Page 149 – The Pulse of Football

Oct

2023

Premier League Preview: Matchday Ten

There’s never a dull round of matches in the Premier League. There is a blockbuster final fixtures to finish off Matchday 10 but there are also a number of fascinating match-ups this weekend to keep an eye on.

By Sam McGuire, Premier League expert

Can Spurs continue their march?

Tottenham Hotspur travel to Crystal Palace for Friday night’s match knowing a win can take them five points clear at the summit. Ange Postecoglou’s men have taken 23 points from a possible 27 this term and their new-look side has clicked following the departure of Harry Kane.

James Maddison has three goals and five assists while only Erling Haaland (nine) can better Heung-Min Son’s return of seven goals in the Premier League this term. A win against Roy Hodgson’s side wouldn’t exactly be a statement victory given their struggles but it would point towards Spurs being able to handle the pressure at the top of the table, at least for now.

Palace find themselves in 11th position in the English top-flight and have won just three games. Their issues come from their inability to put the ball into the back of the net. They have scored just seven goals across their nine outings this season. Remarkably, only six teams have allowed fewer goals (11). Defensively, they are resilient, but offensively, they are blunt.

A win might be a big ask for the Eagles here but they certainly have a defensive unit capable of limiting a rampant Spurs side.

Can Chelsea prolong their impressive form?

The Mauricio Pochettino era at Chelsea started off slowly. However, the Blues are now unbeaten in four across all competitions and held title hopefuls Arsenal to a 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge last weekend.

They make the trip to Brentford on Saturday afternoon for the lunchtime kick-off and will fancy their chances of making it five unbeaten. The Bees have lacked a sting recently. They may be 14th in the table and just two points behind the team they host this weekend but Thomas Frank’s side have been struggling.

Their win over Burnley on matchday nine was their first three points since August. It was also the first time they had scored two or more goals in a game since the first week of September.

In scoring against Vincent Kompany’s side, Yoana Wissa ended his goal drought. The centre-forward tasked with filling in for the suspended Ivan Toney started the season well with two in two but then went eight games without finding the back of the net. He needs to use that goal as a catalyst for more and the Bees need to make the most of their home form if they are to avoid a relegation battle.

Into the Wolves den

Wolves find themselves on a three-match unbeaten run the Premier League. Gary O’Neil’s side have beaten Manchester City and Bournemouth in October while also managing to take a point off of an in-form Aston Villa side.

This run has seen them climb up to 12th in the table. They welcome Newcastle United to Molineux on Saturday afternoon. The Magpies are the top scorers (24) in the Premier League and they are unbeaten in the English top-flight since the 3-1 loss to Brighton in early September.

On paper, Newcastle should come away with all three points but Wolves have shown they’re capable of a surprise result and this could be the perfect storm for them.

Eddie Howe’s side lost at home to Borussia Dortmund during their mid-week Champions League game and will now be without the suspended Sandro Tonali until next August. The Magpies are also set to be without Alexander Isak, Sven Botman and Harvey Barnes for the trip.

A sticky situation for the Toffees

Everton had momentum on their side heading into the Merseyside derby. They had finally started converting their chances and were climbing up the table after wins over Brentford and Bournemouth.

The loss to Liverpool halted all of that. The Toffees failed to really trouble the Reds, conceded two goals and lost Ashley Young to a red card. Sean Dyche is now without his experienced full-back for the trip to West Ham on Sunday afternoon.

The Hammers aren’t in the greatest form either. Their last Premier League win arrived in September, they were dismantled by Aston Villa last weekend in a 4-1 loss and their impressive European record came to an end this week when they lost 2-1 to Olympiacos.

Only five teams have conceded more goals than David Moyes’ men (16) in the Premier League this season and they are going to have to tighten things up to take anything from this match.

The Manchester derby

Over recent years, City have been firm favourites heading into the Manchester derby and it has been a case of how many they are going to win by. Many still expect them to take all three points home following their trip to Old Trafford on Sunday afternoon, but it might not be as straightforward as some people believe.

The reigning champions have been in patchy form over recent weeks, winning just three of their last five outings in the Premier League. They have relinquished their grip on top-spot and could be five points off the pace come kick-off. Pep Guardiola’s men do have the best defensive record in the top-flight having conceded just seven goals but, surprisingly, five teams have scored more goals than them. They aren’t as rampant as they usually are.

United head into this game having won their last three matches by the odd goal. Unlikely heroes are emerging with Harry Maguire and Scott McTominay proving to be match-winners. Another one could well emerge this weekend if they score in a derby.

Erik Ten Hag’s side are finding goals hard to come by having scored just 11 across their nine Premier League outings. Interestingly, both teams are yet to draw a Premier League match this term. Could this be the first?

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every match from the Premier League live with FotMob — featuring deep stats coverage and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Oct

2023

How Bayern’s loss was Liverpool’s gain as Ryan Gravenberch redemption story begins

For a long time, it looked as though Ryan Gravenberch would not become a Liverpool player.

By Jack Lusby, ThisIsAnfield.com

The midfielder they had tracked for years appeared set to commit to an ongoing project at Bayern Munich, while the Reds pursued alternative targets such as Fluminense’s Andre and Crystal Palace’s Cheick Doucoure.

But for Gravenberch, who had only swapped Amsterdam for Munich a year previous, something changed in the final days of the summer transfer window; apparent he was not valued by Thomas Tuchel, a deal was brokered to ensure his exit.

Liverpool were beneficiaries of a bizarre inability to maximise the talent of a player who they themselves considered on par with spurned targets Jude Bellingham and Aurelien Tchouameni as a ‘game-changer’.

Scouts had followed Gravenberch’s progress from his time in the youth ranks at Ajax, alongside a defender who briefly stopped on Merseyside, Ki-Jana Hoever.

Those within the club would have been baffled by the failure to hone in on Gravenberch’s abilities at Bayern, though Jurgen Klopp acknowledged Tuchel’s words upon the transfer being agreed that “the position he is best at, they don’t really have in their system.”

“We have that – that’s good,” was Klopp’s smiling conclusion.

Despite Gravenberch’s profile, as a player with 103 appearances for Ajax and 34 for Bayern to his name, along with 11 caps for the Netherlands national team, he arrived, just 21 years old, still something of an unknown quantity to many.

There were comparisons to Paul Pogba, while he was suggested as a belated heir to Gini Wijnaldum at Anfield, with the player describing himself as “a box-to-box player.”

