Page 16 – The Pulse of Football

Oct

2024

Dejan Kulusevski’s improvement could see him become main man for Spurs

Until last season, Dejan Kulusevski wasn’t the most consistent Tottenham player, but he is now starting to come leaps and bounds under Ange Postecoglou.

By Kaustubh Pandey

During his time at Juventus, Kulusevski often cut an isolated figure. After doing well for coach Andrea Pirlo, he was shafted out wide under Max Allegri in a very structured and pragmatic system.

He struggled to make an impact on a regular basis and was held back by the setup in place, constantly having to stay near the touchline and limit his strengths as a footballer.

A move to Tottenham under Antonio Conte followed, with the Italian having tried to sign him at Inter having seen him during an earlier loan stint at Parma from first club Atalanta. They united at Spurs and there were glimmers of brilliance. Something similar was seen last season, when Kulusevski scored eight times and it was his best goalscoring tally in a single season since that spell at Parma in the 2019/20 season.

Thriving in a central role

Towards the end of last season though, Ange Postecoglou stumbled upon the idea of using the Swede in a more central role. That has carried on this season and it has made Kulusevski someone who makes Tottenham tick in attack.

It isn’t quite an experiment as you might think though. While the perception around the ex-Atalanta man was that he is a wide player who constantly cuts inside, that isn’t how things were during his time with the Atalanta Primavera side (youth team). He was constantly played in a right sided number eight role at La Dea, where an attacking system was always in place and the Swede’s 1v1 ability would come to the fore.

At Parma, Kulusevski did play in a wide role under Roberto D’Aversa but he had the freedom to constantly attack on his own. While that brought a lot out of him, it is under Postecoglou that Kulusevski is looking like someone who is constantly involved and is using his ability to go past defenders, play the final ball and operate in the half-spaces.

Always involved and doing the dangerous work

An example of how well he can perform in a central role in the current Spurs setup came against Manchester United last weekend, against whom Kulusevski opened his account for the season.

*Big chances created, Man United vs. Spurs, Sep 2024*

He created three big chances, two more than anyone else on the pitch. He was also in the top-five in the game for accurate forward zone passes and created xG of 0.39 in the game.

In fact, no one has created more chances in the Premier League than the 24-year-old in the Spurs side this season. He stands at 20, seven more than second-placed Son.

*Spurs chances created, Premier League 2024/25*

He is also at second for the most amount of possession won in the final third, which suggests that he is more than just about chance creation. For a system that relies on structural play in attack and a high press, Kulusevski is becoming a perfect player because of how he likes to win the ball back high up the pitch and also attacks quickly while finding the right space.

Ange’s system working wonders for Kulusevski

In general, there have been question marks about the sustainability of Postecoglou’s system in the Premier League. It is a completely different ball-game from what he faced in the Scottish Premiership with Celtic, as teams in England rarely defend deep and the freakish pace of the game makes sure that ultra-attacking systems can be undermined.

Postecoglou has faced those problems already, with Spurs’ defensive shape often found wanting while defending in transition. But just when some other managers would make a defensive change, Ange has gone the other way. He has made an attacking change, making sure that Kulusevski and James Maddison operate as higher No. 8s, with the full-backs inverting and making sure that the team can pin the opposition well back.

There is an issue around the 1v1 ability of many players out wide but the setup allows Kulusevski to always be around the half-space and finding the pockets between the opposition’s backline and midfield. He has enough support around him to combine with players instead of doing it all on his own, which is something he was prone to trying a lot when playing out wide.

*Kulusevski passing stats, Premier League 2024/25*

The future is bright

A case can be made that things can yet get better for the ex-Juventus man, but a lot of it depends on Tottenham themselves.

The lack of the ability of wide players to win 1v1 duels is an issue which impacts the whole attack and many times, Kulusevski suffers from it too. When it works, it works wonders – as it did against United.

There might still be concerns about the Sweden international’s consistency but this is a player who probably hasn’t hit his peak yet. If Spurs persist with the current setup, Kulusevski plays centrally, and the wide players improve, he could become their most important player this season.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from the Premier League on FotMob – with deep stats, xG, and players ratings. Download the free app here.

Oct

2024

Preview: FC Porto vs. Manchester United

After the nadir that was Sunday’s defeat to Tottenham in the Premier League, Manchester United will look to pick themselves up before their trip to Porto and the resumption of Europa League action on Thursday.

By Dan Tracey

The Red Devils arrive in Portugal still under the stewardship of manager Erik ten Hag and although the club’s board have gone on record to say the Dutchman’s future is safe in the short term, the same commitments have not been made past the international break.

