WATCH: Lionel Messi, Trent Alexander-Arnold and the 21 best goals of the 2022-23 Champions League season – ranked

The Champions League season is drawing to a close, so it's time to reflect on the very best goals from the 2022-23 edition

Manchester City and Inter stand 90 minutes away from footballing immortality as they prepare to do battle for the European Cup at Istanbul's Ataturk Stadium, location of one of the Champions League's greatest-ever finals. It's been another memorable year in European football's premier club competition, with drama, upsets and goals throughout – loads of goals.

The list of the very best of those strikes across the group stage and knockout rounds is inevitably littered with the very biggest names in the game, but who deserves the crown of Champions League Goal of the Season as things stand?

GOAL ranks the 21 best goals from the 2022-23 Champions League season. Enjoy!

  • 21Fede Valverde (Real Madrid vs Celtic)

    This was all about technique from Real Madrid midfielder Valverde, who was having the time of his life in the first half of 2022-23. The Uruguay international didn't even require a touch as he swept home this sumptuous first-time finish in Los Blancos' group stage rout of Celtic.

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  • 20Vinicius Jr (Real Madrid vs Liverpool)

    A study in how to manipulate space when you seemingly have absolutely none to work with. With Real Madrid two goals down and in dire need of a response at Anfield, Vinicius combined cutely with Karim Benzema on the edge of the box before jinking inside and curling a wonderful finish into the bottom corner, despite being surrounded by defenders.

  • 19Darwin Nunez (Liverpool vs Real Madrid)

    While Darwin Nunez's debut Liverpool season didn't exactly go entirely to plan, he demonstrated his elite potential in certain moments. His opener against Real Madrid in the last 16 was a good example of that, as he dashed onto Mohamed Salah's pass and produced an instinctive flick to send the ball beyond Thibaut Courtois and Anfield into raptures.

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  • 18Marcus Edwards (Sporting CP vs Tottenham)

    Marcus Edwards was a man possessed in both group-stage clashes with Spurs as he looked to prove a point against his former club. What better way to do that, then, than a wonderful individual goal back in north London? The Sporting star drove from close to the halfway line before picking out the bottom corner from range with a low drive. Perfection.

Man Utd's Mason Mount alternatives: Moises Caicedo & the six midfielders who would be a better fit for Erik ten Hag's side than Chelsea's contract rebel

The Red Devils are set to walk away from a deal for the England international – which could work in their favour

Manchester United's surprise pursuit of Mason Mount has been the story of the summer transfer window so far, with Chelsea open to a sale after reportedly seeing the midfielder turn down multiple contract extension offers. Mount's current deal is due to expire in 2024, but the Blues are still demanding over £60 million ($76m) from United, who have already had three bids rejected.

It has been reported that United are leaving their final offer of £55m ($70m) on the table, but they are determined not to overpay for a player who will be available on a free transfer in 12 months' time. Mount's 2022-23 campaign was the worst of his Chelsea career to date, too, and it's not immediately clear how he would even fit into Erik ten Hag's line up.

Mount is simply not the transformative midfield signing that United need right now. A third-place finish in the Premier League represented progress for the club in Ten Hag's first season at the helm, but world-class recruits will be needed for them to now go on and bridge the gap to champions and arch-rivals Manchester City.

Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes were standout performers for United in 2022-23, but there was a clear lack of quality alongside them in the engine room. Christian Eriksen struggled for consistency while Fred and Scott McTominay continued to divide opinion, and Bayern Munich loanee Marcel Sabitzer was nothing more than a stop-gap.

The question is, who do United turn to now? Well, as always, there are a whole host of top players being linked with summer moves to Old Trafford. Some rumours are non-starters, such as the club's reported interest in Utrecht and United States midfielder Taylor Booth, who is certainly not the right kind of profile for Ten Hag.

