The Pulse of Football

Apr

2025

Premier League Preview, Matchday 33

This could be a decisive weekend in the Premier League.

The relegation race could be settled, depending on results, and Liverpool could be crowned as champions. For all that to happen, certain pieces of the puzzle need to fall in to place and we’ll detail exactly what in this article. There are a few other things to look out for this weekend, so here’s your weekend preview for Matchday 33.

Top four scrap at Villa Park

Aston Villa made hard work of it against Southampton last time out. Unai Emery’s side scored three goals in the final 20 minutes to claim maximum points against the Saints. It was also a game in which January arrival Marco Asensio missed two penalties as the away side huffed and puffed searching for the breakthrough.

The win moved them to 54 points, level with Chelsea and just a point behind fifth placed Manchester City. On Saturday evening, they host the team in possession of one of the top four places, Newcastle United. The Magpies have been in fine form recently and have surged up the table and into the Champions League places.

If their form continues, they could displace an out of sorts Arsenal as runners-up to Liverpool. Coupled with Carabao Cup success, it would represent a historic season for the Magpies.

Villa, meanwhile, are looking to claim a place in Europe’s elite club competition for a second successive year. Given the Premier League will receive a fifth spot in the Champions League next term, Emery’s side need to finish strongly. While a fourth place finish might be a bit of a stretch, if they keep winning, there’s no reason they can’t take up control of fifth, especially with Manchester City and Chelsea stuttering of late.

It’s a big one on Saturday evening. It favours the Magpies too. They’ve won four of the last five meetings and this includes 4-0, 5-1, 3-0 and 3-1 victories. They seem to be Emery’s kryptonite.

Ice Cold Palmer

Before the turn of the year, people had Chelsea in a title race alongside Liverpool and Arsenal. Now, however, the Blues are in sixth position and it’ll be a struggle for a top four finish.

Enzo Maresca’s men are out of sorts. Their talisman, Cole Palmer, is completely out of sorts.

Chelsea have picked up just two points in their last two games. They eked out a 0-0 draw with Brentford and needed a second half comeback against Ipswich Town to salvage a point at Stamford Bridge against the relegation battlers.

Their fate is no longer in their hands. If they win every game for the rest of the season, it still might not be enough for a top four finish.

And this drop off coincides with Palmer going off the boil.

The Manchester City academy graduate is without a goal in the Premier League since January. During this run of games, he’s added just two assists to his tally for the campaign.

If Chelsea are going to snatch a top four finish, they’ll need their talisman to show up for the run-in, starting with the match against Fulham on Sunday. Marco Silva’s men have the quality and ability to claim an upset. This season, they’ve beaten runaway leaders Liverpool and Newcastle while claiming a point against Arsenal.

Chelsea could have a problem at Craven Cottage.

Impending doom for Ipswich Town

Ipswich Town aren’t yet relegated.

A loss this weekend, however, practically confirms they will be playing Championship football next season. Right now, they’re 14 points behind Wolves and West Ham with six games left to play meaning there are 18 points in total up for grabs.

Defeat now, against Arsenal, coupled with wins for both the sides above them would see Kieran McKenna’s side relegated. Draws for Wolves and West Ham are enough to bring Ipswich’s run in the English top flight to an end after one season too. Even if both lose, the Tractor Boys are effectively dead and buried if they don’t pick up a win against the title chasers.

They’re going to be relegated. It is just a case of when rather than if. Can they prolong it for another week or so? If they manage to do the unthinkable and beat Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal at Portman Road, the title race could be over for the Gunners.

There’s a lot at stake this weekend. This Sunday afternoon clash could be pivotal in how the table looks at the end of the season.

The champions elect

The match at the King Power is also pretty big, too.

If Ipswich manage to beat Arsenal, Liverpool can claim the Premier League title with a win over Leicester City in the late afternoon kick-off on Sunday. A win for the Reds could also confirm relegation for the Foxes. It would likely bring Ruud Van Nistelrooy’s time with the 2015/16 Premier League champions to a premature end too.

The former Manchester United striker hasn’t had the best of times in charge of the Foxes after replacing Steve Cooper. Leicester did claim a 2-2 draw with Brighton last weekend to halt an eight-game losing streak.

The last time they managed to pick up points in back-to-back matches was back in December, when Van Nistelrooy was first appointed. Since then, Leicester have lost 15 of their 17 Premier League matches.

This should be a formality for the Reds. However, their performances as of late haven’t been great. They eked out a 2-1 win over West Ham United at Anfield last weekend to open up a 13 point gap at the top of the table. They’ll need a better showing against Leicester if they’re to keep that advantage over Arsenal.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from the Premier League on FotMob – with in-depth stat coverage including xG, shot maps, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Apr

2025

MLS After Messi: How the League Can Keep Growing Without Its Biggest Star

Last Sunday night in Chicago, over 62,000 fans filled Soldier Field to watch a 0-0 draw. That wouldn’t normally make headlines. But when Lionel Messi is on the pitch, normal rules don’t apply.

By David Skilling

Messi’s presence helped to break the Chicago Fire’s single-game attendance record and that has become a theme since his arrival in July 2023. From Atlanta to Kansas City, stadiums are bursting at the seams when Inter Miami come to town. His name is the headline, the spectacle, the reason fans fly across states just to catch a glimpse.

Messi has not just elevated Inter Miami, he’s redefined the ceiling of what’s possible for the American game. Attendance records broken. Viewership has spiked. Merchandise sales have soared. Apple TV, which signed a $2.5 billion deal with MLS before Messi’s arrival, is now enjoying a much-needed boost in subscriptions to its MLS Season Pass.

