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Since the arrival of Unai Emery, Aston Villa’s recruitment has been solely tailored towards the Spaniard's philosophy and style of play.

This isn’t always the case for some clubs, but at Villa, performance on the field is of the utmost priority.

Recent signing Morgan Rogers is a prime example of that, due to his ability to play in the second striker role and cover multiple other positions in a fluid system.

However, there are also players before Emery’s time that fit his style like a glove, with a signing by Dean Smith now seeing his value soar – thanks to the influence of the former Arsenal boss.

Douglas Luiz’s early Villa career

Douglas Luiz's Villa career could have looked extremely different from what it is today if luck wasn’t on their side during the 2019/20 season.

During the Brazilian’s first season at Villa Park after moving from Manchester City for £15m, Smith’s side narrowly avoided relegation to the Championship by just one point in dramatic fashion.

Throughout that campaign, the young midfielder featured in 36 Premier League matches, often playing alongside John McGinn and Marvelous Nakamba in a 4-3-3 system.

Since then, Luiz has started at least 30 Premier League matches in every season, becoming a key player for every Villa manager in charge over his time at the club.

Douglas Luiz’s value in 2024

Fast forward to today, and Luiz is one of the finest midfielders in the Premier League, if not Europe. The former Vasco de Gama prospect already had quality in abundance, but since playing alongside Boubacar Kamara he has really flourished.

The number six can do it all on the field, bringing intensity, tenacity, and technical class every time he steps foot on the grass, with his consistency adding the cherry on top.

The former Girona man has started all but one league game this season, with his only absence being due to suspension. Luiz has been one of the catalysts for Villa’s incredible development this season, which has put them in a position to challenge for the Champions League.

Over the first half of the campaign, Luiz has netted seven goals and provided four assists from a defensive midfield role, which makes him an extremely unique profile.

Average rating

7.45

1st

Goals

7

2nd

Assists

4

3rd

Shots (P90)

1.8

2nd

Big chances created

8

1st

Key Passes (P90)

1.6

1st

Tackles (P90)

2.0

2nd

As you can see, Luiz is instrumental to the way Emery’s side plays, both going forward and when defending, and this season he has been absolutely “outstanding,” as per journalist Jacob Tanswell.

He’s priceless to the club, and with plenty of big clubs, including Arsenal, reportedly interested in signing the star, Villa have reportedly valued the 25-year-old at £100m – an increase of 566% in relation to his initial £15m cost.

Overall, it’s obvious that the signing of Luiz has been one of the best transfer moves in the club’s history, and if they were to sell the former Man City ace, they would pocket a significant sum.

Chelsea are reportedly set to complete a £17 million ($22m) deal for Aaron Anselmino and the Boca Juniors wonderkid will be sent straight out on loan.

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Chelsea in advanced talks with Boca JuniorsFinal agreement yet to be reachedAnselmino will be loaned to StrasbourgWHAT HAPPENED?

According to negotiations between Chelsea and Boca Juniors are progressing well, with both clubs moving toward a final agreement. Although a deal has not yet been officially concluded, the discussions have reached an advanced stage, and personal terms are reportedly not expected to pose any significant hurdles. The Brazilian is set to sign a six-year contract that will tie him to Chelsea until 2030.

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Strasbourg, who have been integrated into Chelsea’s multi-club ownership model, serve as an essential platform for developing young talent. Players like Angelo Gabriel and Andrey Santos have benefited from loan spells at the French club, gaining valuable experience and honing their skills. Anselmino is expected to follow in their footsteps as he will also be loaned to the side to facilitate his transition into European football, providing him with the competitive match experience needed to thrive at Chelsea in the future.

DID YOU KNOW?

Chelsea's interest in Anselmino is part of a larger trend within the club's recruitment strategy, which focuses on acquiring top-tier talent from South America. Earlier this month, Chelsea confirmed the €57m (£48m/$61m) signing of Palmeiras winger Willian Estevao. The 17-year-old Brazilian will join the squad next summer once he turns 18, further underscoring Chelsea's commitment to investing in young prospects.

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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT?

By targeting young, versatile talents and integrating them into their multi-club model, Chelsea aims to develop a pipeline of future stars. As Anselmino prepares for a loan spell at Strasbourg after leaving Brazil, it will be regarded as a stepping stone in European football for the 19-year-old centre-back.

