On Saturday evening, Liverpool travel to Molineux to face Wolves. At a glance, it might not seem like a pivotal game for the Reds in the grand scheme of things but this could shape the season for Arne Slot and his team.
This is the sort of match that should be a routine win for Liverpool, especially when you consider the fact the Reds have an incredible record against their opponents having won eight of their last 10.
Wolves are bottom of the table, they’re winless in their opening five matches and they have just a single point to their name.
Gary O’Neil’s side have conceded 14 goals, the joint-highest in the Premier League. They haven’t been awful defensively, giving up chances worth 7.2 Expected Goals, but they’ve been a victim of poor goalkeeping and unbelievable finishing. Wolves have struggled going forward too, missing seven of their 10 Big Chances.
It is the worst possible combination. Unlucky in defence and poor in attack. This combination is likely why they have the lowest FotMob rating in the Premier League this season with 6.42.
There have been no home comforts for Wolves this term. They have played two at Molineux, lost two and conceded eight goals. Last season wasn’t much better in front of their home fans. They won eight of their 19 games at home and picked up 27 points. It was enough to place them 15th in the home form table.
By comparison, the Reds have won four matches and they’ve conceded just one goal. It should be a formality for the 2019/20 Premier League champions. They have a 100% record away from home in all competitions this term and had the third best away record last season. They travel well.
Liverpool have an xG Conceded total of just 3.9 across their five games and have racked up an impressive four clean sheets. They have the second-highest xG (10.1) and are joint-highest for Big Chances with 21. Defensively, they are resilient. Going forward, they are ruthless.
The star of the show for Liverpool has been Luis Díaz. The forward, who was linked with moves to Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain during the summer, has five goals to his name in the Premier League. Only Erling Haaland (10) has found the back of the net with greater regularity.
Díaz shot map, EPL 2024/25
The Reds are firing and if it clicks for Slot and his players, Wolves could be ravaged on Saturday evening.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
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After signing another fairly hefty list of talent over the summer transfer window, many were looking at the task at hand for new manager Enzo Maresca as one likely to be too complicated, but to his credit, he’s guided his team to a return of ten points from a possible 15.
Last time out London rivals West Ham were the victims, as the Blues easily brushed the Hammers aside in an impressive 3-1 showing on the road. That made it three wins from three away from home for Maresca as he became just the eighth new manager in Premier League history to achieve that feat, and the first since Pep Guardiola with Manchester City in 2016.
As such, Chelsea return to Stamford Bridge in fine spirits and with plenty of confidence after also putting five past League Two Barrow in the Carabao Cup during the week. In Brighton, though, they can expect much stiffer opposition. And that’s despite the fact that the Blues won both their meetings with the South Coast club last season.
If that’s not enough, Chelsea have now also won eight of their last ten Premier League matches in a run dating back to last season, and in Cole Palmer and Nicolas Jackson they possess two of the competition’s most in-form players. Against the Hammers, the pair combined for yet another goal, making it ten since the start of 2023/24 in which they’ve assisted one another, the most of any duo in England’s top-flight over that period.
Of course, visitiors Brighton will still prove to be very tough to break down, especially as they remain unbeaten themselves across their opening five matchdays of this new season. A 2-2 draw with Nottingham Forest was the latest result in that streak and although they would have wanted more from that match, they remain a considerable threat to any side in this division under new manager Fabian Hürzeler.
There’s also history to made for the Seagulls here as they look to remain unbeaten across their opening six matches of a Premier League season for the first time. The player most likely to aid that is Danny Welbeck, who netted his 70th goal in the top flight last weekend and his first ever from a direct free kick. With three goals across his last four league outings against Chelsea too, the hosts will have to be aware of his presence throughout this matchup.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
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As we head into matchday six of the 2024/25 Premier League campaign, four teams remain unbeaten while an astonishing six teams are yet to record a win.
It is around this time of the season that bubbles burst, good form becomes the norm and false positions are exposed. With this in mind, here are a few things to watch out for this weekend.
Stop Haaland, stop Manchester City
Manchester City are the top scorers in the Premier League this term with 13. They lead the way in the English top-flight with 13 points. The reigning champions lost Julián Alvarez this summer and people wondered how Pep Guardiola’s side would react to having just one serious goal threat.
So far, so good.