But there are some genuinely great options out there for United too, starting with a certain Juventus star approaching his contract expiry date…

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    Adrien Rabiot

    There is a sense of deja vu about this one for United fans, who watched on in frustration last summer as United tried and failed to sign Adrien Rabiot after a drawn-out negotiation process. The two parties were ultimately unable to reach an agreement on personal terms, with the Frenchman staying in Turin for the final year of his contract.

    Juventus endured a miserable 2022-23 season as a collective, finishing seventh in Serie A after being stung by a points penalty and exiting the Champions League at the group stage, but Rabiot excelled on an individual level. The 28-year-old recorded 11 goals and six assists in 48 appearances, the best numbers of his career to date, and it has been reported that he is now back on United's radar.

    Rabiot, who also shone for France at the 2022 World Cup, has made it clear that the Premier League holds great appeal to him. "I have always said that I would like to play in England in my career," he said in December. "Will it be at the end of my contract? I don't know, but I have this goal."

    Rabiot is an excellent ball carrier and boasts impressive physical attributes – standing at the imposing height of 6'2. He's strong, hard-working and adept when it comes to breaking up play and kick-starting attacks.

    Casemiro could certainly use a midfield partner like Rabiot, and United can snap him up for nothing after June 30. That would mean Ten Hag potentially solving his problem in the middle of the park while saving funds for a new striker and goalkeeper. No-brainer.

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    Ryan Gravenberch

    United were one of several top European clubs to track Ryan Gravenberch while he was at Ajax, but Bayern Munich ended up winning the race for his signature last summer. The German champions snapped the midfielder up for just £16m, which felt like a bargain at the time, but his maiden year at Allianz Arena didn't go according to plan.

    Gravenberch only started three Bundesliga games for Bayern last term as he toiled in vain for a regular starting berth under both Julian Nagelsmann and Thomas Tuchel. The 21-year-old is already being linked with a move away from Bayern, after publically expressing his frustration over his role.

    “I want to play more… preferably at Bayern," Gravenberch recently told . "Otherwise at a club where I'll 100 percent play. That's my plan. I don't want to have another year like the one I've just had — I’ll speak to the coach in the next weeks then we will see."

    GOAL has confirmed that Liverpool have been exploring a potential £25m swoop for Gravenberch, who remains ideally suited to the Premier League. At his best, he can turn defence into attack in the blink of an eye, and his ball distribution is top-notch.

    United have also been credited with an interest in Gravenberch once again, and he might be tempted by a reunion with former Ajax boss Ten Hag. The United boss highlighted Gravenberch's qualities in his final year at Johan Cruyff ArenA, saying: “He's very important for our team because he's a box-to-box player. He accelerates out of positional play, does good dribbling, has tremendous passing ability and participates in the build-up play. Due to his athleticism and physique, he is also strong in the transition game and can also win the balls. He's come a long way, but can still learn a lot."

    If a cut-price deal can be arranged with Bayern, Gravenberch could be a shrewd addition to United's ranks. He doesn't appear to have a future in Germany, but Ten Hag will know exactly how to bring the best out of him.

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    Moises Caicedo

    United had the opportunity to sign Moises Caicedo when he was still a teenager at Independiente del Valle in January 2021, but walked away from the deal due to concerns over agents' commissions and interference from intermediaries. Brighton swooped in to sign the Ecuador international for just £4.5m a few weeks later, and United have lived to regret their decision ever since.

    Caicedo has developed into one of the best midfielders in the Premier League at the Amex Stadium, and is now being valued in excess of £80m ($102m). Arsenal went all out to try and sign the 21-year-old in the winter transfer window, but Brighton held firm on their price tag.

    It is now being reported that Chelsea and United are set to do battle for his signature, and the Red Devils may have a slight advantage if a bidding way erupts. “My dream is to play for Manchester United," Caicedo said in 2020. "Antonio Valencia is an example to follow. With his strength and dedication, he was able to get to that level. That motivates me to keep working hard and do the right things.”