The upcoming October pause in action could end up being the perfect time for United to change the current man in charge – that is of course if United’s next two performances against Porto and Aston Villa (at the weekend) are far from perfect.

Then again, if ten Hag can oversee victory in one of the two pre-break fixtures, in either Portugal or the West Midlands, it will buy the former Ajax boss time before the next crisis envelopes the Old Trafford outfit.

The ‘crisis’ in its current form accelerated after losing 3-0 to Tottenham on Sunday but was ignited after an indifferent performance in the opening Europa League matchday of the newly expanded format.

A 1-1 draw at home to FC Twente was far from meeting the expectations that would have been set by manager and supporters alike, and although United dominated metrics such as total shots and possession, they did not dominate the one metric that truly matters the most.

That point against Twente was still a point more than Thursday’s hosts managed from their own opening European exploits of the new season.

Vitor Bruno’s men went up against Bodø/Glimt and even though the Aspmyra Stadion outfit were reduced to 10 men after Isak Maatta’s sending off early in the second half, Porto’s Norwegian opponents were already well on their way to victory.

2-1 down with the numerical advantage on the field of play, soon became 3-1 to Glimt after Jens Petter Hauge’s second of the game and even though Deniz Gul’s injury time goal reduced Porto’s deficit to create a potential grandstand finish, that would be the last goalmouth action.

Now though, the team that currently finds themselves sitting second in the Liga Portugal cannot afford to be second best on Thursday but by the same token, defeat is the last thing that Erik ten Hag and his United cohorts need right now.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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

Oct

2024

Marc Casado has saved Barcelona’s season and made his own career

Gavi. Frenkie de Jong. Dani Olmo. Fermín López. Even Andreas Christensen, a defensive midfield stand-in last season. The list of central absentees Barcelona have faced this season already would make some clubs give up and rely on either out of position backups or clearly-not-yet-ready youngsters, but they have instead turned to a succession of players who have not just helped them to the top of LaLiga, but forged clear paths to a career for themselves in the process.

By Karl Matchett

Marc Bernal, Pablo Torre and Pau Víctor have all taken part in LaLiga already, across midfield or attacking midfield roles, but none have played more or impressed as often as another: 21-year-old Marc Casado.

His rise under new boss Hansi Flick is all the more remarkable as it seemed he would be leaving this summer initially, not given much of a look-in by Xavi despite captaining the B team, making only two top-flight appearances. Even across all competitions, he has already played more times under Flick this term than he had under Xavi in two years being involved with the seniors.

Usually a holding midfielder or controlling player right in the middle for the B team, he has operated both in the latter role and higher upfield under Flick – his ability to dictate the tempo of Barca’s play, find space in the final third and execute the final pass being a massive boost to the side, with so many other creative passers absent.

His quick impact has not gone unnoticed. “We are not talking enough about Marc Casado and his impact on Barcelona’s midfield. He has made himself important [in] the build-up, his intensity and dynamism with lots of quality on the ball. Key player right now,” said former Barca attacker Luis García.

Casado’s on the ball work bears out such a lofty assessment. If a 91% pass accuracy in LaLiga and more successful passes per 90 minutes than 95% of the rest of the league comes as expected in a Barcelona midfielder, perhaps being dispossessed precisely zero times in 382 minutes offers a glimpse at his poise and timing. He averages over 80 touches a game and has created four chances with a combined xA of 0.68 – in the upper 20% of the league, for context. And it isn’t all about his on-the-ball work either, as he wins 62% of his duels, better than 88% of LaLiga midfielders so far.

The youngster is quickly becoming a go-to option whether Barcelona need more control or more creativity: Hansi Flick trusts him, his teammates trust him. Perhaps the latter isn’t so surprising, given a number of them are youngsters right now who will have played together for some time. Casado has partnered Bernal in the centre, for example, with Pedri the third man higher up – and the rookie duo have a connection which, given the way they talk about it, is reminiscent of Pedri himself and Gavi. Or, for the previous generation, Xavi and Andres Iniesta.

“I have a great connection with Casado. We feel very comfortable on the pitch playing together,” says one.

“We understand each other with just a glance. We don’t talk to each other. With one look we already see what the other player is thinking. I think that with our movements you can see that there is a connection,” says the other.

Such familiarity has undoubtedly served Barcelona well given the lack of familiarity about the names on the teamsheet, and they’ve already moved to build on that cohesion: Casado has a new contract tied up along with several of the other youngsters who have made their name this term.

