Defending champions Manchester City arrive at Wembley looking to secure their fourth successive Carabao Cup trophy by beating Tottenham Hotspur, who have been commonly derided for their lack of trophies in recent years and are now just one win away from their first major honour since winning this competition back in 2008.

Spurs head to Wembley under the command of interim manager Ryan Mason following the sacking of Jose Mourinho and Mason’s first game in charge saw his side beat Southampton 2-1 on Wednesday night. What will probably be his biggest match of his short interim manager role, he comes up against serial trophy winner Pep Guardiola, although the Manchester City boss without influential midfielder and key man Kevin De Bruyne. Tottenham could well also be without a key figure in Harry Kane as he faces a race against a time to be fit for Sunday’s showdown.

Still, there will be some intriguing and exciting talents on show as we pick out five key battles that could prove pivotal in deciding who takes home the Carabao Cup trophy:

Harry Kane v Ruben Dias

The best striker in the country up against arguably the best central defender in the county, in what he’s first campaign in the English top-flight. Ruben Dias has enjoyed a remarkable breakthrough season under the tutelage of Pep Guardiola. The Portuguese captain has proven a vital component in City’s defence, vastly improving the performances, the defensive nous and abilities of those around him especially John Stones.

Dias has got to be a sure bet for player of the year come the end of the season, and will be vitally key to City’s hopes of claiming a fourth successive Carabao Cup triumph by trying to stop the best striker in the country in Harry Kane, that’s if Tottenham’s talisman is fit to start the game.

Tottenham’s feint hopes of lifting this trophy rests on his shoulders.

Pierre Emile Hojbjerg v Phil Foden

Tottenham’s key men may well be Harry Kane and Hueng-Min Son, but midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg has enjoyed a stellar campaign in Tottenham’s midfield despite their struggles under Mourinho this campaign. Recording the most tackles won in the division and a player who can be relied upon to set the tone and standard for his teammates to follow.

However, the Danish international could have his work cut out when he comes up against one of England’s most promising players right now in Phil Foden. The 20-year-old scored his 14th goal of what’s been a spectacular campaign against Aston Villa in midweek, and you wouldn’t bet against him overcoming the difficult challenge of coming up against one of the Premier League’s most destructive midfielders.

Phil Foden has arguably come up against tougher challenges than Hojbjerg, and reigned supreme. Can he do it again come Sunday?

Son Hueng-Min v Kyle Walker

This will be a tough stone-cold battle between two established players and former teammates. Son Hueng-Min will be hoping he can finally lift his first trophy in a Tottenham shirt against Manchester City, and also stop them coveting a trophy once again. He did just that in Tottenham’s route to the Champions League final in 2019, scoring twice at the Etihad in a thrilling encounter where Tottenham came out triumphant on away goals to set up a semi-final date with Ajax, despite losing on the night 4-3.

Hueng-Min Son came out on top that night. England international Kyle Walker will be hoping he ends up on the winning side once again come Sunday.

Riyad Mahrez v Sergio Reguilon

There’s no doubt about it, Riyad Mahrez is one of the Premier League’s most successful foreign imports ever to grace the division, and if City win this final, it would be the Algerian’s seventh major honour in English football. A terrific and tricky footballer who will feel he can aid City’s trophy chase in the absence of key man Kevin De Bruyne.

He’ll be up against Spanish left-back Sergio Reguillon who’s gone through a somewhat mixed season in North London, but has shown that he has what it takes to play at the top level especially joining from Real Madrid last summer. Reguillon has shown why Mourinho poured everything to sign him, but not on a consistent basis. However, a tremendous showing against Southampton in midweek will do his confidence the world of good heading into Sunday’s finale.

Tanguy Ndombele v Rodri

Arguably Tottenham’s most improved player this campaign. After enduring a difficult spell when Mourinho first stepped through the door at the club, its safe to say that Ndombele is a much better player despite the Portuguese being forced to walk out again. If Tottenham are to achieve their aim of ending their long trophy haul against City, they’ll need to put in their most complete performance of the season and Ndombele will play a vital role in that. The Frenchman has the talent in his locker, but can he now translate that on a more consistent basis, when his club need it most?

Ndombele will come up against another improved performer in Rodri, who has taken his defensive game to another level under Guardiola this season. There’s a reason why City hold the best defence in the country, and that’s down to the stark improvements and levels of maturity in the Spaniard’s game, becoming an assured and commanding presence in front of City’s back-line. He’s also become a much more confident and well-rounded component in possession of the ball, arguably living up to his billing, as the next in line to Barcelona’s Sergio Busquets.

May the best midfielder win.

Let’s forget about the European Super League talk for now. As ridiculous as it is, its wasted energy.

On a more pleasing note, Manchester United made it five wins on the bounce in the Premier League, for the first time since January 2019 beating 3-1 Burnley at Old Trafford last Sunday. It means Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men are now eight points adrift of Champions-elect Manchester City, with six games to play.

It took a while for United to get going, but we’ve seen it all before, its been a hallmark of their game for much of this campaign. While many may see it as a frustrating element in Solskjaer’s ‘almost there’ team, there can be no doubts that this current Manchester United crop is making giant strides forward.

They’ve already matched their points tally for last season, and are on course to not only surpass it but also on course to finish in an second place, for the first time since Mourinho achieved it in 2018, considering where the team is in their development under Solskjaer.

As we’ve seen this season, United are a weird and difficult team to pin down when analysing their patterns of play, when they are bad, they are bad but when they are on song, they are indeed a force to reckoned with. They’ve scored the second most goals in the league this season, and that’s a further representation of their giant strides to where they want to be in the near future, fighting for the prestigious titles once again but there’s still a lot of work to be done, especially in some elements of their defending.

