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Rangers will look to extend their lead at the top of the Premiership as they travel to face St Mirren on Sunday.

Heading into the weekend, the Gers sat at the summit of the table on 20 points, whilst tomorrow’s opponent’s were seventh and have only lost two of their opening nine matches.

Steven Gerrard’s team come into the game off the back of a 2-0 win over Danish side Brondby in the Europa League on Thursday night, so will he make any changes to the starting XI? We believe that one player he should bring into the fold is central midfielder Scott Arfield.

The experienced Scottish-born Canadian impressed during his cameo off the bench on Thursday, recording a SofaScore rating of 7.00 in 12 minutes. As per SofaScore, he won both of his duels, made one tackle and one interception, and provided one key pass as well as hitting the post with a good effort on goal.

It is time to forget about Steven Davis starting against St Mirren and Gerrard to unleash Arfield in midfield for the Gers. We published an article explaining why the 36-year-old should be axed from the starting XI after his disappointing performance against Brondby.

Arfield is a proven performer for Rangers and could come in to give the Northern Irishman a rest. Last season, the 32-year-old averaged a SofaScore rating of 6.85 in 28 games as he chipped in with four goals and five assists in the Premiership

During the campaign, Gerrard lauded the midfielder for what he offers in and out of position in the middle of the park, which hints at what he could bring to the side this weekend against St Mirren.

The Gers boss said: “Scott epitomises what we want. Out of possession he shows grit, he shows fight, he’s there for you and in possession, he’s always available. He stands up to be counted at important times, so we’re extremely happy with Scott at the moment.”

This highlights why Gerrard must unleash the £16k-per-week beast on Sunday to show what he can do with a first league start of the season. It would allow an underperforming Davis to have a rest and focus on getting back to his best in training, whilst also throwing a bone to Arfield to see if he can stake a claim for a regular starting berth for the Gers.

AND in other news, Gerrard could unearth McGregor 2.0 in Rangers gem who has shown “excellent progress”…

In January 2018, Wolverhampton Wanderers signed Spanish prospect at the time, Rafa Mir.

The Spaniard left La Liga Santander outfit Valencia to link up with former boss, Nuno Espirito Santo, who gave him his first-team debut against Swansea City in the FA Cup.

Mir’s time at Wolves was slow and uninspired.

After initially being shipped out on loan to Spanish second division side UD Las Palmas, he returned to England this time on loan to Championship rivals Nottingham Forest, where he struggled for minutes.

Forest and Mir agreed to end the loan spell early, which then saw the Spaniard immediately loaned out to SD Huesca for a season and a half.

His time in Huesca at this point was the most prominent of his career, as he found his goalscoring touch, netting 25 goals in 57 appearances for them across two campaigns.

It was his 13 goals in La Liga that proved most prominent.

Mir’s goalscoring efforts proved to be enough for Sevilla to come sniffing around, which saw the 6 foot 2 Spaniard depart the Old Gold, after making just four appearances in three years.

Sevilla forked out £13.7m to acquire his services, with Wolves most likely feeling as though they had the last laugh, after purchasing Mir from Valencia for just £1.5m.

Though this is a transfer that would soon come back to bite them, with Mir, who has been celebrated for his “very cheeky” play, proving himself as a steady top division striker, having bagged nine goals in 29 La Liga appearances for Sevilla this season.

Whilst his market value has only steadily increased, the 24-year-old has proven himself in a top division for what is now two seasons running.

Ironically, Wolves could do with a striker of Mir’s prominence, which will no doubt infuriate Old Gold fans for failing to give him a proper chance.

If he can better his goal tally next season, his current market value of £14.4m will surely soar which will make Wolves regret their decision even more.

In other news: Insider “absolutely amazed” by news coming from Wolves, it’ll have supporters worried

As per a report by Italian newspaper Corriere dello Sport, via Sport Witness, a Tottenham Hotspur transfer update has emerged involving AC Milan midfielder Franck Kessie.

The Lowdown: Tottenham eye Kessie move…

The 52-cap Ivory Coast star has been on managing director Fabio Paratici’s agenda for quite a while as Spurs reportedly eye his signing as a free agent next summer.

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The Milan midfielder is currently set to leave on a free as things stand, with his contract running down next summer amid claims that Tottenham are certainly interested in him. Paratici is reportedly eyeing top players for low fees as he aims to boost Antonio Conte’s chances of success at N17.

Now, as per Corriere dello Sport, a fresh update has emerged on Spurs’ interest.

