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Everton ended their eight-game winless run in dramatic style, securing a 2-1 victory over Arsenal in the Premier League thanks to Demarai Gray’s stunning injury-time strike.

On a miserable night in Merseyside, the visitors took the lead on the stroke of half-time when Martin Odegaard steered home Kieran Tierney’s cross after an uneventful and uninspiring opening 45 minutes.

Things improved in the second period, though. Star striker Richarlison twice had efforts ruled out for marginal offsides before the Brazilian finally levelled things up via a well-taken header.

And under-fire manager Rafa Benitez saw his struggling side secure all three points just minutes before the final whistle blew when Gray rifled home a stunning strike from 20 yards out.

The end result could have been different if Eddie Nketiah hadn’t hit the post with a gilt-edged chance when the scores were level and if substitute Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang had been able to slot home with the final kick of the game.

But, in truth, the Toffees deserved a slice of luck for their battling and determined to display after a torrid run of form in recent weeks.

Despite Gray’s last gasp heroics, it was arguably Richarlison who really stepped up to the plate in what felt like a critical moment in Benitez’s Goodison Park tenure.

As per SofaScore, the 24-year-old received a match rating of 8 out of 10, the highest total awarded to any Everton player that featured on Monday night.

During his time on the pitch, Richarlison won a whopping eight duels, made four key passes to his grateful teammates, completed three of his four attempted dribbles and also pulled his weight defensively, making three tackles.

And Liverpool ECHO journalist Adam Jones was also impressed with the versatile forward’s eye-catching showing.

“Put a lot of effort in and affected the game well, particularly when dropping back in and looking for possession. Finally his goal came and it was well deserved after two unfortunate offside calls,” wrote Jones after awarded him an eight out of 10.

After picking up their first three points since 25 September, Everton and Benitez will be able to breathe a huge sigh of relief after their win over the Gunners, and Richarlison was instrumental in their victory.

And, in other news…“My understanding is”: Alan Myers drops Everton DoF update that’ll have fans intrigued

Leeds United could have as many as four returning players available for their upcoming Premier League clash against Southampton, according to journalist Adam Pope.

The Lowdown: Leeds face another crucial game

The Whites are in the middle of a two-week hiatus because of the international break, having not played since the dramatic 3-2 win away to Wolves on 18 March.

Next up for Jesse Marsch’s side is the visit of Southampton to Elland Road on Saturday afternoon as the home side look to pull further clear of the relegation mire.

It has been an injury-plagued season for Leeds, but a hugely positive update has emerged in that regard.

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The Latest: Four players set to return

Taking to Twitter, Pope claimed that up to four Leeds players who had been affected by injury in recent weeks and months could all be set to return for Saturday’s clash.

He revealed: “Illan Meslier (bruising) is expected to be ready to face Southampton. Kalvin Phillips, Liam Cooper & Diego Llorente all set to feature too.”

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The Verdict: Massive boost for Whites

To have those four players in contention to start is a huge boost for Leeds, especially after the negative news surrounding Patrick Bamford’s latest setback.

Meslier’s return between the sticks should bring more calm to the defence, especially if club captain Cooper is also named in Marsch’s starting line-up at Elland Road next weekend, potentially alongside Llorente.

Meanwhile, Phillips could make his first Leeds appearance since December, which would be the biggest positive of all, given his status as one of the best players in the country.

At a time when the Whites are still looking for strong results to ensure their Premier League status for next season, the prospective returns of several key figures ahead of the run-in will come as a huge fillip for Marsch and the Elland Road faithful.

In other news, Leeds could reportedly sign one player on loan this summer. Find out who it is here.

Tottenham insider John Wenham believes that Celtic may only need to pay a maximum of £3m to sign Cameron Carter-Vickers on a permanent basis.

The Lowdown: £10m reports

The American defender made the move to Parkhead in the final hours of the summer transfer window, penning a season-long loan which includes an option to buy.

