Page 16 – The Pulse of Football

Jan

2025

Patrik Schick is on course to beat his best season at Bayer Leverkusen

When Bayer Leverkusen succumbed to a 1-1 draw at Bochum on 9 November, it seemed the clock had struck midnight on their Cinderella story, and that their magical carriage had finally turned into a pumpkin.

By Zach Lowy

The same team that had won 43 of their 53 matches the previous season – accumulating more trophies (2) than losses (1) – had failed to win in six of their last eight. It was rock bottom, but it was also a turning point.

Since that stalemate, Leverkusen have won 11 of their last 12 matches, a run that only stopped on Tuesday in a 2-1 defeat at Atlético Madrid in the UEFA Champions League. They sit second in the Bundesliga table, four points behind Bayern Munich, and they’ll be counting on Patrik Schick as they look to continue their upward momentum with a win at RB Leipzig on Saturday.

Schick broke onto the scene as a teenager for Sampdoria, earning a €30 million transfer to Juventus – only for the move to break down after failing two separate medicals – before joining Roma, where he struggled to convince. The Czech forward enjoyed a promising loan spell at Leipzig before joining Bayer Leverkusen in September 2020 for €26.5 million, scoring 9 goals in 29 Bundesliga appearances before skyrocketing in his second year at the BayArena with 24 goals in 27 appearances. But just when it seemed like he was set to become one of the best strikers in Europe, Schick missed nearly an entire year with an adductor injury, causing Leverkusen to sign Victor Boniface from Union Saint-Gilloise in the summer of 2023.

Boniface started the campaign as the first-choice striker under Xabi Alonso, only to suffer a hamstring injury at the Africa Cup of Nations. With the Nigerian striker out for the foreseeable future, Schick worked his way back into Leverkusen’s line-up and played a pivotal role in their unbeaten domestic double. However, he was back to a bench role by the time the 2024/25 season rolled around and didn’t score a Bundesliga goal until the Bochum stalemate. A few days later, Boniface incurred a thigh injury on international duty, opening the door for Schick to reclaim his starting spot.

“Schick was fortunate with Boniface’s injury in that Alonso had no other option other than to rely solely on Schick, and that run in the team brought back his confidence and scoring streak,” said Bundesliga journalist Ronan Murphy. “Both are physical attackers, but Boniface is better driving at defenders and dribbling past them. Schick prefers to play a quick pass and get in behind whereas Boniface likes to play with his head up and use his skills to make space for a shot.”

Over the past year, Schick has developed a penchant for clutch moments. He single-handedly saved Leverkusen’s unbeaten streak twice in the span of a week – a 92nd-minute equaliser in a 2-2 draw vs. Qarabağ and an extra time brace in a 3-2 win vs. Qarabağ – whilst he also scored an 88th-minute equaliser vs. Stuttgart to send the DFL-Supercup to penalties, where Leverkusen prevailed with another trophy. And on 23 November, he helped Leverkusen erase a two-goal deficit and beat Heidenheim 5-2 after scoring a hat-trick on his third league start of the campaign.

Whilst Schick has often been typified as a streaky, hot-and-cold player, he’s finally delivering on a regular basis for Leverkusen. After closing out 2024 with a poker vs. Freiburg, Schick has carried his form into the new year by grabbing a brace at Dortmund and a goal vs. Gladbach. Having scored 13 goals in 33 appearances last season, Schick has already registered 16 goals in 24 appearances this season in all competitions and sits atop the Bundesliga charts in goals per 90 (1.51) and shots on target per 90 (2.5). Only Harry Kane (16) and the now departed Omar Marmoush (15) have scored more goals in the Bundesliga this season than Schick (12), whilst only Wolfsburg’s Kevin Behrens (1.12) has registered more xG per 90 than Schick (0.94).

Standing at 6’3”, Schick has the physical capabilities to challenge for aerial duels, hold up the ball with his back to goal, and retain possession whilst riding tackles. His combination of physical prowess and tireless running allow him to close down opponents and press them for the ball – he’s winning 2.5 possessions in the final third per 90 in the UEFA Champions League, well ahead of Leverkusen’s second-best player in Florian Wirtz (1.5). What’s more, his clever movement allows him to catch defenders off guard and receive in dangerous situations, where he’s able to get a clean shot off without overthinking the finish. He’s also capable of linking up well with teammates, none more so than Wirtz. Wirtz has assisted Schick on 17 different occasions in the Bundesliga – since 2004/05, only Thomas Müller has provided more assists to a single teammate (Robert Lewandowski – 42).

“Schick has stayed patient, and even when he wasn’t the first-choice striker last season, he scored important goals,” said Bundesliga announcer Kevin Hatchard. “It’s also worth noting that Schick had a big meeting with Alonso two months into this season, and they discussed his lack of minutes. Since then, Schick says everything has been perfect. His form as a Bundesliga player has been consistently strong, he’s fitter and getting more chances to shine from the start, and in a team that dominates games routinely, he should continue to thrive.”

