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Having gone through October and November without a win in the Premier League and with just one victory under their belt from four league games so far this month, Everton have been going through a rather rough patch in their season, leading to public fan unrest and the departure of Marcel Brands from his role at as their director of football.

One factor that has contributed to Everton’s poor form this season is the fact that Toffees striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin hasn’t played a game since August as a result of a fractured toe.

Taking into account how he managed to score a goal in all three of Everton’s opening games of the campaign that he played in, this shows just how important he is to the team in an attacking sense and why their results have dipped since he’s been out of action.

Despite his injury, Calvert-Lewin has still managed to be linked with a move away from Goodison Park with fellow Premier League club Arsenal interested in signing him in the future.

Given how important he’s proved himself to be for Everton this season alone, it would be nothing short of an unforgiveable disaster for the club and Rafa Benitez if he left anytime soon.

Since making his senior debut for the Toffees back in December 2016, the 24-year-old, who is currently valued at £40.5m according to Transfermarkt, has gone on to score 56 goals and provide 16 assists in 176 appearances across all competitions.

Having been praised by former Everton boss Carlo Ancelotti for being “cold” in front of goal, it’s safe to say that Everton would be in a better position than the one they’re currently in had Calvert-Lewin been available for the entire campaign.

With all of this in mind, Benitez will undoubtedly be hoping that not only will the England international be able to make a full recovery as soon as possible but also that he doesn’t get tempted with a move away from the club to somewhere like Arsenal. An eventuality like that surely wouldn’t improve the relationship between the Everton fans and Benitez.

On a more positive note, the fact that Calvert-Lewin’s contract at the Merseyside club isn’t set to expire until the summer of 2025 should put to bed any concerns that some Everton fans may have that he will be leaving anytime soon.

That said, with a torrid run of form, seeing their best player head for pastures new would only exacerbate their problems and the pressure on the manager’s shoulders. Considering his relationship with the fans already, selling him could have disastrous consequences.

In other news: Benitez should brutally axe £110k-p/w “nightmare” who’s thrown his Everton career away – opinion

Having signed for Everton last month for a fee believed to be around £16m, there is certainly a lot of hope for young right-back Nathan Patterson.

The Scotsman is yet to make a first-team appearance for the Toffees since his move from Scottish champions Rangers having played once for the U23s, however, it’ll only be a matter of time before the youngster is given an opportunity…or at least it should be.

On the chalkboard

With first-choice right-back Seamus Coleman now 33-years-old and in his 13th season at Goodison Park, there is little doubt that the loyal servant will have to step down in the near future.

Although the Irishman appears to be new manager Frank Lampard’s preferred option too, having started the 4-1 FA Cup win over Brentford, there will surely be a chance for Patterson to show the new manager what he can do before the end of the season.

Patterson has been highly rated up in Scotland over recent seasons, particularly at an international level, having made his senior Scotland debut in June, just before the start of the European Championships, in which the right-back played six minutes.

Recently, the 20-year-old was subject to serious praise from Scotland teammate Che Adams, who described the Scotsman as “fantastic” after scoring his first goal and assisting the Southampton striker in a World Cup Qualifier against Moldova in November.

Moreover, former Rangers manager Steven Gerrard directed plenty of praise towards the youngster, saying after another impressive Scotland performance: “It was certainly no surprise. You’re talking about a kid who is really hungry, he’s full of desire and commitment. I think you could see that in his performances.

“It was really good for me to see him playing with other top players like Andy Robertson and Billy Gilmour, these type of players.”

However, whilst in charge at Ibrox, Gerrard didn’t give Patterson as many opportunities as his price tag would’ve suggested, with the right-back making just five appearances in the Premiership as the Gers secured their first league title in ten years.

The Scotsman did make 14 appearances in total in all competitions last term and also scored a goal against Royal Antwerp in the Europa League.

This campaign, prior to the move to Merseyside, the right-back got slightly more of a look in, making six league appearances as well as two in the Europa League, two in the League Cup and one in the Europa League Qualifiers.

There’s little doubt that the Everton hierarchy signed Patterson thinking that he could certainly be the long-term heir to Seamus Coleman’s throne. However, the 20-year-old will need to be trusted by Lampard and given opportunities to prove that he has what it takes.