Judgment was reserved, however, until Gravenberch made it onto the pitch – a matter which was delayed by his arrival on deadline day and the subsequent international break, for which he turned down a Netherlands U21s call-up to focus on settling at his new club.

That rejection left both senior manager Ronald Koeman and U21s coach Michael Reiziger furious, but it was clearly not a case of unprofessionalism from the midfielder, more a sensible decision after a wasted year in Germany.

Fast-forward almost two months, and Gravenberch has already started four times for Liverpool, only two fewer than he managed in 34 games for Bayern; at Bayern, he clocked 946 minutes on the pitch, while he has played 347 already in eight outings for the Reds. With a goal and two assists for his new club, he has already exceeded his tally of a goal and an assist at Bayern.

There has barely been a minute of those 347 wherein which Gravenberch hasn’t worn a beaming smile on his face.

The relief in departing Munich is palpable, his time at Bayern considered an anomaly in an otherwise burgeoning young career; his move to Liverpool one he now surely regrets having rejected back in 2022.

Those feelings are shared by those in the stands, on the pitch and in the dugout, too. Though he remains part of a core of rotating midfielders, rather than a guaranteed starter at this stage, Gravenberch has already become a popular figure at the club.

In the No. 38 shirt last worn by Jon Flanagan, the Dutchman has shown purpose with almost every touch. The ball sticks to his boots, and his use of it has already given Liverpool a number of openings they perhaps would not have enjoyed with predecessors such as Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. His approach is that of a facilitator, combining with the likes of Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai and Luis Diaz as part of Klopp’s ‘Liverpool 2.0’ project.

But while his quality on the ball was well known prior to his £38.5 million transfer, it is this application off it that has perhaps most convinced Klopp and his staff.

“The package is really interesting. He is good in small spaces, so he can accelerate with the ball, he can retrieve the ball. He is a good passer, good shooter,” the manager explained, a fortnight after Gravenberch’s arrival. “Everybody would have said that defensively he can make the next step 100 percent, but I see that he wants that, he got that 100 percent.”

That commitment to the pressing game Klopp’s side feeds off is already evident. The sample size may be small, but no Liverpool player has averaged more interceptions per 90 than Gravenberch (3.4), while only Harvey Elliott (2.8) has won possession more on average in the final third (2.1).

His progress in this regard made it a no brainer to hand Gravenberch his first Premier League start in the Merseyside derby, standing in for the suspended Curtis Jones. The 21-year-old joined Mac Allister and Szoboszlai in the engine room and was influential throughout his 62-minute showing.

Despite being brought off as part of a tactical tweak, no Liverpool player made more interceptions (three), only centre-backs Virgil van Dijk (10) and Ibrahima Konate (nine) made more recoveries (seven), only Alisson and substitute Elliott (both 100%) posted a higher passing accuracy (97%) and only Klopp’s four attackers – Diogo Jota (14), Mo Salah (eight), Diaz (five) and Darwin Nunez (five) – had more touches in the Everton box (four).

It paints the picture of a player who has taken Klopp’s advice to heart.

“He came to me and said to me, ‘feel free’, you know, ‘you can do whatever you want’,” Gravenberch revealed, after an assist on his first start for the club against LASK. “Of course you have to do your things [for the team], but he just said ‘feel free and show yourself and the Ryan you are’.”

That freedom is exactly what Gravenberch needed: a player bafflingly restricted at Bayern has now been liberated in Liverpool. Now it is a case of what’s to come, not where to go.

(Images 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.

Oct

2023

MLS Matchday 38 Player Power Rankings

All eyes are now on the playoffs as Major League Soccer’s regular season came to an end this weekend and the postseason fate of several clubs was decided on Decision Day.

There were spots in this week’s wildcard round up for grabs as clubs get one last chance to extend their seasons and make a push for the MLS Cup.

A best-of-three first round follows next weekend before the playoffs go to a single-game knockout format for the conference semifinals, conference finals, and then the MLS Cup final itself.

As teams looked to join the postseason party, there were some important individual performances on the final matchday of the season, starting with a captain’s knock in Kansas.

By James Nalton, MLS expert

Johnny Russell 9.1 (Sporting Kansas City)

Sporting KC secured a place in the wildcard round of the post-season thanks to a 3-1 win against Minnesota United.

This ended up being a winner-take-all matchup. Whoever got the three points would qualify.

Russell, the Sporting KC captain, netted a brace to make sure it was his team whose season continues at least into the next week.

His first was an excellent strike cutting in from the right onto his left foot and firing into the far corner.

The second was an example of never giving up. Having just been felled in the box for what looked like a decent penalty shout, he got back up, ended up winning the ball in the Minnesota area, and finished under goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair.

The Scot was in inspired form to send his side into the postseason.

Griffin Dorsey 9.1 (Houston Dynamo)

Two goals in a 3-1 win at Portland Timbers means Houston’s attacking right-back, Dorsey, now has five goal contributions in his last five starts.

One of those was the opener in the Dynamo’s memorable US Open Cup win against Inter Miami last month, and he’s continued his good form with an assist and two goals in the last two MLS games.

The goals against Portland marked his first-ever brace. The first was from a header off a Héctor Herrera corner, and the second was almost a replica of his Open Cup final goal, powering a shot in from an angle after making an overlapping run down the right.

The win gave Houston home advantage in the upcoming playoffs, where it will face Real Salt Lake in the round one, best-of-three series.

Gustavo Bou 9.1 (New England Revolution)

For a while in 2023, it looked like New England might challenge FC Cincinnati at the top of the table, or at least finish a comfortable second.

But a run of poor results towards the end of the campaign saw the Revolution drop down the table to 5th, so won’t even have home advantage in the first round of the playoffs.

The team ended the season on a high, though, and with promise, defeating upcoming playoff opponent Philadelphia Union thanks to two goals from Gustavo Bou.

As well as Bou, and despite being overshadowed by a few others this season, New England’s Carles Gil remains one of the best players in the league and is able to turn a game on his own.

Gil finished the season with the highest average FotMob rating in the league. If he and Bou can reach top form together, then New England will be a threat in the playoffs.

Bernard Kamungo 8.9 (FC Dallas)

The 21-year-old is the most prolific goalscorer in MLS in terms of goals scored per 90 minutes (1.08) in 2023.

