Liverpool

Just two matches remaining for Jurgen Klopp before his time as Liverpool manager ends. Reds fans everywhere will be sad to see him go.

His period at Anfield has been full of magical memories. That is why it is imperative this "Liverpool 2.0" team he has built end the season with the purpose and the panache that has been a trademark for much of the campaign.

In some recent performances they have been a pale shadow of what we have come to expect from them and that is why what they served up against Tottenham on Sunday was so well received by the fans. It was simply much more like it.

Beating Spurs in their current form is perhaps not the best barometer for arguing their form has returned, but there was a belief and energy that had been missing on too many occasions.

Monday night at Aston Villa promises to be a real challenge however. Though they have suffered a dip in form, their ability to last the course in the race for a Champions League place for next season has been hugely impressive.

Allied to that Unai Emery has done a fabulous job. In double-quick time he’s established Villa as force to be reckoned with. They have a formidable home record this season, causing problems for even the best teams in the division. Manchester City and Arsenal both lost at Villa Park and Emery’s men even beat the Gunners at Emirates Stadium last month.

All the ingredients are there for a cracking contest but if Liverpool can maintain the high energy, free flowing approach that laid Tottenham to waste last weekend, they have every chance of coming away with a good result at a ground where they have a strong record.

Image source, Getty Images

Everton's Fan Advisory Board has called for the Premier League to dismiss 777 Partners takeover bid and to "allow discussions with more suitable owners" to take place.

Miami-based investment firm 777 agreed to buy majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri's 94% stake in the club in September, but the deal remains in limbo as it is yet to be ratified by the Premier League.

The Fan Advisory Board has today stated the "ongoing confusion and lack of transparency cannot continue" and have demanded Moshiri to be open to new bidders for the club.

The statement says, external: "Each party must recognise the role it is playing in sullying the reputation of one of the most storied clubs in English football history and appreciate that all the rumour and speculation is causing extremely high levels of anxiety and concern to the club’s greatest assets: their fans."

They go on to call 777 "unsuitable owners," who are causing "growing reputational damage" to the club, as it is still not known whether they will pass the owners' and directors' test.

The Fan Advisory Board have also requested an emergency meeting with the club to express their concerns and seek clarification on behalf of supporters. This is in addition to the scheduled meeting with Moshiri that will take place towards the end of May.

Now that Premier League safety has been assured, the focus has quickly turned to the takeover situation and the lack of progress on this vital issue.

The Everton Shareholders' Association has made its feelings clear about 777 Partners as not yet "fit and proper" prospective owners, and branded the whole saga a "farce".

It has been going on since September but until the ownership is sorted out – and to the satisfaction of everyone concerned - the Blues remain in this constant state of uncertainty.

If 777 Partners is not the right fit, then who is ready to step in?

The longer it goes on, the more difficult it is to plan as the summer months approach and deals need to be done - both in terms of incomings and outgoings.

The one thing Sean Dyche and his staff want is a sense of stability and clarity. He has not had much of either since taking the job. The fans want and deserve that too.

Dyche and his players now have just two games left to finish off another hugely difficult season.

They have done what they had to do and will be hoping the final piece of the jigsaw can be found sooner rather than later.

Image source, Getty Images

Liverpool goalkeeping coach John Achterberg has discussed his 14-year stay at the club as he nears a summer exit alongside manager Jurgen Klopp.

The 52-year-old will depart with the club's current manager and his staff at the season's end.

In an exclusive chat with BBC Radio Merseyside, Achterberg said: "When the news broke about the boss you had a little time to think about what will be next. My contract will be running out so you have to look at different things. I didn't want to come to the end of the season and you come unstuck as you don't know what is happening.

"From that period I started being more active on the market if you like, to find out about different things."

Achterberg joined the Reds in 2009. Asked if he expected to be at the club so long, he said: "Of course not. It was my next step up. I was coaching at Tranmere, I did it in Holland, I had this passion to be a goalkeeper coach after I had played football. In 2009 I was 38 and probably could have continued as a player-coach for one or two years but got the offer to join Rafa Benitez. He offered me a contract to join them as reserve team goalkeeping coach and academy goalkeeper coach. He left and I made the step to the first team."

Achterberg, who played for NAC Breda, FC Eindhoven and Tranmere, was at the club when Klopp joined in 2015.

"The first time he came through the door it was like I knew him for 10 years the way he dealt with me and talked to me," Achterberg said of Klopp.

"I had a feeling this guy is special because of the way he did things and the authority he has with the players or the way he speaks to them."

Listen to Achterberg discuss Alisson, winning the European Cup and more here

Chelsea have identified 30-year-old Everton and England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford as a summer target. (Football Insider), external

Want more transfer news? Read Wednesday's full gossip column

West Ham United have opened talks to sign Corinthians' 19-year-old Brazilian winger Wesley Gassova, who is also a target for Liverpool. (Standard), external

Want more transfer news? Read Wednesday's full gossip column

Manchester United's defensive midfielder Casemiro has been heavily scrutinised in recent weeks for mishaps, slow pace and overall lacklustre performances.

But is the Brazilian getting a hard time, or is the criticism valid?