Boniface is finally back to full fitness after 10 weeks on the treatment table, but as long as Schick continues to bang in the goals, he’ll find it difficult to reacquire a place in Alonso’s starting line-up. After previously struggling with injuries and inconsistency, Schick is delivering the best form of his life at Leverkusen, and he’ll be looking to celebrate his birthday with yet another goal against Leipzig on Saturday, a day after turning 29.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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

Jan

2025

Tim Weah proving his worth, wherever Juventus play him

USA international Tim Weah is proving his worth as a versatile attacking player for a Juventus team still being remoulded by new manager Thiago Motta.

By Graham Ruthven

Tim Weah’s name carries a lot of weight in Italian football. His father, George Weah, was an AC Milan icon and one of the best to ever play in Serie A. When Tim joined Juventus in the summer of 2023, the Italian press couldn’t help themselves from comparing father and son, calling it “Una Storia di Famiglia” on the front page of one newspaper.

Those comparisons don’t do Tim any favours. To this day, his father is the only African player to have ever won the Ballon d’Or. George Weah is still spoken about as one of the greatest players to have worn the famous rossoneri. This, however, shouldn’t diminish Tim’s growing role in black and white.

Against his father’s former club last weekend, Weah made a profound impact, scoring in a 2-0 win for Juventus over AC Milan. His directness and speed in behind the opposition defence gave Juve an extra attacking dimension and was key to the Old Lady recording a potentially season-changing result.

Juve’s 2024/25 campaign has been a paradox. While Thiago Motta’s side are still unbeaten in Serie A, they are 13 points off the pace being set by Napoli at the top of the table. They have drawn an astonishing 13 of the 21 matches they have played this season as Motta has struggled to mould Juventus in his own image.

The 2-0 win over AC Milan was the culmination of a process many have questioned since Motta’s arrival in Turin last summer. Juve controlled the majority of the match. They stopped the Rossoneri from posing any sort of meaningful threat on the break, but were lacking dynamism in the final third until Weah’s introduction at half time.

Few believe Weah will ever be a central pillar of Motta’s team. Those roles belong to the likes of Manuel Locatelli, Teun Koopmeiners and Gleison Bremer with Khéphren Thuram and Andrea Cambiasso also players who have clearly earned the trust of the manager. Weah ranks only 13th among his Juve teammates for minutes played in the league this season.

Nonetheless, Weah has proven his value as a do-everything attacking versatility man on more than one occasion this season. He’s played on the right wing, like he did in the second half against AC Milan. He’s also played on the left wing. The 24-year-old has even filled in as a centre forward when Dušan Vlahović missed a couple matches through injury.

When Weah arrived at the Allianz Stadium from Lille, he was widely seen as a wing back. That was the role many envisaged he would play for Max Allegri who favours a back three. Indeed, the majority of Weah’s 1,249 minutes in Serie A last season came as the fifth member of the Juventus defensive line.

Now, there is a sense that Weah has been liberated. Motta clearly sees the USA international as an outright attacker and has used Weah to keep Juve’s season moving forward when it easily could have veered off course. He might not be a central pillar of Motta’s team, but he is certainly a load-bearing one.

Of course, Weah isn’t the only American to have earned his place at Juventus this season. Weston McKennie is another US men’s national team member whose versatility has been tested with the 26-year-old – a midfielder by trade – deployed at right back in the recent win over AC Milan. This came after a run of games at left back. He has played over the pitch for the Old Lady.

*Weah vs. McKennie stats comparison, Serie A 2024/25*

McKennie, like Weah, has faced questions over his future as a Juventus player. The pair, however, have won over their doubters even if recent speculation has linked Everton with a January move for Weah. Eintracht Frankfurt and RB Leipzig are also believed to be interested in the winger who Juve could entertain offers for due to their fragile financial position.

This season will be remembered as a transitional one for Juventus. The Turin club have backed Motta to reshape the squad after years of stagnation under Allegri and have recognised that progress will be slow and painful. Money has been spent in the transfer window and further squad reconstruction will happen over the next few windows.

Weah might ultimately find himself a victim of that rebuild if Juventus receive a satisfactory offer for him, but the American has played an important role in the resurgence of one of Italy’s biggest clubs. There might well be more moments like the one delivered by Weah against AC Milan last weekend. He might not be his father, but Tim is making a name for himself in Turin.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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

Jan

2025

Preview: Man City meet Chelsea for late kick-off

A well-rested Chelsea travel north to face a Man City side reeling from their midweek Champions League defeat to French champions PSG in what could be a pivotal game for both club’s European ambitions.

By Alex Roberts

Pep Guardiola’s boys went 2-0 up against the Parisians before completely capitulating, conceding four goals in the final 35 minutes, leaving them on the brink of elimination from Europe’s elite club competition.

Chelsea had no such worries, but that doesn’t mean Enzo Maresca will have taken his eye off the ball… literally. The West London club impressed against City in their first game under the Italian but were powerless to resist their overwhelming firepower. They’ll want revenge this time out.