In other news: Lampard drops worrying injury update that’ll have Everton fans sweating

Speaking to the press (via football.london) before Monday night’s away trip to Burnley, West Ham United boss David Moyes has refused to rule out a return for striker Michail Antonio as he drops a message.

Antonio has been on the sidelines since suffering a hamstring injury during the win at Wolverhampton Wanderers early last month, and there were real fears he could miss the rest of the season (The Guardian).

However, updates from within the club have emerged recently, including one from ExWHUemployee saying the 31-year-old is in fact ‘way ahead of schedule’ and could be back sooner than expected (Twitter).

Now, Irons gaffer Moyes has dropped his own message on the situation and refuses to rule out a return for Antonio as soon as Monday evening.

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When asked if Antonio could be fit for Burnley, he replied:

“He is working with the physios on the grass, so I would not rule him out yet, but I do not want to rule him in so let’s hope that he has a chance.”

Transfer Tavern take

The forward returning as soon as their visit to Turf Moor could come as a pretty seismic boost as the Hammers continue their quest to qualify for an unprecedented European place.

Indeed, West Ham still have a chance to secure a spot in the Champions League and Antonio’s return would present a gift for Moyes given his contribution.

His fine form earlier this season earned him a new deal at the London Stadium, with the Englishman having bagged seven goals and five assists in the Premier League this season (WhoScored).

Only sensational loanee Jesse Lingard has averaged more shots per 90 than Antonio over 2020/2021 and Harry Redknapp is a huge fan.

The former Tottenham boss called him ‘frightening’ when speaking to Sky (via Football Daily), and Moyes could really do with his influence during the business end of the campaign.

In other news: West Ham told asking price for ‘phenomenal’ forward, find out more here.

Glasgow Rangers have reportedly now told Josh McPake that he can leave in the summer.

The Lowdown: Loan after loan

McPake has been sent out on loan no fewer than five times by the Teddy Bears in his career so far, most recently to Tranmere Rovers back in the January transfer window.

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He has only managed to make one senior appearance for the club, and so his long-term future under Giovanni van Bronckhorst is uncertain after a nomadic stint in Glasgow.

The Latest: McPake update

Speaking to Football Insider, an Ibrox source has revealed that the Light Blues have now given the ‘green light’ for McPake to leave on a permanent deal, as he is ‘surplus to requirements’.

The Gers have personally ‘told’ McPake that he can go after his loan spell at Tranmere ends.

The Verdict: Shame

It is certainly a shame that McPake’s career at RFC has not quite worked out, especially coming through their youth ranks.

Described as ‘excellent’ and a ‘great talent’ by Harrogate Town manager Simon Weaver, another team that he has gone out on loan to, the 20-year-old signed a new deal at Rangers just last year, a testament to how highly-rated he is.

However, the summer seems the best time for both McPake and the club to part ways, as the Scottish winger looks to seek more regular first-team football and the Light Blues bank a potentially decent profit.

In other news, find out who has been ‘non-existent’ for Gers here!

Gary Mabbutt has exclusively told Football FanCast that he believes Tottenham’s season could still be a successful one.

Despite losing the north London derby to Arsenal and then crashing out of the Europa League following an embarrassing exit to Dinamo Zagreb three days later, Jose Mourinho’s team are just three points off the Champions League places and have a Carabao Cup final against Manchester City next month.

That three-point gap from fourth-placed Chelsea came courtesy of a comfortable win over Aston Villa on Sunday, which ended a wretched week for Tottenham on a high.

Following those two poor results, Mourinho has come under some serious flack, although it might still turn out to be an excellent season for his team – with Spurs just 90 minutes away from ending their 13-year wait for trophy.

And Mabbutt, who won tasted FA Cup and UEFA Cup glory during his playing days at White Hart Lane, is optimistic about the remainder of the campaign.

He told Football FanCast:

“In the league we have won four out of our last five games, that’s a pretty good run. Yes, it was disappointing going out to Zagreb in the Europa League, but we are sixth in the table. Everyone seems to be throwing away points left right and centre, it’s a bizarre situation. 

“But there is an opportunity there for us to finish the season in a top-four place, and of course we are in the Carabao Cup final.

