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Aston Villa will be looking to bounce back from their draw with Brighton & Hove Albion when they play host to Leicester City in the Premier League at Villa Park on Sunday afternoon.

The Villans will head into the match against Leicester on the back of a 0-0 draw with Brighton away from home in the top flight.

Dean Smith’s side will be determined to make amends when they try to secure all three points from the encounter and maintain their push for a place in the top four.

With that in mind, here is Football FanCast’s prediction for Smith’s starting XI to face Brendan Rodgers’ side.

Ahmed Elmohamady will most likely replace Matty Cash at right-back as one of three changes that could be made this afternoon.

Smith’s No.1 Emi Martinez is fast becoming one of the first names on the team sheet and will keep his place in the starting XI, as he has done for all league games so far this season.

Apart from Elmohamady coming in for the injured Cash, the rest of the back four will be left unchanged. Alongside Matt Target, the in-form Tyrone Mings and Ezri Konsa are undroppable if fit, and they should provide stability at the back to combat Leicester’s lively attacking players.

It’s hard to imagine too many changes to the midfield, either, with Douglas Luiz and John McGinn also both likely to keep their places, although Morgan Sanson could return in place of Ross Barkley to earn his first start of the season.

Going forward, Ollie Watkins keeps on improving, with two goals in his last four starts.

Last year’s Villa Player of the Season Jack Grealish is a mainstay, while the £75k-per-week Trezeguet, valued at €15m (£13m), deserves the chance to stake his claim for a starting spot after impressing in a brief cameo against Brighton, which means Bertrand Traore may be forced to settle for a place on the bench.

AND in other news, Tyrone Mings was superb for Aston Villa vs Brighton…

Everton midfielder Anthony Gordon must step up for Carlo Ancelotti as Bernard reportedly nears a move to UAE outfit Al Nasr.

What’s the word?

According to the Liverpool Echo, Toffees chiefs are in official negotiations with Al Nasr over a deal for Bernard.

The Brazilian has entered into the final 18-months of his £120,000-per-week contract and has fallen out of favour under Carlo Ancelotti, with the Italian only starting him twice in the Premier League this season.

Everton are hoping to see a deal for Bernard finalised before Monday night’s deadline in order to clear his lucrative terms from the club’s wage bill, and may even allow the 28-year-old to secure a free transfer just two-and-a-half years on from joining the Blues.

Bernard was omitted from Ancelotti’s matchday squad as Everton lost 2-0 at home to Newcastle United on Saturday after being an unused substitute in the prior 1-1 draw with Leicester City, the 12th time this season that he had failed to enter a top-flight fixture from the bench.

Previous reports had suggested that Al Nasr had agreed to sign Bernard on loan with a €5m (£4.5m) obligation to turn the deal permanent at the end of the season, despite claims of Everton wanting £9m amid interest from AS Roma.

Everton parting with Bernard before Monday night’s 23:00 shut off is likely to have implications on Gordon’s future at Goodison Park, with the winger unlikely to be allowed to leave on loan following interest from Championship and Bundesliga clubs.

Time for Gordon to step up

Everton retaining Gordon, if Bernard’s deal to join Al Nasr goes through, will leave Ancelotti needing the youth product to step up, after a handful of underwhelming outings from the youngster in recent weeks and months.

David Unsworth has previously backed Gordon to find a home for himself on the wing, for he boasts “unbelievable pace” and a growing eye for the final pass, but the forward let Everton and Ancelotti down when fielded in the FA Cup against Rotherham United earlier this month.

Gordon was criticised for his poor body language during the third-round tie having shrieked into the shadows after a promising start, going from turning defenders inside out and carving the backline apart to rarely completing a pass and offering no end product.

That performance also came in only the 19-year-old’s third start of the season across all senior competitions, while playing a mere 87 minutes of Premier League action thanks partly to being hauled off just 10 minutes into the second-half at Sheffield United.

