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Tottenham suffered a major dent to their hopes of finishing in the top four in the Premier League this season after falling to a 3-1 defeat to Leeds United at Elland Road on Saturday afternoon.

Ryan Mason’s side came into the game off the back of a morale-boosting 4-0 thrashing of Sheffield United last time out, with Gareth Bale netting a hat-trick in the process.

However, the Lilywhites looked completely toothless up in Yorkshire yesterday, managing just three shots on target in the entire 90 minutes and having Hugo Lloris to thank for saving their blushes with a number of top-class saves.

While Sergio Reguilon faced a lot of criticism for his performance, it was arguably Eric Dier who was Spurs’ worst-performing player on the day. The England international looked all at sea with the pace and movement of Leeds’ attack and was caught out by a near-post cross for Patrick Bamford’s goal.

That prompted Spurs journalist Alasdair Gold to remark on Twitter that Dier had fallen “asleep”, and his lack of understanding for when to track runners must have been deeply frustrating for Mason to watch from the technical area.

As per Sofascore, the 27-year-old won just two tackles in the entire game, with even Giovani Lo Celso winning more, and he triumphed in only four of his nine total duels.

It wasn’t just defensively that he struggled however, with the centre-back unable to keep calm when in possession, conceding the ball on 12 separate occasions and being hurried into going long by Leeds’ constant pressing.

Writing in his post-match player ratings for Football.London, Gold gave him a lowly three, saying: “A tough afternoon for the player up against Bamford and was at fault for his goal as he was caught watching the ball as the Leeds ace nipped ahead of him to net. Not a good game at all from the England international in front of Gareth Southgate.”

While Reguilon may shoulder a lot of the blame for his role in a couple of Leeds’ goals, Dier’s overall performance was arguably even worse. Here was an experienced head completely letting his rookie manager down.

Dier was a complete liability with his positioning at the back, and it must raise even more questions as to why Joe Rodon doesn’t start regularly for Spurs.

In other news, this manager could restore shades of Pochettino if Spurs choose him as Mourinho’s successor.

Manchester City took a big step towards the Champions League Final on Wednesday night as they came from behind to beat PSG 2-1 at Les Parc de Princes.

Marquinhos headed a dominant PSG side in front early on but the pendulum swung in City’s favour in the second half, as they produced an excellent display and completely nullified the threat of Kylian Mbappe and Neymar.

Kevin De Bruyne’s intended cross went all the way in for the equaliser, before Riyad Mahrez curled a free-kick through a weak PSG wall to give Pep Guardiola’s side the lead, before the French champions went down to 10 men after a horror tackle from Idrissa Gana Gueye.

The former Everton man was one of several PSG stars to lose their heads in the second half as they began to chase shadows and his foul on Ilkay Gundogan was perhaps in frustration that the German international completely ran the show in the second half.

As per SofaScore, the former Borussia Dortmund man would earn a solid 7.1/10 rating for his performance on Wednesday night, with only Mahrez (8.2), Bernardo Silva (7.5) and Phil Foden (7.2) rated higher of the City players who featured.

However, the 30-year-old midfielder had the most touches (116) and played the most passes (103) of any player who featured in the game, which highlights that he was key to City’s strong performance.

Gundogan has averaged just 77.5 passes per game in the Champions League this season, which emphasises just how impressive he was on Wednesday night, especially when you consider that this was arguably City’s hardest game in the competition so far.

He also broke forward well, completing all three of his dribbles in the game, which again is more than the 1.2 dribbles he has averaged in the competition so far this season.

Guardiola was full of praise for Gundogan earlier in the season, saying:

“Ilkay is an exceptional player in all situations. He can play more upfront and as a defensive midfielder.”

He emphasised this on Wednesday night as he also impressively won 5/9 of his duels and lost possession on just four occasions, which is impressive when you consider how successful PSG were with their pressing in the first half.

Therefore, whilst Mahrez and De Bruyne will earn the plaudits for their goals, it was Gundogan who kept things ticking over for City, which was vitally important in them earning the win.

And, in other news… Txiki heading for potential Man City disaster over 26-goal “winner”, Pep will be fuming

It’s still very much the curious case of Dele Alli at Tottenham Hotspur this season.

Despite all of Spurs’ recent struggles, Jose Mourinho has still rarely turned to the out-of-favour midfielder and now his future in north London is surely hanging by a thread.