But, as stated previously when United are in the mood in attack, they are an irrepressible force. Take their goals against Burnley for an exhibition or their impressive and complete showing at Tottenham. Exciting, free-flowing moves that leaves you wondering what would have been had they stayed consistent throughout the season.

Had United started the season better the title race may have been even closer, with the Red Devils having lost just once in their past 26 league games after slipping to three defeats in their first six.

Solskjaer’s men showed the perseverance, patience and never-say-die attitude when things weren’t falling for them in both games against Burnley and Tottenham, characteristics you’d find in potential title winners, and that’s down to the characters in the team.

Bruno Fernandes, Harry Maguire, Marcus Rashford, Edinson Cavani, Luke Shaw and Scott McTominay to name a few, though one man whose name has dragged through the mad in recent years throughout his time at Old Trafford, a player who we all know, on his day is amongst the most pleasing and attractive midfield performers in the world, Paul Pogba.

We know how good he is, and how great he can be, but with his immediate future at Old Trafford up in the air, and his controversial super-agent continuing to needlessly flaunt his services around, there’s been a requirement and an expectation on Pogba to get his head down and focus on his football, and that he has done with admirable aplomb.

No doubt about it, when Paul Pogba has played for Solskjaer this season, he’s proven that he is indeed a big-time performer. 5 goals and 6 assists this season may be perceived as small-time numbers for a player of Paul Pogba’s individual qualities and talents, but we must remember, for much of the season he’s suffered with injuries and niggles, especially being tested positive for COVID-19 earlier in the season.

Let’s be honest here, Manchester United are better team with the Frenchman starring in it. So far this campaign, he’s come up with the goods in key moments. His goals against West Ham and Burnley in December and January. His superb strike against Fulham at Craven Cottage to drag United to a pivotal and priceless three points, and his winner against AC Milan at the San Siro, an indication that Pogba does indeed turn up when United and Solskjaer need him most.

For much of Pogba’s career at Old Trafford, he’s been criticized and accused of shirking under the weight of expectation, and flattering to decieve at the pivotal moments for United, ever since he was bought by his current ‘enemy no.1’ Jose Mourinho in 2016. Indeed, there are some truths to those criticisms, we know who those critics are infact, pundits like Garth Crooks, Roy Keane and Graeme Souness to name the main culprits. We know how good Pogba can be, and at times he has gone into hiding when United need him most.

But its different now, he’s playing under a coach who knows him inside-out, having coached him during his youthful years at the club. This season, when Pogba has been in the spotlight, he’s been spectacular to watch. Whether that’s because he knows this will be his last campaign at the club, he’s finally giving his all, who knows? But who’s benefitting? Both parties, both Pogba and Manchester United. There’s still the slimmer of hope, that if United do end this current campaign, having caught up to City to a more pleasing degree in the Premier League table and win the Europa League, that the Frenchman may be persuaded to stay.

Nonetheless, the midfielder has shown that there is more to him than the goals and assists we know he can contribute to the cause. He’s provided four assists in his last five games, taking the weight off Bruno Fernandes’ shoulders in the creative department, but his performances over the past couple months has been excellent, especially in the last couple weeks.

You can tell the difference when Pogba is on the pitch and when he is not. In his absence, Solskjaer’s team have looked at times aimless, lacking in imagination especially when Bruno Fernandes has his rare off-days. But with Pogba, United look purposeful, assured, confident and an attractive proposition. Against Tottenham, United were stunning to watch, the football mesmerising and much of that was down to the Frenchman’s craftsmanship. Lining-up on the left of the three in Solskjaer’s customary 4-2-3-1 behind Edinson Cavani, Pogba was afforded the freedom to roam infield and carry United forward, coupled with the defensive responsibility, but more importantly putting in a man-of-the-match performance.

Before we get to his irresistible assist for Mason Greenwood. Take his assist – which should have stood by the way after McTominay’s supposed foul on Hueng-Min Son – for Edinson Cavani, caressing a sublime pass through the legs of Serge Aurier for the Uruguayan to clinically dispatch past Hugo Lloris. A fine example of the kind of delightful attributes Pogba offers United when creating chances, he’s capable of the extraordinary, the outrageous and his assist for United’s third was sumptuous.

Leaving Eric Dier and Pierre-Emile Højbjerg in their wake with the effortless dribbling and deceptive movement that is tailor made for a player of his standing, it was a special moment in front of a manager who once made up his mind that Pogba wasn’t good enough to grace his own team a few years ago. Now, Pogba is enjoying his football, like that kid who wowed the whole of Europe during his days at Juventus.

His performance against Tottenham last week was a perfect ‘look at me now’ statement to Mourinho, but we’ve always known Pogba to be capable of those exceptional moments. When United perform those subtle, intricate and entertaining passing moves on the edge of the penalty area, its down to the understanding and ability to operate in tight spaces that Pogba possesses (Fred’s equaliser a fine example). Give Pogba that freedom, release the shackles from him and he will create chances like the first-class technician we know he is.

His dribbling effortless, the step-overs and deceptive footwork so exquisite, so in tune with an unintentional, majestic and harmonious orchestra, the way in which he dazzles past his opponents whilst driving with the ball at his feet is an elegant but frightening sight.

6.57 progressive passes, 6.01 progressive carries, 2.16 dribbles completed, 5.64 final third passes per 90minutes is truly indicative of the impact and the unique dimension that Pogba provides in United’s attacking play. He is delightful, especially when attempting those long-raking passes in order to dissect the tightest defences. His defensive contributions are as stark too: 1.91 tackles, 2.41 aerial duels won, 1.41 blocks, 0.81 interceptions and a staggering 13.61 attempted pressures shows Paul Pogba is the all-action, complete midfielder a club of Manchester United’s traditions and stature have daringly demanded.