    It is highly likely that Caicedo would jump at the chance if United come calling again. And he could potentially be the final piece in Ten Hag's midfielder puzzle. The Brighton star is a master at regaining possession, as he rarely mistimes a tackle and has a knack for anticipating where the ball will drop. He is also a fierce competitor and can cover a lot of ground quickly, which is why he has been compared to outgoing Chelsea star N'Golo Kante.

    Caicedo's presence could give United's attackers more freedom to do damage in the final third, and he'd be a vital shield in front of the defence. The Ecuador international will come at a high price, but he still has his whole career ahead of him, and would be worth the extra investment.

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    Mohammed Kudus

    Like Gravenberch, Mohammed Kudus is another player that benefitted from Ten Hag's wisdom during the early stages of his career. The Ghana international was given his chance in the Ajax senior team by the Dutchman in 2020, and has since scored 23 goals for the club across 84 games, winning two Eredivisie titles and the KNVB Cup.

    Kudus nailed down a starting spot at Ajax last season, and despite their downturn in form after Ten Hag's departure to United, he still managed to post his best Eredisivie scoring tally yet (11 goals). The 22-year-old still has two years left on his contract at the Johan Cruyff ArenA, but has reportedly turned down a new deal and wants a summer move.

    Arsenal, Brighton and Newcastle have been mooted as potential next destinations for Kudus, but United are reportedly in pole position to sign him. The Ten Hag factor could be key, as he hailed the former Ajax boss for aiding his development in an interview with in December. “In his style of play, creative and attacking, I saw myself," said Kudus. ">It was exactly in line with my personal qualities and how I wanted to develop.”

    Kudus typically operates as a right-winger, but he has the versatility to adapt to different systems. United could utilize his talents in an attacking midfield role, and he has far more to offer than Mount given his pace, strength and impressive dribbling skills.

    It has been reported that Ajax could let Kudus go for around £40m ($51m), but there is a risk of United being squeezed for far more. The Red Devils had to fork out almost £150m ($191m) to bring Antony and Lisandro Martinez to the club last summer, and the Eredivisie giants might not take kindly to another raid for one of their top talents.

    But Kudus could slot straight into Ten Hag's line-up, perhaps as a direct replacement for Antony, who flattered to deceive in his debut season with United. Dutch legend Marco van Basten certainly believes there is a gulf in class between the two men, as he told in February: “I find Mohammed Kudus a much better football player than Antony. Kudus has much better technique and he knows what he is doing. He is much more of a footballer, you can place him anywhere on the pitch, an all-rounder for the team. He’s more fun to watch play.”

Pundit tips Man City to move for Kane

Speaking exclusively to The Transfer Tavern, former Premier League midfielder Carlton Palmer believes Manchester City and Harry Kane could be a match made in heaven.

Kane recently expressed his desire to win trophies and reports have suggested that he will look to leave Tottenham if the north London club fail to qualify for the Champions League.

Meanwhile, Manchester City have been doing just that, winning silverware, with a Champions League trophy still to play for at the end of the month.

They may also need to sign a new striker this summer after Sergio Aguero confirmed that this is his last season at the Etihad.

Taking all of that into account, Palmer feels Kane to Manchester City ticks all the boxes. On the £108m-rated Spurs striker, the retired England international told TT:

“I was thinking the other day would Pep Guardiola go for him at Man City, you know, to replace the likes of Aguero?

“Now, they could afford him, they can afford to pay his wages and whatever. [He’ll] create loads of chances and if Harry Kane’s fit [and] he goes to Man City, you’re guaranteed 35 goals there.”

The Independent reported last month that Kane would be keen on a move to either of the Manchester clubs, so perhaps a transfer to the Champions League finalists could be viable this summer.

There is, of course, also a lot of talk about Borussia Dortmund’s Erling Haaland. Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson, however, feels Kane is the superior forward.

