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Presenter Dave Azzopardi has claimed that he and everyone else was shocked when Wolves defender Craig Dawson scored to put his side 2-0 up after just 12 minutes.

What’s the word?

It’s been a difficult season in the Premier League for the club so far but their fans were treated to a great afternoon at Molineux this weekend when they cruised to victory.

Indeed, the game against Liverpool got off to a great start as an own goal from Joel Matip put Wolves up after just five minutes before Dawson doubled the lead seven minutes later.

Ruben Neves added a third in the second half and seeing as Julen Lopetegui’s men have struggled for goals this season in the league, it was a surprise to see them win with such ease.

While speaking on Talking Wolves, Azzopardi said (1:28): “By 12 minutes, we were 2-0 up. Craig Dawson scoring the goal. The set piece comes in, it’s half cleared away, just hits it with pure power, doesn’t he Craig Dawson?

“And to go 2-0 up that early, I think everyone was just so shocked, didn’t expect it. You know, Wolves before today, they had only scored 12 league goals all season. We’ve scored three now and that’s a fifth of our Premier League goals [that] have come in just this game.”

Goals galore

Before the win against Liverpool, the Old Gold has scored just 12 goals in 20 games. No team in the Premier League had netted fewer and even now with 15, they are still the division’s lowest scorers.

With that in mind, it’s easy to see why Azzopardi and the Molineux faithful couldn’t believe what they were seeing when centre-back Dawson – making his debut having just signed from West Ham United – smashed home a second against the Reds early on in the game.

One win won’t be enough to guarantee a future influx of goals and points but the three points do see Wolves rise out of the relegation zone up into 15th place.

It will be interesting to see if this game is a sign of things to come under Lopetegui or if it was just an anomaly against an out-of-form Liverpool side.

Tottenham Hotspur’s former striker Jermain Defoe has hailed Kyle Walker as better than Gareth Bale in certain aspects of his physicality.

What’s the latest?

Walker departed the north London club back in 2017 in a deal which is believed to have been worth in the region of a whopping £53m.

The now 32-year-old left a huge hole in the Spurs side which has seen them struggle to find a solid replacement since he left with numerous players coming and going since Walker’s exit.

Since leaving Spurs, the Englishman has gone on to win four Premier League titles, four League Cups an FA Cup and two Community Shields.

Speaking on the FIVE YouTube channel, Defoe admitted that Walker was able to do most things that Bale could do and was actually better in certain aspects on the ball:

“Like, he is on another level. Physically, he’s on another level to anything I’ve seen. Anything I’ve seen. Prime on his day.”

“And we talk about Gareth [Bale] knocking the ball past people, Kyle could do the same and probably quicker than Gareth. Kyle’s a machine. I’ve never seen anything like it. A machine.”

Better than Bale?

Bale’s time at Spurs will be remembered incredibly fondly with the Welshman showing out in his final season at White Hart Lane – as a permanent player.

Over the course of the 2012/13 campaign, the left-footed forward provided Spurs with 21 goals and eight assists in the Premier League.

And some of the goals he was able to return will last forever in the memories of many Spurs fans.

However, it has to be said Spurs were able to replace him fairly comfortably when Harry Kane made his name at the club with the Englishman providing cover for the goals Bale offered year after year.

The same cannot be said, though, in replacing Walker with Spurs having now spent in the region of £120m on seven right-backs and wight wing-backs since his departure for Manchester.

Walker is often recognised as one of the fastest players to have graced the Premier League, so from a physical point of view there is certainly some merit in what Defoe is saying.

Perhaps Defoe is recalling memories from his days in training with Spurs, whereas, with Bale, the Welshman often produced these moments during the games themselves.

Memories of beating the likes of Maicon in both games against Inter Milan in the Champions League spring to mind but perhaps that is because he was able to provide the finishing touch by scoring and assisting.

Whereas with Walker, the right-back has not exactly shown the same ability in converting with just four goals and 20 assists in 229 appearances for purs.

Journalist George Caulkin has claimed on Pod on the Tyne that people at Newcastle United are struggling not to think about anything other than their cup final later this month.