The prodigal son makes an impressive return

It’s almost as if Trevoh Chalobah never left, or at least he shouldn’t have. The centre-back absolutely bossed it in their 3-1 win against Wolves in their previous Premier League fixture.

Chalobah ended the win over Wolves with a 96% pass accuracy rate, two chances created, and an assist: winning the Player of the Match award in his first game back since being recalled from his loan at Crystal Palace.

Yes, those are all attacking stats, because, honestly, he didn’t have to do that much at the back, and when he did, he was as calm as ever. The academy star may have saved his boyhood club millions.

A flurry of new Man City signings

City have spent big in the January transfer window, bringing Vitor Reis, Abdukodir Khusanov, and now Omar Marmoush to the club as they seek to refresh an aging squad before any ruling is made regarding those ominous 115 charges.

The current champions are confusing enough as it is, and should Guardiola decide to give his three new boys their debuts against Chelsea, it could throw a serious spanner in the works for Maresca.

Marmoush in particular could cause problems. The forward played at a higher level than the other two, scoring 20 goals and providing 13 assists in the first half of the season at Eintracht Frankfurt.

Over a billion spent and still in need of a goalkeeper

The Stamford Bridge faithful aren’t starting to lose faith in Robert Sánchez, they lost it some time ago. Maresca continues to back him, despite a number of high-profile mistakes, including the one against Wolves, but his hands may be tied in the near future.

Only Ipswich goalkeeper Arijanet Muric has made more mistakes leading to goals in the Premier League this season with five, one more than Chelsea’s Sánchez. A worrying stat for a side trying to secure a top four spot.

Being a goalkeeper is hard, it’s arguably the most confidence-based position in the sport, and that will make it even harder for Sánchez to redeem himself in the eyes of the Chelsea fans.

Starting to worry about Bernardo

Bernardo Silva has been one of City’s most consistent players over the last few years, but a string of poor performances against the big boys this season should be cause for concern for both Guardiola and the fans.

It was a miracle he wasn’t brought off in the defeat to PSG, losing seven duels, more than any other player on the pitch. The struggle was as clear as day on his face after Ousmane Dembélé nut-megged him before smashing the crossbar.

All things must come to an end, and it’s incredible he’s managed to play at such a high level for such a prolonged period of time, but he may be another aging star City look to move on in the not-so-distant future.

Prediction

City and Chelsea are two of the Premier League’s more unpredictable sides this season, it’s hard to determine which version will turn up for any given game. We’re going to go with a 3-1 win to City, but don’t hold us to it!

(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.

Jan

2025

Justin Kluivert: Finding a home in the Premier League

Only seven players have more goals than Justin Kluivert in the Premier League this season.

By Sam McGuire

The 25-year-old netted his second hat-trick of the season last weekend as Bournemouth romped to a 4-1 win over Newcastle United at St James’ Park. It took his tally to 10 for the season (six coming from the penalty spot). He also chipped in with an assist against the Magpies to make it 13 goal involvements in 1,363 minutes this term in the English top-flight.

He’s on course to have the most productive season of his career, finally surpassing 15 goal involvements he managed for Ajax back during the 2017/18 campaign. It feels as though the Dutch attacker is finally fulfilling his potential. It’s taken a while, hasn’t it?

Kluivert burst onto the scene with his boyhood club, Ajax, as a 17-year-old. After impressing for the Dutch side, he was linked with a move to the Premier League. Pictured speaking to Manchester United boss José Mourinho following the Europa League final loss in 2017, there felt like an inevitability that he’d join the Red Devils. After all, his father, Patrick, worked alongside Mourinho at Barcelona.

A move never materialised, however, and he went on to have an impressive second season in the Ajax first-team.

In early 2018, Kluivert was asked about his future again by Dutch publication Helden.

“England appeals to me. Arsenal, Tottenham, Chelsea or Manchester United are nice clubs where I can see myself playing in a few years’ time.” He added that Barcelona are also in his “heart” due to his father’s links there.

Roma, to the surprise of many, won the race to sign the versatile forward in the summer of 2018.

Kluivert senior gave his thoughts on the deal, saying: “I think United would have been too big a jump,” the Netherlands, Ajax, AC Milan and Barcelona legend told Gazzetta dello Sport.

“Roma are an important club but the pressures are less. Roma don’t have to win at any cost and it is a club that is used to good football. It is the ideal place for Justin right now. He doesn’t talk much, but he’s someone who knows how to listen and is motivated. I wanted him to stay at Ajax for another year, but he made his choice.”

Reports claim Francesco Totti was involved in convincing Kluivert to move to the Italian capital.

It didn’t necessarily work out for him in Rome, though.

*Kluivert season summary pre-Bournemouth*

He finished his debut season with the club with just one Serie A goal. His second season was a little better, he finished with four goals, but he didn’t go enough to convince the club he had a future there. He was loaned to RB Leipzig for the 2020/21 campaign. Then Nice brought him to the club on an interim basis for the 2021/22 season. Valencia swooped for him in the summer of 2022, bringing him to the Mestalla on a season-long loan after a work permit issue shelved plans to move to Fulham.

