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Liverpool will host Aston Villa at the start of September in the two teams' last Premier League fixture before the international break. It's always an interesting fixture and there's perhaps more at stake than ever this season.

After all, Liverpool will hope to rebound after last season and build some early momentum. A repeat of last season can't happen if they're to recapture a top-four place.

But Villa will have eyes on those spots themselves. They're back in European football after a stunning second half of the season under Unai Emery. A win over Liverpool would be a huge statement to start the season and get the team looking up the table going into the international break.

To beat Liverpool, they'll need goals, though. Ollie Watkins could be their best chance of finding them – so we at Football FanCast thought we'd look into his record against the Reds. Here's everything you need to know.

What is Ollie Watkins' goals record against Liverpool?

Watkins has come up against Liverpool six times in his career and his record against them looks pretty great. He's scored five times in that span – the most he's managed against anyone in his career.

Though, it's worth mentioning that three of those goals came in his first appearance against Liverpool. That was a crazy game, finishing 7-2 to Villa as they took advantage of some bizarre defending from the Reds. Watkins took advantage as much as anyone.

His record since is two goals in five games, which isn't quite as impressive. Still, he did manage one against them at home last season – Watkins hasn't forgotten how to find the Liverpool net.

What is Ollie Watkins' assists record against Liverpool?

Watkins only has the one assist against Liverpool, again coming in that 7-2 win. And virtually everyone got an assist in that one.

But then, it's not his game. There aren't too many teams against which he's managed more than a solitary assist, and only two – Luton and Colchester – where Watkins has three.

Don't expect him to supply the goals at Anfield, then – Villa will hope he's on the end of chances, rather than creating them.

What is Ollie Watkins' head-to-head record against Liverpool?

It's not a pretty one. In six games, Watkins has only won once against Liverpool – the 7-2 in his first appearance vs them. There's only one draw in his history, too, and that was in the most recent outing in May of this year.

But we're not sure how much you can really read into this. For one, Villa look like a much better side right now than they have in any of Watkins' previous seasons with the club. We fully expect them to give the Reds a proper match this time around, as they did back in May.

All of Watkins' games against the Reds have come in the Premier League, too. He didn't feature in the 4-1 FA Cup defeat against the Reds back in 2021.

What is Ollie Watkins' record at Anfield?

Watkins does only have three games in his career at Anfield, so there's not too much to go on here. All have come in the Premier League and usually end in defeat – two losses, one draw is his record.

As for goals, Watkins does have one. He scored at Anfield in a 2-1 defeat back in 2021 but has been unable to find the net there since that first appearance.

Who has Ollie Watkins scored against the most?

Two teams have conceded five to Watkins – the most he's managed against a single club. Liverpool are one, of course, with the other being Swansea City. His record against the Reds is slightly better, though, as he managed that total in one fewer game.

There are then three different clubs against whom Watkins has four total goals. Arsenal, Bristol City and Derby County are the unlucky trio – you can usually count on the striker to find the net against them.

How many goals does Ollie Watkins have in September?

Watkins has found the net 11 times in the month of September since the start of his career. However, it doesn't make good reading for those expecting him to net at Anfield.

None of those goals have come in the Premier League, while nine of them weren't even with Aston Villa. Watkins has nine Championship strikes in September and then two for his current club both in the EFL Cup.

He'll be hoping to break his duck against Liverpool.

What is Ollie Watkins' Aston Villa goal record?

Watkins has played 118 times across all competitions for Villa since arriving in 2020. His record in that span is pretty good, too, with 43 goals and 14 assists so far.

It means Watkins is closing in on his record haul for a club. That stands at 49 for Brentford, where he also managed his most assists – 17. There's every chance that he will overtake both figures by the end of this season.

What is Ollie Watkins' Premier League goal record?

Watkins is now 111 games into his Premier League career, with all of them coming at Aston Villa. In that time, the striker has managed 40 goals – a solid haul for three seasons of work.

Last season was his best yet, too. Watkins scored 15 times in 37 games, beating his first Premier League campaign by one goal in the same number of appearances. His middle season saw him get 11 goals,

There have been 14 assists so far, we should add. In total, Watkins has provided 53 goal contributions in 109 games – so just under one every other game.

What is Aston Villa's record against Liverpool?

Villa vs Liverpool is a fixture that dates all the way back to 1895, so there's a lot of history here. In total, the two teams have met on 201 occasions.

As you might expect, given their dominance over the last few decades, Liverpool's record is far superior in this one. They've won 101 of the 201 meetings, with Villa managing just 59. That leaves 41 draws for those keeping track.

But what about just in the Premier League era? There have been 56 meetings since the rebrand with Liverpool again winning over half. In fact, their record is even better when just counting the last 32 years – 32 wins to Villa's 13.