It’s really no wonder that Barcelona feel – now, if not as recently as six months ago – that Casado can play a big part in their future. Still struggling with an enormous salary bill, unable to properly sign players and register them without offloading others and with stadium redevelopments and other costs ensuring the complex web of club finances is still years from being fully untangled, La Masia graduates like Casado – and Bernal, Alex Balde, even Lamine Yamal for goodness’ sake – have the dual impact of costing nothing initially and costing much less on an ongoing basis than some of the bought-in star names.

While it’s way too early to compare his senior impact to, say, Frenkie de Jong, it doesn’t need a huge leap to imagine the Dutchman’s wages going the same way of İlkay Gündoğan’s, if Casado continues to bring cohesion and quality. Especially if De Jong’s injuries don’t clear up, and that goes double with the prospect of bringing in a big transfer fee.

Without him, Barcelona’s season would never have got off to the type of start which leaves them top of LaLiga. Casado can be assured he has not only helped salvage their campaign right from the start, but that he has also given himself a senior career to look forward to.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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

Oct

2024

FPL tips from the reigning champ: GW 7

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

By FotMob, in conversation with Jonas Sand Låbakk

Introducing our expert

Jonas is a 21 year old student who, like FotMob, hails from Norway, but unlike the frustrated Fantasy Premier League players in the office, he did something we could only dream of last season. He finished first, ahead of 11 million other managers in the 2023/24 season.

Who better then, to provide us with some expert advice each week.

The Eye Test vs. The Stats

As we approach each gameweek, I always like to compare the eye test to the stats from the previous gameweek (GW6). While statistics like expected goals (xG) and assists provide concrete data, watching games offers deeper insights into players’ overall form and influence. As we know, some players shine in the stats, but underperform on the pitch, while others catch the eye but don’t yet have the numbers to back that up. Balancing these approaches can help guide you to better FPL decisions and was a crucial part of my strategy last season.

Bukayo Saka (10.1m) played a really good game against Leicester City and was Arsenal’s main source for creativity – but unfortunately for owners in FPL, he didn’t get any returns. He accumulated a total of 1.08 xGI (expected goal involvements) and alongside that, he created four big chances. On another day he could have easily had three, maybe even four assists. Southampton are next up for the Gunners and after their heavy loss to Bournemouth on Monday night, I would not sell Saka under any circumstances ahead of gameweek 7.

Elsewhere, Spurs absolutely battered Manchester United last weekend! Dominic Solanke (7.6m) – as predicted in our previous column – came into his own, looking sharp, and getting himself in to good positions. He recorded a total of 1.34 xGI and had three shots in the box. With Heung-Min Son still injured, Solanke might even be Tottenham’s preferred penalty taker. Going forward, Spurs have some good fixtures coming up, starting with what looks like a leaky Brighton defence this coming weekend.

Long shot

Ipswich Town faced a tough run of fixtures to start the season but that that is easing now. Leif Davis (4.5m) is playing well going forward and contributes in terms of taking a few corners. In his last game he created three big chances and despite not returning offensively or keeping a clean sheet, he still got a bonus point. I don’t expect a lot of clean sheets for Ipswich, but Leif Davis definitely has the attacking upside and he showed that in the Championship last season, recording a whopping 19 assists. With him only being owned by 2.1% of the players in the game, I believe he can be a decent differential.

Upcoming games to follow

Gameweek 7 of FPL is a favourable one for a lot of the Big Six teams. Tottenham play Brighton who conceded 4.16 xGC last game. Liverpool play Crystal Palace who have been pretty underwhelming so far this season. Arsenal play newly promoted Southampton and Manchester City face Fulham at the Etihad. There are quite a few interesting players who I think have the potential to score highly in this round of games.

Kai Havertz (8.2m) scored a goal vs Leicester last week and tallied an impressive 1.93 xGI, and he has scored in all five of Arsenal’s home games in all competitions. He’s definitely one to watch despite their fixtures turning from gameweek 9 onwards when they play Liverpool, Newcastle, and Chelsea in consecutive rounds.

Rico Lewis (4.7m) played in a really advanced position against Newcastle, more advanced than any other Man City defender, but did not create any big chances and didn’t even get a return. If he starts, I think he can provide good value against Fulham.

My key men this week

As mentioned, Arsenal face Southampton at the Emirates this week and I have three Arsenal players in my squad: Gabriel (6.2m), William Saliba (6.0m) and Bukayo Saka (10.1m). I expect a clean sheet from Arsenal and hopefully Saka gets rewarded for his chance creation.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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Oct

2024

Bryan Zaragoza is looking to make his mark back in LaLiga

Osasuna put Barcelona to the sword on Saturday and nobody did more to cut through the visitors to El Sadar than Bryan Zaragoza.

