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Newcastle United got their revenge on Manchester United following the League Cup final defeat at St James Park, beating them 2-0 in their Premier League clash this evening.

The Magpies move into third place in the league table following their victory ahead of Tottenham Hotspur’s fixture against Everton tomorrow evening and Eddie Howe will surely be thrilled with his team’s perfect balance of patience and persistence throughout.

The home team absolutely dominated their opponents despite having only 47% possession. Indeed, the Toon had far more shots on target (6 v 1), created more big chances (4 v 0), won more duels (59 v 41) and completed a higher number of tackles too (24 v 17).

Howe and his team would’ve felt that they were unlucky at half-time as they looked the better side throughout the opening 45 minutes with several opportunities squandered in front of goal despite comfortably pressing the Red Devils.

However, when they returned to the pitch for the second half, they finally got the goals they deserved with Joe Willock proving to his manager he was worthy of the starting spot in midfield when he opened up the scoring in the 65th minute to give the Geordies the lead in front of the roaring home support.

It was then Callum Wilson’s turn to show Howe what he had been missing from the bench when he replaced Alexander Isak in the 80th minute and doubled the lead to 2-0 when a free kick driven into the box gave the out of favour striker his chance in the 88th minute.

Indeed, Wilson will be rightly feeling accomplished in delivering the goal that ultimately killed the game for the opponents, but it’s safe to say that Kieran Trippier was the real hero at St James’ Park tonight.

How did Kieran Trippier get on vs Manchester United?

The England international has been an incredible voice on the pitch for the club since his arrival in January 2022 for just £12m but it’s not just his leadership that has been worth its weight in gold to help Newcastle become comfortable contenders in the top four race.

Over his 90-minute performance, the £100k-per-week maestro – hailed for his “elite output” by Statman Dave on Twitter was superb.

Indeed, he delivered four key passes as a marker of his rampant threat down the right-hand side and of course, most importantly, whipped in a wonderful free-kick which earned him an assist for Wilson’s goal.

That well-placed free kick happened to be Trippier’s sixth Premier League assist this season and no other defender in the league has registered more so far, making it an even more impressive day for the right-back.

The full-back is so often the man to provide plenty in attack but he was faultless defensively up against Marcus Rashford and co on Sunday, completing five clearances from his 81 touches, as well as winning three duels.

Howe will be hoping that Trippier and the rest of his teammates can take huge confidence and momentum from their performance to achieve their Champions League dreams over the remaining 11 league games ahead.

A number of Manchester United fans online have slammed Casemiro after he picked up a straight red card for a reckless challenge in his most recent appearance.

Why was Casemiro sent off against Southampton?

In their latest Premier League outing, the Red Devils failed to win in front of their own supporters as they were held to a 0-0 draw at Old Trafford against Southampton.

Erik ten Hag and co understandably came into the match as favourites, with the Saints stuck at the very bottom of the table but one poor decision from United’s central midfielder made things an awful lot more complicated on the day.

Indeed, with just 34 minutes played, Casemiro lunged in on Carlos Alcaraz and while referee Anthony Taylor initially just booked the 31-year-old, it was upgraded to a red following a VAR check.

This isn’t the Brazilian’s first straight red card of the season either. After all, he was given his marching orders in February against Crystal Palace in another ill-judged moment at Old Trafford.

As a result, he now faces a four-match suspension which could see him miss the FA Cup quarter-final at home to Fulham on top of three league games against Newcastle United, Brentford and Everton.

It seems as though the midfielder’s poor discipline has left some Man Utd fans at their wits’ end. Here are some of the best reactions online…

Newcastle United’s shift in momentum since the affluent takeover in 2021 has been nothing short of resounding, with the stellar signings on the transfer front transcending the fortunes on the field.

By and large, the work plied has been shrewdly done; prudent investments to instil a newfound mentality and ensure that European-chasing seasons replace desperate bids to stave off the threat of relegation from the Premier League.

Manager Eddie Howe has done a fine job indeed, and with the Magpies perched admirably in fifth after 24 matches, bolstering the ranks with several first-rate acquisitions could go a long way toward embedding the new era with quality unseen on Tyneside for an age.

As such, rumours attributing interest from Howe and co in Napoli centre-back Kim Min-jae must be acted upon, with the South Korean centre-back exceeding expectations at the heart of the high-flying Italian Serie A leaders’ backline.

