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Manchester United fans are feeling sorry for Eric Bailly after the defender has been left in the dark by manager José Mourinho so far this season. The 24-year-old was named on the bench on Saturday when United played with five defenders at the back, eventually losing 3-1 at West Ham United.

What surprised the club’s fans the most about the manager’s selection was the fact that midfielder Scott McTominay was used as a centre-back in the game. The result shows that Mourinho’s gamble didn’t work too well.

The tactics the gaffer will use in Tuesday evening’s Champions League match with Valencia remain to be seen, but some fans feel that Bailly has been mismanaged to a large extend despite being one of the more consistent defenders at Old Trafford.

The Red Devils will have to be at their best if they want to beat the Spanish outfit, and failing to get a positive result will only add more pressure on the club and manager.

Here are some of the Twitter reactions by United fans:

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Another season, two more big names entering the final year of their respective contracts at Arsenal, and others not cutting the best version of themselves under Unai Emery.

But who are the men that could step in and fill the boots of those potentially on their way out and who could be brought in to replace the likes of Aaron Ramsey and Danny Welbeck?

The transfer budget Arenal is unlikely to be in the hundreds of millions, and, unless the North London side can step back into the top four, the quality of the players in question may not be the big names needed to put together a first title challenge without Arsene Wenger.

Youth players can always be called on for games in the FA and EFL Cup, too, but is it too early to thrust the young Guns into the first team?

Here are some players Arsenal should target to rebuild the squad…

Should Arsenal deem Petr Cech no longer up for it, following a so-so start to the season that has mixed glimpses of his past glories with horror gaffes that nearly lead to an own goal on the opening day against Manchester City, Albania international Thomas Strakosha should be high on the list of replacements.

Bernd Leno is the likely man to take over from the 36-year-old, and has the perfect chance to show his worth for the Gunners with Cech ruled out due to a hamstring injury.

Moving Leno up to number one would leave Arsenal needing to look to the market to sign a new backup, with young goalie Emiliano Martinez not yet at the level needed for the first team.

Albanian keeper, Strakosha, therefore would be a perfect man to bring in as he has youth on his side at the age of 23 but also has experience from Serie A games for Lazio since 2016, following a loan spell at Salernitana.

Will he stay or will he go? That is the question over Ramsey’s future with the Gunners as the Welsh midfielder’s contract continues to wind down into its final months.

Should Arsenal allow the long-serving player to depart, reports have emerged Unai Emery wants Napoli midfielder Piotr Zielinski to replace him.

Zielinski, 24, has been touted as Ramsey’s successor as reported by Sport Mediaset, who claim the Poland international is the first-choice man to fill the former Cardiff starlet’s potential void.

Deciding whether Zielinski is the best option to replace Ramsey also falls on the question of what is the Arsenal star’s best position. Do they look to sign a defensive-focused midfielder to supplement the likes of Granit Xhaka, Lucas Torreira and Mattéo Guendouzi, or do they look to bring in a more attacking player to interchange with Mesut Ozil and Henrikh Mkhitaryan?

Also out of contract, Danny Welbeck is another Arsenal star looking at potential suitors as his deal runs short.

Welbeck joined Arsenal from rivals Manchester United and has made himself a key impact player with his goals off the bench without ever establishing himself as a starter in either of Wenger or Emery’s squads.

The versatile nature of Welbeck has given Arsenal a forward as comfortable up top as he is on the wing, helping to cover multiple positions across the front line.

But with his time at the Emirates appearing to reach its end, Arsenal have a choice on their hands -whether they sign a replacement or promote Reiss Nelson to the first team upon his return from loan at Hoffenheim.

Nelson, 18, broke into the Arsenal team last season as Wenger handed the English teenager sporadic games amidst his final term at the helm.

The London-born forward followed those games up with a new deal at Arsenal before departing on loan to the Bundesliga, so far making three appearances and scoring one goal for Hoffenheim.

Outside the Arsenal books, Argentinean attacking midfielder Matias Vargas has flaunted his desire to one day play for the North London side, stating in a TV interview “The Arsenal” when asked which elite club he’d most like to join.