MatériaMais Notícias

A boa campanha da Portuguesa no Campeonato Carioca, no qual caminha para se classificar à semifinal da Taça Guanabara, tem alguns rostos importantes. Everton Heleno, por exemplo, foi titular em alguns jogos, suplente utilizado em outros… e fez um gol na goleada por 5 a 1 sobre o Bangu, no último sábado.

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– Estou vivendo um momento muito especial e agradeço ao clube por isso. Venho trabalhando muito para ajudar dentro e fora de campo e para fazer um grande Campeonato Carioca com o grupo. Estou muito feliz – garante o meia.

Experiente, Everton Heleno tem passagens por clubes como Sport, Mogi Mirim, Santa Cruz e CSA. Na Lusinha, quer que a equipe leve o desempenho no torneio estadual para a sequência da temporada.

– Estamos fazendo um bom campeonato até aqui e isso é importante. Vamos procurar manter o ritmo forte para melhorarmos ainda mais nosso desempenho em campo na temporada – completou.

Leeds United are working to complete the permanent signing of Joe Rodon, according to a new transfer update regarding his future.

Leeds transfer news

The Whites are sitting in fourth place in the Championship currently, but there is a seven-point gap between themselves and the automatic promotion places, showing that there is still work to be done. Daniel Farke may feel that new signings in the January transfer window will boost his side's chances of avoiding the dreaded playoffs this season, and plenty of players have been linked with moves to Elland Road this month.

For example, Liverpool right-back Calvin Ramsay has been backed to join Leeds in recent days, with the young Scot being recalled by the Reds after an injury-plagued loan spell at Preston North End. Tottenham defender Ben Davies is also seen as a target, with the Welshman at the opposite end of his career to Ramsay, possessing so much experience at the top level.

Luton Town wing-back Ryan Giles is another player who has been linked with the Whites, and it is encouraging to see the club looking at Premier League players as additions.

Leeds working on permanent Joe Rodon signing

Meanwhile, according to a fresh update from Football Insider, Leeds are "working on a deal" to make Rodon's loan move a permanent one, having impressed since arriving from Tottenham on a temporary basis.

"Leeds United are working on a deal to sign Joe Rodon permanently from Tottenham following his excellent first six months at the club, sources have told Football Insider. However, a well-placed insider has revealed that a deal is “unlikely” to be completed this month due to the cost of the transfer fee.

"It is believed that the Whites’ preference is to get an agreement in place over a full-time move as soon as possible amid fears the Welshman’s price could skyrocket if he continues to excel at Elland Road in the second half of the season. There is expected to be plenty of interest in the 26-year-old in the summer when clubs across the board will have more money to spend on permanent signings."

The report adds that Rodon's value 'could rise beyond the £15m mark, even towards £20m, if he continues to excel for Leeds' and they go on to achieve their promotion ambitions.

Leeds and the 49ers Enterprises signing Rodon permanently is a no-brainer and would be a statement of intent, considering how well he has done at the heart of the defence since arriving at the club last August. He has started 23 of his side's Championship matches, winning an average of 2.7 aerial duels per game, and former Whites defender Jon Newsome has lauded him, saying back in September:

"Outstanding. Absolutely outstanding. Joe Rodon was man of the match for me. He got his head on everything. He was a different class, he really, really was."

At 26, Rodon could be just about to come into his prime, and with Spurs seemingly not considering him a key part of their plans moving forward, he and Leeds could be a perfect match for years to come.

Aston Villa secured a wonderful comeback win against Brentford on the weekend to extend their unbeaten Premier League run to six games after they last suffered a loss against Nottingham Forest at the beginning of November.

Unai Emery’s men have also secured qualification to the Europa Conference League knockout stages and this season could certainly be one to remember if they manage to maintain this current form.

With continental football over until March, the Spaniard will now be focusing on the top flight and if the Midlands side defeat Sheffield United on Friday evening, they will jump to top spot in the table.

If Liverpool and Arsenal draw on the 23rd, Villa will be top at Christmas for the first time since 1998, yet even being in the top four is an incredible achievement.

The Blades are bottom of the table and this could suggest Emery makes a few changes to his starting XI from the tie against Brentford.

Latest Aston Villa transfer news: Unai eyes £40m deal; Saudi club want star

It’s a huge summer for Aston Villa and Unai Emery as they prepare for the Champions League.

By
Emilio Galantini

Jul 11, 2024

With this in mind, we at Football FanCast predict what team the former Arsenal boss will pick tomorrow evening…

1

GK – Emiliano Martínez

No surprise to see the Argentinian continue to start in the Premier League as he has missed just one match in the top flight this campaign.

