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Leeds United manager Thomas Christiansen came under hot water at the weekend for attending the derby between Manchester United and Manchester City at Old Trafford.

The Whites have had a long-running rivalry with United, so when Christiansen was spotted with fans at the North-West stadium, controversy sparked on social media.

The manager, who was appointed as Garry Monk’s successor in the summer, had a day off on Sunday and spent it watching two Premier League title contenders go head to head.

The 44-year-old Dane would have been in a good mood due to Saturday’s result against Queens Park Rangers, which ended in a 3-1 triumph.

His positivity may have been dented slightly the following day when he received criticism on Twitter for heading to Old Trafford.

Christiansen attempted to explain himself by insisting that his son wanted to see City in action.

Leeds owner Andrea Radrizzani defended the coach on Twitter, and some fans followed suit.

With Manchester United out of the way, it’s now down to Tottenham Hotspur to make the Premier League title race remotely competitive once again.

Manchester City are now a staggering eleven points clear of the rest of the pack at the top flight’s summit and with their scintillating attacking form showing little sign of relenting, it will surely take a top six side of Tottenham’s calibre to cancel out the deficit.

It feels like City are taking the Premier League into uncharted territory, but can history give the visitors any positives to take into Saturday’s 5.30pm kickoff? Here’s a look back at the history of Man City vs Tottenham in the Premier League…

Head-to-Head

You’ll find few Premier League fixtures in which the balance of power has shifted as quickly and significantly as this one. Once upon a time, it was a foregone conclusion in Tottenham’s favour; in fact, from their first 26 meetings in the Premier League, City won just three – tasting victory at White Hart Lane just once during that time.

But the fortunes reversed drastically from the start of the 2010/11 campaign when City won eight of the next ten, doing the double over the Lilywhites in 2011/12, 2013/14 and 2014/15, and we’ve seen another revolution in recent years. Tottenham have won three of the last four meetings with City, alongside a 2-2 draw at the Etihad Stadium last term. More peculiarly though, despite Spurs picking up twelve more wins than City there’s been just a five-goal difference down the years.

Top scorer – Sergio Aguero

Tottenham have boasted some fantastic strike talents during the Premier League era but it’s a modern Manchester City icon who has raked in the most goals in this fixture – somewhat unsurprisingly, Sergio Aguero.

To say the Argentine enjoys scoring against Spurs would be a bit of an understatement; throughout his entire career, he’s only scored more goals against Newcastle. That includes a famous performance in 2014 when Aguero scored past the Lilywhites four times.

If there’s one positive for Spurs to take into this weekend’s meeting, however, it’s that Aguero hasn’t found the net in his last four appearances against them. The north Londoners’ top representative, meanwhile, is Jermain Defoe – he bagged his seven goals in 16 top flight outings versus the Citizens.

The shared villain – Emmanuel Adebayor

A former star both sets of fans will have largely mixed feelings about. Emmanuel Adebayor had an incredible knack of starting life at new clubs with a blaze of form, slowly petering out and quickly becoming a burden for the rest of the team.

At the Etihad Stadium, the Togo striker enjoyed one eventful season of decent form, most famed for his overzealous celebrations upon scoring past former club Arsenal, before plummeting down the pecking order and being loaned out to firstly Real Madrid and the Tottenham Hotspur. And upon moving to White Hart Lane, Adebayor once again sought out to impress his new employers with 18 goals during his debut season. But as soon as the deal became permanent, the African’s form quickly soured.

He went on to spend another three seasons in north London without truly holding down a role in the first team before being eventually released in September 2015. For both clubs, Adebayor served a purpose but eventually outstayed his welcome.

Classic contest – Man City 3-2 Tottenham (2012)

The importance of this match was only truly evident at the end of the season, when City beat Manchester United to the title on goal difference alone. That could have panned out incredibly differently, had Roberto Mancini’s side not dug deep to find a winner in quite literally the last second of stoppage time through a Mario Balotelli penalty – leading to a typically iconic pose from City’s one-time badboy.

Incredibly, four of the game’s five goals came in the space of just ten minutes in an explosive second half. First City struck twice through Samir Nasri and a Joleon Lescott tap-in at a corner; but just as the home side had finished celebrating, Harry Redknapp’s boys hit back – Jermain Defoe halved the deficit before Gareth Bale notched up an equaliser moments later.

Eventually then, it came down to Balotelli to break the deadlock – why always him?

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It’s going to be an interesting and busy few weeks for Arsenal fans in the Transfer Tavern. 

Embarking on a second season out of the Champions League positions, the Arsenal hierarchy will be desperate to join Europe’s elite club competition. With Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, and Tottenham all looking to strengthen this summer, Arsenal will need to buy well if they are to have a chance of reaching the top-four again.