What is Aston Villa's record at Anfield?

As you may have guessed from the last section, it's not particularly good. This will actually be the 100th time Villa play at Anfield but they'll be hoping for what would be just their 18th win.

So in 99 Anfield fixtures, it's 17 wins, 20 draws and 62 defeats to the Reds. Not exactly a game that's brought a lot of luck their way, then, and a win this time around would be something of a surprise.

What are Aston Villa's recent results against Liverpool?

Not good. In fact, Villa have lost five of their last six against Liverpool, dating back to their last win in the fixture – the 7-2. The only time they avoided defeat came in the most recent game, too, back in May.

That was a 1-1 draw at Anfield and to be fair to Villa, it's by far the most relevant result here. Not only was it away, but it was also their only meeting with Unai Emery as boss. They shot up the league once the Spaniard took over, becoming so much better that comparing results before him seems unfair to this side.

And the previous results were particularly bad, too.

Since Jurgen Klopp took over at Liverpool, Villa have played 12 games against his team. They've won two of them – the 7-2 and the 5-0 win in the EFL Cup against the Reds' Under 21 side. In other words, this is a fixture they almost always struggle in.

But hey, at least the wins tend to be emphatic.

When is Liverpool vs Aston Villa?

Liverpool host Aston Villa on Sunday, September 3rd at 14:00 UK time. It'll be a huge match for both teams as we get an early idea of what they're about this season.

Liverpool want to bounce back after an incredibly disappointing campaign last time out. Their struggles saw them out of the title race incredibly early on, while they barely managed a top-four challenge in the end. A new midfield could be exactly what they needed, though – it's certainly their gameplan this season.

Villa were only one place behind Liverpool in the Premier League table, of course. A sensational run under Unai Emery saw them climb all the way up from the bottom into the Europa League spot – and they'll have plans to do even better this time around. The right transfers – and some momentum carried on from last season – could see Villa threaten to go one better.

A win in this fixture, then, would be a sign for either that they mean business from the off this time around.

To say that Everton have started the Premier League season in worrying fashion would be an understatement. The Toffees opened their campaign at Goodison Park, where they fell to a narrow 1-0 loss against Fulham. Then, making matters worse, their trip to Aston Villa ended in a humiliating 4-0 defeat.

Meanwhile, Sean Dyche has welcomed just four fresh faces so far this summer, with the summer transfer window coming to a close in just seven days. Reports suggest, however, that the Merseyside club could yet welcome at least one more attacking reinforcement.

What's the latest Everton transfer news?

As games begin to come thick and fast, Jack Harrison, Ashley Young, Arnaut Danjuma, and Chermiti must all get off to good starts in Everton shirts, or face the risk of finding themselves in a relegation battle.

The Toffees' main problem last season came in front of goal, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin's injury problems continuing, resulting in the England international missing a total of 17 games. Those issues have already carried into the current campaign, too, with the forward forced off against Villa after fracturing his cheekbone.

As Calvert-Lewin's durability and sheer bad luck comes into question once more, those in Merseyside could be about to find a solution to their goalscoring problems, however.

According to Gianluca Di Marzio, as relayed by Tutto Udinese, via Sport Witness, Everton are prepared to make a very late offer for Udinese forward Beto before the transfer window slams shut.

The Portuguese striker reportedly attracted interest from the Toffees in January, but a deal did not come into fruition. Now, though, as per Di Marzio, those at Goodison Park could make a late offer to secure the forward's signature "in the last few days" of the window.

Should Everton sign Beto?

Given their troubles in front of goal, you can't help but feel as though Everton must sign a striker if they want to keep hold of their top flight status this season. And that's where Beto could come in.

Of course, the Udinese man isn't the biggest name, but he is a reliable option. In Serie A last season, he scored ten goals, which would have made him Everton's top goalscorer in the Premier League.

Meanwhile, he's got off to a good start this season, too, with one goal to his name in two games in all competitions – more goals than Everton have managed among their entire squad.

Beto's strong start to the campaign has impressed those associated with Everton, too, with former player Don Hutchinson taking to Twitter to say: "Everton fans looking for a Centre Forward take a look at Beto at Udinese (been linked before) he showed last night v Juve. When given the right service he can be very useful (not prolific) but a decent target man that would bring midfielders higher up the pitch."

Read the latest Everton transfer news HERE…

With that said, Beto could represent a solid piece of business for Everton in the closing days of the window.

It remains to be seen whether they can secure the striker's services, but if they want to avoid the dreaded drop in the coming months, then welcoming the Udinese man may quickly become a priority.

West Ham United supporters have been dealt a potentially worrying update on the future of star defender Nayef Aguerd as Saudi Arabian side Al-Ittihad chase a late deal.

Who have West Ham sold this summer?