Currently Vargas plays in the Primera División with Velez Sarsfield, but is starting to make a name for himself with 11 assists and five goals last season, leading to comparisons with Chelsea’s Eden Hazard.

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According to The Sun, Bournemouth are preparing a January offer for Brentford’s Chris Mepham.

What’s the word?

Mepham has been in fine form for the Bees so far this season and his solid showings in the Championship have earned him his first caps for the senior Wales international side. It is clear also, as per the aforementioned report, that the 6’3″ centre-back’s performances have attracted Premier League interest.

Mepham would be a good signing for Bournemouth, but the Cherries should not be allowed to have a clear run at the 20-year-old. Some other top flight sides would be wise to fight for the defender’s signature.

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Southampton are amongst the clubs who would do well to attract Mepham in January. If the Saints are to survive in the Premier League this season, then Mark Hughes’ squad will need bolstering in the winter transfer window. 

A much-needed injection of quality depth 

Whilst Mepham is as yet untested at the top level of club football, he has many of the attributes needed to thrive in the first tier. The Brentford academy graduate is strong in the air and reads the game well. 

With Southampton’s first choice centre-back pairing of Wesley Hoedt and Jannik Vestergaard struggling, and their rotation options – Maya Yoshida, Jack Stephens and Jan Bednarek – also leaving plenty to be desired, a new centre-back may well be a priority in January.

Bringing a young, hungry and talented defender such as Mepham to St Mary’s Stadium would provide a much-needed injection of quality depth to Hughes’ rearguard, and also increase competition for starting places in the squad.

What do you think, Saints fans – would Mepham be a smart signing or is investment more urgently needed elsewhere in January?

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Despite being a winger for the majority of his career, Mark Duffy has made a real name for himself in more of a No.10 role for Sheffield United – especially throughout the long-term absence of Paul Coutts because of injury.

The attacker has largely been deployed as the player behind the front two in Chris Wilder’s preferred 3-4-1-2 formation, and while the 33-year-old may not always have the legs to play the full 90 minutes, he is still making a major impact in the role and even signed a new two-and-a-half year deal in January.

The Liverpool-born star, who moved to Bramall Lane on a free having been released when his Birmingham City contract expired in 2016, has two goals and three assists in 11 Championship appearances so far this term.

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Duffy has 11 goals and 21 assists in 95 outings in total since he joined the Yorkshire outfit, and he showed his quality with three assists coming in the 3-2 win at Millwall last month, while he was also one of their biggest attacking threats in the 1-0 win against Hull City at Bramall Lane last time out.

We asked Sheffield United fans to vote on our poll to tell us if they thought the 33-year-old was their most important player or not, and a whopping 92% of them said he was as you can see from the results below.

Considering the club has the likes of Jack O’Connell, Oliver Norwood, John Fleck and Billy Sharp in their ranks the result is perhaps a little surprising, but it shows just how highly the Blades faithful rate Duffy.

Tottenham Hotspur spent the majority of their summer transfer window chasing a deal for Jack Grealish after the promising playmaker impressed during Aston Villa’s run to the Championship playoff final, but Daniel Levy ultimately refused to meet the Villans asking price. 

The initial reaction from the Spurs faithful was one of disappointment and bewilderment at their club’s failure to sign a single player during the window, but Grealish’s unconvincing start to the season may have altered their opinion somewhat.

Indeed, Villa have failed to hit the ground running in the Championship and Grealish’s lacklustre form has been a standout feature of their overall struggle, but Dean Smith’s appointment could be a decision which benefits the 23-year-old.

However, his slow start to the new campaign combined with his decision to extend his contract at Villa Park appears to have diverted Tottenham’s interest towards another Championship playmaker, Bradley Dack.

According to a recent report from the London Evening Standard, Tottenham are thought to have watched Dack this season as they begin scouting the market ahead of the January transfer window.

The success of James Maddison at Leicester City so far this season proves that players who thrive in the Championship are capable of making the step up to the Premier League.

