Leicester City saw progression into the fourth round of the Carabao Cup after beating Wolves 3-1 on penalties at Molineux on Tuesday night. 

And at the heart of the Foxes’ penalty heroics was deputy goalkeeper Danny Ward, who is now looking to become his side’s first-choice No.1 ahead of Kasper Schmeichel.

The Breakdown

Speaking after Leicester’s recent win, Ward told Sky Sports: “No one is content with sitting on the bench, but that’s the way it is.

“It’s a challenge [to become No.1], you have to aspire to play. Kasper has been brilliant for a number of years and being recognised with his nomination for FIFA Best the other day. It’s a great task for me to try to move him, but it’s one I’m definitely relishing.”

Ward’s performance against Wolves was definitely promising but, given how consistent Schmeichel has been for the club since arriving back in 2011 and his exploits at the World Cup, it will take much more for his spot between the posts to come under threat.

In fact, the competition that £9m-rated (via Transfermarkt) Ward is providing could even see the Denmark international reach a new level, making the 25-year-old’s task an even more difficult one.

Ward arrived at the King Power from Liverpool during the summer in search of more minutes — something he will definitely see more of now compared to his time at Anfield.

However, there is a long way to go before the Welshman becomes manager Claude Puel’s No.1.

[ad_pod ]Loads of Everton fans have been giving their verdict on Tuesday’s Carabao Cup exit, and they’re fuming at Morgan Schneiderlin.Schneiderlin was one of the main scapegoats when Everton were so poor under Sam Allardyce last season, and deservedly so.The former Manchester United midfielder didn’t put in nearly enough effort to justify wearing the famous blue, and fans were desperate to sell him this summer.[brid autoplay=”true” video=”302265″ player=”12034″ title=”Rafa’s Pub Facts The Icelandic Coutinho & The Scottish Ronaldo”]He has improved slightly this season though, putting in some good performances before losing his place in the last couple of weeks.The 28-year-old was handed another chance on Tuesday night against Southampton, and to say it went poorly would be an understatement.The Frenchman’s passing was slow and negative, and he wasn’t quick enough to charge down Danny Ings for the Saints’ opening goal.Fans are absolutely crucifying his apparent lack of effort on Twitter, and you can find some of the best reactions down below…

West Bromwich Albion should try to sign Wigan Athletic attacker Nick Powell if Harvey Barnes leaves the club in January.

What’s the word?

Barnes moved to The Hawthorns from Leicester City in the summer on a season-long loan, and he has become a crucial part of Darren Moore’s team.

The 20-year-old is predominantly a winger, but he has been playing the number 10 role at The Hawthorns.

So far, Barnes has scored five goals and created two assists in 14 matches in all competitions.

However, it looks as though the Baggies could lose the talented player in January, as PA Sports journalist Nick Mashiter reports that Leicester intend to trigger a clause that allows them to recall Barnes when the transfer window reopens.

[brid autoplay=”true” video=”305269″ player=”12034″ title=”Are Emery’s Arsenal Silently Gunning For The Title”]

How should West Brom respond?

If Barnes ends up leaving The Hawthorns, then the club should dip into the market to recruit a replacement.

Wigan Athletic’s Nick Powell could be an option as his contract at the DW Stadium is due to expire at the end of the season, which means that he could be bought for a cut-price deal.

The 24-year-old failed to make the cut at Manchester United after various loan spells and officially joined Wigan in 2016.

This season, Powell has scored four goals and registered four assists in 12 Championship matches.

The attack-minded ace can play as a number 10 or further up as a striker if needs be.

[ad_pod ]

Liverpool are considering a move for Hoffenheim midfielder Kerem Demirbay, according to Turkish-Football.

What’s the word?

Jurgen Klopp’s assault for the Premier League title has gone fairly well so far as the Reds sit joint-top of the standings alongside Chelsea and Manchester City after eight matches, although there is still a lot more work to be done.