According to Napoli’s former sporting director Carlo Jacomuzzi (via Area Napoli), the English outfit are keeping tabs on the defender and could make their move in the summer.

The Magpies boast the most formidable defence in the division, having shipped just 17 strikes, but might seek assurance over the calibre of their defensive department, with one eye firmly fixed on a seat in the Champions League over the coming years, and Kim could be the optimum choice to bolster the fold.

Would Kim be a good signing for Newcastle?

Despite only signing for the Partenopei last summer for €18m (£16m) – a replacement for Kalidou Koulibaly, who joined Chelsea for £33m – the 26-year-old has swiftly asserted himself as one of the division’s finest, with his outfit now touting him at £42m, amid interest from several of Europe’s most prominent sides.

Having made 32 appearances across all competitions, scoring two goals and registering an assist, Kim has been an  unflappable “rock” as lauded by Serie A expert Matteo Bonetti, who also hailed him as “the most impressive defender in the league.”

17 points clear at the top of the table, Napoli are destined to win the Scudetto this term, basking in glory not gleaned in Naples since 1989/90, the club’s previous league title.

And with the 47-cap colossus ranking among the top 10% of centre-backs for pass completion, top 8% for shot-creating actions, top 17% for progressive passes and top 8% for aerials won per 90, his all-encompassing scope and ball-playing prowess slots him right into the mould of the quintessential top-class defender of modern times.

With Bayern Munich phenom Matthijs de Ligt listed as the most comparable player to the Napoli ace, as per FBref, Howe could welcome his own version of the Dutch dynamo to the fold at St. James’ Park.

De Ligt signed for Juventus for roughly €75m (£68m) in 2019, when he was still only 19-years-old, before switching for German giants Bayern last summer for £68m.

With the respective centre-backs both possessing an innate ball-playing aptitude and an astute intellect on the pitch, the Magpies would make an auspicious move indeed if they were to prise Kim away from Naples.

The 23-year-old Bavarian ranks among the top 8% of positional peers for pass completion and 9% for aerials won himself, and given the striking similarities between his approach and the South Korean’s, the Magpies simply must swoop.

Heralded as an “iron barrel” by prodigious team-mate Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Kim would be the perfect signing for Newcastle, who only a little over one year ago faced the daunting embrace of the drop, but with an illustrious new chapter tantalising its arrival, Howe must continue the ascension and sign the titan.

He would inject the iron-clad grip needed to cement United’s defensive line with steely and unwavering resolve.

Nottingham Forest could make a move to bring Inter Milan midfielder Roberto Gagliardini to the Premier League this summer, according to reports.

The Lowdown: Marinakis makes contact

The Italy international will be out of contract at the San Siro at the end of the season, and having suffered a lack of game time making just three league starts this term, he’s decided to leave upon the expiration of his deal.

Evangelos Marinakis reportedly made contact to enquire about the availability of the 28-year-old in January but, at the time, he was happy to see out the rest of the campaign.

However, Steve Cooper has now been alerted to his situation after learning that he’s on the lookout for his next destination and appears to be considering taking a second bite at the cherry.

The Latest: Forest eyeing Gagliardini

According to Italian outlet Calciomercato (via Sport Witness), Forest’s ‘appreciation’ for Gagliardini still remains ‘in view of June’, when they could decide to make another approach.

The Inter star ‘doesn’t sound very excited’ about the possibility of a move to The City Ground though and is waiting for ‘offers’ from other clubs in the Serie A.

The Midlands outfit would likely be the suitor to put the ‘bigger offer’ on the table given the English top flight’s financial power, but it’s claimed they may need ‘more arguments’ should they have any chance of securing his services.

The Verdict: Absolute bargain

Gagliardini has been labelled a ‘superb’ footballer by journalist Josh Bunting and Forest will be getting an absolute bargain if they are able to land him on a free transfer in the summer.

The Nike-sponsored player currently ranks in the 99th percentile amongst midfielders for most blocks per 90 minutes and in the 98th percentile for number of touches in the attacking penalty area, highlighting his ability to impact the game at both ends of the pitch (FBRef).

Standing at 6 foot 2, the Bergamo native would also be able to add a different dimension to the midfield with his height, making him an ideal experienced central addition for the Reds.

West Ham have been linked with signing Roma winger Nicolo Zaniolo recently and the Italian could prove to be David Moyes’ own version of Marcus Rashford at the London Stadium.