Gordon failed to create many one-vs-one opportunities at Bramall Lane and Ancelotti will need to see the England U20 do more if he is to offer the threat from the left that £13.5m-rated flop Bernard could not offer Everton.

It was also those performances that have helped to see Lucas Digne emerge ahead of Gordon, as well as Bernard, in Ancelotti’s pecking order for wide-left options, after the French full-back opened the Wolverhampton Wanderers and Leicester games in midfield.

If Gordon is to stay at Goodison Park and not leave on loan in line with Bernard’s exit, it has to be time for the Liverpool-born prospect to step up and make the position his.

AND in other news, a £70k-p/w gem let Carlo Ancelotti down as Everton lost to Newcastle…

Glasgow Rangers have been linked with all and sundry since Steven Gerrard’s side stormed to the summit of the Scottish Premiership.

Rangers have just ten days to bring in any new signings, although Gerrard has hinted that there will be more outs than ins at Ibrox in the January transfer window.

But that hasn’t stopped the rumour mill from churning out new transfer stories, with Preston North End duo Ben Davies and Daniel Johnson among the names tipped to make the switch to the 54-time Scottish champions.

It appears Gerrard was targeting a new name for Rangers’ defence, as Filip Helander, 27, and Leon Balogun, 32, have been sidelined by knocks and Nikola Katic remains a long-term absentee.

However, despite several outlets suggesting otherwise, a recent report from the Press Association has subsequently revealed that a club insider has made it clear that Rangers have ‘no interest’ in Preston’s Davies, dealing a blow to Gerrard’s chances of finding suitable defensive cover.

If Ross Wilson and co. are serious about stopping Celtic from winning ten in a row and competing in the Europa League, then Davies is the man who could seriously help the club.

This season, the 25-year-old defender is averaging 1.2 tackles and 1.4 interceptions in 17 appearances across all competitions, with his 6.83 WhoScored rating ranking him sixth out of Alex Neil’s side – his centre-back partner Patrick Bauer is one of only five players to have a higher rating.

Rangers signed Balogun after he left Wigan Athletic as a free agent at the end of last season – since his arrival last year, Gerrard has opted to go with him as part of his preferred defensive partnership with Connor Goldson, acting as a shield wall for veteran goalkeeper Allan McGregor.

Whilst the Nigeria international has shown he can mix it with the best in Scottish football, the same can’t be said for George Edmundson, who has fallen down the pecking order under Gerrard this season.

Although there’s a case to be made that Edmundson still has room to improve at the age of 23, he has largely struggled to impress for the Gers on the very few occasions he has made an appearance after he endured an afternoon to forget against Motherwell at the start of this season, finishing the game with a low 5.8 SofaScore rating – the worst out of any player from either side.

It’s perhaps hardly surprising when you consider the fact that he only won one out of four duels (25%), was dribbled past once and scored an unfortunate own goal, despite playing just 14 minutes of football.

When you consider the fact he was banned for seven games after breaching lockdown regulations, it’s frankly a minor miracle that he is still at the club after his reckless behaviour both on and off the pitch.

On the other hand, Davies has demonstrated a level of confidence and maturity far beyond his years, with WhoScored pointing out that he ‘does not dive into tackles,’ emphasising the fact that he has an experienced head on his young shoulders. It’s a move that Rangers must surely consider before it’s too late.

AND in other news, Rangers should unleash Cedric Itten against Ross County…

Southampton continue to be linked with Manchester United full-back Brandon Williams this month, with The Athletic’s Dan Sheldon suggesting that he ‘remains a target’ and after Tuesday’s defeat against Arsenal, it seems clear that the Saints have to bring him in on loan this month.

Ralph Hasenhuttl was without both of his first-choice full-backs for the visit of Arsenal earlier this week, with Kyle Walker-Peters having picked up a muscle injury in training, whilst Ryan Bertrand was suspended.

