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Oliver Skipp looked totally out of his depth as Tottenham Hotspur slumped to defeat in the Premier League on Saturday evening.

Nuno Santo’s side were easily brushed aside by an out-of-sorts and under-pressure Manchester United in north London to slip down to eighth place, and that could get worse depending on Monday’s result.

The young 21-year-old midfielder was trusted to marshall the defence alongside Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg but he was completely played off the park and had a role in their downfall.

As explained by the Evening Standard’s Dan Kilpatrick, the England U21 star was caught in possession for Cristiano Ronaldo’s disallowed strike before repeating the same blunder for Edinson Cavani’s goal in the 64th minute that handed the visitors a two-goal cushion.

‘An afternoon when he looked short of experience at this level,’ he went on to claim.

Indeed, this was certainly the case as Skipp recorded the joint-third worst rating of any Spurs player (6.3) and it’s easy to see why when delving into the specifics behind his nightmare display.

The 5 foot 9 dynamo, who is thought to earn just £25k-per-week in N17, was dominated by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s midfield of Bruno Fernandes, Fred and Scott McTominay.

Per SofaScore, he won just one of his five battles (20%) in the engine room – the fewest of any Lilywhites player to contest three or more duels – whilst he was also dribbled past on three occasions, highlighting just how easy it was for the Red Devils to breach Nuno’s defensive wall.

Elsewhere, the Hotspur Way graduate registered only one tackle, which is below half his average for the current campaign (2.2) and that goes to show just how off the pace he was on Saturday night.

In the end, the Portuguese head coach saw some sense and hooked Skipp in the 66th minute, in favour of the more attack-minded Tanguy Ndombele but that didn’t solve their creative crisis in the final third whatsoever.

Plenty of supporters were left fuming by the performance from Harry Kane once again but he showed glimpses and moments early in the first half and throughout the second, he was starved of service as Spurs failed to register a single shot on target in the 90, nor did they create a single key chance in the final 45.

Whilst the England talisman up top can certainly improve, it was the shocking performance from Skipp that stood out more and as such, his involvement in matches against the big teams must be considered going forward.

He’s still young, learning and will always improve but he looked way off the standard required to stop a side as big as United.

AND in other news, Paratici could finally replace Eriksen in Spurs swoop for £58.5m-rated “elite talent”…

Celtic midfielder Scott Robertson has returned to Parkhead following a season-ending injury on loan at Crewe Alexandra.

The Lowdown: Robertson’s loan spell

Robertson, who made the bench under Ange Postecoglou in Champions League and Europa League qualifiers over the summer, was sent to Crewe for the 2021/22 campaign.

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The 20-year-old turned out in a variety of midfield roles for the League One side, making 23 appearances in all competitions.

He scored twice and provided one assist for the club but hasn’t been seen since February due to injury.

The Latest: Successful operation

Crewe shared an official update on Robertson on Thursday, revealing that the midfielder has returned to Glasgow to undergo rehabilitation.

They added that the youngster, labelled as ‘terrific’ by Crewe boss David Artell, has undergone successful surgery.

The Verdict: Injury problems just won’t end

The Hoops’ injury problems just haven’t stopped this season, and they have now spread to a loanee, whose season is now over.

Postecoglou already has concerns over Daizen Maeda and Tom Rogic during the current international break, whereas young forward Johnny Kenny was also stretchered off in recent days playing for Ireland’s U19 side.

Kenny may now be joined by Robertson on the Lennoxtown treatment table, and hopefully, this will be the final injury problem for Postecoglou in his first season in charge.

In other news: ‘Worrying…’ – Sky Sports man claims ‘brilliant’ Celtic ace may now have suffered ‘bone damage’. 

Manchester City were never in for Cristiano Ronaldo, former Premier League midfielder Carlton Palmer has exclusively told Football FanCast.

Before rivals Manchester United agreed a deal with Juventus to sign the Portuguese forward, he had been heavily linked with a move to the Etihad.

This came after City’s failed attempt to sign Harry Kane from Tottenham, with the 28-year-old recently confirming on Twitter that he would be staying at the north London club this summer.