According to Media Foot, the Hammers hold an interest in the wantaway Roma man, with Tottenham Hotspur and Bournemouth also said to be interested in signing the Italian forward this month.

Any deal for the 23-year-old is likely to cost around £35m, although Jose Mourinho’s side are said to be willing to agree to a loan with an obligation to buy, which could make negotiations easier to complete ahead of Tuesday’s deadline.

The young winger has struggled for consistent form under the legendary Portuguese manager so far this campaign, managing just one goal in 13 Serie A appearances, averaging a disappointing 6.21 rating from WhoScored for his performances.

However, his previous performances in Italy suggest that a change of scenery could see West Ham unearth a top talent at the London Stadium, particularly if Zaniolo can live up to his obvious potential, with CBS Sports journalist Ben Jacobs lauding him as a “frightening talent” last year.

According to FBref, the most similar player to Zaniolo when compared to other attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe’s top leagues is Manchester United and England star, Marcus Rashford.

The two young wingers have recorded very similar stats this season with regard to shots per 90 (2.83 vs 2.73), key passes per 90 (0.81 vs 0.78) and shot-creating actions per 90 (2.73 vs 2.57).

WhoScored also suggests that both Zaniolo and Rashford like to cut inside, dribble and offer a counter-attacking threat, which emphasises that they are similar types of wide men.

Considering West Ham find themselves in a relegation battle this season and are one of the lowest scorers in the division, having a Rashford-esque player in the second half of the season could prove vital in helping Moyes keep the Hammers in the Premier League.

The United man has been phenomenal since the World Cup break, registering a whopping ten goals and two assists in his last 11 appearances in all competitions, so Moyes would surely be foolish to turn down a player so similar, even if he has struggled under Mourinho at Roma this season.

Therefore, with Zaniolo clearly vying for an exit before next week’s deadline, Moyes should definitely look at bringing the Italian to the London Stadium.

An update has emerged on Everton and their attempts to improve their options out wide before the January transfer window slams shut next week…

What’s the talk?

Journalist Ryan Taylor has revealed that the Toffees have an interest in signing Stade Rennes attacker Kamaldeen Sulemana in the coming days after missing out on a deal for Arnaut Danjuma.

Tottenham have swooped in to sign the Villarreal dynamo on loan at the last minute after the Netherlands international had already completed his medical tests with the Merseyside club, as per Fabrizio Romano, and Farhad Moshiri has now identified a potential alternative.

Taylor Tweeted: “Everton still prioritising a winger after being snubbed by Arnaut Danjuma. Could target two if Anthony Gordon joins Newcastle. Kamaldeen Sulemana remains of strong interest. Told Bamba Dieng not an option at this stage despite talks in summer. #EFC.”

Forget Danjuma

As a loan signing until the end of the season, Danjuma – who scored ten goals in LaLiga for Villarreal last season – could have been an excellent short-term addition to the Everton squad.

The 25-year-old, who turns 26 next week, could have provided an injection of quality and helped the team to avoid the drop down to the Championship before moving back to Spain or signing for a club elsewhere at the end of his loan spell.

Whereas, signing Sulemana on a permanent basis could help the Toffees in the short and long-term, which is why he could be a better signing than the Dutch gem.

The Ghana international, who is reportedly valued at £40m by his club, could come in as a prospect with the potential to improve over time, whilst also providing an attacking boost to the squad in the immediate future.

Sulemana has only started 13 Ligue 1 matches for Rennes since the start of last season but has scored five goals and produced two assists, whilst creating seven ‘big chances’ for his teammates, in that time.

Prior to joining the French side, the 20-year-old plundered an impressive 14 goals and eight assists in 43 first-team outings for Danish side FC Nordsjaelland, which shows that the gem does have the scope to provide goals and assists on a semi-regular basis when at his best.

At the age of 20, the winger, who was once dubbed an “enormous talent” by scout Jacek Kulig, has plenty of time left on his hands to develop his craft and increase his output in the final third. This means that he could be a long-term asset for Everton and someone whose value could be increased with the help of a new head coach.

Moshiri must now swoop to sign the young attacker so that Everton, and their supporters, can completely forget about the disappointing Danjuma saga…

An update has emerged on Leeds United and their plans to improve their squad at Elland Road during the January transfer window…

What’s the talk?

According to the Daily Mail, the Whites are ‘exploring’ a potential deal to sign Club Brugge goalkeeper Senne Lammens this month or in the summer.