“So at the end of the season after the setbacks we have had, suddenly the team and the manager could come out with silverware in the trophy cabinet and a top-four finish, which is still more than possible.”

It’s such a strange situation for Tottenham present. Whilst it currently appears all doom and gloom following the Zagreb result, finishing in the top-four and winning a trophy would represent their best season for many a year.

Crystal Palace’s decision to appoint Patrick Vieira as manager is a “huge risk” and could lead to relegation, according to Get French Football News features writer Adam White.

Vieira has been handed the reins at Selhurst Park, but the Frenchman was not Palace’s first choice candidate.

Nuno Espirito Santo, who has since taken over at Tottenham Hotspur, could not agree terms to take charge before ex-Borussia Dortmund chief Lucien Favre turned down the job vacated by Roy Hodgson at the end of last season.

Former Arsenal captain Vieira, who has penned a three-year deal, will manage in the Premier League for the first time having previously endured mixed experiences in the dugout.

Vieira cut his teeth in Major League Soccer with New York City FC before heading back to his homeland to take charge of Nice.

Although the 45-year-old led Nice into the Europa League last year, he was sacked in December.

White believes the Eagles could be facing a relegation scrap after turning to Vieira ahead of the new season.

Speaking to Football FanCast, the French football expert said: “I think it’s a really risky appointment and potentially a really interesting one.

“It’s a huge risk because Palace are one of those clubs that if they have a bad season, they’re potentially looking at a relegation battle.”

With Liverpool seemingly on the lookout for a new central midfielder following links to Barcelona’s Pedri and Ryan Gravenberch of Ajax, the Reds will reflect on selling one of Europe’s most creative players in 2016 as a huge error.

Having been at Lazio since 2016, Luis Alberto has developed into a hugely impressive midfielder, showing an ability that would simply not have seemed possible after he was jettisoned from Anfield for a paltry fee of just £4.3m.

Having made just 12 appearances in his Liverpool career, he is certainly a player that the Reds could do with now.

In 167 appearances for the Serie A giants, the 28-year-old has scored 34 goals and provided another 46 assists – an excellent rate of output.

Whilst he has not been as creative throughout the 2020/21 campaign, he has still managed to find the back of the net on eight occasions in the league.

It is form that has seen Alberto draw plenty of praise, specifically from legendary Italy manager Marcello Lippi, who labelled the Spaniard as “extraordinary”.

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For comparison, current Reds’ midfielder Thiago could only rack up 22 goals and 23 assists with Bayern Munich in the same time period that Alberto has been in Italy. It could be suggested then that Liverpool brought the wrong Spaniard to Anfield.

Despite that, the cost of Alberto’s departure will be the main aspect that will wrangle with the Liverpool hierarchy.

Having departed for his paltry fee, the former Barcelona B midfielder is now rated at £45m and despite it being reported that the Reds would be owed 30% of any potential transfer fee should Alberto leave the Stadio Olimpico, it is not quite the huge windfall that they would otherwise be entitled to.

In all respects then, the sale of the Spaniard in 2016 looks like a huge transfer blunder by Liverpool.

AND in more news, take a look at which Premier League star Liverpool must swoop for…

Plenty of Crystal Palace fans have been reacting to an update regarding striker Christian Benteke on social media.

Benteke is just one of a number of Palace players who are out of contract in a matter of weeks, however, it seems as if the Eagles are making a late attempt to keep hold of the forward.

According to Belgian outlet Het Laatste Nieuws, cited by Sports Witness, Palace have offered the 30-year-old a new two-year deal.

The report claims that the ball is now in the Belgian’s court over whether he will stay at Selhurst Park.

Benteke, who Roy Hodgson described as ‘fantastic’ during his tenure as manager, ended the season in fine form. He scored seven times in his final 13 Premier League games of the 2020/21 season, and those displays seem to have done enough to persuade Palace to offer him a new deal.

Palace fans react

@CPFCtransfersHQ shared the news regarding Benteke on Twitter on Wednesday afternoon.

This is what these supporters had to say in reply, with many excited at the news of a new deal being tabled.