He’s only played around 500 minutes this season, but FC Dallas will certainly be looking to give him more minutes from now on such is his goalscoring record.

Kamungo’s native Tanzania and his adopted country the United States both want him to represent them at international level, and this latest brace will make each nation even more determined to get their man.

He was cool in front of goal for his first of the night as Dallas defeated an LA Galaxy side who had nothing left to play for this season.

Kamungo’s second goal was a case of making a determined run at the right time, being on hand to head in Jesus Ferreira’s cross.

The win meant Dallas goes straight to round one, rather than having to go through a wildcard round, where it will face Seattle Sounders in a best-of-three.

Giorgos Giakoumakis 8.8 (Atlanta United)

Atlanta’s Greek striker has been one of the best new signings in the league this season and continued his goalscoring feats in a 2-2 draw against Supporters’ Shield winners FC Cincinnati.

Two goals on this final weekend of games weren’t enough for Giakoumakis to claim the Gold Boot award, which went to Denis Bouanga of Los Angeles FC, but it was still an impressive debut season for the striker who netted 17 goals.

He has one of the best goals per 90 records in the league for players who have played a considerable number of minutes.

His brace this weekend showed all the instincts and clever movement that have seen him be such a success on arriving in the league, and might give Atlanta a chance of success in the playoffs where it faces Columbus Crew.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every match from the 2023 MLS season live with FotMob — featuring deep stats coverage including shot maps, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Oct

2023

Premier League Matchday Nine Review

It was a weekend filled with comebacks in the Premier League. It was also a goal filled weekend, with 26 goals being scored across the eight matches on Saturday. Here’s a look at the talking points.

By Sam McGuire, Premier League expert

Merseyside remains red

The Merseyside derby kicked off matchday nine with Liverpool welcoming Everton to Anfield.

The hosts ran out 2-0 winners in what was a drama-filled afternoon. Ashley Young was sent off in the first half after picking up two yellow cards for fouls on Luis Diaz.

Liverpool had multiple penalty shouts turned away before VAR intervened and had referee Craig Pawson review a Michael Keane handball. Mohamed Salah converted from the spot and added a second in added time. Ibrahima Konate was fortunate not to be shown a second yellow at 0-0, much to the dismay of Sean Dyche.

Everton offered very little and it is understandable having played over half a game with 10 men. Liverpool had 78% possession and 26 shots to the away side’s six. However, the Reds had an open-play Expected Goals total of just 1.1. It was an important three points for the Reds but manager Jurgen Klopp will no doubt expect his attack to be sharper in their next outing.

Back to winning ways for the champions

Rodri returned from suspension and City returned to winning ways. It isn’t a coincidence.

Erling Haaland was back on the scoresheet and Julian Alvarez added to his tally for the campaign as Pep Guardiola’s side claimed a 2-1 win over Brighton. The victory saw them return to the top of the table, for now at least with Spurs set to play on Monday evening.

Surprisingly, Brighton actually finished with a higher xG (0.83 to 0.75) and the away side created three big chances to City’s one.

Roberto De Zerbi’s side had 55% possession in the second half and a late Ansu Fati goal gave the Seagulls a glimmer of hope. In truth, they probably deserved a point based on their showing.

Wood fires Forest

Nottingham Forest went 2-0 up against Luton Town with Chris Wood netting a brace. The former Newcastle United forward appeared to have killed the game off in the 76th minute but two goals in the final 10 minutes salvaged a shock point for Luton.

Versatile winger Chiedozie Ogbene halved the deficit before Elijah Adebayo, who started the game on the bench, scored the equaliser in added time. The point means Rob Edwards’ team are outside of the relegation zone.

The hosts will feel aggrieved not to have picked up all three points having created more big chances. They also created chances with an Expected Goals value of 2.97. Thomas Kaminski kept the away side in the game with six saves at the City Ground.

A Stamford Bridge shock for Arsenal

Another comeback.

Chelsea took a shock 2-0 lead against an unbeaten Arsenal side. Cole Palmer converted from the penalty spot after a William Saliba handball. Mykhalio Mudryk then lobbed David Raya with a cross-cum-shot as the loanee Brentford shot-stopper struggled at Stamford Bridge. Maybe we’ll see Aaron Ramsdale return to the starting XI in the near future.

He wasn’t the only goalkeeper to have problems though. With the Blues looking to just see out the game, Robert Sanchez carelessly passed the ball to Declan Rice and the one-time Chelsea academy player calmly floated the ball into an empty net with 13 minutes remaining. Leandro Trossard came off the bench to poke an equaliser beyond Sanchez with just six minutes remaining.

Mauricio Pochettino’s side handled Arsenal really well and limited them to just one big chance and an Expected Goals total of 0.99. The Gunners dominated the ball but the Blues controlled the space. It was a tactical battle that showed exactly why Chelsea appointed the former Spurs manager this summer.

Another win for the Red Devils

Manchester United claimed three points against bottom of the table Sheffield United on Saturday night. But, once again, it was an underwhelming showing from Erik Ten Hag’s team.

The away side eked out a 2-1 win with Diogo Dalot scoring what turned out to be the winner in the 77th minute.

Scott McTominay had given Ten Hag’s side the lead in the first half only got Oli McBurnie to cancel it out six minutes later when he scored from the penalty spot.

Man United dominated the second half, seeing 69% of the ball, but they struggled to create anything of any real note.

United are getting points on the board but they’re going to want to see their performances improve sooner rather than later.

(Images from IMAGO)

You can follow every match from the 2023/24 Premier League season live with FotMob — featuring deep stats coverage including shot maps, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Oct

2023

FIVE games to follow this weekend: The Merseyside Derby, Sevilla vs. Madrid, and more

In this weekend preview we summarise the best five games to follow on your match feed. And make a couple of suggestions for matches that you may otherwise miss.

By Bill Biss

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Premier League: Liverpool vs. Everton

As top level club football returns to the app, there are a number of intriguing looking Premier League fixtures, but perhaps none as hotly contested as Saturday’s early kick-off; the Merseyside Derby.

Yes, Everton have only won once at Anfield (their original home) since the turn of the century, with Liverpool enjoying 14 home league wins in the intervening 23 years. But there are reasons for optimism on the Blue half of the city. As Sam McGuire points out in his wider Premier League preview, Everton are actually leading their rivals in a number of attacking metrics (such as Big Chances Created). They just haven’t yet found a way to convert those chances in to goals – something that has resulted in five defeats from their eight games so far.