By Graham Ruthven

The 23-year-old raced through on goal, sat down Iñaki Peña and finished into the empty net to give Los Rojillos a 2-0 lead that would ultimately culminate in a 4-2 victory. This was after Zaragoza had set up the opener. He was a constant threat.

Of course, LaLiga fans already knew Zaragoza to be capable of moments like these. The winger was a star performer for Granada in the first half of the 2023/24 season, contributing eight goal contributions (six goals and two assists) in just 21 appearances for the promoted side. He also forced his way into the Spanish national team fold.

Europe’s elite were watching and Bayern Munich moved, signing Zaragoza for a fee of around €20m in this year’s January transfer window. Many saw the Spaniard as the perfect solution for a Bayern team that needed another wide option, but Zaragoza failed to make much of an impression in seven Bundesliga appearances in the second half of last season.

With Michael Olise arriving at the Allianz Arena this summer, it became clear that Zaragoza had no role in Vincent Kompany’s team, leading the 23-year-old to join Osasuna on loan for the 2024/25 campaign. As ill-advised as the transfer to Bayern Munich was as a career decision, the return to LaLiga has allowed Zaragoza to shine again.

Sitting in seventh place, Osasuna have made a strong start to the new season, losing just two of their eight fixtures so far. Vicente Moreno’s team have yet to lose at El Sadar, giving them the best home record in all of LaLiga. Saturday’s win over Barcelona was no fluke – this has become the norm for Osasuna in front of their own supporters.

Los Rojillos have made a habit of finishing in mid-table in recent years, even finishing a lofty seventh two seasons ago. While Osasuna once bounced between Spain’s top two divisions, they have now established themselves as a permanent fixture in LaLiga. Now, though, Osasuna want to break through the glass ceiling that has stopped them rising any further.

El Sadar has been expanded and redeveloped at a cost of €21m to increase Osasuna’s matchday revenue. The youth academy has also been renovated to strengthen the pathway into the first team that has helped produce first team figures like Aimar Oroz and Abel Bretones. Osasuna continue to over-achieve on a budget that is a fraction of most of their rivals.

And yet sporting director Braulio Vázquez has dipped into the transfer market to add quality when it makes sense – and it certainly made sense to sign Zaragoza when Bayern Munich didn’t want him. The 23-year-old has added flair and some much-needed individualism to a team that was well-coached and well-drilled last season, but lacked a difference-maker in the final third.

Zaragoza and Ante Budimir have quickly forged an understanding, as demonstrated by the way the pair linked up to open the scoring against Barcelona. As a physical focal point, there are few better than Budimir in Spain’s top division and the Croatian striker now has Zaragoza as a supply line to rely on.

As brightly as Zaragoza shone against Barcelona, he can still deliver more on a consistent basis. He hadn’t scored for Osasuna this season before finding the back of the net on Saturday. By Zaragoza’s own admission, he must start scoring more regularly to achieve his full potential as a goal-dangerous wide attacker.

There is something about Zaragoza that is a throwback to another era. He is an old school winger in the way his first thought is to take on opponents. He is Osasuna’s most prolific dribbler and is most effective when he has the freedom to drive forward with the ball at his feet. The second smallest player in LaLiga can be a big threat.

In hindsight, Zaragoza wasn’t ready for the jump up to a club like Bayern Munich. He hadn’t even played a full season in LaLiga when the Bundesliga giants came calling. The talent was clear, but Zaragoza needed more time to refine his game and that’s what he has now at Osasuna. This could be the most important season of his career.

Zaragoza has already played more minutes for Osasuna this season than he did for Bayern Munich last season. Not only did the win over Barca highlight the 23-year-old’s quality, it demonstrated the potential of Los Rojillos as a team that could disrupt LaLiga’s upper echelons. They will need more moments like the ones Zaragoza proved against Barcelona for that to happen.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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

Oct

2024

Nicolas Jackson is getting some hard-earned respect at Chelsea

When Chelsea parted with £32million in the summer of 2023 to sign Nicolas Jackson, eyebrows were raised.

By Sam McGuire

The forward had been set to move to Bournemouth for £20million just months earlier before a hamstring issue forced the Premier League club to back out of the deal.

He finished the 2022/23 campaign well with Villarreal and this late-season form convinced the Blues to move for him, just at a heavily inflated rate.

And it was apparent Chelsea, despite bringing Jackson to Stamford Bridge, weren’t necessarily convinced he was the main man for them. They tried and failed to land Darwin Núñez from Liverpool. Victor Osimhem and Ivan Toney were both reportedly of interest, as was Juventus forward Dušan Vlahović.

