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Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold being used as an inverted full-back has been a success so far for Jurgen Klopp's side, according to journalist Pete O'Rourke.

What's the latest news involving Trent Alexander-Arnold?

Alexander-Arnold has put in some impressive displays in his new role and the switch is bearing fruit for Liverpool, as he has notched six assists in his last five Premier League matches, as per Transfermarkt.

As per Sky Sports, Reds boss Klopp has commented on the impact the £180k-a-week ace has made in his fresh role, stating: "We've always known he has the potential to do it. But, to play a role, it's not about a player. It's about having the whole system in place. You have to set it up. We have to train."

Liverpool have also remained unbeaten in the five fixtures that Alexander-Arnold has featured as an inverted full-back, demonstrating that they have adapted to this change in functional style.

The Liverpool Echo cite that Liverpool defender Virgil Van Dijk has also spoken about how Klopp's tactical alteration has benefited his side, saying: "It's a work in progress, but we all like it. We all have to be able to change in times and sometimes Trent has to drop, whereas sometimes he has to go higher. Other players then have to drop, so we keep working on it and I think the manager has been saying it many times with the counter-pressing, everyone comes across, makes the pitch as small as possible and we have a big chance to win it back if we lose it. Everyone has to feel the freedom in possession to feel important, so that is what we have to do."

In 2022/23, Alexander-Arnold has made 46 appearances for the Reds in all competitions, registering three goals and nine assists, as per Transfermarkt.

Speaking to Football FanCast, journalist O'Rourke thinks that Liverpool may have taken inspiration from the way Manchester City and Arsenal also operate in similar systems.

O'Rourke told FFC: "Obviously, other teams have had success doing it. Arsenal and Manchester City have both had full-backs moved into midfield as well. Maybe it's something that Jurgen Klopp has noticed and he's going to give Trent a go at it and so far it's paid off."

Why has Jurgen Klopp chosen to move Trent Alexander-Arnold into a new role?

Many modern-day sides operate with inverted full-backs because it affords more license for them to get forward and cause problems. At the same time, it also helps to isolate wingers one-on-one with opposition defenders.

In the case of Liverpool, this means that Mohamed Salah and Cody Gakpo, for instance, have more opportunities to get on the ball and advance into dangerous attacking phases rather than being forced to turn back into trouble and start moves all over again.

Of course, the fallback of having full-backs pushed up into midfield at times can be the space that is left to be exploited in behind; however, Klopp has been able to counter this by situating the likes of Fabinho or Jordan Henderson in front of the defence, as seen in Liverpool's recent 4-3 victory over Tottenham Hotspur.

It is a system not without its flaws; however, Alexander-Arnold has enjoyed a marked improvement in consistency over the last few games and this may give Klopp food for thought heading into 2023/24.

Chelsea had previously considered bringing Mauricio Pochettino to Stamford Bridge as he closes in on being officially unveiled as the Blues' new manager, according to journalist Dharmesh Sheth.

What's the latest news involving Mauricio Pochettino?

As per 90min, Chelsea are said to be 'inching closer' to appointing Pochettino as their new manager and the two parties only have 'minor details' to iron out before the Argentinian is announced as Graham Potter's permanent successor.

The report also states that Pochettino will be given the freedom to shape his squad appropriately and will have a major say in who is allowed to depart Stamford Bridge this summer.

Sky Sports revealed last week that Chelsea have been 'admirers' of the 51-year-old manager in the past and 'enquired about his availability' following their decision to part ways with Thomas Tuchel in 2022.

Pochettino has been out of work since the end of the 2021/22 season after he left Paris Saint-Germain despite leading them to the Ligue 1 title.

Football Insider claims that the former Spurs boss is already getting to work scoping out potential additions for the Blues, with Bayern Munich winger Sadio Mane thought to be one of his transfer targets.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, journalist Sheth thinks that Pochettino will have been given 'reassurances' by the Chelsea hierarchy that will have given him encouragement as he closes in on returning to management at Stamford Bridge.

Sheth said: “I think he was considered a couple of times before by Chelsea, particularly when they appointed Graham Potter. At the time, it wasn't right for Pochettino.

“Something has changed, and in the discussions that he will have had with the Chelsea owners, he would have probably got the reassurances that he wanted, not only about issues like his backroom staff but also about how he's going to need to trim the squad.

“We know that Pochettino likes to work with a squad that's not inflated.”

