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West Ham continue to disappoint their supporters this season with lacklustre performances resulting in their current battle at the bottom end of the table.

Slaven Bilic superbly masterminded an impressive 2-2 draw with Liverpool on Sunday, but now the Hammers have two crucial home games against relegation-threatened opposition (Burnley and Hull) which could have a major say on the rest of their season.

Burnley visit the London Stadium hoping to claim three points against the Irons to not only push themselves away from the drop zone but also to continue to heap more misery on their rivals.

In recent weeks, both teams have been involved in some bitter defeats with neither becoming accustomed to winning on a regular basis. However, at the London Stadium, West Ham surely go into the contest as firm favourites.

For Bilic to overcome Sean Dyche’s Burnley, he must pick this starting XI…

GK: Darren Randolph

Many West Ham supporters were doubtful regarding Darren Randolph’s ability to perform at the level required in Premier League football.

The goalkeeper has been sensational in his three games this season and against Liverpool he further showcased his talent.

Randolph must produce another top quality performance to inspire victory for the Irons over Burnley.

RB: Michail Antonio

England international Antonio requires just one more headed goal to break the record for most goals scored via headers in a calendar year (11).

He netted against Liverpool when playing up top, but tonight Bilic should call upon the 26-year-old to play at right-back as injuries continue to hamper the progression of the Hammers.

CB: Angelo Obgonna

With James Collins still a doubt to make the clash with Burnley, Italian international Angelo Ogbonna must continue.

Ogbonna has become a steady influence in Bilic’s defence and his physicality could aid in their attempts to contain Burnley’s hit-man Sam Vokes.

A clean-sheet remains Bilic’s top priority and Ogbonna is best suited to delivering what is required by the Croatian manager.

CB: Winston Reid

Reid is nearing his best form for the Hammers, but there are still improvements that could be made.

Against Burnley, Reid may be crucial to the Hammers in both defending and attacking set-pieces and his involvement in both boxes may prove a deciding factor.

LB: Aaron Cresswell

Liverpool-born Cresswell continues to develop into one of the best left-backs in the Premier League, and his loss to injury was a significant blow to Bilic and also contributed to the club’s recent slump in results.

Cresswell could provide the necessary width to stretch a solid Burnley team.

CM: Mark Noble

Unlike many other Hammers players, Noble has felt the pain of relegation having suffered the drop with the club in 2011.

He’s the one player in the side, more than any, that will not want to finish in the bottom three and games like Burnley at home are those in which Noble tends to thrive.

CM: Edimilson Fernandes

The young Swiss midfielder continues to gain many plaudits for his incredible potential. Having signed in the summer from FC Sion, Bilic is yet to provide Fernandes with his chance to impress in the first-team regularly.

Against Burnley, preventing Steven Defour and Jeff Hendrick from having any influence will be vital.

CAM: Manuel Lanzini

Bilic must soon consider the Argentine midfielder as not good enough for the first-team if he continues to produce performance below the par he set last season.

Lanzini’s impact on the Hammers’ campaign has been minimal, so it’s time for him to shape up and influence games like he used to.

RW: Andre Ayew

As of yet, Andre Ayew hasn’t repaid any of the faith or more importantly the £20.5million fee paid for him to join the Hammers this summer.

A long-term injury suffered against Chelsea on the opening day of the season damaged the momentum of Ayew, but now against Burnley, he must prove his critics wrong and ensure his build-up play is exceptional.

LW: Dimitri Payet

Payet’s performance against Liverpool was precisely what the doctor ordered.

Bilic will be desperate for Payet to produce another world-class 90-minutes or at least be influential in the Burnley box tonight

ST: Andy Carroll

The return to fitness of Andy Carroll couldn’t have come at a better time. His directness and ariel ability look set to cause severe problems to the Burnley back four if the appropriate service is delivered.

Carroll scored on his last appearance at the London Stadium and another goal would be ideal.

After Everton’s FA Cup Third Round defeat at the hands of Leicester, Ronald Koeman demanded in his post-match comments that the club make some signings in January.

After the game he said:

“I know what is needed to change,

“If everybody opened his eyes maybe we will get further in our improvement – because that is what this team needs.”

And it seems as if Koeman has got his wish with the news that Morgan Schneiderlin is close to signing for the Toffees in a deal worth upwards of £20m.