Haaland, burdened with being the only centre-forward for City, is thriving. The two-time Golden Boot winner has 10 goals in five matches this term. He’s been responsible for 77% of the goals the Premier League leaders have scored.
Since he arrived in England, City have become pretty reliant on their No. 9 for goals. But they always had the security of a backup attacker. It’s different this season though. With no Julián Alvarez, it is pretty much Haaland or bust. If teams find a way to limit the Norway international, they could have success against the champions.
Newcastle should take note.
The Magpies host City on Saturday afternoon looking to return to winning ways after their surprise 3-1 loss against Fulham last time out. It was a jarring result for Eddie Howe’s side. Prior to that, they’d been posting positive results this season. However, when you take a closer look at their performances, they had been fortunate.
They are 14th for Expected Points this term and only Arsenal (plus five) have outperformed their Expected Points by a greater margin.
That all-important first win
Everton and Crystal Palace are two of the six teams without a win this season. They face off on Saturday evening at Goodison Park.
The Toffees have dropped leads in their last four matches across all competitions. Against Bournemouth and Aston Villa, Sean Dyche’s side managed to lose both games despite being 2-0 up. They were knocked out of the Carabao Cup by Southampton while they could only manage a draw last weekend against Leicester City despite leading for over an hour.
To say Dyche’s men are struggling would be an understatement. They have conceded 14 goals, the joint-highest in the Premier League. They’re averaging just one goal per game and they have racked up just a single point. At home, they have lost both of their games, conceding six goals in the process.
Everton are ranked 18th in the Expected Points table.
Palace have been more unlucky than poor. The Eagles are 12th in the Expected Points table and have done more than enough to put more than three points on the board this term. Oliver Glasner’s men have drawn three of their five matches with goals being a genuine concern. They’ve found the back of the net on just four occasions. It is a far cry from the goalscoring form they showed towards the end of last season. It’ll click for the likes of Eberechi Eze and Jean-Philippe Mateta soon enough. Maybe it’ll happen at Goodison Park this weekend.
Winless Wolves
Wolves are another team without a win this term. Gary O’Neil’s side have picked up just a single point this term, losing four of their five matches. They have an identical record to Everton having scored five and conceded 14 in the Premier League.
In their last two outings in the English top-flight, Wolves have scored first but failed to hold onto their lead.
They host an in-form Liverpool at Molinuex this weekend on Saturday evening. The Reds have won four of their opening five matches and have conceded just one goal. Only Chelsea (11) and Manchester City (13) have scored more goals than Arne Slot’s side (10).
The visitors have a good record against their hosts. The Reds have won eight of their previous 10 games against Wolves. They have suffered just one loss during this run but that 3-0 win did happen to be at Molineux in February 2023.
Liverpool’s attack is firing, with Luis Díaz (five) only behind Haaland (10) in the goalscoring charts this term. This should be a formality for the Reds but we’ve seen this sort of game result in an upset in the past. An evening kick-off in front of a home crowd gagging for a win. It could be the perfect storm for hosts.
Results need to tally up with performances
So far this season, both Manchester United and Spurs have performed better than results would suggest. However, in a results-based business, which football is, performances don’t count for much. And that is why Erik Ten Hag and Ange Postecoglou are under some pressure heading into this match on Sunday at Old Trafford.
Spurs find themselves in 10th position in the Premier League despite being fifth in the Expected Points table. United are 11th in the English top-flight but rank fourth for Expected Points.
At surface level, both teams have struggled this term. Look a little deeper though and you’ll see that both teams are doing quite well. The Red Devils have just struggled in the final phase. They are underperforming their xG by 4.6, though they have outperformed their xG Conceded by 1.4. They’re at a net loss and at this stage of the season, with so few points on the board, it can have a huge impact on the narrative.
A statement performance and result for either side here could completely reshape how the start of their season is viewed.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
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“When people look at me – I coached in six European finals and won five of them – they straight away think big,” proclaimed José Mourinho upon his unveiling as the new Fenerbahçe manager at the start of June.
This was box office, even by Turkish Süper Lig standards, with the experienced Portuguese boss returning to the dugout just five months after being sacked by AS Roma.
Perhaps an enigmatic figure such as Mourinho was always likely to end up managing in Türkiye. Did Fenerbahçe need him though – as they came close to sealing their first league title in a decade last season under the leadership of İsmail Kartal.