What happens now for Chelsea?

In all honestly, Chelsea could do with some positive news in the near future, especially given their current woeful run of form in recent weeks.

Caretaker boss Frank Lampard hasn't been able to get a tune out of his squad, losing six from six since being brought in to steady the ship in west London.

Incredibly, despite their enormous spending power, the Blues lie 12th in the Premier League table with five games left to play and sit nine points above the relegation zone, signifying that they are still not mathematically safe from the drop.

Of course, it is extremely unlikely that Chelsea will suffer such a fate come the end of this term; however, it's an indication of how underwhelming this season has been at Stamford Bridge for all involved.

Pochettino will be keen to establish his vision early on in pre-season at the club to avoid a repeat scenario in 2023/24.

Chelsea have endured a woeful 2022/23 campaign which has seen them manage just 30 goals in 31 Premier League games, with a bottom-half finish now looking likely under interim manager Frank Lampard.

The lack of goals at Stamford Bridge could be due to a number of factors but fingers have naturally been pointed at Kai Havertz, as the German forward has once again struggled for consistency in a Chelsea shirt.

Is Havertz to blame for Chelsea's goalscoring woes?

The 23-year-old may well be the top scorer in Chelsea's squad so far this season but he has just seven top-flight goals to his name in 29 Premier League outings and would have been expected to score far more given his role as the main striker for the west London outfit.

Havertz, who earns £150k-per-week, arrived at Chelsea in 2020 in an eye-watering deal worth £75.8m, having contributed an impressive 46 goals and 31 assists in 150 appearances for Bundesliga outfit Bayer Leverkusen.

His time at Stamford Bridge has been far less fruitful, as he boasts just 32 goals and 15 assists in 132 appearances, despite moving from an attacking midfield role to a central striker role with the west London club.

This campaign has seen the Germany international underperform on his xG by 4.52, which is comfortably the worst return of his career, and perhaps explains why he has been left out by the interim boss in recent fixtures.

How much is Havertz worth now?

In a recent interview with Football FanCast, Simon Phillips speculated that, if Chelsea were to try and sell the 23-year-old on the back of another disappointing campaign, they would get nowhere near the price they paid.

He said: "When he's poor, he's poor. He will go through a run of five, six, or seven games where he will be very poor. He's far too inconsistent really.

"In terms of how much he's worth, I think he's got a market value of around £50m, but I think Chelsea would be very lucky to get that this summer."

Todd Boehly has obviously invested a huge amount since arriving at Chelsea and has failed to see the results on the pitch, which suggests that a number of first-team players could be moved on this summer ahead of the arrival of a prospective new manager.

Unless Havertz can pick up his form in the remaining fixtures, having managed just five goals in 20 appearances since the World Cup, then he could be a prime candidate to depart, even if it means the Blues making a significant loss on him.

Glasgow Rangers have reportedly been dealt a ‘major blow’ in their pursuit of Nikola Krstovic this summer, although they have set their sights on other targets.

The Lowdown: Rangers interest

It was reported in February that while Rangers are interested in signing Krstovic, they would ‘struggle’ to bring him to Ibrox this summer, as it would take a ‘huge outlay’ to sign him, while also involving selling one of their current options.

His club Dunajska Streda are looking for a fee of between £4m and £5m to sell him, and they are expected to knock back further offers for him in the next transfer window.

Krstovic is seen as a possible replacement at Ibrox for Alfredo Morelos, who is out of contract at the end of the campaign.

The Latest: ‘Major blow’

As per Football Insider, the Gers have been dealt a ‘major blow’ in their efforts to sign Krstovic, as he has recently put pen to paper on a new contract with his current club, that will run until 2027.

They have watched him on a number of occasions, and have kept track of him over the last 18 months, but his club made it clear in the January transfer window that he was not for sale.

Nonetheless, the Light Blues have ‘set their sights’ on signing multiple strikers in the summer, with Bordeaux forward Josh Maja, who is running out of contract, another player that they have a ‘genuine interest’ in.

He is thought to be a ‘top target’, with the future of Alfredo Morelos still ‘in doubt’ with his deal also set to expire.

The Verdict: Plenty of names out there…

The Teddy Bears have been linked with plenty of strikers outside of Krstovic and Maja for next summer.