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Since his move to Scotland, the centre-back has made 18 appearances in all competitions, becoming a mainstay in Ange Postecoglou’s side.

Rumours emerged earlier this month that a permanent move could end up costing the Hoops £10m due to add-ons, but Wenham has dismissed those reports.

The Latest: Wenham’s comments

Wenham was talking to Football Insider regarding the recent £10m report. He labelled it as ‘ridiculous’, believing that it could instead cost Celtic between £2.5m and £3m to sign Carter-Vickers permanently.

The Spurs insider noted:

“I just cannot see that being the figure.

“I know for a fact Tottenham would have sold him for £2.5million in the summer.

“Tottenham were also happy to sell him for that much in the past. The club is realistic in their valuations. He has 18 months remaining on his deal after January.

“There is no way Tottenham are asking for £10million, that’s ridiculous.

“I reckon it will be between £2.5million or £3million. That £10million figure is totally wide of the mark.”

The Verdict: Great news…

Should Wenham’s claim prove accurate, Celtic would end up getting 70% off the rumoured £10m fee, making it even more of a no-brainer to complete a permanent deal for Carter-Vickers.

Labelled as ‘quick’ by his former Bournemouth boss Jonathan Woodgate, with one-time Parkhead record signing Alan Stubbs also impressed by the American’s pace, the 23-year-old has been praised by Postecoglou during his time at Parkhead and has proven to be a reliable member of the Hoops squad.

He has missed just one game in green and white, partnering the likes of Carl Starfelt, Stephen Welsh and Nir Bitton at centre-back.

On that basis, the Hoops may be wise to look into sealing a £3m move in January, with plans to make Jota’s loan permanent also planned before the end of the season.

In other news: Joseph drops huge transfer update with Celtic now set to make most expensive signing of Ange era

With the Premier League set to get back underway soon, Leeds United manager Marcelo Bielsa will be desperately hoping that his side incurs far fewer injuries and illnesses than they did in the first half of the season.

The Whites were among the most affected clubs in the top flight, with numerous star players ruled out for considerable amounts of time – Kalvin Phillips is still out of action now.

While Bielsa will be eager to keep his thin squad together for as long as possible, there may well be increasing opportunities for some of his club’s brightest young prospects.

Joe Gelhardt has already seen some first-team action in recent weeks and months, but it’s Nohan Kenneh’s potential exposure into the side which could cause the most excitement.

Describing himself as someone who is “aggressive and hard-working who likes to break down play”, but also likes “getting forward and scoring long-range goals”, Kenneh seems like he could thrive in the anchor man role if given the chance by Bielsa.

Speaking on The Roaring Peacock Youth Pod, Matty Ingham said: “One of the biggest prospects in the academy if we’re being honest. Big, physical presence, can carry the ball and he’s powerful and quick.”

The teenager has already admitted to modelling himself on Phillips, while he also added that he is a fan of Arsenal legend Patrick Vieira, saying: “Currently I look up to Kalvin Phillips as (we) both play in a similar position, but I occasionally watch videos of Patrick Vieira for his qualities in midfield.”

He also has a big fan in The Athletic’s Phil Hay, who dubbed the 19-year-old “supremely gifted”, while he has been a permanent fixture in the under-23s, predominantly playing at centre-back.

Standing at an imposing 6 foot 3, he seems to have the physical attributes to hold his own at Premier League level; and given his versatility of being able to play in defence and as an anchor man in midfield, seems like he could be a perfect squad option for Bielsa going forward.

While the excitement surrounding Gelhardt is understandable, Kenneh could be the kind of hidden gem who makes the biggest mark at Leeds.

Meanwhile, Phil Hay has dropped an exciting Leeds United transfer update…

According to reports by UOL Deportes in Brazil (as relayed by Sport Witness), Ajax have rejected a £12.5m bid for reported Everton transfer target David Neres as they seek a valuation of £16.7m.