David Moyes' side are absolutely flying near the top of the Premier League table, winning three out of their opening four league matches whilst remaining unbeaten.

The signings of Edson Alvarez and James Ward-Prowse have particularly helped in this regard, as both summer signings have excelled since putting pen to paper at the London Stadium.

West Ham selling both players who wanted to leave, and those deemed surplus by Moyes, has also been a key factor in their success on the field so far.

Indeed, the Hammers transferred star midfielder Declan Rice to Arsenal for around £105 million, while Italy international striker Gianluca Scamacca joined Atalanta for £21m.

Nikola Vlasic, Arthur Masuaku, Manuel Lanzini, Mipo Odebuko and Armstrong Oko-Flex all departed over the summer as well, with promising young midfielder Flynn Downes completing a season-long loan move to Southampton as well.

Despite the transfer window's closure on September 1, reports have suggested that star Hammers defender could Aguerd could well follow the aforementioned former West Ham players.

It has been suggested this week that Aguerd is attracting serious late interest from Saudi side Al-Ittihad, who are managed by former Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo.

The Saudi transfer window doesn't shut it's doors until tomorrow and Al-Ittihad have apparently been eyeing a "late big-money move" for West Ham's centre-back amid their chase for Liverpool's Mohammed Salah.

Sharing an update on this, a report from has some potentially concerning news for supporters on Aguerd's future.

Al-Ittihad are apparently in a crisis when it comes to their central defensive options, as their Egyptian star Ahmed Hegazy has suffered an ACL tear and will be out for an extended period.

Now, GOAL say West Ham's Aguerd has been targeted as a serious option to replace Hegazy, and the worrying part is that the Morocco international would greatly welcome a move to the Middle East.

He is apparently eyeing up a move to Al-Ittihad, who are ready to offer him 10 times his current salary to join them.

How good is Nayef Aguerd?

It remains to be seen whether West Ham would sanction a move without being able to sign a replacement, but Aguerd's willingness to join could prove to be a fairly important factor.

Losing the player would be a tough one to take for Moyes, who's called the defender "stylish", especially given he has stood out as one of their arguable best defenders.

Former teammate Achraf Sidki, lavishing praise on Aguerd, has even stated that West Ham have signed "one of the best defenders in Europe".

“West Ham have signed one of the best defenders in Europe,” Sidki told The Athletic.

“I’m so proud that one of my former teammates will be playing in the Premier League.

“I’m surprised he didn’t move to England sooner. When we were younger we both had big dreams of becoming professional footballers. Nayef has done well and I’m confident he will be a great signing for West Ham."

Popular Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou has already made his "first and last mistake" at Spurs, according to talkSPORT pundit Gabriel Agbonlahor.

How are Tottenham doing?

The north Londoners have been thriving under new head coach Postecoglou this season, with the Australian bringing his style of exciting, attack-minded "Ange-ball" to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Postecoglou was a rip-roaring success at his previous club Celtic, where he won five domestic trophies during his two-year tenure at Parkhead.

The 58-year-old has also enjoyed brilliant stints at various clubs in the Far East; clinching another five league titles across spells with Brisbane Roar, South Melbourne FC and Yokohoma F.Marinos in Japan.

Spurs chairman Daniel Levy took an arguable gamble with Postecoglou's appointment considering his lack of experience in elite European divisions, but the tactician is proving all doubters wrong thus far.

The Lilywhites have won three out of their opening four Premier League games, prior to this international break; having put Man United, Bournemouth and especially Burnley to the sword.

In that time, Postecoglou's electric footballing philosophy has been on full display, with Spurs scoring nine goals in their last trio of top flight of encounters.

Speaking to Sky last month, Tottenham's popular new head coach explained exactly why he will not be diverging away from his particular brand.

"That's the beauty of our game," Postecoglou said.

"The beauty of football is that there are so many ways you can have success, so many ways you can set up your team, so many ways you can counteract the opposition.

"I'm probably at one extreme and there are others at the other extreme and we can both have success in this game.

"I think especially with a football club like this, that has consistently looked for that in their teams, they've loved the entertainers, there's a connection there with that kind of football."

What's been said about Ange Postecoglou?

This exceptional start to life in England has resulted in major praise for Postecoglou.

However, according to pundit Agbonlahor – who is regularly seen and heard on talkSPORT – the Spurs boss has already made his "first and last mistake" at N17.

Indeed, the former Aston Villa striker claims that Postecoglou's team selection for their Carabao Cup second round tie away at Fulham two weeks ago was a real error.

The ex-Hoops boss fielded a weakened side for the clash at Craven Cottage, a decision which proved costly as Spurs exited the competition very early; thwarting an opportunity for them to clinch a major trophy.

Agbonlahor, speaking to Football Insider this week, claimed this was a "big loss".