The Lowdown: Worrying form heading to Wembley

Since the turn of the year, Newcastle have seriously struggled for form, although they are on a 17-game unbeaten run that stretches back to August.

The Magpies have drawn five out of their last six games in the Premier League, scoring just three goals in those games – which may be down to the fact that some players and members of staff have one eye on next weekend’s Carabao Cup final.

It’s only natural that some people will be looking forward to Wembley as the Magpies have not played a cup final there since 1999, although it could well be coming at the expense of their league form.

The Latest: Newcastle focusing on the cup final

Caulkin has claimed that a lot of people in and around the club are fixated on their upcoming clash at Wembley amid a mad scramble to land tickets and their worrying on-pitch form.

He said: “I just wanted to say, if everybody is a little bit distracted by the thought of Wembley, then join the club. Because I can’t think about anything else, and the club can’t think about anything else, and fans can’t think about anything else – if you look at the rush for tickets and all the rest of it.

“Players are only human. It has the potential to be life-changing for all of us who might be there, or part of the club, or who follow the club. And for these players, it’s the chance to be immortalised. It’s a massive deal.”

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The Verdict: Howe must keep everyone focussed

Eddie Howe will be taking it game by game, so will only have eyes on this weekend’s grudge match against Liverpool, who inflicted a late defeat on the Magpies earlier this season and saw tensions rise on the touchline towards the end of the match.

However, he must ensure that the players are fully committed to this weekend’s game and not think about saving themselves for Wembley, as that could lead to serious injuries if they aren’t fully committed to training or tackles during Saturday’s clash.

If Newcastle can beat a top-four rival just a game before they head to the capital for their biggest match of the season, it could give all the players and supporters a huge amount of confidence after a recent stutter in form.

The 22nd December 2021 happened to be “the best day” in Arsenal youngster Charlie Patino’s life.

Why? Well, the now 19-year-old played for the Gunners senior team for the first time and in the process, rolled home his first goal during a League Cup clash with Sunderland.

It wasn’t quite a coming-of-age story just yet for Patino, but it was a fine glimpse at a player who Mick McCarthy recently suggested would be “very good” in the future.

There has been a great deal of hype surrounding the teenager since his emergence as a genuine star from Arsenal’s Hale End youth factory, with comparisons being made to the likes of Jack Wilshere and Cesc Fabregas.

The youngster has some way to go before he reaches those dizzy heights but there is a feeling within Arsenal that he is now ready to explode at a higher level.

How is Patino doing this season?

This term has been a crucial one in the development of the eye-catching midfielder who was sent out on loan in search of earning precious first-team minutes.

With the pairing of Thomas Partey and Granit Xhaka seeming immovable, Patino was never going to earn a place under Mikel Arteta this term but thanks to his displays at Blackpool, he could become a genuine option at the Emirates Stadium.

The goal for the teen this term was to play around 15 matches, admitted new Tangerines boss, McCarthy. However, he has surpassed everyone’s expectations to feature 28 times in all competitions so far.

Along the way, he has found the net three times, including a strike against Premier League Southampton in the FA Cup, as well as supplying two assists.

There is a lot more to come from an offensive point of view in the coming years but it’s a promising start for someone who has taken to Championship football like a duck to water.

Dubbed a “special talent” by Phil Smith of the Sunderland Echo, it hasn’t all been plain sailing however, with the Blackpool loanee also being given a red card in the defeat to Swansea City last month.

That will serve as a learning curve and is precisely why Arteta didn’t deem him ready for a first-team spot at the beginning of the campaign.

Patino is a wonderfully gifted player from a technical point of view but as a young individual, there will be that inexperience and sometimes the occasional bout of ill-discipline.

At Bloomfield Road, it is down to the 6-foot talent to get that out of his system before truly bursting onto the scene next season.

Will Patino get a chance before Balogun?

All of the hype of late has been about another young Arsenal talent out on loan; Folarin Balogun.

The England U21 international has been one of the most talked about forwards in European football of late, with his 15 goals in 23 outings for Reims in Ligue 1, the joint-highest tally alongside Kylian Mbappe in the entire division.

A player of ruthless and clinical nature in front of goal, a spot for the American-born forward next season could be tricky.

With Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah in front of him for a lone place leading the attack, a loan spell may well be forthcoming.

However, for Patino, there are two spots he could occupy in Arteta’s starting XI. Either as the sitting midfielder – Partey’s role – or as the more advanced number 8 – Xhaka’s role.

There has, of course, been talk of a move for Declan Rice, but even if the West Ham captain arrives in the summer, there is space for someone of Patino’s ilk to still make an impression.

After such an impressive time out on loan, it would be foolish to ignore him. He has all the qualities to explode in the top flight throughout 2023/24.

Tottenham Hotspur have endured a tumultuous season, but one which remains very much alive as they vie for a top-four finish and are still in both the FA Cup and the Champions League.

It has been a campaign marred by a lack of consistency, and it has been further thrown into question of late as Antonio Conte remains out of action as he continues to recover from surgery.

One ongoing frustration from the current campaign is Heung-min Son’s lack of potency up front, with the 30-year-old having netted just four league goals so far. His strike against West Ham United last Sunday was his first in six matches in the Premier League.

This decline in performance from the division’s joint-top scorer last season could perhaps draw parallels with players who have seen similar declines at the club in recent years, with Dele Alli a prime example.

Now playing his football in Turkey, few players took English football by storm in the way that he did as a youngster before his output declined considerably and he faced accusations of laziness from Jose Mourinho.

Fortunately for Spurs and Conte, they could be set to unearth their next iteration of the 26-year-old who once promised so much.

The man poised to emulate the England international is Alfie Devine, with the 18-year-old boasting all the quality and goalscoring know-how of a young Alli.

Who is Alfie Devine?

The teenage sensation has been a mainstay in Spurs’ youth system, having featured heavily for both the U18s and U21s.

It was quickly understood that he was at a level above the former category, as he notched 16 goal contributions in 42 games at the latter level to earn his promotion to the fringes of the senior ranks. He has since featured twice for the first-team, even scoring once. 

The current campaign has seen him excel once more at an age group way above his station, and the 18-year-old boasts three goals in just four UEFA Youth League matches to truly outline his clinical nature. Indeed, Gallows drummer and long-time Spurs season ticket holder Lee Barratt called for increased game-time for the “baller” last year.

At the peak of his powers, Alli was famed for his decisive ability in front of goal. During the 2016/17 Premier League season, he scored 18 goals and set up a further nine, and he consistently reached double figures for goal contributions in the subsequent three campaigns.

However, his drop-off was dramatic and disappointing as he departed in 2022 on an initial free transfer, with Everton then shipping him out to Besiktas, where he has been jeered by his own club’s supporters.

In Devine, all the attributes are in place for a similar succession to a young Alli. The teenager is part of a “bright” crop of youth talent currently Tottenham, as labelled by journalist Alasdair Gold.

Upon his return to the dugout, Conte could perhaps reintegrate this goalscoring midfielder to his senior ranks and offer him vital first-team minutes to allow him to develop into the club’s next Alli.

Cristian Stellini certainly seems to expect a continued presence for Devine in the senior ranks, with injuries in the squad contriving to prompt Conte’s assistant to declare that the youngster is now “part of the squad completely 100 per cent”.

Chelsea are set to hold talks with midfielder Mateo Kovacic over an extension on his current deal, according to a new update.

The Lowdown: Kovacic’s contract running down

The Croatian has been an excellent servant for the Blues, making 207 appearances overall and often bringing both quality on the ball and work-rate off it to the midfield.

Kovacic is out of contract at the end of next season, however, so this summer feels like a key moment in his Chelsea career, in terms needing to either cash in, extend his deal or risk losing him for free next year.

Now, a key update has emerged regarding the 28-year-old’s future at Stamford Bridge.

The Latest: New deal incoming?

According to Football Insider correspondent Pete O’Rourke, Chelsea are ready to hand Kovacic a new deal and will ‘open’ talks with him in the near future.

Nailing down his future is seen as a ‘priority’ by the club and same also applies to N’Golo Kante, with an extension thought to be on the cards for him, too.

The Verdict: Shrewd decision by Chelsea

Offering Kovacic a new deal is an absolute no-brainer for Chelsea, with the 91-cap Croatia international still such a key player when he is fit and firing.

