Possible Last Minute Transfers

The January transfer window closes on Friday at 11 pm. The window started slowly but the last week has had a flurry of transfer activity in the English Premier League. Here are some of the bigger transfers that have happened in the EPL during the window.

Juan Mata- Chelsea to Manchester United for 37.1 million pounds.
Nemanja Matic- Benfica to Chelsea for 21 million pounds.
Mohamed Salah- FC Basel to Chelsea for 11 million pounds.
Kenwyne Jones and Peter Odemwingie swap clubs (Stoke and Cardiff).
Aiden McGeady- Spartak Moscow to Everton. Fee undisclosed.
Lacina Traore- Anzhi Makhachkala to Monaco then loaned to Everton for remainder of the season.
Clint Dempsey- Seattle Sounders to Fulham on loan for remainder of the season.
Luuk de Jong- Borussia Monchengladbach to Newcastle on loan for remainder of the season.
Yohan Cabaye- Newcastle to PSG for 19 million pounds.
Stephen Ireland- Aston Villa to Stoke, already on loan he secured a permanent deal for an undisclosed fee.
Nikita Jelavic- Everton to Hull for an undisclosed fee.
Shane Long- West Brom to Hull for 6 million pounds.

There is still time for clubs to finalize deals for players and I expect there to be some last minute surprises to happen before the window slams shut. Here are five deals that I think could happen in the dying stages of the window.

Konstantinos Mitroglou- Olympiakos to Fulham for around 11 million pounds. Mitroglou has attracted a lot of interest for his amazing scoring record the past season and a half. Liverpool were long linked with a move for the 25 year old but then the Greek signed a contract extension and the rumors stopped. Now Fulham are desperate for goals and see Mitroglou as a possible savior for them to avoid relegation. It will take a lot of convincing for them to get this deal done due to his renewed contract.
Probability: 6 out of 10

Yevhen Konoplyanka- Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk to Liverpool for 15 million pounds. The 24 year old winger was briefly linked with a move to Liverpool at the beginning of the window but now the rumors are really heating up. It was reported today that Yevhen's father said that the rumors are true about him possibly moving to England this week. There is much murmuring among Liverpool fans about their failure to lure Salah to Anfield and now it seems Liverpool are set to sign their second choice as they are very slim at the wing position.
Probability: 8 out of 10

Julian Draxler- Schalke to Arsenal for 25 million pounds. It is being reported today that Arsenal representatives are in Germany today to see if they can hash out a deal for the 21 year old German attacking midfielder. Draxler is one of the most promising young talents in Europe at the moment and would be another major signing for Arsenal. It is being reported that Arsenal have submitted a 24.5 million pound bid in a 'take it or leave it' offer so we will see if Schalke want to cash in on their star now or later. I personally think this is the wrong move for all parties as Schalke need Draxler right now and Arsenal already have a plethora of great young wings and attacking midfielders like Cazorla, Ozil, Ramsey, Walcott(though injured), Podolski, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Gnabry.
Probability: 5 out of 10

Tom Ince- Blackpool loan to... an EPL team. A transfer to the Premier League has been long in the making for 21 year old Ince and now it seems as though it will finally happen. Blackpool fired manager Paul Ince, Tom's father, which hastened Tom's departure and the Tangerines have allowed Ince to hold talks with multiple EPL teams about a possible loan move for the remainder of the season with an option to buy at the end. Reports came out a while ago that Monaco were interested in signing him, although those reports have died down recently. It has been reported that Ince is holding talks Cardiff, Crystal Palace, Hull, Sunderland, Swansea and possibly his old club Liverpool. So it would seem that Ince has his choice of 6 teams to play at for the remainder of the season. I think Ince is seeing which team will be able to guarantee him a starting place in their team while still being able to survive relegation. Swansea have been the most heavily linked with a move for Ince so I think they are the most likely to snatch him up. One thing is clear is that he will move, though his destination is unknown.
Probability (to Swansea): 5 out of 10. 9 out of 10 with a move away.

Clement Grenier- Lyon to Newcastle for around 12-15 million pounds. Today it was announced that Newcastle sold their star midfielder Yohan Cabaye to PSG for 19 million pounds. Newcastle will undoubtedly be immediately looking for a replacement and Grenier could be it. The 23 year old French international was linked with a move to Arsenal and Liverpool during the summer but nothing came of it. He is quite similar to Cabaye, he also has a good eye for goal and could be an ideal replacement like for like. Grenier is important to his current club so it will be hard for them to prize him away but it will be a good bit of business if they can do it.
Probability: 7 out of 10

EPL Match Predictions Round 23

I guessed 4 matches correctly last round with one perfect score, not horrible but there is plenty of room for improvement. The FA Cup is in action this weekend so the EPL games will be played on Tuesday and Wednesday.
January 28
Manchester United vs Cardiff City
Manchester United lost last week to Sunderland in the Capitol One Cup Semi-final but they are still doing a lot better in the league lately. They are beginning to catch up to their rivals and currently sit in 7th place. The Red Devils have just signed Juan Mata from Chelsea but they will probably be without RVP and Rooney. Cardiff lost last week to Man City at Etihad but they showed great spirit and managed to score 2 goals to their 4. Cardiff have signed a couple of players, Eikrom was one of them I think, but basically they haven't got anyone that will make an impact in the starting lineup. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer wants to bring in players from his native Norway but I don't think he realizes that they suck. If Cardiff give it their all they could end up getting something from this one as Man U are still trying to figure things out, even at Old Trafford.
Prediction: 3-1

Norwich vs Newcastle
Both of these teams showed real resilience in their last matches, both winning their matches. Norwich beat the very impressive Hull Tigers 1-0 thanks to a goal from Bennett in the closing stages of the match. There has been quite a bit of transfer rumors flying around Norwich but it is about clubs coming in for their players like Hoolahan, but I don' think they need to buy or sell in order to survive the drop. Newcastle haven't added anyone yet but they don't really need to right now as well. Newcastle beat West Ham 3-1 away from home, showing great defensive resolve against the physicality of West Ham. Newcastle have a lot of players that are scoring for them right now so I think they are going to win this one, but it will probably be close.
Prediction: 1-2

Southampton vs Arsenal
Southampton's goals in their last match against Sunderland were absolutely exquisite but they still couldn't win the match against Sunderland. Arsenal didn't play their best against a poor Fulham team but thanks to an impressive brace from Santi Cazorla they took all three points. Whenever these two play I can't help but think of the first time they met in the Premier League when Southampton came back up to the EPL, I believe it was 6-1. Southampton are pretty strong at home although they haven't had great results recently and I can't see them taking much from this match too. Arsenal haven't been playing their best but have been getting good results but I think their luck will run out and it will end as a tie.
Prediction: 1-1