*Messi’s season summary since moving to Inter Miami*

The 37-year-old Argentinian has scored goals, notched assists, and captured imaginations. But perhaps most importantly, he’s lent MLS something it has craved for decades: credibility, inside and outside the U.S. borders.

Yet here’s the looming question no one in the league office can afford to ignore: What happens when Messi stops playing?

MLS has always flirted with star power. From David Beckham’s groundbreaking arrival in 2007 to the brief stints of Thierry Henry, Zlatan Ibrahimović, and Kaká, the league has used ageing global icons to draw attention.

But Messi is different. He’s not just a footballer, he’s a global cultural figure and in the argument for the greatest to ever do it. With half a billion followers on Instagram alone, his influence transcends sport. But, there’s a looming expiration date.

So what then?

The concern is not just hypothetical. History has already shown what happens when a league becomes too reliant on one icon. Interest in MLS stagnated in the years following Beckham’s departure, another huge cultural influence at the time. The fanfare was immense, but once the buzz wore off and Beckham moved on, international media and many casual viewers followed suit.

Messi’s retirement won’t just be a football story, it will be a cultural moment. Attention will drop. Stadiums will stop selling out just because Inter Miami are in town. Brands may hesitate, and broadcasters will need new hooks.

*Our top rated players in MLS during the 2025 season to date*

The league is understandably milking this era. But unless it uses the spotlight to prepare for what comes next, the afterglow could fade fast. I’m sure the league office has been thinking about this for some time, but there are some areas where I believe the league can evolve and develop its unique identity, without depending on a single superstar.

First, the league must strengthen club brands, not just individual players. Too many MLS teams still operate without a clear identity on the global stage. In Europe, even chasing-pack clubs like Fiorentina or Real Betis carry rich narratives and emotional resonance. Of course, they have history on their side, but Inter Miami is setting the tone on how to approach things in newer markets, not just thanks to Messi, but because of a brand built around the culture and vibrancy of Miami itself, admittedly, it has the advantage of being in a globally attractive city to begin with. The league should push other clubs to find stronger hooks and encourage them to embrace storytelling, fashion, and music to build lasting cultural value, not just locally but globally.

Second, MLS must double down on developing and exporting young talent. While Messi has brought attention, serious credibility comes from nurturing future stars. This model works when backed by consistent investment and smart infrastructure. Players like Alphonso Davies and Tyler Adams are examples of this. More recently, we’ve seen attention on Cavan Sullivan, too. These are good examples, but it’ll take a lot more.

*15-year-old Sullivan is in to his second senior season with Philadelphia*

The league needs to deepen that pipeline and maybe even rethink how it introduces its rising stars to the world. There’s room for storytelling here, perhaps through behind-the-scenes docuseries that spotlight the journey of future talent and take some cues from Ryan Reynolds’ storytelling playbook. The Gen-Z generation is as enamoured by personalities as they are by football ability; there’s an opportunity to tap into that connection and think about entertainment as the hook that introduces the next generation of MLS talent.

Lastly, the league needs to embrace cultural capital. We live in a world where influence drives attention. Inter Miami have capitalised on this brilliantly, celebrities aren’t just attending for the game, they’re attending to be seen. That visibility has translated into global awareness. It’s a model other clubs should study. Whether it’s collaborating with local musicians or aligning with regional tastemakers, there’s value in meaningful cultural crossover. In the NBA, we’re used to seeing who’s courtside as much as what happens on the court. For MLS, tapping into that familiar rhythm could open the door to more mainstream relevance in the U.S. market and beyond.

Inter Miami has mastered this. Celebrities flock to their matches to be seen next to Beckham and Messi. That visibility has given the club a cultural relevance most MLS teams could only dream of. The league should look across the MLS club network and think strategically: how can they utilise the collective of culturally relevant figures, already in their ecosystem, in an authentic way?

Will Ferrell, Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon, Oscar de la Hoya, and many other A-list U.S. sports and entertainment figures hold shares in MLS clubs. They should all come together, with the league, for the shared mission of growing the league and the franchises through a creative global marketing strategy, rather than working individually to build their own club brands.

Some of these ideas might not feel traditional to football purists, but MLS, building in this era, needs to look beyond tradition. If it wants a bigger share of attention, not just within football but across the entire U.S. sports landscape, it has to play a different game. Unlike most countries, it’s not just competing with other football leagues, it’s up against the NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL on home soil. Imagine another sport trying to pull you away from football; that’s the uphill battle MLS faces every day.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup, hosted by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, is the perfect bridge between the Messi era and whatever comes next. By then, Messi will likely be in his final season or recently retired. The event will bring a once-in-a-generation spotlight.

MLS must use it to reposition the league as a serious player on the global football and entertainment map. That means smart marketing that convinces World Cup viewers to stick around once the tournament is over.

Messi won’t play forever. But what he’s done is give MLS unprecedented exposure; the World Cup provides another huge boost. The question now is what the league builds on top of those foundations.

(Images from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from MLS on FotMob – with in-depth stat coverage including xG, shot maps, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Apr

2025

Liverpool could set themselves up for a decade with 4 signings this summer

Liverpool are heading into a pivotal summer despite their status as champions-elect, and their decision-makers could set them up for long-term success with four key signings.

By Jack Lusby, ThisIsAnfield.com

Arne Slot may now only be days away from becoming the first Liverpool manager since Kenny Dalglish to win a top-flight title in his first campaign in charge, only the third ever for the club and only the fourth in Premier League history.

