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Celtic’s pursuit of ten Scottish Premiership titles in a row is going disastrously.

They got to nine with a canter, fighting off the competition in unrelenting fashion as they made a mockery of their rivals Rangers.

However, in 2020/21, it is the Gers who are doing the mocking.

At the time of writing, Celtic sit a colossal 11 points behind their old nemesis and are in danger of losing their grip on the league crown for the first time in a decade.

It’s refreshing to witness a changing of the guard but how on earth do the Hoops get themselves out of this mess?

Well, the man with the keys to success or failure is Peter Lawwell, Celtic’s CEO.

It’s thought that after the Bhoys’ 2-2 draw with Hibernian that Neil Lennon’s job is still safe at Parkhead but if results continue as they are, it surely won’t be long before Lawwell pulls the trigger and moves for a new manager.

One figure who could replace Lennon is a certain Eddie Howe. Previously touted as a coach to go on and take charge of England, he is now without a job after quitting Bournemouth following their relegation from the Premier League.

A perfectly reasonable option for the Hoops, he could help banish Celtic’s current nightmares on the training ground.

Earlier this week, a shocking revelation came to light from pundit Simon Fry: “I know they still do Brendan Rodgers training, which worries me. If you’re the manager you can’t be doing someone else’s thing you need to do what you want to do.”

Now, we know that Lennon is more of a man-manager than he is a coach, but this is why Howe would be absolutely perfect for Celtic. He is a hard-working trainer and puts in considerable hours on the training ground.

He is the definition of a tracksuit manager, leading his own sessions and staying behind after hours.

Former Bournemouth man Brett Pitman previously said: “It wouldn’t just be ‘do you want to do a session’ and a coach would be there. He [Howe] would be the one taking it, with all his staff – that is special. People might think that is a norm in football but it really isn’t. It is what makes him different.”

Already we can see the stark differences between Howe and Lennon – it really is night and day.

Simon Francis, another of Howe’s ex-players once noted: “He is meticulous. He does not leave any stone unturned. And he instils that work ethic into the players. Because you know that he is buying into it. Not turning up late, not strolling out onto the training pitch late, he is always the first. You can never question anything he does.”

Despite the numerous titles Lennon has brought to Celtic since Brendan Rodgers departed, it’s clear that everything is not quite right at Lennoxtown. This season proves that they’re still living off the Leicester boss’ past glories and methods – that really isn’t good enough for a manager as experienced as the one Celtic currently have.

Perhaps with fresh ideas and a different approach their fortunes will improve. Lawwell must pursue Howe.

Meanwhile, here’s how Celtic can FINALLY replace Scott Sinclair… 

There has been a significant update around the future of goalkeeper Dean Henderson, as Sheffield United search for a goalkeeper following the expiry of the Manchester United player’s loan at Bramall Lane.

According to James Shield, Sheffield United journalist for The Star, Manchester United would still be happy to send Dean Henderson back to Bramall Lane. However, some of the requests that the Red Devils have placed on the proposed loan deal have forced Sheffield United to consider alternatives.

Henderson would welcome the return but the stumbling block comes in the form of the two clubs being unable to agree on the percentage of his wages that Manchester United want the Blades to pay, coupled with a rise in the fee required for the deal to go through.

The stats that Henderson produced in the 2019/20 season emphasise why the Blades would like to bring him back as he had the joint-third most clean sheets in the Premier League last term, picking up 13 in 36 appearances, and only conceding 33 goals, per Transfermarkt. He also made 97 saves in the division last season and saved one penalty, via Premier League.

Based on Henderson’s 2019/20 form, it obviously would be a boost for Sheffield United if they can get him back again next season.

However, the club cannot be messed about when it comes to the negotiations and should not feel like they have to pay an excessive amount for him, no matter how good he is.

The update from Shield offers hope that the goalkeeper could go back to Bramall Lane, but the wages factor is quite a big issue, especially as recent events have laid bare a lot of financial issues in football.

Blades fans, do you think Henderson will be back at Bramall Lane next season? Let us know your views in the comments below!

Many Aston Villa fans have reacted following the 1-0 win over Sheffield United which saw Ezri Konsa score the winning goal.

After a turbulent season which saw the Claret and Blue outfit struggle but eventually fight off the threat of relegation, Dean Smith’s side opened up their 2020/21 account with a solid win over the Blades.

Villa largely dominated against Chris Wilder’s side with new summer signing Ollie Watkins featuring from the start in a front three attack alongside Jack Grealish and Trezeguet.