Swansea vs Fulham
At the beginning of the season I didn't expect either of these teams to be sitting so low in the table as they are right now. Swansea's defending was absolutely atrocious against Tottenham and lost 1-3 at home. Wilfried Bony scored a great goal and is starting to look like he is worth what Swansea shoveled out for him. Fulham still have a lot of problems to figure out and I hope they do because they don't deserve to go down to the Championship. Fulham have brought back Dempsey on loan and has helped a little bit but it isn't enough. This will be a great and evenly matched match, a truly hard one to call. I am going to go with a win for Swansea simply because they have the home field advantage.
Prediction: 1-0

Crystal Palace vs Hull Tigers
Both of these teams have had their high points this season but are now in a bit of a slump. Palace got a shock win against Stoke at home last week 1-0 thanks to a bad pass from Ousamma Assaidi and a good finish by Jason Puncheon, which kind of makes up for his terrible pk miss two weeks ago. Hull lost 0-1 to Norwich, which is a big blow for them but I don't think it will affect them too much. Hull have made some great deals in the January transfer window bringing in Nikita Jelavic and Shane Long which will really help them up front. I expect them to begin to click with their new teammates and edge this game out.
Prediction: 0-1

Liverpool vs Everton
Here it is! The Merseyside Derby at Anfield! This is one of my most anticipated matches of the season. This derby is one of the biggest and bloodiest of all derbies in world football. Both managers have been preaching more patient passing but all of that goes out the window for this match. Liverpool really needed Lucas for this match but he will be out for a few weeks and Joe Allen is a doubt as well. Everton have just brought in Lacina Traore on loan from Monaco but I think he is basically a taller and less skilled Lukaku. Liverpool struggled last week at home against Aston Villa and ended up coming from behind to tie the match 2-2 thanks to a dive from Suarez to get a pk. This will be a really tough one for Liverpool and Everton have a very good chance of taking something from this one. Only one point separate the rivals so the winner will be much closer to securing a top 4 finish. I of course want Liverpool to demolish them, but I think this will be a very close match. Last time they met it was at Goodison Park and ended 3-3. I am going to go with a narrow Red's win.
Prediction: 1-0

January 29
Aston Villa vs West Brom
Both of these teams are very similar in terms of skill and placement in the table, Villa are two points up on West Brom. West Brom's new manager isn't the greatest and I think they will struggle but barely survive relegation. Villa showed great promise at Anfield last week with Agbonlihor and Benteke impressing and Vlaar did a good job stopping SAS. West Brom tied last week as well to the other Merseyside team Everton 1-1 thanks to a rare Lugano goal. Its weird but I think that Villa are better away than at home so West Brom will have the home field advantage somehow. I am sensing another tie for this match with neither team really having the determination to finish off the game.
Prediction: 1-1

Chelsea vs West Ham
Chelsea have been busy in the transfer window but I don't think it will affect them too much for better or worse though. Chelsea are looking very impressive lately and I expect them to beat anyone right now, they beat Manchester United last week. West Ham are still struggling, even with the return of marquee signing Andy Carroll, who is still trying to get into the swing of things. Samuel Eto'o is the only forward who can score right now and Torres is out injured as well so I think he will score. West Ham games seem to always involve a lot of scoring so I am going for a high scoring affair.
Prediction: 3-1

Sunderland vs Stoke
Sunderland beat Manchester United in the Capitol One Cup this week which will be a huge boost for them as they try to survive the drop. Stoke didn't play a great game last week against a poor Crystal Palace team. Sunderland will be all fired up for this match and I expect it to be very high paced. This is another hard one to predict as these teams can be very hot and cold. I am going to go with a narrow Sunderland victory because if they can keep Manchester United's strikers out they can keep Stoke's.
Prediction: 2-1

Tottenham vs Manchester City
In my mind the EPL title is already going to end up in Man City's hands so I am expecting a good win here. Last time these two met City beat them 6-0 at the Etihad and I expect another win for city, but I'm sure it won't be as big. Tottenham are starting to really mesh together with Eriksen really impressing lately. City are just too good at the moment and I don't see Spurs even scoring, if they do it will be just once.
Prediction: 1-3

How Liverpool Will Deal With New Injury Blows

Liverpool have gone through quite a few injuries to players this season and suffered two more this week. Lucas hobbled off the pitch after playing 21 minutes in the tie against Aston Villa and Glen Johnson has been ruled out indefinitely due to persistent ankle problems. Lucas and Johnson are very good players but unfortunately they are very injury prone and Liverpool need to learn how to deal with that. Here we will look at how Liverpool will cope, if they can, without these two very influential players.

Lucas Leiva:

Right now Liverpool sit in fourth place and despite a disappointing showing against Aston Villa they still very much contenders to finish there. Liverpool experimented with their formation by deploying Steven Gerrard in Lucas's position as a center defensive midfielder, and he failed miserably (we can explore the 'Gerrard Conundrum' another time). Lucas changed the game for Liverpool and they looked like a completely different team with him on the pitch.

Liverpool scored the equalizing goal when he was on the pitch but they lost the edge when he went off injured and Joe Allen was brought on. I personally believe Allen is a hell of a player, but not when he is asked to perform Lucas's job of being the controlling defender in the midfield. Then there is Henderson who has really impressed this year but he again is no good at Lucas's responsibilities. Henderson is best in Steven Gerrard's position, marauding up the pitch and has even excelled playing out on the wing. Currently there are no players in the Liverpool squad who can perform Lucas's duties well.

It is clear that Liverpool are in need of some reinforcements and need to bring in a sufficient replacement/competition for Lucas. There have been many players that have been linked with a move to Liverpool so far including Fernando Reges of Porto and Yann M'Vila. It seems unlikely that either of these players will sign for Liverpool in January but there are others that could be on their way on.

Almost as soon as it was released that Chelsea had stolen Mohamed Salah under the noses of Liverpool it was reported that Liverpool were approaching Spartak Moscow about Romulo Borges Monteiro. Romulo is a center defending midfielder who started his career at Vasco de Gama in his native Brazil before moving to Spartak in 2011. His time there has been plagued by an injury that lasted for about 15 months but has recently returned to action. Liverpool signing Romulo would be a slightly less marquee signing but he still has a long career ahead of him at only 23 years old and has a lot of potential. It is been rumored that Liverpool have already tabled a 7 million pound offer for Romulo but that Spartak are hoping for closer to 10.

I am not sure what Liverpool will do without Lucas to be honest. If it was up to me I would sign Fernando as he is one of the very best in his position, but it seems as though the Liverpool owners are going for a low cost alternative and therefore Romulo could be on his way in.

