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It is normal for a player who has spent their entire career playing in the Premier League to want to stay there for as long as possible, but when Frank Lampard left Chelsea after 13 successful years he really should have chosen a different league to continue his football.

At the very least he should have joined a small, struggling club like Rio Ferdinand did but under no circumstances do you move to a rival.

Lampard had some free time between leaving Chelsea and the start of America’s MLS season. The midfielder had a contract to join up with New York City FC whose parent-club just so happened to be the Blues top four rivals Manchester City so Lampard secured a deal to play for the Northern club and has been doing so for the past nine months.

When he joined City they were the current Premier League holders and were hopeful of retaining their title but Lampard’s old team Chelsea quickly ran away with that honour, meaning that the 36-year-old has returned to English football for nothing.

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City have failed to progress in all four of the tournaments they were playing in, not even making a mark in the Cup competitions. Their form in the Champions League was particularly disappointing, as it was for all of the English teams, so Lampard risked his Chelsea legacy for a fruitless season.

It must have been very strange for Chelsea fans who have loved Lampard for so long to see him in City’s lighter blue shirt and scoring against them.

Just imagine if the Sky Blues had retained their title with Chelsea a close second.

Footballers should of course be allowed to play for whichever team they choose but when you become part of a clubs history like Lampard did, then loyalty has to play a role. Just look at Steven Gerrard. Liverpool failed to renew his contract and yet he doesn’t hold it against them and has sworn to never play for another Premier League side. That is what supporters want from their heroes.

And it’s not just Chelsea supporters Lampard has upset by playing for City this season. Lampard was supposed to stay with the Sky Blues for just six months, which would have made him available for New York City FC’s start of the MLS season, but the midfielder’s impressive displays back in Manchester led City to extend his contract.

Understandably many of his new supporters had brought season tickets expecting to see a world-class player but have been blown out by him instead. Not the best way to endear fans as it happens.

The Premier League is one of, if not the, best league in the world and I understand that being offered the chance to play in it for another year was just too good for Lampard to turn down. But the bigger picture is that he has upset many people and messed with his legacy.

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Lampard wasn’t at Chelsea for as long as Gerrard was at Liverpool but Blues supporters treated him just as well. But now I can’t see Chelsea supporters in five or ten years holding Lampard up in quite the same regard as Stevie G will be held up on Merseyside.

And Frank only has himself to blame for that.

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With their feint hopes of European football slipping away and a top-half finish almost in the bag there isn’t much left for West Brom to aim for this season. Last week’s shortcomings against Arsenal means it is one win in five matches for Albion, who haven’t dropped below ninth all season. That is testament to the job Steve Clarke has executed so brilliantly in his debut campaign at the Hawthorn reins and his eyes are already trained on next season. The decision to leave top scorer Romelu Lukaku on the bench for almost an hour against the Gunners, although he’s expected to be pitched into action to pummel a Newcastle side whose confidence is severely splintered.

The Magpies have endured a tormented week after being walloped by North East adversaries Sunderland in the Tyne-Wear derby six days ago. Which means Alan Pardew’s men and their ensuing reaction be under intense scrutiny in the Midlands. Pardew and his players are still licking their wounds almost a week on and the Magpies boss will hope to channel that throbbing distress into a backlash. They’ll need to improve on an away record that has seen them take just four points from the last available 33 away from St James’ Park. Poiints are exactly what Newcastle require to allay the anxiety set soaring after their Black Cats mauling.

Team News

Youssouf Mulumbu sits out for West Brom as he serves the second of a three-game ban. Peter Odemwingie will also miss the game after he picked up a knee injury.

Newcastle will travel to the Hawthorns without number one goalkeeper Tim Krul after he was ruled out for the season with a dislocated shoulder. David Santon and Cheick Tiote (hamstring) along with Sylvain Marveaux (groin) are also missing.