Pochettino brilliance: Tottenham move could turn Norwich’s Max Aarons into a star

According to a recent report from The Daily Mirror, Tottenham are interested in a move for defender Max Aarons. The 19-year-old currently plays his football at Championship table-toppers Norwich City after making the move to Carrow Road as a youth player back in 2016, with his impressive efforts for the Canaries this season seemingly attracting the interest of Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino.

And that’s because a recent report from The Daily Mirror suggests that the Premier League title-chasers are keeping an eye on the 19-year-old’s development at the Norfolk-based outfit, with a move to North London, and thus the chance to work under Pochettino, a move that could turn Aarons into a star.

The Breakdown

Ultimately, former Southampton chief Pochettino has a proven track-record throughout his time in English football of developing and nurturing young talent into world stars, be it Luke Shaw at St Mary’s, or indeed the likes of Dele Alli, Eric Dier, and Harry Kane at Spurs.

In fact, the latter trio are now first team regulars at Tottenham with messrs Alli and Kane arguably indispensable, which itself underlines just what an outstanding coach Pochettino is – after all, Alli had never played in the Championship, let alone the Premier League, prior to his move to Spurs back in 2015.

Yet Argentine Pochettino has given him, as well as Shaw, Kane, Dier, and more recently Harry Winks, the opportunity to play first team football and prove their worth, which they have all done in abundance to suggest that there are few managers out there better equipped at bringing through young, English talent than the Tottenham manager.

And that must be of interest to Norwich defender Aarons, who has enjoyed a meteoric rise this season at Carrow Road to suggest that, with the right guidance, he could be destined for huge things in the game.

The 19-year-old originally began his youth career at Luton Town before moving to Norfolk back in 2016, earning his senior debut for Daniel Farke’s side only back in August of last year in their Carabao Cup victory over Stevenage.

Yet that has since paved the way for 26 further first team appearances for the England Under-19 international, 25 of which have come in the Championship to help the Canaries to top spot in the second tier table, with his two goals and four assists very much playing a part in their rise.

And such is the undoubted talent the right back possesses, he would surely flourish under the guidance of Pochettino at Tottenham – the Argentine’s willingness to give young players an opportunity to perform could well benefit the youngster in his quest to reach his full potential.

Ultimately, Aarons is very much a Championship sensation at present with the talent and potential to go far in the game – and a move to Spurs to work under Pochettino could go some way to turning him into a star.

Tottenham fans… what do you think? Let us know!

LFC fans bemoan officials for Man Utd clash

A number of Liverpool fans have been bemoaning the choice of officials for Liverpool’s Premier League clash with Manchester United this weekend.

The Reds make the trip to Old Trafford on Sunday afternoon, in what represents a must-win clash for Jurgen Klopp’s side.

In truth, their top-four hopes are fading by the game, and failure to win against their bitter rivals will surely spell the end of their chances.

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Liverpool have been famously poor at Old Trafford under Klopp, not winning there under him in the league and getting knocked out of the FA Cup earlier this season.

A big performance is required after last weekend’s huge disappointment at home to Newcastle United, when missed chances and a late lapse cost the Reds dearly.

The officials have been confirmed for this weekend’s match, with Michael Oliver refereeing the contest and Paul Tierney on VAR duties.

Liverpool fans rue officials for Man United game

These Liverpool supporters are unimpressed with the selections, providing their thoughts on Twitter.

“We’ve lost loooool”

Credit: @K9Capalot

“Man U are definitely getting at least one penalty then”

Credit: @johnevans1977

“Well, if there was any hope that LFC gets anything from that game, that’s it gone. Personally, I know we’re losing that one, but those men will make sure of it”

Credit: @Farisalfarik

“May God help us”

Credit: @baba_sani_auwal

“We are so done”

Credit: @FplPopo

“Man United guaranteed a penalty and a clear Livepool goal will be disallowed by VAR”

Credit: @Liberatus_Mokoe

In other news, some Liverpool fans believe one player has peaked – find out who it is here.

Wolves should pursue Omar Mascarell

Wolves will have plenty to improve upon when the summer transfer window opens.