Glen Johnson:

Today in a press conference Brendan Rodgers said that Johnson has been suffering with ankle injuries all season long, which he attributes to his loss of form and to why he is now ruled out indefinitely for now. Rodgers also said that Liverpool will not be looking to bring in a replacement for him in the January transfer window. Liverpool currently have a plethora of young talent that play fullback that can fill in for Johnson. This season Liverpool have employed many of these players to fill in for the injured Enrique and Johnson.

Jon Flanagan, 21, has played the most games, although that was at left back before he was injured and replaced with Aly Cissokho. I'll be honest, I am not the biggest fan of Flanagan. I find him very poor at defending and anticipation, though I will admit that he is quite fair at helping on the attack, which I believe is why Rodgers likes him. He was injured during the Christmas period but returned to training this week and will probably start for the FA Cup tie against AFC Bournemouth. Flanagan has had his share of injury problems like the rest of the lot but I believe that Flanagan works harder in training than the rest of them. It seems like every Liverpool fan is rooting for Flanagan because he is from Liverpool and everyone wants him to be the next Jamie Carragher. Flanagan is a good backup for now but I think he needs to go out on loan before he is ready to maintain a starting position.

The second alternative to replace Johnson during his injury is Martin Kelly, who would be my choice. Kelly also is overcoming injury problems, though his was worse than Flanagan's with a torn ACL. He made his comeback from injury during preseason with Valerenga but hasn't made an impact for Liverpool this season. He started and played all 90 minutes of Liverpool's last FA Cup against Oldham which was a big step for him. Kelly hasn't really played to his potential since the injury and has been a little off the pace but I'm sure he will get back to his best self with a few more minutes on the pitch. I believe that Kelly should be the one to replace Johnson for the long term. In my opinion he has it all and Liverpool are letting him go to waste at the moment.

There are also those players who are currently on loan that could be great replacements, but that wouldn't be at least until next season. There is Andre Wisdom, 20, is currently on loan at Derby County. Many see him as a future starting center back but at least for now he is better playing right back. He has been doing exceptionally well there, helping Derby to be in contention for a playoff spot in the Championship. He is probably the best defender of the group but is not as good at getting forward as the others. I think he could do with another year out on loan and then would be a great option to start at right back.

Ryan McLaughlin, 19, will probably be the best of them all in the future, but has the most time before he will be ready to start for Liverpool. He is currently on loan to Barnsley in the Championship for only a month. He has great pace and is great in the attack. He will probably get a full season loan next year which will help in his development.

Overall I believe Rodgers should give Kelly more game time and then I could see him develop into a great right back starter for Liverpool. Wisdom, Flanagan and McLaughlin will develop into great defenders but I think they need to get more game time with other clubs out on loan.

Liverpool Transfer Updates

We now only have 10 days left in the January transfer window and Liverpool have yet to bring in any players. However, I am almost 100% positive that Liverpool will bring in at least one, maybe two players as reinforcements this month.
Rodgers has said that a lot of work has been done and that they are in negotiations with a number of players but no deals are imminent, yet. So here are the updates on Liverpool's transfer targets.

Mohamed Salah

Salah has been the most heavily linked player with a move to Liverpool this transfer window. Reports say that Liverpool's owners met with Rodgers about transfers last weekend and have given him the green light to bid 8 million pounds for the 21 year old Egyptian winger. Most reports say that a deal should be finalized by the end of this week. Reports today are saying that Salah has already purchased a apartment in Liverpool which means that a move is imminent. I am not sure if these rumors are true or not but I still think that a deal will be done very soon, which I am very excited about. Liverpool are in dyer need of a new winger to replace Victor Moses and give the struggling Coutinho some competition for a starting place.

Valon Berisha

Liverpool were briefly linked with a move for Berisha last year but reports today say that Liverpool are now in negotiations with Red Bull Salzburg for his transfer. Berisha is a 20 year old Norwegian midfielder/wing who has previously attracted interest from Chelsea, Manchester City and Aston Villa. Liverpool sent scouts to watch him recently and as I said reports say that he is now in negotiations about a move. He won't cost very much, probably about 3 million pounds. At only 20 years he has a long career ahead of him and will get only better with time. Berisha is good but I don't think he will make too much impact on the starting lineup, right now but would be a good back up and a prospect for the future. This would be a very good bit of business for Liverpool and I hope it pans out quickly.

Fernando Reges and Yann M'Vila

There isn't a whole lot of evidence to support the reports that Liverpool are moving for these two defensive midfielders but there is a lot of speculation. It is a well known fact that Liverpool are in need of a new defensive center mid. Steven Gerrard was employed as a defensive mid last week to a disastrous end and when Lucas came in to take over the spot he was badly injured after 20 minutes on the pitch. Lucas will now be out for up to 2 months with his injury, and so Liverpool need another defensive mid to have as backup to him. M'Vila is the most linked player with a move, mainly due to his close friendship with Mamadou Sakho and having shared the stands with Liverpool fans with the last Merseyside Derby. I would rather Fernando be signed instead though as he has more pace and is slightly better at tackling. Due to his long tackling legs he has been nicknamed the "Octopus" and in my opinion is one of the best center defensive midfielder in Europe. It will take a hefty fee to bring either to Anfield but I think that it would be well worth it.

Liverpool Transfer Roundup

It has been a very quiet window for Liverpool thus far and yesterday Brendan Rodgers admitted that it will be difficult for them to bring in any signings. This is due to a lack of quality players available as well as a lack of funds given from the owners. I am not really concerned with the lack of activity; the current squad is doing very well at the moment and only need a few adjustments.
The most important positions Liverpool need to strengthen in is left back, wing and defensive midfielder. It seems unlikely that Liverpool will sign a left back due to a lack of available players and a defensive mid due to Gerrard being moved further back the pitch. That leaves a wing the most likely position that Liverpool strengthens this month. Let us take a look at some of the most likely transfers that could come to fruition.

Mohamed Salah

Salah is still clearly the most likely to sign for Liverpool in January, although sources say that the Reds may have to wait to sign him until the summer. Victor Moses has been a disappointment on the wing this season and Rodgers needs to replace him and Salah would be a definite step up, especially in pace. Liverpool's interest in him in genuine but the reason the move has been delayed is due to FC Basel's asking price which supposedly is getting close to 16 m. I think that Liverpool will end up signing him in January, though it might not be until the very end of the window.

Fernando Reges

Fernando aka "The Octopus" is gaining a lot of attention from Europe's big teams recently. His contract with FC Porto expires at the end of the season which has begun a race for his signature. Getting a great defending center midfielder for free would be great, but Liverpool probably don't want to wait until the summer to sign him. I think that Liverpool are resigned to losing him to some other team which showed when Rodgers moved back to the defensive mid position, pushing Lucas further forward. I believe Fernando is currently one of the very best tacklers in the world but I think Liverpool believe they are fully equipped in that position and won't be willing to shovel out some cash in order to bring in a player that they can get for free in a few months.