It’s imperative he stays fit until the end of the season, because with him on the pitch Manchester United always have a chance of winning games, and who can put it past them to capture the Europa League trophy come May? We don’t know where Pogba’s immediate future lies, but his performances right now is what the focus should be. We are seeing the best of the Frenchman once again, and long may it continue. It’s evidently clear, Solskjaer’s men are a much more complete unit when Paul Pogba graces the field.

Not many teams go to the Etihad stadium and come out the other end victorious – sure, fierce rivals Manchester United achieved that feat only a few weeks ago, but so few of the so-called ‘smaller sides’ runaway victorious in Guardiola’s territory the way Leeds United did.

You certainly won’t be scolded for lauding Leeds as one of those ‘smaller teams’ but the way they so clinically dispatched of Guardiola’s much changed, but still star-studded team can certainly be placed in one of the highlight-reels of an otherwise strange but unpredictable campaign. A result which took them to ninth in the Premier League table on 45 points.

Leeds United not only showed that they are a force to be reckoned with under the highly reputable Marcelo Bielsa, that they can triumph against ‘better’ teams but that they are a team soundly built for a full assault on regular Premier League participation for years to come.

Marcelo Bielsa praised his ‘rebellious’ Leeds United team for their ‘spirited’ display against runaway league leaders Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium.

The Whites went down to 10 men in the first half but still managed to secure a famous 2-1 win thanks to a Stuart Dallas brace.

The midfielder opened the scoring in the 42nd minute after being set up by Patrick Bamford. Just minutes later, defender Steve Cooper saw red for a dangerous tackle on City forward Gabriel Jesus. In the second half, Leeds – a man down – managed to keep their opponents at bay until the last 15 minutes when Ferran Torres sent a first-time effort past Illan Meslier to end his goalscoring drought for City.

But the heroic Dallas bagged an injury-time winner for Leeds after a flowing counter-attack to take them up to 45 points in the Premier League.

Reacting to the victory, Bielsa told BBC Sport:

“I think we have to link the victory to the spirit of the players. The spirit of all the players added together creates a uniform effort. It’s very difficult to win games like today. I think we deserved it but the fair thing would have been for City to win it because they had the dominance and the chances.

“From the adversity and effort of the players it was emotional for me. It was a rebellious team. They weren’t resigned to lose what we had at play.”

Bielsa was spot on with his assessment. Throughout his tenure at the club, he’s instilled belief, desire, courage and a bravery in their game that so few can in the division match.

At the Etihad, Leeds were indeed ‘rebellious’, and full of ‘spirit’, even when the odds were stacked against them after going a man down, they still held the energy levels, the desire and determination to defy the odds, to upset the order, the hallmarks of what Leeds United as a club have represented throughout their decorated history.

Teams are not generally beating Manchester City. And teams do not beat Guardiola’s men in the face of such a ripe disadvantage. It is one thing preparing to play against City’s methods when the odds are even but another thing to confront them in circumstances which threaten the inevitable.

But that’s what’s so good, exciting and admirable of this Leeds team, they never give in. They’ll keep on fighting. From the first minute against Bielsa’s team to the last, you’re in a nerve-wrecking, gut-wrenching battle.

Match winner Stuart Dallas insisted after the game that there is always belief in Leeds’ squad that they can upset the odds wherever they play.

“You’ve just got to look at the game on Saturday,” the Northern Ireland international told Sky Sports News. “We went to Manchester City to win the game, whether people call us crazy or naïve that’s their opinion.

“He (Bielsa) showed a belief in us that we can go to these places and get a result. Of course we’re not going to win the league but we’re more than capable of putting in a performance and we’ve shown that throughout the season.”

Rightly so, its the manager who instills belief in his team but when a team possesses players like Stuart Dallas running around like never-ending freight train, impacting the energy and intensity levels of those around him, the manager’s job becomes much easier and that is certainly the case at Elland Road.

Much of the talk, as we approach the tail end of a remarkable Premier League season, has been about Marcelo Bielsa’s immediate future at the club, which will leave most Leeds fans at the edge of their seats sweating with nervousness and hope.

Bielsa has his detractors. Their visit to Old Trafford in December which ended in a 6-2 defeat had his critics furious at why a coach could be praised for such a thrashing after employing tactics that left his players exposed, but his players didn’t care, nor did Bielsa himself. They’ve kept plugging away and look at what they have achieved six months from that result.

Whether Bielsa is at the helm in the immediate future or not, he’s already laying the groundwork for the club to be a long-term success, and it is why owner Andrea Radrizzani believes that this club will continue to grace the Premier League with their ‘spirited’ and ‘rebellious’ characteristics for the long haul.

Borussia Dortmund’s Erling Braut Haaland is currently the most talked about player in the world right now. With the striker’s future up in the air, the club’s immediate future playing at the top level in Europe has gone up in smoke as Dortmund fell victim on Matchday 27 to another striker currently making tremendous waves under the radar, Eintracht Frankfurt’s Andre Silva.

It’s quite poetic that the man who may have denied Borussia Dortmund a top-four Bundesliga finish this campaign is also being talked up as the perfect alternative to the Erling Haaland to grace a host of top European outfits in need of a reliable goalscorer, most notably Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s Manchester United.

Barcelona, Real Madrid, Manchester City, Liverpool and United are all hot on the trails of Haaland, and while Solskjaer may be prioritising the capture of his compatriot, there is no guarantee Haaland will choose to join his former manager at Old Trafford, especially if Dortmund demand an astronomical fee.