The Latest: Kessie handles Spurs offer…

According to their information, relayed by Sport Witness, Kessie has ‘attractive proposals’ from both Tottenham and Paris-Saint Germain, reportedly a major factor as to why he hasn’t agreed a contract extension at the San Siro.

The 25-year-old is demanding €8m (£6.7m) per year while Milan can only offer €6m (£5.07m), with the Lilywhites’ offer apparently more enticing. It is also stated that both Spurs and PSG are ‘on pole’ for his signature.

The Verdict: Get it done…

Thriving further forward under Stefano Pioli last season, scoring 13 goals and four assists in Serie A, Kessie has continued in that vein of form over 2021/22 so far. With five goals across 13 Italian top-flight starts, that’s far more than any Spurs midfielder has managed by comparison, with Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg coming closest (two).

Despite being a natural defensive midfielder, the Ivorian could provide an extra degree of threat through the middle for Conte, and his signing on a pre-contract deal would certainly be a bargain.

In other news: Conte personally sets sights on signing £21m ‘top player’ with club now willing to sell, find out more here.

Wolves manager Bruno Lage has revealed the latest on injured defender Willy Boly’s status, with the Ivory Coast international having made just one appearance under the Portuguese this season.

What’s the latest?

Boly endured an injury-stricken 2021, playing just 11 games in all competitions across the calendar year and is yet to appear in the Premier League this season, having made just one appearance in the EFL Cup.

The 30-year-old most recently made the squad for Wolves’ 1-0 win at Brighton in mid-December, although another setback has ruled the defender out of action for the Golden Boys as well as for his native Ivory Coast at the African Cup of Nations.

Speaking to the media about Boly’s situation, Lage said: “He has some muscular problems and sometimes doesn’t feel comfortable with it. That’s why sometimes he is ready to play, then he starts training and feels a little pain.

“It’s important when you are in that position you feel ready and confident.

“This situation is not good for Boly, it’s not good for me and it’s not good for the club,” the 45-year-old added. “Every time he comes, he goes. He needs time to work, to prepare himself, because he was important in the past and can help the team to be better.

“He has a contract with us, and he’s a top player, and he stayed with us instead of going to the national team – it means something. He preferred to stay with us and recover. This is a good signal.”

Wolves fans will be gutted

The Ivorian is certainly a popular figure amongst the Molineux faithful, having played a major part in getting the West Midlands club back to the Premier League in the 2017/18 campaign, in which he made 36 Championship appearances.

Moreover, the 30-year-old was vital in Wolves’ first campaign back in the top-flight as he missed just two of their 38 league matches.

However, it now appears as though there is little room for the centre-back in the starting line up, that is with everyone available.

The regular trio of Conor Coady, Max Kilman and Romain Saiss has been a revelation this campaign, with Wolves the Premier League’s second-best defenders behind league leaders Manchester City, having conceded just 15 goals in 20 matches.

Boly will have to find a solution to his reoccurring issues, if not, it may prove to be the end of his tenure in the West Midlands. Considering his popularity among the fanbase, this is an eventuality that would leave the Molineux faithful gutted.

In other news – £33k-p/w Wolves gem, who created two big chances, stars in victory over Southampton

Celtic midfielder Tom Rogic has been ruled out of tonight’s Glasgow Derby with Rangers, Jo Hendry reports.

The Lowdown: Rogic in race against time

Rogic, who Ange Postecoglou labelled as ‘special’, has made 31 appearances this season, contributing to 12 goals.

The Aussie has been away representing his country and featured against Vietnam last Thursday and Oman on Tuesday in World Cup qualifiers.

Postecoglou recently held out hope of having the playmaker available in green and white this evening, but his participation against Oman yesterday has seemingly ruled him out of featuring tonight.

The Latest: Hendry’s post

Hendry took to Twitter on Tuesday afternoon following Postecoglou’s pre-match press conference.

She relayed confirmation from Postecoglou that Rogic is ruled out of the Celtic Park clash and once again stated that Kyogo Furuhashi is weeks away from a return.

The Verdict: Postecoglou now has options

If this game took place when it was initially scheduled for, then Postecoglou could have been in a bit of bother without Rogic.

However, he brought in three midfield additions in the New Year, with Reo Hatate and Matt O’Riley catching the eye in their early displays.

Therefore, with Hatate and O’Riley and Callum McGregor also having a chance of featuring, Postecoglou has more than enough in midfield at his disposal to get a first win over Rangers and take the Hoops back to the top of the Scottish Premiership.

In other news: ‘I can tell you…’ – BBC Radio 5 Live man shares key on-air info on ‘unbelievable’ Celtic ace. 