Despite losing out to rivals Galatasaray by just three points, Fenerbahçe recorded 99 points, their highest ever league total, losing just once in the process.
While Kartal came agonisingly close to ending their league title drought, Fenerbahçe have won just one Turkish Cup (2023) since that 2013/14 Süper Lig success under Ersun Yanal.
Before Mourinho, 12 managers tried and failed to claim the biggest prize in the country, with figures such as Dick Advocaat, Vitor Pereira and Jorge Jesus failing to add to the club’s record haul of 28 domestic crowns.
Could this dry spell be coming to an end as Mourinho aims to usher in a new era at Şükrü Saracoğlu?
A busy summer
Mourinho’s relevance in the modern game is slowly diminishing, yet the wily old fox is still capable of producing the odd flash of magic.
There is no doubting his spell with AS Roma became stale towards the end, but the 61-year-old did lead the club to the Europa Conference League title in 2022, ending an 11-year trophy drought in the process.
He arrives at Fenerbahçe with the club in a similar position. One Turkish Cup since 2014 is a dismal record for the club, as Mourinho looks to remedy this.
Inheriting a core group of players which included Fred, Edin Džeko and Dušan Tadić, the former Chelsea supremo added to his squad during the transfer window.
Michy Batshuayi left on a free transfer, joining Galatasaray, while Euro 2024 sensation Fredi Kadıoğlu left for Brighton in what has been a busy summer for the manager.
Tactical tweaks
Last term, Fenerbahçe scored 99 league goals, relying on Džeko’s brilliance in front of goal while utilising Tadić in the creator role, using all of his experience to link up well with teammates Fred and Kadıoğlu on the left side during the build-up phase. This therefore opened up space on the right flank for İrfan Can Kahveci and Bright Osayi-Samuel to exploit.
Mourinho has deployed a 4-2-3-1 regularly this season, which often turns into a 4-4-2 out of possession, with a midfield diamond, as Sebastian Szymański pushes into a more advanced role alongside Džeko.
The team like to build from the back when in possession, as the two centre-midfielders drop closer to the centre-backs, enabling shorter passing distances and giving the defenders simple passes under pressure.
These tweaks have seen Mourinho lead his team to a decent start to the season. The club have won four of their opening six league matches, conceding just five goals in the process.
While Champions League qualification eluded the polarising 61-year-old, he will be hoping to take Fenerbahçe as far as possible in the Europa League this season.
His first big test came against Galatasaray last weekend, one that could potentially turn the title race on its head during the embryonic stages of the campaign…
A bump in the road
The Intercontinental Derby is a rivalry steeped in history, having first been played in 1909. Since their last title in 2014, Fenerbahçe had won only six games against Galatasaray.
If there was a fixture Mourinho was born to manage in, it was surely this one. But his presence in the dugout wasn’t enough for the club to claim back-to-back wins over their rivals.
A stunning effort from Lucas Torreira cannoned off the post and hit the back of Dominik Livaković to give last seasons champions the lead, before Dries Mertens dinked a delightful finish over the goalkeeper to extend their lead.
Gabriel Sara sealed the win with a curling strike with just 30 minutes to play, despite Edin Džeko dispatching a penalty just a few minutes, giving Fenerbahçe a glimmer of hope.
Mourinho couldn’t inspire his team to a late comeback, suffering his first domestic defeat since taking over in the summer. They didn’t play badly, generating 3.40 xG, with the heroics of Fernando Muslera preventing Fenerbahçe scoring more than once.
Galatasaray now hold a five-point advantage in the Süper Lig. The panic button wont be pushed just yet, but if the Portuguese manager is to end a decade long title drought for the club, he will have to muster all of his experience and tactical nous.
Mourinho isn’t getting any younger. Will he go out with a bang in Türkiye? Or will the modern game chew him up and spit him out once again?
(Cover image from IMAGO)
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Few expected Luis Díaz to be the leading name in Arne Slot’s attack after taking over at Liverpool, but so far this season the Colombian has been one of his biggest revelations.
Five games into the new Premier League campaign and Liverpool have a surprising name as their top scorer. Luis Díaz’s double against Bournemouth lifted him to five goals in five league outings – and six in all competitions – to sit above Mohamed Salah (three) and five others (all on one).
Erling Haaland is the only player to have found the back of the net more times in this season’s Premier League, albeit with Manchester City’s freakishly prolific striker having done so twice as often.