The France international’s name has repeatedly cropped up as a potential transfer for Everton in January and the Merseysiders have seemingly got their man after the fee was agreed between themselves and his current club Manchester United.

Everton seem to have suffered disappointment in trying to land Schneiderlin’s soon to be former team-mate Memphis Depay, though. Although the Dutchman is struggling to get first-team football at Old Trafford, Jose Mourinho is not prepared to let the former PSV Eindhoven midfielder go out on loan this month.

But that set-back has not deterred the Toffees in their hunt for new personnel and with a return to Old Trafford, they are now set to add Schneiderlin to their ranks. With the 27-year-old making the short move from Manchester to Merseyside it means the Red Devils will not quite get recoup the £25m they paid Southampton back in 2015.

A failed signing from the Louis van Gaal era, Koeman seems ready to put a lot of trust in him. The move to Everton will mean that player and manager once will again link up after their time together at Southampton. These two may have only worked together for a season, but it was Schneiderlin’s performances in that time that not only led the Saints to a Europa League place but also attracted Manchester United.

With Ademola Lookman also joining the club, it seems as if the transfer funds that have been promised by majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri are finally starting to be spent. Although from Koeman’s and Everton fans’ point of view it will be a shame that it has taken a cup exit to kick them into gear.

But the signing of Schneiderlin is certainly one that should be heralded as exciting and the hope will be that he shows the form that earned him that move to Old Trafford in the first place. With regular first-team football, you would imagine that is a realistic prospect and Everton will soon reap the rewards.

And with two new signings under Everton’s belt, the question you have to ask now is whether this is the last bit of transfer business we see at Goodison Park this month, or will there be more new faces?

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Anthony Martial moved to Old Trafford under some fanfare and perhaps the same amount of surprise. That is because Manchester United forked out nearly £50m on the then 19-year-old to make him the most expensive teenager in the world.

Brought to the club by Louis van Gaal last August, there was a lot of expectation for the former Monaco forward and you would have to say he matched it with 11 goals in 31 Premier League appearances last season. A one-in-three goal ratio in what was a somewhat stuttering season overall for United.

But this season, life in Manchester has not been the same for the France international and that is because of one man in particular – Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Martial’s nose was already put out of joint when he had to give up the number 9 shirt for the mercurial Swede, but now Martial’s preferred centre forward position is also in the firm possession of the former PSG forward.

Martial has made 11 Premier League appearances this season with the majority of them coming in a wide role, but it’s fair to say that Martial has not flourished in that role. His efforts have delivered just the solitary goal as Martial looks to be dealing with his own dose of ‘Second Season Syndrome.’

Although Martial can play wide, he is much more suited to a central role, one that he is not going to get while Ibrahimovic is at the club. When Ibrahimovic is fit, he starts, it’s as simple as that, and that means Martial has to be shoehorned out wide.

The question now for Martial is this; if he bides his time and the days of Ibrahimovic come to an end around two years time, then you would have to imagine that he would once again be trusted with leading the line for Manchester United, but does Martial want to wait that long to get his big opportunity?

If he doesn’t then there will be no shortage of clubs that would want to acquire his services. Three times Europa League winners Sevilla have given up their annual bid to win the trophy after qualifying for the Champions League knockout stages and are now looking to make some key additions to their squad in the New Year, with Martial reportedly high on their wish list.

After the loss of Unai Emery to PSG in the summer, many felt that this talented Sevilla squad would fall away but if anything, they have seemingly improved under the tutelage of Jorge Sampaoli. The former Chile manager has led Sevilla to third place in La Liga going into the winter break and you cannot rule them out of the title race just yet.

With that being the case, they will look to add more firepower to their starting XI in a bid to keep pace with both Real Madrid and Barcelona at the top of table and, more importantly, they could offer Martial a guaranteed first team place each week.

Some quarters will say that Martial should be prepared to be patient and bide his time at Old Trafford but you don’t pay £50m for a teenager just to let them sit on the bench. He already has full international honours and having just turned 21, he will now be looking for regular game time in his most favoured position.

If impatience gets the better of him then he may well feel that a move from Old Trafford would suit him best. While Jose Mourinho may well be over enamoured with Zlatan Ibrahimovic right now, he will do well to remember what other talents he has at his disposal but, if he is not careful, that talent may well just slip through his fingers.

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In one of the most confusing stories to have emerged during this transfer window, Liverpool face losing Mamadou Sakho for six matches due to the African Cup of Nations- despite the fact the Cameroonian ace is still on Merseyside.