It is a remarkable achievement, but there is an acknowledgment that this is only the start; new contracts for both Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah, themselves convinced of this new Slot-led project, are testament to that.

“Whatever happens in terms of players going out, players coming in, I think it should be a big summer,” Van Dijk explained prior to the announcement of his new two-year deal.

“I think they’re planning to make it a big summer, so we all have to trust the board to do the right job.”

As champions-elect, Liverpool already have designs on the summer transfer window, including high-profile departures and almost certainly big-money signings.

Nail it, and the club could set themselves up for the next decade – with four key transfers standing out.

Dean Huijsen

Liverpool have already tied down the future of their goalkeeping ranks with the signing of Georgia’s Player of the Year, Giorgi Mamardashvili, from Valencia, with a £29 million deal agreed in Slot’s first summer in charge.

That paves the way for Alisson‘s eventual exit and a hopefully smooth transition between the sticks – next up is the plan for Van Dijk’s successor.

Fortunately that will not be required until at least 2027, with the world’s best centre-back now committed for two more years, but Liverpool already have their sights set on their next in line.

Among a number of clubs interested in signing Bournemouth’s Dean Huijsen, available with a release clause of £50 million, the Reds’ pursuit of the Dutch-born Spain international certainly makes sense.

*Huijsen player traits – comparison made against similar players in top 5 leagues*

Having only turned 20 in April, Huijsen has stood out as one of the most accomplished centre-backs in the Premier League after swapping Juventus for Dean Court last summer.

His outstanding technical ability is matched with an intelligent reading of the game, and he is perfectly suited to the progressive style required in Slot’s back line – either as partner to Van Dijk, with doubts over Ibrahima Konaté‘s future, or a long-term replacement.

Milos Kerkez

Huijsen’s Bournemouth teammate Milos Kerkez is another known target for Liverpool heading into the summer, and it comes as no surprise for a number of reasons.

Firstly, left-back is arguably the only real problem position within Slot’s squad, with Andy Robertson showing signs of wear and Kostas Tsimikas, though an able deputy, not showing himself capable of taking over as first choice.

Kerkez is the priority as Liverpool seek likely competition for Robertson – with clubs from elsewhere in the Premier League reported to be interested in Tsimikas – having excelled under Andoni Iraola at Bournemouth.

His lung-busting approach at left-back is, again, ideal for Slot’s system while the Hungarian is also more than comfortable in his own defensive third.

Still only 21, Kerkez was brought to Bournemouth by now-Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes and his proposed switch to Merseyside could lighten the load on Robertson while locking down the left-back spot for years to come.

Xavi Simons

“It’s nice to have versatile players,” admitted Slot in his recent praise for Curtis Jones, while revealing it is a factor he and Hughes “talk a lot about” in their plans for the future.

Step forward another reported target in RB Leipzig’s Xavi Simons – a player who could fill any number of roles in the head coach’s setup.

Simons only joined Leipzig on a permanent basis at the end of January, but his initial £43 million switch to the Red Bull Arena was widely expected to be with a view to moving on again before long.

Liverpool are among the clubs touted with a move for the 21-year-old this summer and reports in Germany claim Leipzig would be looking for around £70 million for his services.

While steep, that is an indicator of both the Netherlands international’s current ability and his upscale – a player who, despite his age, has already played 131 times across spells with PSV Eindhoven, Paris Saint-Germain and Leipzig, and has made 74 goal contributions in the last three seasons at an average of a goal or assist every 130.9 minutes.

Capable of playing as a left or right winger, as an attacking midfielder, up front and even as a No. 8, Simons is the definition of versatile and could solve a number of problems with question marks over the likes of Luis Díaz and Diogo Jota.

Hugo Ekitike

Finally, and perhaps typically, the most costly signing of the summer is likely to come in the centre-forward position, with Liverpool needing a replacement for Darwin Núñez.

While they were burned with their club-record £85 million outlay on Núñez – a player who, while providing 40 goals and 22 assists in 138 games so far, has never looked the right fit for either Slot or Jürgen Klopp – there is a sense that lessons will be learned this time around.

The Núñez deal was spearheaded by Klopp himself, but Liverpool have now seen a shift in emphasis back to data-led recruitment, which seems to have turned them on to Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike.

Though there are suggestions of a similarly lofty £85 million price tag around the young Frenchman, Ekitike still resembles a cheaper, almost like-for-like alternative to football’s most-desired but priced-out forward Alexander Isak, who Newcastle value at £150 million.

Tall and well-built at 6’3″ but still nimble and mobile over distances, Ekitike could be an ideal ‘nine-and-a-half’ for Slot’s system, comfortable both in buildup play and finishing off attacks, drifting wherever he is needed rather than restricted to central areas.

Like Huijsen, 20, Kerkez, 21, and Simons, 21, Ekitike has his best years ahead of him as he only turns 23 in June – and signing all four alongside the arriving Mamardashvili, 24, even for a combined £250 million, could set Liverpool up for the next decade.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

To keep up to date with everything Liverpool, make sure you click follow on the team profile in the FotMob app. Download the free app here.

Apr

2025

Preview: Inter and Bayern face season-defining second leg at San Siro

Simone Inzaghi’s Inter have one foot in the Champions League semi-finals after last week’s away win over Bayern Munich.

By Graham Ruthven

Halfway there

In their biggest game of the season so far, Inter executed their game plan to perfection. Away to a Bayern Munich team many expected to make the Champions League semi-finals, the Italian champions counter-attacked their way to a 2-1 victory.