United cannot afford to place all their efforts on signing the Norwegian this summer, there’s another goal-machine in the Bundesliga who has enjoyed as good a season as Erling Haaland and is arguably quite more experienced on the European stage, that is 23-goal striker Andre Silva.

Whilst the Haaland fired a blank as Dortmund fell to a 2-1 defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt at the start of April, who occupy the last Champions League spot and now sit seven points ahead of the Yellow Blacks in the Bundesliga table with six games to go, it was Andre Silva continuing his fine form in front of goal putting Dortmund to the sword with a real poacher’s header in the 87th minute from a Filip Kostic cross at the Signal Iduna Park.

Frankfurt’s no.33 has now hit – at the time of writing – 23 goals from 26 Bundesliga games, an astonishing record, with four assists to add to his goal tally. His winning goal against Dortmund means been involved in more league goals (27) than Erling Haaland (26) and only four less than Bayern Munich’s Robert Lewandowski, who has struck 35 goals and six assists.

His goal scoring exploits of late, including his strike against fellow Champions League hopefuls Wolfsburg in an enthralling 4-3 win was a pointed message to everyone focusing on the abilities of Haaland, that the Portuguese hotshot is just as good as the Norwegian, and his numbers so far this season testify to that fact. Haaland may well be the talk of the town but Andre Silva deserves as much acclaim and hype too.

Since joining from AC Milan, Andre Silva has produced 40 goals and 13 assists from 65 appearances having been signed as the successor to Luka Jovic, who returned on-loan from Real Madrid in January. The Portuguese striker has delivered when called upon.

Silva’s consistency throughout the current campaign has been nothing short of superb, never going more than two games without a goal in the German top flight. He has also contributed to almost 50 per cent of his team’s league goals. Aged only 25, Silva still has the peak of his career too come if he can continue in this rich vein of form.

The Portuguese frontman is not only potent at club level, but holds a relatively excellent international goalscoring record with 16 goals in 38 caps for his country and looks set to fire Eintracht Frankfurt into the Champions League for the first time since they lost the European cup final to Real Madrid in 1960.

Silva could also go onto become the most prolific top-flight scorer in the club’s history, if he surpasses Bernd Holzenbein’s record tally of 26 league goals which he set in 1977.

And while Champions League qualification may strengthen and improve the Hessians’ desire and ability to keep their prolific striker, you wouldn’t put it against Andre Silva aiming to try it out at an elite European side once again after previous underwhelming attempts at Sevilla and AC Milan. If there is to be any suitors for his signature this summer, Manchester United should place themselves amongst the interested parties.

Andre Silva has shown this season that he is a reliable goal machine. Manchester United are in desperate need of one if they are to take that step further and sustain a proper challenge for the Premier League title next season. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men are the second top scorers in the English top-flight, but its amazing to note that only Bruno Fernandes (24) and Marcus Rashford (20) have hit double figures for goals this season, and they aren’t traditional strikers.

United need to ease the burden on them both going into next season, as Manchester City are showing when the whole attack chips in with goals, you have a greater chance of bettering the rest – despite them playing without a recognised striker for most of the campaign. From looking at the tally of United’s other attackers, it doesn’t make for telling reading, and probably a strong indication why United aren’t challenging City for the title.

Mason Greenwood, Anthony Martial and Edinson Cavani have scored 18 goals between them all season, eight goals behind Andre Silva’s tally, and it is evidently clear that Solskjaer must go out this summer and get a striker who is guaranteed goals. It’s been an underwhelming campaign for Anthony Martial and Mason Greenwood although the latter has remarkably improved his game without scoring as much as he did last season.

Otherwise, for Anthony Martial its been campaign to forget after hitting 20-odd goals last season, he’s only hit six this season, and to make matters worse he’s suffered a knee injury which could rule him out for the rest of the campaign. His goal involvements has decreased remarkably this season, his xG per 90 reads at 0.40, while last season it read at 0.37 meaning he is contributing less than he was in the previous campaign when United are attacking. 0.09 goals per shot, in comparison to 0.22 last year, Martial’s game has been on the wane for a while now, and Solskjaer may well be losing patience in his main frontman.

It’s clear United need a penalty box poacher, a striker who can come alive in the 18-yard box, they’ve desperately needed one since Robin Van Persie left in 2015. Martial isn’t made for that role, even though his career goal tally for Manchester United is impressive. Edinson Cavani who has spent his career adhering to that poacher’s role with expert aplomb – as shown in his goal against Tottenham – in all honesty isn’t at a similar level right now and the amount of injuries and muscle fatigue he’s suffered so far this campaign is indicative of that despite him being a much needed presence in most games this season. His future isn’t certain at Old Trafford either, with reports suggesting that he is leaning towards continuing his career in Argentina next season.

The Uruguayan has registered seven goals in 20 league games for United, and averages 0.22 goals per shot, around the same figure as Andre Silva’s tally (0.20) but can he be relied upon to fire Manchester United to a Premier League title if he does stay on beyond this summer? Probably not.

That’s where Andre Silva could step in, providing Manchester United do indeed go on to secure Champions League football for next season, the Portuguese hitman will of course represent a much cheaper addition than Erling Haaland’s reported €150million fee. Like Haaland however, Silva has shown he is a striker who can be relied upon to score goals. His npxG (non penalty expected goals) per 90 minutes of 0.59 stands up amongst the best goalscorers around in Europe right now, despite six of his 23 league goals coming from the penalty spot.