The Merseyside giants have shown their financial strength in 2018 by sealing mega-money deals for Virgil van Dijk and Alisson – and there is the possibility of further deals in January as Klopp eyes further movement to bolster his squad.

According to Turkish-Football, Hoffenheim midfielder Kerim Demirbay is on the agenda as Liverpool look to utilise the links with the player that they have through Naby Keita and Sadio Mane, who share an agent with the 25-year-old.

Where would he fit?

After signing Fabinho and Naby Keita in the summer, it is difficult to see where exactly Demirbay would fit into a midfield that also boasts the likes of Jordan Henderson, Adam Lallana, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and James Milner.

[brid autoplay=”true” video=”307232″ player=”12034″ title=”Rafa’s Pub Facts Germany Hit New Low & Jadon Sancho Makes Us Feel Old”]

Demirbay is a more creative player than the options the Reds currently have at their disposal but questions would be asked about the club’s plans in the market as Oxlade-Chamberlain, Fabinho and Keita were all purchased in the past year.

The former in particular will hope to be a regular in the starting XI when he returns from injury, and the arrival of Demirbay would undoubtedly jeopardise that.

[ad_pod ]

Newcastle grabbed themselves a hard-fought point at Southampton on Saturday, but the performance of Yoshinori Muto left a lot to be desired.

Newcastle’s transfer business this summer was truly bizarre, as they shipped out two players who have proven they can score goals for the club and replaced them with two players who are already proving they can’t.

Salomon Rondon’s move to Tyneside has been plagued by injuries, but excluding his impressive display at Manchester City the Venezuelan hasn’t exactly been impressive when he has been fit.

Muto had to wait for his opportunity, and after a brilliantly taken goal at Old Trafford the 25-cap Japanese international has lost his way.

[brid autoplay=”true” video=”310054″ player=”12034″ title=”Rafa’s Pub Facts Fake Madrid & Ross Barkley Emulates… David Ngog”]

He has now started three matches in a row, and the performances both against Brighton and Southampton are a huge concern.

The 26-year-old completed just 61 per cent of his passes at St Mary’s, the third worst rate of the 20 outfield starters.

He also took three unsuccessful touches, which was the most of any Newcastle player, and committed three fouls.

The crafty forward did manage to complete two dribbles but he made no key passes and managed just one shot, which failed to hit the target.

Whether Muto was Rafael Benitez’s first choice in the summer or not, the gamble to play him up front simply did not work.

The summer signing has to be in behind as the number ten if he’s going to play, potentially sending Ayoze Perez to the bench for one of Rondon or Joselu to play up front.

Either way, Benitez has to find a way to get one of his front men firing, and current form suggests it won’t be Muto.

So, Newcastle fans, where are the goals going to come from? Have you been impressed by Muto so far? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below…

[ad_pod ]

Newcastle fans are desperate for 19-year-old Elias Sorensen to get the nod ahead of Joselu, Yoshinori Muto and Salomon Rondon for what may be a potential relegation six pointer already in October.

Both Newcastle and Southampton have had a poor start to life in their current Premier League campaigns, with the north east side rooted to the bottom of the table without a win and this weekend’s hosts not doing much better in 16th.

Goals have particularly been hard for either side to come by, with only Huddersfield and Crystal Palace netting fewer than the pair.

Amazingly, only one player has netted more than once for Newcastle with Joselu firing home twice in his nine appearances, keeping his tally above positional rivals Yoshinori Muto (one goal in eight) and Salomon Rondon (four games, no goals).

The story is vastly different in the club’s youth ranks, however, with wonderkid Elias Sorensen recently scoring a hat-trick against Aston Villa on Monday night to bring his tally for the season up to eleven.

Despite a tough start to life in Tyneside, the talent acquired from HB Koge in 2016 has the attention of the Toon Army, with a staggering 76% of fans voting in a recent Football FanCast poll that they want the 19-year-old to lead the line up at St Mary’s Stadium on Saturday for what would be his Premier League debut.

[brid autoplay=”true” video=”312947″ player=”12034″ title=”Watch Fixture in Focus Southampton v Newcastle”]

One area of the field where Liverpool have more than enough bodies is midfield.

