The Pulse of Football

Dec

2025

Preview: Real Madrid in Sunday night clash vs. Celta

Can Real Madrid build on Wednesday’s impressive away win over Athletic Club to ease the pressure on Xabi Alonso?

By Graham Ruthven

Questions answered

Real Madrid needed a win and they got one away to Athletic Club on Wednesday. An impressive one that at least went some way to answering the questions around Xabi Alonso and the direction of Los Blancos under his control.

The fact still stands that Real Madrid have won just one of their last four league games, but the manner of Wednesday’s 3-0 victory at San Mames hinted at the start of a recovery.

Another disappointing result at home to Celta Vigo on Sunday, however, would increase the pressure again, and potentially hand control of the title race to Barcelona who face Real Betis 24 hours earlier.

Celta could be troublesome opponents. Claudio Giráldez’s team have won three of their six away games in LaLiga this season and boast an attack that has scored 13 goals in six matches.

Real Madrid are unbeaten against Celta Vigo in LaLiga since 2014, but Sunday’s encounter has the potential to be a competitive one.

Key players

Kylian Mbappé is in the form of his life, which is saying something considering his achievements to date. The French forward registered two goals and an assist against Athletic on Wednesday, bringing his tally to 20 goal contributions in just 15 league outings.

Vinícius Júnior will likely start as Mbappé’s strike partner with the pair deployed as split forwards. The Brazilian hasn’t been at his best so far this season, but still has five league goals to his name.

Arda Güler has created more Big Chances than any Real Madrid player this season, although it’s not certain that the youngster will start against Celta. He only came on off the bench against Athletic.

Güler’s omission from the lineup could see Alonso favour Jude Bellingham and Fede Valverde with Aurélien Tchouaméni and Dani Ceballos deeper to create a box midfield.

Borja Iglesias is Celta Vigo’s top scorer in LaLiga this season, but has found the back of the net just once in his last 10 outings in all competitions.

Oscar Mingueza will be a threat down the right side with the former Barcelona player Celta’s most productive player in terms of Big Chances created this season. Meanwhile Bryan Zaragoza’s dribbling ability could make him a threat.

Team news

Trent Alexander-Arnold is facing another spell on the sidelines after sustaining a thigh injury in the mid-week over Athletic Club. The England international will be unavailable for the next two months.

Eduardo Camavinga is another Real Madrid player who came off against Athletic with an injury, although the Frenchman’s issue isn’t believed to be as serious as Alexander-Arnold’s.

David Alaba and Dean Huijsen both missed Wednesday’s game and will be assessed before facing Celta Vigo while Dani Carvajal is still a long-term absentee.

Hugo Álvarez and Carlos Domínguez were both recent injury absentees for Celta, but both players have returned to action, meaning the visitors to the Santiago Bernabéu this weekend will have a fully fit and available squad to choose from.

Prediction

With Madrid playing catch-up, appearing after Barcelona have played their game, maintaining new momentum will be key for Xabi Alonso. We expect a home win but for Celta to make it highly competitive: Real Madrid 2-1 Celta Vigo.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from LaLiga with FotMob – featuring deep stats coverage, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Dec

2025

Lennart Karl: Bayern’s next superstar is already here

It has been nothing short of an extraordinary 2025 for Lennart Karl.

By Zach Lowy

Born in Frammersbach, Germany, on February 22, 2008, Karl initially honed his skills with Viktoria Aschaffenburg and Eintracht Frankfurt before joining Bayern Munich in 2022. After scoring 34 goals and 11 assists in 30 appearances for Bayern’s U17s and U19s in 2024/25, Karl headed across the Atlantic for the Club World Cup and made his professional debut in a 10-0 win vs. Auckland City on June 15 in Cincinnati, laying the foundations for a breakthrough 2025/26 season.

Despite parting ways with three pivotal attacking figures (Thomas Müller, Leroy Sané, and Kingsley Coman), despite losing creative maestro Jamal Musiala to a gruesome broken leg injury in the Club World Cup, and despite banking €60m in transfer revenue from the sales of Mathys Tel, Paul Wanner, and Coman, Bayern completed just two attacking signings in the summer transfer window: Luís Diaz and Nicolas Jackson. Rather than splash the cash on an expensive forward, Bayern took a chance on Karl becoming the new signing that they so desperately needed. Four months after signing him to a contract through 2028, it’s evident that this gamble has paid off.