The 25-year-old isn’t quite as relentless a penalty-box presence as Haaland but his smart, sharp runs gets him into the right scoring positions frequently and one he’s there, he is more than capable of converting clinically as shown in his superb headed winner against Erling Haaland’s Dortmund. Like the Norwegian and even Robert Lewandowski, the Portugal international is outperforming his npxG of 13.9, and his xGper90 (expected goals) of 18.5 which reflects brilliantly on his finishing and this is already his best scoring season as a professional, considering he’s had chances to shine at Sevilla and AC Milan since his breakthrough at FC Porto. Since the start of 2020, he has scored 33 goals in 53 appearances for club and country across all competitions.

That is a big enough evidence of his exploits in front of goal, albeit disrupted by the pandemic shutdown, to suggest Silva is on more than a hot streak right now. It has indeed taken him time to get to this run of form in his career following an ill-fated move from Porto to AC Milan in the summer of 2017, but now at 25, he appears fully formed and ready for a much bigger stage again.

This campaign has shown also that Andre Silva is more than just a goalscorer, he is a much more rounded and complete presence not just in an around the penalty area but also outside of it. He isn’t afraid to do the dirty work, through his pressing as instructed by his manager Adi Hütter, his relentless energy and his all-round playing linking up with his teammates, especially the likes of Daichi Kamada, Luka Jovic and Filip Kostić. He’s successfully completed 3.12 pressures this season as well as averaging 0.49 tackles plus interceptions which reads better than most centre midfielders in the division. Solskjaer’s need similar workhorses in his weaponry and Andre Silva represents the perfect solution.

Whether his immediate future lies at Manchester United is another matter entirely, though Solskjaer will do well to identify Andre Silva as one of the strikers that could propel the club back to the top of the English football pyramid again. Part of United’s problem this season is the amount of needless and frustrating draws they’ve registered especially against teams in the top six, and with more ruthless and clinical finishing in attack, they could well turn those results into more wins and a more sustainable challenge on Manchester City’s title defence next season. Solskjaer needs to address that issue swiftly and smartly. Andre Silva has done extraordinarily well to rise up from the dark periods in his career to become currently one of the most ruthless finishers in Europe.

With Manchester United looking to add more potency to their weaponry this summer, there’s no doubt that if Silva does indeed end up at Old Trafford for next season, his abilities in front of goal may well be more complemented through a wealth of attacking talents for him to work with and efficiently feed off next season.

Manchester United must act while the iron in Andre Silva’s career is finally heating up.

For the first time in a long while, there isn’t a Liverpool player represented in the England squad for this month’s international friendlies. Is there a need to state the obvious reason? Well, to put it plainly, Liverpool have endured a poor campaign, domestically at least.

Currently, champions Liverpool sit seventh place in the Premier League, twenty-five points behind leaders Manchester City who are running away with a title Liverpool worked effortlessly last year to lift for the first time in 30-odd years. This is historically the worst title defence in English top-flight history, even toppling Manchester United’s post-Fergie defence during the 2013/14 Premier League under David Moyes.

Joe Gomez and Jordan Henderson are of course part of that “squad” on the treatment table, and would have obviously been had they been fully fit. Certainly, a few familiar faces have missed out on receiving Southgate’s call, while others can rejoice at their first cap.

However, the most surprising name missing from the squad is Champions’ League and Premier League winner, Trent-Alexander Arnold.

It’s a decision that has raised a whole host of eyebrows, and not just those around Merseyside.

Gareth Southgate will not have made this decision lightly. However, the England coach says he took the difficult decision to drop Trent Alexander-Arnold because of the right-back’s struggles in his England squad as well as the decline in his performances for Liverpool this season.

The 22-year-old now finds himself behind Kieran Trippier and Reece James in the pecking order at right‑back and possibly also Kyle Walker, who Southgate has played as part of a three centre-back system.

The headlines centred around Southgate suggesting Alexander-Arnold’s club form has dipped this season compared to his two previous campaigns, is unquestionably true.

Whatever viewpoint fans hold towards Southgate’s decision, there can be no argument that its a brave and bold one. Most importantly, its a significant lesson that Southgate is putting across to every England youngster, that players will not be picked on reputation but on club form. If you have not been consistently playing at a high level for your club, there’s a high chance you won’t be picked.

The same cannot be said of Alexander-Arnold’s right-back rivals Kieran Trippier and Reece James who have both enjoyed fruitful seasons for both Atletico Madrid and Chelsea respectively. This is the attitude international coaches need to have, as players will strive to perform for their clubs to earn their England spot. 

Alexander-Arnold can of course feel aggrieved at his omission, but its a decision which is represented through his club’s currently plight so far this season. The numbers involving all three candidates for the right-wing back spot tells its own story, Reece James and Kieran Trippier richly deserve their spots.

Whilst Alexander-Arnold played a major role in Liverpool’s title winning success last season and the season before last, he has struggled for consistency during the current one.

Currently averaging a relatively underwhelming WhoScored match rating of 6.82, the defender has not performed as consistently and as well as Kieran Trippier (7.26) and Reece James (7.00). In comparison to the others, Trent Alexander-Arnold still holds a decent level in his attacking play for his club, shown through his 3 assists so far this season, but its nowhere near the numbers registered last campaign (4 goals, 13 assists).

However, his effect to Liverpool’s attacking play has of course maintained a decent level. He averages 1.7 key passes, 6.80 final third passes and 9.19 progressive passes (completed passes that moves the ball towards the opponent’s goal 10 yards from its furthest point, or passes into penalty area) per90 mins.

For a player of his technical qualities, you’d expect that from Alexander-Arnold, but when Liverpool have needed him to perform in his defending, he’s failed to convince. Klopp has had to suffer the anguish of putting his team out without the likes of Virgil Van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip and that will certainly have a ripping effect on nearly every top side in Europe, but the players that are left, need to step up in their absence.