For an attacker whose output for Liverpool prior to the current campaign was to the tune of 24 goals and 13 assists in 98 games, Díaz’s record of five goals and an assist in six appearances this time out is one worth applauding. Though the sample size is much smaller, he is currently averaging a goal or assist every 63.8 minutes compared to one every 200.8 minutes last season.
It comes after a summer of speculation over not only Díaz’s role in the side, but also his future at the club, after a promising end to the campaign for Cody Gakpo and concrete interest in Newcastle winger Anthony Gordon.
With Gakpo finally given an opportunity in his natural role on the left flank in the final months of Jürgen Klopp’s reign, and taking his form into the Euros with the Netherlands, there was a justified belief that he would take another step under a fellow Dutchman in Arne Slot.
And with Liverpool agreeing a deal with Newcastle that would have seen Joe Gomez head to St James’ Park with Gordon moving the other way, only for that transfer to break down early in the summer, all signs were that Díaz’s position was under threat.
Given his hit-and-miss form since returning from two serious knee injuries and ongoing links with both Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain, fans could be forgiven for contemplating life after their No. 7.
But since the appointment of Slot as Klopp’s replacement, Díaz has looked an entirely different player; an attacker reborn, again showing the quality that made him such a seamless successor to Sadio Mané following his arrival from Porto in 2022.
Díaz’s five goals in the Premier League have seen him vastly outperform his rate of xG (2.5) with, again, Haaland (+4.2) the only player with a higher differential between actual and expected goals.
That shows the quality of his shooting, too, with no Liverpool player producing a higher rate of xGOT than the Colombian (4.0), while only Salah (2.4) is averaging more shots on target per 90 in the league (2.0).
The left-sider is also tied with Salah for the most xG and xA combined per 90 (0.8), while only Cody Gakpo (2.7) has averaged more successful dribbles (2.5) and only Alexis Mac Allister (1.1) has won possession more times in the final third on average than Díaz (0.7).
For a player who woefully underperformed his xG in last season’s Premier League, with his differential of -3.9 second-worst only to Darwin Núñez (-5.3), there has been an impressively crisp level of end product from Díaz so far.
Much of that could be attributed to the change in the dugout, with the arrival of Slot coinciding with a shift in fortunes for a number of players.
Klopp was and remains a legend around Anfield, but there is a sense that the players have embraced the transition from his reign to a more modern approach under Slot, with Trent Alexander-Arnold‘s comments after the 3-0 win over Bournemouth emphasising this.
“We agreed that he will be harsh on me. Any time an attacker gets past me he will call it out in meetings and individual meetings and say this cannot happen,” the vice-captain revealed.
“It is really refreshing to have a manager who will help and guide and teach me how to be better. I am someone who wants to learn, someone who strives to be the best ever.”
Though Alexander-Arnold will have meant no slight on the manager who nurtured him from academy prospect to one of the best players in the world, his praise for Slot’s style of coaching was telling.
While Klopp was a supreme man-manager who delegated much of the coaching to his staff – leading Pepijn Lijnders to earn the Red Bull Salzburg job over the summer – his Dutch successor is very much hands on when it comes to the training ground.
Along with leading his players through sessions on the training pitches, Slot has also increased the number of meetings, both with the team and individuals, with Alexander-Arnold explaining that “any time an attacker gets past me he will call it out.”
That has been necessary as Slot implements a shift towards a more possession-based system, and that has led to many roles on the pitch being tweaked.
While Díaz often found himself running down blind alleys on the left flank under Klopp – perhaps through more fault of his own than the manager – his movements are more complex and effective within Slot’s system.
His opening goal against Bournemouth was the perfect example, with a diagonal run across the 18-yard box seeing him latch onto Ibrahima Konaté‘s long pass, chest the ball down and, with Kepa Arrizabelaga stranded, fire into the back of the net.
It was the third time Díaz has opened the scoring in five Premier League games so far, with all five of his goals coming in the first half; he has been Liverpool’s difference-maker, rather than a wild card struggling for a place.
The objective now will be ensure this is more than just a purple patch, and if Slot is capable of pulling it off, he may have solved another potential problem position without needing the transfer market.