He will be looking for only his fifth clean sheet against Sheffield Utd, however, and this could go a long way to securing three points.

2

CB – Ezri Konsa

Emery deployed a 3-5-2 formation against the Bees, and it did the trick during their 2-1 victory, and he will use this tactic again.

Konsa has featured in 25 matches this season, and he is becoming a key part of Emery’s side as they chase glory.

3

CB – Diego Carlos

The Brazilian has recovered from a tough debut season in the Midlands to playing a major role in Villa’s resurgence under Emery.

He made just three appearances last term due to suffering a serious injury in August 2022, but has regained fitness and has made eight league starts thus far.

4

CB – Pau Torres

The Spaniard retains his place from the weekend victory, and it means Emery will keep the back three as it was ahead of the tie against the Blades.

Signed from Villarreal in the summer, Torres has started every single Premier League game after coming on for the injured Tyrone Mings during the first game of the season against Newcastle United and has turned into one of the best signings of the summer.

5

RM – Leon Bailey

Matty Cash didn’t enjoy the best of games against the Bees as he was forced into a more advanced role. The defender missed a big chance, succeeded with just one dribble and won just two ground duels, and he should well be dropped for the game tomorrow.

Bailey will replace him and the former Bayer Leverkusen winger has been in wonderful form this term. He has scored eight goals and grabbed eight assists in just 23 matches so far and his presence on the right could give Villa a greater attacking threat from the wing.

6

CM – John McGinn

The Scot was rested against Zrinjski but came on with 30 minutes remaining – notching an assist – and he will continue his streak of starting every single league tie this term on Friday evening.

With four goals and two assists in the Premier League, the 29-year-old offers an attacking threat from the midfield area and this could be crucial as the season goes on.

7

CM – Douglas Luiz

Boubacar Kamara is suspended for the Blades clash having picked up a red card on the weekend and this will mean Luiz returns to the starting XI following his own suspension.

The Brazilian has been in sensational form this term, registering ten goal contributions from the heart of the midfield and with interest coming from Arsenal regarding a potential January swoop, Emery has placed a £100m price tag on him.

Hailed as “outstanding” by writer Martin Laurence back in 2021, the 25-year-old has gone from strength to strength and is a huge asset to Villa.

8

CM – Jacob Ramsey

The academy graduate keeps his place from the win over Brentford and this completes the central midfield trio for Villa.

The 22-year-old has suffered a stop-start first few months of the season due to injury issues and has made only one league start during 2023/24, but this will change tomorrow evening against the Blades.

He is scoreless since netting against Brighton back in September, but a clash against the bottom club in the league presents a wonderful opportunity for the youngster.

9

LM – Alex Moreno

Like Ramsey, Moreno has also suffered his own injury issues and made his first appearance of the season against Legia Warsaw at the end of November, and he even scored the winner.

Operating in a more advanced role against Brentford, the left-back managed to get on the scoresheet once again, and he will retain his place ahead of the clash against the Blades.

10

ST – Moussa Diaby

The Frenchman has tended to be deployed in a more central role during his league appearances this term and while he hasn’t quite lived up to the vast expectations upon his arrival in the summer, the 24-year-old has still scored four times and grabbed five assists.

Emery will likely continue to persevere with him in an advanced role, and he will partner Ollie Watkins against Chris Wilder's side.

Glasgow Rangers are currently on a six-match winning run which has seen the Gers secure progress to the Europa League knockout stage while securing their first League Cup title since 2011.

It has been a remarkable previous ten days for Philippe Clement as winning his first piece of silverware for the club after just two months in charge will give him a major confidence boost.

There are still three more fixtures to come before the winter break, however, and securing maximum points from these clashes will be vital if the Belgian tactician wants to win the Scottish Premiership title.

The Light Blues are suffering from an injury crisis at the moment, however, and with the January transfer window just around the corner, could the 49-year-old coach bolster his squad with a few new signings?

Clement could ease Lundstram blow by unleashing "exceptional" Rangers dynamo

The central midfielder now looks set for a spell on the sidelines through injury.

By
Dan Emery

Dec 21, 2023

Rangers transfer news – Fabio Silva

Clement has a plethora of midfielders on the treatment table along with a couple of attacking players, most notably Danilo, and the onus will be on him to strengthen these areas with suitable reinforcements.

With this in mind, the Gers appear to be in the race for a current Premier League forward with ambitions of adding another striker to their squad.