*Karl’s player traits compared with similar players*

After a memorable September that saw him make his UEFA Champions League debut and register his maiden Bundesliga assist, Karl took things up a notch in October by leapfrogging Jamal Musiala as Bayern’s youngest-ever goalscorer in the Champions League in a 4-0 win vs. Club Brugge. Three days later, Karl opened his Bundesliga goal-scoring account after taking aim from outside the penalty arc and launching a firecracker into the top corner, putting the finishing touches on a 3-0 win at Gladbach. In doing so, he became one of the only players in Bundesliga history to win the Bundesliga Goal of the Month with his first-ever professional league goal.

Wearing the No. 42 once used by Musiala, Karl has taken advantage of Musiala’s lengthy convalescence to consolidate his presence in Die Rekordmeister’s attacking unit. Whether it’s timing his last-man run to perfection and getting on the end of a cutback, or connecting midfield and attack with a seamless one-two combination, or carving out a chance with a piercing through ball, his dynamic skillset has fit like a glove in Vincent Kompany’s high-intensity style of play. It’s why, even as Musiala edges closer to full fitness, Karl looks set to remain a pivotal figure in Bayern’s attacking set-up.

*Karl’s passing numbers, Bundesliga games only*

Operating as a right winger or as a central attacking midfielder, Karl thrives at receiving on the half-turn, opening up his body before leaving his man in his dust with an explosive first touch and a cunning drop of the shoulder. It’s in these high-pressure scenarios where Karl can bring his futsal background to the fore by deftly switching feet and swerving in and out of lines, taking neat, controlled touches at a high velocity and steering clear of opposing tackles. At 5’6,” Karl is as slippery as an eel, and his low centre of gravity and audacious dribbling skills have enabled him to bamboozle opponents and accelerate into the final third, where he can make the most of his main asset: his world-class left foot finishing.

*Karl’s possession numbers, Bundesliga games only*

“Karl has managed to transfer the game that made him stand out in Bayern’s youth teams to the men’s game. He’s been a difference maker in recent games, and what sets him apart from the rest is his drive toward the goal and his ability to finish with his left foot,” stated Bayern fan @Spielertrainer_. “He’s always demanding the ball and rarely makes mistakes with it, he’s fearless under pressure, and he knows when to pass and when to dribble. Karl needs to work on his physique a little and make sure he keeps both feet on the ground, but overall, he’s the most talented German player in his age group. Even among players who are older than him, there are few who can hold a candle to him.”

Despite competing with various established superstars like Michael Olise, Serge Gnabry, and Díaz, Karl has emerged as a regular in attack and helped the Bavarians cope with their attacking shortfall and build a seemingly insurmountable lead in the Bundesliga. The Bavarians surpassed AC Milan’s 1992/93 team for the best-ever start to the campaign in Europe’s top five leagues with 16 wins on the bounce before drawing at Union Berlin, and they sit eight points clear atop the Bundesliga table and third in the Champions League table. Karl has proven crucial in more ways than one, leading Bayern’s squad for shots per 90 (4.5) and successful dribbles per 90 (2.5) in the Bundesliga, and establishing himself as a regular difference maker in the final third in recent weeks.

*Karl’s shot map, Bundesliga games only*

After bagging three goals in two matches for Germany’s U-21s and a goal and an assist in a 6-2 thrashing of Freiburg, Karl became the youngest player to score in his first two Champions League starts in a 3-1 defeat at Arsenal on November 26, before starting in back-to-back wins vs. St. Pauli and Union Berlin. Karl looks set to start in his fifth consecutive match for Bayern on Saturday in Stuttgart, where he made his domestic debut for Bayern and won his maiden senior trophy in the DFL-Super Cup just four months ago.

17 years after Thomas Müller burst onto the scene, Bayern finally have another academy graduate who is capable of cementing his name into club lore alongside other homegrown legends like Philipp Lahm, Franz Beckenbauer, Sepp Maier, and Bastian Schweinsteiger. It took Müller two years to go from making his professional debut to excelling for Die Mannschaft in the world’s biggest sporting competition, whilst it took Michael Ballack – Karl’s agent and mentor – seven years. But as for Karl, he might need just one year to go from the U17 Nachwuchsliga to the FIFA World Cup.

If Karl can continue his meteoric progression in Bavaria, then Julian Nagelsmann may have no other choice but to call him up for next summer’s tournament in North America.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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

Dec

2025

Preview: Real Betis host LaLiga leaders Barcelona

The fixture schedule is starting to ramp up as Real Betis will take on Barcelona for both sides’ fifth game in the last two weeks.