It was a classic Inter performance. Simone Inzaghi set up his side to be resolute in defence and razor sharp in attack. While Bayern struggled to find a way through, the visitors had no such issues in the other direction.

Lautaro Martínez’s opener was one of the goals of the season as Inter went from one end of the pitch to the other in a matter of seconds. Davide Frattesi’s late winner was another instance of Inter’s quick transition threat.

No team has averaged more possession per 90 minutes in the Champions League this season than Bayern Munich. Vincent Kompany will want his team to control the ball at San Siro, but can the Bavarians translate this into chance creation? They failed to do so in the first leg.

Both Inter and Bayern Munich are in a strong position to win their respective domestic titles, but their season could be defined by what unfolds on Wednesday night in the Champions League.

Key players

Martínez and Marcus Thuram demonstrated their understanding in the attacking third by putting Bayern Munich to the sword in last week’s first leg at the Allianz Arena. They will be a threat once more in the second leg.

Nicolo Barella is key to the way Inter get forward in quick transition with the Italian international a valve in the centre of the pitch. Alessandro Bastoni is also an important figure for the Nerazzurri such is the quality of his distribution out from the back.

Only Raphinha, Robert Lewandowski, and Serhou Guirassy have scored more goals in the Champions League this season than Harry Kane who has netted 10 goals in 12 games. The English striker is still one of the best goalscorers of his generation.

However, Kane lacked service in the first leg against Inter. This is where the likes of Michael Olise, Thomas Müller and Leroy Sané must step up. With Jamal Musiala out injured, Bayern Munich have become too predictable as an attacking outfit in recent weeks.

Team news

Denzel Dumfries and Piotr Zieliński will miss Wednesday’s match against Bayern for Inter with Bastoni, Thuram and Henrikh Mkhitaryan expected to come back into the lineup after being rested for the win over Cagliari.

Musiala is still sidelined for Bayern Munich. The German international has been desperately missed in recent matches with Kompany using Müller and Raphaël Guerreiro as a number 10 in his absence. This is a choice he will face again.

Defensively, Bayern Munich are also depleted. Jonas Urbig will continue to fill in for Manuel Neuer with Alphonso Davies and Dayot Upamecano also missing for the Bundesliga table-toppers.

Prediction

After the goal-driven drama of Tuesday’s second legs, perhaps we’re due a calmer evening? We’re expecting Inter to do enough to pull through on aggregate: Inter 1-1 Bayern Munich

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from the Champions League with FotMob this season — featuring deep stats coverage, xG, player ratings, and a new super-intuitive knockout stage bracket. Download the free app here.

Apr

2025

Preview: Madrid looking for a second leg miracle as Arsenal visit the Bernabéu

Three goals down from the first leg, the reigning European champions have a whole lot of work to do if they are to continue their recent continental dominance – though their situation is not without precedence.

By Karl Matchett

Spanish sides know the feeling

Not that Real Madrid often want to take inspiration from the likes of their biggest rivals Barcelona, but they are one of the few teams to have been involved in this type of comeback before; from an even worse situation in fact, the famous remontada comeback, beating PSG 6-1 after losing 4-0 in the first leg. Real are only 3-0 down here by comparison, though Barcelona have experienced that scoreline too, in reverse: they lost 4-0 to Liverpool in 2019 are being three up from the first leg, and a year earlier gave up a 4-1 lead to go out on away goals at Roma. Plenty for Madrid to realise, then, that big leads can work both ways – and of course Los Blancos have their own history of comebacks to point to as evidence that the tie isn’t all over just yet.

All or nothing for Arsenal

The Gunners could scarcely have dreamed of being in a better position after the first leg, but it also reinforces the fact all their eggs for this season are in a Champions League-shaped basket. While Real have a Copa del Rey final and a LaLiga title battle to contend with, it’s just this competition for Mikel Arteta’s men. Another weekend draw leaves them 13 points off the pace in the Premier League – it’s European glory or another empty-handed year therefore. The path ahead is still tough, with PSG likely semi-final opponents, but there’s no use being concerned about one tough challenge when, too often, they’ve shown themselves capable of collapsing when the pressure is really on. With this three-goal cushion, they have to start to show they can shed that tag at last.

Recent form

Not stellar from either side in truth, but Arsenal are unbeaten in nine – five draws in that time – and haven’t lost a game by three or more all season long. That’s all they have to do, with the pressure very much on the hosts. Real won at the weekend despite a Kylian Mbappé red card, but that was their first win in four. At home this season they’ve won by three or more on eight occasions.

Team news

Eduardo Camavinga is suspended and the same names are out long term for Madrid – Dani Carvajal, Éder Militão and Ferland Mendy. For Arsenal, centre-back Gabriel is out for the season and Kai Havertz is out until at least May. Jurrien Timber might have to start right-back as Thomas Partey went off injured at the weekend and midfielder Jorginho is a doubt too.

Key player

David Raya has been largely impressive for the Gunners this season, not just with shot-stopping but also his concentration and ability to sweep through balls. His 82% save rate is third-highest in the Champions League, but 3.9 goals prevented is top. Arsenal may need that form.

*Not much to separate Raya and Courtois in the Champions League this season*

Prediction

Real to win the night, but Arsenal to win the tie. That third goal may prove all-important: Madrid 3-1 Arsenal

(Cover image from IMAGO)

Apr

2025

Preview: Barcelona travel to Dortmund for second leg formality

Barcelona have one foot in the Champions League semi-final after comprehensively beating Borussia Dortmund 4-0 in the first leg. There is little to play for other than the opportunity to make it respectable for the Germans.