That is in contrast to the Reds, who have lost just once, scored twice as many goals (18 to Everton’s nine), and sit fourth in the table, three points below joint leaders Spurs and Arsenal.

Prior to the international break, Liverpool drew 2-2 with Brighton while Everton kept their first clean sheet of the season as they ran out 3-0 winners over Bournemouth.

Jürgen Klopp has been given a selection headache ahead of the Derby as Andy Robertson was injured in Scotland’s game vs. Spain. The full-back had been an ever present in the league this season.

🇪🇸 LaLiga: Sevilla vs. Real Madrid

Saturday’s most anticipated game in Spain’s top flight comes at the Estadio Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán where Sevilla take on league leaders Real Madrid. This is the first opportunity for former Madrid captain, Sergio Ramos, to play against his former side since his return to the league earlier in the season.

Ramos won 22 major titles with Madrid having originally joined them from Sevilla, in 2005, and he is now back at his boyhood club having re-signed following two disjointed, but league winning, seasons at PSG. The now 37-year-old centre-back has featured just twice in LaLiga so far but he has also played every minute of both Sevilla’s Champions League fixtures and should feature against Madrid.

Since suffering their only defeat of the season at city rivals Atlético, back in September, table-topping Madrid have won all three of their league games without conceding a goal. And they’ll be keen to keep that run going against a side who’s form has been so patchy that it’s already led to a change in manager.

Uruguayan Diego Alonso was appointed at the start of the international break and this will therefore be his first appearance in the home dugout. As starts go, they don’t come much tougher. Especially with a Champions League meeting with Arsenal to follow on Tuesday.

🇫🇷 Ligue 1: Nice vs. Marseille

Also on Saturday (and with leaders Monaco not playing until Sunday) Nice have the chance to go top of Ligue 1. But they’ll have to do so with a win over Mediterranean rivals Marseille in what will be a heated encounter in the south of France.

The INEOS-owned club have got their act together this season after a ninth placed finish in 2022/23 and they have the only unbeaten record in the division, having won four, drawn four under impressive up and coming coach Francesco Farioli. And their early success looks to be down to a tight defence – only five sides have scored less goals than them so far (just nine in eight!) but no one has conceded less than the four goals Nice have shipped (at a rate of 0.5 goals per game). And that is reflected in our average FotMob ratings for the team – with three defenders topping our chart, young Frenchmen Melvin Bard and Jean-Clair Todibo, along with veteran Brazilian Dante.

Giants Marseille have found the going a little tougher, and like Sevilla in Spain, they too have resorted to making an early managerial change with Italian enforcer, Gennaro Gattuso, replacing Marcelino in September. L’OM sit sixth but did win last time out. A 3-0 victory over Le Havre came after a double whammy of away games in Gattuso’s first fortnight in charge – a 4-0 defeat at rivals PSG and a 3-2 loss at leaders Monaco!

🇮🇹 Serie A: Milan vs. Juventus

There are no unbeaten records left to preserve over in Serie A and therefore, we’ll focus on the top of the table clash between early season pacesetters, Milan, and third placed Juventus, set for Sunday evening.

Until Juve were rocked by the latest gambling and drug scandals involving the playing squad, this season had started reasonably well on the pitch for the Bianconeri, and with no European football to distract them, they’d put together a run of eight games that only produced one defeat. As ever, Max Allegri’s style of football has been pragmatic with only Inter having conceded less goals (5 to Juve’s 6) in the league and no able to beat their record of five clean sheets.

For Milan, who do have a very tough Champions League group to navigate (they go to PSG on Wednesday), it’s been almost the perfect start to a campaign where the target will no doubt be another tilt at the Scudetto that they last won in 2021/22. The only blemish, so far, has been the 5-1 thrashing they took at the hands of eternal rivals Inter. Aside from that, they’ve ground out seven wins while boasting the second highest average possession in the league (56.7%), and the second highest number of accurate passes per match (454.5).

This could be a close affair.

🇩🇪 Bundesliga: Wolfsburg vs. Bayer Leverkusen

Lastly, from Europe’s top five leagues, we suggest you follow Bundesliga leaders Bayer Leverkusen as they visit Wolfsburg, who currently sit seventh in the German table.

Xabi Alonso’s coaching revolution at Leverkusen has been gathering pace ever since he took over last October, steadied the ship, then led them to a sixth placed finish in his first season. Now, he’s got a team outscoring everyone bar Bayern (both have 23 in seven games) and is putting together a title bid on a budget much less than the champions – look, for example, at the contrasting fees paid for Victor Boniface (circa €20m) and the one Bayern paid for Harry Kane’s services.

In fact, Leverkusen are finding goals from all over the pitch, with multiple goal contributions coming from first team regulars in virtually every position.

Alonso’s side are one of three unbeaten teams as we get back down to business (along with Bayern and Dortmund), only dropping points at Bayern back in round four. Wolfsburg, for their part, have won four and lost three, and have been reliant on the sensational form of Jonas Wind. The Danish international has seven of the Wolves’ 10 goals (the same as Boniface), the last of which came as a brace in their last win, against Frankfurt, two rounds ago.

Plus two hidden gems from a little deeper in your match feed…

🇺🇸 MLS: Charlotte vs. Inter Miami

In MLS, Saturday marks the final day of the regular season. And never being one to miss a trick, the league have branded it Decision Day. In the Eastern Conference, five teams are still fighting over two remaining post-season places – the eighth and ninth births in the table.

DC United currently sit ninth but having already fulfilled all their fixtures, they have been eliminated. Something that probably hastened coach Wayne Rooney’s departure and subsequent return to English football with Birmingham City.

Montréal therefore hold a narrow advantage but must go to the already qualified Columbus Crew. Elsewhere, New York City and Chicago Fire face each other, but we’ve chosen to focus on the match between Charlotte FC and the eliminated Inter Miami, who face each other for the second time this week.

Charlotte missed out on the chance to jump into the play-offs places when Miami equalised late in a 2-2 draw on Thursday night. But they must now beat the Herons to stand any chance of progression – and we’ll wait to see if Miami will be strengthened by the return of Argentina talisman Lionel Messi following the World Cup qualifiers in South America.

🇺🇸 MLS: Sporting KC vs. Minnesota United

The play-off situation is no clearer in the Western Conference where another five teams will battle for three remaining play-off places.