An exit in January was blocked late on by Daniel Levy but with the 25-year-old only featuring for a grand total of 984 minutes in all competitions, the chairman could look to cash in on the £26m-rated dynamo this time round.

If he does indeed go through with sanctioning his departure, it could well be a decision he regrets in the long run.

Mourinho has a sorry history when it comes to giving young talent a chance, and whilst it feels like Alli has been around forever, the 37-time England international is far from reaching his peak years.

Alli, aside from Harry Kane and Heung-min Son, has been one of Spurs’ best players in recent years.

It was only in the 2016/17 season that he bagged a whopping 18 goals from midfield, whilst he has also clinched back-to-back PFA Young Player of the Year awards – the first player to achieve that feat since Wayne Rooney in 2005, and the third-ever to do so.

That year, Spurs legend Darren Anderton waxed lyrical about Alli, comparing him to both Steven Gerrard and Paul Scholes, going onto call him a “freak of a talent” and a “real joy to watch” (quotes sourced via Goal).

You simply cannot afford to leave out a player as talented as Alli all season, and ultimately it’s cost Spurs dearly.

Mourinho has a poor history in this regard too, writing off the likes of Kevin De Bruyne and Mohamed Salah at Chelsea, going on to sell them to Wolfsburg and Fiorentina, respectively.

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No one needs reminding of how their careers have panned out since then, but as a Premier League and Champions League winner, Salah is perhaps the Portuguese’s worst mistake.

The Egyptian’s rise has been astronomical but the signs of that potential were staring Mourinho right in the face, as former Blues teammate Felipe Luis told the Guardian, Salah was like Lionel Messi in training.

“I suffered Salah in training,” claimed the Brazilian defender. “When he went Fiorentina, I said: ‘Why are you going, Momo? This is Chelsea.’ And he said: ‘I need to play.’ I thought: ‘This kid’s good.’ He never went for money or to win more; he went to show he could play. In training, he was like Messi. Really, like Messi. Ask anyone.”

Now Alli may not go onto repeat the impressive exploits of Salah, but there’s every chance he could given it is Paris Saint-Germain are interested in his services and they made the UCL final last year, and are consistently winning Ligue 1.

The difference between the Englishman at Spurs now, and both Salah and De Bruyne at Chelsea then, is that he’s already delivered and proven his worth over several seasons. And that will make this error even more glaring, in a shorter time frame, too.

Mourino cannot afford to repeat this blunder this summer.

AND in other news, “Excellent player” – Exclusive: Pundit hails rarely-seen Spurs youngster Jose called “fantastic”

Numerous Premier League teams have expressed a strong desire to sign Conor Gallagher, but the midfielder is eager to remain at Chelsea.

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• Gallagher makes decision on Chelsea future
• Wants to stay at Stamford Bridge
• Tottenham and others interested in midfielder

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  According to The Daily Mail, there has been "no significant progress" in the talks about extending the midfielder's contract at Chelsea. With an eye towards making a summer transfer for the England international, Tottenham and other competing Premier League teams are keeping a careful eye on the issue. Nonetheless, Gallagher is giving staying at Stamford Bridge top priority and is not considering leaving. The source claims that Chelsea are now hesitant to pay Gallagher more than their unofficial weekly salary cap of £150,000. Gallagher is about to enter the last 12 months of his contract.

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  Although Chelsea insists that this isn't a problem, it is thought that the club is under pressure to sell players this summer in order to comply with profit and sustainability guidelines (PSR). Given that Gallagher came via the Chelsea academy, his sale would be valued as pure profit on the PSR balance sheet. Gallagher has just one year left on his contract, but if Chelsea were to sell, they would demand at least £50 million for him. However, it is unclear if teams will be willing to pay that amount for a player who may be available for free next season.

• Getty
  

  DID YOU KNOW?

  The likelihood of Gallagher being sold this summer is especially strange because he is one of the favourites to be crowned Chelsea's player of the year this season. The 24-year-old, who enrolled in Chelsea's academy when he was just eight years old, has scored four goals in his previous five games for the west London team and took on the captain's armband this season in Reece James' absence.

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• WHAT NEXT FOR GALLAGHER?

  The Englishman will likely be starting yet again for Mauricio Pochettino when the Blues take on Brentford on Saturday, March 2 as they look to get back into the top half of the Premier League.

After heading into the international break off the back of a 2-0 defeat to Tottenham, Dean Smith will have plenty to ponder over how best to kick-start his Aston Villa side.

