It has been yet another dominant display from Celtic this season, however, has Brendan Rodgers left them short? This is a man said to have swapped invincibility for mediocrity, after all. 

Indeed, the Northern Irishman leaving the Hoops has left a lot, and we’re talking a lot, of sour mouths in Scotland. Who can blame them? After all, this is probably the hardest season the Bhoys have had in years and the fact he left with two trophies not yet secured for a few months at Leicester before the end of the season is a strange decision.

Neil Lennon might know what he’s doing but there’s no doubt that this isn’t an ideal scenario.

So, has the 46-year-old’s departure left Celtic worrying they may not get the job done?

Here, we take a look at some games that could possibly spell trouble for the Scottish giants.

Rangers (home) 

With a win and a defeat evenly shared between the two clubs, bragging rights in the Old Firm have never been wanted more by either side. With Rangers the team chasing, they will with no doubt come to attack the Celtic defence and push for what could be title-deciding points.

In the manner that Celtic won the first game, at Celtic Park, Rangers will be wary of the same tactics being used again, which may ultimately lead to the Celtic attack being nullified.

On a proper derby day like the Old Firm, form truly does go out the window, and it goes down to how badly each team wants to win.

Scottish Cup Semi-Final 

The want for another cup win, in what would be a historic treble, would allow Celtic to do the clean sweep again this season. Still, it could lead to their demise. With the league looking all but secure, a loss for the Bhoys in the Scottish Cup would leave some fans to feel that they have failed their targets for the season.

The next round of the tie is going to be played against either Rangers or Aberdeen, both teams who Celtic have struggled at times with this season, and two teams that would love nothing more than to ruin the champions’ ‘treble treble’ hopes.

Celtic boss Neil Lennon will no doubt know how to handle the pressure of these big games, however it is all down to whether his players can handle the desire of the fans on their backs.

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Aston Villa are finally starting to play the Dean Smith way, and it’s all thanks to the return to fitness of Jack Grealish.

The Villans swept Middlesbrough aside on Saturday afternoon, with goals from Anwar El Ghazi, John McGinn and Albert Adomah carrying Smith’s side to a convincing 3-0 win.

While Boro were woeful, the home side were absolutely excellent at times, with some of their attacking patterns representative of the free-flowing football Smith instilled at Brentford.

The likes of Grealish and McGinn had an absolute field day, and the former’s transformative effect on the side is truly stunning.

On the chalkboard

At Brentford, Smith had a mixture of skilful and speedy attackers, like Ollie Watkins and Sergi Canos, who loved driving at defenders and causing havoc.

Until recently, he has struggled to find the same dynamism from within his Villa squad, and there were growing concerns that Smith could not replicate his free-flowing Brentford brilliance at Villa Park.

Grealish’s directness from the centre of the park changes everything though, drawing players in and creating space for the other attacking outlets.

The 23 year-old has scored two and assisted one since his return, but it’s his energy and drive that really makes all the difference, allowing Smith’s side to play on the front foot – just like his Bees team always did.

Grealish and McGinn combined for five dribbles and five key passes on Saturday, constantly looking to cut through the visitors’ defensive lines, and Villa fans should now be very excited for what the future holds.

If they do not earn promotion this year, there is no need for panic. With a couple of smart signings that fit the Grealish mould, Smith could produce a fearsome attacking force next season.

أشاد البرتغالي جيمي باتشيكو المدير الفني لنادي الزمالك بلاعبي الفريق بعد الفوز على المصري البورسعيدي في مباراتهما ببطولة الدوري المصري الممتاز.

وانتصر الزمالك على المصري بهدف وحيد في إطار منافسات الجولة 31 من الدوري.

وعلم “بطولات” أن باتشيكو حرص على الإشادة باللاعبين في غرف خلع الملابس بعد المباراة على قدرتهم على تحقيق الفوز وتنفيذ تعليماته الفنية.

طالع أيضًا.. حمادة أنور: غياب طارق حامد مؤثر.. ولم أر تصرف فرجاني ساسي مع الحكم!

وأكد لهم سعادته بتحملهم المسئولية والتماسك في الملعب رغم خوض جزء كبير من اللقاء بنقص عددي بعد طرد فرجاني ساسي.

While Chelsea left Wembley empty-handed over the weekend after losing the Carabao Cup final on penalties to Manchester City, the Blues still managed to put in an encouraging performance on the day.

Since then, both Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Callum Hudson-Odoi have come in for massive praise with a certain ex-Chelsea captain now calling on Maurizio Sarri to hand the English duo some starts.

The Breakdown

“We’ve got people like Hudson-Odoi and it’s important to keep him,” John Terry told Chelsea’s official club website when discussing the recent Wembley defeat.