It’s all well and great being brilliant in attack, but that must be backed up in defense too. It’s probably the main reason why Southgate hasn’t picked him for England and it was particularly evident in their win over Belgium last October where he struggled to cover the space behind him and failed to have an efficient effect in attack when it was needed the most. He was correctly replaced by Reece James in the final 10 minutes.

Meanwhile, Reece James has formed a significant part of Chelsea’s resurgence under Thomas Tuchel, especially in defence where they have kept eight league clean sheets in nine games since the German’s appointment. Kieran Trippier, has also played a massive role in Atletico Madrid’s rise to the top of La Liga this campaign, despite him being banned for a month. Still he’s managed to record six assists and become a solid element of Diego Simeone’s sturdy and rigid defence.

Reece James and Trippier have proven they can be relied upon in defence, and its an element Gareth Southgate will be paying stark attention too before England get their Euro 2020 campaign underway in June. When James, and Trippier have played for England, they’ve wholly impressed.

To get back in the squad, Trent will need to improve his defensive performances, he has only 2.71 tackles won + interceptions per 90 in comparison to Reece James (4.7) and Trippier (3.78). Also, for a player of Alexander Arnold’s size, he hasn’t performed in the air as well as his ground defensive duels, averaging just 0.20 aerial duel successes while James (1.57) and Trippier (1.94) trump him in that area also, despite both possessing short frames. It’s these small margins that Southgate will be looking at and spotting in his defenders. Trent Alexander-Arnold will know he needs to improve in those areas to have any chance of becoming England’s most trusted full-back.

There are no doubts, Alexander-Arnold is the most talented amongst his peers and could probably walk in this squad when he’s on song. He’s been an England success story ever since his surprise inclusion in the Russia 2018 squad and arguably the best right back in Europe let alone England. But selecting an England squad is not like picking a fantasy squad based on glamour and reputation, its about picking and developing a cohesive unit, a squad filled with players becoming a reliable presence in each of their unique roles.

Southgate admitted he needs to “look at himself” as to why he hasn’t got the best out of such a quality individual, but it won’t be right to lay the blame at the manager. Southgate has given the Liverpool full-back numerous opportunities over the past couple years, and for whatever reason, it hasn’t worked out. That’s for Trent Alexander-Arnold to solve.

For now though, Reece James and Kieran Trippier have performed admirably at every opportunity both at national and club level, so their inclusions at the expense of Trent-Alexander Arnold is very much justified.

If Alexander-Arnold desires a path back into the England spotlight, the ball is now in his court.

Gareth Southgate needs to prepare himself for a real selection headache in the coming months as England embark on their vital preparations for this summer’s rescheduled Euro 2020 competition.

England boast a whole wealth of attacking talents for Europe’s biggest international prize this summer and the next few months leading up his Euro 2020 squad announcement in May will provide Gareth Southgate with the solutions as to what formula will be required in order to give England the best chance of making their mark in the competition.

Based on England’s most recent encounters, Gareth Southgate has opted with the 3-4-3 formation – a system that provides solidity at the back as well as flexible and well-rounded approach going forward – as well as the customary 4-3-3 shape, a formation some of Europe’s most prestigious clubs currently use as a foundation for a possession-based approach.

Against Iceland in November – England’s last international match – Southgate went for the 3-4-3 formation which had Jack Grealish and Phil Foden either side of main striker, with the latter grabbing an impressive double – the first international goals of his career. One thing is for certain, Harry Kane will be Gareth Southgate’s main man at the Euros barring any late injuries.

The issues and questions facing Southgate, however, will be who lines up alongside Harry Kane to make up England’s attacking trio when their first game kicks off against Croatia on the 13th of June.

Based off on the season so far, two of Marcus Rashford, Raheem Sterling, Jack Grealish, Jadon Sancho and Phil Foden may well be lining up with Harry Kane this summer, but which one? All four players have enjoyed terrific seasons at their respective clubs so far this campaign, but only two of them can be chosen, so lets try and help Gareth Southgate solve this great problem.

What do the stats show?

The majority have been calling for Aston Villa’s Jack Grealish to get a guaranteed starting spot alongside Harry Kane and if you take a look at his stats for the season, he is the most creative out of Gareth Southgate’s abundance of riches. With 10 assists in the Premier League, Grealish has continued his delightful leadership of a team which depends heavily on his services.

Since his injury against Brighton in mid-February, Villa have not looked the same without his end product. Dean Smith’s side have only won once since Grealish’s injury, against Leeds at the end of last month, four games ago, and its pretty clear Villa need their star man back if they are to challenge once again for an unprecedented European spot. Nonetheless, Grealish has already shown he can be relied on at international level too. His performance in the 2-0 defeat against Belgium was awe-inspiring, proving why he should be one of the first names on Gareth Southgate’s team sheet.

Grealish has provided 3.45 key passes and 3.32 final third passes, that’s considerably more than his rivals for a starting spot this summer. For a long while, England have needed someone who is brave on the ball, and a player who likes to take the initiative when things aren’t going well for the team. Grealish fulfils all that in abundance, as shown in his 2.59 successful dribbles per 90 minutes. The Aston Villa superstar is actually amongst the top creators in Europe sitting at the same decorated table as Lionel Messi, Hakan Calhanoglu, Bruno Fernandes, Thomas Muller and Kevin De Bruyne.

The next creative star from the above graphic, you could argue is Borussia Dortmund’s Jadon Sancho who started the season pretty slowly but since the turn of the year has once again highlighted why he is ranked amongst the most creative wide players in Europe. Sancho has scored the same amount of goals against Grealish and provided one less than the Villa star, but yet he is arguably one of the most creative out of all of England’s creative assets. Like Aston Villa, Dortmund aren’t the same fluid and dangerous side without their star man.