However, it must be considered that Maddison is only 21 and Dack is set to turn 25 at the end of the year, so it’s unlikely that the jewel in Blackburn’s crown is going to emulate the former Norwich star’s success if he makes the switch.

Dack has continued where he left off from last season by scoring 8 goals in all-competitions since the Championship campaign kicked off in August, taking his tally to 17 in 2018.

And whilst there is no doubt that Dack would represent a risk for Tottenham, his goal-scoring prowess suggests that he would be a wiser acquisition than Grealish.

Whilst predominantly operating in a number ten role, Dack has proven he is much more than just a goalscorer by providing 5 assists this season, whereas Grealish has provided just 1 assist from 13 fixtures and he is yet to find the back of the net.

Dack is hardly the marquee signing that Tottenham fans will be craving in January after being starved of new recruits in the summer but, in terms of Championship playmakers, he is the best in the business right now.

Tottenham Hotspur fans – thoughts? Let us know below!

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As Manchester United earned a much-needed win against Everton this weekend, both Alexis Sanchez and Romelu Lukaku were confined to the bench from the start of the game. United produced a strong attacking performance, despite the two biggest and most expensive stars from their forward line watching on from the sidelines.

On the chalkboard

With a front three consisting of Anthony Martial, Marcus Rashford and Juan Mata, the Red Devils had a well-balanced attack featuring three players whose differing skillsets all complement one another. 

This was also an attacking trio unburdened of a star man. Due to this, no one player was given excessive attention by opposition defenders, nor was United’s forward play constantly being channeled towards the same individual. The absence of Lukaku and Sanchez made Jose Mourinho’s side both more cohesive in attack and less predictable.

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On top of that, Lukaku and Sanchez’s poor form has seen them come under extreme pressure, meaning that they often overcomplicate things or try to do too much themselves in order to force a positive outcome – this too has a detrimental effect on the team. 

However, United cannot go on forever with two of their costliest assets on the bench. The Portuguese boss must find a way get them firing again. 

Changes to make

First of all, both forwards must get back to the basics of their game and focus on improving their interplay with their teammates rather than individualistic pursuits on the pitch. 

Lukaku, in particular, also needs more support from his teammates and the tactical system they are deployed in. The Belgian No. 9 often cuts an isolated figure when leading the line at Old Trafford. Playing a 4-4-2 formation, with Sanchez alongside Lukaku, offers United an interesting attacking dynamic with lots of attributes and also presents the chance of a fresh start for the pair.

Everton have had a fairly inconsistent start to the season as following a summer where they brought in Marco Silva while also signing multiple players, The Toffees sit mid-table and haven’t lived up to the hype they had before the start of the season. 

Silva has a tonne of talent at his disposal and as of yet, he hasn’t quite maximised the best of the team.

In recent weeks Andre Gomes has returned from injury and looks as though he could be a quality player in the middle of the park. In the middle of the attack, Gylfi Sigurdsson has begun to show form while Richarlison has at times shown flashes of potentially a top-level striker up front.

On the wings, however, Everton had much threat. Ademola Lookman should be a crucial player for Silva on the flank but as of yet, has only made four appearances for the club in the league. With him out of favour on Merseyside, RB Leipzig’s director of football has admitted that the club is interested in the winger.

The Breakdown

Despite showing a lot of promise when he arrived at the club in 2017, the winger has found it hard to break into the team.

Last season he was sent on loan to Leipzig where he scored five goals in 11 games and was a sensation for the German club. Given his immense talent, it’s a massive surprise that Silva has managed to fit him into the side.

He’s an incredible talent and at the moment he’s being wasted at Everton.

Everton fans, thoughts? 

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Loads of Rangers fans have been reacting to Saturday’s win, and they’re not happy with the performance of Scott Arfield.

Rangers have been lacking a little bit of creativity in the middle of the park in the last few weeks, and fans were hopeful that Arfield’s return would solve the problem.

The ex-Burnley ace is certainly more positive in possession than the likes of Ryan Jack and Lassana Coulibaly, but his return on Saturday was largely disappointing.