Ultimately, given that failed pursuit of Kane, City moving for another forward like Ronaldo is logical. However, according to Palmer, based on what he has heard, a transfer was never on the cards.

“As far as I understand it, they were never in for Ronaldo,” the ex-Leeds United and Southampton player said. “They were never in for Ronaldo. I’ve had that on good authority. They made it very, very clear they wanted Harry Kane.”

Had they signed Ronaldo, it probably would have been game over for the rest of the Premier League.

The 36-year-old scored an impressive 29 goals in 33 Serie A appearances last season. Adding that sort of firepower to a team that was already capable of winning the Premier League could have made them unstoppable.

Leeds United’s youth team players could be the most exciting crop since the last time the Whites were in the Premier League, according to journalist Phil Hay.

The Lowdown: Leeds youngster continue to impress

Leeds’  Under-23s were in Premier League 2 action on Friday night, playing out a thrilling 4-4 draw at home to Blackburn Rovers U23s.

Some glittering football was on show from the Whites, who sit fourth in the table and were only denied victory by a last-gasp equaliser from the visitors.

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The Latest: Hay left hugely impressed

Someone who was watching on was The Athletic‘s Hay, who took to Twitter to wax lyrical over the young players on show, saying Leeds haven’t had a better group in their ranks for a few decades, delivering a nine-word verdict:

“The best crop since the previous Premier League era.”

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The Verdict: Building for the future

While Bielsa’s men are enjoying a great period in the club’s history currently, it is vital that the long-term picture is always looked at.

Eventually, the Argentine will move on and key players will either age or leave as well, so ensuring there is top young talent to replace them is vital.

The current crop certainly look like a hugely gifted bunch, with Joe Gelhardt arguably a standout figure, and it will be fascinating to see how they continue to thrive as the Premier League 2 season progresses.

In other news, a worrying Marcelo Bielsa update has emerged. Read more here.

Ryan Sessegnon should consider a loan move away from Tottenham in the January transfer window, according to former Spurs defender Alan Hutton.

The Lowdown: Sessegnon’s struggles continue

Sessegnon joined Spurs in 2019 with a massive reputation after shining for Fulham, but he has struggled in north London, making just 14 appearances to date.

The 21-year-old has suffered from fitness issues and Nuno Espirito Santo confirmed another development earlier this week, with a setback expected to keep the youngster out for ‘a while’.

The Latest: Hutton tips youngster for move

First-team opportunities look sparse for Sessegnon currently, so it could be that a loan move in January is beneficial to him.

That’s certainly the opinion of Hutton, who told Football Insider that a switch elsewhere could be important for Sessegnon following the news on his fitness this week:

“I would want to move out somewhere on loan. He can have a future at Tottenham but it’s a matter of going out and finding out about himself. Where is his best position?

“Playing for a club regularly to come back a better player and then really try and focus on getting into that Tottenham team. I think it would be good for him to go out on loan.”

The Verdict: Makes perfect sense

At 21, Sessegnon is still such a young player and his talent is undeniable, with Jose Mourinho once hailing the left-sided player as ‘fantastic’.

The Englishman needs some luck with injuries and to pick up some playing time and confidence elsewhere – if he can achieve those things he can still go on to reach his potential at Spurs.

Time is still very much on Sessegnon’s side and some players can take longer to fully develop than others.

In other news, three Spurs players struggled in the defeat to Vitesse Arnhem. Find out who they are here.

West Bromwich Albion have been dealt an injury blow ahead of their upcoming Championship fixture.

What’s the latest?

In a statement posted on the West Brom Twitter account, Albion revealed that Callum Robinson will be unavailable for selection for the club’s trip to Peterborough United on Saturday evening, as he is currently self-isolating after falling ill.

Further reports claim that the forward will also be ruled out of the Republic of Ireland’s upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Portugal and Azerbaijan, and may also miss the fixture against Serbia, depending on the speed of his recovery.

Ismael will be gutted

Considering just how impressive Robinson has been for West Brom so far this season, the fact the 26-year-old will miss the club’s clash with Peterborough United is sure to have left Valerien Ismael gutted.