Here, Portland Timbers, FC Dallas, and San Jose Earthquakes have a two point advantage on the two sides who currently sit tenth and eleventh, below the cut-off point. And those two – Kansas City and Minnesota United face each other.

Both teams need a win, and the hope that at least one of the sides above them drops points, which should make for an enthralling contest. Particularly when you consider these two are geographically (reasonably)close rivals in the Conference.

Their previous meetings this season have resulted in two wins for Sporting KC, with a running aggregate of fours goals scored by them, and none by Minnesota. But since they last met in September, when new Minnesota striker Teemu Pukki drew a blank, the Finnish international has found his form and transformed their attack – scoring seven goals in five matches.

If you want to follow any of the games mentioned above, click on the relevant link and tap the bell icon to receive all the key match updates.

Or join us on Twitter, Threads, Facebook and Instagram to discuss all the important football going on this weekend!

Cover Image from IMAGO

Oct

2023

Premier League Preview: Matchday Nine

The Premier League is back after the international break and the random generator responsible for the fixtures has been awfully kind to us this weekend with a number of must-not-miss matches to look forward to. Here’s a look at some of the potential talking points ahead of matchday nine.

By Sam McGuire, Premier League expert

The Merseyside Derby

Everton have a terrible record against Liverpool at Anfield having won just once there since the turn of the century. Sean Dyche’s men haven’t had the best start to the season either and find themselves in 16th position ahead of the early kick-off on Saturday afternoon.

However, they might fancy their chances of causing an upset against the Reds. The Toffees actually have decent underlying numbers this term. For example, they rank joint-third for Big Chances created with 21 and are ninth for Expected Goals with a total of 14.9. Poor finishing has prevented them from turning chances into goals though, having found the back of the net on just nine occasions. They have scored three or more in two of their last three outings though.

They also have a better defensive record than their hosts when looking at Expected Goals Conceded (10.4 to 11.6).

Jurgen Klopp is still without the suspended Curtis Jones while Andrew Robertson is expected to have a long-term stint on the sidelines after picking up an injury while playing for Scotland. A weakened Liverpool starting XI in an early kick-off could be the perfect storm for the blue half of Merseyside.

Can City get back to winning ways?

Manchester City have lost back-to-back matches in the Premier League and in doing so lost their spot at the top of the table. The reigning champions welcome Brighton to the Etihad and a win for the visitors would see them leapfrog their hosts.

Roberto De Zerbi’s side come into this game as the stronger team too, at least statistically in a number of attacking metrics. They’ve created more Big Chances, they have a higher Expected Goals total and they’re scoring more goals.

Brighton have looked to dominate the ball this term and are ranked third for passes completed on a per 90 basis. Unfortunately for them, they’re up against the team ranked first for this particular stat. It is going to be interesting to see how the Seagulls adapt to not being the ball-dominant side.

De Zerbi took a point off City last season in a game that Brighton actually out-shot Pep Guardiola’s men in. It will no doubt be a fascinating match-up once again.

Pochettino has a point to prove

Prior to the international break, Chelsea won consecutive matches for the first time in the Premier League under Mauricio Pochettino. The former Spurs tactician has had a strange start to life at Stamford Bridge. The Blues have been playing well and creating chances but they just haven’t been able to turn these performances into wins.

They actually rank second for passes completed and possession while also coming in at joint-second for Big Chances Missed. Chelsea have an Expected Goals total of 15.2, the same number put up by Manchester City and the team they are hosting on Saturday evening, Arsenal.

The Blues need a big result as well as a big performance against a top team to really alert the world to the work Pochettino is doing. The game against the joint-league leaders is the perfect opportunity for them to lay down a marker.

Arsenal head into this game full of confidence having finally picked up a win against Manchester City. The task at hand for Mikel Arteta’s side is to ensure they back that victory up with another one. Stamford Bridge isn’t an easy ground to visit but if they want to be champions, the Gunners need to come away with a positive result.

A chance for Manchester United to build momentum

Erik Ten Hag has watched his side struggle this season. Man United find themselves in 10th position in the Premier League having won four and lost four of their opening eight matches. The Red Devils haven’t managed to pick up a resounding, comfortable win either. They eked out a narrow 1-0 win over Wolves and needed to come from behind to claim maximum points against Nottingham Forest and Brentford.

They have lacked consistency but a trip to Sheffield United on Saturday night gives them an ideal opportunity to make it consecutive wins in the English top-flight ahead of next weekend’s Manchester Derby.

United are facing off against the team rooted to the bottom of the table. The Blades have picked up just a single point this season and have conceded 22 goals in just eight outings. This should be a formality for the Red Devils if they have any aspirations of a top-four finish.

The pressure is now on Spurs

The final game of this matchday sees table toppers Spurs host Fulham on Monday evening. Up until this point, it had been a case of let’s just see what happens with Ange Postecoglou and his players with no real pressure on them in the early stages of the project.

But they’ve probably done too well. They’re only one of two unbeaten teams in the Premier League this season and expectation is growing. As a result, the pressure on them is increasing. This change, subconsciously, impacts the dynamic of the crowd and this could impact the players as their mindset changes from wanting to win matches to not wanting to lose them. After all, top spot is theirs to lose.

It is going to be interesting to see how Spurs handle the pressure of being the favourites to win these matches.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every match from the Premier League live with FotMob — featuring deep stats coverage and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Oct

2023

Andy Robertson’s injury leaves Liverpool with a sizeable void to fill – who can step up?

There is only one wish when players depart on international duty – that they return healthy. So one can imagine the blow that was seeing Andy Robertson cradle his injured shoulder after a collision with Spain goalkeeper Unai Simón.

By Joanna Durkan, ThisIsAnfield.com

Eight games into the new Premier League season and Robertson has started and played the full 90 minutes in every single one, dropping out of Liverpool’s team only for the League Cup and Europa League.

Much had been made of the Scot’s place in the side following the Reds’ system change at the back end of last season, but he has started the campaign with renewed vigour.

Robertson has been at the heart of the Reds’ creative hub from his place at left-back for years now, and while Trent Alexander-Arnold may attract the majority of the attention, the 29-year-old has the Premier League all-time assist record for a defender.

In the Premier League, no other Red has created more chances than Robertson’s 19 across the first eight games this season – only seven players have created more across the entire division.