Each loan spell had varying degrees of success. But all had the same outcome – he didn’t do enough to convince the club to sign him permanently.

It looked as though he might be a set for a career of purgatory. Moving from club to club, living off of the Kluivert name.

But then Bournemouth made their move. The winger was the first signing of the Andoni Iraola era. It caught a lot of people off guard. The Cherries were expected to be in a relegation battle. Signing someone like Kluivert wasn’t on the cards.

Yet it has proven to be a masterstroke. He’s been given a home. He’s been given the responsibility in this team. And he’s delivered.

His first season with the club yielded seven goals and an assist as Bournemouth caught the eye with a 12th place finish. This season, he’s built on those foundations.

The Cherries are currently seventh in the table. They’ve beaten Manchester United, Manchester City, Newcastle and Arsenal this season. They held Chelsea to a draw at Stamford Bridge. At the time of writing this, they’re just one point off fourth in the Premier League.

*Kluivert shot map, Premier League 2024/25*

Kluivert has played his part in a number of these scalps. He was involved in all four goals against Newcastle. He scored against Chelsea and Manchester United. He scored and assisted against Arsenal.

He is Bournemouth’s leading scorer in the Premier League and only two players – Marcus Tavernier and Dango Ouattara (both on four) have more assists than the Netherlands international.

The Cherries are flying high under Iraola and Kluivert is the face of this current project. If he keeps on performing at this level, he might get a move to one of the four English clubs he mentioned back in 2018.

But why would you want to leave Bournemouth right now, they’re one of the most exciting teams in the Premier League with one of the best managers at the helm.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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

Jan

2025

Preview: Injury-hit Arsenal visit Wolves

Arsenal’s season has been rather derailed in January as they have suffered big setbacks in all three domestic competitions. Anything but a win against Wolves today could see them drop to a double-digit net deficit from league leaders Liverpool.

By Neel Shelat

Arsenal’s recent domestic struggles

Arsenal have won just one of their last five domestic matches, dropping four points in the Premier League and suffering setbacks in both cup competitions.

Their disappointing run of form started with a score draw at Brighton, which was followed by two cup defeats. First, Newcastle United took away a two-goal lead from the Emirates Stadium in the first leg of their EFL Cup semi-final, and then Manchester United scored a dramatic penalty shoot-out victory to send Arsenal crashing out of the third round of the FA Cup. The Gunners did register big xG tallies in excess of 3 in both of those games, so it was their finishing that let them down.

*Key stats, Arsenal vs. Newcastle, Carabao Cup first leg*

Arsenal did not dominate their next two matches quite as much. They did edge out a crucial North London derby victory over Tottenham but then squandered a two-goal lead against Aston Villa to register their eighth draw of the Premier League season.

Wolves reinvigorated after Vitor Pereira’s arrival

Wolverhampton Wanderers spent the vast majority of the first half of the season in the relegation zone and had a single-digit points tally when Gary O’Neil was sacked before Christmas. Few were optimistic about Vitor Pereira’s ability to turn things around when he was brought in from Al Shabab, but he has proven the doubters wrong so far.

Wolves defeated Leicester City and Manchester United in their first two matches under the new head coach to surge out of the relegation zone. They also went on to take a point off Tottenham Hotspur and defeat Bristol City in the FA Cup’s third round. Although they have lost their last three league games, that should not be too big a cause for concern since each of their opponents is in the current top six.

Pereira has hardly overseen a tactical overhaul as he is using the same 3-4-2-1 formation that O’Neil often deployed, but he has shored up the defence a bit and thus improved the team’s counterattacking threat.

Cunha the key against Arsenal’s weakened right side

Injuries have been a big reason behind Arsenal’s drop in form. Their right side has been particularly affected of late as Bukayo Saka and Ben White have remained unavailable while Ethan Nwaneri missed a few matches, Gabriel Jesus suffered a season-ending ACL injury in the FA Cup and William Saliba picked up a slight hamstring issue in training ahead of their last league game.

While Riccardo Calafiori’s return should make up for Myles Lewis-Skelly’s potential absence at left back, Wolves will surely look to target the right side of Arsenal’s defence where Thomas Partey may have to start at right back as Jurriën Timber moves to centre-back. Star attacker Matheus Cunha – the subject of a lot of interest in the transfer window – will be looking forward to adding to his tally of 14 league goal involvements.

*Wolves goals + assists, Premier League 2024/25*

Prediction

Despite their injury issues, Arsenal should have enough to see out an eighth-straight head-to-head victory over Wolves.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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

Jan

2025

Preview: Real Madrid go to Valladolid as top meets bottom

Real Madrid have bounced back from their Spanish Supercopa humbling against Barcelona to score 14 goals in their last three outings.