Despite this, it is ‘expected’ that the 24-year-old will be sold during the January transfer window.

The Lowdown: Neres in poor form

The winger has seen his productivity decline in recent times. During the 2017/18 league campaign, the Brazilian produced an emphatic 14 goals and 14 assists in 32 appearances for the Amsterdam club.

However, this electric form seems to have dried up for Neres since then, who has scored three goals and set up another two in 15 Eredivisie games this season, although three of those goal contributions came in Ajax’s 9-0 win over Cambuur.

This poor recent form has led to the 24-year-old being dropped from the starting line-up, and he was an unused substitute in two of the last three league games. Shockingly, Neres is ranked 18th in the Ajax squad for shots averaged per game (0.6), an extremely poor indictment for an attacking player.

The Latest: Everton interested in Neres

Previous reports have linked Everton with the Brazil international, with claims that the club are ‘interested’ in the player arising as former director of football Marcel Brands was a keen admirer of the Dutch league.

According to reports by UOL Deportes in Brazil (as relayed by Sport Witness), Ajax have rejected a €15m (£12.5m) bid from Shakhtar for Neres. The Dutch champions are said to value the attacker at a minimum of €20m (£16.7m), and it is ‘now expected’ that Neres will be sold this month, with the player being ‘kept on Ajax’s negotiable list’ for now.

Everton will need to move swiftly if they are to bring the winger to Goodison Park, as Shakhtar are set to go back in with another bid to try and get their man.

The Verdict: Transfer could be hit or miss

Neres has made an impression across Europe, with the prolific winger netting 47 goals in 180 appearances for Ajax. Indeed, Jose Mourinho previously awarded him the highest of compliments, saying: “As far as I am concerned, David Neres fully reflects what a Brazilian footballer stands for. For me he is the best of this new generation.”

With Everton keen on bringing in a new right winger to the club, the 24-year-old’s relatively cheap price-tag could prove to be a gamble worth taking, if they are to get the player that Ajax originally signed.

However, if he produces the kind of form we’ve seen this season, it could be a move to earn unwanted comparison with that of Davy Klaassen, who flopped on Merseyside after moving from the Amsterdam giants for £23.6m in 2017. It’s hard to predict which way a potential Everton move for Neres would go.

In other news: Goodison Park exit could beckon for Everton ace dubbed ‘one of the best in Europe’

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Liverpool fans have taken to Twitter to react after Jurgen Klopp revealed that he tried to bring Jadon Sancho to Anfield from Manchester City, before Borussia Dortmund swooped in to sign the teenager.

The Bundesliga leaders signed the Citizens academy graduate back in the summer of 2017 for a fee in the region of £10m, and even handed the little-known forward the number seven shirt vacated by the then-Barcelona-bound Ousmane Dembele.

Since then, the England international has lit up the Bundesliga and is now one of the most precocious talents in world football. Sancho has scored eight goals and recorded 10 assists in all competitions for Dortmund so far this season, helping them stay above Bayern Munich in the table and on course for a first title since 2012.

Speaking on the matter, Klopp said: “Buying English players is a smart idea because we would never have a chance to get Sancho.

“We are not blind – we saw him, we liked him and then we think ‘can we get him?’ No. Because English clubs don’t sell them to other English clubs. I don’t know exactly what the reason is for that but they don’t do it.”

Understandably, Liverpool fans will have been gutted to hear that they missed out on Sancho, and have reacted to the news on Twitter…

Rangers youngster Josh McPake is set to return to Ibrox from his loan spell at Morecambe, ahead of a temporary January exit elsewhere.

The Lowdown: McPake on loan at Morecambe

The 20-year-old moved to Morecambe in the summer transfer window but he has been limited to just five League One appearances, with only three starts coming his way.

The hope was that McPake would pick up some much-needed playing time there but it looks increasingly as though he could be a peripheral figure.

A current report suggests it could be all change for the winger ahead of the upcoming January window.