Conclusion:

To be honest that is about it. There is a lot of speculation and guessing out there as to who could move to Liverpool but there is no real substance to any of them yet. I think we will have to wait for at least another week before any rumors begin to come to fruition. I hope that Liverpool sign both of these players; if they do I would say that Liverpool are shoe ins for the top four.

EPL Match Predictions Round 22

Last week was a very good week for  me in terms of predicting matches correctly. I guessed 7 match results correctly with 1 perfect scoreline which is pretty good if I do say so myself. Last week all top 7 teams won and finally the premier league standings are beginning to settle after a turbulent start, so it is imperative that teams win matches in this crucial time. There aren't many huge match-ups this week except for the always entertaining Chelsea vs Manchester United. It doesn't seem to really matter who plays though, the EPL always delivers a hell of a show every week.

Sunderland vs Southampton
Both of these teams won last week which really gave them a boost. After starting the season strongly Southampton have been fading since November or December. The premier league is clearly separated into the top teams and those battling relegation with Southampton sitting at the bottom of the top teams. They need to win games like this if they want to still battle for a spot in a European league next season. I have always thought that Sunderland will survive relegation this season despite their encounter with Di Canio. They gave themselves a big lift by beating Fulham 4-1 away from home thanks to a hat-trick by Adam Johnson, a player who they will rely on heavily in their fight for survival. Southampton have real class and have been able to beat teams like Southampton so far, but Sunderland will be flying high and have the home field advantage. Southampton have great attacking players like Osvaldo, Lallana, Rodriguez, and Lambert who will be able to beat Sunderland's very poor defenders quite easily. I expect a slim Saint victory this week.
Prediction: 1-2

Arsenal vs Fulham
This shouldn't be a hard one to predict because Arsenal are cruising in first and Fulham um, suck. I expect Fulham to have a record low percentage of the ball in their possession. Fulham have some great players but they don't play nice together, they remind me of my younger brother who tried to dribble through every player, quite unsuccessfully I might add. Goals are coming from almost every Arsenal player recently, not just Giroud, though he had a great goal last week in their victory versus Aston Villa. Villa threw everything they had at Arsenal with long balls up to Benteke but Arsenal's stalwart defense handled it quite handily. Fulham probably doesn't stand a chance.
Prediction: 2-0

Crystal Palace vs Stoke City
This will be the first time that Tony Pulis takes on his former team. Their playing styles are very similar, being brutal and physical with long balls up to the forwards but Stoke has it down much better. Palace had a bit of a resurgence when Pulis first came in as manager but things are getting worse and worse and now they are back to the bottom of the table. Palace lost last week away to Tottenham partly due to an awful pk miss from Jason Puncheon who was clearly the wrong choice. Stoke had a great game against Liverpool despite conceding 5 goals at home, they showed great spirit and fight and came close to a comeback but could only manage 3 goals. Pulis knows how to deal with his old team, but I'm not sure his players are good enough to stop them. I think they will end up tying.
Prediction: 1-1

Manchester City vs Cardiff
Probably the shock result of the season came when Cardiff beat Man City on their home turf. At the time City were really struggling to get good results away from home. Now half a season has passed and it seems as though City have overcome their beginning of the season jitters and are now beating everybody. Cardiff have lost their drive and power, it left with Malky McKay, and won't be able to have great victories like that under Solskjaer. City will win the league and they will do that by being able to demolish teams like Cardiff.
Prediction: 4-0

Norwich vs Hull City
Currently three points separate these two sides with Hull defying expectations so far sitting in 10th place. Hull have much more ambition than what they have already accomplished by signing forwards Nikita Jelavic and Shane Long, setting club fee records. These two forwards will complete the puzzle for Hull in my opinion, that was the weakest part of their team with Sagbo and Graham not really setting the world on fire. Now they will not have to rely solely on their great defenders to get results. Norwich have done alright but aren't really getting enough good results and they lost last week to Everton 0-2. This should be a pretty entertaining game and be pretty even. It is hard to predict because it is hard to predict how Jelavic and Long will do for Hull. Norwich need to get results soon or they will once again be drawn into the relegation battle. I think that this will be a draw in the end.
Prediction: 1-1

West Ham vs Newcastle
Newcastle were robbed a stunning goal due to very poor officiating against Man City last week and might have been able to get a draw if it stood. They are still within reach of finishing in a European spot, but again, need to win these games. West Ham came back from the dead after a 6-0 drumming in the cup by Man City by beating Cardiff 2-0. Andy Carroll is back for them and will probably start against his boyhood club Newcastle. This game will probably be a tough battle and there won't be much between the two in the end. West Ham score in almost every match so I expect them to get at least one goal, and I think Newcastle will get one goal as well.
Prediction: 1-1

Liverpool vs Aston Villa
The first time these two met in the season it ended 1-0 in favor of the visitors, Liverpool. It was a very close match and Mignolet saved the Reds for the second time in two games. Villa have had a stop, start season so far. They lost their last match to Arsenal at home 1-2 but they got close by bombing balls up to the giant Benteke. Liverpool have always struggled to contain Benteke due to his huge physique and ability to hold and lay off the ball. Liverpool's defense has struggled lately but their strikers are still scoring for fun. SAS is finally reunited and with Gerrard, Allen and Sakho all coming back from injury they will be close to their full strength. I expect Liverpool to finish in the top four this season and it will be because they are able to close out tough games like this.
Prediction: 2-1

Swansea vs Tottenham
Swansea aren't great at playing against Tottenham and recently are getting worse and worse results. Tottenham on the other hand are doing better and better under new manger Tim Sherwood. Swansea did okay against Manchester United last week beating them in the FA Cup 2-1 and then losing in the league 0-2. The Liberty Stadium is still a good home field which will make it hard on Tottenham. There isn't a whole lot to say more on this, it is a hard one to call. I really, really hope that Swansea win but it will be hard. I'm going to go with my gut and go with a Swans win.
Prediction: 1-0

Chelsea vs Manchester United
Both of these teams are doing pretty good in the league recently. Man U are getting closer and closer to the top spots but still have a bit of a ways to go. Chelsea are the favorites for sure for this match. I hope Chelsea win. The Blue's midfield is clearly better than the Red Devils, especially with the RE-acquisition of Nemanja Matic. A loss here will finish Man U's hopes of retaining the title and even badly injure their hopes of finishing top four.
Prediction: 2-1

West Brom vs Everton
This will be a tough match as well. Everton have been punching well above their weight this season and everyone keeps waiting for them to slip up and it might be this week. West Brom have a new manager, who I don't think is the right guy for the job. Pepe Mel was fired by Real Betis after leading them straight into the relegation battle, so it made little sense for Albion to sign him, but we've have to see how he does. Everton just sold Jelavic to Hull but he didn't play much for them anyway. I think that these two will cancel each other out.
Prediction: 0-0

English Premier League End Table Prediction

I forgot to make predictions as to how I thought the EPL standing would sit at the end of the season so I want to do it now. I encourage everyone to comment on what I say as well as share what changes you would make.