(Images from IMAGO)
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The Blue Ones sit top of this season’s Allsvenskan table with 53 points after 24 games, eight points ahead of second-placed Djurgården. It has been pure dominance from Malmö, who have held pole position since their MD3 victory over IFK Värnamo in April, 165 days ago. Indeed, Henrik Rydström’s side have occupied top spot for a remarkable 178 days this season – already their most across a single campaign since 2017 (233 days).
Rydström has completely transformed the Swedish side over the last two years, having taken charge following a seventh-placed finish in 2022 – Malmö’s lowest league finish in over 10 years. The manager’s arrival had an immediate impact, as he guided them to the title in his first season. And they’ve carried on this year in much the same vein.
Malmö have made their best start to an Allsvenskan season since 2016 (54 points), while the last side to record a higher points tally after 24 games in the division was AIK in 2018 (57). They also claimed the Svenska Cupen for just the second time this century earlier this year.
Rydström, who has a master’s degree in literary studies and wrote music reviews in magazines, has gained many admirers during his two-year spell at the Eleda Stadion, implementing an extraordinary style of play. The Swedish side employ an extremely unorthodox system, which many have recognised as an adaptation of ‘relationism’ – most notably used by Copa Libertadores-winning and temporary Brazil manager Fernando Diniz.
Malmö place a huge emphasis on possession and look to exert pressure on the opposition through control of the ball – averaging the greatest possession share in the Swedish top-flight this season (63.7%). In fact, it is the second-highest average on full record (since 2016) in a single Allsvenskan campaign, behind only their own figure from last term (64.6%).
Rydström typically deploys a 4-2-3-1 formation, though it is far from conventional. The system affords the players license to improvise and combine through neat interchanges. The Blue Ones have had 430 open-play sequences comprising of 10 or more passes, the most in the division. Their relentless dominance of the ball is aided by positional freedom, with continuous rotations then causing confusion amongst the opposition. This flexibility results in them being able to regularly manipulate opposition pressing structures.
One of the most consistent features of Malmö’s playing style is their insistence on building from the back, and it’s an approach that has provided them with great success. Rydström’s charges have attempted the most build up attacks in the Allsvenskan this year (103), alongside averaging the most passes per sequence in the competition (4.55). The side maintain a clear philosophy in seeking to provide progression through fluid passing, and having the highest percentage of short passes in the league certainly underlines that fact (92.6%).
The Allsvenskan league leaders are supremely effective in possession and average the longest sequence time in the league this season (11.8s). Their lopsided attacks have become an all-too common sight over the last two seasons under Rydström’s guidance, with their overloads proving to be rewarding when slicing through opponents. Indeed, they have made the most progressive passes in the Swedish top-flight in 2024 (887).
However, the Blue Ones do not keep hold of the ball just for possession’s sake. Rydström’s side display a real impetus in possession, looking to advance via free-flowing combinations. There is little doubt that the league leaders are deadly when breaking into the final third, boasting the most fast breaks (36), the most shots from fast breaks (30) and the most goals from fast breaks (seven) in the league this year.
Malmö are also the Allsvenskan’s emphatic top scorers, having netted 57 times this season. In fact, no side have managed to score more goals after 24 games of a Swedish top-flight campaign across the last 30 years. Under Rydström, Malmö have displayed their credentials as one of the most potent attacking forces on the continent, consistently creating a huge volume of chances. Opposition back-lines are often extremely unprepared when attempting to deal with their intricate passing moves – something which enables them to unlock defences at ease.
The Blue Ones rank top for shots (446), shots on target (162), expected goals (45.43) and touches in the opposition box (898) across the Allsvenskan this term. While even more impressively, their average of 18.6 shots per game is the second highest of any side among the last nine seasons in the Swedish top-flight.
Rydström’s side are equally impressive within the defensive aspects of the game. One of the biggest benefits of their players being in close proximity of one another is that when they lose the ball, they are able to utilise their numerical superiority and counter-press aggressively. And they waste very little time at all in attempting to regain possession.
They have recorded the highest duel success rate in the Allsvenskan this term (52.6% – 1189/2259), while they also allow the fewest opposition passes per defensive action (PPDA) in the competition with an average of just 9.2. The Blue Ones boast one of the most watertight defences in Sweden, conceding the fewest goals (19) and having kept the most clean sheets in the division across 2024 (13).
Malmö’s transformation over the last two years has been nothing short of remarkable. And as the Blue Ones look to embark on a Europa League campaign, alongside contesting the run-in to the Allsvenskan season, former-music reviewer Rydström will hope his side continue to hit all the right notes.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
You can follow every game from the Allsvenskan on FotMob – with in-depth stat coverage including xG, shot maps, and player ratings. Download the free app here.