With 2.4 chances created per 90, the Scotland captain sits ahead of both Mohamed Salah (2.2 per 90) and Dominik Szoboszlai (2.1 per 90) in the rankings – two players whom Liverpool supporters would hail as the best of the campaign so far.

Reliable, a creator, a leader and an ever-present – the picture we’re painting shines a spotlight on the void Robertson will leave for the duration of his absence, which could be months if his shoulder injury requires surgery.

Of the 334 games the Reds have played since the left-back arrived in the summer of 2017, Robertson has played 275 (82.3 percent). As Klopp’s sixth most-used player at Liverpool, the task of stepping into the Scot’s position is not a simple nor straightforward one.

Kostas Tsimikas is the long-term deputy, though, and will be expected to step up just weeks after signing a new long-term contract at the club – which in itself is evidence that Liverpool are convinced he can do the job.

Since arriving in 2020, he has been a squad player and the temporary nature of his place in the side is exemplified by having never started more than two consecutive Premier League games.

Just as there was for Robertson, questions will be asked of how Tsimikas will fare as the left-sided defender in the 3-4-3 setup, though he too has plenty to offer when it comes to the creative side of the game.

The Greek international is a threat on set pieces and from open play, which will be of some comfort to Liverpool when taking into account Robertson’s abovementioned influence.

Tsimikas’ defensive positioning and lapses in concentration will be a huge concern though, with the feeling among supporters over the years being that he does not completely have the manager’s full trust.

His attacking capabilities may prove to be worth the risk for Klopp.

But as there is no direct like-for-like Robertson replacement, that means the Liverpool manager may need to explore alternative options, and Joe Gomez is one of them.

With the tweaks to the team’s setup, the left-sided defender all but operates as a centre-back and Gomez can fulfil those duties – though Klopp would be sacrificing attacking impetus.

The English defender has played at both centre-back and right-back this season and has previously played at left-back — albeit in his debut season in 2015/16 – making him a ‘safe’ option.

Without the added minutes in his legs from international commitments and having made nine appearances compared to Tsimikas’ four this season, Gomez has rhythm and momentum.

So, on one hand, Klopp has a safe defensive option and on the other a left-footed player capable of posing a threat in the final third – it leaves plenty to weigh up.

Though Liverpool will hope the Robertson-sized hole in their starting XI is a short-term problem and not a long-term one, his absence will be a huge loss for the Reds irrespective of how long it turns out to be.

One of the loudest in the dressing room and with a relentless spirit on the pitch, Robertson deals in both the tangible and non-tangible parts of this game, and his form has been instrumental to the Reds sitting just three points off the top of the Premier League table.

Klopp’s decisions from this point forward could well dictate if that gap dwindles, grows or remains stable.

(Images 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.

Oct

2023

Dropped points may have left a sour taste but Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool 2.0 are in rude health

As the second international break of the campaign hits, along with it comes an opportunity for players, managers and supporters to take stock of its start. For Liverpool, that means the first 11 games in a season in which they will hope to, again, play in every fixture possible.

By Jack Lusby, ThisIsAnfield.com

It is a particularly valuable time for Jürgen Klopp, as he presides over a new-look squad at the beginning of arguably the first major overhaul of a successful side in his managerial career. The German has labelled it ‘Liverpool 2.0’, with seven players out and four in, including changes to both captain and vice-captain.

There was an overriding sense, as they limped through the 2022/23 campaign, that the first iteration of Liverpool that was truly Klopp’s – the Premier League and Champions League winners – was on its last legs.

So there was real optimism heading into 2023/24 – and rightly so – but with the October break upon us, there remains a sour taste in the mouth for many due to back-to-back disappointments in the league.

For those with column inches to fill and traffic to drive throughout a period with no club football, defeat to Tottenham and a draw at Brighton which, in reality, felt like a loss, was a nightmare outcome. After heading into the clash with Tottenham bearing the early ‘title contenders’ tag, Liverpool now sit fourth in the league with Aston Villa and Brighton breathing down their neck.

But with 11 games played – eight in the league – it has, in fact, been a fantastic start for Klopp’s new Liverpool.

The obvious place to start is that the Reds’ sole defeat so far was the highly controversial 2-1 loss at Tottenham, which required a last-minute own goal from Joel Matip to ensure three points against a side with nine men. If it wasn’t for a series of mind-bogglingly poor decisions from referee Simon Hooper and VAR Darren England, things may have been much different.

But rather than dwell on the negatives – which includes four red cards for Liverpool players already, plus the news that Anfield won’t be at capacity until the start of 2024 at the earliest – there are a number of positives to pick out.

Chiefly, Liverpool, with 17, are only three points off the top of the table, with Tottenham and Arsenal both on 20. They are only a point behind long-time rivals and reigning champions Manchester City. Only Tottenham and Arsenal (both none) have suffered fewer defeats in the league and only Brighton (21), Newcastle (20) and Aston Villa (19) have scored more goals than Liverpool’s 18.

Five of the Reds’ eight league games have been away from home, including trips to Chelsea, Newcastle, Tottenham and Brighton; those fixtures are now out of the way and those sides won’t look forward to visiting Anfield. Liverpool have already faced four out of seven sides from last season’s top eight, while three of their five league victories so far this season have come against sides currently in the top eight.

By comparison, league leaders Tottenham have won six of their eight league games so far, but four of those have been against Luton, Burnley, Bournemouth and Sheffield United – the four sides at the very bottom of the table. Similarly, the only side that Arsenal have beaten in the league that is currently in the top eight is Manchester City.

Of course, those clubs can only beat who they are up against, but it is valuable context when it comes to weighing up Liverpool’s start to the campaign and how they have kept pace.

It is clear, with two defeats already, that Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City are not the force they have been in the past; while Arsenal, Aston Villa and Brighton are juggling European football this season, having not done so last time out, and it remains to be seen whether they have the resources to do so. Tottenham are the outlier, a side flourishing under Ange Postecoglou and without the ‘distraction’ of Champions League, Europa League or Europa Conference League football.

Liverpool, meanwhile, appear well-stocked as they weather the rigours of a Thursday-Sunday schedule after qualifying for the Europa League, with Klopp managing his squad through the opening two games against LASK and Union SG with a raft of changes, bringing two wins from two so far. The likes of Ryan Gravenberch, Jarell Quansah and Harvey Elliott have stepped up in those European games, while to date, only Mohamed Salah and Dominik Szoboszlai have played over 75 percent of the available minutes across all 11 fixtures.