According to Portuguese outlet O Jogo, the Ibrox side are currently in the race to sign Wolverhampton Wanderers striker Fabio Silva next month.

The youngster looks set to leave the Old Gold after failing to live up to the staggering £35m fee which saw him leave Porto to join the Midlands side aged just 18 in 2020.

Old Firm rivals Celtic are also said to be interested alongside a host of Spanish sides, but the report claims the two Scottish sides are the clubs who are leading the chase for the forward.

He is currently valued at around €14.9m (£13m) according to Football Transfers, but a loan move could be the most likely course of action if he is to move north of the border.

Heading into January, Clement is missing Danilo for around four months due to a knee injury, while Cyriel Dessers and Abdallah Sima could be set to play at the Africa Cup of Nations and this leaves his forward options thin on the ground.

A move for Silva could be a decent short-term move and would allow the former AS Monaco coach to ease the blow of losing the Brazilian striker until he is ready to return.

Danilo’s statistics this season

Arriving for a fee of £6m from Feyenoord during the summer transfer window, the Ibrox faithful may have had big expectations for the striker.

Michael Beale did not place much faith in the player, however, as he started just three matches before the English boss was sacked following a 3-1 defeat to Aberdeen in September.

Since Clement has taken charge, though, Danilo has been rejuvenated, and he forged his way into the starting XI after a few decent showings.

In the 11 matches he has featured in under the Belgian, the 24-year-old scored three goals and grabbed a further four assists as he demonstrated his all-round ability in the penalty area.

His finishing ability needs work as he missed nine big chances, but his direct approach and physical strength caused chaos in opposition defences, and it looked as though he could eventually live up to his massive fee under Clement.

Just as he was gaining some consistency, he suffered a knee injury against Hearts, and it is unlikely that the supporters will see him play again before April.

While Silva may also not be the most clinical in front of goal, he could be an ideal replacement for the former Feyenoord striker until he is ready to make his return.

Fabio Silva has struggled at Wolves

A move to the Premier League having made just 12 senior league appearances and scoring once is a daunting prospect for many players, and it also represents a huge gamble for the buying team.

This is the situation Silva faced in 2020 as he arrived in the Midlands and the pressure clearly got to him as he managed to score just four goals during his debut season at Wolves.

While hardly prolific, it gave him a platform to build on heading into the 2021/22 campaign, yet it proved to be a disaster.

The youngster made 26 appearances across all competitions yet managed to register a single paltry assist and it was clear he was not living up to his lavish fee.

The 6 foot 1 forward was sent on loan to Belgian side Anderlecht for the first six months of the 2022/23 campaign and this is when he began to show his true potential.

Silva scored 11 times in 32 matches and began to rediscover the confidence which had alluded him in England over the previous two years, and he spent the final half of the campaign on loan at PSV Eindhoven.

Another five goals and two assists followed in a slightly more difficult league, and it looked as though this could be the catalyst in which Silva would turn into a key member of Gary O’Neil’s side.

The 40-year-old even lavished praise on the youngster recently, saying: “Being more secure with the ball, still being a goal threat – he’s a young number nine playing in the hardest league in the world, so when I give him these things to improve, it’s normal.

“He’s been really willing in the last few weeks. He’s worked harder than he was at the start of the season, he’s really trying to force his way in.”

The 21-year-old ace has started just four times all season and it looks as though he could be edging closer to an exit in the next few weeks.

Clement would be taking a big risk by making a move for the talented striker, but if he can secure him on a temporary deal until the end of the season, it could benefit both parties immensely.

The Gers need another striker to bolster their squad, while Silva needs plenty of game time to build his confidence and this means it is a win-win situation.

If the former Porto marksman could replicate his form from 2022/23, then it could turn into an inspired signing who could lead the line for the Scottish giants until Dessers returns from international duty, should he be selected, and Danilo is back from his injury.

Juventus would be willing to sell Manchester United target Gleison Bremer if they receive a transfer fee of €60m in the summer.

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• Juventus ready to sell Bremer in the summer
• Man Utd long-term admirers of the Brazilian
• Red Devils look to bolster their backline ahead of next season

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Brazilian defender, who remains a long-term target for the Red Devils, could be sold in the upcoming transfer window provided Juventus receive a transfer fee of €60m (£51m), according to . There is a clause in the player's existing deal which allows him to leave the club for €60m in 2025, however, the Serie A giants will accept a similar offer this summer as they need funds for other deals.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  United have had multiple injury concerns in their backline in the current campaign which worsened as the season reached its business end. Ahead of the 2024/25 campaign, the club are looking to bolster their defence and have included several centre-backs on their shortlist, Bremer being chief among them.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Bremer has played in every Serie A game this season, bar one, in which he was suspended. He has been with Juventus since 2022 and his current contract runs until 2028. He has also made three international appearances for Brazil.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR MANCHESTER UNITED?