Perhaps surprisingly given their free spending ways, the Blues weren’t able to add to their attacking ranks and Jackson was part of Mauricio Pochettino’s starting XI. The young striker was erratic, at best. He was ridiculed for missing big chances galore while being inconsistent in front of goal.

The narrative was that if Chelsea wanted to challenge for a top four finish, they would need a more reliable goalscorer.

What seemed to go under the radar was that Jackson was contributing in the final phase. In his debut campaign in England, he finished with 14 goals and five assists. Only Cole Palmer (22) scored more goals while the Senegal international also ranked fourth within the Chelsea squad for assists. Only Palmer (7.78) and Conor Gallagher (7.5) could better Jackson’s FotMob rating for the season of 7.18.

The Blues, again, failed to add to their centre forward ranks this summer. They bolstered other areas but Jackson has been the man spearheading Enzo Maresca’s new look Chelsea team. There’s one big difference though.

People are now taking Jackson seriously. Why wouldn’t you, though? He’s started the season in fine form, netting four goals and assisting three goals in six appearances in the Premier League.

Only Palmer (six) has more goals and the England international struck four times against Brighton to bolster that haul. Jackson ranks second to Palmer (four) for assists too while he’s third when looking at the FotMob ranking on 7.6. The players above him? Palmer (8.26) as you’d expect, and a resurgent Jadon Sancho (7.78).

*Jackson shotmap, Premier League 2024/25*

Jackson is now fairly consistent. He’s reliable. He’s everything you want from a young, modern day centre forward. His performances are finally getting acknowledged too.

There’s a reason he’s keeping Christopher Nkunku out of the Chelsea starting XI.

Speaking on TNT Sports recently, Peter Crouch heaped praise on the Chelsea No. 15.

Crouch, a player with over 100 Premier League goals to his name, knows what he’s talking about when strikers are the topic of conversation. He said: “I looked at the stats from last year, and if you take penalties out of it, he’s ahead of Mo Salah. There’s only [Erling] Haaland that’s above him. So many technical players with ability and that have scored a lot of goals, he’s right up there [with them]. He probably needs a little bit more respect.

“He missed quite a lot of chances last year and got highlighted for that, but he’s continued to get them, and now he’s taking them. Hopefully a good season for him.”

While former Chelsea forward Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink believes the Blues have bagged themselves a bargain.

“I really like Nicolas Jackson,” Hasselbaink said in an interview with Genting Casino.

“He’s not just effective for Chelsea, but he causes endless problems for defenders. Last season, he scored 14 Premier League goals, which is impressive for a debut season. Many of those goals came in games where the result was already decided, so the next step for him is to score when it really counts—when the pressure is on. That’s what he’s starting to do this season.”

“That’s the next step for Jackson—he needs to consistently score at the highest level. If he can do that, I’m convinced he’ll be a £150 million player.”

The 23-year-old looks a lot more confident and assured this season. That might be one of the reasons why his underlying numbers are painting a much nicer picture.

Last term, Jackson found himself in good areas on a regular basis but he was unable to convert. He had an xG haul of 18.6 but an xGOT total of 15.9. His shot placement and finishing devalued efforts. It turned good opportunities into ok situations.

This time around, he’s a little more consistent. He has four goals from an xG total of 4.66 and an xGOT total of 4.25. His finishing is average, but that is what you want from your forward. You want them to convert their opportunities. He’s doing what he’s supposed to be doing, all while not shying away from his defensive duties, something Maresca mentioned after the win over West Ham United.

Speaking to Chelsea TV, the Blues boss said: He was very good. Not only because he scored twice; the way he works off the ball has been fantastic. He and Cole, sometimes had to defend three-on-two.

“So I am happy with Nicolas in terms of numbers – goals and assists – but especially happy because the way he has worked has been fantastic.”

Jackson is slowly but surely developing into one of the most well-rounded forwards in the Premier League. He’s scoring and assisting. He’s a constant threat and he’s busy without the ball. Chelsea have spent a lot of money over recent seasons and Palmer is their best buy, but Jackson isn’t too far behind.

(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.

Oct

2024

Preview: Liverpool vs. Bologna

Liverpool’s start to the season has been almost flawless. Arne Slot has guided his side to seven wins from eight matches.

By Sam McGuire

The Reds sit top of the Premier League table and kicked off their Champions League campaign with a 3-1 win against Milan away at San Siro.

The only hiccup for Slot and his players arrived against Nottingham Forest, at Anfield, when the visitors stunned the hosts and claimed a shock 1-0 win. The Reds are back at Anfield this week as they take on Bologna in the Champions League.