James Milner, Georginio Wijnaldum, Jordan Henderson, Fabinho, Naby Keita and Adam Lallana are among the options available, not to mention Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who will be part of the conversation next season when he returns to fitness.

However, so far in the current campaign Jurgen Klopp’s side have struggled for creativity in the middle third.

The front three of Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane masked over Philippe Coutinho’s absence last season.

The trio are yet to find their stride collectively, though, which means that the gap where the Brazilian’s spark used to be is looking empty.

Aaron Ramsey is not the same type of player as Coutinho, but he has attributes that could help in an attacking sense.

According to the London Evening Standard, the midfielder, who has scored one goal and created three assists this season, is expected to be a free agent next summer as his current club Arsenal have no plans to offer him a new contract.

Perhaps signing Ramsey on a free would be an offer too good to turn down, but would he get in Liverpool’s current team?

Let us know by voting below.

[ad_pod ]

According to a recent Football FanCast poll, the majority of Leeds fans would back a January loan move for Liverpool youngster Adam Lewis in order to provide cover for Marcelo Bielsa’s injury-hit defence.

With full-back Luke Ayling ruled out for two months with a knee injury, Stuart Dallas was asked to fill the right wing-back role in the win over Wigan on Sunday, and although the Northern Irishman certainly stepped up to the plate this clearly showed the lack of depth in the Leeds squad.

However, although Bielsa likes to work with a small group it would seem that Leeds fans are keen to have more cover in their squad, and 60 per cent said they should move for Liverpool’s young prospect Lewis, whose presence in the squad would surely push Barry Douglas to be even better.

Goal recently reported that Liverpool’s current back-up at left-back Alberto Moreno would not be given a new contract, allowing him to leave on a free-transfer in the summer of 2019. The Spaniard lost his place to Andrew Robertson last season and in truth has struggled since arriving at Anfield in the summer of 2014.

The report also claimed that Jurgen Klopp has been impressed by 18-year-old Lewis in training, and that he will become the understudy to Robertson next season, so a move now to gain some first-team action would surely benefit all parties.

Check out the full results of our poll below.

[ad_pod ]

The majority of Rangers fans that answered our recent poll want boss Steven Gerrard to battle German side RB Leipzig and Glasgow rivals Celtic for the signing of Wigan midfielder Nick Powell.

According to TEAMtalk, those two clubs are ahead of Premier League duo Brighton and Burnley in the race for Powell as they can sign the 24-year-old on a pre-contract agreement in January with a view to him joining on a free transfer once his contract expires at the end of the season.

Check out the harsh words the Playmaker FC squad had to say about Wayne Rooney’s England career in the video below

Clearly though Rangers fans are keen for Gerrard to get involved in the race for the attacking midfielder, who can also play up front, with 85 per cent of those who voted in our poll saying that they would back a move.

The former Manchester United midfielder has netted four goals and provided five assists in 16 games for Wigan so far during this campaign and would surely add some necessary quality to Gerrard’s ranks.

Check out the full results of our poll below.

In the summer it was widely reported that Ademola Lookman could leave Goodison Park.

The 21-year-old spent the second half of the 2017-18 campaign on loan at RB Leipzig, where he made 11 Bundesliga appearances, scoring five goals and registering four assists.

Despite all the transfer speculation, Lookman stayed at Goodison Park, but he is struggling for game time.

Publicly, manager Marco Silva insisted that the winger was an important member of the team but he had featured in only seven matches in all competitions.

With Theo Walcott failing to impress of late, some Everton fans have called on Silva to bring Lookman into the team.

If he continues to be a squad player rather than a first-team regular, the winger may consider his options when the transfer window reopens in January.

Check out the video below to see how Brazil fans reacted to being asked how Cristiano Ronaldo would peform for them in a hilarious prank by Playmaker FC…

We asked you if Lookman will still be wearing the blue of Everton come February, and the majority of fans believe that he will be.