In truth, Villa were helped a little with the sending off of United’s John Egan after just 12 minutes and it was from that moment in which the home side took advantage.

That being said, Smith did have to wait until just after the hour mark to see the opening goal as central defender Konsa found the back of the net, whilst the Blades’ John Lundstram also missed a penalty.

The win sees Villa make it three points out of three and have a positive start to the new Premier League campaign.

Reacting to the win, fans of the Midlands outfit gave their opinions on the performance and whilst they were happy to win, they weren’t too impressed at how difficult they made it to beat 10 men.

Here is what some had to say…

Do you think Villa deserved the victory? Let us know in the comments section below…

Northern Echo writer Scott Wilson has suggested that Sunderland’s supporters ‘no longer believe a word the club say’ as Stewart Donald’s reign at the club continues to drag on.

Life at Sunderland has been heavily documented over the last two to three years with Netflix series Sunderland ‘Til I Die following club matters on and off the pitch.

At the heart of the second series is current owner Donald, who took over from Ellis Short back in April 2018, and criticism directed at the businessman is ongoing.

Revealing that he wanted to sell the club after just 19 months in charge, Donald received much criticism from the club fans who called for him to leave and a recent interview earlier this year has confirmed his desire to move on.

With the season having come to an end for Sunderland on the pitch, the Black Cats failed to gain promotion from League One to the Championship at the second time of asking, mounting huge pressure on the shoulders of boss Phil Parkinson to turn things around in the 2020/2021 campaign.

With such a drop from the Premier League to League One having been at the forefront of the Netflix series, it has now been revealed by Wilson that the fans have lost trust in the club’s word.

“Put simply, Sunderland fans no longer believe a single word that is uttered by the current regime,” Wilson writers in his column for Northern Echo.

“The trust and loyalty that was bestowed so freely when Donald first replaced Ellis Short, promising openness, transparency and a frank two-way dialogue with the fanbase, has completely disappeared.

“In its place, frustration, bitterness and anger have festered to the point where the relationship between Sunderland’s boardroom management and the fans has broken down entirely.

“As a result, every move or utterance that emanates from Sunderland’s executive-level managers is treated with suspicion or open disdain.”

It is fair to say that you simply would not want to be a Sunderland fan at the moment or over the last few years.

The club have gone from Premier League football to quite frankly, nothing, and the fans can’t be blamed for losing patience in the owners and their broken promises and failure on and off the pitch.

What’s next? Surely it should be the end of Donald’s reign.

Do you think Stewart Donald will sell Sunderland this summer? Let us know in the comments section below…

Liverpool’s pursuit for a new winger makes complete sense if they are to challenge for another Premier League title next season and Watford’s Ismaila Sarr may hold all of the keys to success once more.

What’s the word?

According to Alan Nixon at The Sun, Watford are offering the 22-year-old to several teams at a huge £40m fee in order to ease the burden of relegation this summer.

It’s claimed that Sarr has been offered to the title winner, though despite their admiration of him, the finances are above what they can currently afford.

Meanwhile, the ECHO believe that the futures of Lorius Karius, Marko Grujic, Harry Wilson and Xherdan Shaqiri are by no means certain, so if funds can be raised through sales here, then the Reds may be able to clinch the Hornets speedster.

Shaqiri successor

And that would make a ton of sense as it would be silly to rebuff Roma or Sevilla once again if they come knocking on Shaqiri’s door.

£40m may seem like an absurd fee for a recently-relegated side that has no bargaining power, but it would still be a smart move on Liverpool’s part.

The Senegalese winger would need no time to settle in whatsoever, not just because he’s been playing in the Premier League but also as he’s known to fellow countryman Sadio Mane – so much so that he’s even been likened to him on several occasions.

Those at Anfield will know him rather well too after he handed Jurgen Klopp all sorts of nightmares back in February for the club’s first league defeat of the season.

The 22-year-old ran riot, scoring twice and providing the assist for the third and final strike in Merseyside – per SofaScore, he picked up a match-high rating of 9.1 and also managed six shots, one dribble and one key pass.

Following the match, his Hornets teammate Abdoulaye Doucoure told RMC Sport, via talkSPORT: “I’ve told him as a joke that he’s a Champions League player, but I really think it’s because I know he has exceptional qualities. He’s not just quick, he’s incredible at finishing, he can find space, keep the ball and I hope he’ll go very far.”