Certainly, many have purred on the devastating abilities Erling Haaland and rightly so. Though, many forget that Jadon Sancho has assisted seven of Haaland’s goals so far this campaign which means he’s more than capable in providing for Harry Kane at the same rate for England. Sancho is a uniquely gifted forward, a player blessed with such tremendous on-the-ball skills, link-up plays but most of all, his almost telepathic understanding with strikers as deadly as Erling Haaland is just as impressive. He knows where Haaland wants the ball and he serves it on a plate for him. So why can’t he do the same for Harry Kane? Along with his superb average of 3.71 dribbles per 90 minutes, he’s also averaged 2.89 key passes and 2.54 final third passes per 90.

Against defences who are camped in their own half lining up in deep blocks when defending, Sancho and Grealish offer Southgate the most effective tools to breach such obstacles.

The stats clearly show Sancho and Grealish as England’s most creative outlets but none of those two provide the same rapid goal threat as Rashford and Sterling who are both performing at a similar level in front of goal in the Premier League with 0.34 and 0.39 goals per 90 respectively, which is considerably more compared to Sancho’s 0.31 goals and Grealish’s 0.27 per 90.

Nine goals each for Rashford and Sterling in the Premier League this season, and while they may not be as creative as Grealish and Sancho for their clubs – though, Rashford has registered seven assists for Manchester United – they are more reliable and trusted assets for Southgate. Both possess the pace, directness and unpredictability in their weaponry to trouble the most sturdy of defences in Europe. Both players have proven time and time again that they hold the valid tools needed to lead England when it matters most, if there is any proof, England’s UEFA Nations League victory away to Spain in 2018 is a fine exhibition.

Many will argue, that both Rashford and Sterling complement Harry Kane better than anyone else. As seen through Kane’s prowess this campaign, his ability to drop deep and find the likes of Hueng-Min Son and Lucas Moura with some unerring raking passes could well be a unique quality which Southgate uses to some effect this summer.

Both Rashford and Sterling are players who can operate beyond Kane, in their off-the-ball movement and the ability to locate open spaces to get on the end of his through balls. It was these ruthless combination plays which pierced expertly pierced through Spain’s back-line for Raheem Sterling’s opener and Marcus Rashford’s goal which put England 2-0 up on that night in 2018.

However, we cannot forget the incredible and unique abilities of Manchester City’s star boy Phil Foden who has somewhat enjoyed a remarkable, can we say, breakthrough season in City’s stunning rise to the top of the Premier League table.

The midfielder can be placed in the same bracket as James Maddison, Mason Mount and Jesse Lingard in that they are more or less attacking midfielders rather than the more traditional wingers like Sancho, Rashford, Grealish and Sterling. However, Guardiola has utilized Foden in the front-line for City, whether as a false-nine, a wide-left winger and an inside-right forward, he can of course make a strong case for a starting spot in June.

Six goals, five assists as well as 1.95 key passes per 90, 2.15 final third passes and 2.48 successful dribbles, Foden has flourished whenever he is tasked with the most complex of tasks under Guardiola’s instruction this season. Like Grealish and Sancho, Foden possesses the class and uniqueness to breach the most compact defences.

Foden’s two-goal performance against Iceland in November was simply superb. The bravery, courage and tenacity at which he performed both in attack and in his pressing showed even the most prestigious of international stages won’t be a step too far for him. He isn’t afraid to strut his stuff against the best of sides, though there are understandable doubts whether Southgate would throw him in from the start against Croatia. If his services are required, in the latter parts of that game or in the tournament, Foden is more than capable and reliable to make the telling difference.

Phil Foden is a gift Southgate simply cannot afford to ignore.

So, we’ve made the case for each of these incredibly talented forwards. The stats evidently show that Jack Grealish and Jadon Sancho are indeed the most creative, along with Phil Foden while Marcus Rashford and Raheem Sterling are the tried and trusted pairing, their speed and directness are just as key to Southgate’s 3-4-3 system so it will be difficult to ignore either of them. Southgate must strike a balance to find a more well-rounded and complementary approach with Kane spearheading the attack.

So why not unleash a creative outlet coupled with a more direct and pacey runner? It seems the more plausible and stable pairing. Take your pick, Gareth. No pressure.

My favoured pairing: Jack Grealish and Raheem Sterling.

A player brought up from humble beginnings. A footballer shaped and moulded through family tragedy, a player who never complains at performing under-the-radar while allowing his teammates to gather all the acclaim.

It’s always been an admirable example and quality of Kelechi Iheanacho’s career so far. His superb hat-trick against Sheffield United not only provided Leicester City fans a timely reminder of his abilities but also a telling optimism of the player he can become, especially with Leicester’s main man Jamie Vardy in the twilight of his career at the King Power.

Kelechi Iheanacho has always been perceived as a footballer who can achieve so much but yet flatters to decieve in equal measure. A footballer who merely scratches the surface.

There’s no doubt about it, when his tail is up he looks every bit the striker that many of the Leicester City faithful describe as arguably the deadliest finisher in front of goal at the club, and that’s a huge remark considering the spectacular goalscoring numbers Jamie Vardy has pulled up in recent seasons.

But that isn’t just any empty description and viewpoint, we’ve seen Iheanacho on the end of some superb finishes throughout his career, goals that will have been spoken about for weeks had Jamie Vardy or James Maddison gotten on the end of them.

Though, that says much about the player Iheanacho currently, a player touted for so much more when he’s on song, but yet still needs a major work, confidence and self-belief to maintain the sort of consistency levels Jamie Vardy possesses and ultimately become one of the best finishers in the English top-flight.