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After going three games with just one goal, the Gers needed a wonderful strike from Daniel Candeias to break the deadlock at St Mirren, before a late strike from Alfredo Morelos made certain of the three points.

The performance was once again rather blunt though, as Steven Gerrard’s side failed to turn large spells of dominance into clear-cut chances.

Arfield is taking the brunt of fans’ frustration, as plenty are beginning to ask what the 30 year-old actually does.

You can find some of the best Twitter reactions down below, look away now Scott…

According to a recent report from CalcioMercato (via The Sun), Everton are one side interested in attacker Shinji Kagawa. The Japan international currently plays his football at German outfit Borussia Dortmund and has done so since leaving Manchester United back in 2014, but appears to have fallen down the pecking order at the Bundesliga club to call into question his future.

And reports suggest that Marco Silva’s Everton are one team, along with Manuel Pellegrini’s West Ham, who are keen on the 29-year-old, and with it reported that £12 million might be enough to secure his signature, clinching a deal for the midfielder could prove to be another Marcel Brands masterstroke.

The Breakdown

Ultimately, director of football Brands took over at Goodison Park back in March of this year to replace Steve Walsh in the role, and presided over what many deemed to be a hugely successful transfer window for the Toffees during the summer.

The likes of Andre Gomes and Yerry Mina were convinced to leave Barcelona for Everton while Bernard and Kurt Zouma also made the move to Goodison Park, let alone the big money deal for Richarlison which is looking more and more like an outstanding addition.

And with Zouma having impressed on loan from Chelsea and Gomes beginning to make his mark in the midfield, it’s clear that Brands pulled off a few masterstrokes during the summer – and clinching a £12 million deal for Kagawa could be another to add to his ever-growing collection.

The 29-year-old may have struggled during his time at United between 2012 and 2014, which is sure to be of concern to some Everton fans, but he has since proven his worth in Germany upon return to Dortmund, netting 31 goals and laying on 39 assists in the last four years or so.

In fact, the Japanese star has returned to the player United thought they were going to sign from Dortmund first time round to suggest that he has rediscovered his confidence after a troubling time at Old Trafford – his time in England, no matter how tough, may have done him good.

And while Everton are reasonably well-stocked in the attacking ranks at present, having someone like Kagawa in the squad can only be of benefit to manager Silva as the season wears on.

Gylfi Sigurdsson has slowly but surely found his best form in an Everton shirt this season to suggest that he is the number one choice in the number ten role, but having someone as talented as Kagawa just behind in the pecking order will surely push the Iceland international to be even better, as failure to do so could lose him his place in the starting eleven.

And for a reported £12 million, given just how good Kagawa can be and has proved to be in times gone by, it could prove to be an absolute bargain, and thus a transfer masterstroke just waiting to be sealed.

Everton fans… what do you think? Let us know!

Liverpool head into the international break with just two points separating them and first place Manchester City in the Premier League table following a 2-0 win over Fulham at Anfield on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Pep Guardiola’s men were able to retain their spot at the top thanks to a 3-1 victory versus rivals Manchester United, winning plenty of plaudits in the process after putting in an exceptional performance overall.

That, however, and Manchester City’s brilliant start to the season in general, has not fazed Virgil van Dijk and his Liverpool team-mates, according to the Dutchman.

The Breakdown

“They [Manchester City] are the champions and the best team in the league but we will try everything to be as good as we can,” van Dijk was quoted saying by Sky Sports.

“We don’t have to look at others, we want to look at the games we have and the next challenge we have at Liverpool is Watford away, which is going to be tough.

“The season is very long. They are not going to win every game 5-0 and are going to have tough games like everyone else. We need to look at what we have ahead of us and that is more important than looking at someone else. It is the only way forward.”

With the players they have including van Dijk himself and the results they have picked up so far, it is only natural for the Netherlands international to expect his side to have a good season.

However, it is hard to imagine van Dijk and co not being worried about Manchester City as they chase the club’s first Premier League title. Guardiola has so much in his arsenal, evident from how easily the Citizens saw off Manchester United without key man Kevin De Bruyne.

With that in mind, van Dijk and Liverpool should be scared about the challenge in front of them.