What the managers said…

“There’s a long time gone since then and things have changed. Newcastle have gone out in the January window and spent quite a large amount of money to improve their squad and make sure they stay in the Premier League. I think they need one more win to secure their place in the league, so it will be a tough game for us. I think Newcastle are better now than when we played them earlier this season.” Steve Clarke thinks Newcastle are a better side than the one West Brom faced earlier this season (Birmingham Mail)

“I don’t think it’s ever not going to affect the rest of our season, a defeat like that. We just have to make sure that in these last five games we put that right. It’s about us putting performances on to the end of this season that help to ease the memory of this defeat.” Alan Pardew aims for a quick recovery after Newcaste’s Tyne-Wear derby horror show (Sky Tyne & Wear)

Pre-match Statistic: Newcastle striker Papiss Cisse has scored three and assisted one in two Premier League appearaces against West Brom

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Prediction: West Bromwich Albion 2-1 Newcastle United

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Sunderland’s 2-1 defeat at Fulham on Friday night meant that the Black Cats will finish bottom of the Championship table this season.

Indeed, Chris Coleman has been unable to lead the club away from safety, and they will start the 2018-19 campaign in League One.

Relegation had been confirmed ahead of the clash with Fulham, but it was a vital match for the Cottagers as they looked to return second position in the table.

The two teams were locked at 1-1 until the 76th minute of the match, when on-loan Newcastle United forward Aleksandar Mitrovic headed Fulham into the lead.

Mitrovic, who has recently been linked with West Ham United, could not buy a minute of Premier League football for Newcastle in the first half of the season, but the striker has been in sensational form since moving to Fulham.

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Indeed, the 23-year-old has managed 12 goals in 16 Championship matches for a Fulham side that have moved above Cardiff City into the position behind Wolverhampton Wanderers.

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The Newcastle supporters absolutely loved the turn of events, with many taking to social media to poke fun at their bitter rivals Sunderland.

A selection of the Twitter reaction can be seen below:

St George’s Day is here, and it’s one of the few occasions each year that Englishman get all patriotic. As a nation, we tend to shy away from sticking our chests out and bragging about what we have going for us, so let’s change that today and talk about how we’re ready to take the world of football by storm.

English football produces plenty of talented young players, and Liverpool have certainly done their share down the years, giving out great names such as Steven Gerrard, Jamie Carragher, Michael Owen and Steve McManaman. But are there any more talents waiting to drop off the conveyer belt? Yes! And here are FIVE on the verge of the breakthrough…

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Jordan Rossiter

Since scoring a League Cup goal against Middlesbrough earlier this season, Rossiter has faded away a little at Liverpool. A few appearances as on the sub’s bench have come along since, but the 18-year-old has been, as of yet, unable to break through – albeit he has suffered with injury issues. A little on the slight side in terms of build, the teenager needs to do some bulking up, but should he prove himself during the Reds’ pre-season work – which he’s sure to be a part of – he’ll be in line to feature next term, especially as Gerrard’s exit will thin out Brendan Rodgers’ midfield options.

A local lad who bears similarities with the aforementioned Liverpool skipper, Rossiter is one to watch.

Cameron Brannagan

Brannagan has popped up on the bench in recent weeks as Rodgers’ squad has become ever depleted in terms of numbers, which suggests that he’s very much on the fringes of the first-team. Able to play on either flank or as a ‘No. 10’, the 18-year-old is well suited to the Reds’ current set-up and has been earning rave reviews for his showings in the club’s youth and reserve sides.

Jerome Sinclair

The youngest player to have ever played for Liverpool – 16 years and six days old against West Brom in the League Cup back in 2012 – Sinclair’s talents are not fresh news for Liverpool fans. A physically imposing striker with electric pace, the 18-year-old – currently on loan at Wigan – has bags of potential, even if some consider him to be a little too blunt for the top level. A pre-season chance awaits, and with Liverpool short of strikers, who knows what a few goals could do.