Nuno Santo will have to enhance a striker line-up that’s bagged just four goals since Raul Jimenez’s injury. They will also need to bring more depth into a squad ravaged by injury this term.

What’s the word?

One player linked with a move to Wolves is Omar Mascarell.

The holding midfield player is currently Schalke’s captain but after claiming he wouldn’t leave back in January, it now looks as though he’s wanting a new adventure.

The German club are in dire financial straits at the moment which means Mascarell could be available for as little as £4m.

What will also make Wolves’ pursuit easier is the fact that Schalke have now been relegated from the Bundesliga. That all unravelled this week as the club’s players ended up being chased down the street by an angry mob of ultras.

Subsequently, the Old Gold are looking to take advantage and bring the 28-year-old back to English football.

When the midfielder was a Real Madrid player, he spent a period on loan at Derby in the Championship where he caught the eye.

Forget Dendoncker

If Wolves sign a new midfielder then it may just provide Nuno with the ammunition he needs to axe Leander Dendoncker from the starting XI.

The Belgian has played in defence and in the middle of the park this term but he has been pretty inconsistent along the way.

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He was at fault during their battering against Manchester City and has been relatively inconsistent; specifically in defence.

When Dendoncker came up against Newcastle and Allan-Saint Maximin he was skinned on a regular basis as the French winger flourished with four key passes and four dribbles.

With that in mind, it wouldn’t be a bad idea if Wolves searched for an upgrade.

Mascarell may have been relegated this term but he is still a midfielder that can offer plenty.

Nuno wasn’t in charge when the Spaniard played for Derby but Wolves saw firsthand just how good he was when the Rams defeated them 5-0 in November 2014.

The Schalke enforcer completed 95% of his passes, four of which created key opportunities to score. Mascarell claimed an assist too as he terrorised both Danny Batth and Ethan Ebanks-Landell. He also did the dirty work well too, registering two tackles and three interceptions.

It was a performance that was described as “absolutely outstanding” by first-team coach Paul Simpson at the time.

Of course, times have changed, but his free-kicks and corners that day were also attractive. “His set-piece delivery was very good against Wolves on a number of occasions and it gives us an added threat in the opposition’s penalty area,” Simpson continued.

That being said, it’s the defensive assets he possesses that would be so crucial to Wolves building from the back.

He won 1.8 tackles and 2.7 interceptions per game last term for instance. Dendoncker, on the other hand, managed the same number of challenges but fewer interceptions with just one per match.

Mascarell reads the play well and would offer a dynamic threat from dead-ball scenarios; there is much to like about his game.

AND in other news, Forget McBurnie: Wolves can save £15m by unleashing “powerful” rarely-seen beast…

Everton opt to release Joshua King

Everton are rightly set to release Joshua King at the end of his contract this summer, having proven to be an utter disaster since signing from AFC Bournemouth.

What’s the word?

According to Football Insider, Blues chiefs have seen enough from King since his Deadline Day arrival last month to opt against retaining the Norway international.

Everton paid Bournemouth £2m to take over the final six-months of the forward’s £45,000-per-week contract, with the option to later trigger a longer-term deal.

But Carlo Ancelotti has decided against activating the clause, which would have seen the Cherries owed up to a further £3m, and will instead pursue alternative options in the next transfer window.

The Italian tactician is thought to have been unimpressed by King’s results since moving to Merseyside on the final day of the winter window, and has often overlooked the 29-year-old even when without Dominic Calvert-Lewin through injury.

King is yet to start a single fixture for the Toffees, with each of his eight appearances to date coming from the bench and totalling a combined 117 minutes.

Four of the 52-cap forward’s outings have lasted less than 10 minutes, and he is yet to provide a single goal or assist in royal blue.

King, who had previously expressed intentions to remain at Goodison Park for next season, has recently been linked with a move to Fenerbahce with claims of an approach being made by Super Lig outfit to his representatives.

Should Everton release King?