The Midlands club have hit a bit of a roadblock in the Premier League in the past few weeks, with the absence of Jack Grealish certainly a major factor behind that – they’ve won just once in the six games he has missed.

While not having Grealish in the side is the obvious reason to highlight for the slump, it’s fair to say that those who have come into the side to deputise for him haven’t exactly done the side proud – Trezeguet being one example.

The Egypt international has started the last three games for Villa, and just like the entirety of his season really, has been completely ineffectual – he is yet to score a single Premier League goal in 19 outings, and has managed just one measly top-flight assist (even that came back in October against Liverpool).

As per WhoScored, the £12.5m-rated Trezeguet ranks as the joint-worst Villa player in the entire squad out of those who have started at least ten games this season, and that’s a damning indictment on just how little he has impressed – even centre-back Kortney Hause has managed to find the back of the net more than him.

Speaking earlier this season to Football Insider, former Villa striker Agbonlahor said: “I said it after the Brighton game on Twitter and Villa fans weren’t happy with my comment about him not being able to finish his dinner. In the Premier League, you get punished for not taking easy chances like that. If that ball fell to anyone else but Trezeguet, they would have scored.

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“I just feel his all game is a bit erratic, he works hard but his final ball at times was poor. He makes the wrong decision a lot. As much as working hard is important in football, there has to be some quality there because otherwise, it’s going to cost you.”

With Fulham next up for Villa on Sunday afternoon, Smith must make a ruthless call and drop Trezeguet from his starting line-up. The winger has been holding back the side for far too long now.

Meanwhile, Villa must sell this first team ace in the summer…

Cristiano Ronaldo was left fuming by his son as Junior snubbed his request for a handshake during Al-Nassr's title celebrations.

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• Ronaldo Jr fired Al-Nassr to U-13 league title
• The youth team called up to celebrate withseniors
• Ronaldo snubbed by son while others shook hands

• Getty
  

  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Ronaldo Jr starred for Al-Nassr Under 13s as he was on target to inspire his team-mates to the league title with three games to spare. The future stars were called up to celebrate the latest honour with their senior counterparts before the Saudi Pro League clash against Al-Fateh. The youngsters walked out of the tunnel amid loud cheers and fireworks and then lined up to shake hands with the professionals.

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  Ronaldo Jr was leading the players but somehow he fell behind the queue. However, when he was crossing his father he walked at a distance before snubbing a handshake opportunity with the Portuguese superstar. Ronaldo was shocked at the unexpected snub and was spotted saying something to Jr., who did look at his father but chose to walk on.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Ronaldo was at his usual goal-scoring best against Al-Fateh and took just 17 minutes to break the deadlock. Al-Nassr are chasing leaders Al-Hilal in the title race as they find themselves six points behind Ruben Neves and Co.

American rapper Kanye West was in attendance at the Champions League game between Inter and Atletico Madrid at San Siro on Tuesday.

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• Kanye West attended Inter's Champions League clash
• Was accompanied by his wife Bianca Censori and met Jaden Smith
• Inter beat Atletico Madrid 1-0

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  West attended the game in Italy alongside his wife Bianca Censori, and also posed for photos with American artist and actor Jaden Smith. The rapper turned up at the stadium in unusual attire as he appeared to be covered head to toe. He wore a black jacket hooded up and a black mask to cover his entire face.

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  The 46-year-old recently released his new album named 'Vultures 1' in collaboration with Ty Dolla $ign, who was also in attendance in Milan. West also involved a section of Inter fans from the club's Curva Nord ultras group in some of his songs, including 'Carnival'. They even received song credit in the album.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR INTER?

  Simone Inzaghi's side edged out Atletico Madrid 1-0 courtesy of Marko Arnautovic's strike in the first leg of their round of 16 clash on Tuesday. Inter will next face Lecce in a Serie A clash on Sunday as they bid to extend their lead at the top of the table.

Barcelona are eyeing a move for Bayern Munich boss Thomas Tuchel to become their next manager after Xavi announced he would be leaving his role.

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• Xavi announces Barcelona exit
• Barca eyeing Tuchel from Bayern
• Klopp also an option for Blaugrana

• Getty
  

  WHAT HAPPENED?

  According to , the Catalan club are looking to appoint a head coach that has won the Champions League before, which could lead them to pursuing current Bayern boss Thomas Tuchel.