The Latest: Another temporary move on the cards

According to Football Insider, a Rangers source has confirmed that the club are set to recall McPake from Morecambe, prior to loaning him out elsewhere next month.

Oldham Athletic and Hartlepool United are mentioned as possible suitors for the youngster, who was described as ‘fantastic’ by former Morton manager David Hopkin.

The Verdict: Invaluable experience

It is vital that McPake continues to get minutes away from Rangers, so this is a decision that makes perfect sense.

The hope is that the young wide man has a bright future at Ibrox but he may need to prove that he’s got what it takes during these current loan spells – another 6 months struggling to make an impact at the senior level could seriously damage his chances.

Competition for places is always likely to be strong under Giovanni van Bronckhorst, but an eye-catching second half to the season could make him part of the manager’s plans in 2022/23.

Four goals in 23 appearances in League Two is proof that McPake can shine at a good level – now it’s about making another step up.

In other news, three Rangers players struggled against Rangers. Find out who they are here.

Stuart Taylor has dropped an update on the future of Jamie Hamilton amid the midfielder’s links with a move to Ange Postecoglou’s Celtic side in the January transfer window.

What’s been said?

In recent comments cited by the Daily Record, the Hamilton Academical manager stated his belief that the 19-year-old’s links with a transfer to Celtic this winter are nothing but pub chat in a big twist to their supposed pursuit of the player.

Although he did go on to admit he wouldn’t be surprised if the Bhoys were keeping a very close eye on the centre-back ahead of a potential swoop in the future.

On the Hoops’ reported interest in the youngster, Taylor said: “Nobody has spoken to me directly, but that would be normal. Other clubs don’t always go to the manager. But I’ve certainly not spoken to Allan [Maitland, the club chairman] in the last 24 hours about outgoings.

“I do expect there will be interest in Jamie and I expect there will be interest in a lot of our players, especially the younger ones. But going on websites it’s very easy to punch in names of teams and players, and it goes under the category of what I’d call ‘pub chat’.”

Postecoglou must move

While it would appear from Taylor’s latest comments that Celtic are yet to make an approach for the defender in the January transfer window, considering the sheer amount of potential Hamilton quite clearly possesses, it would appear highly advisable for Postecoglou to do so before another interested party does.

Indeed, despite having only turned 19 last year, the Scotland U21 international has already established himself as a first-team regular at the rather aptly named Fountain of Youth Stadium, making 16 Championship appearances so far this season, in addition to a further four outings in the League Cup.

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Furthermore, the £360k-rated man highly impressed in the club’s 1-1 draw with Rangers last February, with then-Hamilton manager Brian Rice stating of the centre-back’s display:

“I think you saw in young Jamie Hamilton today. Absolutely outstanding for an 18-year-old, absolutely fantastic. He needs the help of the experienced lads. It’s trying to get the blend right. I think we are nearly there. Jamie has certainly improved with Aaron Martin alongside him, Lee Hodson, talking to him.”

As such, with the likes of Liverpool, Brighton & Hove Albion, Brentford, Newcastle United and Burnley also reported to be interested in the youngster this winter, should Postecoglou wish to give himself the best possible chance of landing Hamilton, he simply must act as quickly as possible – as the 19-year-old will not likely be an Accies player much longer.

In other news: Ange can finally axe “explosive” £12.5k-p/w Celtic flop with Jan swoop for 22 y/o gem

After narrowly missing out on securing three points in their previous Premier League match against Watford at St James’ Park last weekend, when a late goal from Joao Pedro snatched a point for the away side, Newcastle United are back in action today with an away clash against Leeds United. 

Ahead of the clash at Elland Road against Marcelo Bielsa’s side,  Magpies boss Eddie Howe revealed that Newcastle will still be without Callum Wilson, Federico Fernandez and Isaac Hayden through injury, as well as potentially Matt Ritchie. Howe added in his pre-match press conference that Jeff Hendrick and Dwight Gayle returned to training this week. 

