Middlesbrough midfielder Marten De Roon insists the club and team must stay united if they are to beat the drop this season.

Boro narrowly lost 1-0 to Tottenham on Saturday which leaves them without a win in their last seven games and just one point above the relegation zone.

De Roon missed a gilt edge chance in the dying moments of the game at White Hart Lane – volleying narrowly wide of the post, and with just two points separating the bottom six, such missed opportunities could mean the difference between survival and relegation come May.

But De Roon believes his team has the quality to stay up in the Premier League, and firmly believes that will happen if everyone sticks together.

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“We lost 1-0 and the crowd still clapped and shouted for us,” he said.

“I’ve said it before but we have to go together. We have to stick together as a club and team, that’s the only way we can make things possible. I think with a little bit more luck, quality and belief in ourselves.

“We can do it, we have the team that can do it and that should stay in the Premier League. So we have to believe in it and go as a team to the Riverside next Saturday to get a result.”

Walter Mazzarri believes there is more to come from January signing M’Baye Niang – and the Watford manager feels he is man to be treated like his own son.

The 22-year-old – loaned from Italian giants AC Milan – set up the Hornets’ opener for captain Troy Deeney against Burnley before scoring what proved to be the winner with a deft header just before half-time, all coming in his debut.

The France under-21 international also gave Watford fans a taste of his undeniable flair, with the side already keen to make his loan move permanent, rumoured with a fee of £13.5m.

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Mazzarri has been impressed by the striker’s super-fast start to Premier League life, but thinks there is still room for him to improve at Vicarage Road.

“Niang did very well against Arsenal as well,” the Hornets boss said.

“Because he’s a player who didn’t play very much with Milan this season, he still needs to get the perfect condition I want.

“I’m speaking with him every day. I treat him as if he were my son. I’m also asking for suggestions and I think he listens to me as well.

“A player with his qualities, if he has made mistakes in the past the important thing is doesn’t do them anymore and keeps following my suggestions.”

Not only does Jan Vertonghen class Mousa Dembele as one of his greatest friends, he also believes his Spurs team-mate is one of the best midfielders in the Premier League.

Vertonghen and Dembele have followed remarkably similar paths in their professional careers, first meeting at the age of 12 while playing for Belgian side Germinal Beerschot before coming across each other in their teenage years, albeit for Amsterdam rivals Ajax and AZ Alkmaar respectively.

The more they saw each other the greater the bond between them grew, first becoming good friends while playing internationally for Belgium before signing for Tottenham within two months of each other in 2012.

Vertonghen acknowledges he is not only lucky to have forged such a close relationship with his team-mate, but also to be playing alongside someone he rates very highly as a player.

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He said: “I don’t think people know how good Mousa is. You can ask every single player in the team and I don’t think they can describe how good he is.

“You only know if you play with him or against him, or see him train for a couple of weeks, then you find out.

“He’s a special player and I can’t think of anyone else who is a bit like him. For me, he’s up there with the best two or three midfielders in the league.

“He’s a very humble guy, that’s one of his main characteristics. He’s a very special player and I certainly prefer to play with him than against him.”

Gary McAllister knows what it is like to stand up and be counted in a Liverpool shirt, and the former midfielder insists the current crop needs to deal with pressure more effectively in order to be successful.

Liverpool seemed to be Chelsea’s main challengers at the top of the Premier League, but their woeful form in 2017 has seen them drop outside the top four.

Jurgen Klopp’s men have not won in the top flight since a 1-0 victory over Manchester City on New Year’s Eve, with defeats against struggling Swansea City and Hull City denting their title hopes.

They are also out of the FA Cup after a shock 2-1 loss to Wolverhampton Wanderers and McAllister – who spent two seasons at Anfield and won five trophies – wants to see the likes Adam Lallana, Philippe Coutinho and co return to their bold, swashbuckling form from earlier in the season.

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“You’ve got to trust yourself. As a player, if you make a mistake and there’s a little murmur from the crowd, it’s having that ability and mental strength to go on and get on the ball,” he said.

“And if the pass presents itself again, you go for it. The easy thing to do is to play safe and not take any risks, and that’s not the style of teams here at Anfield.

“Trust in yourself, get the fans back onside, and it’s amazing what a couple of results can do.

“All of a sudden you can go from being in a bad run [to a good run] and, if we can go on a good run, you know what momentum is like at this club. Once we gather a little bit, anything can happen.”

Willy Caballero claims everything changed for him at Manchester City after his penalty shoot-out heroics in their Capital One Cup final triumph over Liverpool last season.

The Argentine goalkeeper was the hero that day but hasn’t always been a first-team regular at City – having to act as an understudy to first Joe Hart and then Claudio Bravo.

He had come under fire for some erratic performances during his first two seasons under then-boss Manuel Pellegrini and City fans were rarely filled with confidence when they his name on the teamsheet.

But he has started the last three games – keeping heavily-criticised Bravo out of the side with a string of solid performances.

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And the Argentine feels the turning point came when he gained the fans’ respect and adulation after his cup final brilliance.

“I tried to focus on the games but I listened and was aware of the criticism in my first year at City,” Caballero said. “But I learned and worked hard to improve throughout my second year.

“After the Capital One Cup final, everything changed and I felt a lot of affection from the City fans and I’ve really enjoyed it since.”

Yohan Cabaye has admitted he was honoured by interest from Marseille during the January transfer window but says he is focused on Crystal Palace’s relegation problems.

The French playmaker has struggled to make an impact this season, contributing only two goals and no assists, and with Palace struggling for form they face an uphill task if they are going to avoid relegation.

