Loads of fans have been left stunned by something Virgil van Dijk said about his time at Celtic, as he revealed the best player he played with for the Hoops.Captain, leader and legend Scott Brown? Up and coming Leigh Griffiths? Prime Kris Commons? No, according to van Dijk, the best player he ever shared the pitch with in green and white hoops was Stefan Johansen.

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The Liverpool star was hosting a question and answers session with supporters on Twitter when he was asked about his greatest Celtic teammate, and fans were shocked when he opted for Johansen.

The Fulham midfielder has bagged four goals this season, but it’s fair to say he was slightly more prolific during his time in Glasgow, netting 13 goals and providing 10 assists in the 2014/15 season.

The Norway professional grabbed four goals and nine assists the following season after van Dijk had left the club that summer, and it seems he certainly left an impression.

Check out some of the stunned Twitter reactions down below…

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When Manchester United confirmed that they had signed Eric Bailly from Villareal for a reported fee of around £30m back in the summer of 2016, then Red Devils manager Jose Mourinho could not have spoken more highly of his newest recruit.

He said: “Eric has the potential to become one of the best around.”

Sadly for Mourinho, Bailly and just United fans in general, that statement hasn’t really come to fruition.

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The Ivory Coast international’s career at Old Trafford has been plagued by injury after injury, and it’s become more the exception to the rule if he actually does step up on the pitch on a rare occasion.

All in all, he has played just 79 games in total for the Red Devils, and a look at his injury history is really something to behold, missing 62 matches for United.

The big issue now for current United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, is that he has an incredible wealth of options at centre-back. After the big-money signing of Harry Maguire last summer, the Red Devils also boast the likes of: Victor Lindelof, Phil Jones, Axel Tuanzebe, Chris Smalling (on loan), Marcos Rojo (on loan too), and Bailly too. Not to mention Timothy Fosu-Mensah either.

The fact is Solskjaer has far too many players for that one position, and this summer will need to see him be ruthless with a couple of them at the very least. Smalling’s loan spell at AS Roma may see him be given one last chance to stake a first-team claim at Old Trafford, whilst Tuanzebe’s age – he is still only 22 – means the Red Devils surely see him as someone who can form the heart of their back-line for the next decade or so.

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That all leaves Bailly in a precarious position, and the £80k-a-week ace should be the one on the chopping block. His awful injury record means he just simply isn’t someone you can rely on over the course of a full and demanding Premier League season.

Pinning your hopes on someone like that, and continuing to pay him his wages whilst he’s out of action, just doesn’t make footballing or financial sense. It’s exactly why Solskjaer should make the gut-wrenching decision of bringing an end to Bailly’s United career, and moving forward with the likes of Maguire and Tuanzebe.

Meanwhile, Man Utd’s 2006 bargain signing is still paying off now.

Tottenham Hotspur fans on Twitter have been fuming over a recent report regarding the return of Premier League football.

Elite level sport has been placed on hold across the planet in recent weeks amid the rise of the global pandemic.

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In the midst of a national lock down the prospect of football returning seems like nothing more than a mere pipe dream, but recent news suggests that the powers that be are working hard on a solution.

According to an exclusive report from the Daily Mirror, the Premier League are at an advanced stage in talks with the UK government regarding an agreement that would see the top-flight resume behind closed doors in June.

With government officials hopeful of a virus peak in the next few weeks, fixtures could be sanctioned under strict guidelines.

It’s the type of news that could give football-starved fans hope, but the Spurs supporters on Twitter are looking at the situation through a more holistic, humanitarian lens.

Indeed, the Lilywhites faithful are far from impressed with the report and have suggested the endeavour to sanction football’s return is greedy and unrealistic during a period of time in which sport should not be a matter of priority.

Here’s how the Spurs fans reacted to the news…

After arriving from Spanish side CD Tenerife, Ayoze Perez enjoyed a fairly impressive spell in his time at Newcastle.

The versatile forward played 195 times for the Magpies, scoring 48 goals and providing a further 17 assists. He was there during the campaign Newcastle spent in the Championship, and was a permanent fixture in the side as they set about trying to cement their place in the Premier League too.

