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A selection of Aston Villa fans took to social media during their Premier League meeting with Liverpool on Saturday to share their thoughts on the Video Assistant Referee denying Roberto Firmino an equalising goal.

Dean Smith’s Villans had taken a surprise lead in the 21st-minute, when Trezeguet opened the scoring with a tap-in after VAR Martin Atkinson overruled a decision to call Tyrone Mings as offside before the Egyptian tapped home at the back post.

Referee Jon Moss had initially sought to chalk off the volley, as Mings had made advances from an offside position, but the goal was given as Trezeguet was arguably the only home player not beyond the last man when the free-kick was taken.

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Villa have seen goals taken off the board in incidents where the video assistant could have been used this season, with strikes at Crystal Palace and Brighton & Hove Albion disallowed, as well as not seeing a penalty awarded at Arsenal.

Atkinson ensured the shoe was on the other foot on Saturday, though, as Liverpool were denied an equalising goal in the 31st-minute when Firmino was adjudged to have been offside.

The decision appeared to be extremely close to call, with a hair’s width potentially the difference between the Brazilian being onside or not.

Being on the other side of the decision saw one Villa fan note that their side were due a decision going in their favour, having felt there was ‘no way’ Firmino was offside.

Here are some of the messages shared on the key decision from Villa’s clash with Liverpool…

Liverpool defender Andy Robertson has teased Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain with a backhanded compliment after the forward hit the Reds’ winning goal against KRC Genk on Tuesday night.Robertson was benched for the Champions League tie as Jurgen Klopp seemingly kept one eye on Sunday’s Premier League showdown with title-rival Manchester City, but started Oxlade-Chamberlain as his de facto striker.According to those matches where his position has been recorded by Transfermarkt, Oxlade-Chamberlain had never played as the designated striker or as a false nine before in his senior career, yet was able to live up to the task by striking the match-winner on the turn when he drilled the ball home in the 53rd-minute.It was the Portsmouth-born winger’s fourth goal of the season across all competitions, after he fired home from range the Reds’ third of the night against his former side Arsenal in the Carabao Cup last week.His brace against Genk when Liverpool travelled to Belgium towards the end of October also featured a wonder-strike from the 26-year-old, when he scored with the outside of his boot.Oxlade-Chamberlain’s goal against Genk on Tuesday night was relatively subdued compared to his effort last month, while also being the 33-cap England international’s first from inside the box this season.Robertson clearly noticed that, as well, as the Scotland left-back took to Twitter after the win to tease Oxlade-Chamberlain.

Liverpool host Manchester City on Sunday looking to stretch their advantage over the reigning Premier League title holders, as Klopp’s men can open a nine-point margin should they triumph at the weekend.

This article is part of Football FanCast’s In Numbers series, which takes a statistical look at performances, season-long form and reported transfer targets… 

Ben Davies has struggled to get into the Tottenham team so far this campaign with only three starts to his name, but his performance against Croatia for Wales will certainly give Mauricio Pochettino something to think about.

Danny Rose has been the preferred choice at left-back for much of the season but with no end in sight of Spurs’ defensive woes – with 13 goals conceded in their last five games – a change may be in order.

Added to that, Rose didn’t exactly impress for England on Friday night with a SofaScore rating of 6.1 in defeat against the Czech Republic, and therefore Davies is deserving of a recall.

As well as providing a defensive improvement, the Welshman could also provide more energy and impetus going forward, as he showed bravery and ambition against the World Cup runners-up, and that could help to end Tottenham’s bad run of form.

The 26-year-old’s commitment was on show in everything he did on Sunday, and if the level of desired he showed was replicated throughout the team then Spurs would get the lift they need.

He put in a strong defensive performance, helping the young Ethan Ampadu and leading by example, as well as making one tackle, as per SofaScore.

However, it was going forward where he really excelled, linking up with Gareth Bale frequently, including a great run which set up a chance that the Real Madrid man couldn’t miss to level things up.

