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Despite picking up a creditable 2-2 draw away at high-flying Liverpool on Sunday, it has been a disappointing season for West Ham and they sit just one point above the relegation zone in the Premier League with 15 matches played.

The Irons have struggled to acclimatise to life at the London Stadium following their move from the Boleyn Ground with stars like Dimitri Payet failing to recapture the form that they showed as the club finished seventh in the standings last term.

Additionally, some of the signings Bilic made in the summer – such as Simone Zaza and Gokhan Tore – have failed to adapt to the English game and the Croatian boss may look to add more new faces to his squad during the January transfer window to ensure that the club aren’t in a relegation battle come the end of the campaign.

Here are FIVE players who should be included in his January clearout at the London Stadium…

Diafra Sakho

The Senegalese striker was very close to leaving West Ham in the summer but failed to complete a £16m move to Premier League rivals West Brom because they were concerned about a back problem that he had.

After missing the majority of the campaign with that injury, Sakho scored in his side’s 1-1 draw at Old Trafford last month but then picked up a hamstring strain which will keep him out until January.

The injury-prone attacker could be one of the names that Bilic wants to sell next month, to allow him to bring in a new striker.

Simone Zaza

Hopes were high that the Italy international could become West Ham’s main man up top, but he has struggled to adapt to life in the Premier League this season.

Signed on loan from Juventus, the move was expected to be made permanent next summer but after failing to find the net in eleven appearances, the Irons are said to be considering bringing the temporary move to an end, with Valencia thought to be ready end the 25-year-old’s east London nightmare.

Gokhan Tore

Like Zaza, the Turkey international moved to the London Stadium on loan in the summer, but the Besiktas man has also failed to impress with the Hammers and picked up a thigh injury earlier in the season.

The 24-year-old has made eight appearances in all competitions for the Irons, failing to score a goal, and Slaven Bilic is understood to want to send the winger back to the Turkish giants in January.

However, reports suggest that Besiktas don’t want him to return, but West Ham will probably need to free up his wages to allow them to bring in other targets.

James Collins

The Welshman has been with West Ham since 2012, but at 33, maybe his time at the club is coming to an end.

With the likes of Winston Reid, Cheikhou Kouyate and 2015 summer signing Angelo Ogbonna becoming first choice at the heart of the defence, chances in the starting line-up have been few and far between for Collins and it could be in the best interests of both parties if the Wales international departs from the London Stadium in January.

Alvaro Arbeloa

Despite only bringing the Spaniard to the club in the summer, West Ham boss Bilic could look to offload Arbeloa during the January transfer window.

The 33-year-old has made just four appearances in all competitions and he has obviously failed to impress his Croatian manager in those outings, with winger Michail Antonio often preferred on the right-hand side of the defence.

The former Liverpool and Real Madrid man will want more first-team football himself, and he may have to leave the London Stadium to get it.

Bournemouth will be without defender Simon Francis for the next three games after the FA upheld his ban, and fans are not happy.The Cherries captain was given his marching orders when referee Michael Oliver brandished a straight red card in the 82nd minute of the dramatic draw with Arsenal on Tuesday night.Francis was heavily penalised for a challenge on Aaron Ramsey, and it could not have come at a worse time for Bournemouth as they were in the middle of an Arsenal comeback.[ad_pod id=’now-tv’ align=’centre’]Eddie Howe’s side had gone 3-0 up after 58 minutes, but goals from Alexis Sanchez, Lucas Perez and Olivier Giroud restricted the Cherries to just a point at the Vitality Stadium.After the match, Howe told reporters that it was a “harsh” call from the match official, but the FA have backed Oliver byÂopting not to rescind the red card.Francis will now miss the upcoming FA Cup match against Millwall and Premier League games against Hull City and Watford.When the news was announced, fans took to social media to vent their frustration.

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West Ham United have been regular features in the transfer gossip columns leading up to the January window, but it has not gone to plan so far following Press Association Sport’s report that Hull City have rejected a £3m bid for Robert Snodgrass.

Slaven Bilic’s side have already had a £6m offer turned down by Sunderland for striker Jermain Defoe, reports BBC Sport, and now they have reportedly been knocked back again.

PA Sport claim that the Tigers have rebuffed a £3m offer, but the Hammers are expected to improve their offer with a second bid.

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The East London outfit may feel encouraged following reports that Snodgrass has turned down a long-term deal with Hull.

However, it does not seem as though they will get very far with relatively small bids, particularly in this market.

Some fans have taken the opportunity to mock the East London outfit for their transfer strategy.

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This week has been a turbulent one for West Ham. The Dimitri Payet saga rumbled on and on, with the player apparently preferring to play elsewhere and refusing to play for West Ham again.

Today’s match at the London Stadium could have piled more misery on the team and their supporters but it appears to have been a unifying occasion. They stormed to a 3-0 win over Crystal Palace, scoring some very classy goals indeed.

The pick of the bunch was Andy Carroll’s. He rocketed home an overhead kick, an effort that is sure to be replayed again and again for years to come. For us, it’s probably the goal of the season so far and unlikely to be beaten.