“Ruben Loftus-Cheek, is he ready? Let’s find out. If we’re not going to win the league then let’s give him a chance in the league. Let’s blood the younger players and see what they’ve got.”

Given how poor Willian and Pedro have been at times this season and some of the underwhelming displays from Mateo Kovacic and Ross Barkley, it is a surprise Sarri has only just started to really turn to Loftus-Cheek and Hudson-Odoi, though it must be mentioned that the former has been suffering with a back injury.

At the end of the day, though, it is better late than never. As long as Sarri accepts he probably should have used the two Chelsea academy products earlier in the season and starts to hand them more minutes, all is not lost.

The west London club could still end this season inside the top four and with a trophy with the Europa League up for grabs, but only if Sarri starts using a more meritocratic system when it comes to selecting his starting XI.

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According to Italian media outlet Calciomercato, Southampton are reportedly one of two Premier League clubs interested in signing exciting young Ajax striker Kasper Dolberg, and Saints fans have been quick to react to the rumour on Twitter.

The now 21-year-old enjoyed a brilliant 2016/17 breakthrough campaign for the Eredivisie giants where he scored 23 goals in 48 appearances in all competitions, and while he wasn’t quite as impressive last term he has looked back to his best this term.

Despite having to compete with Klaas-Jan Huntelaar for a spot in the starting XI, he has netted 10 times in 27 outings in total for the Amsterdam outfit, as he appears to be getting back to his best form.

The Denmark international is of course playing alongside former Saints Dusan Tadic this term following the Serbian’s summer move to the Netherlands from St Mary’s.

Southampton supporters took to social media to give their thoughts on the story, and while one said “I’m sure Tadic put in a negative word for us”, another said “we couldn’t even get Che Adams”.

Here is just a selection of the Twitter reaction…

Watch how to cross the road like a boss with freestyler Ben Nuttall in the video below…

How times have changed for Ander Herrera.

The last time he faced Chelsea in a FA Cup fixture at Stamford Bridge, he was sent off. Fast-forward two years, he’s scored a big goal and led the charge for them outclassing Chelsea in their own yard after almost seven years.

If anything, Herrera’s change in fortunes is due to the change in mentality. In 2017, Jose Mourinho played his famous ultra-defensive system and restricted Herrera to do the dirty on Eden Hazard. A foul too many eventually led to disaster. However, Solskjaer allowed the Spaniard freedom to roam forward and play to his strengths.

This turned out a masterstroke, as Herrera not only fulfilled his defensive duties perfectly but also made a clever run to score the opener. What proceeded was a professional, tidy performance from Herrera, who even made up for the curbed Nemanja Matic, who had to play safe after being booked earlier on.

The Spaniard helped his side control midfield with a 76% passing accuracy but always sniffed out the danger to stop Chelsea’s attacks. He made three tackles, three clearances and recovered possession eight times (stats via Fotmob). United’s fearless approach was embodied through the clever Herrera.

The wily midfielder proved his leadership ability by urging his men forward and always making up for his team-mates errors. He was vocal, decisive and creative in giving a complete performance.

Paul Pogba might’ve earned the spotlight for moments of brilliance, yet it was Herrera’s complete performance which proved qualities of a future Manchester United captain.

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While Ralph Hasenhuttl has got plenty of things right since arriving at Southampton in December, his use of his goalkeepers perhaps isn’t one of them.

On the chalkboard

When the Austrian replaced Mark Hughes in December he quickly stuck with the man who had been the undoubted first-choice option under the Welshman between the sticks, Alex McCarthy.

However, some patchy form over the festive period and some goals that perhaps the England international could have done better to keep out of the net led to a few question marks over his inclusion in the team – especially with £13.5m summer signing Angus Gunn waiting in the wings.

Hasenhuttl suggested he was ready to change things when he brought the former Manchester City man in for his Premier League debut in the 0-0 draw away at Chelsea, where the 23-year-old impressed and kept the south coast outfit’s only clean sheet under their current manager in the top flight to date.

Despite that, McCarthy proved he is the 51-year-old’s first choice by playing every league fixture up until the match against Arsenal on Sunday, when Gunn once again took his place.

Dilemma against Fulham?

Firstly, from the outside looking in you would have to question Hasenhuttl’s use of an inexperienced goalkeeper at this level in away matches against the Blues and the Gunners, where he is likely to be busier than in other fixtures.

Check out the video below for Groundhopping FC’s excellent matchday vlog from the Emirates as Arsenal beat 2-0 Southampton on Sunday…

It may have been done as Gunn is quicker off of his line than McCarthy and can play a sweeper keeper role, but in terms of affecting him mentally it may not have been a great tactic – especially after he played his part in Arsenal’s second goal on Sunday.