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Wales could have had more thanks to his efforts, too, and if he is able to repeat the two key passes he made this weekend against Watford, then a top striker like Harry Kane is likely to put them away.

Davies sometimes lacks the skill and physicality to attack effectively, as his rate of 0.1 successful dribbles per league game last season suggests, so the fact he managed two against Croatia suggests he did so because of a determination to help his team.

Spurs need that kind of team player currently, someone who isn’t afraid to put their body on the line – as his four out of seven duels won indicates – and therefore Pochettino should show some faith in Davies by giving him a run in the team.

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This article is part of Football FanCast’s In The Pipeline series, which takes a look at some of the most promising young talent either linked with clubs or emerging from their academies…

Quite often, the academies of Aston Villa and in particular, West Brom, gain the most attention in the Midlands so much so that Wolves’ cohort of next stars goes under the radar.

And that’s rather harsh considering the array of talent that’s on offer at the club.

You’ve got a pair impressing on loan at Doncaster Rovers in Niall Ennis, who has scored and assisted one goal in five starts, and Cameron John, who has attracted the interest of several Premier League rivals.

Then there are prospects plucked from elsewhere like Bruno Jordao from Lazio and Meritan Shabani, who has featured three times for Bayern Munich’s senior side – both have been making their presence heard for the U23s.

But earlier this week, Benny Ashley-Seal fired his name into the limelight as he netted a hat-trick past League Two outfit Carlisle United in their EFL Trophy opener on Tuesday night.

The fact he scored three past full-time professional footballers instead of fellow youngsters is a key moment as it suggests he is up to the standard of the men’s game, albeit against a team lower down the English pyramid.

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Fosun’s plans to build a successful academy have been clear in the past and this season it may finally be coming to fruition, particularly after this promising display from a young player against senior opposition.

They just need a few players to break into Nuno Santo’s first-team plans and the way their season has gone, who knows, it could well happen.

Back in 2015, the young striker was named as one of the best twenty prospects to look out for in his age group by The Guardian.

Since then, he’s gone on to score 12 goals in 28 appearances for the U23 side and has also been out on loan in Portugal.

In his early years, he passed through the books of north London rivals Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur, which can typically be a good indicator of how talented a player actually is as both youth setups are up there with the best in England.

If Ashley-Seal can continue to impress and build on this, then he could become a serious option amongst their ranks. Not only that, but he could help Fosun’s ambitions ring true.

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Opinion series, which provides analysis, insight and opinion on any issue within the beautiful game, from Paul Pogba’s haircuts to League Two relegation battles…

Liverpool could be forced to replay their Carabao Cup clash with MK Dons, which may be an even worse outcome than just getting kicked out of the competition.

What’s the word?

According to The Times, the Reds may have to play the League One outfit again due to the issue surrounding Pedro Chirivella’s eligibility.

The report claims Jurgen Klopp is horrified by the possibility, and it’s easy to see why.

Excluding the international break, the Reds are currently set to play two games a week until the next round of Carabao Cup fixtures, so they would either have to squeeze the replay into a three-match week, or even worse, push the next round back and play the replay when other teams play in the next round, forcing the potential clash with Arsenal deeper into the busy festive period.

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Worst possible outcome

It has long been a joke amongst Liverpool fans that Klopp does not care about domestic cups.

Maybe it’s because of the line-ups stacked full of fringe and youth players he deploys, or maybe it’s because he hasn’t won one in England yet, but you only need to look at the reactions to the news of the ineligible player dispute to see what fans think, as one even said: “Klopp will be happy!”

Joke or not however, there is definitely an argument to be made that the Reds would be better off out of the competition than face another away trip against a tough-tackling lower-league team in the midst of some huge Premier League and Champions League fixtures.

Let’s not forget when Klopp’s side slipped up in the league last term, as they drew four out of six games between January and March and scored just two goals in those four draws, a sure sign of fatigue after a hectic winter schedule.