They have also recently been credited with an interest in Swansea City forward Joel Piroe, while Malik Tillman is an attacker that they could look to sign permanently from Bayern Munich once his loan spell ends at the end of the season.

Nonetheless, should Morelos end up leaving on a free transfer, it will be difficult to replace the 122 goals that he has scored over the years at Rangers, so they may have to bring in more than one striker this summer in order to help fill the hole left by the Colombia international.

The Gers may struggle to do this financially though, with no transfer fee coming in for Morelos.

Newcastle United are reportedly interested in making a move for Barcelona winger, Raphinha, this summer, with the Brazilian’s future at Camp Nou currently somewhat uncertain.

What’s the latest on Raphinha to Newcastle?

According to Spanish outlet Sport, the Magpies – as well as Premier League rivals Chelsea – are said to be closely monitoring the 26-year-old’s situation in Catalonia, with the former Leeds United man one player whom the cash-strapped La Liga giants could be open to selling ahead of next season.

The report suggests that the Tynesiders have already made contact with the player’s representatives regarding a possible summer swoop, with that exit talk coming despite the 16-cap dynamo having only signed for the club back in July.

There had been claims made at the time that Eddie Howe’s side were in talks to sign the one-time Sporting CP sensation, prior to the forward ultimately joining La Blaugrana on a £55m deal.

How would Raphinha fit in at Newcastle?

It is no doubt somewhat bizarre that Xavi Hernandez and co could even be considering parting ways with Raphinha this summer, with the £62m-rated man having been in sparkling form in recent times.

Previously described as “unplayable” by journalist Josh Bunting during his time at Elland Road, the 5 foot 9 wizard has proven just that of late, having now bagged nine goals and contributed nine assists in 37 games in all competitions this season.

That follows what was a rather stellar stint in Yorkshire for the wide man as he contributed 29 goal involvements in just 67 games in all competitions, having emerged as something of a talisman during his time with the Whites.

To be able to secure the services of such a dynamic gem would certainly be a real masterstroke for Howe and co, with Newcastle having the chance to fashion a formidable attacking partnership involving Raphinha and the club’s emerging hero, Alexander Isak.

While the latter man has seen his impact limited so far this season due to injury, the towering striker still boasts a respectable tally of four goals in nine Premier League games thus far, notably nodding home in the recent win over Wolverhampton Wanderers.

That perfectly guided header came amid what was a stellar all-round display from the 23-year-old, with The Athletic’s Steve Madeley writing that the marksman was looking “like Marco van Basten” after causing the away defence “all sorts of problems”.

With the club-record signing now back fit and firing, the aim will be to provide him with regular, quality service, something which that man Raphinha could certainly offer from the flanks having created 11 big chances in the Spanish top-flight this season – a far superior record to that of Miguel Almiron, for instance (two).

If Howe is to truly get the best out of Isak then having that creative spark in the side is a necessity, with Raphinha’s forward-thinking approach also illustrated by the fact that he ranks in the top 9% among his European peers for progressive passes received.

The prospect of having that duo wreaking havoc in attack is truly mouthwatering indeed, with such a deal set to be another statement of intent from PIF – as the £63m signing of Isak also was.

France and AC Milan striker Olivier Giroud ‘would be a good fit’ for Crystal Palace in the summer transfer window, according to journalist Pete O’Rourke.

The Lowdown: Giroud linked with Palace move

The Eagles have struggled for goals at times so far this season, only scoring 21 times in 25 Premier League matches, with Wilfried Zaha leading the charts with six strikes despite missing time through injury.

One player who has been linked with a summer move to Selhurst Park is Giroud, who is France’s all-time record goalscorer with 53 goals in 120 caps.

The 36-year-old is out of contract at Milan at the end of the season, meaning other clubs could snap him up as a free agent.

The Latest: ‘Would be a good fit’

Speaking to Give Me Sport, O’Rourke talked up the idea of Giroud joining Palace at the end of the season:

“I think it would be a move he would consider. If he doesn’t agree a new contract at AC Milan, I’m sure a move back to the Premier League would be right up there among his top priorities.

“Crystal Palace would tick a lot of boxes because I think Giroud, ideally, would prefer to move back to London having lived there and played for Arsenal and Chelsea. Palace would be a good fit for him.”

The Verdict: Is he too old now?

There is no denying Giroud’s pedigree as a footballer, with his aforementioned record for France outstanding and a tally of 262 goals at club level also highly impressive.