By Neel Shelat

Real Betis enjoying a good run of form

Real Betis head into this match up in fifth place with six wins and a couple of draws in their last eight games. Los Verdiblancos have been in fine form since a loss to Atlético Madrid in late October as they have subsequently won a couple of cup ties, gotten the better of Lyon and Utrecht in the Europa League and defeated local rivals Sevilla in their last league match.

Barcelona dominant in the head-to-head column

Since 2011, Barcelona have won 22, drawn five and lost just three matches against Betis. Their ongoing head-to-head unbeaten streak is nine matches long, and they have also won 10 and drawn the remaining two of their last 12 visits to the Estadio Benito Villamarín.

This match, however, will not be taking place at Betis’ usual home as it is currently undergoing a major renovation. So, they have been using the Estadio La Cartuja as a temporary base since the start of the season.

Betis missing key attackers

Real Betis have looked quite well-rounded throughout the season despite encountering some injury issues. They are among the league’s five best teams for both goals scored and conceded, and have managed to keep the goals flowing even in the absence of a couple of their key creators.

Isco has only managed to make a couple of substitute appearances this term due to ankle issues and is expected to sit this game out, as is Giovani Lo Celso. All eyes will be on Antony to see whether he will start after a slight injury in the midweek cup match.

High time for Lewandowski to refire amid contract rumours

Robert Lewandowski’s contract is set to expire at the end of the season, with rumours and reports consistently suggesting that an extension offer is not forthcoming. The 37-year-old striker has eight goals this season but hasn’t scored in his last three appearances and has also been out injured for a good chunk, so Barcelona are naturally considering moving on.

The Polish international will be keen to show what he is capable of regardless of where his future lies, so he will hope to profit from a rejuvenated Barcelona attack. Raphinha’s return has proved very impactful in the last couple of matches, while Fermín López and Frenkie de Jong are now expected to be available again as well.

Prediction

Barcelona’s defence is often easily breached, but they should have the attacking firepower to make up for it and come away with something like a 3-1 win.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from LaLiga with FotMob this season – featuring deep stats coverage, xG, physical metrics, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Dec

2025

Preview: Inter Miami and Vancouver Whitecaps meet in season decider

The 2025 Major League Soccer season will end with a high-profile MLS Cup final matchup between the United States and Canada. Inter Miami versus Vancouver Whitecaps. Lionel Messi versus Thomas Müller.

By James Nalton

The 2025 final will be played at Inter Miami’s home stadium in Fort Lauderdale, courtesy of their having a better regular season record than the Whitecaps.

All eyes have been on the United States for the World Cup draw in Washington DC this week, but for a couple of hours on Saturday evening, they will be focused on some of the biggest names in the game, playing a championship game in South Florida.

Past, present, and future

This is the one Inter Miami have been looking to win since the franchise entered the league in 2020.

The expectation to win the MLS Cup became even greater when the club signed Lionel Messi, Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba, and Luis Suárez, to the point where not winning it is seen as a failure.

This will be the final game in the careers of Alba and Busquets, and the expectation will be that they go out on a high.

Suárez’s future remains uncertain. There have been rumours that he will sign for another year, but he has been left out of recent Inter Miami lineups in favour of younger, more energetic legs around Messi.

It’s a big moment in the careers of some all-time greats, but with Messi recently signing a new deal to take his time with Miami to the end of the 2028 season, he’ll no doubt have other chances at glory in the future.

In the present, though, there is plenty on the line in what will be the final game for two footballing greats.

Messi vs Müller

The end-of-season form of teams in the Eastern and Western conferences raised the prospect of a Los Angeles FC versus Inter Miami final, which would have pit Messi against another global star, Son Heung-min.

The Whitecaps had other ideas, continuing their impressive form under Danish head coach Jesper Sørensen, who took over ahead of the 2025 season, defeating LAFC on penalties after a dramatic Western Conference semifinal.

MLS still gets its star power storylines in the final thanks to Müller, who has had a positive impact at Vancouver, and in the league generally, since joining in August, adding off-field nous as well as in-game quality.

*Messi vs. Müller season stats, MLS games only*

A personable and media-friendly presence in his short time in the league, he’s won over many neutrals and added to the Whitecaps’ team spirit that also defined them under previous coach Vanni Sartini.

Messi, meanwhile, has continued his extraordinary output in MLS, and has six goals and five assists in five games in the playoffs so far.

These two remain genuine stars of the game and have plenty left to give, as they’ll likely show in this final.