Injuries to Cody Gakpo and Andy Robertson, and the ongoing absence of Thiago, plus suspension for Curtis Jones due to his red card, could test the depth of Klopp’s squad, but for now at least, the Reds look better prepared to contend this time out.

Crucial to that has been the revamp of Klopp’s midfield, from the primary weakness in 2022/23 to one of their key strengths this time out. Replacing Jordan Henderson, Fabinho and James Milner with Szoboszlai, Alexis Mac Allister and Wataru Endo has not only brought the average age of the midfield group down significantly, but also given Liverpool a new edge both on and off the ball.

It is still a work in progress, and that is shown by dropped points against Chelsea, Tottenham and Brighton, but that Liverpool remain just three points from top and a point behind Manchester City, as well as leading their Europa League group and into the fourth round of the League Cup, shows it should only get even better.

That sour taste will fade, with Klopp’s ‘Liverpool 2.0’ still yet to truly hit its sweet spot.

(Images 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.

Oct

2023

FIVE games to follow this weekend: International special

In this weekend preview we summarise the best five games to follow on your match feed. And make a couple of suggestions for matches that you may otherwise miss.

By Bill Biss

🌐 EURO 2024 Qualifying: Portugal vs. Slovakia

With Scotland missing the chance to become the first nation, other than hosts Germany, to qualify for next year’s European Championships on Thursday, we’re now looking to those countries who could do so in Friday’s qualifying games.

And the prime candidates are Portugal, who face Slovakia, on Matchday 7 in Group J. The Portuguese are one of only two nations with a 100% record in qualifying and their campaign has been impressive having won six, scored 24, and conceded zero. Granted, they are perhaps in a weak looking group, but you can only beat what’s in front of you.

Win number seven would put Portugal through regardless of other results. Should Slovakia end their unbeaten run, however, a point would still be enough should Luxembourg fail to beat Bosnia in their game (also this evening).

🌐 EURO 2024 Qualifying: Netherlands vs. France

There’s a heavyweight contest in Group B where France can also secure their spot at next year’s finals with a win away to the Netherlands.

France currently top the group and sit six points above their opponents in Amsterdam having won all five of their games to date. And despite only scoring 15 goals across those games, they, like Portugal, are yet to concede, with goalkeepers Mike Maignan and Brice Samba sharing five clean sheets between them.

The two nations met back on Matchday 1 in qualifying, with Kylian Mbappé inspiring France to a 4-0 victory, scoring twice and assisting another to rack up a 9.3 FotMob rating. That match was the first in Ronald Koeman’s current spell as Netherlands coach, and his record has been patchy with three wins and three defeats – the wins coming in their last few qualifiers, against Gibraltar, Greece, and Ireland.

🌐 EURO 2024 Qualifying: Austria vs. Belgium

A third place at next year’s finals in Germany can also be claimed, from Group F, on Friday night. And it’s a straight shoot-out, with the winners of the match between Austria and Belgium guaranteeing their place.

With a seven point lead on nearest rivals Sweden, and a further two games to go, a point does also heavily suit both nations. And draws have been the most common result between these two in recent years but let’s not dwell on that being a convenient result.

Instead, let’s look to the qualifying campaigns of each side – Belgium have conceded just once (to Austria) so far, while Austria impressed last time out with a 3-1 away win in Sweden. And should they produce a similar result tonight, they’ll have recorded their first win over Belgium since 1959!

🌐 EURO 2024 Qualifying: Wales vs. Croatia

Moving on to Sunday, and the start of Matchday 8, we have some more decisive action to look forward to.

In Group D, where Türkiye look almost home and dry after winning in Croatia on Thursday, attention turns to the battle for the other qualifying place. And the two most likely candidates for claiming that spot – Wales and Croatia – face each other in Cardiff, in what represents a game in hand for both nations.

Here, the equation is simple for Wales. They must beat Croatia to stay in contention for a top two finish. A home defeat, combined with a win, or draw for Türkiye, in their game against Latvia (also on Sunday) will see Rob Page’s side unable to overhaul either of the current top two in the group.

While Croatia toiled in defeat on Thursday night – their first in regulation time since last year’s World Cup semi-finals – Wales were in friendly action on Wednesday, strolling to a 4-0 win over Gibraltar in a game played at Wrexham’s Cae Ras.

🌐 EURO 2024 Qualifying: Norway vs. Spain

There will also be a lot of interest in the outcome of the game between Norway and Spain in Group A on Sunday night. Particularly for those watching on from Scotland, who do face France in a friendly on Tuesday, but aren’t otherwise involved in competitive action until the next international break.

After an indifferent start to their campaign Norway now need to beat Spain to stand any chance of ending their long wait for qualification to a major finals (23 years of hurt, and counting). A draw is not enough. Erling Haaland’s goals helped them to a 4-0 win in Cyprus on Thursday night but now FotMob’s home nation must back that up and put a run together!

Should Norway fail to beat Spain then Scotland will be guaranteed their place at the finals. And in the event of a Spainish victory in Oslo, they too will join Scotland in sewing up qualification.

Plus two hidden gems from a little deeper in your match feed…

🌐 International Friendly: England vs. Australia

Away from the competitive action taking place in a number of the world federations there are also a couple of high profile international friendlies that we know will interest plenty of FotMob users.

On Friday, there’s the clash between England’s Three Lions and the Socceroos at a sold out Wembley Stadium in London. It’s over 20 years since Australia recorded their one and only win over their former rulers but memories of that 3-1 victory live long in the memory for fans of both sides – perhaps because they’ve only met once since then, with England winning 2-1 back in 2016.

For Gareth Southgate’s side, this is a warm-up ahead of their big Euro qualifier against Italy, the side who beat them in the final of the last tournament, on Tuesday night. A game which could seal their place in the next finals.

For Australia, this game is one of two tour matches in England, with a friendly against New Zealand set to take place at Brentford, also on Tuesday. That’s ahead of their next competitive action – Asian World Cup qualifiers that begin in November, and the Asian Cup, which starts in January.

🌐 International Friendly: USA vs. Germany

On Saturday night, in Connecticut, the USMNT host Germany in a friendly game between two nations in a state of flux.