Youngsters Yan Valery and Jake Vokins started in their place and both struggled against Mikel Arteta’s side, as they picked up 6.1 match ratings from SofaScore – the joint-worst of any outfield player on the pitch.

Both of Arsenal’s wingers, Nicolas Pepe and Bukayo Saka, would score on Tuesday after getting in behind the young full-backs, so you could argue that they were a big reason why Southampton ended up losing the game.

Neither have much experience in the top-flight, with Vokins having made just five senior appearances for Southampton in his career, whilst Valery has spent time with David Horseman’s B team this season following the arrival of Walker-Peters, having struggled to establish himself in the first-team since the 2018/19 season.

Therefore, when Hasenhuttl brought on Nathan Redmond for Vokins in the second-half, with defensive-midfielder Ibrahima Diallo moving to left-back, the Austrian was perhaps sending a message to the Southampton board that he is desperate for some defensive cover, especially with the Saints struggling with injuries this season which has emphasised their poor strength in depth in recent fixtures.

Williams looks to be the ideal man to bring in, as the 20-year-old has featured as both a left-back and a right-back in his time with Manchester United, so could provide excellent cover for both Bertrand and Walker-Peters.

The £9.9 million-rated youngster has struggled for game time in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side this season as a result of Luke Shaw and Alex Telles’ form, so a loan move could definitely suit both parties.

If Williams were to impress we could see a repeat of the situation that saw Walker-Peters join on a permanent deal from Tottenham Hotspur during the summer, and given the performances of both Valery and Vokins on their rare starts against Arsenal, it seems as if the full-back would be a great option to have for the long-term, rather than just this season.

Therefore, Martin Semmens should do everything he can to bring him to St Mary’s before the transfer window shuts.

And, in other news… “Ralph seems optimistic” – Exclusive: Pundit makes Danny Ings contract claim

According to Football Insider, Glasgow Rangers target Ben Davies has rejected a club-record deal from Preston North End.

What’s the word?

The English centre-back has been one of the standout performers for the Championship outfit but now seems destined for a Deepdale exit.

Steven Gerrard has got the Gers far ahead of their arch-rivals in the Scottish Premiership title race and may look for January additions to keep them there and Rangers could trump their bitter rivals Celtic to the signing of the talented Davies during the transfer window.

Steal a march on Celtic

The Light Blues are in the market for a new centre-back whilst Neil Lennon’s side have their own problems at the back, having shipped 15 goals in 19 games so far.

Gerrard’s Gers have a number of senior players who are out of contract at the end of this season, and though the Rangers manager has insisted that he isn’t looking to sell right now, players such as outcasts George Edmundson and Jordan Jones could be heading for the Ibrox exit in January.

Should such a possibility arise, a bid for Davies could be on the cards with the 25-year-old’s contract set to expire in June this year.

Preston boss Alex Neil has previously heaped praise on the wantaway defender, describing him as a “fantastic” beast after the 2-1 victory over Bristol City back in 2017, whilst former Rangers full-back Alan Hutton recently told Football Insider he “ticks all the boxes.”

Gerrard could cover most of his bases at the back with a versatile player who can play in the centre or on the left if he can convince Ross Wilson to dip into the market.

Davies has made 15 appearances in the Championship this season, picking up one assist, whilst he is currently averaging 1.2 tackles, 1.5 interceptions and 4.3 clearances on average per game, via WhoScored.

As the Gers seek to stop Celtic from winning ten in a row, the recruitment of Davies could be a good bit of business. Stealing him from right under Celtic’s nose would be the icing on the cake.

AND in other news, Glasgow Rangers must reward Leon Balogun for his services with a new contract…

This was the big one for Leeds. In many senses, it was their cup final after being promoted to the Premier League.

When the fixture list was revealed in pre-season, this was the game every Whites supporter looked for – a trip to Old Trafford.

There is a fierce rivalry between these two sides and it was sad that nobody was inside the ground to witness it. However, Leeds fans can probably count themselves fortunate that they were watching from home instead.