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But the Spaniard made the switch to top-flight rivals Leicester last summer in a deal reported to be worth around £30m. Now, speaking to Sky Sports, Perez has admitted that whilst he stills holds affection for Newcastle, he made the move to the Foxes to join their project.

He said: “I just wish them (Newcastle) the best. They are a special team for myself. It was a very important part of my career. Leicester is also building up a great project. It’s a great team which is developing. So, in the end, it was an easy decision. If you ask me today if it was the right one, I would say so.”

After hearing what Perez had to say, Newcastle fans took to Twitter to share their thoughts on their former star.

One Newcastle fan in particular meanwhile suggested that Perez may now regret his decision to leave, perhaps referencing the fact the Magpies are set for a takeover.

Unsurprisingly, some Newcastle supporters don’t seem to be the biggest fans of Perez now.

But the Magpies got a fairly decent chunk of money for a player who has only reached double figures in a league campaign just once in his entire professional career.

So whilst they may not be happy with his exit, Newcastle still did fairly well out of it.

Match facts
September 18, 2012
Start time 1930 local (1400 GMT)Big Picture There is no big bash planned for the opening of World Twenty20 in Hambantota, no music concert, no fireworks and no trapeze artists. But, there is a cricket match and both Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe are likely to be grateful that they, not a sideshow, will take center stage.Cricket can be their only focus because in a short group stage, like this one, an early slip up could end their campaign even as it begins. That fact is probably scarier for Sri Lanka than it is for Zimbabwe.Sri Lanka are expected not to slip up, especially because the tournament is taking place at home and their reputation as runners-up was given a fresh unveiling at least year’s fifty-over World Cup. Their time for going one better is thought to be now. Despite changes to coaching staff and personnel and a patchy recent record in T20 cricket, Sri Lanka is still seen as one of the favourites and they would hope to show why against Zimbabwe.For Zimbabwe’s coach, Alan Butcher, and his charges, this tournament is nothing more than an opportunity. It is a chance to show that they are still active on the world stage, even though they have not been on it for almost eight months. It is a chance to show that they are still producing talented players and have the capacity to nurture that talent. And maybe, just maybe, it is a chance to achieve something that no-one would think them capable of.Form guide (completed matches, most recent first)
Sri Lanka LLWLW
Zimbabwe LLLLLWatch out for There are few finer sites in cricket than Lasith Malinga, hair bobbing to the rhythm of his steps, running in, pecking the ball on its way through to the base of the stumps. With the opportunity to see him in whites a thing of the past, watching him in the shortest form has to suffice. As Sri Lanka’s joint highest wicket taker in T20 cricket, with Ajantha Mendis, Malinga can be as destructive as he is delightful and with Sri Lanka challenging for silverware on home turf, you can expect both in overload.Sandwiched in-between a man in fine form, Hamilton Masakadza and the captain, Brendan Taylor is Vusi Sibanda. He has completed his return to the team after a spat over his choice to play grade cricket instead of domestic cricket at home but has been overshadowed by Masakadza and Taylor. Sibanda is an attacking strokeplayer, who has learnt to play the short ball with as much force as the full one. He will also have to play the key role of holding the top three together to ensure Zimbabwe can challenge with the bat.Team news A slightly new-look Sri Lanka XI is possible with Dilshan Munaweera likely to open the batting alongside Tillakaratne Dilshan and offspinner Akila Dananjaya – both set for debuts. That will mean Mahela Jayawardene will bat at No.3. The middle order is solid and the bowling varied, with two frontline spinners in Dananjaya and Ajantha Mendis.Sri Lanka (probable): 1 Dilshan Munaweera, 2 Tillakaratne Dilshan, 3 Mahela Jayawardene, 4 Kumar Sangakkara, 5 Lahiru Thirimanne, 6 Angelo Mathews, 7 Nuwan Kulasekara, 8 Thisara Perera, 9 Lasith Malinga, 10 Ajantha Mendis 11 Akila Dananjaya,An impressive top three gives way to a shaky Zimbabwe middle order but their alternatives are few. Only Forster Mutizwa could replace Craig Ervine or Stuart Matsikenyeri but their experience would likely see them turn out for the first match. It will probably be a choice between Elton Chigumbura and Malcolm Waller for the allrounder’s role. Zimbabwe have three frontline spinners in Prosper Utseya, Graeme Cremer and Ray Price and Price is the likeliest to miss out if they chose to play three seamers.Zimbabwe (probable): 1 Hamilton Masakadza, 2 Vusi Sibanda, 3 Brendan Taylor, 4 Craig Ervine, 5 Stuart Matsikenyeri, 6 Elton Chigumbura/ Malcolm Waller, 7 Prosper Utseya 8 Graeme Cremer, 9 Richard Muzhange, 10 Kyle Jarvis, 11 Chris MpofuPitch and conditions With heavy gusts expected in the afternoon and evening in Hambantota, some steadying adjustments will have to be made all round. Matches there have been low scoring, largely because the surface area of the field is larger than the MCG, but the boundary rope is being brought in for this tournament. The pitch is expected to have something in it for the seamers, so much so that Brendan Taylor said he does not expect much turn. Temperatures are expected to be warm, between 26 and 28 degrees Celsius, with up to 80% humidity but little chance of rain.Stats and trivia

