his Goodison Park future.

Calvert-Lewin has started all 14 of Everton’s Premier League games and two of their three EFL Cup ties, scoring 14 times and providing one assist, while not missing a minute of top-flight football since matchday two in September.

AND in other news: “Ancelotti’s sort of player” – Exclusive: Marcel Brands urged to make Everton swoop for £18m-rated maestro.

Some Everton fans were left slamming the display of James Rodriguez in their FA Cup tie versus Rotherham United.

Despite the attacking midfield player grabbing himself an assist for the winning goal scored by Abdoulaye Doucoure, some members of the Goodison Park faithful did not think that he had a good game before the extra time period, in a game where the Merseyside club managed to hold out for a 2-1 win in the end after being held 1-1 in normal time by the EFL League Two team at home.

The Colombia international managed to lose possession of the ball no fewer than 22 times in the match, and also lost out on seven of his duels, while failing to register a single shot on target or successful cross, earning him a quite measly 6.6 overall rating on Sofascore.

Everton fan reaction to Rodriguez display

These Toffees supporters slammed his performance on Twitter, with one Blues fan even going as far to say that the 29 year-old is a ‘liability’:

“Thank goodness that’s over. Never ending game. We were better once Doucoure came on. James was awful. Albeit setting up a goal. Didn’t think Tosun’s second was offside. Won’t do us any favours playing extra time with Wolves on Tuesday. #EFC”

Credit: @davidleatham

“James falling over after having being fouled by the invisible man kind of sums up this garbage so far. We need another 5 decent players at least. #EFC”

Credit: @allkickingoff

“James has been disappointing. #EFC”

Credit: @ParrettGost

“Rotherham are pressing more effectively than Everton and deserve to be level. They are passing more accurately and finding space and Everton are second best at present. James looks unfit and is doing little in midfield.”

Credit: @RogerWi33581994

“Someone tell James to take that Everton shirt off, fella showing why he came to us for one last payday”

Credit: @Marty_Logue

“Guy’s a liability. Gomes couldn’t find another blue shirt if his life depended on it. Need some new signings”

Credit: @mattwal00831818

In other news, find out a transfer update that Fabrizio Romano has dropped on one reported EFC target here!

In an exclusive interview with Football FanCast, former Hull City midfielder Dean Windass has been discussing Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl, after he has been linked with the Chelsea job in recent weeks.

After an impressive start to the season, Chelsea have endured a dreadful run of form recently, which has seen them drop to ninth position in the Premier League table.

Unsurprisingly, it has been suggested that manager Frank Lampard is close to losing his job at Stamford Bridge, with Hasenhuttl tipped as one possible successor with the London club.

The Austrian manager has had a great turnaround with Southampton over the past 18 months, turning them into top-six contenders after it looked as if they were set for a relegation battle in the first half of last season.

Here’s what Windass had to say about the chances of Chelsea hiring Hasenhuttl when speaking exclusively to FFC:

“I can’t see him going to Chelsea. I can’t see Chelsea getting rid of Frank this season, or next season. I think when the supporters are back, then there’s a different bearing on football, there’s a different bearing on life.

“It’s amazing that the Southampton manager, last year. was probably the favourite to get the sack and now you’re talking about him managing in the top-four. What an unbelievable job by the way. They do actually remind me of Liverpool now in the sense of the way they press, the energy, the pace and that they’ve got an out-and-out centre-forward.

“Will he get another job? If they finish in the top-four this season, certainly. If the Southampton manager gets into the top-four, he will have a job for life, wherever he wants.”

Windass certainly feels that if the Saints continue to impress, then Hasenhuttl could get a job wherever he wants in the future.

However, he feels that Chelsea will stick with Lampard despite their recent results, so perhaps the Austrian won’t be moving to Stamford Bridge anytime soon.

Such a move would represent an opportunity for the Southampton manager to be reunited with Timo Werner, who he worked with at RB Leipzig, as well as some world-class players, so if Chelsea do end up making an approach, it may be difficult to convince him to stay with the South Coast club.

And, in other news… Forget JWP: Saints beast who made more tackles than anyone else was Ralph’s FA Cup star

According to Sunday World’s Kevin Palmer, Liverpool are likely to revive their interest in Lille centre-back Sven Botman following the injuries to Joel Matip and Fabinho, which could leaves Klopp with no senior centre-back options ahead of the weekend’s game with West Ham.