Sure, Liverpool are a massive club and want every trophy they can get their hands on. But, if it’s a choice between sacrificing the proverbial Mickey Mouse cup or letting it affect the push for Premier League and Champions League glory, then getting dumped out of the competition may just be the best possible outcome.

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Having signed from Shakhtar Donetsk in the summer of 2018, Fred endured a difficult first season at Manchester United.

The Brazil international managed just 25 appearances across all competitions last season, and his future at the club was in doubt earlier this summer. Reports had suggested the midfielder could be set for a loan move to Turkey, but a deal failed to materialise by the end of the transfer window.

After being handed his first start of the new season against Astana in the Europa League, Fred delivered a performance that reminded the club just why they splashed the cash on him in the first place.

The 26-year-old led the team in touches (154), passes (137) and accurate long balls (11), as he dictated the game from the middle of the park.

After seeing the Brazilian’s display, United fans took to Twitter to hail the former Shakhtar star.

Many Red Devils supporters hailed him for always wanting to receive possession, and revealed they expect him to come good over the course of the season.

Check out some of the reaction of United fans below:

Former Arsenal teammate Jack Wilshere also responded.

Wilshere is a man who knows all too well about the trials and tribulations of an injury-laden career so one can be certain that, when it comes to sending messages of support, his remarks are truly sincere. Great stuff.

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On the face of it, Wolves’ Premier League opener against Leicester was far from a thrilling encounter with both sides battling out a 0-0 stalemate.

But the game will be looked back on for one moment of controversy after the video assistant referee ruled out a 53rd minute Leander Dendoncker strike after it appeared to hit the arm of teammate Willy Boly seconds earlier.

A new law brought into the game for this season state that any goal scored or assisted through the use of the hand or the arm will be disallowed, even if it was an accident.

A number of fans took to Twitter to blast the decision…

One supporter said they didn’t like VAR one bit brandishing it ‘unnatural’ with reference to being one millimetre offside or an accidental handball as in this case.

Others called it ‘farcical’ and ‘ridiculous’ with one fan going as far as saying it has destroyed football.

Some members of the Molineux crowd claimed the team were robbed as a result whilst one supporter took a swipe at those in control of VAR on Sunday, calling them ‘corrupt’.

Here’s the best of the reaction…

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The new season is just around the corner, which means that the annual transfer frenzy should start any time soon. The weekend saw some big news break, including the departure of a Real Madrid star effectively confirmed and Bayern Munich targeting a Premier League ace in their attempts to sign a new winger before the start of the Bundesliga season. Let’s have a look at the 10 biggest stories from the past couple of days…

Despite scoring over 100 goals for the club and netting in two Champions League finals, Gareth Bale’s time at Real Madrid appears to over. Zinedine Zidane has made it 100% clear that the Wales international has no future at the Santiago Bernabeu, stating over the weekend, “We hope he leaves soon. It would be best for everyone. We are working on his transfer to a new team”. A move away from the La Liga club may not be bad financially, with it being reported that Beijing Guoan want to make him the best-paid footballer in history.

Bayern Munich have made no secret of their desire to bring in Leroy Sane this summer as they look to replace wingers Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben, both of whom left the club at the end of the last campaign. Over the weekend, it was reported that the Bundesliga champions had made an offer of cash plus left-back David Alaba for the Germany international. However, this was not entertained by the Citizens, who do not want to see the 23-year-old leave. Niko Kovac and co have made a similar approach to Barcelona for Ousmane Dembele, but that appears to have been met with the same response.

Romelu Lukaku’s agent has already stated that the Belgium international is looking for a move away from Old Trafford this summer, so it should come as no surprise that Internazionale, who are targeting the 26-year-old, made a bid for the striker. However, the £53.9m bid was not enough for the Red Devils, who are looking for more than they paid to Everton for the former Chelsea man’s services in 2017. It remains to be seen whether another bid will be lodged.