His ball retention in the middle of the park is particularly impressive, with an 84.7% pass completion rate in the Premier League this season, but he has also averaged 1.2 tackles per game.

At 28, Kovacic is right in his peak years and should remain that way for the foreseeable future, and the thought of losing him this summer is a concerning one.

Thomas Tuchel hailed him as ‘outstanding’ last year, and assuming he does accept a new deal in west London, he could go on to become one of Chelsea’s best midfielders of the Premier League era.

Everton have been notorious big spenders since Farhad Moshiri’s takeover, but it must be noted that much of the funds have come from major sales.

Nurturing talent and selling on for a huge profit has been a staple of the Toffees’ continued presence in the Premier League, but the arrival of the Iranian billionaire was intended to put them in a far strong position to retain these assets to build a team around.

Despite that, he has overseen the sales of the likes of Ross Barkley, Romelu Lukaku, John Stones and more recently Richarlison to keep the club compliant with financial fair play.

It was the sale of the English central defender amongst that list that was particularly frustrating given how hard the club and fanbase fought to ward off his departure, with Evertonians even creating an affectionate chant which read: “Money can’t buy you Stones.”

Whilst Manchester City’s money eventually did tempt them to part ways, it still marked an incredible profit from when he had first been signed.

How much profit did Everton make on John Stones?

Brought in from Barnsley as a youngster in 2013, the 28-year-old quickly matured into a first-team regular who was desperate to play out from the back, sometimes to his detriment.

The £3m fee was inconsequential, especially given how rapidly he became an important figure for various managers.

His range of passing was impressive, and he boasted a youthful arrogance that allowed him to take risks in order to break the passing lines. He was a defender built for a Pep Guardiola system, so when they offered £47.5m in 2016 it was an offer Moshiri felt he could not refuse.

Stones has since won the Premier League on four occasions, as well as four EFL Cups and an FA Cup too.

His decision to depart Goodison Park was admittedly a wise one, given the respective trajectories of both club and player since. Even former professional footballer Paul Dickov recognised the 6 foot 2 titan as “immense” for the Sky Blues.

The disparity between his initial purchase and the eventual sale did offer up a 1483% profit, yet still, the club have remained financially hamstrung in recent years.

Perhaps Everton need to return to this former transfer model should they achieve safety, rather than being dazzled by the big-money purchases which have put them in the mess they find themselves in.

Wolves will be looking to further distance themselves from the Premier League’s bottom three when they travel to take on Newcastle United on Sunday afternoon.

Julen Lopetegui’s side picked up another vital three points in their battle against relegation when they beat Tottenham 1-0 at Molineux but they face another tough test against another top-four hopeful this afternoon.

However, with Eddie Howe’s side having struggled of late, while the Old Gold have looked much improved following the World Cup break, there is certainly the opportunity to leave St James’ Park with something.

How will Wolves line up against Newcastle United?

Here is how Football FanCast expects the Spanish manager to line his side up on Sunday, with three changes from the side that started against Spurs.

Sa, Semedo, Dawson, Kilman, Ait-Nouri, Neves, Lemina, Nunes, Traore, Sarabia, Jimenez.

After another clean sheet against Spurs, Jose Sa looks unlikely to lose his place in between the sticks for the visit to Newcastle.

Similarly, Craig Dawson and Max Kilman will continue their blossoming partnership in the heart of the Wolves defence, with Nelson Semedo keeping his place on the right, while Rayan Ait-Nouri comes in for Jonny on the left to provide some more attacking impetus.

Ruben Neves, Mario Lemina and Matheus Nunes have the makings of an impressive trio for the Old Gold and Lopetegui looks unlikely to change the midfield three that has worked well for his side in recent weeks.

After scoring the winner against Spurs, Adama Traore should be handed a start, coming in for Pedro Neto after the Portuguese winger struggled to have much impact on his return from injury last time out, producing no shots or key passes.

Pablo Sarabia also keeps his place in the side but moves to the left to accommodate Traore, and he supports the previously described “world-class” Raul Jimenez – as he was dubbed by Ilkay Gundogan – in attack.