Indeed, over his four Championship appearances so far this term, the £5.4m-rated man has scored three goals, registered one assist and created one big chance for his teammates, as well as taking an average of three shots and making one key pass per game.

These returns have seen the forward average a rather remarkable SofaScore match rating of 7.42, ranking him as the Frenchman’s third-best performer in the second tier of English football.

As such, it is undeniable that Robinson will be a big miss on Saturday, although, with Albion having recently signed Jordan Hugill from Norwich City on a season-long loan deal, perhaps the former Sheffield United man’s absence will present Ismael with the opportunity to hand the centre-forward his West Brom debut.

Furthermore, with an international break following Saturday’s fixture, Robinson could well be in line for a return to the starting XI for the visit of Millwall on September 11, all being well with his recovery.

However, despite the positives, Ismael will nevertheless have to make do without Robinson for the Posh game, something that will undoubtedly cause a blow to Albion’s chances of securing a positive result from the fixture.

In other news: West Brom confirm transfer development which is sure to have Albion fans buzzing

Speaking live on talkSPORT radio (January 6), via Read West Ham, reporter Alex Crook shared what he knows on the Jesse Lingard transfer saga.

The Lowdown: West Ham chasing Lingard…

As well known, West Ham and manager David Moyes are eager to reunite with Lingard on a permanent deal this month with the irons earmarking him as a top transfer target.

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Club insider ExWHUemployee believes the club are certain to move for Manchester United’s forward whilst reliable journalist Jack Rosser of The Evening Standard backs their interest.

Talks over a new deal for Lingard at Old Trafford recently broke down, with his current deal set to expire at the end of this season, prompting club to take note of his situation – with West Ham among the suitors for his signatures (ESPN).

Sharing what he knows, Crook has now made a live radio claim on talkSPORT.

The Latest: Crook makes Lingard to West Ham claim…

Speaking to the broadcaster (via Read West Ham), the journalist believes a West Ham bid for England’s attacker is ‘inevitable’ as the club believe they can secure him for a ‘fraction’ of what he would have cost in the summer window.

“West Ham United are looking for reinforcements,” he explained.

“One name mentioned to me that won’t come as a big surprise to fans is Jesse Lingard.

“Clearly not happy at Manchester United, out of contract in the summer. West Ham believe they could sign him for a fraction of the fee quoted in the summer.

“I think it’s inevitable that West Ham will try again. He really needs to leave Old Trafford – that would seem a no-brainer to me.”

The Verdict: A must move?

Homegrown and a proven player under Moyes, having bagged a brilliant nine goals and four assists over 16 top flight outings on loan at West Ham last season (WhoScored), signing Lingard would come as a major boost for West Ham mid-season.

Reports have suggested that the Three Lions ace could be available for as little as £10 million this month given his precarious contract situation (The Sun) – a fee certainly affordable and representing good value for money.

Former Tottenham and England goalkeeper Paul Robinson recently claimed he would be a ‘massive signing’ who could gift the Hammers ‘another dimension’ amid their chase for a top four Premier League finish (Football Insider).

Given his numbers over the second half of 2020/2021, with talkSPORT pundit Adrian Durham also calling him the best player in terms of league form at one point last year, we strongly advise West Ham to push the boat out for his capture.

In other news: ‘Tears in my eyes’, ‘Finally’…Many West Ham fans flock to ‘very exciting’ transfer development, find out more here.

Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher has lauded the brilliant Sadio Mane after his influential performance in the Reds’ 3-2 win over Manchester City.

The Lowdown: Reds down City at Wembley

Jurgen Klopp’s side got the better of their Premier League rivals on Saturday afternoon, producing a scintillating performance in the first half of their FA Cup semi-final clash.

Liverpool raced into a 3-0 half-time lead thanks to Ibrahima Konate’s header and a Mane double, with Jack Grealish and Bernardo Silva replying for City after the break.

The Reds hung on in the dying minutes, keeping their hopes of an unprecedented quadruple alive in the process.