At 36, there is certainly an argument to say that the £73,000-a-week striker is well past his best, however, and that Patrick Vieira should look at younger, longer-term options to bring in.

It could be that Giroud has one more season in him at a high level, having been hailed as ‘world class’ by Simon Kjaer earlier this season, but it would come with a risk element.

The Sean Dyche era at Everton began with a bang on Saturday afternoon, with the new boss steering his struggling side to a colossal, 1-0 victory over league leaders Arsenal at Goodison Park.

Amid all the ongoing doom and gloom on Merseyside at present – a fact only heightened by the lack of January arrivals – the Toffees put that to one side to produce a stunning, committed display against Mikel Arteta’s men, with Dyche’s former Burnley stalwart James Tarkowski producing the game’s defining moment on the hour mark after expertly heading home.

In a performance that was littered with positives, one standout figure was undoubtedly that of summer signing Amadou Onana, with the towering Belgian having been immense in his advanced midfield berth.

Despite having been mooted for an exit during the recent window, the 21-year-old showed no signs of being distracted against the Gunners, notably winning eight duels in total and laying on two key passes in that all-action display.

The former Lille man notably produced a remarkable surging run in the first half before teeing up Dominic Calvert-Lewin with a clever pullback, with the England international coming agonisingly close to making the required contact.

Such a display has rubberstamped just why the youngster can be a “figurehead” under the new manager moving forward, as per journalist Sam Tabuteau, although he was not alone in having caught the eye on the day, with Dwight McNeil also looking somewhat reborn on the flanks.

The £20m addition – who also previously worked under Dyche at Turf Moor – has endured a difficult start to life at Goodison since his summer arrival, with just two goals and one assist to his name prior to yesterday’s meeting, yet showed signs of the quality asset he can be under the new regime.

The 23-year-old’s most notable action in that “superb” performance – as described by Daily Express reporter Charlie Gordon – was his wicked delivery to tee up Tarkowski for the game’s only goal, illustrating the potent threat that he can pose from dead-ball situations.

While the one-time Manchester United youth product did lose possession on 17 occasions from his 38 touches in that impressive outing, he also contributed three key passes and created two big chances as a marker of his creative prowess, while also providing a whopping 11 crosses from the flanks.

The Rochdale-born dynamo could well have had a second assist to his name after also teeing up Abdoulaye Doucoure with another delightful cross in the opening period, albeit with the Frenchman inexplicably heading wide after being afforded the freedom of the penalty area.

Nevertheless, that impactful display has showcased that McNeil – as well as Onana – could have been revitalised by the change in the dugout, with that set to bode well for the second half of the season.

Tottenham Hotspur manager Antonio Conte will make a decision on his future in the Premier League at the ‘end of the season’, according to Fabrizio Romano.

The Lowdown: Juventus links

The Italian boss will be out of contract in N17 this summer, and having not yet put pen to paper on any kind of extension, his future has been up in the air.

The 53-year-old has been linked with making a return to Juventus, who are identifying potential successors for the under-pressure Massimiliano Allegri, but the boss has since delivered a reassuring update.

Speaking following the 1-0 victory over Fulham on Monday, he expressed his desire to continue at the club, stating that he was ‘proud’ to be in charge amid reports that he could be set to leave.

The Latest: Romano’s update

According to Romano (via CaughtOffside), Conte is set to make the final call on whether to remain in the capital upon the conclusion of the 2022/23 campaign.

“Antonio Conte has not made any decision yet. There’s not even a negotiation with Tottenham as things stand.

“Conte will decide close to the end of the season, he has not communicated anything to Tottenham. It will take time and depend on the project.

“Conte leaving is a possibility for sure, but I can’t say it’s 100% decided now.”

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The Verdict: Keep hold of him

Spurs have definitely experienced a mixed season so far when it comes to results, but making the decision to keep Conte at the helm moving forward is surely a no-brainer.

The Lecce-born coach has won 36 and drawn ten of his 65 matches in charge, where he’s currently averaging 1.82 points per game (Transfermarkt), so despite a dip in form is still performing at a good level overall.

The Lilywhites leader also secured his side a return to the Champions League with a fourth-place finish last term so he’ll know what it takes to get to the highest level, making him the perfect candidate to continue in the role for the foreseeable future.