By Alex Roberts

The atmosphere at the Signal Iduna Park will be as electric as ever, the Yellow Wall has had little to celebrate domestically this season, it’s just a shame it’s going to take a genuine footballing miracle for them to go through.

Hansi Flick’s side are on the other end of the spectrum. Sitting at the summit of LaLiga as well as being favourites to win the Champions League, it’s a good time to be a Barca fan.

Jamie Gittens has disappeared

Dortmund’s Jadon Sancho 2.0 has struggled of late, scoring just one goal in his last 19 games. That wouldn’t be so bad if he was creating but he’s also failed to register a single assist in that time.

It’s quite the drop off. Gittens registered 14 goal contributions in his previous 25 games, earning him links with some of the biggest clubs both back home and on the continent. Those links are still there, for now at least.

Niko Kovač’s side had little to no attacking threat in the first leg, Barca took control of the game from the first whistle. They’re going to need more than Gittens but when he’s in form he can certainly make a difference.

Aging like a fine wine

Veteran striker Robert Lewandowski has been getting all the headlines, and rightly so, bagging 40 goals in 46 games across all competitions, but he isn’t the only elder statesman ripping it up for Barca this season.

*Lewandowski’s best numbers since the 2021/22 season*

Iñigo Martínez may well be Barcelona’s best centre-back at the moment. He’s exactly what Flick wants, calm under pressure, able to play out from the back, and most importantly, hard to get past.

He won 100% of his tackles in the reverse fixture. He also won 50% of his duels and was dribbled past zero times. With young Pau Cubarsí beside him, Barca are set for the present and the future.

Finally finding his feet

A lot was expected from Maximilian Beier when he joined from Hoffenheim last summer. It’s taken a little while, but he’s starting to look like the player Dortmund thought they were getting.

Eight goal contributions in his last ten games across all competitions, including the opener in Der Klassiker on Saturday, makes him their chief attacking threat over the past couple of months.

Beier still has a little way to go if he’s going to be the next big thing at Dortmund. Football is a confidence game, an impressive performance against Barca would likely do wonders for him.

Alejandro Balde will be a big miss

The Catalan club’s hectic schedule has claimed its first victim. Balde will likely be out of action for the next few weeks after picking up a hamstring injury in their edgy 1-0 win over Leganés on Saturday.

Balde is Hansi Flick’s undisputed favourite in the left-back position, making 43 appearances across all competitions, scoring one goal, and providing eight assists. Fellow La Masia graduate Gerard Martín is currently their only other option in that position.

Barca will certainly be without a pretty potent attacking threat now that Balde is out but thankfully they have plenty of those at the moment.

Prediction

Barcelona should go through to the semi-finals without getting out of first gear thanks to their massive first-leg win. Having said that, we don’t predict them to take their eye off the ball. We’re going to go with a 2-0 win for Barca.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

Apr

2025

Jorgen Strand Larsen: The No. 9 Wolves have been waiting for

It has taken a while but Wolves have finally replaced Raúl Jiménez.

By Sam McGuire

The Mexico international left Molineux in 2023, joining Fulham for a reported fee of £5.5million. Wolves had brought in Sasa Kalajdzic 12 months prior to eventually succeed the one-time Atlético Madrid man but an ACL injury on his debut brought his campaign to an end. In a way, it brought his Wolves career to an end, though he was used sparingly off the bench last term before a January move to Eintracht Frankfurt. While back in Germany, he suffered another ACL injury and he’s been sidelined ever since.

Wolves had attacking threats in Hwang Hee-Chan and Matheus Cunha but no real focal point in the final third. They addressed that issue in the summer when Jørgen Strand Larsen arrived from Celta Vigo. Though the deal to bring him to the Premier League was an initial loan, there is a €30million obligation to buy.

At the time, it felt excessive. The powerhouse Norway international had joined Celta in 2022 for a fee rumoured to be €11million. Since then, he’d done ok in LaLiga, netting 17 goals across two seasons, but nothing to treble his value.

It was a gamble. But it appears to have worked out well.

Wolves are now 16th in the table, just three points behind 13th-placed Everton. Vítor Pereira’s side have won four on the spin to move away from a relegation battle. And they’ve done it without their main man, Matheus Cunha. The Brazil international was sent off against Bournemouth in the FA Cup and suspended for four matches. Many thought this would see Wolves collapse.

They didn’t, though.

Pereira’s men picked up maximum points and beat relegation rivals Ipswich Town, Southampton and West Ham during this run. And Strand Larsen has been the main man for Wolves during this period, netting five goals in four outings.

He scored the winner against Ipswich in what was described as a six-pointer. He was the match-winner against Southampton, scoring twice in a 2-1 win. He also scored the only goal of the game against West Ham.

This run of wins for Wolves accounts for 34% of their points haul for the season. And Strand Larsen has been key. The 25-year-old had adapted well to the rigours of the Premier League and in a summer in which so many of the top teams in England are wanting to bolster their attacking ranks, Wolves might find themselves having to fend off interest in their No. 9.

If you’re after a penalty box poacher, you’d be hard pressed to find someone better than Strand Larsen right now.

He’s had a total of 48 shots this term in the Premier League and 46 of them have come from inside the penalty area. The 6’4″ forward has landed 67% of his attempts on target and has an xG haul of 9.16 with an xG on Target total of 13.2. He’s adding value to his shots with his placement and precision.