“OMG YES”Credit: @CPFCH10″Tears in my eyes”Credit: @WlLFRIEDZAHA”Never heard of Het Laatste Nieuws but I beg”Credit: @palace_tommy”Please, PLEASE let this be true!!”Credit: @JulieOs28364111″Het laatste nieuws have my children”Credit: @CpfcDan_”STAY KING”Credit: @liamb0117

In other news: Many Palace fans can’t believe what’s happened to one Eagles defender now, find out more here. 

Southampton’s hopes of signing Ryan Gauld this summer have taken a blow after SC Farense triggered a one-year extension option in his contract, meaning he will now set the Saints back somewhere in the region of £3.5m, rather than being available on a free transfer as was initially thought.

Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side were first linked with a move for the Scottish midfielder by the Daily Record earlier this month, with the reports suggesting that he was keen on a move to St Mary’s so he could link up with fellow Scot and former Dundee United teammate Stuart Armstrong.

The 25-year-old’s contract with SC Farense was set to expire at the end of the season, meaning the Saints could have signed him on a Bosman transfer, but Portuguese news outlet O Jogo have now suggested that they have triggered a one-year extension to his contract ahead of the summer, where an offer of €4m (£3.5m) will be enough to prise him away from Estadio de São Luís.

SC Farense’s head coach Sergio Vieira was full of praise for Gauld last year, saying:

“He has given us fantastic individual quality, played most of every 90 
minutes and has been crucial in 
contributing with assists and goals.

“He’s a great player, technically very developed and, with the ball at his feet, capable of realising actions that only the best players do.”

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Given that SC Farense suffered relegation from the Portuguese top-flight this season, despite the best efforts of Gauld, it seems extremely likely that he will depart this summer, but Southampton will have to shell out a fee if they want to bring him to St Mary’s.

The attacking midfielder enjoyed a superb season in the Liga NOS, contributing seven goals and seven assists in 33 league appearances, which helped him average an impressive 7.19 rating from WhoScored, which is better than any Southampton player managed this season.

Therefore, despite the disappointing news that Gauld seemingly won’t be available on a free transfer this summer, Martin Semmens should definitely try to sign him, as he could prove to be an excellent addition to Hasenhuttl’s side ahead of the 2021/22 campaign.

And, in other news… Hasenhuttl can amend key 20/21 disaster with summer swoop for £4.5m-rated beast

Watford continue their 2021/22 Carabao Cup campaign with a clash against Championship side Stoke City at Vicarage Road on Tuesday night.

The Hornets head into the game high on confidence after beating Norwich 3-1 away from home in the Premier League at the weekend.

Xisco Munoz’s side defeated Crystal Palace 1-0 in the second round of the competition last month, with Watford now hoping to overcome Michael O’Neill’s Potters side.

With it being a break from the Premier League, Munoz could decide to make some changes to his team to offer fringe players an opportunity to impress him. One player he must unleash against Stoke is centre-forward and summer signing Ashley Fletcher.

Josh King has started three of Watford’s five Premier League matches and is yet to score his first goal for the club, despite leading the line against the Canaries at the weekend. It could be time to hand him a rest and offer Fletcher a chance to show that the 25-year-old can do a better job as the number nine for the Hornets in the top flight.

He has played just one game for Watford since arriving on a free transfer in the summer and scored the winning goal as Munoz’s side beat Palace in the previous round of this competition. This shows that he has the quality to be a match-winner for the Hornets, just as he proved it against the Eagles last month.

He also previously scored 11 goals and provided seven assists in the 2019/20 Championship campaign for Middlesbrough, showing that he knows how to be involved in the action in the final third.

Fletcher’s former Sunderland boss Chris Coleman has hailed the forward’s demenaour, saying: “He has a super attitude. If you are playing as a striker for Sunderland and you’re struggling and his performances haven’t been great, you are going to come under scrutiny and pressure, which he has.”

This shows that the £13k-per-week beast will give his all on the pitch and put in a shift for Munoz, whilst also having the ability required to potentially win the game. Therefore, Fletcher must be unleashed against Stoke City to give him the chance to showcase his quality and prove that he can score goals consistently.If he can come in and produce a strong performance, it could boost his chances of being included in a Premier League match for Watford for the first time. However, it is up to him to win over his manager first.In other news: 14 duels won – Watford beast with 57 touches was an unsung hero for Xisco against Norwich