Scottish champions Celtic have already acted swiftly to wrap up three winter deals in order to aid their push towards the title, although manager Ange Postecoglou has teased more incomings after admitting that the Parkhead outfit need to “strengthen further”.

One potential new recruit could well be that of Shimizu S Pulse sensation, Yuito Suzuki, with reports in his native Japan (via the Daily Record) revealing that the 21-year-old is being monitored by the Old Firm giants.

The 5 foot 9 wing wizard was also reportedly a target for the Glasgow side during the summer window, with a move to Europe having been mooted for the playmaker over the past year or so, as a result of his standout form of late.

Although the promising youngster – who can feature on the flanks or in an attacking midfield role – only boasts a haul of six goals and four assists in his 93 senior outings to date, the Japan U21 international was particularly impressive during the latest J-League season, with five goal involvements in 20 appearances.

That creative quality was also evident as the emerging starlet – who has been compared to former Liverpool man Takumi Minamino – created seven big chances in total in the league, while also averaging 1.1 key passes per game.

Lauded as a “really interesting” asset by talent scout Jacek Kulig, it would appear that Suzuki is set for a bright future in the game, with the hope being that Postecoglou can maximise that potential if the Hoops are to make a concrete approach in the coming weeks.

The title-winning coach could also have the makings of a devastating attacking duo with the Shimizu ace on one flank and compatriot Daizen Maeda on the opposite side, with the latter man currently thriving for the Scottish Premiership.

The 25-year-old speedster – who arrived at Paradise on an initial loan deal a year ago – has been in scintillating form in recent weeks, having registered a goal or an assist in each of his last three league outings, as well as getting on the scoresheet during Saturday’s League Cup semi-final triumph over Kilmarnock.

That latest, somewhat fortuitous strike has ensured that the former Yokohama F. Marinos man now has seven goals and five assists to his name in 28 games in all competitions this term, having been a “real handful” at times, as per ex-Bhoys striker Chris Sutton.

Having been described as a “nightmare” to play against by pundit Rio Ferdinand following his displays for his country at the World Cup, Maeda is clearly a figure who can strike fear into the opposition with his relentless speed and dynamism.

Combining those traits with the creative quality of Suzuki – who is said to idolise Manchester City maestro Kevin De Bruyne – could well offer real versatility to Postecoglou’s attack, with it truly mouthwatering to imagine the two men lining up together in the green and white jersey.

Wolves have suffered a big transfer blow as long-term target Carlos Alcaraz has joined Premier League rivals Southampton, in what could be a repeat of the disaster which saw the Old Gold miss out on World Cup sensation Enzo Fernandez last summer.

The Molineux outfit have long been linked with Racing Club star Alcaraz, who has burst onto the scene in Argentina in recent years, contributing 12 goals and six assists in 83 appearances in all competitions.

This saw football talent scout Jacek Kulig describe the 20-year-old as “one of the biggest talents in Argentina” in 2022, so it is easy to see why Wolves were keen on bringing him to Molineux.

However, Wolves have once again failed to act quickly in the January transfer window, as Alcaraz’s arrival at Southampton for a fee of just £12m was confirmed earlier this week.

If he can have a big impact in the English top flight and help to keep Nathan Jones’ side up this season, then Julen Lopetegui will surely regret not bringing the youngster to Molineux this month.

The Old Gold will be praying that Alcaraz doesn’t enjoy a similar development to fellow Argentine youngster Enzo Fernandez, who joined Benfica ahead of Wolves last summer, despite chief scout Matt Hobbs travelling to South America to try and complete a deal for the 21-year-old.

Hobbs and Wolves refused to pay his £17m release clause and he instead joined Benfica, playing a huge part in their impressive domestic and Champions League form so far this season, with WhoScored awarding him an impressive 7.13 rating for his performances in Portugal’s top flight.

He was then a mainstay in Lionel Scaloni’s Argentina side as they won the World Cup in Qatar and is now attracting the interest of top clubs across Europe, with Chelsea reportedly offering £112m at the start of the January transfer window.

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You’d have hoped that Wolves would have learned their lesson from Fernandez, but to lose out on Alcaraz to a Southampton side whose recent form suggests that they are destined for the drop could be another shocking mistake by the Old Gold hierarchy.

If Alcaraz can live up to his potential at St Mary’s, then he could easily move on for a huge fee in the future, and Wolves will surely be left regretting their failure to act quickly in the transfer window once again.