“Going out of the League Cup, it’s a big loss for Spurs," said Agbonlahor.

“I think picking some of the players Postecoglou did, it’s the first and last mistake he will make. He won’t do that again in a big game.

“But they’ve responded. If you look at the side that started against Burnley, it’s a top, top side. It’s definitely a team that would have beaten Fulham from the start. They would’ve washed them away.

“Ange will take the FA Cup seriously now, starting his best side. I think it’s going to be a successful season for Spurs.

“I can see them finishing in the top six, and I think they’ve got a chance of winning the FA Cup.”

West Ham United face a transfer worry as European champions Man City could now plot to steal away a "superstar" player.

Who has left West Ham?

The east Londoners sold former Declan Rice to Arsenal for around £105 million in the summer transfer window, and he was joined by Gianluca Scamacca, Nikola Vlasic and Arthur Masuaku.

West Ham's former quartet left to the tune of £134 million in total, and they were subsequently replaced by Edson Alvarez, James Ward-Prowse, Konstantinos Mavropanos and Mohammed Kudus.

Two of the former, Alvarez and Ward-Prowse, have taken to life excellently at the London Stadium while Mavropanos could in fact make his Claret and Blue debut this weekend after recovering from a back problem.

David Moyes has lead his Hammers side through an absolutely brilliant start to the 2023/2024 Premier League campaign.

West Ham have tasted victory in three of their opening four league matches prior to the international break; sealing wins against high-flying Brighton, big-spending Chelsea and newcomers Luton Town.

The Irons remain unbeaten but now face a crunch clash against City on Saturday; a match which will prove their toughest test yet given just how finely Pep Guardiola's side have started.

What's the latest West Ham transfer news?

Indeed, the Blues pose a serious threat to West Ham on the field this weekend and could well end their unbeaten streak.

However, City are now also threatening off the pitch as well, with some news emerging on a West Ham star they're apparently very keen on.

Morocco international defender Nayef Aguerd, who has starred for Moyes in recent months, is apparently turning a few heads at the Etihad Stadium.

Aguerd had attracted late Saudi window interest from Nuno Espirito Santo's Al-Ittihad, according to reports last week, but a move failed to materialise.

The 27-year-old has formed a formidable partnership with Kurt Zouma at the heart of West Ham's back-line, something which hasn't gone unnoticed at City, who "could join the race" to sign Aguerd in January alongside Liverpool.

That is according to journalist Pete O'Rourke, who writes for Football Insider that Moyes' side will demand a "huge" fee to part company with their star defender in the winter window.

How good is Nayef Aguerd?

The African was also a colossal presence for Morocco on their run to the 2022 World Cup semi-finals in Qatar last year.

Called a Moroccan "superstar" by members of the press, Aguerd's former teammate Achraf Sidki has also branded him "one of the best defenders in Europe".

"West Ham have signed one of the best defenders in Europe,” Sidki said to The Athletic.

“I’m so proud that one of my former teammates will be playing in the Premier League.

“I’m surprised he didn’t move to England sooner. When we were younger we both had big dreams of becoming professional footballers. Nayef has done well and I’m confident he will be a great signing for West Ham.

“There were so many times he saved the team when we played together. That’s when I realised he was very good. I remember one occasion we played against a team called Tetouan.

“We needed to win and it was probably Nayef’s best game for the club. He was man of the match and after the game, I told him, ‘One day you will make it to the Premier League. You don’t know how good you are’."

While Marcelo Bielsa's time in charge at Leeds United may have come to a sorry end, the Argentine remains a truly beloved figure among the Elland Road faithful following what was a remarkable three-and-a-half-year tenure.

The enigmatic and unique coach was initially handed the reins back in the summer of 2018, inheriting a side and a club that appeared to be going nowhere fast having finished in 13th place the year prior under Paul Heckingbottom.

A manager with a wealth of experience under his belt at the elite level – following prior stints at the likes of Marseille and Lazio – there was likely a sense of shock that the Rosario-born maverick had agreed to drop into England's second tier, particularly with the Whites have gone more than a decade without Premier League football at the time.

What happened next was simply remarkable, as Bielsa's high-octane and breathless style of play helped to steer the Yorkshire giants back into the promised land at the second attempt in 2019/20, having finished just outside the automatic promotion spots the year prior.

Although a solid first season in the top tier was followed by a simply disastrous start to the 2021/22 campaign – with the club hierarchy wielding the axe after notable hefty defeats against the likes of Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur – that eventual, abrupt dismissal should not sour what was a golden period in Leeds' modern era.

Not only was Bielsa evidently a masterful, gifted tactician, but the 68-year-old also had a keen eye for spotting a player, having particularly hit the jackpot with the signing of Brazilian sensation, Raphinha.