What’s the word?

Brace yourselves, this may get confusing. Liverpool were forced to withdraw Joel Matip from their squad to face Manchester United this weekend due to uncertainty in his eligibility, after the defender turned down a call-up to the African Cup of Nations.

The 25-year-old was included in Cameroon’s preliminary squad for the international tournament in Gabon but declined the call-up, instead deciding to stay at Anfield. However, Liverpool are unsure of whether he can feature for the club without incurring a ban.

What’s FIFA said?

In a statement, FIFA said:

“We can confirm that Liverpool FC contacted Fifa about the matter. Our services answered by directing the club to the applicable provisions.”

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“A player who has been called up by his association for one of its representative teams is, unless otherwise agreed by the relevant association, not entitled to play for the club with which he is registered during the period for which he has been released or should have been released pursuant to the provisions of this annexe, plus an additional period of five days.”

What next for Liverpool?

Well, the situation has left Liverpool at a bit of a crossroads. Jurgen Klopp’s men could wait until five days after Cameroon are eliminated from the AFCON, which could see Matip miss up to six matches- which includes the FA Cup fourth-round, should Liverpool progress.

That situation would only occur if Cameroon were to reach the final of the international tournament but Klopp’s side could opt for the second option- which could result in a suspension, if FIFA deem it worthy.

The Telegraph reports Klopp will recall Matip for the FA Cup third-round replay with Plymouth, which would result in a FIFA investigation and a suspension, if world football’s governing body deem it worthy.

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Sunderland are eyeing an last-gasp swoop for Leicester City ace Leonardo Ulloa before tomorrow evening’s transfer deadline, The Evening Chronicle reports.

What’s the word?

After failing with a move for the 31-year-old forward on Deadline Day last summer, David Moyes’ Sunderland are reviving their interest in the Argentine striker once again as they look to bolster their squad for the relegation fight.

With the Black Cats set to receive £14m from Crystal Palace for Patrick Van Aanholt, Moyes will have some funds to invest into his side. Although the reports of a price for the striker were conflicting on Sunday, Sky Sports reported this morning than an offer of just £3m was rejected.

Moyes will have to improve his offer but he’s set for a difficult end to the transfer window, as limited funds will make it difficult for him to tick off a new striker, a replacement for Van Aanholt and a creative midfielder from his shopping list.

Will Leicester sell?

Just like last summer, Leicester City do not want to see Ulloa leave the King Power Stadium but their hand may be forced by the player’s wishes, as the Argentine has handed in a transfer request whilst he’s agent has been highly critical of Claudio Ranieri.

Starting just one Premier League game this season, it’s easy to see why Ulloa wants to leave. However, it’s easy to see Leicester’s stance too as there is a danger they could lose Islam Slimani to China- with reports last week suggesting a bid just shy of £40m could be made.

Leicester have their own relegation battle to worry about and will also have to prepare for the Champions League’s return this month, where they face Sevilla in the Round of 16.

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One of the more intriguing encounters in this weekend’s Scottish Cup action is the visit of Aberdeen to Ross County. Both sides are capable of big performances on their day and this one could steal the show across an already exciting weekend.

Jim McIntyre already has one over on Derek McInnes in Dingwall this season, also inspiring his side to a home win over the Dons last term.

Consistency is often Ross County’s problem but as shown in last season’s Scottish League Cup, they do have the quality and desire to play above themselves and achieve major silverware.

They showed that kind of spirit last weekend too, when they went to Ibrox and picked up a massive point against Mark Warburton’s Rangers.

Aberdeen though are in fine form and have only lost one of their last seven – even that came against the seemingly invincible Celtic.

Where will this one be won and lost? Here are the THREE key battles that will define the outcome of this cup clash…

Liam Boyce vs. Andrew Considine

Liam Boyce has played a number of roles this season; on the right, on the left, through the middle. The chances are though at some point he’s going to butt heads with Andrew Considine who himself can be deployed on the right side or in the centre.

Boyce is taking the Scottish Premiership by storm this season. With 13 goals and 3 assists, he’s rubbing shoulders with the likes of Scott Sinclair and Moussa Dembele in terms of domestic contribution.

The Northern Ireland striker will be a constant threat against Aberdeen and in Considine he will come up against one of the most experience defenders around.