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Liverpool moved back into top spot in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon following their 0-0 draw against Manchester United, but there weren’t too many positives to draw from the game for Jurgen Klopp.

What’s the word?

The Reds once again struggled to discover their electric touch at the weekend. A meek attacking performance from a typically devastating front three ensured a quiet afternoon for David De Gea, but Alisson had to stay fully alert to keep his side level.

United also struggled to create clear cut opportunities throughout the game, but a clever through ball from Romelu Lukaku appeared to have opened the door for Jesse Lingard to break the deadlock in the first-half.

However, just as the England international looked set to round Liverpool’s stopper and tap into an empty net, Alisson stretched out his arm to intercept the ball and save what looked a certain goal.

It was a game-defining moment which enabled the visitors to clinch a point, and BBC Sport pundit Garth Crooks was eager to pay tribute to the Brazilian for his save in his team of the week column.

‘The save by Alisson as Jesse Lingard tried to take the ball around the Brazil international was a game-changer at Old Trafford.’

Crooks went on to add: ‘Liverpool went top of the table on Sunday all because of Alisson’s moment of sheer brilliance.’

Alisson could match Premier League’s best

Liverpool’s number one has been in inspired form since he arrived at Anfield from Roma in the summer and his latest showing will only serve to enhance his growing reputation amongst the supporters.

In tightly-contested fixtures it’s imperative that goalkeepers remain alert during spells when their services are effectively redundant, and Alisson proved that he possesses an elite level of concentration by anticipating Lingard’s attempt to dribble past him.

It was a moment of pure genius which is typically reserved for the top players in world football and, if he continues to showcase that level of quality between the sticks, there is no doubt he can establish himself on a level with David De Gea and Ederson in the coming years.

Leeds United are reportedly interested in making a move for Reading midfielder John Swift, with a host of other clubs also in the mix.

The Lowdown: Swift impresses for Reading

The 26-year-old has arguably been one of the standout players in the Championship so far this season, despite the Royals sitting 16th in the table. He has scored eight goals and registered seven assists in 17 appearances, bringing a huge amount of end product from the middle of the park.

His performances may soon lead to him getting a move to the Premier League, if a fresh report is to be believed.

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The Latest: Leeds linked with move

According to The Sheffield Star, Leeds are one of the clubs who are ‘considering bids’ for Swift, who won 13 caps for England’s under-21s in the past.

Burnley and Wolves are also credited with interest, but Sheffield United have pulled out of the race, acknowledging that interest from the Premier League trio would make it near-impossible for the Blades to capture him.

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The Verdict: Good squad addition

It can be easy to turn your nose up at the thought of Leeds signing a Championship player, but Swift is in a rich vein of form and he could provide Marcelo Bielsa with greater squad depth.

His aforementioned goal and assist contribution is highly impressive and could give the Whites an added threat in the final third, something they have perhaps lacked this season with 2020/21 top scorer Patrick Bamford being laid low with injury. Also, at the age 26, the Reading maestro still has time to improve even further.

Much like Leeds-linked winger Lewis O’Brien, Swift might not necessarily come in as a key player straight away but he could be a handy addition in January, being described as ‘fantastic’ by Veljko Paunovic recently.

In other news, Leeds are reportedly keen on signing a striker – find out who it is here.

Newcastle United defender Emil Krafth was an unsung hero for manager Eddie Howe in their win over Leicester City in the Premier League.

The Magpies’ fine run of form under the Englishman continued as they took another big leap towards safety with a 2-1 victory over the Foxes, courtesy of a last-gasp winner from winter signing Bruno Guimaraes, who bagged a brace on the day.

He cancelled out Ademola Lookman’s 19th-minute opener on the half-hour mark before heading home a bounced ball from Joe Willock in stoppage time late in the second half at St James’ Park.

The Brazilian powerhouse will take much of the plaudits but it really was a team effort from Howe’s men, with the Swedish defender arguably standing out amongst his peers.

He was an absolute colossus defensively and tried to contribute going forward from the right-back role, too.

Shields Gazette reporter Dominic Scurr waxed lyrical about Krafth’s input in his post-match ratings column, where he graded the 27-year-old an eight out of ten – the same as Guimaraes, and wrote:

‘Had a couple of shaky moments but more than made up for them with some crucial blocks and challenges to keep Leicester at bay. His best performance of the season. Booked.’

Indeed, no Magpies player had more touches than the former Amiens man as he registered 61 touches, some eight more than the next best, Joelinton (53).