Match facts

October 28, 2012
Start time 1730 local (1530 GMT)Sydney Sixers’ attack will be led by Mitchell Starc who has been among the best bowlers of the year in Twenty20s•Associated Press

Big Picture

The Champions League T20 may be the ugly step-sister of the cricketing world, with most fans giving it the cold shoulder, but for many of the players involved the final will be the biggest payday of their lives. With the champions getting a cool $2.5m, the money on offer will bump players, especially those who aren’t part of national teams or aren’t globetrotting T20 specialists, up a tax bracket or two. Adding to the occasion will be the sell-out crowd at one of cricket’s iconic venues, the Wanderers Stadium, which will make it among the biggest audiences some of the domestic players will play in front of.And contesting the final are the two most consistent sides of the tournament. Lions weren’t topping anybody’s list of favourites when the tournament began, but they have exceeded expectations through a combination of teamwork and temperament, keeping their head when things start to get tight. They have plenty going for them. The Wanderers is their home ground, and no one knows the conditions there better than Lions. The diversity in their batting – Twenty20 batting doesn’t get too much more of a contrast than the leg-side biffing of Ghulam Bodi and the surgical precision of Neil McKenzie – has been married to consistency through the tournament. And the bowling has four match-winners: their two imports Dirk Nannes and Sohail Tanvir, their best bowler in the domestic tournament, Chris Morris, and one of the bowlers of the CLT20, Aaron Phangiso.Their one reverse in this tournament came against their opponents in the final, Sydney Sixers. When the Big Bash League was launched a year ago, Sydney Sixers were the butt of jokes for their flamboyantly pink outfits, a colour which they started to refer to as ‘mangenta’. A year on, they have earned the respect of Twenty20 fans after winning the inaugural BBL, and are yet to drop a game in the CLT20.They came into the tournament as one of the leading contenders and have so far lived up to the tag, despite losing the services of Dwayne Bravo and Brett Lee to IPL teams, and that of possibly the most valuable player currently in T20 cricket, Shane Watson, midway through the tournament. They could also be without their captain, Brad Haddin, for the final, as he picked up a thumb injury – though he was fit enough to bat on Friday.

Watch out for…

Steve O’Keefe has opened the innings only three times in T20s: the semi-finals and final of the BBL, and Friday’s CLT20 semi-final against Titans. On all three occasions he has made a significant contribution, including a Man of the Match performance against Titans. In addition, his left-arm spin has been taken for less than a run-a-ball this tournament.Fast bowler Chris Morris was the top wicket-taker in South Africa’s domestic Twenty20 competition last season, and he came into the CLT20 on the back of a 12-wicket haul against Dolphins in a first-class game. He started off quietly in this tournament but hit the headlines with his spell against Delhi Daredevils in the semi-finals, helping his team defend a sub-par score by taking the key wicket of David Warner and then killing off the game with scalp of Kevin Pietersen.