The Latest: Carragher hails Mane

Taking to Twitter during the game, Carragher paid special attention to Mane, as he produced one of his most impressive performances of the season:

“What a player you’ve been & still are for @LFC Sadio.”

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The Verdict: A true Liverpool legend

There is an argument to say that, at 30, Mane is not quite the all-conquering player he was, but he remains someone who would walk into most teams in Europe, having been hailed as ‘unbelievable’ by Klopp in the past.

He was magnificent against City in a new central attacking role, pressing relentlessly and providing two of the game’s standout moments, charging down Steffen for one goal and volleying home the other.

There is no question that Mane is now a Liverpool legend in his own right, like Carragher, having scored 115 goals in 259 appearances, not to mention winning the Champions League and Premier League along the way.

In other news, a pundit expects a renewal from one Liverpool player. Find out who it is here.

Newcastle United are hopeful they can lure Kieran Trippier to St James’ Park in January, according to The Northern Echo’s Scott Wilson. 

The lowdown

The Magpies are said to be ‘finalising their plans’ for the January transfer window and, in his discussions with head of recruitment Steve Nickson, manager Eddie Howe has identified right-back as a ‘priority area’. Howe’s existing options in the position include Emil Krafth and Javier Manquillo.

Trippier made 107 Premier League appearances before he moved from Tottenham Hotspur to Atletico Madrid in 2019, notching 18 assists in that time.

The 31-year-old, who has been called a player of real ‘quality’ by his manager Diego Simeone, is thought to be earning £77,000 per week in the Spanish capital.

The latest

According to Wilson on Twitter, ‘NUFC are hoping’ that Trippier could be guided by his 2022 World Cup ambitions as he makes a decision on his future.

Marcos Llorente, a rival for the right-back spot at the Wanda Metropolitano, ‘is seen as a coming force’, raising concerns about the Englishman’s game-time ahead of the tournament in Qatar.

Wilson revealed that the Magpies are willing to stump up £25m to make the deal happen.

The verdict

When you consider the extent of competition at right-back for England, you can understand why Trippier might be worried. Gareth Southgate could call upon Trent Alexander-Arnold, Reece James, Kyle Walker, Tariq Lamptey and more.

Leaving the Spanish champions for a relegation-threatened English club does seem quite a step-down, but perhaps Tuesday’s night’s events could be key.

Atletico could yet finish bottom of their Champions League group, leaving them without European football in the spring. In addition, they’re already 10 points off the pace in La Liga, albeit with a game in hand.

All of a sudden, they might be a significantly less attractive proposition. That might yet prompt Trippier to strongly consider a return to his homeland.

In other news, a top Newcastle target has been revealed

Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey is an injury doubt for his side’s Premier League clash with Liverpool at Anfield.

The Lowdown: Crucial Premier League clash

The Reds return to action on Saturday evening, taking on an Arsenal side who are now fifth in the table and just two points behind Jurgen Klopp’s men.

A big response is needed from Liverpool after the defeat to West Ham and the home draw with Brighton, with more dropped points feeling costly in the title race.

They could face a tough examination from Arsenal, though, who have won their last three league outings and seem to finally be gaining some momentum with their young squad.

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The Latest: Partey could miss out

One player who could be absent for the Gunners is Partey, with Arteta confirming as much in his pre-Liverpool press conference on Friday [via Football Daily on Twitter].

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The Verdict: Good news for Reds

Partey has been a key figure at the heart of Arsenal’s midfield of late, averaging two tackles per game in the league this season, so him being out would be a boost for Liverpool.

Not only that, but the 28-year-old was a dominant force for Atletico Madrid in the Champions League at Anfield in March 2020, receiving a match-high 7.55 rating from WhoScored as Diego Simeone’s side progressed to the quarter-finals.

Arsenal’s midfield would suddenly look more open without Partey in it, especially with Granit Xhaka still injured, so him being fit or not could be key to the eventual outcome.

Paul Scholes has hailed the Ghanaian as ‘brilliant’, which is high praise, and Liverpool could find it easier to create chances without him around to break up their attacks on Saturday.

In other news, some Liverpool fans have reacted to a Reds injury update. Read more here.