That was sandwiched by goals from Manuel Lanzini and Sofiane Feghouli. Michail Antonio was the driving force for the win, contributing the assists to all three goals.

It’s turned a bad week into a great one for the club and their fans.

As you’d imagine, a goal with the quality of Carroll’s provoked quite the reaction and fans took to Twitter to share their love for the overhead belter…

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Watford were not given a chance of victory at the Emirates on Tuesday night. The Hornets had failed to win in seven Premier League matches and had slipped towards the perils of the relegation battle. As Arsenal started slowly, Walter Mazzarri’s side took full advantage, however, and recorded a 2-1 win. It was seen as a defeat for Arsenal rather than a victory for Watford, but the away team deserve full credit for putting the Gunners to the sword during their shaky first half.

After climbing up the table during the opening months of the season, Watford looked every bit a guaranteed Premier League team for 2017/18. Their recent slump, which has come across the most hectic time in the Premier League calendar, looked to be putting that in jeopardy. The quality in the Watford squad puts them in the ‘too good to go down’ category, but we all know that is complete nonsense if you end up in a relegation battle in March.

Next up for Mazzarri’s team is the visit of Burnley. That is a Burnley side who have picked up a solitary point away from home this season, despite boasting a record better than Arsenal at Turf Moor. In many ways, Watford could not have a better fixture to build momentum upon after their shock win against Arsenal. Maybe Leicester would be a marginally kinder opponent, but Burnley’s difficulties on the road make Watford sure-fire favourites.

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In the shape of Mbaye Niang and Isaac Success, they have two of the most exciting forwards in the league. Flanking Troy Deeney, who continues to be an utter nuisance for central defenders, and with the ever improving Etienne Capoue driving forward from central midfield, Watford have the framework of a team that can cause any opponent problems. Defensively they were secure earlier in the season, too, they have the balance of a team ready to consolidate themselves in the Premier League.

Watford have been intelligent in the transfer market. While not all deals will work out, naturally, the Hornets have balanced their team well. Retaining their Premier League status is the key for the club for now, their victory over Arsenal as good as did that. A home match with Burnley is a must-win considering the Clarets record and it could be the springboard to a return to their early season form.

Although they could have easily let their lead slip in the second half as Arsenal turned up the pressure, Watford’s performance at the Emirates was further proof that their December and January troubles were nothing more than a blip. Mazzarri has added to his squad and shown tactical flexibility that is rare amongst Premier League managers.

Burnley are the ideal opponents and, although its only February, Watford can begin to relax.

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Tottenham Hotspur have not won a trophy since the League Cup in the 2007-08 season.Given that Mauricio Pochettino has a talented team at his fingertips, they should be picking up more silverware.Spurs have a chance to win their first FA Cup since 1990-91 campaign as they have made it into the quarter-finals of the competition.Harry Kane was the star man as he nabbed a hat-trick to seal victory over Fulham at Craven Cottage on Sunday.[ad_pod id=’now-tv’ align=’centre’]Not long after the match, the North London outfit were drawn Millwall in the final eight.Spurs will be favourites heading into the clash against the League One opposition at White Hart Lane, but Opta has given them another reason to feel hopeful.

As mentioned, it has been almost nine years since Spurs won a trophy, but they have a team well-equipped to go all the way in a domestic competition.

Pochettino and his men will be hoping that history repeats itself when they face the Lions.

In the remaining fixtures, Chelsea will go head to head with Manchester United, Middlesbrough will face Huddersfield or Manchester City, while surprise package Lincoln City were drawn against the winners of tonight’s clash between Sutton United and Arsenal.

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Leeds United striker Chris Wood decided to alert his club to an error they made in a feature building up to Friday’s Championship clash against Birmingham City.The Whites published a piece on theirÂofficial websiteÂlisting 11 footballers who have played for both Leeds and the Blues during their career.Wood, who has been part of the squad at Elland Road since his 2015 switch from Leicester City, donned the Birmingham shirt during a loan spell from West Bromwich Albion in the 2011-12 campaign.For some reason, the 25-year-old was left out of Leeds’ feature, and he was quick to let the club know by jokingly tweeting that they tend to forget about players from New Zealand.

Wood has not been forgettable on the pitch this season, though, having scored 23 goals and producing two assists in 37 appearances in all competitions.

The striker’s teammate Luke Ayling decided to chime in on the Twitter chat, poking fun at the fact that Wood has played for 11 different clubs so far in his career.

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The pressure is on Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp following Monday night’s dismal display against Leicester City.

The Merseyside outfit have picked up just two wins in 12 matches in all competitions, and their latest defeat came at the hands of the managerless Foxes.

It had been two weeks since Liverpool last played when they headed to the King Power Stadium, but their preparations did not go to plan as they were beaten 3-1 by a team that had only won five of their Premier League games before kickoff.

Jamie Vardy scored twice and Danny Drinkwater added to the scoresheet, while Philippe Coutinho’s second-half goal proved to be just a consolation.