  Erik ten Hag's side are currently trailing by a goal to nil against Arsenal after the first 45 minutes of their Premier League clash at Old Trafford. They will be next seen in action against Newcastle on Wednesday in their penultimate game of the season.

The paceman has been diagnosed with the early stages of a stress fracture but Australia are confident he will be fit for the World Cup

ESPNcricinfo staff18-Jan-2019White ball performances for Australia have again usurped those with a red or pink ball in the choosing of the Test team, as Jhye Richardson bowled himself into the breach left by an injury to Josh Hazlewood ahead of the seemingly clear back-up choice of Chris Tremain.As Tremain was sending down 18 overs for the more-than-respectable figures of 1 for 32 in the Sri Lankans’ tour match against a Cricket Australia XI in Hobart on Friday, West Australian Richardson’s 1 for 27 from 10 ODI overs at the MCG – dismissing Virat Kohli and not conceding a boundary in the process – wowed the selectors sufficiently to choose him ahead of the Victorian.”Jhye has had an impressive first half in his Sheffield Shield season and no-one could deny he has now continued that form in ODI matches for Australia,” national selector Trevor Hohns said. “We consider Jhye to be an ideal replacement in the squad for Josh.”Though Richardson had performed strongly in the first half of the Sheffield Shield season and then followed up by claiming figures of 4 for 26 then 1 for 59 in the first two India one day games, Tremain has reason to wonder how he has managed to slip from being a member of the Test squad against India to surplus against Sri Lanka, despite taking more Shield wickets than Richardson in the same period.Equally, the role required for Richardson is not entirely clear, for he has previously toured with the Test team, to South Africa last year, as a speedy back-up for Mitchell Starc rather than the taller and steadier Hazlewood. Peter Siddle, already part of the Test squad for the Brisbane and Canberra Tests, seems more likely to substitute for Hazlewood as the bowler of long spells. Tremain will go back to occupying a spot on the reserves bench for the Melbourne Renegades in the Big Bash League.The stress fracture in Hazlewood’s back emerged in the week after the conclusion of the Test series against India, in which he bowled more deliveries than any other member of the Australian pace attack. In that sense, it is another win for India’s obdurate No. 3 Cheteshwar Pujara, who absorbed spell after spell from Hazlewood, Starc and Pat Cummins.A back injury also kept Hazlewood out of the Test series against Pakistan in the UAE last year, and while Australia’s medical staff is confident he will be fit in time for the World Cup, his participation in any of the build-up ODIs in India or the UAE is now unlikely. The injury will also leave Australia without either of their Test vice-captains for the Sri Lanka series with Mitchell Marsh having been dropped – a new deputy for Tim Paine will be chosen and announced ahead of the Gabba Test.”Josh has reported some back soreness over the last few days and scans have revealed a very early stage stress fracture in the same lower back area as his previous injury from last summer,” the team physiotherapist David Beakley said. “He will now begin a rehabilitation program and we are confident he will be available for selection ahead of the World Cup in the UK later this year.”Richardson’s call-up followed six wickets in the three ODIs against India which included a match-winning haul of 4 for 26 in Sydney. He twice removed Kohli in the three matches. In the first half of the Sheffield Shield season for Western Australia, he took 27 wickets at 19.03 in five matches.He was part of the Test squad for the tour of South Africa last year but this is his first inclusion since then, having been overlooked for the UAE tour. Although Tremain has been involved in the pink-ball tour match for the Cricket Australia XI against the Sri Lankans in Hobart, Hohns made it clear that Richardson’s one-day performances have helped sway the decision.Similar logic was used to include Aaron Finch in Australia’s Test team following the bans on Steven Smith and David Warner. The experiment began soundly enough in the UAE against Pakistan, before Finch’s limitations were cruelly exposed by the likes of Jasprit Bumrah for India, leaving him still looking addled as captain of the ODI team.Hazlewood’s injury adds to complications for the Australian set-up, after the banned duo of Smith and Warner both suffered from elbow problems in the Bangladesh Premier League, requiring surgery. “I am sure that will change things a bit with their injury. Steve has had surgery, David is having surgery so we will have to wait to see how their recovery goes,” Australia’s coach Justin Langer said.”We haven’t come to any conclusions with that yet. There is a lot to be talked about. We have to weigh up between competitive games of cricket, probably in the IPL, and whether it’s worth them being there for the last few games [of the Pakistan ODI series].”