It took Lionel Messi just seven games to win his first trophy as an Inter Miami player. Last year’s Leagues Cup triumph hinted at the Herons’ potential to win silverware – as did the subsequent run to the US Open Cup final – but Messi and co. have had to wait a full year for a shot at the MLS play-offs.
With just four games remaining of the regular season, Miami sit well clear at the top of the Eastern Conference. The South Floridians clinched their place in the play-offs weeks ago and are on the brink of securing the Supporters’ Shield – the trophy handed to the team with the most regular season points across both Eastern and Western Conferences. A record points tally is within reach.
Many doubted Inter Miami, even with their abundance of talent, could dominate the regular season in the way they have. Experts pointed to a summer period that would see Tata Martino lose Messi and Luis Suárez to the Copa America as an obstacle, but Inter Miami’s impressive squad depth helped them clear that hurdle.
Players like Leo Campana and Julian Gressell stepped up to keep Inter Miami moving forward when many predicted they would falter. By the time Messi and Suárez returned to the fold, the club had all but shaken off all rivals for the Eastern Conference and Supporters Shield titles. Now, focus is turning towards the play-offs.
Last season, Inter Miami simply left themselves too much to do to make the post-season. Pre-Messi, the Herons won just five of their first 18 matches and while an uptick in form gave them a chance of finishing above the play-off line, an injury suffered by the legendary Argentine down the stretch ultimately ended their charge.
This season, they are in much better shape. There’s no need for a sprint to the finish merely to make the play-offs. Instead, Martino will have the freedom to prepare for the first round of the play-offs, bypassing the Wildcard round as number one seeds in the East. A MLS Cup final at Chase Stadium could be on the cards.
There are other teams who will also fancy their chances in the play-offs. Chief among them is the Columbus Crew who have emerged as MLS’s best coached side over the last two seasons. Wilfried Nancy has Columbus playing a brand of modern, dynamic football that carried them to MLS Cup glory last season. Runs in the CONCACAF Champions Cup and Leagues Cup have followed since then and the Crew have the quality to retain their championship.
While both flawed, Los Angeles FC and the LA Galaxy could also be contenders for MLS Cup. The two LA rivals have their defensive deficiencies, but they are outweighed by the attacking potency that was highlighted in the latest El Tráfico that produced six goals. Inter Miami might have Messi and Suárez as difference-makers, but LAFC have Olivier Giroud and Denis Bouanga while the Galaxy boast Marco Reus and Gabriel Pec.
Inter Miami will need their star players to produce if they are to win MLS Cup for the first time this season. While their regular season results are there for all to see, Martino has struggled to impose an identity on the South Floridians. In truth, Inter Miami aren’t playing very well right now and haven’t for much of the campaign.
Many opposition teams have been able to stretch Inter Miami by getting in behind their vulnerable defensive line. Martino’s high line allows his side to get his best players into advanced positions close to goal, but it also gives opponents a lot of space to exploit on the counter attack. Inter Miami lack the physicality and speed at the back to have a defensive safety net.
Martino has shifted between various different formations over the course of the season. He has used a back three with wing backs several times. Inter Miami have also shaped up in a 4-3-3 and have more recently used a 4-4-2 with Messi given a free role alongside Suarez as the attacking focal point.
In many cases, Martino has had no choice but to shift formation from game-to-game such has been the availability – and unavailability – of several players over the campaign, but it also points to the fact the former Barcelona and Mexico coach still doesn’t seem certain of his best XI. That could be a problem with the play-offs just around the corner.
Perhaps most concerning for Inter Miami is that Messi isn’t at full tilt. The 37-year-old marked his return to club action following the Copa America with a brace and an assist in a commanding 3-1 win over the Philadelphia Union earlier this month, but only played 29 minutes in a disappointing draw against Atlanta United and was shackled by New York City FC on Saturday.
No Inter Miami player was dispossessed by NYCFC more often than Messi who had his lowest number of touches (46) of any starting performance in MLS this season. His uncharacteristic sloppy touches prevented the visitors to Yankee Stadium from building any sort of control as NYCFC largely kept Inter Miami at arm’s length.