Wolves’ midfield is already brimming with talent. Ruben Neves and Joao Moutinho were impressive last season and played big roles as the Midlands outfit qualified for the Europa League, whilst Morgan Gibbs-White is an up-and-coming talent. However, they still feel they can improve in that area, with it being reported that Nuno Espirito Santo and co are hunting Mainz 05’s Jean-Philippe Gbamin. Monaco are also interested, but both clubs will need to match the €30m (£27m)-€40m (£36m) valuation the German club have for the 23-year-old.

Following Laurent Koscielny’s refusal to go on Arsenal’s pre-season tour of the US, a move for the 33-year-old this summer is likely. And it is now being reported that the centre-back has agreed personal terms with Stade Rennais ahead of a return to Ligue 1.  The two clubs are yet to find an accord in regards to a transfer fee and other details, but this appears to be a transfer that could go through and would make sense for all parties.

It has not been a good summer so far for Bayern Munich, especially in their attempts to sign a winger. Their pursuits of Leroy Sane and Ousmane Dembele are yet to bring anything concrete, just like their interest in Callum Hudson-Odoi. There appears to be another target on their radar, though: Crystal Palace’s Wilfried Zaha. It has been reported that the Bavarian club are considering a bid for the Ivory Coast international. At this point, though, no official offer has been lodged.

A fruitful summer for Tottenham has already seen the arrival of Tanguy Ndombele and Jack Clarke (although the latter was immediately loaned back to Leeds), and there could be more to come. It is being reported that Spurs are closing in on the signing of Fulham’s Ryan Sessegnon. Since telling the Cottagers he wanted to leave the club during this transfer window, a move has been on the cards and, following a breakthrough during talks, the 19-year-old could be a Lilywhites player very soon.

Nabil Fekir became a household name in European football during the 2017/18 season as he scored 23 goals in 40 games primarily from midfield for Lyon. The past campaign was not as impressive, but there are still several clubs interested in the France international, including Serie A’s Napoli. It is being reported that the Italian club have even made an offer to the player, although they are yet to make a concrete proposition to Fekir’s employers. It is also understood that the 26-year-old has an agreement in place with Real Betis, so it remains to be seen where he ends up.

With the amount of a talent in Chelsea squad, it is difficult for the club’s young talent to find a way into the starting XI. As such, many of them are loaned out in order to gain playing experience. The latest of those to be shipped out temporarily is Ethan Ampadu. The 18-year-old has joined Bundesliga outfit RB Leipzig on a one-year loan deal. Blues boss Frank Lampard said of the move, “I tried to sign Ethan on loan at Derby last year so I’m a big fan, but with the minutes he played last year, in the interest of Ethan and of Chelsea, the idea he can play a lot of games somewhere could be good for him.”

James Rodriguez has spent the last two years on loan at Bayern Munich, so it is fair to assume that he is not in the plans of manager Zinedine Zidane. According to Spanish outlet Marca, Los Merengues are prepared to see the Colombia international leave for just €40m (£36m), and they would also not block a move to Madrid rivals Atletico in an attempt to move him out of the door.

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The last few days have been dominated by Jack Clarke’s impending move to Tottenham, and there has now been another update in that saga. Leeds have also had their eyes on a League One player as well as interest to sign a QPR midfielder. Both of these reports are included in Thursday’s Whites transfer roundup.

Clarke passes medical

According to Sky Sports, Jack Clarke has passed a medical at Tottenham ahead of his move to the north London outfit. The two clubs have already agreed a fee for the player, and there are now just a few small details to sort out before the move is complete.

Bristol City beat Leeds to Szmodics

Bristol City are set to sign Colchester United midfielder Sammie Szmodics, according to Bristol Live, after they fended off late interest from Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds United. Despite that, however, Szmodics will join Bristol City for a fee believed to be in the region of £750,000.

Leeds to battle for Luongo

Leeds will battle Nottingham Forest for the signature of QPR’s Massimo Luongo according to London Football News. West London Sport reported on Monday that QPR were looking to sell the Australian, who is capped 42 times, and Leeds and Forest are both interested in his signature.