With that in mind, here’s how we feel Newcastle could line up to take on Leeds this afternoon, with two changes anticipated from the XI which started against Watford a week ago.

In goal, we think Howe will stick with Martin Dubravka after the Slovakian made four saves against Watford.

For the defence, we think the Newcastle boss will stick with the same back four which started against the Hornets, with Kieran Trippier at right-back, Paul Dummett on the left, and Fabian Schar and Jamaal Lascelles occupying the centre-back positions.

In midfield, we can see Howe sticking with Jonjo Shelvey and Joelinton, but Joe Willock comes back in to see if he can pull off something special as Sean Longstaff drops out. The ex-Arsenal youngster hasn’t hit the heights of last season this time around, but with Longstaff offering little attacking threat last week, he could be the fall guy for Willock today.

In attack, it would be hard to not see Allan Saint-Maximin occupying his usual left-wing position to see if he can wreak havoc on Leeds’ defence and potentially add some goals or assists to his record for the season and, more importantly, secure a win for his team. 

With Wilson still out, it would seem likely that Howe will stick with January signing Chris Wood to see if he can also cause the Whites some problems at the back and haunt his former club. 

On the right, we think Howe will put Miguel Almiron back into the team, with Ryan Fraser – who is currently picking up £63k-per-week according to Salary Sport – dropping out to freshen up the attack. The Scot pays the price for going 17 games without a goal so far this season.

Whether or not Howe goes with the starting XI that we have suggested, this will still be a big game in terms of their hopes of avoiding relegation this season, and one they might be capable of winning given Leeds’ less than stellar results so far in this campaign. 

In other news – Terms agreed: NUFC could land masterstroke with gem whose “shorts look like underwear”…

Everton face a difficult challenge today as they travel to the Etihad to play Premier League Champions, Manchester City.

Rafa Benitez’s side have been plagued with inconsistent performances, with just four wins from their first eleven games, which has now put the Merseyside club outside of the top half of the table in 11th.

A number of injuries have played their part in Everton’s slow start this season, with Dominic Calvert Lewin, Abdoulaye Doucoure, Yerry Mina and Richarlison all suffering with injuries in the last three months.

Luckily, Richarlison is now available for selection after returning from injury a few weeks ago, with the Brazilian international being left out of their most recent World Cup Qualifiers to focus on his fitness, he should be raring to go.

However, one player that was thought to be back in the side this weekend after being spotted in training, has been ruled out by the Spanish boss in his pre match press conference, where he confirmed four players including Mina would not be available against Man City.

Mina returned to training over the international break, with Everton taking to Instagram to confirm the centre back’s return.

The caption simply read; “Return of the King.”

The setback in defence will be gutting for Benitez and a big blow to his plans, as the centre-back has offered important defensive play in his time at the club.

Echo Everton reporter, Adam Jones, spoke on The Royal Blues podcast about Mina’s positive impact on the side and offered an interesting statistic that proves Mina is essential to Everton;

“Sky Sports put up some stats about how Everton have played in the last two years without Yerry Mina compared to the results they’ve got with him. I think it’s a 57% win percentage with Mina and that drops to 24% when he’s not in the side.

“We can speak a lot about Mina’s effectiveness and how much he can keep himself fit but it’s statistics like that which prove he’s Everton’s best centre-back when he’s on his game.”

The injury blow is exacerbated by Sunday’s opposition as they play a City attack full of goals. Without Mina, therefore, the scoreline might not look pretty come full time.

Benitez will be hoping to reintroduce key players over the next few weeks as the team goes on a run of difficult games, facing Chelsea, Arsenal and a fierce Merseyside derby against Liverpool in their upcoming fixtures before Christmas.

Picking up points where possible and getting comfortably inside the top half of the table will be the ultimate goal for the manager in the last few weeks of 2021.

In other news: Calvert-Lewin can unlock Rafa’s Everton revival