He’s turning low value efforts into high value attempts, and he’s doing it with great regularity. He’s feeding off of scraps at Wolves, averaging just 1.86 shots per 90, but he still has a reasonable xG90 haul of 0.35. Put him in a better attacking team and you’ll have a much more potent centre-forward.

Strand Larsen appears to have improved since the arrival of Pereira, having replaced Gary O’Neil in December. His manager often praises the forward. Before the clash with Ipswich, he singled him out for his work rate, saying: “When we look for a striker, we look for someone to score goals but he’s the first man on the pitch that starts our pressing.

“If he does not know how to do it or if he doesn’t have this character to sacrifice himself to help the team, for sure, it will not be the striker I am looking for.

“I don’t look for a striker just for a guy to score goals or go ‘okay, I scored my goal.’ No, it’s up to you. I don’t like this kind of striker. My striker must be a fighter. Must be someone who is the first one to start defending and, of course, the responsibility is not only to score goals. He [Strand Larsen] has this spirit and this character, he’s a player that I like the profile of.”

*Strand Larsen shooting stats per 90, Premier League 2024/25*

And he spoke about how the 25-year-old now appears to be fully up to speed with the rigours of English football, and the team is better suited to him and that is why we’re now seeing the best of him.

“Larsen is getting better because he’s more adapted to the Premier League, because of his work, but Munetsi is playing close to him, creating spaces, attacking spaces every time. He’s supporting the first ball. Before, when Larsen received the first ball, the man close to him to support this ball was not there. Now we have a physical player that runs a lot, creating spaces and is in the box every time.”

It was the Cunha show at Molineux earlier in the season. Now, however, it is the Strand Larsen show and he’s proving himself to be one of the best centre-forwards in the Premier League on current form.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from the Premier League on FotMob – with in-depth stat coverage including xG, shot maps, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Apr

2025

It’s always darkest before the dawn – just ask Ajax

Having dominated the Netherlands’ top-flight under Erik ten Hag between 2018 and 2022, Ajax endured a trophyless 2022/23 campaign and finished third. Worse was to come in 2023/24, where Ajax placed fifth – their worst finish in 24 years.

By Zach Lowy

After watching helplessly as Feyenoord and PSV Eindhoven hoisted the Eredivisie trophy, de Godenzonen desperately needed someone to return them to the zenith of Dutch football.

Enter: Francesco Farioli.

Farioli studied philosophy and sports science at the University of Florence and worked as a goalkeeping coach for various parochial Italian sides before joining Qatar’s Aspire Academy, where he met Roberto De Zerbi. He worked alongside De Zerbi at Benevento and Sassuolo before switching from goalkeeping coach to assistant coach with Turkish side Alanyaspor. It wasn’t long before fellow Süper Lig outfit Fatih Karagümrük poached him as their new manager in March 2021 – six months later, he returned to Alanyaspor and guided them to a fifth-place finish as well as the Turkish Cup semifinals, before leaving on his own accord in February 2023.

Despite not having completed his UEFA Pro License, Nice saw fit to appoint Farioli to a two-year contract. Taking charge of a side that had finished ninth the previous campaign, Farioli immediately worked his magic at Nice, who won eight of their first 13 matches – drawing the other five – and challenged Paris Saint-Germain at the top of Ligue 1. Whilst their form regressed during the second half of the campaign, they nevertheless finished fifth and qualified for the UEFA Europa League thanks to a league-high 19 clean sheets and a league-low 29 goals conceded.

After one year in France, Farioli made the move to Amsterdam and became Ajax’s first-ever Italian coach and their first foreign manager in 26 years. He took charge of a club desperately lacking in fitness, which faced a shortened preseason due to their Europa League qualifiers commencing on July 25. On top of this, he didn’t have a ton of backing in the summer transfer market – they signed Daniele Rugani on loan from Juventus and acquired Wout Weghorst from Burnley for €2.38 million, whilst Bertrand Traoré and Davy Klaassen returned to the club on free transfers.

But rather than complain, Farioli rolled up his sleeves and got to work finetuning the players at his disposal. Youri Baas went from a middle-of-the-road left back on loan at NEC Nijmegen last season to a rock-solid centre back alongside Anton Gaeei, Josip Šutalo and Jorrel Hato in defence. Jordan Henderson has anchored the midfield alongside Klaassen and Kenneth Taylor, whilst Brian Brobbey, Mika Godts and Bertrand Traoré have developed into a fearsome attacking trio. However, Farioli has been careful to rotate his players and make the most of his entire squad. He has tied an Eredivisie record by utilising 37 players across a single season, and with just five matches remaining, he is yet to repeat the same line-up from the previous match.

“Ajax is significantly fitter than their opponents…most teams simply cannot match the intensity that Ajax brings to the game for the full 90 minutes,” stated Dutch analyst Steven Minten. “The squad is full of great characters with strong mentalities who inspire and motivate their teammates to give 100% throughout the entire game. Additionally, Farioli gives 100% on the sidelines for the full 90.”

“Farioli also thinks in terms of ‘starters’ and ‘finishers’ — players who can begin the game and those who can close it out. He always has a game plan for the full 90 minutes. If things don’t go as planned, players like Weghorst or Traoré can come on as substitutes and make a difference, as they are capable of creating something out of nothing. Every player feels important, which drives them to give their all until the final whistle. No player has had almost zero minutes this season, meaning most of the squad is match-fit.”