Why did Leeds sign Raphinha?

Despite the success that the 5 foot 9 trickster would go on to achieve in English football, the winger still represented something of a gamble as far as Bielsa was concerned initially due to his lack of prior Premier League experience.

After starting life on the books at Portuguese side Vitoria de Guimaraes, a standout 2017/18 season in which he plundered 18 goals earned a move to Lisbon outfit, Sporting CP – where he would score nine goals and register five assists in 41 games in all competitions.

A subsequent move to Ligue 1 side, Rennes, also proved fruitful as the Porto Alegre-born speedster contributed 15 goals and assists in 36 outings during what proved to be his solitary season in France.

That sparkling form had seemingly piqued the interest of those at Elland Road, with the wideman having been identified by Bielsa as the figure to provide that extra sprinkling of star quality to his newly-promoted side.

How much did Leeds pay for Raphinha?

On reflection, it appears that Victor Orta and co were able to pull off an absolute steal by signing Raphinha for what proved to be a bargain price of just £17m – less than half what the club splashed out on their relatively unproven club-record signing, Georginio Rutter, earlier this year.

At the time, the suggestion was that the new addition could prove something of a 'game-changing' signing due to his similarity to Leeds legend Pablo Hernandez in an attacking sense, albeit while offering the benefit of an increased defensive contribution – as per London-based investment company Carteret Analytics, via the BBC.

With Hernandez – who contributed 18 goals and assists during the club's promotion-winning campaign – having been the undoubted talisman in the second tier, Raphinha swiftly assumed that mantle in the Premier League, with the Elland Road faithful having a new hero to worship.

How many goals did Raphinha score for Leeds?

Hailed as a "magician" by teammate Daniel James, the fleet-footed wizard certainly did conjure up some "magic" during his two-year stay in Yorkshire, as per pundit Noel Whelan – who went on to add:

“Raphinha is fantastic on the ball, great on the eye and can produce moments of magic that other players simply can’t. But what I really like is his work out of possession. He is not afraid to really work hard, track back and double-up with the full-back. It is an attribute you sometimes don’t get with technically talented players. They do one side of it but not the other. That is not the case with Raphinha though."

That "relentless" nature – as described by Whelan – combined with his quality on the ball made for a perfect cocktail of devastating brilliance, evidenced by the fact that he chipped in with 17 goals and 12 assists from just 67 games in all competitions prior to his eventual departure last summer, memorably scoring in the win over Brentford on the final day of the 2021/22 season to help clinch survival.

The sight of the 18-cap Brazil international celebrating with the away support in west London following that 2-1 win was simply joyous, with that an indication of a player who had relished the adulation he had received during the prior 24 months – despite his later desire to depart.

How much did Leeds sell Raphinha for?

In a summer that saw Bielsa's successor Jesse Marsch lose Kalvin Phillips, another Leeds mainstay departed following Raphinha's move to Barcelona, with the mesmeric gem fending off interest from the likes of Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea in order to secure a dream move to Camp Nou.

While that raft of suitors didn't quite lead to the Whites raking in a truly eye-watering sum, the club were still able to turn in a handsome profit after receiving a £55m offer from the La Liga giants.

In relation to his initial £17m transfer fee, that represented an increase of 223% – hardly something to be sniffed at at a time when Leeds have not exactly struck gold in the transfer market, notably losing Rodrigo for just £3m following last season's relegation.

36 games

25 starts

7 goals

7 assists

17 big chances created

1.6 key passes per game

7.27 average match rating

On the pitch, of course, the loss of Raphinha – who has since provided 25 goals and assists in just 54 outings at Camp Nou – was a real blow as the club's fortunes swiftly tumbled, yet financially his signing and subsequent sale represents a truly astute piece of business.

Goals, goals, goals, for everything we love about the game of football, it always comes back to the goals.

They can be the reason we run around celebrating like little kids, and they can be the reason behind a bad weekend, but sometimes they can simply be out of this world.

With that in mind, Football FanCast has created a list of every Match of the Day Goal of the Season winner since the turn of the millennium, and there are some crackers.

1999/00: Paolo Di Canio vs Wimbledon

West Ham United legend Paolo Di Canio has been at the centre of his fair share of iconic – and controversial – footballing moments. Still, we reckon his goal against Wimbledon in the Premier League might be his favourite.

The Hammers would win the game 2-1, and this spectacular volley opened the scoring.

2000/01 – Shaun Bartlett vs Leicester City

The second goal on the list is remarkably similar to the first.

Charlton Athletic’s Shaun Bartlett makes a wonderful run into the box, where he is found with an equally wonderful cross that he leathers into the far corner on the volley.

It’s a thing of beauty and well worth its place on this list.