The report does not claim that the club have made a final decision on whether they will pursue a swoop to bring the shot-stopper to Yorkshire in January or if they will wait until his contract expires at the end of the campaign.

It is stated that Brugge have been unable to convince the 20-year-old to put pen to paper on a fresh contract with the Belgian side and that leaves the youngster free to speak to foreign teams ahead of his exit in the summer.

Illan Meslier heir

Whites manager Jesse Marsch and director of football Victor Orta could land the eventual heir to Illan Meslier’s position between the sticks by striking a deal to sign Lammens, whether it happens now or in July.

Bayern Munich, Newcastle, and Chelsea have all been linked with an interest in the current Leeds number one after his impressive form in the Premier League in recent seasons.

The Frenchman was praised as being “immense” by reporter Will Jackson earlier this season and Phil Hay, of The Athletic, once suggested that the club would demand a fee in the region of £50m if any teams came in for his signature.

Leeds could now be proactive in their transfer dealings by bringing in Lammens as Meslier’s understudy and training him up to take over from the gem if he ever departs to one of the aforementioned teams in the coming years.

The Club Brugge youngster, who scored a stoppage-time header against Real Madrid at youth level in 2019, has only conceded five goals in four first-team outings for the Belgian side since making the step up to senior side.

Lammens has also conceded nine times in six UEFA Youth League outings in his short career to date and was once hailed as one of Brugge’s “superb talents” by scout Jacek Kulig, which suggests that he caught the eye in those matches.

The 20-year-old has been capped 20 times by Belgium across various youth levels and this indicates that his country have seen him as a future star for some time – just as Meslier with France.

Therefore, Orta could land an eventual heir to Meslier by signing the 6 foot 3 titan from Brugge as he has seemingly caught the eye as a young player and shown that he has the potential to improve, which means that he could be an excellent long-term signing for the Whites.

Leeds United will no doubt be plotting to strengthen their ranks in the January transfer window, with manager Jesse Marsch in need of a boost in his quest to steer the Elland Road outfit away from danger.

One man whom sporting director Victor Orta is believed to be keen on bringing to the club in the New Year is Wolverhampton Wanderers winger, Adama Traore, with 90min reporting that the Whites are admirers of the 26-year-old.

The explosive forward – who spent the second half of last season on loan at Barcelona – is facing an uncertain future at Molineux at present, with just six months remaining on his current deal with the Old Gold.

That fact may well have piqued Orta’s interest even further, with the Yorkshire side having the chance to land the Spaniard for a potential cut-price deal next month, or on a free transfer at the end of the season.

Quite whether it would be an astute move is another matter, however, with the former Aston Villa winger having hardly pulled up any trees during his time in the Midlands, despite his undeniably eye-catching physical attributes.

The £55k-per-week machine is an undoubtedly ferocious and menacing asset with the ball at his feet – showcased by the fact that he ranks in the top 2% in Europe among those in his position for dribbles completed – although too often has his end product let him down.

Those woes in the final third are illustrated by the fact that the eight-cap flop has scored only nine goals and registered just 14 assists in 173 Premier League appearances to date, with that a rather measly return for any attacker.

As experienced coach Sam Allardyce previously suggested, Traore is something of a “sacking player” due to his tendency to let managers down, with his “inconsistency” having been a regular concern over the years.

Equally, those at Leeds may well be fearful of getting stung once again with the signing of a Wolves winger, having previously seen their decision to sign Angolan dynamo Helder Costa from Molineux backfire.

The latter man was snapped up on an initial loan deal back in the summer of 2019, going on to feature 46 times in the following, promotion-winning campaign under Marcelo Bielsa, scoring four goals and registering six assists in the second tier.

That respectable return saw Orta and co opt to strike a permanent agreement at the end of the season for a reported fee of around £16m, albeit that move having backfired as Costa has since underwhelmed in the top flight.

Having scored just three goals and provided only three assists in the league during the 2020/21 season, the 5 foot 10 dud was then shipped on loan to Valencia for the following campaign, before joining Saudi Arabian side Al Ittihad on another temporary deal over the summer.

While still on the books at Elland Road, it looks unlikely that the 28-year-old will have a role to play for his parent club moving forward, with Leeds likely left to rue their decision to sign him in the first place.

To then repeat that error by bringing in another mercurial talent from Wolves in the form of Traore would be a real blunder as far as Orta is concerned, with the Whites better served looking elsewhere to find new recruits in 2023.