Last season, Bologna shocked the masses to claim a fifth place finish in Serie A. They finished just seven points behind second placed AC Milan and just three points off of third placed Juventus.

However, they lost a number of key personnel in the summer. Riccardo Calafiori moved to Arsenal while Joshua Zirkzee was signed by Manchester United and manager Thiago Motta was headhunted by Juventus.

They did spend some money in the transfer window to bring in a number of new faces, but their start to the campaign has been a little underwhelming. Bologna are currently 13th in the Italian top-flight and have won just one match. On the flip side to that, they’ve only lost one game all season too and that was against the league leaders Napoli. They’re difficult to beat but they’ve lacked the quality to turn positive performances into all three points.

Vincenzo Italiano’s side kicked off their Champions League campaign with a draw against Shakhtar Donetsk. The Italian side managed to limit their visitors to a Non-Penalty Expected Goals haul of just 0.08.

The same cannot be said for their defensive performances in Serie A. Bologna have an Expected Goals Conceded per 90 average of 1.36. Worryingly for them, Napoli and Atalanta are the only top teams they have come up against so far this season. The fact they’ve been as leaky as they have been while facing mid-table teams at best is not a good sign.

Italiano will no doubt be obsessing over this ahead of the game at Anfield. Bologna aren’t the best defensively and they’re coming up against one of the best attacking sides in Europe. The Reds are averaging two goals per game and have the second highest Expected Goals haul in the Premier League.

This should be a routine win for Liverpool. If they’re focused and professional, it will be. If, however, they take it for granted, another Anfield upset could be on the cards.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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

Oct

2024

Preview: Lille vs. Real Madrid

Real Madrid turn their attention to the Champions League following a bad-tempered 1-1 draw away to Atleti which was punctuated by crowd trouble, a stoppage-time equaliser, and a red card for the home team.

By Ian King

With Barcelona surprisingly losing to Osasuna, this was an opportunity not taken to further close the gap at the top of the table. As things stand, it remains at three points.

Their opponents Lille have had something of a mixed start to their Ligue 1 season, after having qualified for this year’s Champions League as a result of finishing fourth last time around. They’re currently in 5th place in the table with three wins and two defeats from their first six matches. One of these losses, at home to PSG, was no great surprise, but the other was. Their 1-0 loss at newly promoted Saint-Etienne was the home side’s only win of the season so far.

But none of this is to say that Lille don’t have some cause for optimism going into this game, even though they will start it as underdogs. They’ve won seven and drawn one of their last eight home European matches, the sort of record that will instil a degree of confidence in a team no matter who the opposition happens to be.

Both teams have injuries. For Real, Thibaut Courtois was injured against Atleti, while David Alaba, Dani Ceballos and Brahim Díaz will also be absent. For Lille, Angel Gomes is suspended, while Ngal’ayel Mukau, Hákon Arnar Haraldsson. Samuel Umtiti, Nabil Bentaleb and Ismaily are all missing.

Of course, playing at home against Real Madrid is the ultimate challenge that any club can face in 2024. Real are unbeaten in all competitions so far this season. They’ve already won the European Super Cup by comfortably beating Atalanta in August, and they breezed past Stuttgart in their opening fixture of the new ‘Swiss model’ Champions League.

For Lille, however, this is their sixth game of the tournament already. In the Third Qualifying Round they beat Fenerbahçe over two legs and in the Play-Off Round they did the same to Slavia Prague. They kicked off their group stage with a 2-0 defeat in Lisbon against Sporting CP. They’ve come a long way already just to get to this stage of the competition, and at home to Real Madrid will be their best chance of causing an upset, no matter how daunting it may look.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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

Oct

2024

Analysis: Liverpool’s smooth transition under Arne Slot

Following Jürgen Klopp’s departure at the end of last season, expectations had to be tempered at Liverpool. The German head coach led them to every possible major trophy in nine years in charge of the club, so he was always going to be an incredibly tough act to follow. Of course, it is still early days yet, but Arne Slot has done as good a job as anyone could have hoped for so far.

By Neel Shelat

Six games into the 2024/25 English Premier League season, neither defending champions Manchester City nor top contenders Arsenal are at the top of the table. Instead, Liverpool find themselves first having won five matches so far. Clearly, Arne Slot’s tenure in charge of the Reds has gotten off to a great start. Only time can tell whether his side can sustain such a level of performance over the course of the season, but they have a lot of positives to take away from their performances so far.

Quiet transfer window

The coaching change was nearly Liverpool’s only noteworthy piece of business this summer as they did not part ways with any important squad players and only made a couple of signings at the very end of the window. Valencia goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili was the first, though he was loaned back to the Spanish side for the season. So, Federico Chiesa was the only new addition to the squad for the 2024/25 season, and his signing was at least partly brought about by the low transfer fee.