Claims of Ancelotti being unimpressed by King’s performances for Everton are hardly surprising given his lack of playing time so far, making a decision to part ways with the £9m-rated forward the best option for both sides.

Being released at the end of his contract will allow King to explore options that will return the highest payout, given claims in January that the Norwegian was pushing for a £120k-p/w deal.

Not taking up the option to extend King’s contract will also allow Everton to begin exploring potential replacements, knowing they will not be held back by first having to find a suitor willing to take on his wages.

King’s salary, plus the £2m paid to Bournemouth, has so far cost the Toffees £20,000 for each minute he has played, with the former Manchester United trainee taking in £315,000 for his 117 minutes of action since February 1st.

It is highly likely that King will continue to steal a living at Goodison Park until his terms lapse in 17 weeks’ time on June 30th, with the further £765,000 that Everton are locked into paying the striker going on a bench warmer based on his current record.

Simply put, King’s move has proven to be an utter disaster for the Toffees, who have not seen anything from the player who former Cherries boss Eddie Howe once lauded as the “complete package”.

AND in other news, Farhad Moshiri is set to back Everton as Carlo Ancelotti eyes a 29-y/o he described as “the best” in the world

Everton paid £14m to agents in 2020/21

Marcel Brands pulled off a masterclass over the past year in his negotiations to bring and keep top talents including Ben Godfrey and Lucas Digne at Everton.

What’s the word?

According to figures published by the Football Association, via the Liverpool Echo, the Toffees paid a combined £14m to agents between February 2020 and February 2021.

That’s a drop of nearly £3m from the previous 12-month period, and far less than their big-spending Premier League rivals Chelsea who top the charts at £35m.

Both Manchester clubs City and United paid agents nearly £30m, while Liverpool (£21.5m) plus north London rivals Arsenal and Tottenham (£16m) handed over more than Everton.

The Blues’ spending included their deals to sign Godfrey, James Rodriguez, Abdoulaye Doucoure, Allan, Niels Nkounkou, Robin Olsen and Joshua King.

It also included the new contracts awarded to Digne, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Mason Holgate, Michael Keane and Anthony Gordon.

Relegation-threatened West Bromwich Albion sit bottom of the spending charts for agent fees at £4m, despite the arrivals of 15 players at The Hawthorns this season.

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Everton’s investments in transfers and tieing down some of their top talents to new deals has seen Carlo Ancelotti’s side challenge for a top-four Premier League finish, and will exit the international break four points clear of Arsenal and with a game in hand.

A masterclass by Brands

Everton spending less than half on agents than Chelsea and a considerable amount less than the other top-six clubs will go down as a masterclass by Brands, given the wealth of talent the Toffees’ Director of Football has brought to and kept at Goodison Park over the 12-month period.

Chelsea are only five points better off in the Premier League table than Everton ahead of the 30th round of fixtures, despite their significant outlay and playing a game more than the Merseysiders.

Liverpool sit ahead of the Blues only on goal difference, while Tottenham are two points above the Goodison Park natives though having also played a game extra.

The signings of Allan, Doucoure, Rodriguez and Godfrey – who Richard Cresswell, his former coach at York City, claims has a “ridiculous” amount of similarities with Rio Ferdinand – have played a great role in Everton’s strong position.

Olsen’s arrival on loan from AS Roma has likewise had an impact, with Ancelotti often lauding the Sweden international for helping to keep Jordan Pickford on his toes.

The Toffees will also be in a strong position to fend off any approaches for the likes of Digne and Calvert-Lewin this summer through the pair signing new contracts, with Manchester United previously said to be tracking the England striker and Atletico Madrid eying a move for the French full-back.

Everton and Ancelotti would surely loath losing their 14-goal top-scorer in Calvert-Lewin or six-assist lead playmaker in Digne, but are positioned well thanks to Brands’ masterclass in negotiating the deals and managing how much was spent on agents.