Sheyi Ojo

Also on loan at Wigan – he’s made 11 appearances for the Latics – Ojo is thought of as one of the Reds’ top young talents. Signed from the MK Dons’ youth set-up, The winger is similar in some ways to Raheem Sterling – poached from QPR – with his game all about speed of movement an quick feet. He’s appeared on the Liverpool bench already, hinting that he’s in line for a first-team role.

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Andre Wisdom

Okay, Wisdom has made his Liverpool debut and featured regularly early in Brendan Rodgers’ tenure at Anfield, but he’s hardly broken through. Loan spells at Derby and West Brom – he’s still at the Hawthorns – have afforded the versatile defender game time, which he could use to get back to Merseyside and make an impact. Able to play at right-back or centre-back, Wisdom is adept on the ball considering his size and physicality, and could be of use when/if Glen Johnson leaves this summer.

West Ham manager Sam Allardyce has claimed that the new financial fair play (FFP) rules will restrict West Ham from progressing and possibly end his time at Upton Park.

The Hammers are hopeful a move to the Olympic Stadium in Stratford will be confirmed this month and the club can attempt to take the next step to becoming a bigger club in English football.

Allardyce however feels that if he is restricted from buying the players that he wants then he may have no option but to leave the East Enders as poor results will reflect badly on him.

West Ham co-owner David Gold has claimed that he will sit down with Allardyce to discuss a new contract once the Hammers are safe from relegation, something that could be confirmed this month.

Allardyce is out of contract this summer but the ball may not necessarily be in the owner’s court as the former Bolton and Newcastle boss may refuse to sign a new deal due to FFP.

“We’ll sit down when we’re safe. Not the end of the season. We’ll sit down when we’re safe,” Allardyce told The Sun.

“My part of it is not difficult in terms of renewing the situation; the difficulty is financial fair play, which becomes unfair in my opinion to restrict football clubs in terms of their growth.

“And if financial fair play restricts the growth of West Ham then that’s a concern for me, because you can’t then bring in the players you want to bring in.

“I don’t know, because I haven’t read the document, but if those restrictions are bearing on the quality of player that I can bring in to West Ham – and I’m looking to build a team for the Olympic Stadium, if it comes off – if those restrictions are stopping that progress then that’s a difficult thing for me as a manager, because I carry the can.

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“That’s nothing to do between me and David Sullivan and David Gold, apart from what restrictions it holds for me and West Ham in terms of progress.”

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It is very rare for those associated with Liverpool and Manchester United to give praise to one another, but this week there was an exception.

A handful of Liverpool supporters have hailed Rio Ferdinand for his punditry skills with BT Sport.

The former United defender, who spent 12 years playing at Old Trafford, has been in the studio for this week’s Champions League games, one of which was Liverpool’s quarter-final second leg against Manchester City.

Trent Alexander-Arnold was one of the standout players for Jurgen Klopp in the 3-0 victory at Anfield, and he maintained his form for the deciding fixture at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday night.

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Despite coming under waves of pressure from Pep Guardiola’s men, the 19-year-old managed to hold his own and contribute to the defensive effort, as well as taking the ball forward.

After the Reds secured a 2-1 victory and 5-1 aggregate triumph over City, Ferdinand and his fellow pundits Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard hailed Alexander-Arnold’s performance.

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The ex-United defender praised the youngster’s character for being able to put in an impressive display following errors in recent games against the Red Devils and Crystal Palace.

Liverpool fans gave their reactions to the comments on Twitter.

There were many pleasing aspects about Manchester United’s victory over Tottenham last weekend; their most impressive display of the season. But perhaps the most pleasing part was the performance of their Belgian midfielder Marouane Fellaini.

Heavily criticised at times since his arrival at Old Trafford at the beginning of last season, it looked increasingly unlikely he was going to be able to make a name for himself at the Red Devils. However, not only is he fast becoming one of Louis van Gaal’s most important players as the club continue their push for Champions League qualification, he is slowly but surely beginning to win over the fans.