  Tuchel won the coveted European trophy during his time at Chelsea and has recently come under an increasing amount of pressure in Germany, with a five-point gap currently separating them and Bayer Leverkusen at the top of the Bundesliga table.

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• WHAT DECO SAID

  "A radical change is needed," Barcelona sporting director Deco said on the hunt for a new manager. "There is a method that is finished. The president is with me. We need to find someone who breaks up with the past and moves towards a new model."

• Getty
  

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  Barcelona are also consider Tuchel's national counterpart Jurgen Klopp for the role, after the Liverpool boss announced he would be leaving Anfield at the end of the season and would never manager another club in England again. However, Klopp has emphasised his need for a break before contemplating another role, which could open the door for Barcelona to pursue Tuchel instead.

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• WHAT NEXT FOR BARCELONA?

  For now, Barcelona will be looking to get back to winning ways following their recent 3-3 draw against Granada. Xavi's side face Celta Vigo in their next clash on Saturday with the team currently sat in third place, ten points behind league leaders Real Madrid.

Rafael Benitez has seemingly confirmed he is not in the running to replace Neil Lennon at Celtic Park.

The 60-year-old left Chinese Super League side Dalian Professional by mutual consent back in January and remains out of work, but it doesn’t look like his next role will be in Glasgow.

Benitez eyeing Premier League return

Reports shortly after his Dalian Professional exit claimed that the Spaniard was set to replace Lennon in the Parkhead dugout, however, a move never materialised.

Lennon resigned from his position at the end of February, with the Hoops now waiting until a director of football is brought in before landing a new first-team boss.

Talking to The Times, cited by the Daily Record, Benitez admitted the right project ‘is not there at the moment’, revealing he wants to return to the Premier League.

“The priority is England. Why? Because obviously I like the Premier League and my family is here.

“I have a lot [of offers] from the UAE, United States, Brazil, China, but I want to stay in Europe. And I want to stay in England.

“If it’s the right one, we can do it tomorrow but the project, the competitive team, is not there at the moment so we have to wait. But I don’t want to stay without working.”

Transfer Tavern take

Several Celtic fans wanted Benitez in prior to Lennon’s resignation, so those supporters will be gutted at his latest comments.

However, to us, we never thought a move to Celtic Park was a realistic one. The Spaniard’s salary was £12m in China, double his Newcastle pay packet.

Lennon was on £2.4m-a-year during his second stint as Hoops boss, so financially, a reported deal looked impossible.

In other news: Celtic keen on 24-year-old ace who has 12 assists this season, find out more here. 

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Tottenham Hotspur remain in the title race after their 3-1 win over Leicester City on Sunday.

Mauricio Pochettino’s men are five points behind Manchester City and Liverpool at the top of the table and, while they face a difficult run-in, fans in north London are dreaming of potential glory.

Spurs’ run-in: Burnley (A), Chelsea (A), Arsenal (H), Southampton (A), Crystal Palace (H), Liverpool (A), Brighton (H), Huddersfield Town (H), Manchester City (A), West Ham (H), Bournemouth (A), Everton (H). 

Such is the gap to the top, Spurs probably need to win every game between now and the end of the season and, looking at their run-in, that is going to be a tough ask.

Two London derbies back-to-back against Chelsea and Arsenal are sure to test the mental reserves within Pochettino’s side, while trips to Liverpool and Manchester City could see title credentials either solidified or blown apart.

Former Wigan & Fulham man, Jimmy Bullard recently showed that he’s still got it! Check out the video below…

A home clash with West Ham looks slightly tasty, too, particularly if Spurs are still in the race. Manuel Pellegrini’s men would love to play spoiler.

However, their final two games, against Bournemouth and Everton, are soft, particularly with neither side likely to be fighting for much come the end of the season.

Southampton and Palace could be fighting for their lives come their games, but, sadly, Huddersfield may well be relegated by the time they visit Spurs.

Predicted points: 24/36 – Spurs finish on 84 points

Spurs are likely to beat Burnley.

Draws with Chelsea and Arsenal are also foreseeable, particularly with the sides meeting in succession. Southampton and Palace should be beatable, as are Brighton and Huddersfield.

Trips to Liverpool and City are huge, but Spurs’ record at both Anfield and the Etihad Stadium is not good. Expect brave losses.

A point against West Ham would be a blow, but it is the Hammers’ biggest game of the season – they will certainly turn up.

Wins against Bournemouth and Everton will end a fantastic season on a high, even if the tally of 84 points is unlikely to see Spurs crowned champions.