AND in other news, Everton are tracking a £17m striker with “a wealth of talent”

Sunderland’s Predicted XI vs Portsmouth

In the space of a month, Sunderland’s promotion hopes have been completely transformed.

The Mackems are unbeaten in their last seven outings, six of which have been wins. Victory over fellow promotion hopefuls Doncaster was the tip of the iceberg for Lee Johnson, but his side can’t afford to let up now.

He has engineered the Black Cats to fourth spot in the League One table but they face Portsmouth on Tuesday evening. This will be one of their toughest trips of the season, especially as they cast half an eye towards the Papa John’s Trophy final on Sunday.

With that fixture in mind, Johnson may choose to rest and rotate a little. Though, given the magnitude of this fixture too, he’d be foolish to go overboard.

As a result, we’re tipping the manager to make three changes to his side on Tuesday evening.

Johnson has had a habit of changing his formation during the course of matches in recent weeks so it’s a little unclear as to how he could line-up.

That being said, we’re entrusting him to go with a four-man backline. The first change of note is that Oliver Younger comes out of the side.

He didn’t really put a foot wrong against Rochdale last weekend but given how tough Pompey could be, we’re tipping Johnson to move Max Power to right-back instead.

What that leaves is a vacant hole in midfield to fill. With Grant Leadbitter out with a dislocated shoulder and Luke O’Nien playing at centre-back, it means Josh Scowen comes in to partner Carl Winchester.

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Another change is on the right-hand side. Jordan Jones was influential on Saturday, providing the assist for Charlie Wyke’s goal. However, with not much football under his belt, we think he could be rested for the final on Sunday. As a consequence, Chris Maguire comes into the XI.

He’s had some brilliant cameos in recent weeks, scoring versus Crewe and assisting against Fleetwood and Swindon. Thus, he deserves a chance from the off.

The final change is at left-back where Jake Vokins replaces Callum McFadzean. The latter has been somewhat of a liability this season but will probably make the starting XI in the final due to his recent minutes. With fitness in mind, we don’t think the £2.4k-per-week earner will play on Tuesday.

AND in other news, Imagine him & McGeady: SAFC must land 29-goal ace who Moyes once dubbed “priceless”…

Everton fans blast Gomes vs Burnley

Many Everton fans have been cursing the performance of Andre Gomes in their 2-1 home defeat to Burnley in the Premier League on Saturday evening.

The Merseyside club lost yet another game at Goodison Park as Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s headed goal after a fine cross by Tom Davies was not enough to cancel out earlier strikes from Chris Wood and Dwight McNeil.

Gomes did not have the best of games for Carlo Ancelotti’s team, losing out on 100% of his duels as well as failing to make a single successful dribble, clearance or tackle, while losing possession of the ball no fewer than 19 times in the match, the second-most of any player to have set foot on the pitch (Sofascore).

Everton fan reaction to Gomes display

These Toffees supporters slammed his performance on Twitter, with one Blues fan even going as far as to claim that the former Barcelona man was ‘shocking’ against the Clarets:

“Davies/Allan double pivot makes more sense to keep possession & better defensive structure. Gives Richarlison King more license to stay further forward pinning fullbacks back. Instead allowing Gomes just to run round helplessly an try hit 40-yard balls into the main stand #EFC”

Credit: @TLogic1991

“Gomes stinking Goodison out here. Dreadful. #efc”

Credit: @mikeb73

“Gomes looks like a fan who won a competition to play for Everton in this game. Totally shocking #efc #Everton”

Credit: @SheepFlavour

“Garbage that Iwobi and Gomes #efc”

Credit: @MaisOuiMaisOui_

“Would keep Allan, Doucoure and probably Davies who has looked like he has improved a bit this season. Gomes and Iwobi can go though. Don’t know what they are supposed to offer. #EVEBUR”

Credit: @Carl0sAlbert0

“Predator, Holgate and Gomes in the bin please. Had enough. #EVEBUR”

Credit: @Funtimefreckle

In other news, find out what injury update has been lauded by several Everton fans!

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