Weather and conditions

Despite gloomy weather forecasts, the showers thankfully stayed away during both semi-finals. The organisers will hope that trend continues for the final as well, when light rain is predicted.

Stats and trivia

• Mitchell Starc is the leading wicket-taker not just in the tournament but in all Twenty20s this year, with an astonishing 56 wickets in 26 matches
• Six of the Lions players who were part of the semi-final have a batting average over 26 in T20s, while the highest among Sydney’s players in the semi-final was Nic Maddinson’s 25.76

Quotes

“I think the middle overs will be important. We’ve dominated that period in almost all our games and I think that will play a massive role once again.”

“Lions are very desperate to win. This is a chance for the domestic teams to showcase their skills at the international stage.”

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BBC Football pundit Mark Lawrenson has tipped Premier League strugglers Southampton to lose 2-0 when they face Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday, but that isn’t the only piece of bad news he has for the club.

What’s the word, then?

Well, the Liverpool legend was once again providing his weekly score predictions in the English top flight, but he doesn’t believe that Saints will bounce back from the disappointing 2-1 defeat against lowly Cardiff City last time out, a result which saw them slip into the relegation zone.

Predicting a 2-0 scoreline for the Gunners, the 61-year-old also added that he believes the south coast outfit are going to find themselves in a lot of trouble for the foreseeable future.

According to BBC Football, Lawrenson said: “Southampton dropped into the relegation zone after losing to Cardiff last time out, and I think they might stay there for a while longer.

“Arsenal have got some issues they need to sort out – Mesut Ozil’s future being one of them – but their home record is very good and they should still be too strong for Saints.”

Is he right?

While his comments won’t be great reading for Southampton supporters or manager Ralph Hasenhuttl, he may well be correct in his thinking.

The south coast outfit face Unai Emery’s men, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United in their next four Premier League fixtures, while they have fellow bottom-three outfit Fulham at St Mary’s on Wednesday night.

The clash against the Cottagers may be more winnable on paper than the other three, but the south coast outfit showed by taking just one point at home to Crystal Palace and the Bluebirds that they don’t always have the quality to get wins against the teams around them in the table on their own patch.

Even if they beat Claudio Ranieri’s side and lose the other three, they will be in big trouble in the final eight games.

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Moussa Sissoko has a key role to play as Tottenham Hotspur take on Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League.

The France international has risen to prominence this season and his displays have made him one of the most indispensable players in Mauricio Pochettino’s squad.

On the chalkboard

Sissoko has gone from being something of a flop at Spurs to a key member of Pochettino’s starting line-up.

This season, the Frenchman has played 28 times in all competitions and, though he is yet to score, he has proved vital in terms of setting the tone of Spurs’ press and regularly galloping through midfield, striding past challenges at will.

His display against Leicester City at the weekend, in a 3-1 win, was evidence of this.

Per WhoScored, Sissoko completed four dribbles against the Foxes, more than any other player on the pitch, and also enjoyed a pass completion rate of 90%, completing 45 of 50 attempted passes.

His was a tireless display, as he also made two key passes, along with one tackle. In total, Sissoko touched the ball 70 times, the second-most of any Spurs player. Harry Winks led the way with 101 touches.

He is fast becoming one of the most trusted players in the Spurs XI, regularly given the ball when Spurs are in need of a quick transition.

Against Dortmund, then, he will be key.

Turning defence into attack

Spurs faced Dortmund last season, too, playing them twice in the group stages.

Pochettino’s men won both games, but were particularly impressive at Wembley, running out 3-1 winners in a game where they regularly ceded possession to Dortmund.

Per BBC, Spurs had just 32% possession in the game, opting to soak up pressure before bursting forward on the break. A Son Heung-Min strike plus a Harry Kane brace gave them victory.

A similar gameplan is likely to be employed on Wednesday, particularly with the likes of Dele Alli, Kane and Danny Rose ruled out of the game.

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If Pochettino opts to allow Dortmund to have the ball, Sissoko’s rangy runs will be vital in turning defence into attack and moving Spurs up the pitch.