The 31-year-old – bought under previous boss Alan Pardew from PSG – is already heavily linked with a move away from Selhurst Park this summer regardless of whether Palace stay up or not.

And although Cabaye was full of praise for Marseille and their coach when he spoke to the French press, he emphasised the fact that he is fully concentrated on ensuring Palace’s safety.

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“It’s flattering, because Marseille is already one of the great French clubs. After that there’s my life in London, my club, and I focused on that,” he said.

“It flatters, really. I have immense respect for Rudi Garcia, the coach, and the person he is. But there is a reality.

“And we are in a complicated situation with the club (Palace). What I can say is that the only connection I have with Marseille is my fourth daughter was born there, that’s all.”

Claudio Ranieri says he has total faith in his side as Leicester City continues to search for inspiration following a difficult season for the champions.

The Foxes defeat to Manchester City leaves them just a point above the drop zone but Ranieri believes that that his team has the fighting spirit to avoid relegation as they did so emphatically two seasons ago.

Ranieri has accepted City’s form must improve in the coming weeks ahead of a crucial battle with Swansea City on Sunday.

He said: “Of course when you don’t win you lack a bit of confidence, it is normal but fortunately these players are warriors.

“They are used to fighting because they already lived this situation so they know the good things but also the bad things.

“It is too easy to say we don’t make mistake. Always the man is a man and I want to improve the man.”

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Ranieri also called upon his players to step up to the challenge of climbing away from the bottom of the table and live up to last season’s heroics.

He added: “We always try to do our best but this season everything is wrong. We are still fighting and that is my strength.

“They have a big hearts, big strength and a lot of good qualities and we speak a lot about everything.

“We suffer a lot, we enjoy a lot, now we are together and we continue to fight.”

Everton midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin is striving to give more to his new side despite an impressive start following his transfer from Manchester United last month.

Blues fans have already been singing the Frenchman’s praises but Schneiderlin insists he will improve, having not had had regular game time at United.

The 27-year-old moved to Old Trafford from Southampton in 2015 and played regularly under previous boss Louis van Gaal, but current United manager Jose Mourinho made it clear he was not part of his plans from an early stage – with Paul Pogba, Michael Carrick and Ander Herrera preferred.

Everton won the race for his signature last month and although he has hit the ground running – with his display in a 4-0 win against Manchester City particularly eye-catching – Schneiderlin says he has plenty more to offer.

“I’m doing well but I’m a perfectionist and I know that I can give. I’m happy with my performances, I’ve done well but I can do better,” he said.

“I know that with game-time it will be better. After a few months without playing regularly it is quite hard but I’m happy with how I am physically and with my confidence on the ball.

“I’m not satisfied because I always want to do better, even if someone tells me I’ve had an amazing game. That’s what drives me and will improve me every day.”

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Schneiderlin has started the Toffees’ last two league outings and admits his performances have been helped by the fans’ warm welcome.

He said: “It’s been a very nice few weeks and I hope that will continue. I’m very grateful to have the welcome that I have had at the club. I’m not surprised because I had only heard good things about the fans.

“It’s a pleasure to play in front of them at Goodison and away from home where they have also been terrific. The fans are a very important part of football and it’s very important to have their backing.”

AFC Bournemouth’s newest recruit Aaron Ramsdale says he will relish the opportunity to develop his game in the Premier League.

The 18-year-old goalkeeper signed for the Cherries on deadline day as he sealed a rapid-fire moved from Sheffield United to the Vitality Stadium.

Ramsdale admitted that it was a tough choice to move to the south but after speaking to Eddie Howe he knew he was making the right choice.

“I played on the Monday so I was in recovery at the time when I got a text saying ‘keep your phone on’,” he said.

“Sheffield United were really good, they helped get the deal done smoothly and after a bid was placed at 12:30pm, a deal was done at around 7:30pm.

“It was a difficult decision because Sheffield United are a great club and I was on the bench for a promotion push.

“But as soon as I spoke to Eddie Howe, he talked about the young lads and then I made my mind up, I couldn’t turn it down.”

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Ramsdale revealed he is excited to work among some of the best keepers in the game and hopes to learn from the chance play against them.

“Being in the Premier League is massive and there are some really good experienced goalkeepers here, it’s exciting.

“I want to keep developing every day, see how the ‘keepers look after themselves throughout their career, what their techniques are and above all, how they keep the ball out of the net.”

Thibaut Courtois claims it is the whole Chelsea team, not just their defenders, who deserve credit for their exceptional defensive record this season.

After losing 3-0 at Arsenal in late September, Blues manager Antonio Conte switched to a 3-4-3 formation in a move that has worked wonders for the team – going on to lose just one of their 18 games since, conceding only eight goals in the process.

Despite the defence taking most of the plaudits, Courtois believes that every player should be praised for the turnaround in the team’s fortunes and is thoroughly enjoying the positive atmosphere surrounding the team as a result.

“We defend very well as a team, it’s not only the three or the five in front of me, it’s because all the team do their job and if we play like that it’s hard for other teams to score goals,” the Belgian goalkeeper said.

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“The players don’t want to relax. We know we still have 14 games to go so we just want to show that we are strong and we don’t want to lose points.

“When the team is doing well and you’re winning, the atmosphere is very good. You can see that on the pitch, everybody is enjoying it and working for each other, so that’s very good.

“When you’re in a winning side it’s very good but even last year when we weren’t doing very well the atmosphere wasn’t bad, we always try to do our best.”