Liverpool centre-back Ibrahima Konate has been out injured for the last two matches, and now a significant update has emerged over his potential return date.

Liverpool suffer Konate injury blow

The Reds faced a possible banana skin at home to Brentford on Sunday afternoon, considering the Bees recently won away to Chelsea, but Jurgen Klopp's men made light work of them, winning 3-0 at Anfield in the Premier League. Liverpool's victory was made all the more impressive by the fact that they had to make do without a number of key starters, with Konate and Robertson missing at the back and both Curtis Jones and Ryan Gravenberch unavailable in midfield.

For Konate, it is another frustrating spell out of the team, with injuries continuing to be picked up by him at too frequent a rate, and it is beginning to become a cause for concern, considering he is seen as the future of Liverpool's defence, being hailed as "incredible" by Virgil van Dijk.

The 24-year-old will play no part for France during the current international break, being withdrawn because of his fitness setback, and now a key update has dropped over how long he could be sidelined for Liverpool.

Fresh Konate injury news

Taking to X on Sunday evening, French journalist Fabrice Hawkins claimed that Konate is expected to be missing for another two weeks for Liverpool, putting him in danger of missing the crucial clash with Manchester City.

"Victim of a small muscle injury to the left hamstring with Liverpool in the Europa League on Thursday in Toulouse during the warm-up, Ibrahima Konaté was unable to play this weekend with Liverpool. His injury requires approximately two weeks of treatment."

Hawkins words could be slightly skewed by the fact that he may be referring to two weeks starting from last Thursday, when Liverpool faced Toulouse in the Europa League, but either way, it looks as though he is a massive doubt for the City game. The Reds make the trip to the Etihad for a lunchtime offering a week on Saturday, with the fixture landing on November 25th, and it is a match that could end up having a major bearing on who wins the Premier League title this season.

Konate being unavailable for the game would be a massive blow for Klopp, even though Joel Matip is enjoying a pleasing return to form at the moment, with the Frenchman's recovery pace something that is needed so badly up against the prolific Erling Haaland. Matip, in comparison, doesn't possess that searing speed, or Konate's physical stature for that matter, so Liverpool will immediately feel weakened if they have to get by without Van Dijk's first-choice centre-back partner.

There is still an element of hope that Konate could be passed fit in time, but equally, throwing him back in when he isn't match fit could feel like too big a risk against arguably the best club side in the world.

Matip's form does at least mean that he is a good option – Joe Gomez is faster and could even be in contention to start – but there is no question that Liverpool feel at their strongest with the Frenchman in the starting lineup.

Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino has shared how the Blues have reacted to the embarrasing penalty scuffle during the 6-0 win over Everton.

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• Madueke, Palmer and Jackson clashed over spot-kick
• Pochettino reveals how club handled situation
• Palmer expected to be number one taker for Blues

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  As Chelsea headed to a very comfortable win over the relegation-battling Toffees, what was supposed to be a good day for Blues fans was marred by a spat between Noni Madueke and Nicolas Jackson. With the club having been awarded a penalty in the 60th minute, the duo fought for the right to take the shot from the spot before Cole Palmer took over and scored his fourth goal of the night.

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• WHAT POCHETTINO SAID

  Speaking to the media, Pochettino said: "We were talking a lot after Monday. We have been practising penalties and talking [laughs]. We made it clear after the game, that we had a meeting between the players and staff and the sporting directors, Paul and Laurence, were there. Now we need to move on. It's about to be clever. They are clever and understand the situation. In one point, it was not an image we like but in another point, it's good that the players want to take responsibility. But they need to respect the rules. Discipline is so important."

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  Despite initial resistance, it appears that Palmer has finally been accepted as the team's regular penalty taker. The 21-year-old has been the only bright spot for the team since joining from Manchester City and he is currently the joint-top scorer in the Premier League.

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• WHAT NEXT FOR CHELSEA?

  The Blues will now go all out on Saturday, April 20 when they take on Manchester City in the FA Cup semi-final at the Etihad Stadium, as they look to get one step closer to their only possible title this year.