Opposition watch: Vancouver Whitecaps

The Whitecaps have only lost once in their last 16 games in all competitions. A run that included winning the Canadian Championship (Canada’s domestic cup).

This is also a team that defeated Inter Miami twice in the Concacaf Champions Cup (the region’s Champions League equivalent) semifinals earlier in the year, and that was before Müller arrived.

The delivery of Sebastian Berhalter, including from set pieces, will be a weapon for the Whitecaps, as will the chance-getting and goal-getting of Brian White, who is second in MLS for xG per 90 this season and second only to Messi for goals per 90.

Left-sided attacker Ali Ahmed creates chances from the flank, while Scottish attacking midfielder Ryan Gauld has been playing a role off the bench in the playoffs so far, having missed most of the regular season through injury. It’s a role that could be important if the game is still in the balance late on.

This Whitecaps team has plenty about them under Sørensen, and will be bringing the confidence gained from already defeating Inter Miami in cup competition this year into this final.

Prediction

Inter Miami have looked unstoppable in recent weeks, but Vancouver are a well-coached team that have not made it this far by accident. The story is set, though, for a Busquets and Alba send-off, and Messi will likely make sure his mates get to bow out with a cup.

(Cover Image from IMAGO)

You can follow every MLS game live this season with FotMob — featuring deep stats coverage including shot maps, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Dec

2025

Preview: Sunderland continue their tough run of games against Man City

Sunderland mid-week draw at Anfield suggests the Black Cats could be difficult opponents for Manchester City on Saturday.

By Graham Ruthven

Nothing for granted

Few would have predicted that only five points would separate Manchester City and Sunderland in the Premier League table after 14 games of the 2025/26 season.

Tipped by many for an immediate return to the Championship, the Black Cats have been a surprise package since promotion with the 1-1 draw away to Liverpool on Wednesday another indication of how far they have come.

City beat Fulham 24 hours beforehand, but in a manner that only generated more questions about Pep Pep Guardiola’s side. Their 5-4 win at Craven Cottage certainly wasn’t comfortable.

History favours Manchester City who have won 12 of their last 14 home matches against Sunderland in all competitions. They have also scored two or more goals in their last nine home meetings with the Black Cats.

This particular Sunderland team, however, is clearly more capable of causing a shock than the ones that went before. City can’t take anything for granted.

Key players

Phil Foden has looked more like his old self in his recent performances, scoring four goals in his last two outings against Leeds and Fulham. The England international is playing with greater energy and getting into better areas.

Fresh from netting his 100th Premier League goal in the win over Fulham during the week, Erling Haaland is well and truly established as the most fearsome finisher in English football.

*Haaland’s attacking stats per 90 in the Premier League this season*

Getting service to Haaland, however, will be key to getting the best out of the Norwegian striker. If Sunderland can cut that supply line, they stand a better chance of a positive result at the Etihad Stadium.

Dan Ballard is a physical presence at the back for the Black Cats. The 26-year-old is a rock in defence and a threat in the opposition box, as he demonstrated by scoring a header against Arsenal last month.

Brian Brobbey is another Sunderland player who could test Manchester City in a physical sense. The Dutch striker has registered goal contributions against Arsenal and Chelsea this season and will be a handful once again this weekend.

Granit Xhaka has been a revelation for Sunderland since joining in the summer. Against City, however, the Swiss international might have his hands full. The hosts could overwhelm the visitors in the centre of the pitch.

Team news

Rodri and Mateo Kovačić remain sidelined through injury, meaning Nico González and Tijani Reijnders will likely start again at the base of the Manchester City midfield on Saturday.

Guardiola might be tempted to rotate the team that started against Fulham only a few days ago, but this backfired in the recent Champions League loss to Bayer Leverkusen. City could keep the changes to a minimum.

Aji Alese and Habib Diarra are the only two Sunderland players expected to miss Saturday’s trip to the Etihad Stadium. Otherwise, Régis Le Bris has a fully fit and available squad to choose from.

Prediction

Sunderland have done well against the top sides they’ve come up against, since their promotion, and they are in the top six on merit but a result here might be a stretch too far. We’ll back the hosts in what could be another tight contest: Manchester City 2-1 Sunderland.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from the 2025/26 Premier League season with FotMob – featuring deep stats coverage, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Dec

2025

Preview: Thomas Frank preparing to lead Spurs against former club Brentford

Spurs welcome Brentford to The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday afternoon hoping to end a run of dismal home form, but Brentford have strong motivation for wanting to win this particular match.