Following his big-money move from Everton in 2013, Fellaini struggled to adapt to life at his new club, burdened by the £27.5m price tag David Moyes had convinced the United board to fork out for him. At the end of a disappointing summer in the transfer market; having missed out on a number of high profile signings, Fellaini’s purchase was seen as an act of desperation. It was difficult to see where he was going to fit in, how he was going to fit in with the team’s style of play, and ultimately at times why they bought him in the first place.

Having struggled to gain a consistent run in the side, he was employed in a deeper role in midfield, and looked well out of depth in a United shirt. And once Moyes departed and was replaced by Van Gaal, it looked like just a matter of time before Fellaini would be moved on.

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However despite speculation surrounding his future, the 27-year-old kept his head down and continued to work hard, in the hope he might be able to salvage his career at United. And credit to him, his patience seems to be paying off.

Since his manager entrusted him with a more attacking role in the side, his importance to the team has continued to grow. With injury to Robin van Persie, and Radamel Falcao lacking form, Fellaini has built up a great partnership with Wayne Rooney, something that flourished last weekend, with both players getting on the score sheet.

He is a constant threat when around the opposition’s box, and not just with his head as he showed by netting a wonderfully taken goal with his left foot to open the scoring. Playing as part of a three in midfield, he has the freedom to get forward, where United can exploit his effectiveness. But his work rate in tracking back and helping defend, make him even more important to the team, highlighting just what an important player he is becoming as the season reaches an exciting climax.

Fellaini received a standing ovation when he was substituted in the dying stages of the game, something which will do his confidence the world of good. He may not be your typical United player, but his effectiveness cannot be doubted, and under Van Gaal, he seems to relishing his new role alongside Rooney having established himself as a key member of the first team in recent weeks.

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His performances between now and the end of the season could play a crucial role in United’s bid for a top-four finish, and if he can continue to replicate his performances from his time at Everton; where he was often unplayable, United could have a great weapon at their disposal.

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For all Liverpool aren’t challenging for the Champions League as the season draws to its conclusion Brendan Rodgers can look back on a relatively successful first year at the Anfield helm. Seventh in the table and still in with a shout of qualifying for the Europa League is nothing to be sniffed at by any means. In fact the Reds are in splendid form and recorded a fourth win in five Premier League games by coming from behind to beat Aston Villa last week and left them three points behind Everton. Overhauling their arch-rivals and nicking a top-six finish will be the objective now and victory against West Ham will push them close to achieving that.

The Hammers must dread their trips to the red half having failed to score in 29 of their 38 visits. Away form has been the Achilles heel for Sam Allardyce’s men this season with just three wins and nine goals coming in their 15 games away from Upton Park. That being said Allardyce can be afforded a huge sigh of relief that he and his team aren’t coming into this game with the threat of relegating hanging over their head. Last weeks home victory over West Brom wedged a six point buffer between them the bottom three and all but ensured Premier League survival. With that weight partially lifted from their shoulder it could work in West Ham’s favour.

Team News

Long-term absentees Martin Kelly (knee), Joe Allen and Fabio Borini (both shoulder) are the only players missing for Liverpool this weekend meaning Brendan Rodgers has no fresh injury concerns.

By the terms of his loan agreement West Ham are unable to call upon Andy Carroll for the visit to his parent club. Joe Cole could feature against his former employers should he recover from a hamstring complaint in time. Mark Noble (shoulder) and George McCartney (knee) are out for the season.

What the managers said…

“I know what it was like when I faced him as an opposing manager. I always viewed him as a pest around the penalty area and you know that players like that usually have the quality to score at any given time. It’s not his job to be liked, he’ll be respected because he’s a top football player and it won’t concern him too much if people don’t like him. The likability of any player is always up for debate, and people will always use their own moral compass to judge Luis Suarez, but that’s not something I tend to focus on. I concentrate on what he is like with me on a day-to-day basis and he is a great man.” Brendan Rodgers admits he understands why Luis Suarez is universally disliked (Metro)

“What we got last week is what we’ve been waiting for, for a while. We saw him in full flight last week. He can’t play on Sunday obviously, against Liverpool. I think he’s great, he gets a big cheer whenever they announce his name whenever he’s in the starting line up. I think we might have a chance. We’ll wait and see at end of the year when all the budgets are sorted out.