Meanwhile, further back, Krafth registered a whopping seven tackles, which was more than anyone else on the pitch in the northeast, and he also recorded three interceptions, one clearance and he won 80% of his battles, as per SofaScore.

The £57k-per-week ace also drew further praise from other journalists following the match – Newcastle World reporter Liam Kennedy dubbed him “immense”, whilst ChronicleLive’s Mark Carruthers claimed he had a “really solid game” up against “two tricky opponents.”

On the above evidence, the Sweden international was certainly one of the unsung heroes for Howe against the Foxes. He, and the Magpies faithful, can be proud of that display, that’s for sure.

AND in other news, Bid made: PIF in negotiations for £83m “diamond”, he’d be a huge coup for Newcastle…

Leeds United youngster Mateusz Bogusz has suffered a cruciate ligament injury during his loan spell at Ibiza, as The Athletic’s Phil Hay shared the news on Monday.

The Lowdown: Bogusz impresses on loan

The 20-year-old moved to the Spanish side on a temporary basis last summer and has impressed in the Segunda Division, scoring four times in 20 appearances and adding seven assists.

Bogusz scored a stunning long-range strike that did the rounds on Twitter earlier in the season, outlining the natural ability that the Pole possesses.

His form has been so good in fact that some have even called for Marcelo Bielsa to cut the temporary move short and bring Bogusz home in an effort to solve the injury crisis running rampant at Elland Road.

The Leeds man’s season has now been cut short in heartbreaking fashion, however, in what is a cruel blow.

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The Latest: Youngster suffers ACL injury

Taking to Twitter on Monday, Hay shared that Bogusz has suffered ACL damage and won’t play again in 2021/22, effectively ending his time at Ibiza:

“A damaged ACL has ended Mateusz Bogusz’s season on loan at Ibiza. Set to undergo surgery.”

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The Verdict: Huge blow for midfielder

This is a massive setback for a player really enjoying his football, acting as a blow to Leeds, and more importantly, Bogusz himself.

Spanish media have described Bogusz’s performances as ‘outstanding’ (Sport Witness) and Leeds midfielder Mateusz Klich has even claimed the youngster has the ability to become superior to himself in the coming years.

He was picking up valuable playing time and performing well ahead of a likely return to Elland Road in the summer – or perhaps even earlier – and a chance to kick on under Bielsa. Instead, a long spell on the sidelines now awaits.

All Leeds can do is hope he will return the same player once he recovers.

In other news, a journalist has made a big claim regarding Marcelo Bielsa’s future. Read more here.

Tottenham Hotspur are left with work to do in their final Europa Conference League group game after they endured an embarrassing evening in Slovenia.

Antonio Conte’s recorded his first loss since taking over from Nuno Santo as his side were agonisingly beaten by NS Mura in the final minutes of the game.

Tommy Horvat fired in a world-class opener from long range for the home side after just 11 minutes before Spurs wing-back Ryan Sessegnon received his marching orders for two calamitous and rash yellow cards by the 31st-minute mark.

In the second half, the Italian made vast changes and it looked to have paid off when his pair of substitutes Lucas Moura and Harry Kane combined for an equaliser in the 72nd minute.

But with seconds left on the clock, Amadej Marosa powered through Spurs’ messy backline to condemn them to a shocking, shocking loss.

Sessegnon, who was massively talked up by Conte during the pre-game build-up, badly let the manager and his side down with his erratic short-lived display.

“I can’t wait to see his performance because he’s a talented player, very young with great space for improvement,” the 52-year-old told reporters in his press conference.

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There were plenty of superlatives used to describe his red card from the press, ranging from “daft” by football.london’s Alasdair Gold to “stupid” by the Evening Standard’s Dan Kilpatrick but perhaps the most accurate came from The Athletic’s Charlie Ecclesshare, who claimed it was “really needless.”

Indeed, it was. And the 21-year-old gem will have it all to do to convince his manager that he can be trusted again this campaign.

As per SofaScore, Sessegnon was graded at an abysmal 5.1 rating – comfortably the worst of any player on the pitch – and during his 36 minutes, he managed only eight passes and 16 touches, fewer than even goalkeeper Pierluigi Gollini (19 passes, 25 touches).

He also lost 80% of his five duels, showing just how much he struggled with the lowly Slovenian minnows.

After being talked up so much ahead of kick-off and then named as a starter a few days in advance, the England U21 international very much let Conte down, so it would be a surprise to see him involved again anytime soon.

An absolute nightmare and disaster evening for the young lad.

AND in other news, Fabio Paratici could seal Spurs’ best signing since Son with £45m-rated “world-beater”…