Arsenal need midfielders and with that in mind, Spanish news outlet, Mundo Deportivo is reporting that the Gunners are looking to bring Barcelona midfielder, Andre Gomes to the club, and are willing to let Aaron Ramsey leave to help fund the move.

The Breakdown

Gomes joined Barcelona in 2016 but since his arrival, the Spanish club have struggled to find a space for him in the team. The former Valencia man has always been seen as a talented player but has never fully utilised it. Emery is a fan and apparently wants him, and is desperate to bring him to the Emirates. A technical midfielder, capable of playing from deep but also going forward, Gomes would be a suitable partner for Xhaka in midfield – albeit defensively he’d be liable much like the Welshman.

With only a year left on his current deal, it’s understandable that Emery would want to cash in now on Ramsey – rated at £40.5 million by Transfermarkt – if he doesn’t sign a new deal. There again, within a poor season, the Welshman was one of Arsenal’s better players but might be out of place in Emery’s side. He’s not a great passer of the ball and has to be played as high as possible to utilise his forward runs.

While it makes sense to get rid of a player who’s stalling on a new deal, bringing Gomes might not be the best move.

Raphael Varane has been threatening to become a world-class central defender for a number of years but injuries and limited first-team opportunities have often prevented him from fulfilling his vast potential at Real Madrid.

Yet, as France qualified for the World Cup final to go with their spot in the finale of their home European Championship two years ago, Varane put in a performance that felt like he finally came of age.

Belgium’s approach to getting back into proceedings once Samuel Umtiti had opened the scoring early in the second half largely centred around swinging in crosses from the right flank towards Romelu Lukaku and Marouane Fellaini, but Varane was equal to the aerial bombardment.

Ably assisted by Manchester United’s Paul Pogba in front of him, Varane showed the kind of defensive dominance and resilience Jose Mourinho desperately needs at Old Trafford to close out the match with relative ease.

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Eric Bailly is a talented but raw central defender and Varane is finally showing the maturity that would allow him to be the senior man in a defensive partnership.

There is a strong argument that Varane would be the best defender in the Premier League and ensure the club has the best central-back partnership in the division if he were to arrive to play alongside Bailly at United, and a deal between Mourinho and his former club would elevate the Red Devils to become genuine title challengers.

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Everton fans are breathing a massive sigh of relief over the latest transfer reports, as various outlets have claimed Luke Shaw has rejected a move to the Toffees.

According to The Times, Shaw has rejected a move to Goodison after Jose Mourinho made the young left back available for a transfer.

Shaw, who is on £70,000 a week at United, has struggled to nail down any regular game time at Old Trafford since his big move from Southampton, and could perhaps be viewed as the Toffees’ long-term replacement for Leighton Baines.

Lucas Digne and Kieran Tierney have also been heavily linked with moves to Merseyside, although Tierney is now looking unlikely.

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Barcelona’s Digne could yet join as part of a deal to sign Yerry Mina though, and the young Frenchman is at least as good if not even better than Shaw.

Fans obviously agree, as they are mercilessly bashing Shaw after news broke that he has rejected the move.

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Everton fans want players that want to play for their club, that will do anything for their club, and you can find some of their best Twitter reactions down below…

Tottenham Hotspur are set to miss out on transfer target Wilmar Barrios this summer, according to Argentine news outlet Ole.

What’s the story?

Spurs have been linked with the Boca Juniors midfielder for most of the transfer window this summer, and following his impressive performances for Columbia at the World Cup, he was very much a man in demand.

The 24-year-old feisty central midfielder has now signed a new contract at the Argentinian club who are insisting that he won’t be sold until 2019 with his new release clause standing at £20.5million, according to the report.

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Play the waiting game

Even though Tottenham will be looking for someone to replace Mousa Dembele who looks set to leave the club this summer, it shouldn’t stop them from landing Barrios next summer.

In the same way that Liverpool waited for Naby Keita, if Mauricio Pochettino can bide his time, he’ll be able to land Barrios for what seems a very good price.

Tottenham will still have to find a more immediate replacement to fill the vacant central midfield position, but they shouldn’t rule out bringing the Colombia international to north London anytime soon.

According to the Daily Star, reporting via Marca, both Manchester United and Liverpool are considering offering Mateo Kovacic a way out of Real Madrid this summer.

Kovacic has enjoyed a fine summer, having reached the World Cup final with Croatia. However, that success looks to have done nothing to improve the 24-year-old’s chances of establishing himself in the starting XI at the Bernabeu.

With the likes of Toni Kroos, Casemiro, Isco and compatriot, Luka Modric, ahead of him in the queue, a move would be the best thing for Kovacic at this stage of his career.

With the Premier League looking a likely destination, top English clubs should be falling over themselves to land the Real Madrid man.

New Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri has already added Jorginho to his midfield ranks, but more work in the centre of the park needs doing if the Blues are to make themselves title contenders again. The capture of Kovacic would be that extra injection of quality needed at Stamford Bridge.