By Graham Ruthven

Liga leaders hitting their stride

It was only two weeks ago that Real Madrid suffered that humiliation against Barcelona in the Spanish Supercopa. Since then, though, Carlo Ancelotti’s team have responded by stringing together three consecutive wins.

Barca’s draw away to Getafe last weekend allowed Real Madrid to stretch their advantage at the top of LaLiga over their fiercest rivals to seven points with Atlético Madrid two points behind.

Most ominous is Real Madrid’s attacking form. Indeed, los Blancos have scored 14 goals in their last three games in all competitions including five goals against Red Bull Salzburg in the Champions League during the week.

After a slow start to the season, Kylian Mbappé has hit top form in recent weeks, finding the back of the net five times in the last four games. The Frenchman’s speed and willingness to get in behind will give Real Valladolid problems.

While Madrid are looking to boost their title chances, Valladolid need points to move off the bottom of LaLiga. The White and Violets have just 15 points from 20 games and are fighting for their top flight lives.

Valladolid have actually won their last two league matches at home (against Valencia and Real Betis), but a victory over Real Madrid would be their biggest result of the season so far.

Key players

Kike Pérez scored the only goal of the game as Real Valladolid beat Real Betis two weeks ago and could offer the hosts a source of creativity from midfield on Saturday.

Defensively, Valladolid will have to be solid to stand any chance of earning a result against the league leaders, putting pressure on goalkeeper Karl Hein to perform. He will surely have a busy afternoon.

Mbappé’s recent scoring record speaks for itself, but the incredible form of Rodrygo has flown under the radar somewhat. The Brazilian scored twice against Salzburg on Wednesday and has seven goals in his last eight games.

With Vinîcius Júnior still suspended in the league, Rodrygo will start in his favoured position on the left wing. On the right side, Brahim Díaz could offer cohesion with his movement inside, creating space for Lucas Vázquez on the overlap.

Dani Ceballos and Fede Valverde have recently forged a strong partnership in central midfield while Jude Bellingham will continue in a more advanced role where he has freedom to roam.

Team news

Juma Bah will be left out of the Real Valladolid lineup as punishment for attempting to force a transfer to Manchester City. The young centre back failed to turn up for training this week and won’t be included in this weekend’s matchday squad.

Moro suffered a broken collarbone in Valladolid’s last game against Espanyol and is now set for a period on the sidelines. Stanko Jurić will be another absentee due to the midfielder’s suspension.

Vinícius will miss out for Real Madrid through suspension while Eduardo Camavinga, Éder Militão and Dani Carvajal are currently sidelined through injury.

Real Madrid’s injury troubles have eased recently with David Alaba back in action following a 13-month spell out. The Austrian could start against Valladolid, but is more likely to make another appearance off the bench.

Prediction

Valladolid’s two game winning run at home will surely come to an end with the rampant league leaders in town: Real Valladolid 0-3 Real Madrid.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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

Jan

2025

Preview: Leaders Liverpool welcome Ipswich Town to Anfield

Liverpool host the Tractor Boys at Anfield on Saturday afternoon as Arne Slot’s side look to extend their lead at the top of the Premier League table. Kieran McKenna’s men will be hoping to climb out of the relegation zone.

By Matt Smith

This will be the first time Ipswich have faced Liverpool at Anfield since 2002. The two sides met earlier in the season at Portman Road, with the Reds securing a 2-0 victory away from home.

Slot dealt Jones blow

Speaking to the media ahead of Liverpool’s game against Ipswich, Slot confirmed that he would be without Curtis Jones, suggesting that he might return to face Bournemouth next weekend. It doesn’t appear to be a serious injury for the English midfielder, but he’ll certainly miss this weekend’s game.

Slot has also added that he’s taking caution with Ibrahima Konaté, who is struggling to play every three days due to his fitness. The French centre-back was benched against Lille in the Champions League during the week, so it will be interesting to see if he comes back in.

The resurgence of Darwin Núñez?

Darwin Núñez has come under plenty of criticism in recent years after some underwhelming performances, and Slot has shown in the first few months of his tenure that the former Benfica attacker isn’t a guaranteed starter. Slot gave Núñez a rare start against Lille in the Champions League in midweek after a 25 minute cameo at Brentford last time out in the Premier League, a decision that paid off.

Núñez scored twice in injury time to help secure the win against the Bees and then earned the highest FotMob rating of the game (8.0) despite not finding the net in the victory over Lille. If the Dutch manager persists with the Uruguayan and shows confidence in the striker, he could become a valuable option in the coming weeks.

Szmodics and Chaplin remain sidelined

McKenna has stated that he’s expecting a similar Ipswich squad to travel to Merseyside as the group who were defeated 6-0 at home to Manchester City. The Ipswich boss confirmed that both Sammie Szmodics and Connor Chaplin will be unavailable for The Tractor Boys.

Ali Al-Hamadi could also miss out, with McKenna suggesting that he might be on the move before the end of the transfer window.