It would simply be a no-brainer to swap Shaqiri for Sarr if such an opportunity arises this summer. He’s shown so much more this season with his five goals and four assists – he’d be a wonderful upgrade for Klopp to consider.

AND in other news, Liverpool would be making a mistake replacing Origi with this player…

Appointing Slaven Bilic as their new manager at the beginning of the season clearly looks to have paid dividends at this stage of the campaign, so much so that West Bromwich Albion fans have been hailing the Croatian boss once again on Twitter.

The Baggies managed to see off local arch-rivals Birmingham City in a Midlands derby that took place at St. Andrews in Saturday’s early kick-off, despite finding themselves going behind twice in the game (BBC).

Lukas Jutkiewicz got the hosts off to a perfect start inside the opening three minutes when he headed home, however Bilic’s side were left thanking West Ham United loanee Grady Diangana just moments later when he levelled the tie.

Birmingham took the lead once again in similar fashion as they scored just after the restart in the second half when Harlee Dean netted, a late double-salvo from substitute Charlie Austin meant they would return to the top of the Championship and remain there after a collapse by promotion rivals Leeds United later on in the afternoon.

Fans were understandably delighted with what their side had managed to achieve on the pitch, however many of them also took the opportunity to sing the praises of their current manager.

One supporter had even admitted that having Bilic at the club was the best bit of news they had had in decades.

Here are just some of their reactions…

West Bromwich Albion fans, what are your thoughts on Bilic? Let us know below!

Charlton Athletic are currently in a grey area as a potential takeover continues to spark questions from fans.

Current owners East Street Investments (ESI) could be about to lose control of the club as takeover rumours swirl. A recent statement posted by Charlton revealed that the board had been made aware of a ‘change of ownership’.

ESI bought the club in January from Roland Duchatelet but a turbulent relationship could now see Tahnoon Nimer and co usurped from their position at the hilt. Interest from former Swansea chairman Huw Jenkins and a Portuguese business consortium are among the parties taken into consideration for sale.

Charlton director Marian Mihail has answered questions from fans and has stated that, despite the interest shown in the purchase of the club, the identity of the buyer has not been revealed.

A lot of Addicks fans are becoming impatient with the up-and-down news, with many taking to Twitter to express their frustration. One supporter has responded to the Q&A post saying it’s ‘absolutely pointless’ as talks remain vague.

Another fan has said ‘all roads point to Jenkins’, who recently said he wanted a chance to prove he can ‘prosper’ again in charge of a club (via Wales Online).

Read more replies from the Charlton faithful here:

How do you feel about Mihail’s recent comments, Addicks fans? Join the conversation in the comments below…

Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp will have been frustrated with their 1-1 draw against Napoli in the Champions League on Wednesday.

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The Reds managed 71% possession, yet they only had Dejan Lovren’s powerful header to show for all their pressure. The result now leaves them needing to go to Austria to get something against RB Salzburg as Napoli will be favourites to beat Genk at home in their own last game of the group stages.

Check out footballers’ biggest fashion disasters in the video below…

There was more bad news for the Reds as well. Fabinho, who has played a part in all but one match both in the Premier League and in Europe, picked up an ankle injury against the Italian side in midweek and was forced off the pitch. It has now been confirmed he will be out until next year.

His injury has led to Liverpool fans speculating as to who will take his place, and it seems that many feel that man should be £45m-valued Naby Keita – as per Transfermarkt. They have taken to Twitter to share their thoughts, and you can see some of the best comments from the social media platform below.

In other news, Liverpool fans slam one man’s performance against Napoli.

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…

Rio Ferdinand has told BT Sport (via Metro) that he thinks Liverpool will win the Champions League once again this season.

What did he say?

The former Manchester United defender was talking during Wednesday’s coverage of the European fixtures, and there was a discussion following the conclusion of the final round of matches as to who will lift the trophy this year.

Both Glenn Hoddle and Peter Crouch backed Jurgen Klopp’s men, and Ferdinand also believes that the Reds can win the title once again, saying: “It’s a clean sweep for Liverpool, they just look the more complete team.

“They’ve just got a mentality, once you win, they’ve been on the cusp of winning for a couple of years but they got over that line, they won the big one, the Champions League. They look like they’re going to win the Premier League now, I think they’ve just got a mentality now that they’re not going to lose. Before a ball’s even kicked: ‘We’re not going to lose this game, we’re going to win’.”

Premier League comes first

On current form, it is hard to argue that the Anfield outfit are amongst the favourites to lift the trophy in Istanbul at the end of May. Being holders in itself is enough to give them that fear factor, and their current run of form is something to behold – they are unbeaten in 33 matches in the Premier League, for example, and have won 24 matches of their last 25 in that competition.