1. Manchester City-They started out poorly, especially away from home but now they are on fire.
2. Chelsea- They started out just okay but are getting better and better with Oscar and Hazard impressing.
3. Arsenal- In first right now but their squad isn't as strong as the first two, they need another forward.
4. Liverpool- It will be a tough fight for 4th but SAS will outscore their opponents in order to get CL.
5. Manchester United- They are too inconsistent to secure top 4 and injuries to Rooney and RVP hurt.
6. Everton- They are within touching distance of a European spot but lack of depth will be their undoing.
7. Tottenham- They have relied on bad ref decisions for too long and the players don't mesh well.
8. Newcastle- Doing well but not able to consistently beat top teams.
9. Southampton- Getting ninth will be an accomplishment. They just aren't quite as good as those ahead.
10. Stoke- They are beginning to get into the groove of Hughes new system and finish pretty strong.
11. Swansea- They finish around here every year and don't see any reason as to why it should change.
12. Hull- They are very well organized but not quite enough firepower up front to get top half.
13. Aston Villa- Benteke and Villa aren't having a great season but Benteke will get into his groove.
14. West Brom- They are beginning to get into the relegation battle but have enough quality to be safe.
15. Norwich- They will be close to relegation but they have enough quality to be safe.
16. Sunderland- Black Cats have enough heart and talent to survive, but it will be very very close.
17. West Ham- They started strong but now in relegation battle. Big Sam will scrap enough wins together.
18. Fulham- These guys are terrible. I expect so much more from the players but no meshing. Relegated.
19. Crystal Palace- Pulis's magic won't be enough to get these misfits to stay up, not enough goals in them.
20. Cardiff- Would've survived if McKay would've stayed but their fate was sealed when they fired him.

If I Was Liverpool's Manager

Twelve days have passed and still no movement in the transfer window for Liverpool. Recently I've posted transfer rumor after rumor of potential moves Liverpool could do in the January transfer window. In this post I want to go over what I would do for Liverpool if I were in charge of transfers, so here it goes.

Usually there are dozens upon dozens of players that are linked with a move to Liverpool. There hasn't been nearly as many rumors out there this transfer window because simply, Liverpool don't need to strengthen that much. Rodgers has admitted that there might not be any players signed this month, and that might be okay. The players that are available won't really improve the current starting 11 for Liverpool. The only position that Liverpool really need to strengthen in is a wing and bringing in a great player could help Liverpool secure a top four finish.

If it were up to me a successful window would be to sign two Ukrainian wingers. I doubt that there are any truth to the rumors that Liverpool are looking to sign Andriy Yarmolenko, but I personally really want them to be true. I also really want Liverpool to sign Yarmolenko's international teammate and fellow winger, Yevhen Konoplyanka. I'll be honest that I haven't seen much of their play besides what is available on YouTube, but I have been really impressed with what I've seen.

Both players usually play on the left side of midfield, but can play anywhere in the front line, especially Konoplyanka. They are both 24 years old and have a lot of flair and attacking prowess to their play.

Yarmolenko is known more for his flair and has been dubbed the "Ukrainian Messi" by some because of his playing style and success. He loves to run at defenders and is a big fan of the step-over, cutting into the box and shooting at the near post. Liverpool have some good young wing talent coming through the ranks like Sterling and Ibe but Liverpool need a wing with some experience, and Yarmolenko has loads of it for only being 24. For his club, Dynamo Kyiv, he has scored 50 goals in 136 appearances including 15 goals in 24 matches this season.

Yarmolenko is quick and agile like Messi yet is as beast at 6 ft. 2 in. and is also a threat in the air. Liverpool are absolutely tiny in the attack with Sterling and Coutinho and Yarmolenko's size would be a great change to that. Yarmolenko is also a key part of the Ukrainian national team; he has scored 14 goals in 38 caps. There are a few rumors out there saying that Liverpool are facing too much competition to sign Mohamed Salah so they are trying to sign Yarmolenko for 15 million pounds, which would be a very reasonable price for him.

Yevhen Konoplyanka is very similar to Yarmolenko. Having both of them on the flanks would be absolutely awesome. Just imagine the Ukrainians on the flanks, Coutinho in the middle and SAS up top, I think I'm going to have wet dreams about how good that would be. Konoplyanka is smaller than Yarmolenko standing at only 5 ft. 9 in. and is perhaps even quicker than him. Yarmolenko is perhaps better at trickery but Konoplyanka is probably better at creativity and more comfortable in possession.

Konoplayanka also plies his trade in the Ukrainian league, but he plays with FC Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk. He doesn't score as many goals as Yarmolenko but he has more assists. Konoplyanka has scored 33 goals and had 23 assists in his 157 appearances for Dnipro. He has also had a lot of success with his national team scoring 8 times in 35 caps. He would command a similar fee to Yarmolenko, but maybe a few million pounds cheaper.

Together the two Ukrainians would cost just over 25 million pounds. This is probably more than FSG are willing to spend right now, but if they were to do so Liverpool would be serious contenders for the league title.

Liverpool Transfer News

Liverpool haven't made any moves in the transfer market yet, though the rumors keep coming and coming. I've gone over the most probable transfer rumors in previous posts but I wanted to revisit some of the other rumors out there and some that have developed since the beginning of the month. Here are some new Liverpool transfer rumors floating out there.

Alvaro Morata

The 21 year old Spaniard is one of the most promising players emerging in Europe. He plays for Real Madrid, though he hasn't really established himself in the team. He has made 32 appearances in total, 14 this season. Morata himself has said that if he cannot get enough playing time then he needs to go somewhere where he will, though Madrid will always be in his heart.

It has recently been reported that Madrid are willing to let Morata go out on loan for the remainder of the season for a fee of 1.7 million pounds. It is also being reported that Arsenal and Liverpool are both competing to take him aboard, though most would argue that Arsenal are more likely to complete the deal. Both clubs have done deals with Madrid recently with Ozil being transferred to Arsenal last summer and Sahin being loaned to Liverpool last year for half a season. Sahin's experience was not very good at Liverpool, he just simply did not fit in and hopefully his failure does not deter Morata and Madrid from wanting to do a deal with the Reds.

Morata would be a great addition to Liverpool's front line. He usually plays as a center forward, though he is accustomed to playing on the sides as well. I think he would be a great back up/competition for Sturridge, who is constantly being sidelined because of injuries. He is quite tall at 6 ft 3 in, though he shows more speed and finesse than his size would suggest. Liverpool have not had luck with players coming in on loan in the past though. We had Sahin last year who was pretty bad as well as Moses and Cissokho who have been Liverpool's worst players this season. Morata is a world class player with unlimited talent and I believe will become one of the greatest strikers in a few years, though I'm not sure he would make a large impact right now in the Liverpool squad.