A 14-year veteran of Aberdeen, the versatile defender has made close to 400 appearances for the Dons and he’s not even 30 years old. That wealth of experience will serve him well in Dingwall and he’ll need to be at the top of his game to see off the likes of Liam Boyce and Alex Schalk.

Marcus Fraser vs. Niall McGinn

Like Liam Boyce, fellow countryman Niall McGinn is having an excellent season in Scotland. With twelve goals in all competitions, he’s arguably been Aberdeen’s most effective attacking outlet this season.

Depending on how Ross County shape up, the man most likely to be tasked with counteracting his threat is young defender Marcus Fraser. The 22-year-old has managed to forge a fine career for himself at County and his performance at Ibrox last weekend showed he has what it takes to excel in the Scottish top-flight.

Going up against Aberdeen will be one of the toughest tests of Fraser’s season so far but another impressive showing from the Scotland U21 international will go a long way to securing victory for the Staggies, especially if it neutralises the threat of Aberdeen’s most dangerous player.

Tim Chow vs. Kenny McLean

Kenny McLean is one of the Scottish top flight’s most impressive midfielders and has been ever since his days at St. Mirren. Under Derek McInnes at Aberdeen, he’s developed into a fine player and his ability was recognised by Scotland boss Gordon Strachan last year when he won his first Scotland cap against Czech Republic.

A key component of the Dons system, especially going forward, it will be up to English midfielder Tim Chow who has been the defensive fulcrum in the heart of the County engine room in recent weeks.

Chow came through the ranks at Wigan and also happened to be a hero in the last round against Dundee United, scoring County’s third goal in a 6-2 rout.

Whoever wins this battle stands a very good chance of being the most influential player on the pitch.

Italian giants Juventus are ready to rival Arsenal on the transfer market for the services of Monaco ace Kylian Mbappe, Bleacher Report states.

What’s the word?

Following impressive performances for Ligue 1 leaders Monaco this season, 18-year-old Kylian Mbappe has become highly-coveted and interest will have risen further following the youngster’s performance against Manchester City, where he netted an impressive goal in Monaco’s 5-3 defeat.

Despite the loss, Monaco are in a great position for the second-leg at the Stade Louis II and plenty of eyes will be cast upon Kylian Mbappe, who has reportedly grabbed the attention of Juventus and is also a target for Arsenal.

Any potential suitors will have to pay a large fee for his services though, with Monaco not prepared to listen to anything less than £36m up-front- and add-ons in the deal could bump that price higher, potentially to around the £60m Manchester United paid for Anthony Martial.

Who else wants him?

It’s not just Juventus and Arsenal chasing Mbappe’s signature though and there is considerable interest from the Gunners’ Premier League rivals, as Bleacher Report attributes Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United as keeping tabs.

Arsenal embarked on the quest for Mbappe’s signature early, with their interest first reported in December, and their quest to land the signing will be tough as it would likely require making Mbappe one of the most expensive signing in the club’s history, potentially surpassing the £35m paid for Alexis Sanchez and the £42.5m spent on Mesut Ozil.

Premier League clubs could all miss out though, as it’s added Mbappe could prove himself in Italy or Spain before moving to England.

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Since the arrival of Jurgen Klopp, Daniel Sturridge has really struggled to make a name for himself at Anfield.

Despite impressing under Brendan Rodgers, a succession of injury issues aligned disappointingly with a struggle to regain his form, and his role under Klopp has reduced as time has gone on.

He is now rarely a feature in the starting XI for the Reds, and Jurgen Klopp recently admitted his plan to discuss Sturridge’s future at the end of the season, with his role in the first team unlikely to increase.

As a result, we decided to ask the fans what they thought of the situation, and more specifically, whether they thought that Sturridge should be sold at the end of the season.

The results were certainly convincing, with a whopping 76% of fans in agreement that Sturridge should be moved on this summer, with just 24% wanting Klopp to give him another chance.

Whilst the fans are seemingly in agreement, there is certainly an element of risk for the Liverpool manager as he ponders a summer move for Sturridge. The Reds aren’t blessed with offensive depth, and unless the German can bring in a few more strikers at the end of the season, the sale of Sturridge could leave his side short up top.

There is also the chance that Sturridge could, somehow, regain his form – and there will certainly be a sense of regret at Anfield should he do that after he leaves the club.

It is a tough call for Jurgen Klopp, but there is no doubting what the fans want. See the full poll results below.