The Breakdown

With Cesc Fabregas ageing; Tiemoue Bakayoko having flopped in the Premier League so far; Ruben Loftus-Cheek’s future in doubt; and the likes of Danny Drinkwater and Ross Barkley looking a long way from establishing themselves in the first team, Chelsea’s midfield is lacking reliable creative options.

Kovacic would bring extra energy and inventiveness to Stamford Bridge. His attacking instincts would prove vital to Sarri’s team, but the player’s tidiness on the ball and defensive discipline also ensures that he wouldn’t become a burden when his team are under pressure.

Transfermarkt value the Croatian at £27 million, and his signing would represent a smart bit of spending on Chelsea’s part.

West Ham United are keeping tabs on Lille right-back Kevin Malcuit ahead of a potential move, but they face competition from Fulham, according to France Football.

What’s the word?

Manuel Pellegrini has been very busy in the transfer window so far following his appointment as manager.

The former Manchester City boss has brought in seven new faces, including Felipe Anderson and Jack Wilshere.

It seems that the club’s spending is not over yet, though, as France Football report that the East London outfit are considering a move for Malcuit.

Fulham are also believed to be interested in the 26-year-old Frenchman, who joined Lille just last year from St Etienne.

Should West Ham have a rethink?

The right-sided player can feature in any third on the pitch, but he predominantly works as a full-back.

If Pellegrini is eyeing Malcuit to occupy the right-back spot, then it would make very little sense in him pursuing a deal.

Earlier in the summer window, the Hammers recruited Ryan Fredericks from Fulham, and they also have Pablo Zabaleta to call upon.

It would be a strange move to bring in Malcuit at this stage as the club could end up spending thousands of pounds a week for a new signing to sit on the bench.

From the player’s point of view, it would not make much sense either, so perhaps he should lean towards Fulham instead.

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Ashley Williams is believed to be on the verge of leaving Everton for Stoke City – as covered by BBC Sport on Thursday afternoon.

Williams, 33, struggled at Everton in the second half of last season, and it is understood that he has been made surplus to requirements at Goodison Park.

A number of clubs have been linked with a move for the Wales international, but Championship outfit Stoke appear to have won the race.

Williams was outstanding during his time at Swansea, but it has never really happened for the central defender at Everton, who will open their 2018-19 Premier League campaign against Wolverhampton Wanderers next weekend.

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The Merseyside club’s supporters have been reacting to the speculation surrounding Williams’ future, and it would be fair to say that they are pleased with the reports.

Indeed, the majority are keen for their club to move on from the 6ft Welshman as soon as possible.

A selection of the best Twitter reaction can be seen below:

Jurgen Klopp is a popular man at Anfield, and with good reason. The Reds have improved significantly under his leadership, and they look almost certain to challenge for the Premier League title this season.

However, since his arrival at Liverpool, Klopp has become as well-known for his personality as he is his tactical awareness. A bold and fiery individual, the German seems to have a connection with his players that just works, and that has undoubtedly played a crucial role in the rise of the Reds.

Often seemingly more eager to put an arm around a player rather than issue a stern warning or complaint, the German’s positive rapport with his playing contingent is clear, and that has been reflected once again by a recent note from the Bleacher Report.

According to the Bleacher Report, Liverpool would apparently prefer to hang on to Loris Karius over Simon Mignolet this summer, with one of the two players likely to leave following the arrival of Alisson. 

This apparent show of faith is yet another example of how much of a positive impact Klopp is having at Anfield.

After all, it would have been very easy for Klopp to simply give up on Karius after last season. The German has been the butt of many jokes since moving to Anfield, and that came to a head in the Champions League final – with Karius vilified for what was undoubtedly a very poor performance. That, combined with a string of other mistakes throughout the course of the campaign, surely would have left many Liverpool fans calling for an exit.

Instead, though, Klopp looks ready to give him another chance – albeit as second-choice – and that’s an approach that other managers maybe wouldn’t take. Jose Mourinho, for example, has repeatedly vilified players like Anthony Martial and Luke Shaw at Old Trafford, and that has, more often than not, ended poorly for him.

In Karius, though, Klopp clearly recognise the potential – and he’s unwilling to simply cast him aside.

For Liverpool, this could have hugely positive consequences. Not only will it give player confidence knowing that their manager isn’t going to abandon them, but it will also more directly give Karius a boost. There is a decent player in there, somewhere, and he needs to find it. Being farmed out on loan or in a permanent transfer isn’t going to do his confidence any good at all. Instead, faith could be what he needs – and Klopp giving it to him could be huge for all involved.

Even if it is, indeed, Kariuss that is sold – Klopp’s faith is evident, and that is in stark contrast to the approach of some other managers.

Liverpool fans – thoughts?

Let us know below!