The dream is that Liverpool manage to sign him permanently and then we'll have the second coming of "El Nino," but I think that a loan signing would be a mistake for both parties. Either way it probably doesn't matter because this one is quite a ways away from being a done deal.

Probability: 3 out of 10

Cheikhou Kouyate

Yesterday rumors surfaced that Anderlecht center back/right back is in discussion with Liverpool and Arsenal about a move. He is 24 years old and from Senegal. He is a pretty big guy at 6 ft 4 in. To be honest I had never heard of him before yesterday, but from what I've seen he seems decent. He is a physical guy, good in the air as well but not great with his feet from what I've seen. These rumors came from his agent who said that they were in discussion with the two premier league clubs, though a deal has not been agreed yet with either.

Liverpool has a plethora of cover in the center back as well as right back areas right now, so I think that he would just be surplus if he was brought in. There has been no numbers thrown around of a fee that would be required but my guess is around 6-8 million pounds. I just don't think it would be worth it at all to try and sign Kouyate.

Probability: 2 out of 10

Danny Ings

Burnley just seem to be really good at developing strikers. Danny Ings didn't really come on the scene until this season, mainly due to injuries in the past. He is only 21 years old but is scoring goals for fun at the moment, 20 goals in 28 total matches. So of course because of his success he is being linked with a move to a big club and Liverpool have been linked the most. I think that this kid has a great future, though I'm not sure if this is the right time for a move. Like I said before, he hasn't really stood out until this year so I believe he needs more experience and needs to prove himself a bit more before he earns a big move. Liverpool currently have Suarez, Sturridge and Aspas for selection, so not a whole lot of cover. We must remember that Borini will be coming back though for next season and I think he has improved a bit by getting more playing time and I don't see Ings as an improvement to him. Reports say that it would take close to 10 million pounds to sign him, which is too much right now. If Liverpool plan on offloading Aspas or Borini though, Ings would be a decent replacement. I believe that Ings will eventually end up in the Premier League, even if Burnley don't manage to gain promotion.

Probability: 3 out of 10

Dele Alli

When the transfer window was approaching, Brendan Rodgers said that he was looking for players who can make an immediate impact on the starting lineup, so this move makes little sense. Rumors started when Rodgers attending the cup match between Wigan and MK Dons and then afterwards his manager confirmed Liverpool's interest. Dele Alli is a 17 year old Englishman who plays for MK Dons as a midfielder, on the wing usually. He hasn't made a whole lot of appearances in his short career but again, he's only 17. MK Dons are in League 1, so it would be a big jump to the EPL for him. He would almost certainly be put into the youth squad. He will probably be a great player someday, but he still has a way to go so I think it would be counterproductive to bring him in right now. I'm not sure what they would require in order to sign him, but I don't think it really matters.

Probability: 2 out of 10

Yann M'Vila

M'Vila has long been linked with a move to the Premier League and many were surprised that he opted to go to Rubin Kazan. Rumors about a move to Liverpool took off after M'Vila was spotted in the Liverpool section at the Merseyside Derby, took a picture with close friend Sakho, and received a signed jersey from Gerrard. M'Vila is 23, plays as a defensive midfielder and is pretty good, though I'm not sure if he would be an improvement on Lucas, though it would be great to have some competition and back up for him at least. I'm not sure what his price would be, though it wouldn't be cheap, probably a bit over 10 million. His attitude and work rate aren't the best as well as his off field behavior isn't good and has been banned from the French National Team. I would personally like to see him come to Liverpool as we are in dire need for cover in the midfield and M'Vila would add real bite to that position.

Probability: 3 out of 10

Mid-season Report Card For On Loan Liverpool players

Mid-season Report Card For On Loan Liverpool players

Its the mid point of the 2013-14 season and there has been a lot of mid-season evaluations lately. Here we will take a look at how the Liverpool players on-loan to other clubs have been doing. We'll start with the oldest and end with the youngest.

Pepe Reina

Reina's loan move to Napoli was a bit of a shock to everyone. When Liverpool brought in Simon Mignolet in the summer we all knew that all of Rodger's talk of bringing in competition was a load of crap and that Reina's time at Liverpool was over. Nobody seemed to jump on the signing of Reina though, despite much talk of a move back to his childhood club Barcelona. New Napoli boss Rafa Benitez took him on loan and he has been doing a decent job thus far. He has made 20 appearances and had 5 clean sheets this season. He has had some highs and lows, much like his time at Liverpool. A high was when he saved a Mario Ballotelli penalty kick, the first person to stop one of his spot kicks. He started the season well but has made some mistakes lately and has been sharing the starting position now. Overall I don't think that he has done much to convince the Liverpool bosses that he can still be the goalkeeper they need and Mignolet is still their number one choice.

Grade: B

Oussama Assaidi

There is a rumor out there that Brendan Rodgers never really wanted the signing of Assaidi, and that is why Rodgers never really gave him a chance. He hasn't been the highest profile signing Liverpool has ever done but he is proving his worth by doing exceptional while on loan at Stoke City. He has scored 4 goals in 16 appearances so far, including some very important goals including a goal against Everton and the winning goal against Chelsea. Assaidi found playing time hard to come by at first but now has established himself as an important member of the team. Mark Lawrence said today that Rodgers made a mistake by letting Assaidi go and then bringing Moses in. I completely agree that Assaidi is an upgrade to Moses, but maybe a loan was the only way for him to grow and show his skills. Personally I think he has a place in the squad, maybe not starting every week but he would be a great substitute, a plan B. I'm not sure that Rodgers will want him for next season and may elect to sell him while he's hot, maybe to Stoke but I don't think they should write him off yet.

Grade: B+

Fabio Borini

If I had a nickel for all of the transfers that Borini has had in his short career I'd have...35 cents! The 22 year old Italian had a disastrous season with Liverpool last year, mainly because of 2 really bad injuries. Like Assaidi, his season started off slowly but he too has established himself as an important player for the Black Cats. He scored today from the spot to help Sunderland defeat Manchester United in the first leg of the Capitol One Cup. He has scored 4 goals so far in 20 appearances, though most of those he has been brought in as a substitute or subbed out early. I believe Borini has loads of potential, he just needs some consistent playing time in order for him to grow into the player many clubs have seen in him. Rodgers clearly believes in him having coached him at Chelsea and Swansea and I hope that he continues to believe in him. I think he can be a success for Liverpool  next season, playing second fiddle to Suarez and Sturridge. Sunderland has been bad this season but I expect them to just barely survive and I think Borini will help them succeed.