Delap will need to produce the goods

With Ipswich travelling to the strongest side in the Premier League this season, you’d expect McKenna’s men to have little possession, hoping to hit the opposition on the break. Liam Delap could, therefore, have a thankless task in attack, but Ipswich will be relying on him to produce the goods.

The former Man City striker has been a standout for the newly promoted club this season, finding the back of the net on eight occasions. If Ipswich manage to secure an emphatic result on the road, Delap is likely to have a major influence.

Prediction

With Ipswich picking up just nine points away from home and Liverpool losing just once at Anfield, a win for the Reds feels likely.

We’re going for a comfortable home win, with Núñez continuing his momentum and getting his name on the scoresheet.

(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.

Jan

2025

Enzo Maresca has turned Chelsea around but are they the real deal?

One win in six and heading to for a game at the reigning Premier League champions could seem like it spells disaster and in previous years that kind of run might have left a Chelsea head coach in trouble. For Enzo Maresca this year, though, it’s only part of the story.

By Karl Matchett

While the reality of recent results can’t be ignored, the Blues were a standout side across autumn and winter. That, along with performances and some key individual players emerging, will be cushions for Maresca when this and other bad runs inevitably crop up. And, in fairness, “bad runs” is laying it on thick: Chelsea lost twice and drew three in a run of five, before winning last time out against Wolves. They also cruised through to the next round of the FA Cup during that period, having already wrapped up top spot in the UEFA Conference League too.

All told, the season makes good reading for Maresca when factoring in the mess he inherited – and all this in what is, remember, his first season as boss in a top flight. The elite end of football has a habit of eroding goodwill quickly, it’s true, but an 11-match unbeaten run through November and December built him a quick cache of trust from the fans, while moving to within touching distance of Liverpool in top spot – however briefly that lasted – also hinted at what could be to come with this squad.

The question now, of Maresca and of his team, is whether they are building towards something real and sustainable, something which can continue to grow and challenge for major honours…or whether they are merely among the beneficiaries of others’ slip-ups and ineptitudes this season. It should be noted, there’s nothing inherently wrong with the latter – it’s perfectly fine to be right place, right time and just good enough to edge ahead of others when they keep making mistakes. Leicester did it to win a title, after all, and it can supercharge rebuild eras for others – like Newcastle finishing top four – even if it doesn’t lead to immediate silverware.

But at Stamford Bridge there is an expectation that the many hundreds of millions of pounds spent will lead to big trophies, of course. Which makes this recent blip of Chelsea’s, and their upcoming fixtures, particularly interesting.

It’s Manchester City next. That, in usual circumstances, would be a true litmus test of where the Blues are with their own rebuild – but this time the meeting is a test of both teams’ resilience and mentality as much as quality. For all Chelsea’s recent poor results might make them less-confident, Man City have won precisely once since October against teams who haven’t been either fighting relegation this year, last year, newly promoted, or in a lower league. Giving up four goals to lose again from a winning position in midweek won’t help their mindset either.

So, Chelsea should reasonably be expected to go on the offensive, to an extent. They are ahead of City in the league table by one position and two points, sat in fourth and definitely one of the teams considered to have most chance of a Champions League place for next term. Why sit back against a wounded and mistake-ridden City?

Comparing the two for the season as a whole, Chelsea have created far more big chances than City (79 to 66), have more shots on target (6.2 – 6.1), have a better conversion rate (12.2% to 11.6%), have conceded fewer goals in both xG terms (31-32) and real terms (27-29) and win possession in the final third (5.0 – 4.8) with greater regularity. City remain elite in having possession, getting into dangerous zones of the pitch and of creating set pieces, but what they do with the ball has diminished nonetheless – and certainly they’re far worse defensively.

Yet Chelsea’s season, and Maresca’s time as a head coach, won’t be defined by this one match alone. It’s just that winning, or at least avoiding defeat at the Etihad, will allow his side to stay above the one which will pose a big threat to top-four chances.

Across the board, though, there’s real reason to think Chelsea are doing well enough to move yet higher. They are second-ranked in the league for goals, possession, xG, shots on target, and big chances. It doesn’t take much insight to realise only one team has been better across the board there, and they are ten points above them in the table. But everyone else? There’s zero reason why Chelsea, this version of Chelsea, cannot push for second this term and beyond that later.

While Cole Palmer may be a standout, the individual improvements this season in Moisés Caicedo, Nicolas Jackson and the resurgent Jadon Sancho are fully apparent. Maresca’s coaching has aided this progression, along with his man management – so questioned at the start of the season when he decided he wanted a set number in his squad and those players who didn’t fit simply wouldn’t play. As it transpires, it’s hard to argue with his calls, or his rigidity there.

But what has come between August and January can unravel quickly. It’s happened before, to more established sides. Man City – and then onto West Ham, Brighton twice and Aston Villa – will showcase whether Chelsea are over their stumble and can continue to climb. Performances until now have been a clear improvement; the next task for Maresca is demanding the consistency of the very best.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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Jan

2025

FPL tips from the reigning champ: GW23

Get ahead of the Group Chat thanks to our new regular column from FPL expert Jonas Sand Låbakk.