Can you name the result these iconic Liverpool images belong to? Give it a go now…

However, it is hard to see them prevailing in both tournaments this year. At this point, the league title is the holy grail for the Reds – they have not won it in 30 years, and they are absolutely desperate to be top of the table come the end of the campaign. Having already lifted the Champions League, that is likely to be put on the back burner, especially if there is a sticky period domestically that they need to get through.

Not only that, their worst form this year has come in Europe. They lost their only game of the season in the tournament, 2-0 away at Napoli, whilst they only managed a draw at home. Also, they struggled to beat RB Salzburg, only prevailing 4-3, and they needed a result on the final matchday to even qualify for the next round. Whilst that is the same situation as last year, there was one small difference – they hadn’t won the trophy by that point.

This time around, they may just take their eye off the European competition as they focus on success in England. And, with the calibre of the sides to have qualified being so strong this year – all 16 sides in the first knockout round come from the continent’s top five leagues for the first time ever- they cannot afford to drop their level of performance. This year, the Premier League comes first, and that could be to the detriment of their Champions League campaign.

Meanwhile, Jurgen Klopp has suffered another injury blow.

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…

While speaking to BBC 5 Live’s Monday Night Club, Micah Richards said that Jurgen Klopp has had a bit of a “Keegan meltdown” in regards to his response to Pep Guardiola’s comments on diving.

What did he say?

It all started when the former Barcelona boss spoke after the Reds had beaten Aston Villa 2-1 at Villa Park. Sadio Mane had been booked in that first half for diving, and Guardiola said after his side’s match against Man City: “Sometimes it is diving, sometimes it is this talent to score incredible goals in the last minute.”

This clearly got under Klopp’s skin, with the former Borussia Dortmund boss responding: “When I came into the interview after the game [at Villa Park] I really had no clue what the other Premier League results were. That is the truth. I didn’t ask anybody, It was 45 minutes after the game when I heard the results of the other games. When I come into the dressing room I don’t say: ‘What’s the result of the other games?’ I had to speak to players, I had to speak to a lot of people and then I went into interviews. I didn’t think for one second about the other games.

“Then, after the interviews, [he will ask] how did the other teams play? Then someone told me City won in the 86th minute and all this happened. I don’t understand these types of things. My brain is not big enough to think about another team as well. I have enough to do to think about us. Tomorrow we play Genk and that deserves all my attention and gets it. That is the only way I can do it. After that we can speak about Manchester City – we have to.”

Former Manchester City defender Richards has now had his say on the unfolding dram.

He said: “Sounded like a Keegan meltdown. After explaining for a minute or so that he doesn’t want to talk about Man City, he talks about Man City – it’s mind games. That’s what the title race needs. Two great managers, Pep’s come out on top a couple of times and he’s just trying to upset the apple cart a little bit. It looks like it has stirred up Klopp, to be honest. The way Klopp has reacted there, it’s like he has had a bit of a nibble.”

Don’t be like Rafa

Sunday’s clash at Anfield between the two sides will have huge implications on the title race. If Liverpool win, they will lead the Citizens by nine points with less than a third of the season gone, but if the visitors triumph, the gap will be reduced to three. A draw will mean that the Manchester outfit have missed their chance to close the deficit.

Renowned for his tactical ingenuity rather than his mind games, Guardiola has clearly taken a conscious swipe at Liverpool. However, there was no real need for a response from the 52-year-old, yet he has let himself be drawn into a battle of words between the two bosses and, as Richards said, he has come out looking the worse of the two.

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This is not the juiciest of mind games, granted, but the fact that Klopp has already been drawn into reacting does not bode well, and may give his opposite number the incentive to try this tactic more often. It is is vital that the German does not fall into the same trap as Rafa Benitez.

The “facts” speech has now gone down in Premier League folklore, but Benitez’s comments were only in retaliation to previous words from Sir Alex Ferguson, perhaps the best at mind games of them all. The Spaniard then proceeded to lose his cool. Steven Gerrard, the captain at the time, even said that he was “embarrassed” when watching the monologue.

The Merseyside club were top of the league at that point, but Benitez showed the pressure had got to him, and Manchester United would eventually go on to win the title.

These quotes from Klopp do not equate to a full-blown “facts” moment, but he must make sure not to react so out of character in the future. In a title race of such small margins, it could be the difference between lifting the trophy and missing out once again.