Nonetheless, there will be a fear factor for any team that comes up against Messi, Suarez and the rest in the play-offs. Maybe Messi underwhelmed against NYCFC because that match, in the grand scheme of things, didn’t matter. The play-offs, however, certainly matter and that’s where the last two seasons could culminate in something special for Inter Miami.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
You can follow every MLS game on FotMob – with in-depth stat coverage including xG, shot maps, and player ratings. Download the free app here.
The full focus will be on it across the two days with no Champions League or Conference League action, a monster league with eight games each for the teams involved and an opportunity for several players to show their worth on the big stage – whether they be regular starters for non-elite teams, or those at bigger clubs ready to seize their chance in rotation. Here are five players to watch out for in the Europa League this season.
Mika Godts – Ajax
It has been far from a good year or so for the Dutch giants, who were in the relegation zone for a portion of last term before recovering, to an extent, and finishing fifth. This term hasn’t started a whole lot better – they’re ninth with games in hand – but as usual, in moments of distress come opportunities for younger talents.
One of those benefiting so far is attacking midfielder Mika Godts, a Belgian 19-year-old who has been a regular starter in the Eredivisie early on and bears watching on the bigger stage. His big strengths come in his first touch, his ability to manipulate the ball around challenges and in his willingness to run at defenders – 1.8 successful dribbles per 90 puts him above 72% of similar players in that regard, while his intent to attack is visible in 8.67 touches in the box a game. If he can add end product, he’s an exciting prospect indeed.
Godts player traits
Victor Osimhen – Galatasaray
Did you forget? Yes, one of the world’s most feared centre-forwards will be appearing in the Europa League this season, at least until the new year. Victor Osimhen left Napoli for Galatasaray on loan and although he hasn’t scored yet for the Turkish Süper Lig side, he’ll no doubt fancy his chances against PAOK, Elfsborg and the like.
Not too much we need to add on the Nigerian: he’s fast, strong, has great technique, all the work rate and a whole lot of composure in front of goal. If he didn’t also have an enormous salary, he wouldn’t have moved to Galatasaray in the summer – but here he is.
Archie Gray – Tottenham
One of the Premier League’s representatives, Tottenham could well shuffle their pack somewhat in Europe as they bid to find the domestic results to return to the Champions League, and one of the players who could benefit from that with exposure to European action is midfielder Archie Gray.
The teenager was only signed from Leeds in the summer and is extremely highly regarded; an England youth international from U15 through to the U21s already, he’s in Ange Postecoglou’s rotational options off the bench in league play and at 18 he’s set for a big future. Part of that is giving him game time though and it’s likely to come in Europe this term in particular. Equally adept as ball-carrier, passer in chief and defensive protector, Gray has a wide array of skills to shine in the centre for Spurs, who themselves will hope to go deep in the competition.
Artem Dovbyk – AS Roma
Despite another unsettled period at Roma, where Daniele De Rossi was sacked and Ivan Jurić installed in his place just weeks into the season, there’s enough of a squad in place to really challenge the other big sides in the Europa League this term – especially given the prolific form of Artem Dovbyk.
The enormous Ukrainian striker shot to prominence with Girona last term, firing them to a top-three finish in LaLiga, and after making a late transfer window switch to Roma he has started in the same fashion: two goals in his last two in Serie A to suggest he’ll be the perfect man to lead the line and link well with Paulo Dybala in behind. The 27-year-old was above 95% of the Spanish top flight last term for xG (and actual goals), above 90% for shots on target, 92% for touches in the box and even 84% for tackles won per 90. Once Roma are up to speed, he’s the man to fire them towards the latter stages.
Dovbyk shot map, LaLiga 2023/24
Alan Varela – Porto
Porto seem to have no problem rolling players off the talent line and finding new ones to take their place, be they signed in or produced from within – Alan Varela looks the latest, a 23-year-old midfielder who signed last year from Boca Juniors. They paid around €11m for him all told; that they will no doubt quadruple their money on him at a minimum seems a foregone conclusion, and it could go much higher.
A controlling central man from deep, he is averaging 1.35 chances created per 90 in the Primeira this term, a 92% pass completion rate and more touches per 90 minutes than 94% of the rest of the league. He’s a fine hub for everything the team do – don’t be surprised if he thrives in the Europa League and ends up on the shopping list for those in the top five divisions next summer, or even before.