By Ian King

A point at Newcastle gave Spurs a glimmer of optimism, but Brentford will be eyeing revenge on the head coach who spurned them

If nothing else, the cause for a glimmer of optimism on the part of Tottenham Hotspur at Newcastle on Tuesday night was certainly a surprising one. A 95th-minute overhead kick from Cristian Romero, of all things, salvaged a 2-2 draw from their trip to Tyneside and may have calmed the feeling of panic that had started to feel as though it was reaching a crescendo after their home defeat to Fulham last Saturday.

Brentford remain paragons of inconsistency. Their 2-0 defeat at Arsenal in midweek retained a WLWLWL record which now stretches back six games. The two teams are tied on 19 points in the Premier League, with Spurs two places above the Bees on the basis of their superior goal difference.

But the added spice to this match is, of course, the Frank factor. Thomas Frank left Brentford for Tottenham during the summer, and the Bees’ desire to put one over their old boss will surely be very high indeed.

Brentford’s 2023 win at The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium was their first against Spurs since 1948

Brentford’s 3-1 win at Spurs in May 2023 was their first against Tottenham since 1948. Of course, the two teams had primarily only met in cup competitions, but Spurs’ record against the Bees has been pretty good since Brentford were promoted to the Premier League in 2022.

They have won four and drawn three of their eight meetings since then, and even when the bottom was falling out of their 2024/25 season they managed a league double over the Bees, winning 3-1 at The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and 2-0 at The Brentford Community Stadium.

Spurs are going to need to pay very close attention to the Premier League’s second-highest goalscorer

Erling Haaland may draw all the headlines at the top of the Premier League top goalscorers list, but Igor Thiago has been quietly getting on with doing the business for Brentford this season too. He’s in second place behind Haaland with 11 goals in 14 games, and Spurs will need to pay extra attention to a striker who’s on that sort of hot streak.

Both of Spurs’ goals at Newcastle came from a central defender, so they could do with a big performance from an attacking player against Brentford. Richarlison is their top scorer in the Premier League with five goals, but he was only on the bench for the Newcastle match. Getting back to the sort of form that saw him score against both Manchester United and Arsenal would be very handy for Frank, if selected.

Thiago should return to Brentford’s starting XI, while Micky Van de Ven should return to the Spurs defence

Arsenal loanee Reiss Nelson is eligible again after being unable to face his parent club during the week, but Antoni Milambo, Josh Dasilva and Fabio Carvalho all remain out with varying degrees of knee injury. Igor Thiago only played the last half-hour of the Arsenal match after picking up a knock against Burnley, but should return to their starting XI.

Spurs are still missing James Maddison (ACL), Radu Dragusin (ACL), Kota Takai (thigh), Yves Bissouma (ankle), Dejan Kulusevski (knee) and Dominic Solanke (though Dragusin and Takai are both understood to be close to returning), but they didn’t pick up any fresh injuries at Newcastle.

With a Champions League match against Slavia Prague to follow on Tuesday, Thomas Frank may look to rotate again, which could mean a return for Richarlison. Micky Van de Ven was also rested at Newcastle, but will likely return to their central defence in place of Kevin Danso.

Spurs are a degree calmer than they were following the Newcastle game, but Brentford have the capability to hurt them

Picking up a draw at Newcastle in the week has calmed The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium a little, but playing the club that your head coach left you for the following weekend isn’t necessarily ideal timing for a team who still haven’t won at home in the League since the opening weekend of the season.

Brentford are hardly going to need motivating for this particular match, but the fact remains that if you strip all the Thomas Frank-related emotion out of this match, Spurs desperately need a home win. The pressure to return to winning ways is now rising with every game that they fail to do so.

The form of Igor Thiago is an obvious concern for them, but Micky Van de Ven and Cristian Romero are a strong centre-back pairing, so much of what happens on Saturday will likely come down to the extent to which Spurs’ extended spell of the home yips lasts. Nervy, skittish Tottenham lose this match. A bit of colour in their cheeks Tottenham can comfortably win it.

I suspect that on this occasion the answer will be somewhere in between. There’s nothing between these two teams in the League, but Brentford are nothing if not inconsistent, though it may be enough motivation for the Bees to stick a photo of Thomas Frank on the back of the dressing room door for the players to throw darts at before the match. Spurs should win this one, but Brentford have the opportunity for revenge and the in-form striker. I’ll go for a 1-1 draw which leaves both sides feeling vaguely unsatisfied from it all.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from the Premier League with FotMob this season – featuring deep stats coverage, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Dec

2025

Preview: Bournemouth and Chelsea meet after chastising midweek results

Andoni Iraola’s side will be hoping to stop the rot and end their five Premier League game winless streak when they welcome a consistently inconsistent Chelsea to the Vitality Stadium on Saturday.