Liverpool were at one point a strong title contender alongside Chelsea, but they now look as though they will struggle to finish in the top four.

As it stands, the Merseyside outfit are in fifth place, 14 points adrift of the leaders with 12 games left to play.

Only five points separate second from sixth, and with Manchester United breathing down their necks, Liverpool face a tough challenge to claim a Champions League spot.

Some quarters believe that Klopp should be on his way out the door due to the Reds’ dismal run, while others are determined to stick by him.

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According to reports on talkSPORT, West Ham will face competition from Besiktas if they want to sign Juventus striker Mario Mandzukic this summer.

What’s the story, then?

With Andy Carroll being linked with a move away from the London Stadium this summer, according to the Daily Star, the Irons are said to be keen on bringing a new striker in at the end of the season.

The former Bayern Munich man is understood to be high on manager Slaven Bilic’s list, although he will have to battle Turkish giants Besiktas for his compatriot’s signature, as they look to replace Mario Gomez.

How is he doing this season?

Mandzukic is certainly still showing that he is a key man for Juve this term, making 34 appearances in all competitions and scoring seven goals as the club look set to win yet another Serie A title.

Why would Juventus want to let him go?

Well, the 30-year-old’s contract runs out in the summer of 2018 and there is yet to be any discussions over a new deal, which has put his future with the Old Lady into doubt.

Juve may look to find a younger alternative at the end of the season as they look to build for the future.

Would he be a success in the Premier League?

The Croatian, who has netted 29 caps in 74 caps for his country, has proven that he is a top-class finisher over the course of his career, and there is no reason why he can’t bring that form to England. Just look at Ibrahimovic.

Slaven Bilic also knows him well having worked with the striker when he was Croatia manager, which would help Mandzukic settle in to life in east London.

Pedro Caixinha has been Rangers manager for less than a month but he already appears to be settling into the role has Ibrox boss nicely. A fine victory over Hamilton Academical nearly two weeks ago certainly added to the feeling of optimism around his arrival.

He faces a similar test this weekend, welcoming Motherwell to Ibrox on Saturday who aren’t just close to Hamilton geographically but also in terms of Scottish Premiership points.

The Steelmen are just three points above the relegation positions in the table and visit Caixinha’s side desperate for a result to help keep them clear of any danger. They’ve appointed a new manager recently too, former Oldham boss Steve Robinson, so it’s set to be a very intriguing match-up for both sets of supporters.

Caixinha has had a very welcome international break to give him time to effect change on the training ground at Auchenhowie and supporters will expect to see him begin to stamp his authority on performances going forward.

Here are THREE signs of improvement fans should be looking for in the weeks to come…

A defence focused on defence

A reoccurring feature of Rangers’ season has been their inability to perform consistently in a defensive sense compared to Aberdeen or Celtic. Both clubs have conceded far fewer goals in the league, looking like teams that are able to grind out results without the pressure of having to find more than one goal for results.

One of the main criticisms fans levelled at Mark Warburton’s side was the likes of James Tavernier neglecting their defensive duties in order to try and impact on the game in an attacking sense.

More pragmatism in this sense would go a long way to shoring up the leaky backline and could be the difference between consistent results reverting back to the form we saw under Waburton.

If Pedro Caixinha can rein in that natural tendency to burst forward and instruct Tavernier to only commit himself into the final third when it makes sense, the entire unit will be stronger.

A Rangers will to win

There may be a big difference between the quality of Rangers and Celtic this season but one thing that still links both is the expectancy to win every single match. That pressure is something that only surrounds 7 or 8 clubs in the whole of Britain.

For Rangers supporters, that determination and will to win has been missing from the performances of their team. They didn’t show that swagger or belief under Mark Warburton this season and haven’t since the first half of their Championship winning season. Since the start of 2016, they’ve gradually lost belief they are a Rangers team.

They arguably regained some of that self-belief under Graeme Murty but now it’s up to Pedro Caixinha to instil that motivation and passion into them again. It’ll be interesting to see them start to win matches they struggle in and against teams that show up for a battle.

Has Caixinha’s two weeks of focused training ground work managed to inspire them to become a classic Rangers team once again? It’s often not about ability but about harnessing this inherent belief they are an unbeatable Scottish institution, especially at Ibrox.

A team that works for each other

Rangers have rarely shown a team unity this season. Most good results have come about due to individual performances or moments of magic.

The one time they did show unity was recently and a sign that things are about to get better for supporters at Ibrox. Up against it at Celtic Park against the Scottish Champions, they came back from 1-0 down to draw level very late in the game.

The most impressive thing about that wasn’t Clint Hill’s late winner, it was that the equaliser looked almost inevitable from the 60 minute mark onwards. They were a team that fought for each other, backed each other and were unselfish in their outlook on the match.

If Rangers are to overhaul Aberdeen or win the Scottish Cup this season, that needs to become a regular trait of Pedro Caixinha’s side.

A siege mentality has to be created at Ibrox, they need to believe they are a team that has something to prove, not just to supporters or wider Scottish football but to themselves as teammates.

Has Caixinha managed to tap into that since his first match?