This was a reality check for Marcelo Bielsa’s side as they were absolutely battered at Old Trafford, being defeated 6-2.

There was a barrage on Illan Meslier’s goal as he was forced to make eight saves from a total of 25 attempts towards his goal. The Leeds defence was utterly abysmal and it wasn’t helped by Pascal Struijk’s introduction at half-time.

The young Dutchman looked out of his depth and gave away a penalty for a clumsy challenge on Anthony Martial. However, there was a Leeds attacker that was arguably even worse – Raphinha.

The summer signing has been impressive since signing for the Whites – scoring against Everton and amassing 2.6 shots per game – but on this occasion he was woeful.

Raphinha epitomised their abject performance going forward, losing the ball a colossal 36 times – more than anyone on the pitch. He did supply a late goal-scoring opportunity for Jack Harrison but that was as good as it got for the Brazilian who endured a horrible evening in Manchester.

To make matters worse, the forward failed to win any of the nine duels he attempted, while he was unsuccessful with every single dribble he attempted. Furthermore, Raphinha completed only 74% of his passes and provided three accurate crosses from 13 balls into the box.

With Pablo Hernandez waiting in the wings this is a performance that should have the Spaniard standing to attention. After assisting two goals in an eight-minute cameo against Newcastle, his wait for a start could soon be over.

On the big stage, Raphinha’s performance wasn’t good enough and it should have left Bielsa fuming.

AND in other news, Leeds could have their NEW Ben White if Orta sanctions swoop for “huge talent”…

In an exclusive interview with Football FanCast, Sheffield Wednesday legend Carlton Palmer has revealed what he’s heard about the vacant managerial role at Hillsborough Stadium.

The Owls are looking for their fifth manager in three years following the shock sacking of Tony Pulis just over a week ago, and the former midfielder believes that current caretaker boss, Neil Thompson, is going to get the gig for the remainder of the season.

Wednesday are now unbeaten in four matches as the 57-year-old has guided them to back-to-back Championship victories for the first time since December 2019.

Thai chairman Dejphon Chansiri laid into Pulis during a two-hour press conference, criticising his style of football and admitting it was a “mistake” to appoint him in the first place just days after his dismissal, via talkSPORT.

He will surely be pleased with the reaction since with Thompson in control as he begins the search for a new boss.

And Palmer has claimed that the long-serving Owls coach will get the job until the summer…

He told FFC:

“The shout, from what I’m hearing, is they’re going to give it to Thompson until the end of the season, which would be an easy fit for them because he’s going to do what he’s told.

“He knows the players, he knows about the players and they will run through a brick wall for him, and [they will] give him until the end of the season to just keep them in the division.

“You know, that’s the easiest scenario for the chairman.

“But if they kick on, and no disregard to Thompson, but he’s not the man who’s going to get them promoted to the Premier League.”

A decision will need to be made quickly as Pulis’ sacking couldn’t have come at a worse time.

Wednesday need reinforcements during the January transfer window and at the minute, they’re likely to be made without a permanent manager, which could spell trouble later down the line.

Which is also why the possibility of Thompson being appointed permanently makes a ton of sense.

But as Palmer says, the short-term fix isn’t necessarily the right one for the long run, and Chansiri could be back at square one come the summer.

AND in other news, Sheffield Wednesday could find their next Carlos Carvalhal in one-time UCL winner…

Big things were expected of Wesley Hoedt when he joined Southampton in a £15 million deal back in 2017 but it is fair to say that things did not go to plan for the defender at the South Coast club.

However, it now seems as if there could be a way out for the Dutch centre-back, as Lazio, where he is currently on loan, are reportedly keen to make his stay permanent in the January transfer window, in a deal that would see them re-sign the 26-year-old.

In his three years with Southampton, Hoedt has managed just 45 appearances, in which he contributed one goal and one assist (per Transfermarkt).