In order to cope with this short turnaround, Farioli tasked his players with running far more than they had been accustomed to during preseason, whilst he also gave his international players extended vacation time. He also appointed a Head of Topsport, Martijn Redegeld, to ensure players eat better, and a recovery coach, Francisco Molano, who was entrusted with accelerating the rehabilitation process for injured players. And whilst various Dutch journalists belittled him as a naïve outsider, his unique methods have borne the test of time. Ajax initially lagged behind defending champions PSV Eindhoven – by matchday 15, they found themselves third in the table and nine points behind PSV – but they’ve nevertheless picked up steam in 2025 and hit their stride.

They’ve done so thanks to the players’ growing familiarity with Farioli’s tactics as well as contributions from January recruits Oliver Edvardsen, Lucas Rosa, and Matheus Magalhães. And whilst PSV have lost momentum in recent weeks, the Amsterdammers have gone on a tear and taken 40 points from a possible 42, a run that included a 2-0 win at PSV on March 30. Even PSV manager Peter Bosz was forced to admit that he should have taken a page out of Farioli’s book and given more vacation time to his international players like Johan Bakayoko, Joey Veerman, and Jerdy Schouten.

Under previous managers like Johan Cruyff and Rinus Michels, Ajax became renowned for their scintillating ‘Totalvoetbal’ style of play predicated upon aggressive pressing, positional interchanges, and pass-and-move combinations. But under Farioli, they’ve gone with a far more conservative setup, with the 36-year-old manager recognising that his squad’s attacking profiles are simply not at the same caliber as their domestic rivals. Ajax’s top scorer in the league is Kenneth Taylor (9 goals), they have scored fewer goals (62) than both PSV (86) and Feyenoord (64), whilst they also trail PSV and Feyenoord for average possession (57.2% possession).

They are measured in possession and prefer to lure the opponent in with short passes before going long and spraying the ball into vacant space, where their pacey front three can wreak havoc. They’re not going to scamper forward on a whim, snatch at the first available opportunity, and risk coughing up possession and conceding a dangerous transition; instead, they pick their moments to fire at goal. They aren’t going to force the issue, man-mark their opponents and commit numbers forward to try to win the ball back high up the pitch – in fact, they sit seventh in the league for possession won in the final third per match (4.3). Instead, they’d rather sit back and defend diligently, with Henderson dropping deep to form a back three, before launching the ball forward and hitting on the counter.

We’ll often see Ajax switch from a 4-3-3 to a 5-4-1 to preserve a result, like in Sunday’s match. After falling behind at Willem II, Farioli introduced Weghorst and Steven Berghuis for Brobbey and Klaassen at the hour-mark, before making another double substitution with Edvardsen and Kian Fitz-Jim replacing Godts and Hato. Five minutes later, Weghorst dropped deep and engineered a sublime flick towards Berghuis, who delivered a cross towards the face of goal, where Edvardsen was there to convert. Shortly after, Fitz-Jim scurried past a sea of opponents and combined with Weghorst before teeing up the veteran target man – Weghorst made no mistake from the penalty spot, caressing the ball into the back of the net. In order to shore up the backline, Rugani was introduced for Henderson in the 90th minute, with Ajax holding on for a 2-1 victory.

Ajax currently sit 11 points clear of PSV thanks to a rock-solid defense that has conceded the fewest goals (22) and Expected Goals (26.4) and attained the most clean sheets (15) in the league, and it’s precisely this defensive fortitude that has them on the cusp of a record-extending 37th Eredivisie title. Attack may win games, but defence wins championships, and it’s why Farioli is on track to become the youngest-ever manager to win the Eredivisie title.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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Apr

2025

Peterborough’s ‘No Fear Football’ saw them beat Birmingham City in Wembley Final

For Birmingham City’s players, this was not in the script. Having climbed the Wembley steps, there was confusion as why they hadn’t yet left the stands upon receiving their EFL Trophy runners-up medals. Why were they standing with their backs to the stands? Are they having a group photo!? Through bowed heads however, we could see Birmingham’s chairman animatedly holding court.

By Sanny Rudravajhala

Tom Wagner may well be pushing the boundaries with what a football club can achieve both on and off the pitch but a motivational speech in the Royal Box? It was certainly unprecedented. We had already seen an ill-tempered end that was unbecoming of English football’s hallowed turf. This was a step too far but not the first time that Birmingham’s money man had failed to realise that sometimes you’re the supporting character, rather than the lead.

This was Peterborough United’s day and bemused looks eventually turned into beaming smiles upon lifting the gargantuan Vertu EFL Trophy. With the PA system turned up to 11 and gold and silver confetti cannons firing, they had shown that money may buy success but on its day, young talent can still shine through.

Barry’s bright boys have no fear

This had been billed as the ‘Barry Fry’ Final. The former Peterborough manager and chairman had guided Birmingham to a League One and EFL Trophy double 29 years ago. The 80-year-old is still Director of Football at Peterborough and received the biggest cheers of all upon raising the silverware himself.

And it was his legacy at Peterborough that was laid out in front of 72,000 spectators. Looking to emulate Fry’s achievements, Birmingham had wrapped up the League One title without even playing the previous day. They have been able to dominate the division, suffocating opponents and are on course for hitting over 100 points, yet to even suffer a home league defeat all season. They had even secured their promotion in the week with victory at Peterborough. And yet, it was their young opponents who made all the running.

Goalkeeper, Jed Steer, was the only player alive when Fry was doing the business at Birmingham. And with an outfield with an average age of just 22 years old, Fry’s work behind the scenes with recruitment and in the academy was evident on the pitch. Peterborough played a brand of ‘No Fear Football’ that Wagner had extolled during the ill-fated appointment of Wayne Rooney.