Some fans were not too pleased about one of the quietest transfer windows in the club’s recent history, but there was a rationale behind this approach. Liverpool recognised the value of maintaining continuity in the squad to help smoothen the transition between coaches. Slot’s stylistic similarities to Klopp were a big factor in his selection as the German tactician’s successor, so he had no problems taking over the same squad.

Of course, he also had to inherit the problems Klopp faced in the squad. The lack of depth in the right wing position was alleviated by Chiesa’s arrival, but the defensive midfield position remained a big question. So far, Slot has fashioned Ryan Gravenberch into a solution, but he is yet to be thoroughly tested in that role. There are a good few options in most other positions, so this should not be seen as anything more than a minor potential issue.

Dynamic attacking

The most impressive aspect of Liverpool’s play under Slot so far has unquestionably been their attacking. They have scored 20 goals in eight matches across all competitions, putting big names like Manchester United and Milan to the sword. In the process, they have accumulated the second-highest xG tally in the league.

Unlike the teams around them in this metric who generally look to wear down opponents by keeping a lot of possession and patiently progressing the ball, Liverpool’s attacking has been more fast-paced and dynamic. Of course, they too like to control possession and have kept nearly 60% of the ball on average in their league matches so far, but they also like to mix up their attacks with direct balls into the channels or in behind.

Trent Alexander-Arnold plays a key role in dictating his side’s tempo. He often used to invert into midfield in Klopp’s final season, and Slot has kept that trend going. The Dutch tactician usually asks the left back to stay deep and form a back three in possession, freeing up the English right back. He then can either move into the centre alongside Gravenberch in a double pivot or push up in the half-space or out wide depending on the right winger’s position.

A big reason why the goals have flowed so freely for Liverpool lies in this variety and ability to seamlessly mix things up, which is another reason why they wanted to avoid major changes to the squad. Alexander-Arnold’s understanding of his teammates’ tendencies and favoured positions have gone a long way to help him become the team’s top creator, though the biggest chunk of the credit has to go to his incredible passing and vision.

Alexander-Arnold’s role often gives a lot of insight into Liverpool’s approach in matches and against certain opponents. Generally speaking, Slot has asked him to invert into central midfielder more often against lower-quality opposition who set out to defend deep, giving the 25-year-old right back more license to take risks without the fear of leaving his defence exposed. Against stronger opposition who can pose more of a counterattacking threat, though, he is usually sent further forward to make telling contributions in the final third while his teammates take care of ball progression.

Some of the forwards have obviously enjoyed a great start to the season by frequently getting on the scoresheet. Mohamed Salah and Luis Díaz already have 14 league goal involvements between them as their clever attacking movement and runs in behind have seen them regularly receive the ball in dangerous positions, where their clinical decision-making and execution have made the difference.

Such a style of attacking should also suit Darwin Núñez, arguably the most enigmatic forward not just in Liverpool’s squad but in the Premier League. He has not seen a great deal of game time so far and was not even a part of the matchday squad last weekend due to an illness, but he should aim to establish himself as a regular starter in the near future.

Defence yet to be tested

Liverpool’s attack has evdidently shown a lot of promise in the early days of Slot’s tenure, but it is difficult to say much about their defence. The stats make for very positive reading at the minute as the Reds have kept the most clean sheets, conceded the lowest xG tally, and let in the fewest goals in the league so far, but they should not get carried away.

Quite simply, they are yet to face a serious attacking force. Their high block and press might have some small holes that are yet to be exposed, as this was an issue Slot occasionally faced at Feyenoord. Their rest defence – particularly with Gravenberch at the base of midfield – could also be targeted, so we should get a much better picture of where the Reds stand defensively after they face sides like Chelsea, Arsenal, Brighton, Bayer Leverkusen and Real Madrid in the next couple of months.

Until then, Liverpool should aim to continue building on their smooth start to the season and polish a few potential weak spots to give themselves the best chance of participating in a title race in the second half of the season.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every Liverpool game on FotMob – with deep stats, xG, and players ratings. Download the free app here.

Oct

2024

Premier League Team of the Week: Matchday Six

It was a busy weekend in the Premier League.

By Sam McGuire

We have new leaders, a winless streak has come to an end and one player registered a 9.9 FotMob rating. So here’s a look at your Team of the Week for Gameweek six with an explainer as to why they made the XI.