The former RB Leipzig coach now has a big decision to make ahead of the crucial six-pointer against Fulham at St Mary’s on Wednesday, and he should revert back to the more assured 29-year-old in the pressure clash.

Aston Villa are reported to be interested in Barnsley centre-back Liam Lindsay according to The Sun’s Alan Nixon in the Sun (via HITC) and the move could shore up the defence that will see them miss out on promotion this season.

They currently sit in 13th, eight points away from the play-off places, but it’s their goal difference that really tells the story of where they’re falling behind. They’ve conceded 53 goals so far this season and only 22nd placed Rotherham and bottom-of-the-table Ipswich have conceded more. That’s not good enough for a side looking to return to the Premier League.

Barnsley are second in League One and have conceded just 28 goals this season, the least in the league and it’s no secret Liam Lindsay has been key to keeping his side tight at the back. He’s made 31 appearances this campaign and 42 times last season despite The Tykes being relegated. He’s a well-established 23-year-old who now looks ready to make the step up.

Villa’s history and size as a club should be an attractive prospect for the Scotsman, who’ll know that he’s exactly what they need to force a promotion push. He wouldn’t have any trouble breaking into the first team and so this is a rare opportunity for a lad in the third division to join one the biggest clubs in the country.

Although clubs like Villa can get stuck in the Championship (look at Leeds), there’s a major chance they’ll return to the Premier League in the next five seasons and that could be how Lindsey reaches the top rather than having to deal with the pressure of a transfer to a top-flight side. It makes sense for him and it makes sense for Villa.

If they can snatch him from Barnsley in the summer, they could plug their defensive hole and be pushing for promotion next season. That’d make Lindsey one of the best signings in the club’s history.

You do you think Aston Villa needs to sign for begin their push for promotion?

What a disgrace that Birmingham City fan is! The incident on Sunday meant Jack Grealish’s winner meant even more than it already would, and that mentality could drive them into the play-offs.

Not enough focus is placed on the importance on mentality in football. Having the right attitude and desire is just as important as physical ability, and an injustice like the punch thrown on Sunday is something that should give Villa the motivation to earn promotion.

There’s a firm belief at Villa Park that the club doesn’t belong in the Championship because of their historical successes and also the size of the fanbase. A lot of clubs feel this way though, but the incident must make the fans certain they don’t belong in this division.

They’d love nothing better than to see their team back in the top flight while their neighbours struggle to get back up themselves. Of course, it’s better if the two are in the same division for derbies, but bar that they’ll want Birmingham to suffer, particularly after the way the fan and even a steward reacted at the weekend.

Fans of clubs all across the country saw what happened and will now want Villa and Grealish to succeed in spite of that fan. That, along with the support of their own loyal fans, could be the mental difference between accepting they won’t be promoted this season, to really gathering momentum for a play-off push.

The team will have grown stronger as a unit after the win and the issues on the pitch and that will put them in good stead when the going gets tough towards the final few games. The disgusting incident could be the motivation required, if they ever needed it, to break into the play-off spots.

Villa fans, what do you think your club are capable of achieving this season? Join the discussion by commenting below…

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Middlesbrough are enduring a tough period at present. A poor run of form has seen them fall away from the automatic promotion race and now they risk losing their play-off place too.

A 2-1 defeat against Preston North End at the Riverside Stadium last time out only made matters worse, especially as Boro squandered a lead for the second successive game.

Tony Pulis’ toiling side face another tough test on Saturday when they travel to Villa Park to take on fellow play-off hopefuls Aston Villa. Defeat could see Boro drop out of the top six.

Watch how to cross the road like a boss with freestyler Ben Nuttall in the video below…

Middlesbrough will certainly have to be at their best to secure a result against Dean Smith’s talented group, and Pulis has gone to great lengths to highlight the threat that Jack Grealish poses his team.

What he said

Speaking in his recent press conference, as quoted by the club’s official website, the Boro boss said: “Villa’s going to be a tough game, they’ve got an exceptional squad and (Jack) Grealish is an exceptional player for them.”

The man to mark

Grealish is certainly in fine form and the 23-year-old No. 10 will still be on a high having netted the winning goal in the Second City derby recently. It is vital that Boro find a way to stop the attacking midfielder, as he has the capacity to decide the match should they fail to do so.

With these comments, Pulis’ squad can be under no illusions as to who their manager considers their opponents’ best player. Expect to see Boro set up to stop Grealish on Saturday, perhaps even glueing someone to the youngster in an old-fashioned man-marking job.