No more was that evident in the scorer of Posh’s opener, Harley Mills. The 19-year-old had started just four league games this season. He began the campaign on loan at sixth-tier Enfield Town but on the biggest stage of all, there was no hesitation in taking a free-kick beyond the edge of the area, after the effervescent Kwame Poku had been felled.

Unlike Birmingham, Peterborough have not announced an in-house, behind-the-scenes documentary, but if they were then Mills would have provided the perfect season finale. Picked up on his release from Aston Villa at 16, the boy from Birmingham hit an arcing, venomous effort which kissed the underside of the bar as it flew beyond Ryan Allsop. A beautiful strike which will have made him the toast of the town in Peterborough and caused his mates to raise a glass back home.

Whereas Mills has barely made his first steps in senior football, across the park are a host of youngsters showcasing the talent factory that is English football. Kwame Poku is into his fourth season at Peterborough since arriving from Colchester. It was his fast feet that won Mills the chance to put them ahead. He is one of several players that Fry and the Posh hierarchy know may have to be sold on to make ends meet. In a season where they have struggled, the 23-year-old has matched his goal tally of last season with 12 and set up another eight in League One.

Their second goal came again from Mills, whose cross was flicked by 22-year-old academy graduate Ricky-Jade Jones into the path of an arriving Hector Kyprianou. The 23-year-old Posh captain’s crashing drive capped off another flowing move for Darren Ferguson’s side. His opposite number, Chris Davis, was a continually frustrated figure inside his technical area. He had no answers.

Money doesn’t always talk

A lot has been made about Birmingham’s spending – most notably £15m Jay Stansfield. He struggled for a foothold and hasn’t been the same since leaving St Andrew’s in tears on a stretcher back in February during their EFL Trophy semi-final victory over Bradford. His time will again come in the Championship and he is a wise investment despite a transfer fee that would have bought the opposition XI ten-times over. Abraham Odoh struggled to make an impact at Rochdale; Oscar Wallin was plucked from Degerfors in Sweden; and academy graduate James Dornelly, woke up on Monday with a winners medal on his 20^th birthday. These players however, showed that there is talent buried across the football pyramid, which doesn’t need heaps of cash to dig out.

During the game, from my position behind the dugouts, I would hear lots of supportive voices behind me. Curiously, they would be distinct in cheering for individual players more so than the team itself. It turns out that a player’s family will back them even better than any of the supporters in the stands replete with scarves and song. How many times I wondered, had those parents had to sit those players down and given them a talking to when things had gone badly? How many times had they had to temper their triumphs and remind them of the bigger picture? And of course, they will have known too that sometimes, you just need to remain silent and let them figure it all out for themselves.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from EFL League One on FotMob – with in-depth stat coverage including xG, shot maps, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Apr

2025

Preview: Aston Villa meet PSG for second leg of their Champions League quarterfinal

It remains difficult to see past this being the end of Aston Villa’s European adventure, as they entertain an awesome-looking PSG team.

By Ian King

PSG’s season-long good form

PSG looked as strong as they have all season in winning the first leg 3-1 last week. They’ve dropped just ten points all season and have already been crowned champions in Ligue 1, where they remain unbeaten, and have won their last nine league matches in a row. Their only shaky patch came in the League Phase of this competition, when they lost three games. Villa were patchy between January and February, but they’ve won their last four Premier League matches in a row and finished above PSG back in that gigantic group stage, winning five and losing two.

History recap

The first leg between these two sides was their first meeting in a competitive match. Villa have only played French opposition in Europe once before, drawing 0-0 in Bordeaux before winning the return match 1-0 in the 1997/98 UEFA Cup First Round. The last time Villa played in this competition came in 1982/83, when as holders they reached the quarter-finals before losing over two legs to Juventus, losing 2-1 at Villa Park 3-1 in Turin in the second leg.

Key Players

Morgan Rogers scored the Villa goal in Paris, and he has felt a little under the radar for much of this season. But his influence in attacking positions is huge, and while Ollie Watkins remains top scorer, Rogers has a broader remit as a player. That isn’t to understate his goal contribution, either; he’s scored 14 in all competitions so far this season, just one fewer than Watkins.

PSG have ended their Galacticos impersonation spell and in the process have built something far more resilient-looking. Goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma is a fascinating example of their smarter transfer business policies. At 26 years old, he’s made 400 club appearances in all competitions, while he also already has 72 Italy caps. At the other end, Ousmane Dembélé has scored 32 in 41 matches, an incredible recovery from the wretched time he had in his later years at Barcelona.

Team News

Villa’s only absentee is Leon Bailey. He’s on the way back, but won’t be in time for this match. Changes from Saturday are certain. Ollie Watkins, John McGinn and Donyell Malen were rested but then called off the bench to score at Southampton. Ominously, PSG should be even stronger this time, with their captain Marquinhos returning after having missed the first leg through suspension. Lucas Beraldo will likely make way for him.

*PSG’s total domination in Ligue 1 this season*

Prediction

Aston Villa have been outstanding in this year’s Champions League. Beating Bayern Munich 1-0, as they had 43 years earlier, will live long in the memories of supporters. But being entirely pragmatic about things, it’s difficult to see past another PSG win. They’ve been doing things differently, and it’s really starting to bear fruit. An early Villa goal might shake things up – let’s see what they’re made of, and all that – but you still have to favour another PSG win. Perhaps 2-1, to completely mirror Villa’s 1983 European Cup exit.

(Cover image from IMAGO)