Germany, who are, of course, the hosts of next year’s European Championships have been on an awful run since their group stage exit at the last World Cup, losing four of six friendlies played in that period. That led to the appointment of former Leipzig, and Bayern coach, Julian Nagelsmann on a short term deal scheduled to last until the end of Euro 2024.

The US, famously, have reappointed coach Gregg Berhalter, the man who left the role in 2022 after having led them to the Round of 16 at the World Cup in Qatar. With seemingly no better options on the table, Berhalter returned on a contract to take them through the qualifying process for the 2026 World Cup, to be hosted by the US, Canada, and Mexico.

Most recently, the US have beaten Uzbekistan and Oman (3-0 and 4-0) in friendly games, but this match against the highly regarded tactician, Nagelsmann, should pose a much greater test for Berhalter’s side.

If you want to follow any of the games mentioned above, click on the relevant link and tap the bell icon to receive all the key match updates.

Or join us on Twitter, Threads, Facebook and Instagram to discuss all the important football going on this weekend!

Cover Image from IMAGO

Oct

2023

Premier League Matchday 8 Team of the Week

One team dominates the FotMob Team of the Week for matchday eight. It isn’t a team you would necessarily expect though with Everton having four players included after their 3-0 win over Bournemouth on Saturday. Here’s a breakdown of exactly why these XI deserve their places.

By Sam McGuire, Premier League expert

Goalkeeper: Jordan Pickford

The Cherries didn’t pepper Pickford’s goal with attempts but when he was called into action, the England shot-stopper did his job. He made three saves on the day, two of which arrived from efforts inside of the penalty area, on his way to a FotMob rating of 8.4 as Everton kept their first clean sheet of the season.

Surprisingly, Pickford also created one chance for the Toffees, reminding everyone that he’s not just a good shot-stopper but also deceptively good in possession.

Right-Back: Kieran Trippier

Trippier is a regular in the FotMob Team of the Week.

The right-back was once again instrumental in another impressive Newcastle United showing, this time away to West Ham United. The Magpies claimed a 2-2 draw with the Hammers but, in truth, they will be disappointed not to have taken all three points having had a 2-1 lead up until the 89th minute.

The 33-year-old registered another assist and finished the game having created five chances. Incredibly, despite playing risky passes, the England right-back clocked up a pass success rate of 90%.

Centre-Back: Cristian Romero

Spurs needed Romero to put in a dominant performance against Luton Town and the World Cup winner did just that. The 25-year-old was assured in possession, completing 90% of his passes as 10-men Tottenham claimed all three points to leap into first place in the Premier League.

The robust centre-back also created a chance, won two of his three tackles and came out on top in 11 of his 14 duels on the day as Spurs won their battle to keep a clean sheet. His 8.6 FotMob rating was the highest of the match.

Centre-Back: Micky van de Ven

Van de Ven joins centre-back partner Romero in the Team of the Week. The 22-year-old scored what turned out to be the winning goal for Spurs in the 52nd minute away to Luton. The Dutchman also completed 94% of his passes, he won 100% of his tackles and 100% of his duels (ground and aerial). It was a real test for the former Wolfsburg man and he more than held his own.

Left-Back: Solly March

With Pervis Estupiñán injured, Roberto De Zerbi deployed March as his left-back. The 29-year-old impressed against Liverpool in what is an unnatural position up against one of the best players in the world in Mohamed Salah.

March claimed an assist, won five of his six tackles, recovered the ball on seven occasions and won 10 of his 17 duels. All in all, using him as a left-back was a successful experiment.

Midfield: Dwight McNeil

McNeil has the potential to be a key player for the Toffees. After a slow start to the campaign, following an injury, the former Burnley winger found his groove against Bournemouth on Saturday afternoon. The 23-year-old created six chances and finished the game with an Expected Assists total of 0.89. He also had two shots and completed 100% of his dribbles.

The left-winger was also busy defensively, recovering the ball on seven occasions while involving himself in 12 ground duels as he played his part in the Toffees keeping their first clean sheet of the season.

Midfield: Jack Harrison

Harrison is the third Everton player named in the Team of the Week. This was only his third appearance for the Toffees following his summer move from Leeds United but he looked right at home in Sean Dyche’s team.

The 26-year-old scored a spectacular goal from distance, with his effort clipping the underside of the bar before crossing the line. It was one of four shots on the day as he really highlighted how much of a threat he can be. He also created one chance for the Blues and completed two of his five dribbles of his way to a FotMob rating of 8.9 – the highest of the match.

The No. 11 completed 11 ball recovered, involved himself in 13 ground duels and had a 100% success rate in aerial duels to round-off an impressive showing.

Midfield: Abdoulaye Doucouré

Doucouré is the final Everton player to make the cut this week. The 30-year-old was given freedom to get forward and support Dominic Calvert-Lewin in attack and he made the most of it. The 30-year-old had five shots and scored a goal, his third of the campaign. The former Watford man also created two chances and finished with a dribble success rate of 100%. He’s quickly closing in on his haul of five goals from last season and there’s still 30 games to play.

Right-Wing: Mohamed Salah

Salah added another two goals to his tally against Brighton. He now has eight goals against the Seagulls after the 2-2 draw with them on Sunday afternoon. The Liverpool No. 11 now also has nine goal involvements across eight matches this season. The 31-year-old was busy against De Zerbi’s side, taking five shots and creating a chance while also attempting five dribbles.

His first finish was a composed one and his second was via the penalty spot. His technique for the penalty was a little different to previous ones with the attacker opting to place the ball rather than going for pure power. It is something to keep an eye on moving forward.

Centre-Forward: Alexander Isak

Isak is quietly going about his business this season. The 24-year-old netted a double against West Ham to take his tally for the season to six. He’s now just four shy of his goal haul for the 2022/23 Premier League campaign.

The Newcastle United striker was a menace throughout in various ways. He was a goal threat – finishing the game with an Expected Goals total of 1.6 – while also being a threat in possession – completing four of his six dribbles. Isak also won six of his nine duels as he more than held his own against a physical West Ham defence.

Left-Wing: Willian

The 35-year-old rolled back the years in Fulham’s 3-1 win over Sheffield United. Willian scored in stoppage time to guarantee all three points but his overall play impressed. He had five shots at Craven Cottage and created three chances on his way to a rating of 8.7. The Brazilian winger completed 75% of his dribbles, too.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every match from the Premier League live with FotMob — featuring deep stats coverage and player ratings. Download the free app here.