Goalkeeper: Mads Hermansen

The Leicester City shot-stopper conceded four goals on Saturday afternoon in the defeat to Arsenal. However, without the 24-year-old between the sticks, it could’ve been a lot worse for the Foxes. The 24-year-old made an astonishing 13 saves at the Emirates having faced shots with an Expected Goals on Target total of 5.74. He made the most saves in a Premier League game since December 2017 when David De Gea made 17 against the Gunners.

Right-Back: Jurrien Timber

One week after attempting just seven passes in the 1-1 draw with Manchester City, Timber put on a creative clinic for the Gunners in their 4-2 win over Leicester City. The 23-year-old created seven chances and claimed one assist. Only Bukayo Saka (eight) carved out more opportunities for teammates at the Emirates as the Gunners momentarily claimed top spot. The versatile Dutch defender also completed 91% of his attempted passes to complete an impressive display in possession.

Centre-Back: Maxence Lacroix

Lacroix claimed an assist against Everton. The 24-year-old couldn’t prevent the Eagles from suffering a defeat at Goodison Park but he still impressed for Oliver Glasner’s men. He completed 100% of his dribbles and won two of his three tackles. In fact, one of these tackles was a last-ditch one that prevented Abdoulaye Doucouré from getting a shot at goal when in one-on-one with the goalkeeper. The French defender also won five of six ground duels.

Centre-Back: Marc Guéhi

Guéhi joins his defensive partner in the FotMob Team of the Week. The former Newcastle United transfer target scored the opening goal at Goodison Park. He completed 92% of his attempted passes, successfully completed 100% of his dribbles and made a remarkable 10 clearances. The Palace centre-back made six ball recoveries, won 100% of his ground duels and triumphed in six of his 11 aerial duels.

Left-Back: Joško Gvardiol

Gvardiol scored his first goal of the season for Manchester City in the 1-1 draw with Newcastle United. The left-back claimed an 8.2 FotMob rating for his showing at St James’ Park. The former RB Leipzig man completed 85% of his passes, he was 100% successful in tackles, made two interceptions and five ball recoveries. The 22-year-old also won six of his 10 ground duels.

Midfield: Carlos Baleba

Brighton were on the end of a heavy defeat this weekend, losing 4-2 to Chelsea at Stamford Bride, but Baleba certainly did his reputation no harm. The 20-year-old held his own against Chelsea’s expensively assembled midfield, scoring and assisting for the Seagulls. He completed 89% of his passes, attempted four dribbles, made 11 ball recoveries and came out on top in seven of his 10 ground duels. To top things off, he was dribbled past on just one occasion.

Midfield: Dejan Kulusevski

Spurs ran riot at Old Trafford this weekend, claiming a 3-0 win over the Red Devils. Their entire team put in a shift but it was Kulusevski who stood out. The 24-year-old scored early in the second half with a deft finish. He completed 89% of his passes too. This is even more impressive when you consider the sort of passes he was attempting. He was looking to be the difference maker, time and time again. He finished the game having created nine chances, the most on record (since 2003/04) by a visiting player in a Premier League game at Old Trafford.

Midfield: Lewis Cook

The Bournemouth maestro pulled the strings for the Cherries in their 3-1 win over Southampton on Monday evening. Cook claimed an 8.7 FotMob rating having registered two assists. He created four chances on the night in what was a dominant on-ball showing. The 27-year-old made six ball recoveries and won 50% of his ground duels. Andoni Iraola’s men are now up to 11th following their second win of the season.

Attack: Cole Palmer

Another 9.9 FotMob rating for Palmer. This is the second time he’s achieved this feat. It is also the second time he’s scored four goals in a single match. The Chelsea forward scored all of the goals for the Blues in their win over Brighton. He also hit the post and had a goal disallowed in what was a potent showing by the England international. The former Manchester City youngster had seven shots at Stamford Bridge and created four chances. He was almost a one-man attack for Enzo Maresca’s side.

Attack: Dwight McNeil

Everton finally picked up their first win of the season. They had to overturn a 1-0 deficit at Goodison Park against Crystal Palace but did just that with two second half goals. McNeil scored both on his way to an 8.7 rating. The versatile midfielder scored from a distance and then showed great composure to fire an effort in from close range under pressure. He also created one chance for the Toffees and completed two of his three long passes.

Attack: Liam Delap

Delap is enjoying his start to life in the Premier League. The Ipswich Town attacker netted twice for the Tractor Boys in the 2-2 draw with Aston Villa. The 21-year-old claimed an 8.8 rating in a performance that you’d expect to see from Erling Haaland. He was barely involved, attempting just eight passes, but he made the most of his opportunities. He turned chances with an Expected Goals vale of 0.57 into attempts on goal with an Expected Goals on Target value of 1.89.

(Images from IMAGO)

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