By Alex Roberts

The West Londoners will have a point to prove after they demonstrated exactly why they shouldn’t yet be considered title contenders with a hapless 3-1 defeat to Leeds in the previous round of fixtures.

As for Bournemouth, their impressive start to the season has come to an abrupt end, and they’ve now fallen down to 14^th, with only bottom two Burnley and Wolves enduring a worse run of form.

Time to worry about Liam Delap?

Signed from relegated Ipswich for a reported fee of around £30 million, Delap took Chelsea’s cursed number nine shirt, hoping to be the man that ends a long line of disappointing strikers, but instead, he may just be the latest.

That may seem a little harsh. Delap looked good at the Club World Cup, and an early season injury set him back, but there have been too few signs that the Man City academy graduate can make this step up.

Across his 320 Premier League minutes, he has had 11 shots, five of which have been on target, 17 touches in the opposition box, and has generated an xG of just 0.68, scoring zero goals. That’s poor for a striker in a side looking to qualify for the Champions League at a minimum.

Antoine Semenyo has dropped off

The winger’s drop off in form is pretty indicative of what’s happening at Bournemouth at the moment. Not so long ago, there was talk of an unlikely push for European football and Semenyo was arguably the best player in the Premier League.

Now, Semenyo hasn’t provided a single goal contribution in his last six games for Bournemouth, and without the Ghanaian firing, the South Coast side continue to tumble down the table, although a win here could see them head into seventh.

His performance in the 1-0 defeat to Everton last time out was his best in about a month, ending the game having had two shots on target, five touches in the opposition box, and three passes into the final third. He’ll be wanting to build upon that and end his goal drought against one of the big boys.

Team news

Moisés Caicedo was a HUGE miss for Chelsea in the defeat to Leeds. Enzo Maresca’s side have won just 25% of their games without it, and they’ll have to go again here as he’s set to sit out the second of his three-game suspension.

Chelsea were buoyed by the return of talismanic playmaker Cole Palmer, however, who could be set for his first Premier League start since September.

Their injury list is looking a little lighter too. Dário Essugo is back in training, but a return here is unlikely as Chelsea seek to ease him back into things, meaning only Roméo Lavia (thigh) and Levi Colwill (knee) are definitely ruled out.

As for Bournemouth, Marcos Senesi and David Brooks are both available to return from one-match suspensions, but midfielders Lewis Cook and Tyler Adams will replace them after they both picked up five yellow cards.

Ryan Christie (knee) and Ben Gannon Doak (hamstring) are their only players ruled out with injury, and it’s unlikely we’ll be seeing either of them any time soon.

Prediction

Chelsea fans will be worried their side have entered their annual festive hiccup, but that anxiety is looking like it’s well founded, so we’re going with a 2-1 win for Bournemouth.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from the Premier League with FotMob this season — featuring deep stats coverage, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Dec

2025

Preview: Leeds and Liverpool clash in key fixture for both sides

At a glance, both Leeds United and Liverpool head into this game having found a bit of form. In reality, both teams are near the bottom of the form table, with Leeds picking up three points from their previous five outings and the Reds racking up seven points.

By Sam McGuire

For very different reasons, the match on Saturday evening is a must-win for both.

The story so far

Leeds brought a four-match losing streak to an end on Wednesday as they claimed a 3-1 win over Chelsea at Elland Road. This performance arrived just a couple of days after Daniel Farke’s men came from 2-0 down at the Etihad only to lose 3-2 in stoppage time against Manchester City.

The signs are positive. They’re now scoring goals, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin finding the back of the net in back-to-back games. Their showing against Chelsea was mightily impressive with the hosts finishing the game with an Expected Goals haul of 2.79, while limiting the visitors to chances with an xG total of 0.79.

It was domination, despite having just 29% of the ball.

This will likely be the blueprint against Liverpool too. They’ll dominate the space rather than the ball and they’ll look to make the most of their opportunities. Leeds are in dire need of points to help them avoid a relegation battle after a sluggish start to the campaign. They won’t expect anything from this game but Elland Road under floodlights is a good environment for the hosts.

Liverpool finally recorded their first draw of the season on Wednesday. In doing so, they brought an end to a record they would’ve wanted to shed weeks ago. Against Sunderland, they came from behind to take something from a game for the first time all season.