Grade: B

Suso

Like Raheem Sterling, Suso impressed Rodgers when he came in and was giving a lot of playing time early on in the season but saw his role diminished when Sturridge and Coutinho came in. To be fair to Suso he was being played a bit out of position by being put in on the wing instead of the center midfield. Suso was sent back to him homeland of Spain to gain experience with promoted side Alermia for the season. He has probably had the biggest breakout out of all of the on loan Liverpool players. Suso has had 16 appearances so far, scoring twice and getting 6 assists. I expect Suso to continue to improve this season, hopefully chipping in a few more goals too. He has been a revelation for Almeria and has been fantastic on the counter attack. At only 20 years old he still has a lot of time to grow and I hope that Liverpool don't go out and buy more competition for Suso's position because I think he will do great for Liverpool in the future, maybe as soon as next season.

Grade: A-

Andre Wisdom

Wisdom was used by Liverpool quite a bit in the early part of the season but after the likes of Sakho and Ilori was brought in he was shipped out to Derby County to gain some experience. Many think that Wisdom's true position is at center back, though he has continued to be deployed as a right back while on loan. He hasn't been on loan as long as the other Liverpool players have but he has already accumulated 13 appearances for them, helping them get into a Championship playoff spot. Some have said that one of the reasons Rodgers shipped him to Derby is so that they can leverage for a move for Will Hughes. Wisdom has done very good, though he will have to do even better if he wants to uproot the likes of Johnson, Flanagan and Kelly for a starting place at Liverpool.

Grade: B

Jack Robinson

As you can see from this photo, young Jack Robinson has had to toughen up a bit while on his loan to Blackpool. Liverpool have had quite a few dealings with Blackpool recently and so it was quite easy for Liverpool to hash out a loan deal with them. Robinson spent the second half of last season on loan to Wolverhampton, who were relegated to League One. Nobody expected much from Blackpool this season but Robinson has helped them overachieve, again. Last season Robinson was shipped out on loan after a shocking performance against Oldham in the FA Cup. Rodgers didn't have enough faith in him to have him play back up to Jose Enrique this season. He has done pretty well, though not fantastic with them. I still think he needs a bit more experience before he is ready to start for Liverpool. I hope that he finishes the season well and maybe spend one more year on loan or get some playing time in the cups for Liverpool next year.

Grade: B-

Conor Coady

Coady hasn't been rated as highly by the bosses as the previous players but is one that very well could be a great player in the future. He has only made 2 appearances for Liverpool, both in the Europa League and this is his first loan away from the mother club. Sheffield United are in League 1 so the competition isn't as strong as the others but he has been getting a lot of playing time. He has played in 23 matches so far and has scored one goal. All of the previous players are capable of having rich Liverpool careers but I'm not so sure about Coady's chances, though at only 20 years old he has time to spare. He has been deployed in the same position that Liverpool played him in, as a center defensive mid though he can play as a center back as well. I suppose that Lucas doesn't have any back up so he has a chance, only because there is no one else.

Grade: C+

Krisztian Adorjan

Here is another player who I don't think can quite make the grade at Liverpool. He will probably end up being sold, maybe at the end of this season, maybe to Groningen where he is on loan. I honestly don't know anything about this kid except that he is 20 years old and from Hungary. He is a midfielder and has scored 2 goals in 10 appearances. Hopefully Liverpool can get a good fee out of him in the end.

Grade: D+

EPL Match Predictions Round 21

EPL Match Predictions

Round 20

Last week I only predicted 3 match results correctly, with no perfect predictions. This predicting business is rough let me tell you.

Hull City vs Chelsea

I think that this will be a tough match. Hull City, though losing last week to Liverpool, are doing very well. They are sound defensively and have scored a lot of goals lately. Chelsea have been doing very well too, they beat a very good Southampton team last week 3-0 last week. Chelsea's strikers are still not firing in the goals and have had to rely on their midfielders like Oscar and Hazard. I think Chelsea will struggle to get past Hull's strong defense but that they will get the job done in the end.

Prediction: 0-1

Cardiff vs West Ham

Cardiff did well against Arsenal at the Emirates last week but couldn't last the full 90 and conceded 2 late goals. Cardiff are in desperate need of some serious firepower because their current strikers aren't getting the job done. Defensively they are pretty sound but Campbell, Cornelius and Odemwingie aren't good enough to score enough goals week in, week out. West Ham basically have the same problem. They were absolutely humiliated this last week. First by losing to crappy Fulham and then in the FA Cup to Nottingham Forest 5-0. I think that these teams won't be able to score a lot of goals this game, but I think that Cardiff, with their new manager at the helm, will take advantage of West Ham's woes and add to them.

Prediction: 1-0

Everton vs Norwich

Someone has got to put a stop to Everton's good season, and soon. They haven't been as good as they had been previously but are getting by and I expect that to continue this week because Norwich don't have it in them to win. Norwich were unlucky not to leave their last match with Crystal Palace with all three points and it will be even more difficult at Goodison Park. Gary Hooper is beginning to find the back of the net and other Norwich players are stepping up as well. Lukaku needs to step up if Everton are going to win these kind of games, but I think they will do just enough to win this one.

Prediction: 1-0

Fulham vs Sunderland

This is a massive game for both teams as they have found themselves in the battle to avoid relegation. I believe that Sunderland are the better team, but they have been unlucky and don't have enough experience. Fulham just suck right now, they can't string 3 passes together, its pretty pathetic if you ask me. I believe that one of these teams will survive the drop and it just might be because of the result of this match. Sunderland have been tying a lot of their matches and that is the result that I am going to go with. 

Prediction: 1-1

Southampton vs West Brom

I have no idea what is going on with the management of WBA at the moment. Sacking their manager was a terrible mistake and after nearly a month they still don't have a replacement for him. Despite their leadership being out of whack the squad isn't doing too bad, they beat Newcastle away from home last week. Southampton struggled at home last week against Chelsea and lost 0-3, which flattered the guests but was still a bad loss. This should be an interesting game and should be wide open, end to end stuff. The winner will be the team that takes their chances and I think Southampton's players will score more.

Prediction: 2-1

Tottenham vs Crystal Palace

When you look at the squads of both teams it looks like an easy call to go with a Spurs win, but lately these teams keep surprising me. Spurs had a great win at Old Trafford but then lost in the FA Cup at their rivals, Arsenal. Palace won in the cup and tied Norwich in the league. Palace's home field advantage is almost non-existent because they will just sit back and try to counterattack. Tottenham are very hot and cold but the re-emergence of Adebayor has lifted them lately. I hope that Palace can hold on to get something from this match but I think Spurs will be able to unlock them.

Prediction: 2-0

Manchester United vs Swansea

This will be a replay of the FA Cup match that these two teams just played out today. Swansea won the match at Old Trafford 2-1 thanks to a Fabio getting a red card and Bony scoring the winner. United played some of their fringe players which weakened them but I think they will be at full force this time. Swansea did a good job and are the kind of team that can really take it to Man U but I think that the Red Devils will learn from their mistakes and get all three points.