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When Mark Clattenburg leaves these shores for life in the middle East, the Premier League will be in something of a bind: it’s hard to know exactly who the next best referee is, and losing a man who only last year refereed the finals of the FA Cup and the Champions League in consecutive weeks is a big blow.

Michel Oliver, though, is a name that stands out. And perhaps that’s why he’s been handed the Premier League’s biggest game this weekend.

Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola are two of the league’s most animated managers, and whilst a game of this magnitude is always likely to rest on key decisions, both will be keen to get whatever advantage they can.

As for the game itself, it is likely to be a fast paced one with a lot of high pressing and borderline decisions, but Oliver is unlikely to be too swayed by the gravity of the game or the fact that many of his decisions could be crucial.

One of the ways we know this is because of his low red card rate. His stats show that he is unlikely to send anyone off, and his management of the game is usually outstanding in this regard – his yellow card rate is average, but he gives a red card only once every 10 games, meaning that he knows when to give a card to settle a fiery game, and that he knows when to calm players down when necessary.

One stat that does stand out, though, is the amount of times that Oliver presides over games that the away team win.

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It shouldn’t be surprising that a referee’s stats would be skewed slightly in favour of the home team as home teams usually win, and that means away teams usually make more tackles and fouls. But the percentage of away wins in Oliver’s games is very low, and although that may well be a coincidence, it also probably means that Liverpool should be wary of going in too hard on City’s players.

Even if City are rattled by a high press and players willing to tackle with physicality, Oliver is a referee who takes the sting out of the game. If Liverpool are to rattle City, they can’t let that happen, and that means they need to be smart about how they tackle, especially with a referee who likes the game to be under his control at all times.

Only two English players have scored as many Premier League goals as Jermain Defoe this season: Harry Kane and Dele Alli. Kane is injured, Alli is a guaranteed starter, and Defoe has been called up to the England squad. This all seems like sensible, expected news.

Defoe is still one of Europe’s best finishers and has kept a weak Sunderland team in with a chance of avoiding relegation. Yet he is 34 years of age. If there was a tournament being played this coming summer his selection would make unavoidable sense. A short-term solution to a short-term problem.

But there is no tournament. Instead there are qualifiers and friendlies for England to experiment with. His quality is not in question – nor should it ever be – but Defoe is not going to be playing for England by the time the next European Championship rolls around in 2020, and even his availability for the 2018 World Cup in Russia is questionable.

Gareth Southgate’s hands are tied when it comes to calling up strikers, however. Troy Deeney and Andre Gray are the only other English strikers to have scored eight or more league goals, although neither were in genuine contention for a place. Defoe has scored 14 in a team that has struggled far more than Watford or Burnley, so to put their returns on the same page as his are to do the former Toronto FC striker a disservice.

Andy Carroll has scored six times and the injured Callum Wilson six too. To give some context, Etienne Capoue has scored five Premier League goals this season. There is a dearth of English strikers who are scoring goals at a prolific rate and, assuming that players in the Championship are unlikely to be considered, Southgate’s selection of Defoe is a reflection of that. Even Jamie Vardy has scored only eight goals this season. The injury to Kane means England are far from full strength anyway, and Marcus Rashford finds his way to the senior squad as one of very few players who even have the potential to become a key player for England.

Defoe might not have made the England squad had it not been for injuries to Kane and Wayne Rooney, but the fact that Rooney remains an almost certain selection speaks volumes for the state of the national squad and reasons for his place in the team. His performances have fluctuated, but largely not been impressive, his reputation and experience is keeping him in contention. English forwards are not being produced to the class of Defoe, which leaves the door open for his return to the international scene.

If his performances next season match this year’s, then talk of Defoe’s age will be irrelevant. He will, at the very least, be a brilliant option from the bench for Southgate at the World Cup. The fact that his inclusion when only two players (one of whom should arguably not be picked anyway) are out injured is such an obvious one is an indictment of English football’s lack of striking talent. Rooney’s injury sees Defoe picked as the next in line, but Southgate needs better options, and one injury surely can’t justify such a backwards step.

England should be drafting through the latest cohort of strikers, but instead they have been forced to turn to a 34-year-old veteran when the planning should be for a tournament that is over 12 months away. That is not Defoe’s fault – he deserves great praise for impressing sufficiently for force his way back into the squad while at Sunderland – but it should be a warning of where England’s options currently are in comparison to many of their European rivals.

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