The time of describing 24-year-old Kelechi Iheanacho as an ‘underrated’ commodity surely must come to a halt, especially after his exploits in recent weeks. The Nigerian’s hat-trick, his first in the Premier League, against a hapless Sheffield United took his tally to five goals in his last three appearances. It is the first time has scored in three consecutive Premier League games in his career and he’s now also scored six in his last six Premier League outings.

Bar Harry Kane, there isn’t a striker currently enjoying such a rich vein of form in front of goal in the Premier League over the last few weeks other than Kelechi Iheanacho. Considering it took him 54 league appearances to register his previous five goals, there is no question that the Nigerian international is in the hottest streak of his Leicester City career.

Though, whatever run he seems to be on, he still maintains that shy, timid but yet humble character, and that is of course down to his modest upbringing. After his superb performance over Sheffield United, he dedicated his goals to all the mums on Mothers Day. The striker appeared visibly, emotional during his post match interview as he grasped the deserved match ball in his arms.

He said after the contest:

“I don’t know how to express this, but I am over the moon and delighted.

I thank God almighty for this day because I’ve been waiting for this day to come.

I’ve been working really hard and I’m really grateful to God.

I thank my teammates and my manager for helping me grow. I thank everyone in the club for helping me out and I’m happy for this day.

I’m going to use this opportunity to dedicate this hat-trick to all the mothers in the world. The ones who keep taking care of us. I wish them all a happy Mother’s Day.”

The striker’s mother, Mercy, died in 2013 after a battle with illness. In an interview he gave in 2015, he spoke of his upbringing and family trauma, stating that: “Everything I do, I do for my mum and my family – that’s what drives me.”

His goals against Sheffield United showed a player finally realising his worth to the Leicester City cause this season, and a player highlighting why he is more than just a bench player. It will be hard to see how Harvey Barnes and James Maddison get back into the line-up once they return from injury, and that’s a massive credit to the incredible efforts of Iheanacho at a time where Leicester have been plagued by unfortunate injuries. The Nigerian striker has indeed stepped up, but could there be more for him in this Leicester City team?

Micah Richards, a former teammate at Manchester City, said on the Monday Night Club on BBC Radio 5 Live Sport, that the striker needed to be more “selfish” and that he doesn’t “see him as an out-an-out goalscorer like Vardy” but his build-up and link play as the most impressive parts of his game, and that is of course true. The forward is excellent when picking up excellent pockets of space behind Jamie Vardy to either find his teammate or create something out of nothing. As well as scoring 10 goals in all competitions this season, he’s also provided three assists. The forward has also recorded on average this term, 1.36 key passes, 1.73 final third passes and 1.86 shot-creating actions per 90. He’s a valuable link-man.

Yet, he showed a whole other side to his game against Sheffield United. His first goal, a real poachers effort, driving into the box off some excellent instinctive movement to tap in Jamie Vardy’s pass. Iheanacho got his second from another Vardy assist, a superb pass which found him across the 12-yard box, this time powering a ruthless first time effort past Aaron Ramsdale. His third was the pick of the bunch, dropping into those dangerous pockets he usually operates in, receiving the ball from Wilfried Ndidi before unleashing an unstoppable drive from all of about 25-yards.

That’s the kind of ruthless and selfish edge his strike partner Jamie Vardy has lived off throughout his career in the Premier League, and one Iheanacho himself needs to pick up in order for him to fully fulfil his undoubted potential in front of goal. As stated earlier, on his day Iheanacho’s finishing is indeed unmatched, but he needs to maintain such levels with greater consistency, especially in a division as demanding as the Barclays Premier League.

Many have of course doubted whether the 24-year-old could become Leicester City’s main man up-top once Jamie Vardy finally hangs up his boots, and rightly so. Iheanacho has flattered to deceive at times, wasting chances and hesitating at opportunities that the best strikers would regularly feed off. However, the Nigerian is a player who can effect games at an alarming rate. In 76 starts in all competitions for Manchester City and Leicester, Iheanacho has been directly involved in 51 goals (37 goals, 14 assists). For a player who needs to be more “selfish”, that is unerring statistics.

But, and its a significant but, his performance against Sheffield United isn’t seen often enough. For example, a game Leicester needed to pick up three crucial points, against Crystal Palace in December, Iheanacho was nowhere to be found. Even the best strikers, when enduring a torrid afternoon, would still go on and effect games, the Nigerian put on a full-horror show and that’s why 60 of Iheanacho’s 116 appearances has come as a sub, and when he has started its mainly been in cup competitions. That was until Vardy had to step away for a short period to undergo hernia surgery.

Without Vardy, Iheanacho flattered to decieve. With him, the young striker has been immense. However, that needs to change. Iheanacho needs to get to a point where Rodgers can be confident and rely on him to effect games when Vardy isn’t around. That’s the next step up for him. Will he become Leicester City’s go-to man once Vardy does finally leave? That’s for Iheanacho to prove, though he will continue to have the belief of his manager who said after the Sheffield United game:

“Kelechi Iheanacho is a great guy and when he has been asked to come in he has performed.

Absolutely delighted for him to have got his hat-trick in the Premier League.

It’s a great achievement and all were very good team goals.”

For the foreseeable future, Iheanacho will not have to be “asked” to come in and cover when the squad is plagued by injuries, he’d need to deliver when the manager expects it of him.

For a player starting from humble beginnings, a player who desires for others to be in the limelight rather than himself, to be the best he can become he may have to tap into the selfish areas of his heart to take that next bold step in his career. He may well have finally come of age, but can he maintain it?