News about Roy Hodgson

DOMINIC KING: Ross Barkley was sitting in the Academy of Everton's Library in November 2015, gazing into the future. The setting was appropriate. Libraries encourage you to dream, and this ecstatic young man's mind was open to all sorts of possibilities. 'We can go back in the club's history if we are to win something,' Barkley said, before focusing on personal goals.

As if the sight of Manchester United in the bottom two of the Premier League isn't shocking enough, Liverpool is languishing in the lower half of the table after two games, which has been yet another big surprise. United and Liverpool have a rough start to the season as they prepare to face Old Trafford tonight in a game of head-to-head, but the comparisons end there. Liverpool has risen ahead of their major rivals, both on and off the field, as United's golden age of domination came to an end.

Dele Alli's (main) career seems to be on the verge of leaving Everton and the Premier League for a transfer to Besiktas, Turkey. Frank Lampard, a 26-year-old boy who joined the Toffees at the start of 2022, has already fallen out of favor at Goodison Park. For those, this potential change at a time of his career may be a surprise, particularly because of how he burst into the Tottenham game under Mauricio Pochettino (right) where his form garnered him two young player of the year awards (right) and a goals record better than Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, and Cristiano Ronaldo (left) before the age of 21.

CRAIG HOPE: When Gareth Southgate talked to Eddie Howe recently about Callum Wilson, the probe was less formal than it seemed. All available players must be tested on their form and fitness, but in the case of Wilson, a recall may be a possibility. Given the scarcity of such a product, any English centre forward who scores goals and remains injury-free in the coming months can claim the same.