The Mexican made another positive impact from the bench against Spurs and is set to start this time out due to Diego Costa’s injury ruling him out.

Although it’s been a year since a striker scored for Wolves in the top flight, Jimenez has shown he is more than a goalscorer with industrious and hard-working displays against Fulham and Spurs, so he should be given the nod at St James’ Park this afternoon.

Tottenham Hotspur have been making moves behind the scenes to sound out the possibility of making Thomas Tuchel their Antonio Conte successor at the end of the summer.

Is Conte definitely leaving Tottenham?

Nothing has been made official yet, however, there is an expectation around the north London club that the Italian manager will be leaving at the end of his contract.

It is believed Tottenham hold a clause in the 53-year-old's contract to extend his stay by another year, but there is the feeling neither party want to activate that extension.

With this in mind, the club are believed to have compiled a list of potential successors, so they do not endure another summer of searching as they did back in 2021.

And speaking on the Ranks FC podcast, insider Dean Jones has suggested the German – and former Chelsea – manager has been sounded out by the Lilywhites:

"Other names that I've heard, Tuchel, definitely somebody they would at least like to sound out here, and I think have been making moves behind the scenes to just sound out that situation."

Would Tuchel be a good option for Spurs?

One of the other reported options to potentially replace Conte is said to be Mauricio Pochettino who typically plays with a back four.

In comparison, Tuchel is known for playing a 3-4-2-1 formation which could be seen as similar to what Spurs currently play in demanding width from their wing-backs.

So in this sense, the German could potentially prove a seamless fit for the north London side considering they have invested in their options at wing-back with Pedro Porro and Destiny Udogie.

However, it has become apparent Son Heung-min has struggled massively this season in this set-up with some suggesting it has been as a result of Ivan Perisic's attacking presence.

There certainly seems to be some positives and negative behind potentially bringing the former Chelsea man back to the Premier League with Spurs.

But it has to be questioned whether the job would even appeal to Tuchel who would arrive on the back of jobs at Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea where funds may have been slightly more available.

And as The Athletic have reported, there could be more appealing jobs in Germany and Spain that could potentially arise for the 49-year-old over the coming months.

Exciting young midfielder Romeo Lavia has given Southampton a ‘real hope’ of surviving in the Premier League, says reporter Dean Jones.

The Lowdown: Lavia joins Saints…

The Belgium international put pen to paper on a deal at St. Mary’s last summer coming from league champions Man City with a big reputation and comparisons to Fernandinho.

Lavia was highly rated at Eastlands with fellow English giants Chelsea even taking an interest last year, but alas, it was Southampton who won the race for his signature.

The 19-year-old joined in a near-£14 million move, which at the time could’ve been seen as a real gamble considering he hadn’t even played a single minute for City in the league.

Since his move, barring some injury lay-offs, Lavia has been sensational with Saints reporters like Jacob Tanswell calling him ‘so crucial’ to the team.

Former Man United star Paul Scholes even raved over his huge potential and style of play earlier this season, saying:

‘He has got a pass in his locker and he is big and strong and likes to defend. He does not want to get forward too much and sits in-front of the back four and sets the play in motion from there.’

The Latest: Jones makes exciting Lavia claim…

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, reporter Jones has weighed in on the hype surrounding Lavia and just how high his ceiling could be.

The journalist says he could even hand Southampton a real hope of top flight survival this year, such is his quality, with the teenager ‘destined for greatness’.

He said:

“Lavia is a player who, let’s be fair, is kind of on the verge of greatness. You’ve got somebody who a lot of other Premier League teams will be crying out for. It’s not only impressive, but it gives Southampton a real hope this season.”

The Verdict: Very exciting…To to be accomplished in England at such a young age seriously indicates there is a potential future superstar in Ruben Selles’ ranks.As per WhoScored, Lavia stands out as one of their best players in terms of distribution – averaging a higher pass accuracy (86.7%) than any current Southampton squad member.His composure and poise in midfield can be seriously impressive to behold sometimes, as explained by reporter Alfie House, who also called Lavia a ‘classy player’.One major worry for Southampton is keeping hold of the starlet with major top flight clubs apparently circling for his signature.