The Dutch international has spent time on loan with Celta Vigo and Royal Antwerp in his time with the Saints but never looked likely to re-establish himself in Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side when he returned in the summer and was sent back to Lazio on loan shortly before the transfer window shut.

In fact, the centre-back is yet to make a first-team appearance under Hasenhuttl, suggesting that he has no future with the South Coast club whilst the Austrian remains in charge.

Therefore, the club will surely be relieved that Lazio are reportedly considering making his move permanent in the January transfer window, although they will surely have to take a loss on the £15 million they spent on him in 2017, considering he is now valued at just £5.4 million.

Hoedt’s performances in Serie A this season have been less than impressive, as he has averaged a disappointing 6.41 rating for his performances, so really, Southampton will be lucky to receive any sort of fee for the 26-year-old.

However, with his Southampton contract set to expire in June 2022, they may be better accepting whatever Lazio might offer in January, rather than holding on to him and potentially seeing him leave on a free transfer in 2022.

Whilst things didn’t work out for Hoedt at Southampton, it seems as if it would be best for both parties if he just left the club for good in January, to bring an end to what has been a nightmare three-year spell with the Saints.

And, in other news… Southampton can sign 22 y/o beast likened to Frenkie De Jong in January…

Many Crystal Palace fans are reacting to the news that Scottish Premiership midfield star Glen Kamara is attracting the interest of the South London side.

According to TEAMtalk and tweeted out by @cpfc_xtra, Palace and fellow Premier League sides Everton, Newcastle, Sheffield United, Southampton as well as Portuguese giants Benfica are monitoring the Rangers player.

The 25 year-old has been a key asset for Steven Gerrard this season, playing 18 times in all competitions (WhoScored). In his Europa League appearances, he has proved how crucial he is at breaking up opposition attacks as he has managed two tackles and 1.6 interceptions per game. Clearly, some fans at Selhurst Park rate the player highly, with one saying his performances this season have shown real ‘quality’.

James McCarthy is linked to Celtic, Luka Milivojevic is struggling to perform at the level needed and James McArthur is nearing the end of his career. Therefore, a central midfielder around Kamara’s age could be exactly what the club need and would be a very astute signing.

Here is how Palace fans reacted to the update on Kamara:

In other Palace news, have a read of a bizarre statistic about the club which fans aren’t happy with here!

Stuart Dallas played through the pain barrier on Thursday night as he featured in his country’s latest European Championship qualifier. Despite his and the team’s efforts, it wasn’t enough to carry them into the competition as they fell to a 2-1 defeat to Slovakia.

The Leeds left-back picked up what looked like a serious arm injury during the fixture, but played the full 90 minutes, plus the extra time to determine the winner. No confirmation of a long-lasting injury has been given by the club, but it looked like it could’ve been a huge blow for the Whites fans. Should Dallas be sidelined, it could force Marcelo Bielsa to give young Leif Davis the nod.

Davis could be forced to step up to the plate

The 20-year-old has been limited to just 13 minutes of action this season, coming on as a substitute against Manchester City as Leeds held them to a draw. Davis managed to bag himself an assist last season despite playing only 192 minutes of football in total (via Transfermarkt).

However, despite his elusive status for Leeds, it’s clear Bielsa sees a lot of promise in the £90,000-rated defender. His versatility is something that could be of vital use to the manager this season, particularly if key members of the team pick up injuries or develop positive cases of coronavirus.

“I want to give an example,” Bielsa told Leeds Live when asked about promising members of the Leeds set up. “[Leif] Davis is a great player, full of future, resources and skills.

“In my opinion, Davis was far from the first team in our first year and after he worked a lot in the team, with brilliant willing, a lot of effort, dedication, he gives everything.”

The hard-working youngster could see the fruits of his labour pay off in the absence of Dallas. It’s clear that Bielsa is already a huge fan of his, he is just waiting for the right time to deploy the left-back. That time could be now.

In other news, Ouasim Bouy is surely headed for the door after rinsing Leeds’ money pot…