The Reds weren’t great. They haven’t been great for most of the campaign in all honesty. They looked better in the second half against the Black Cats but struggled to create, despite having Hugo Ekitike, Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz and Mohamed Salah on the pitch.

Arne Slot’s side have struggled against teams with a low block and you know Leeds are going to do just that in a bid to frustrate their opponents knowing full well the champions don’t have a way to combat this tactic yet.

Key Players

For Liverpool, the focus is going to be on Virgil van Dijk. The skipper has put in a number of questionable performances over recent weeks and he’s going to be up against an aerial presence in Calvert-Lewin on Saturday. The former Everton striker is an out-ball for Leeds. If Van Dijk wins his battles, he helps Liverpool hem their hosts in. If he loses them, it could be chaos for the Reds.

*Van Dijk’s defensive numbers per 90 in the Premier League*

So, by default, the key player for Leeds will be Calvert-Lewin. He’s the pressure release valve for the hosts. If he can do his job as a No. 9, he’s going to be a handful for the Liverpool centre-backs and he’ll give Farke’s side a foothold in the game.

That battle between those two players will be fascinating.

Team News

Leeds are without Sean Longstaff and Daniel James and will be until the New Year. Liverpool are hoping to have Conor Bradley back after a stint on the sidelines but are still without Jeremie Frimpong, Giovanni Leoni and Stefan Bajčetić.

Prediction

Liverpool, on paper, should have enough to win this game but the form they’re in means a draw is probably the best they can hope for at a resurgent Elland Road. We’re going with 1-1.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from the Premier League with FotMob this season — featuring deep stats coverage, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Dec

2025

Preview: Third meets first as Arsenal travel to Aston Villa

Aston Villa host Arsenal at Villa Park on Saturday lunchtime in this top of the table Premier League clash.

By Ross Kilvington

Both sides are first and second in the league’s form table over the previous six matches. Villa have won 15 points in that time, while Arsenal have claimed 14.

Sitting third and first in the league table respectively, this matchup kicks off another exciting weekend of top flight action.

Aston Villa have been formidable at home this season

Since losing to Crystal Palace in August, Villa have not been defeated at Villa Park in all competitions.

This includes league wins over the likes of Manchester City and Bournemouth, while all three Europa League ties played in the Midlands has seen the home side emerge victorious.

Unai Emery has transformed Villa Park into a fortress, evidenced by the fact the club lost just four league matches there across both the 2023/24 and 2024/25 seasons.

The comeback victory over Brighton in midweek will give a further jolt to the confidence, notably to Ollie Watkins, who scored twice.

Watkins has a solid record against the Gunners, scoring six goals in just 11 matches against them. Can he improve this record on Saturday? Watch this space.

Is this finally Arsenal’s year?

Surely this is the season that the North Londoners end their domestic title drought? The perennial bridesmaid in recent years, Mikel Arteta has the tools at his disposal to win a first Premier League crown since 2004.

Recruiting Viktor Gyökeres in the summer could turn out to be a masterstroke, with the Swede scoring four from 12 league games thus far. His all-round ability, however, has been crucial to the Gunners’ success already this season.

*Gyökeres’ player traits compared with other strikers in Big Five leagues*

Arteta will be hoping that injuries are not the club’s downfall once again. Against Brentford, Declan Rice and Cristhian Mosquera both came off with injury issues.

If he can manage his squad effectively over the hectic festive period, Arsenal could emerge from it in a wonderful place.

Team news

Emery could still be without goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez, who withdrew from the squad against Brighton in midweek.

Tyrone Mings and Ross Barkley will remain absent and are not expected back until the start of 2026 at the earliest.

Arteta has a bigger crisis on his hands compared to his compatriot. Indeed, Mosquera joins the likes of Leandro Trossard and William Saliba as being doubts for this clash.

Gabriel is still unavailable, while Kai Havertz’s absence could extend until the new year as the German has had a setback recently.

Prediction

This is certainly a tough match to predict, especially with both teams entering the weekend in excellent form.

Although Villa have been nearly perfect at home this season, Arsenal did win on their last visit to the ground in August 2024.

Whatever happens, expect an intriguing tie which could set the tone for the rest of the weekend. As such, we at FotMob are predicting a narrow 2-1 victory for Arsenal.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow all the games from the Premier League on FotMob in the 2025/26 season – with in-depth stat coverage, including xG, shot maps, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Dec

2025

Unai Emery and the Villa resurgence

Whisper it, but it looks as though Aston Villa are back to their best. Following a woeful start to the Premier League campaign – zero wins and just one goal scored in their opening five matches – Villa have clicked into gear.