By Graham Ruthven, in conversation with Jonas Sand Låbakk

Introducing our expert

Jonas is a 21 year old student who, like FotMob, hails from Norway. He was Fantasy Premier League champion for the 2023/24 season, finishing ahead of 11 million other managers. So who better to provide expert advice?

Read his expert advice every week.

*Don’t forget the FPL deadline for this round – make your transfers and get your team sorted before 13:30 GMT on Saturday 25 January*

The Eye Test vs. The Stats

Cody Gakpo (7.5) is proving popular with FPL managers for GW23, for good reason.

The Netherlands international is a nailed on starter for Liverpool who are leading the way at the top of the Premier League table. Arne Slot has had a profound impact on his compatriot who is enjoying his best season for the Anfield club.

Gakpo was rested for the Champions League win over Lille on Tuesday, suggesting he will be brought back into the lineup for Saturday’s home match against Ipswich Town.

While Gakpo is classified as a forward in FPL, he most frequently plays on the left side of Slot’s front three. He could start alongside Darwin Núñez and Mohamed Salah in the forward line this weekend.

Liverpool’s upcoming run of favourable fixtures makes Gakpo a particularly attractive pick.

The Reds face relegation-threatened Ipswich in GW23 before a double gameweek in GW24 in which Liverpool will take on Bournemouth and Everton before a home fixture against Wolves in GW25.

Gakpo’s underlying numbers are something else that should make him a consideration for your FPL team.

*Gakpo shooting stats per 90, Premier League 2024/25*

He is averaging 0.53 Expected Goal Involvements (xGI) per 90 minutes this season. Against Brentford in G22, Gakpo missed one Big Chance from a Salah pass and also created four chances despite returning only two points.

With all this in mind, this is a good time to load up on three Liverpool players – see Salah (13.7) and Trent Alexander-Arnold (7.3) as two attractive options. Gakpo stands out as one of the best options.

Son Heung-min (9.8) is another player who should be on your FPL radar.

The South Korean started up top against Everton in GW22 and is a good bet to keep his place due to Dominic Solanke’s continued absence.

Richarlison came on at half time and pushed Son to the wing at Goodison Park, but failed to make much of an impact. Son, on the other hand, found the back of the net in the Europa League win over Hoffenheim on Thursday. He remains one of Tottenham’s best difference makers.

This season has been’t the most productive of Son’s career. However, he has still registered 12 goal involvements in 19 Premier League appearances, averaging 0.57 xGI per 90 minutes.

*Son’s passing stats per 90, Premier League 2024/25*

Spurs are leading Liverpool in the Carabao Cup semi-final. Were Ange Postecoglou’s team to get through on aggregate, they will face a blank gameweek in GW29. Despite this, Son is owned by just 5%, making him a good differential for a favourable gameweek.

Long shot

Dango Ouattara (5.0) has been overshadowed by several Bournemouth players who have pushed the Cherries up the Premier League table this season.

However, the 22-year-old has started Bournemouth’s last two matches in the absence of Evanilson and Enes Ünal. Stats-wise, Ouattara hasn’t made much of an impact, but the eye test suggests he could be a good addition to your FPL team.

Against Newcastle in GW22, Ouattara missed one Big Chance, registered an assist for Justin Kluivert’s second goal and scored a goal of his own that was later ruled out by VAR. He gave the Magpies problems as Bournemouth’s starting centre forward.

Priced at only 5.0 and with an ownership of just 0.2%, Ouattara has the potential to be an extremely valuable differential. His xGI per 90 minutes of 0.6 is impressive and should be noted by FPL managers looking for a budget forward.

Bournemouth face tricky fixtures against Nottingham Forest and Liverpool in their next two gameweeks. They boast two of the strongest defences in the league, but Ouattara could be a player worth keeping for a long time due to his low price tag.

Upcoming games to follow

GW23 has the potential for some high-scoring games for several popular FPL assets.

Firstly, Liverpool and Newcastle’s fixtures stand out. Both teams have games against promoted teams in GW23 and this could lead to a strong haul by a number of players with high ownership.

Liverpool are the top-scoring team in the league and also boast the best defensive record for good measure. Meanwhile, Saturday’s opponents Ipswich conceded six to Manchester City in their last game.

Alexander-Arnold (7.3) will pose the greatest attacking threat of all Liverpool’s defenders. Salah (13.7), Luis Díaz (7.5), Ibrahima Konaté (5.1) and Gakpo (7.5) are worth consideration.

Newcastle suffered a disappointing defeat at home to Bournemouth in GW22, but are expected to bounce back against bottom team Southampton this weekend.

Popular assets like Anthony Gordon (7.7), Alexander Isak (9.5) and Lewis Hall (5.1) are players to look out for.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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Jan

2025

Transfer of the Week: Can Omar Marmoush save Man City’s season?