‘If we are definitely in the Premier League then we’ll have a look at everybody that’s on loan or out of contract.” Sam Allardyce reiterates his desire to make Andy Carroll’s loan deal at West Ham a permanent one (Daily Mail)

Pre-Match Statistic: Sam Allardyce has tasted defeat in each of his last eight trips to Anfield since guiding former club Bolton to an unlikely draw back in 2002.

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Prediction: Liverpool 3-0 West Ham United

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Nottingham Forest failed to impress again in the English Championship on Saturday, losing 2-0 away to play-off hopefuls Middlesbrough.

Forest have now not won a match for five games and have won just twice in their last 12 second-tier matches. It’s a run of form that must be concerning for Aitor Karanka ahead of next season, when they’ll be expected to challenge higher up the Championship table.

Just six matches remain for the Reds to show fans there is progress being made, who were again left frustrated with the result and performance.

Much of the criticism was aimed at striker Apostolos Vellios who was ineffective from the start of the match until eventually being hauled off on the hour mark for teenager Ben Brereton.

Supporters are now calling on Vellios to be dropped and even axed this summer, believing they need a higher quality of player to achieve their ambitions next term.

They took to Twitter to share their thoughts…

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What a game we had at Anfield this afternoon; an end-to-end, frantic and exciting 90-minutes between two attack-minded and defensively woeful sides.

Liverpool put a huge dent in Man City’s title hopes – a win would’ve seen the Citizens go to within two points of Chelsea – and, in truth, were well worth the victory.

Jordan Henderson got the ball rolling with a sublime finish that added to the talk that the former Sunderland man could replace Steven Gerrard.

City responded through an Edin Dzeko goal – which should be remembered for the wonderful assist from Sergio Aguero – but Philippe Coutinho’s second outrageous goal in a matter of days, settled the affair with Joe Hart unable to do anything as the former Inter Milan midfielder sent the ball into the top corner.

Liverpool now move level on points with fourth-placed Arsenal and although the Gunners play Everton later today, the Reds will have real belief they can bag their all important top four spot.

Defence has sorted itself out

Dejan Lovren’s high profile summer move from Southampton to Liverpool was meant to sure up a side that played with the mentality during the 2013/14 of ‘we will just score more than the opponent’.

The former Saints man hasn’t had the desired impact and, combined was the haphazard Glen Johnson, Kolo Toure and Martin Skrtel, it looked like it was going to be a long season for the Reds. However, Liverpool are now the only Premier League side yet to make a defensive error since the turn of the year.

No Europa League

Sure, Liverpool would’ve been gutted to exit the competition that now guarantees the winner a place in the Champions League, however, they certainly won’t miss the Thursday kick-offs in the obscure corners of Europe plus the long trips. It is a bizarre thing that clubs struggle to win their next Premier League game after a Europa League clash but it certainly seems to be thing.

All Brendan Rodgers has to do now, is focus on bagging that top four spot; he will also be plotting FA Cup success and seeing as the Reds have a nice tie against Blackburn Rovers in the quarter-final, their continued run in the competition will surely only serve to increase their belief and good form.

Goals from all over the park

Brendan Rodgers surprised us all by naming four strikers on the bench, with Mario Balotelli, Daniel Sturridge, Fabio Borini and Rickie Lambert failing to make the starting XI.

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Sturridge is the man the Reds have been pining for all season, with injuries hampering the England international, but Rodgers is obviously worrying about rushing the former Man City striker back.

Mario Balotelli has started to find his goalscoring boots with important goals in recent clashes against Tottenham Hotspur and Besiktas.

Bagging three points without an out-and-out striker starting the match will be music to Brendan Rodgers’ ears.