Prediction: 2-1

Newcastle vs Manchester City

This will be probably the best match of the weekend. These teams play some very entertaining football with a lot of goals going both ways. Newcastle are very capable of pulling an upset but I think that Manchester City will be able to cope. City tied in the FA Cup to lowly Blackburn 1-1 where the usually reliable Negredo didn't really deliver. City are obviously vulnerable at the back and might be looking for new recruits in that area. Newcastle are also vulnerable at the back and the attacking firepower that City possess will be able to beat them, but I am going to play it safe by predicting a draw.

Prediction: 1-1

Stoke City vs Liverpool

This was the first match of the season and it ended 0-1 in favor of Liverpool thanks to a penalty stop by Mignolet. Stoke did well in their match against Everton last week and it was Liverpool loanee, Assaidi, who scored their goal but he will be ineligible for this match against his parent club. The Brittania Stadium is one of the most feared venues in the premier league, though not as much this season, but still a hard place to get all three. Liverpool are doing well and I think that they will be able to beat Stoke again. Stoke are very dangerous on set pieces and Liverpool have been very weak on defending them this year so I think they will get one that way. Suarez will probably score and I think Sturridge and Allen might be available for selection. This should be a close one.

Prediction: 1-2

Aston Villa vs Arsenal

Prediction: 1-3

January Transfer Preview: Winger/Attacking Midfielder

January Transfer Preview: Winger/Attacking Midfielder

So we have looked at Liverpool's transfer possibilities for left back and center midfielders so far. In my opinion the last position Liverpool need to strengthen in this transfer window is the wing or an attacking midfielder. Liverpool sent some of their young wingers like Suso(not actually a wing but played there for Rodgers last season) and Assaidi on loan for this season and so they brought in Victor Moses to compensate for their departures. Moses has been a disappointment in my opinion, he is alright with the ball but his work rate and quickness is not up to standards. With Moses not impressing and no one else in the squad to fill in a replacement is essential if Liverpool are going to finish in the top four. I think that a winger is the most important area for Liverpool to strengthen in this window and if a good winger is the only player brought in it will have been a successful window. Here are the players most likely to sign for Liverpool in January:

Mohamed Salah

Salah is a 21 year old Egyptian international who currently plays for FC Basel in the Swiss Super League as a winger. Even though he plays in a small league he has been gaining a lot of accolades due to his speed, flair and finishing. He has done absolutely fantastic for his country, scoring 17 goals in 27 appearances. He has been nicknamed "the Egyptian Messi" due to him being left footed and that their playing styles are quite similar, though Salah prefers to outrun rather than out-pass his opponents. Raheem Sterling has done brilliantly this season on the right flank and I think Salah would be able to have a similar effect on the left side. Out of all of the players being linked with a move to Liverpool Salah is reportedly the closest to signing with it being reported today by some sources that a deal has been agreed for 9 million pounds, though that might be a bit premature. His friend reported to Egyptian media that he is 99% sure that Salah will sign for Liverpool. Salah might not be as good as the likes of Mkhitaryan, Costa or Willian right now but I after watching a lot of highlights from his play I say that he has a bright future ahead of him and that Liverpool would be wise to sign him as soon as possible.

Probability: 4 out of 5

Javier Pastore

Pastore has been linked with a move to Liverpool for quite a while now. He has been with PSG for a few years now after a 35 million pound move from Palermo. I have seen him in action when I went to the Chelsea v PSG preseason match at Yankee Stadium and I thought he was the best player on the pitch, no contest. Despite his talent he has found his playing time diminished lately and might be up for a move elsewhere with Liverpool being a likely destination. He usually plays on the wing or through the middle as an attacking midfielder. He would likely cost a fortune to bring to Anfield and definitely be quite a gamble as he can be inconsistent and might struggle to cope with the physical demands of the Premier League. I would love to see him move to Liverpool but I think this one isn't going to happen for a number of reasons. While he is still quite young at 24 it would seem that he doesn't have the mentality that Rodgers is looking for because he can be quite selfish and not willing to put enough effort into defending. 

Probability: 2 out of 5

Jay Rodriguez

Okay so Rodriguez isn't technically a winger or midfielder, he is a striker, but he has been playing on the wing for his club Southampton and has excelled there since his move there in 2012. He has done so well that he was called up to the England National Team last year. Rodriguez isn't the most influential player but he is a fantastic supporting player that is great at finishing and setting up his teammates. He fits FSG's transfer policy to a T as he is a young English international with much potential. Rodriguez would be a good buy because he could be deployed in basically any forward positions and help give cover to SAS. He would cost in the region of 10 million pounds, though I'm sure that Southampton are determined to try and keep a hold of their star players. I would like to see him at Liverpool, a lot, and it has been a while since Liverpool have bought English so they're about due.

Probability: 2 out of 5

Cristian Tello

This kid is pretty dang good but I from what I've hear him say I don't really like him as a person because he, like many others, seem to be obsessed with FC Barcelona, even though Barcelona don't really reciprocate the same feelings. He is a fantastic talent at 22 year old and has a great future ahead of him, though it will probably be at Barca. He has been linked with a move to Liverpool for a long time now, with a loan deal being talked about but nothing ever coming from it. Unlike Gerard Deulofeu, Tello would rather try to make it into the first team without going out on loan so a move is quite unlikely. Though if Tello decides he wants a move, temporary or permanent, Liverpool is one of the most likely destination. If a permanent deal is in the cards he would probably cost in the region of 15 million pounds. I think that he would be great for Liverpool and would link up well with Suarez and Coutinho but unfortunately I don't think that will ever happen.

Probability: 2 out of 5

Juan Mata

Everyone at Chelsea loves Mata. He has arguably been their best player since he signed for them and yet Jose Mourinho doesn't think much of him. Last week Mourinho was quoted saying that Mata, and three other players, are free to leave Chelsea if they want. It took less than 48 hours for Mourinho to make a u-turn with his comments saying that he is sad that he has had to leave him out of the team so much and he can stay if he wants. That said I still believe that Mata might make a move away from Chelsea and Liverpool is a possible destination. Liverpool tried to sign Mata, on loan, in the summer but had to settle for Moses instead and might go back for him this month. Everyone (except Mourinho it seems) knows that Mata is one of the best players in the world. He plays either on the wing or as an attacking midfielder and is known for his creativity, which is something Liverpool are in need of up front. He definitely wouldn't come cheap, probably costing upwards of 25 million pounds. This one is an interesting one to think about and even pray for but lets be honest, this one is very unlikely to happen. If he was to sign for Liverpool, hello premier league title!

Probability: 1 out of 5