Tottenham Hotspur are set to face a battle to bring António Silva to the Premier League in the January transfer window.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by Italian publication Corriere dello Sport (via A Bola), who claim that both Juventus and Napoli have entered the fray for the Benfica centre-back’s signature this winter, with Luciano Spalletti believed to be targeting the 19-year-old as a potential replacement for Gli Azzurri defender Kim Min-jae.

This comes following earlier reports suggesting that Antonio Conte is keeping a very close eye on the Portugal international ahead of launching a potential move of their own in January, while the likes of Liverpool, Manchester United, Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain are also reported to be keen on the €60m (£52m) starlet.

Gvardiol substitute

While it is undeniable that the signing of reported £70m Spurs’ target Joško Gvardiol would be an unbelievable deal for Conte to pull off this winter, considering just how exciting a talent Silva has proven himself to be for club and country so far this season, the argument that the 19-year-old would be an ideal substitute for the Croatian is an easy one to make.

Indeed, over his 10 Liga Portugal appearances in the current campaign, the £13m-rated sensation has been a rock in the heart of the Benfica defence, helping As Águias keep five clean sheets, as well as making an average of 1.7 interceptions, 2.0 tackles, 3.0 clearances and winning 4.9 duels – at a success rate of 64% – per game.

The £29k-per-week defender has also caught the eye in an attacking capacity, having already hit the back of the net on two occasions, in addition to playing an average of 5.7 long balls, taking one shot and completing 66 passes – at a success rate of 92% – per match.

These metrics have seen the player who Jacek Kulig dubbed a “crazy” talent average an astonishing SofaScore match rating of 7.45, not only ranking him as Roger Schmidt’s fourth-best performer in the league but also as the eighth-best player in the Portuguese top-flight in its entirety.

This form saw the teenager earn a surprise call-up to Fernando Santos’ Portugal squad for the Qatar World Cup, with the centre-back having already made an impression on the biggest stage of world football.

Indeed, over his 90 minutes on the pitch against South Korea, despite his country’s surprising 2-1 loss, the 19-year-old did not look out of place, making one tackle, one interception, one clearance and winning three duels, as well as finding his man with eight of his nine attempted long balls and completing 60 of his 62 attempted passes – at a success rate of 97%.

As such, with the centre-back who legendary Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher claimed is “going to be a superstar” having more than proven that he can take World Cup football in his stride, this would suggest that immediate Premier League football should not be beyond the 19-year-old if he were to move to England this winter.

And, with the teenager looking to be available for a figure that is roughly £18m less than Gvardiol’s reported asking price, coupled with the Portugal starlet being one year younger than the 20-year-old Croat, there may not only be an argument that Silva would be an ideal back-up option to the RB Leipzig star in January but perhaps even a better signing for Tottenham altogether.

Leeds United should make a move for Borussia Dortmund left-back Raphael Guerreiro as a statement of intent, according to journalist Pete O’Rourke.

The Lowdown: Guerreiro shines at Dortmund

The 28-year-old has been a hugely productive player in his position for an extended period of time now, registering 37 goals and 39 assists in 206 appearances for Dortmund.

Guerreiro has been named in Portugal’s squad for the 2022 World Cup and will be hoping to start, while away from international duty, he has been linked with a move to Leeds in recent days.

The Whites are believed to see him as a potential signing at left-back, an area of the pitch where they have been rather light this season.

The Latest: O’Rourke talks up Guerreiro move

Speaking to GiveMeSport, O’Rourke said that Leeds should see Guerreiro as a possible statement signing at Elland Road, with the Portuguese defender out of contract next summer.

The journalist stated:

“It’s a real statement of intent from Leeds if they’re trying to make a move to sign Guerreiro, a player with a brilliant CV. He’s played for some top clubs like Dortmund now in the Champions League, has experience playing for Portugal in tournaments as well.”

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The Verdict: Sign him up, Leeds

Guerreiro could be a fantastic prospective signing for Leeds, acting as a massive upgrade on the much-maligned Junior Firpo, and his arrival could end the need for the likes of Pascal Struijk and Stuart Dallas to deputise at left-back.

The Dortmund man’s attacking quality is undeniable – he has two goals in three Champions League starts this season – and at 28, he should still have a good few years left in him at the top level.

Whether or not Leeds manage to entice Guerreiro to Elland Road on a free transfer next summer remains to be seen, but it would be a major coup if it happens, given his abundant experience of major European leagues and tournaments.