By Ross Kilvington

After the first five games of the league campaign, it looked as though the club were beginning to pay the consequences for a poor transfer window.

Indeed, only two players were signed for any kind of fee – Evann Guessand and Marco Bizot – while loan moves were made for Jadon Sancho and Harvey Elliott.

So, how has Unai Emery turned their fortunes around in recent months? Let’s take a look at the Villa resurgence.

Comeback win over Brighton proves Villa have the mettle for a top four spot

Emery took Villa to the Amex on Wednesday evening and quickly saw his side concede twice in the first 30 minutes to trail 2-0.

A quick-fire double by Ollie Watkins saw the teams head into the interval all square before second half goals from Amadou Onana and Donyell Malen saw Villa secure all three points in the end.

It was just their third away victory in the Premier League this season, but it showed just how effective the club have been in recent months.

The win came despite having just 44% possession on the night, yet they did register six big chances, scoring with four of them.

This season, Villa have registered 11.6 shots per game while scoring 1.4 goals per match in the top flight. Furthermore, the club rank seventh in the Premier League for ball possession, averaging 52.9% per game.

Emery clearly has Villa on a roll right now and one key factor to this is their impressive home form.

Villa Park has turned into a fortress

Following Villa’s 3-0 defeat to Crystal Palace at home back in August, the club have remained unbeaten at Villa Park.

During that period, they have beaten Fulham, Burnley, Manchester City, Bournemouth and Wolves domestically, while winning all three of their Europa League matches played in the Midlands.

Last season, the club won 11 of their 19 home games in the league. The season before, 12 wins from 19 at home.

Indeed, over the course of the previous two seasons, Villa have lost just four Premier League ties at Villa Park.

Turning the ground into a fortress has arguably been Emery’s biggest success since taking over in October 2022.

Watkins has been vital to the club since then. Despite a poor start to the campaign, might his two goals against Brighton rejuvenate him heading into the frantic festive spell?

Ollie Watkins looked back to his best against Brighton

Under Emery, Watkins has scored 61 goals in 153 appearances. 27 of those came during 2023/24, while he netted 17 in all competitions last term.

Until visiting the Amex, however, Watkins had scored just once all season – in a 3-1 victory against Fulham – but Emery was rewarded with two fine finishes that saw the striker take his tally to three for the campaign.

“It’s the best feeling to score a goal and that’s my job,” Watkins said after the match.

“It’s been a while without that feeling. It’s been a tricky period in my career.

“I’ve not had this since the manager came in but I kept working hard and you get your rewards.”

*Watkins season summary since joining Villa (all comps)*

Despite his lack of proficiency in front of goal, Watkins is contributing in other areas. When compared to his peers in the Premier League, the Englishman ranks in the top 10% for chances created this season (10), along with ranking in the top 7% for touches in the opposition box (59) and for fouls won (17).

His goal output may have dropped off, but by linking up well with others in and around the penalty area, Villa might actually be better off in the long run.

Players such as Malen and John McGinn have thrived recently in the final third, it is Morgan Rogers who has transformed into the attacking fulcrum Villa require over the previous 18 months.

Morgan Rogers has emerged as one of Villa’s key players

Rogers was at his zenith last season. Although primarily used as an attacking midfielder, the Englishman was occasionally utilised on the flanks to great effect.

Overall, he registered 30 goal contributions – 14 goals and 16 assists – across 54 appearances for Villa. It was a wonderful campaign, no doubt about that.

This season, he may have recorded only eight goal contributions in all competitions, but the former Middlesbrough starlet has shone in other ways, particularly in Europe.

Rogers ranks in the top 2% for touches in the opposition box (30), the top 12% for dribble success rate (71.4%) and in the top 8% for chances created (10) in Europe’s secondary club competition this season.

If he can start translating these sorts of stats from Europe into the Premier League, Villa could really begin to think of challenging for a Champions League spot.

This weekend, Arsenal are the visitors to Villa Park in the Premier League. The Gunners are five points clear at the top of the table and it looks as though this year could finally spell the end of a 22-year wait for a domestic title.

Villa have won two of the previous four fixtures between the two sides heading into this top of the table clash, however, which should give them confidence.

Should Emery lead his team to another three points, the supporters will surely begin to dream of hearing the Champions League anthem at Villa Park once again.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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