2001/02 – Dennis Bergkamp vs Newcastle United

Now, the Puskas Award didn’t exist back in the 2001/02 season, but if it did, you can be certain that Dennis Bergkamp’s iconic Premier League goal against Newcastle United would have been a winner.

Everything about this goal is beautiful. The cross from Robert Pires, Bergkamp’s touch and turn, and then his pinpoint finish into the far corner.

So good is this goal, in fact, that some still argue that he didn’t mean it – not us, though.

2002/03 – Thierry Henry vs Tottenham Hotspur

Alongside Bergkamp, Thierry Henry was one of the central men responsible for Arsenal’s golden era in the early 2000s, so it shouldn’t be all that surprising to see that it was the Frenchman who was awarded the goal of the season in 2002/03, just one year after his Dutch teammate.

The goal was stunning, with the forward running the entire length of the pitch, beating two defenders and then slotting it into the far corner.

The fact that it was in the North London Derby certainly helps give it that bit more gravitas – as does Henry’s iconic celebration in front of the away end.

2003/04 – Dietmar Hamann vs Portsmouth

Everyone loves a long shot; there is just something so incredibly satisfying about watching a player pelt the ball into the top corner from 30 yards out, and that is precisely what Liverpool’s Dietmar Hamann did against Portsmouth in the 2003/04 campaign.

What’s even more impressive is that the German took this shot in just the sixth minute, which set the tone for the rest of the match as the Reds played out a comfortable 3-0 win.

2004/05 – Wayne Rooney vs Middlesbrough

Wayne Rooney was a player who made a habit of scoring spectacular goals – as you’ll see later on – but his first goal of the season winner came in the Fourth Round of the FA Cup against Middlesbrough in January 2005.

It might not be quite as powerful as Di Canio’s volley a few years prior, but the goal was still a thunderbolt that very few, if any, keepers would’ve been able to stop.

2005/06 – Steven Gerrard vs West Ham United

Steven Gerrard is a man responsible for so many magical moments on a football pitch it can be hard to remember them all, but if there is one that people will never forget, it is his outstanding goal against West Ham in the 2006 FA Cup final.

The fact that he was so far out-of-the-box makes it impressive anyway, but the fact that it was a 91st-minute equaliser and one that allowed the team to eventually win on penalties makes it a genuinely iconic goal in English football.

2006/07 – Wayne Rooney vs Bolton Wanderers

Rooney’s second appearance was on this list, but this goal was a joint effort between the Englishman and a young Portuguese star, Cristiano Ronaldo.

The finish itself isn’t particularly crazy, but the interplay between Rooney and Ronaldo looks so simple and smooth that it’s hard not to be impressed with the efficiency of the counterattack.

2007/08 – Emmanuel Adebayor vs Tottenham Hotspur

Emmanuel Adebayor is a name that can stir a lot of emotion in North London, having played for both sides in his career, but his only appearance on this list comes from his time in red and white.

The goal itself was a stunning half-volley that gave the keeper no chance of saving it, and the fact that it was against Tottenham only made it all the more impressive.

2008/09 – Glen Johnson vs Hull City

Glen Johnson might be a player far more famous for his time at Liverpool, but we don’t think he ever scored a goal quite as good as this one for Portsmouth.

The goal gave Pompey the lead against Hull City, but the Southcoast side couldn’t hold on til the end, conceding an 86th-minute equaliser.

When it rains it pours for Manchester United and manager Erik ten Hag, with the Dutchman having witnessed his side suffer a late capitulation as they slipped to yet another defeat at home to Galatasaray on Tuesday evening, leaving their hopes of securing Champions League progression in tatters.

The expectation had been that United would seek out a response following the weekend defeat to Crystal Palace, yet despite some bright moments in attack last night – with Rasmus Hojlund netting a clinical brace – it was the same old story defensively, as the backline simply wilted against the Turkish giants.

A dramatic contest was ultimately settled in the closing stages as former Inter Milan maverick Mauro Icardi clinched victory with a delicate dink over the onrushing Andre Onana, with that effort encapsulating what was yet another grim day for the latter man in the Old Trafford goal.

How did Andre Onana perform against Galatasaray?

There will likely be a huge sense of frustration for Ten Hag at the fact that things finally clicked into gear in the final third for his side, with Hojlund having been "enjoying himself" with that two-goal showing – as per The Athletic's Laurie Whitwell – yet the Red Devils walked away empty handed due to mistakes in the backline.

For the visitors' first, a simple, lofted ball over the top was simply not dealt with by Diogo Dalot as the Portuguese full-back was far too easily outmuscled by Wilfried Zaha, albeit with there perhaps having been a hesitancy from the man in the sticks to come and claim the ball himself.