After a shocking run of form to end 2024 on a big low, Manchester City have decided to splash the case in the January transfer window. They have already splurged close to €150 million this week, with about half of that amount spent on Egyptian forward Omar Marmoush.

By Neel Shelat

Omar Marmoush joins a growing list of big-money forward departures from Eintracht Frankfurt. In recent years, the Eagles have sold Sébastien Haller to West Ham for €50 million, Luka Jović to Real Madrid for €63m and Randal Kolo-Muani to Paris Saint-Germain for a club-record €95m. All three of the others certainly have not proven to be worth their transfer fees, but Manchester City will be counting on Marmoush to break that trend.

Scintillating form this season

It is safe to say that Manchester City are signing Marmoush in the midst of what is by far his best-ever footballing season. The 25-year-old forward has registered an incredible tally of 20 goals and 13 assists in just 26 appearances for Eintracht Frankfurt this term, including 24 goal involvements in the Bundesliga.

While the English champions will be more than delighted if he continues such a run of form in Manchester, the flip side to this is that they have had to pay something of a premium for him. As it is, mid-season transfers tend to be financially favourable to the selling team, but Marmoush’s value was further inflated by his sensational attacking output.

Of course, money isn’t a big problem for Manchester City, so the main thing they will be concerned with is whether his form will carry over to the Premier League. The fact that the Egyptian forward failed to register 10 senior goal involvements in any season outside Frankfurt might be considered a concern, but much of that can be chalked up to constant loans and transfers that prevented him from fully settling in anywhere.

With that being said, it is also pretty unlikely that Marmoush will continue scoring at a rate of almost a goal per 90 minutes. For one, his 15 league goals this season have come with some significant xG performance. While he does deserve credit for finishing very well, it is worth noting that he failed to outperform his xG in any of his previous top-flight seasons.

A big reason behind Marmoush’s explosive return this season is Eintracht Frankfurt’s tactical setup. Dino Toppmöller has been employing a very fluid attacking system that deals the vast majority of its damage in transition, with the front two of Marmoush and Hugo Ekitike being given a great deal of freedom to drift around and pull opposition defences apart. The Egyptian forward certainly made the most of his role, showcasing the best of his speedy dribbling, snappy link-up play and clever off-ball movement to star as an all-action forward.

Potential fit at Manchester City

Quite certainly, Marmoush will find himself in a very different tactical context at Manchester City compared to Eintracht Frankfurt. Pep Guardiola’s side, of course, like to try and control matches by keeping a lot more slow possession, so their attack isn’t half as fluid as the Eagles’.

Nevertheless, the Egyptian forward should be able to slot into Guardiola’s system through multiple routes. In his matches with the national team as well as at previous clubs, Marmoush has shown himself capable of playing in all the forward positions.

Of course, the striker position at Manchester City will ideally remain off-limits for everyone other than Erling Haaland for the next decade or so, so Marmoush will have to make a place for himself behind him. Looking at City’s squad, all three positions could be open in the short and/or long term. The ageing Kevin De Bruyne does not have a clear successor in the number 10 position, so Marmoush could either do that job or move over to the right and free up Phil Foden into a central role for good. Alternatively, the Egyptian attacker could start on the left, from where he can cut inside onto his favoured right foot.

Marmoush definitely would not be best utilised as a wide winger who hugs the touchline, so he will want to get into central areas regardless of where he starts. In this respect, he could turn out to be something of a delayed replacement for Julián Alvarez, whose summer transfer to Atlético Madrid had a more adverse effect on Manchester City’s attack than they would have liked.

Although the Premier League holders still have one of the biggest goal tallies in the league, they have become quite overreliant on Haaland for their goals and have no clear plan B. This has made them far more predictable and easier to defend against in many cases, so City will really hope to see Marmoush inject some much-needed dynamism in the opposition half.

*Man City top scorers, Premier League 2024/25*

In recent matches including their big win over Ipswich Town and loss to Paris Saint-Germain, Guardiola’s side have seemed to lean into attacking transitions a fair bit more than they used to. So, the team could also adapt a little and meet Marmoush closer to the middle rather than expecting him to integrate into a rigid system.

Bigger issues to solve for City

While Marmoush may well get Manchester City’s attack firing in full flow again, they have bigger problems to contend with.

The root of their issues this season, of course, stemmed from Rodri’s ACL injury. Their lack of quality depth in defensive midfield has consistently been the biggest weak link in the side ever since, and they are yet to address it in the transfer window.

The English champions have, however, made a couple of other smart signings. The arrivals of young defenders Abdukodir Khusanov and Vitor Reis add some much-needed youthfulness into an especially ageing back line and squad as a whole. Both players also have the potential to become the best in their position a few years down the line.

The 25-year-old Marmoush definitely will be expected to provide a much more instant impact, perhaps even buying time for Manchester City to work on the bigger issues. So, a lot will rest on how quickly and smoothly he is integrated into Guardiola’s side.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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