According to Opta, the 32-year-old has been dribbled past 52 times (so far this season) by an opponent in the Premier League. That is still 17 less times than Brentford midfielder Mathias Jensen, who has recorded the most.

It is also less than top-flight stars Alexis Mac Allister, with the second highest at 62, and United captain Bruno Fernandes who rounds off the top three with 57.

He has also been beaten less than Trent Alexander-Arnold and Tottenham's Pedro Porro.

Here is the full breakdown of the top-ten:

1. Mathias Jensen (Brentford) - Dribbled past 69 times in 30 Premier League starts

2. Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool) - Dribbled past 62 times in 31 Premier League starts

3. Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United) - Dribbled past 57 times in 33 Premier League starts

4. Antonee Robinson (Fulham) - Dribbled past 56 times in 35 Premier League starts

5. Pedro Porro (Tottenham) - Dribbled past 54 times in 32 Premier League starts

6. Christian Norgaard (Brentford) - Dribbled past 53 times in 29 Premier League starts

7. Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool) - Dribbled past 53 times in 26 Premier League starts

8. Joao Gomes (Wolves) - Dribbled past 53 times in 32 Premier League starts

9. Casemiro (Manchester United) - Dribbled past 52 times in 22 Premier League starts

10. Joao Palhinha (Fulham) - Dribbled past 47 times in 31 Premier League starts

One important thing to note, however, is appearances.

Excluding Casemiro, Alexander-Arnold and Christian Norgaard, they have all made over 30 Premier League starts this season. Casemiro has made the least with 22 to date and Alexander-Arnold and Norgaard have made 26 and 29 respectively.

Therefore it highlights the difficult season the five-time Champions League winner has had under Erik ten Hag compared to last season's strong debut campaign.

With things settled on the pitch, naturally my thoughts and that of Evertonians have turned to the issues off it.

Concerns in relation to the suitability of prospective owners 777 Partners continue to be raised, with yet another story emerging last weekend regarding allegations of substantial fraud.

Since the deal was agreed, we have had eight months of horror stories associated with the protracted takeover.

Red flags seem to get raised daily. When you are in the financial hole we find ourselves in, it does not fill you with much confidence that the takeover will be what the club needs.

As fans, we ask for clarity and we need it quickly. After years of relegation fears and uncertainty, it is the least Sean Dyche and our fans deserve.

There is a hope that Farhad Moshiri sees sense. The best deal for him may not be the best deal for the club. If he has any compassion and sense of attachment to Everton, he will think twice about the sale and the future of the club.

The fact that there is a reliance on the group to keep us propped up every month adds even more insecurity to the whole messy saga.

With the summer transfer window fast approaching and the keys to Bramley Moore currently being cut, the circus needs to leave town and we need to be given a reason to dream again.

Farhad, over to you.

Mike Richards can be found at Unholy Trinity, external

BBC Sport's chief football writer Phil McNulty has been answering your questions on all things Premier League.

Tom asked: What do you think the future holds for Liverpool? How do you think Liverpool should approach the transition concerning the summer transfer window - have faith in the senior players or rejuvenate the squad?

Phil answered: Jurgen Klopp leaving is obviously a hugely significant change at Liverpool and he will leave a massive hole, but the club have clearly done full due diligence on Arne Slot and believe they have the right man to take Liverpool on into the future.

I think the good news is, the basis of an outstanding squad is already in place with top-class senior players like Alisson, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah, as well as the newer acquisitions such as Alexis Mac Allister.

There is also a group of highly-talented young players, but I am sure Slot will be allowed to bring in his own players as well.

So it will be transitional, Tom, but I can see Liverpool still being right in among the contenders next season.

BBC Sport's chief football writer Phil McNulty has been answering your questions on all things Premier League.

Rich asked: Another year and another scrape by the skin of our teeth with Everton. With the spectre of administration and a protracted takeover, we have had years and years of this. Squad aside, what is the future for Everton? When will our luck run out?

Phil answered: I wish I could tell you when I could see a brighter or more optimistic future for Everton but at the moment I cannot.

The 777 takeover sounds fraught with difficulties and their track record rightly concerns fans. I suspect the best players like Jarrad Branthwaite will have to be sold to raise funds and will there even be decent money for replacements?

It is a dreadful situation, but at least they are in the Premier League next season and will move into a magnificent new stadium for the start of the next campaign.

These are the positives, but these are also very hard times and I feel very sorry for a brilliant, supportive fanbase.

Liverpool and Uruguay forward Darwin Nunez has emerged as a shock target for Barcelona, with the 24-year-old seen as a potential replacement for Poland striker Robert Lewandowski, 35. (Sun), external

Nunez has fuelled speculation of a summer exit from Liverpool by deleting all images of his time at Anfield from his Instagram page. (90min), external

Chelsea have stepped up their interest in Shakhtar Donetsk's £65m-rated Ukraine midfielder Georgiy Sudakov, 21, who is also being monitored by Arsenal, Manchester City and Liverpool. (Mail), external

Arne Slot, who is expected to replace departing manager Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool, could return to Feyenoord to sign Netherlands midfielder Mats Wieffer, 24, and Netherlands defender Lutsharel Geertruida, 23. (Football Insider), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Tuesday's full gossip column