It had been a rather quiet night for Onana after that point, although the Cameroonian stopper sparked unnecessary nerves inside the Theatre of Dreams just moments after Hojlund had bagged his second of the evening, having flapped at an innocuous cross into the box.

The 27-year-old summer signing was not punished for that errant act, although that was swiftly followed by a limp pass out from the back which fell straight to the feet of Dries Mertens, with an unfortunate Casemiro forced to bring down the veteran Belgian and receive a second yellow card.

Remarkably, Onana was again reprieved as Icardi lashed his subsequent spot-kick wide, although the Argentine atoned by lifting the ball over the United 'keeper soon after, with Ten Hag's new man having 'made it easy' for the striker in truth – as per journalist Samuel Luckhurst.

Despite being the obvious villain, Onana wasn't solely culpable for that dismal defeat, however, with club captain Bruno Fernandes failing to lead from the front.

How did Bruno Fernandes play against Galatasaray?

Much like for the man in the sticks, little seemingly went right for the Portugal international yesterday, with Luckhurst writing on Twitter that it had been the 29-year-old "at his worst", as he was regularly "looking to blame others" despite his own shortcomings.

While the former Sporting CP ace was shifted out onto the right flank in order to accommodate the returning Hannibal Mejbri, that should not excuse what was largely an erratic showing from the outset, as the playmaker squandered possession on 26 occasions as a sign of his woes.

That metric is usually rather misleading as the £240k-per-week maestro regularly looks to create chances for his teammates and so thus can be understandably reckless on the ball, yet in this instance there was little of his usual flair – despite making two key passes.

The unorthodox wideman failed to complete any of his nine attempted crosses and fired three shots wide on the night, having also been something of a liability defensively after winning just five of his ten total duels.

Such an uncharacteristically poor performance from the United talisman was encapsulated late on as he fired a volleyed effort straight into the arms of opposition 'keeper, Fernando Muslera, having earlier failed to convert after a clever pullback from the influential Hojlund.

In truth, on an occasion in which the hosts needed their captain to step up and take charge, he simply did not, with the Premier League outfit having now been plunged even further into crisis amid what has been a woeful start to the season.

As for their Champions League hopes, specifically, the club's prior loss to Bayern Munich has ensured that Ten Hag's men have it all to do in the final four remaining group games, with it yet to been if United can sink to even greater lows over the coming months.

Leeds United battled to a second successive Championship victory with a hard-fought win at home to Bristol City this afternoon, with goals from Daniel James and Joel Piroe sealing all three points for Daniel Farke's men on the day.

Having seen off Queen's Park Rangers in midweek following an early strike from Crysencio Summerville at Elland Road, it was another Dutchman who struck the decisive blow again this time around, with that man Piroe netting his fifth goal of the season so far.

How did Joel Piroe perform against Bristol City?

It is fair to say that there were question marks surrounding the 24-year-old heading into today's game against Nigel Pearson's side, with the continued use of the former Swansea City man in an unorthodox number ten berth having sparked much debate among fans and pundits alike.

In midweek, the Leeds faithful were likely to have been 'left wondering again about this experiment with him behind a striker' – according to Leeds Live's Beren Cross – with it set to have been no surprise if Farke did tweak his thinking for the visit of the Robins.

The promotion expert stuck to his guns, however, and was rewarded handsomely, with Piroe netting just after the break with a delightful driven effort from range, expertly silencing the doubters in the process.

It was, however, the display of the one-time PSV Eindhoven man's strike partner that particularly caught the eye, with club-record signing Georginio Rutter having been "so impressive" when leading the line – in the words of The Athletic's Phil Hay.

How did Georginio Rutter play against Bristol City?

With the Whites having splashed out a hefty £35.5m in order to sign the young Frenchman back in January, that sizeable investment looked to have been something of a mistake following what was a muted end to last season for the 21-year-old, as he failed to score in 11 Premier League games.

Now handed the true faith of the man in the dugout, however, the former Hoffenheim starlet is beginning to sparkle in his number nine berth, scoring twice and contributing three assists in ten league games so far this term.

Although the fleet-footed dynamo was unable to add to that haul of goal contributions earlier today – inexplicably firing over with the goal at his mercy at one stage – the improving talent couldn't have done much more to get involved in the game, having been "so influential", according to journalist Joe Donnohue.

The 6 foot sensation notably racked up a stellar tally of six key passes as a marker of his relentless creative threat – more than any other player on the pitch – having also created three big chances from his 45 touches.

While that did see Rutter lose possession on 16 occasions as he attempted to make things happen for the hosts, he more than made up for that fact with his work ethic off the ball, winning three fouls for his side and winning seven ground duels.

With two big chances missed, there is undoubtedly still room for improvement from the one-time Rennes man, although if that outing is a sign of things to come for the remainder of the season, then those at Elland Road should be in for a treat.