Of course, Sissoko will also have to be precise in his distribution if Spurs are to capitalise on his forays forward but history suggests he will not find that a problem.

If he repeats his performance against Leicester, Dortmund will be running scared – and Tottenham’s hopes of progressing to the next round of the Champions League will receive a key boost.

[ad_pod ]Following West Brom’s disappointing 3-2 defeat to Middlesbrough on Saturday, a number of players came in for criticism from supporters for their display against Tony Pulis’ side.

Amongst those who came under fire was Baggies’ veteran Chris Brunt, who only played seven minutes against Boro, but what went wrong?

Appears to be past it

The former Northern Ireland international has made 24 appearances under Darren Moore so far this season, scoring one goal and recording two assists, but the general tempo of his play has looked lackadaisical, tired and lethargic.

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Brunt has been with the Midlands-based side since 2007, and the weekend marked his 400th appearance for the club across a 12-year stay at the Hawthorns.

The midfielder has always caught the eye with his exquisite left foot, and has made a name for himself thanks to his technical ability and impressive passing range. Unfortunately, it now looks like his best days are behind him, and he is holding the Baggies back in their battle for an immediate return to the Premier League.

What went wrong against Boro?

Brunt, as aforementioned, only played seven minutes after coming on for Sam Field in the 83rd minute, but it was his mishit clearance almost immediately after entering the fray that allowed Britt Assombalonga to steal in and smash home the winner.

West Brom managed to oversee a tremendous deadline day triple swoop, bringing in Jefferson Montero, Jacob Murphy and Stefan Johansen, and the latter of that trio will most likely see Brunt’s playing time become even more limited.

Sadly, having served the Baggies so well throughout his time at the club, the Northern Irishman should now be deemed surplus to requirements under Moore. Interestingly, he has made 15 starts this season, but that may be because of a lack of squad depth – he has certainly been holding the side back, and Johansen’s arrival should end his involvement in the starting XI indefinitely.

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The Mirror reported on Sunday that Tottenham Hotspur are in the market for a new signing before the January transfer window slams shut on Thursday night, but it is more likely to be a younger player such as Leeds United’s Jack Clarke rather than a big name or a more experienced pro.

The Mirror report that Spurs remain keen on signing the 18-year-old winger who has enjoyed an impressive breakthrough season for the Yorkshire outfit, who remain on course to secure promotion back to the Premier League following their 2-1 win away against Rotherham United on Saturday.

Despite only making three starts in the Championship thus far for Marcelo Bielsa’s men, the attacker is being chased by a whole host of top flight clubs, as per The Mirror, and the north London outfit are hoping to get a deal done as they see him as a player for the future.

Unsurprisingly, the report adds that Marcelo Bielsa’s men have no intention of losing their teen sensation by the deadline, meaning Tottenham would not only likely have to offer a huge fee for Clarke, but also agree to loan him back to Elland Road for the remainder of the campaign.

The 18-year-old may have only played 579 minutes of league football for Leeds during the current campaign, but he has already shown that he has the quality and potential to have a huge future in the English game.

Spurs don’t have a great deal of pace and depth in wide areas right now aside from the likes of Lucas Moura and Son Heung-Min, and even though they still have Georges-Kevin Nkoudou on their books and making appearances right now, he certainly didn’t look up to the task during the 2-0 defeat against Crystal Palace in the fourth round of the FA Cup on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Clarke is averaging one shot, 0.9 key passes and 1.4 dribbles per game, as per WhoScored, right now for the automatic promotion hopefuls, and he is a winger that is making a difference when he is on the pitch or when he comes off of the substitutes’ bench.

Pochettino has obviously helped talents who impressed in the lower leagues previously in Dele Alli and Harry Kane become top-class Premier League players and even ones well-renowned across world football, and if the Argentine intends to stay with Spurs for the foreseeable future then he can certainly do the same working with Clarke.

Arsenal’s Hector Bellerin may be out for the season but it’s given him a chance to show off his new accessory. Check out the video below to see for yourself…