What’s the word?

Liverpool’s need to sign a centre-back has been clear to fans, and most likely Jurgen Klopp, for some time now but following the injuries suffered by Fabinho and Matip recently, the Reds must bring in a defender before the transfer deadline, otherwise, they risk providing a feeble title defence.

Matip was forced off at half-time in the 3-1 win against Tottenham Hotspur on Thursday night after damaging his ankle ligaments, and the early suggestions are that it could be a long absence for the Cameroonian international.

Fabinho, meanwhile, missed the game at Spurs with a minor muscle injury, but there is currently no timescale for when he might return to action.

It was no surprise, therefore, that after the final whistle, links to Lille centre-back Sven Botman resurfaced, with the young defender having been heavily linked with a move to Anfield earlier in the window.

Should LFC sign him?

Botman’s reputation in France is quickly growing after impressing with his performances for the Ligue 1 side following his summer arrival from Ajax.

In 21 appearances in the French top-flight, the Dutch centre-back has averaged an excellent 7.07 rating, which ranks him as Lille’s fourth-best performer so far this season.

He has also helped Les Dogues to an impressive 10 clean sheets so far this season and on an episode of the Transfer Window podcast, journalist Duncan Castles relayed the thoughts of his centre-back partner Jose Fonte:

“Fonte has played with an array of top-class centre-backs in his career including Virgil van Dijk, Toby Alderweireld, Pepe in the Portuguese national team and Gabriel last season who is now at Arsenal.

“From what I understand of Fonte’s impression of Botman, he thinks he’s the best of all of them.

“He describes him as a machine and a man who doesn’t make mistakes and also indicates that for a young player playing alongside an experienced professional, he’s very open to learning and taking instruction and improving his game.”

If Fonte is rating Botman higher than Van Dijk, with whom he played with at Southampton, then he would surely prove to be an excellent signing for the Reds.

Botman has won 3.6 aerials per game on average so far this season, which is more than any of Van Dijk, Gomez, Matip or Fabinho, which suggests that he would be a useful addition to Klopp’s squad this month.

As he is just 21-years-old, he certainly wouldn’t be a panic buy and could be an excellent long-term option for the Reds to have, so it seems as if the £22.5 million-rated defender could well be the man to solve the defensive crisis in Klopp’s squad if he is brought to Anfield by Michael Edwards this month.

And, in other news… Forget Trent: LFC “machine” who played four key passes was Klopp’s star vs Spurs

Liverpool are reportedly considering including Marko Grujic in a swap deal next summer, which would see him leave Liverpool after five years with the Merseyside club.

The Serbian was Jurgen Klopp’s first signing as Liverpool boss when he joined in January 2016, although he stayed with Red Star Belgrade on loan until the end of the season.

In the time since, the midfielder has failed to ever really establish himself as a first-team player with the Reds, having made just 16 appearances for the first-team, in which he has contributed one goal and one assist.

In an interview with Anfield Watch, Sky Sports reporter Fabrizio Romano has suggested that:

“Marko Grujic, I’m told, could be involved in some possible swap deals next summer if Liverpool have some good opportunities to add in midfield or in defence.

“He could be an interesting player to offer so they will try to do something smart again, as they have previously with the Diogo Jota deal for example.”

Therefore, it seems likely that the 24-year-old could depart Anfield in the summer, after what has been an extremely underwhelming spell with the Merseyside club.

Grujic has spent each of the last four seasons on loan, spending time with Cardiff City, Hertha Berlin and FC Porto in that time, suggesting that his five years with Liverpool have been something of a nightmare for the young midfielder, as he has never really been able to settle and force his way into the starting XI.

He is currently with the Portuguese side and has endured a pretty poor season so far, averaging a disappointing 6.46 rating for his performances in the Liga NOS, with the majority of his appearances for Sérgio Conceição’s side coming from the bench.

Therefore, it seems unlikely that the Serbian international is going to return and become a first-team regular under Klopp, so offering him out in a swap deal could be the ideal way for Michael Edwards to get rid of the midfielder, who reportedly earns £25k per week at Anfield, in a decision that would bring an end to his five-year nightmare stay with the Reds.

And, in other news… Time is running out for FSG: Liverpool development on £100k-p/w beast is bad news for Klopp