The sun might be shining on St. James' Park now, but Newcastle United have certainly endured their fair share of hardship over the years.

The Premier League giants failed to match performance with prestige throughout the deplored Mike Ashley's ownership, which ended with the most resounding of cheers.

Backed by the riches of the PIF owners, Eddie Howe has masterfully built a team of profound quality, qualifying for the Champions League last season after a 20-year absence and now excelling in that elite competition.

The squad is steeped in first-class ability and application, which is a credit to technical director Dan Ashworth's bartering for players capable of making an impressive impact.

It's not always been like this, with the black clouds that lingered over St. James' Park for so many years caused by the repeated failures in the transfer market.

Perseverance is key, or something like that, and that has paid off handsomely for the likes of Joelinton, Fabian Schar and co, who were once rebuked for their part in a struggling squad but now stand tall among one of Europe's most exciting outfits.

The same can't be said for Ryan Fraser, aged 29, who has offered next to nothing since arriving three years ago, only succeeding in depleting Newcastle's financial resources.

How much did Ryan Fraser cost Newcastle?

In 2020, Steve Bruce had successfully preserved Newcastle's status in midtable, finishing 13th, and while this wasn't the most enthralling of outcomes, he brought stability after Rafa Benitez's acrimonious departure.

The veteran boss wanted to improve the squad's offensive drive and sealed a swoop for winger Fraser from Bournemouth on a free transfer, who opted against renewing his deal with the south coast club after making 208 displays, posting 24 goals and 33 assists.

He was known for his blistering pace and "electric" ability on the ball – as said by journalist Sean McCormick – and was an instrumental member of a Howe-led Bournemouth team that surpassed expectations in retaining top-flight status for several years.

His move to Newcastle quickly unravelled as a nightmare, and after 59 appearances across three campaigns – less than 20 across all competitions per term – he yields just three goals and six assists.

What is Ryan Fraser's salary at Newcastle?

Of course, considering Fraser didn't cost the club a transfer fee he was always going to earn a healthy rise in salary, having been on a reported £27k-per-week with Bournemouth.

Completing his move and signing his five-year contract, the 25-cap Scotland international's £42k-per-week took him above the likes of club captain Jamal Lascelles (£40k-per-week), and Schar (also £40k-per-week).

It became increasingly clear that he was not deserving of such a wage and never proved his worth, ultimately being loaned out to Southampton this summer.

Fraser has earned just over £6m in wages over the past three seasons, with Howe and co likely hoping that a permanent exit will be secured next summer, with two years still left to run on his existing deal.

With just three goals scored for the club and no notion that that tally will rise, Fraser has thus wrung Newcastle roughly £2m per goal in relation to his wage – a most dismal reminder of the past misery for the Magpies.

What's gone wrong for Ryan Fraser at Newcastle?

Fraser had performed so well for the Cherries, with his partnership with Wilson catching the eye with their fluid link-ups – because of this, there was a real feeling that Newcastle would boast a formidable strikeforce after completing the deals.

Indeed, Fraser and Wilson had actually broken the Premier League record for most goal combinations in a 38-game season in 2018/19, with their 12 combined goals surpassing Alan Shearer and Mike Newell’s erstwhile record of 11 set in 1995/96.

But, alas, he never managed to find his feet on Tyneside and was said to be in for a "grim" period by pundit TamMcManus before his loan move to the Saints.

Season

Apps

Goals

Assists

22/23

8

0

0

21/22

27

2

3

20/21

18

0

3

Stats sourced via Transfermarkt

With just two goals to his name on Premier League soil at Newcastle, Fraser really has fallen by the wayside after such impressive feats at the Vitality Stadium.

Valued at around £17m by Football Transfers after joining the Toon on a free transfer, the diminutive 5 foot 4 ace now holds a presumptive price tag of only £3m.

He has been hampered by niggling injuries across his three campaigns with the side, but he never mustered enough quality on the pitch to warrant a place – and considering the high regard he was held in by Howe at Bournemouth, this is a stark illustration of how lacklustre he must have been.

With the way the tide is flowing on Tyneside right now, it's no surprise that Fraser's departure has hardly been felt by Newcastle, who had long discarded his worth before his move to Southampton.

Howe deserves all the plaudits for constructing a team capable of competing for illustrious honours, and while the Magpies squad is brimming with talent, it is the efforts made to land players committed and eager to fight for their place.

Frankly, Fraser seemed contented to sit and languish away from the first team, something evidenced by Howe's decision to relegate him to the U21s last season.

The signs that more energy and application was necessary went unheeded, and Fraser's once lively top-flight career now appears to be at an end.

For a player who did not require a transfer fee, the 29-year-old Bruce signing certainly cost a pretty penny for scant production, and his time at St. James' Park is a late reminder of the dog days.