Varela player traits
(Cover image from IMAGO)
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Although many Barcelona fans will have been hoping for their side to make a quick start to this latest season in LaLiga, not many will have been expecting them to remain perfect through their opening six matches.
Villarreal were their latest victims over the weekend as the Catalan giants ran out very comfortable 5-1 winners. It was another match in which young star Lamine Yamal stole the headlines and that’s even in spite of the sad news that starting goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen suffered a serious injury that will keep him out of action for a lengthy period. This time the acclaim was mostly for Yamal’s exemplary assist, bending a 40-yard pass around the last defender with the outside of his foot to take his tally to three goals and five assists across his six league appearances.
To this point, the 17-year-old has been one of the big winners since Hansi Flick took over the managerial role, but he’s not the only one. The German manager has also worked wonders with Robert Lewandowski, a player who’s race many feared had been run towards the back end of last season, but who is now once again sitting pretty as the Spanish top-flight’s top scorer with six goals from six.
That tally has in turn helped Barca to net a league-leading 22 goals so far, six more than any other side, as they look to reclaim the Spanish top-flight title from fierce rivals Real Madrid.
Next up it’s another Madrid side on the menu for Barcelona, as Getafe make the long trip north-east to face the early pace setters and in truth, they could hardly arrive more ill-prepared for the task at hand.
That’s due to the fact that after their opening six matches this campaign, the visitors remain winless, with a 1-1 home draw against Leganés last time out further heaping the pressure on manager José ‘Pepe’ Bordalás. A return of four draws and two losses has additionally fuelled plenty of relegation talk, especially as that poor early season form has left them with just one win in their last 15 outings in LaLiga.
To say that’s likely to continue here would be an understatement, all things considered, especially as on top of that, Getafe hold a terrible recent head-to-head record against Barcelona. That’s because they’ve taken just one victory from their last 25 meetings with the Catalan giants, across all competitions, and with this exact fixture ending in a 4-0 defeat last season, there seems to be little hope for the away side on this latest visit to Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys.
(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.
Jonas is a 21 year old student who, like FotMob, hails from Norway, but despite his young age, he already claims to have 11 years experience as a fantasy football manager. It all started for him way back in primary school and over the years, he’s become more and more obsessed, playing all sorts of fantasy football games, including those for the Eliteserien, Allsvenskan, League of Ireland, EFL Championship, and of course Fantasy Premier League.
Unlike the frustrated Fantasy players we have in the FotMob office, though, Jonas did something we could only dream of in last season’s FPL. He finished first, ahead of 11 million other managers in Fantasy Premier League for the 2023/24 season, with what he describes as a “baffling 51 point gap to second place overall. Something that I never thought would have happened, but here I am.”
Who better then, to provide us with some expert advice each week.
The Eye Test vs. The Stats
Gameweek 5 was a pretty decent week for a lot of managers, with highly owned assets such as Palmer, Salah, and Haaland all delivering with a respective 9, 6, and 9 points. As we approach Gameweek 6, I would like to compare the eye test to the stats from Gameweek 5. While statistics like expected goals (xG) and assists provide concrete data, watching games might offer deeper insights into players’ form and overall influence. Some players may shine in the stats, but underperform on the pitch, while others can catch the eye with potential that numbers can’t fully capture. Balancing both approaches can help guide you to better FPL decisions and that was a crucial part of my strategy last season.
Bryan Mbeumo(7.2m) looked really sharp in a tough game against Tottenham, always looks threatening and is Brentford’s main man with Ivan Toney having moved to Saudi Arabia. It looks like he’s their target for almost every counterattack. In this case Mbeumo is a player that has stats to back him as well, against Spurs he missed two big chances and racked up a total of 0.66 xGI (expected goal involvements). With Brentford having played three very tough away fixtures in the first five gameweeks – against Liverpool, Man City and Spurs – their fixtures are now turning and he is definitely one I would recommend for your FPL team. On top of that he should be their penalty taker as well!
So far this season, a perfect example of a player that has passed the eye test, but has neither the stats, or the returns, to back that up it is Morgan Rogers(5.2m). He has looked lively, playing in an advanced role, and was fortunately rewarded with two assists in their game against Wolves, his first two goal contributions for the season. A very popular chip strategy this season is to play your wildcard ahead of Gameweek 6. Morgan Rogers has played 90 minutes in all Villa’s Premier League games this season and is the perfect enabler for your midfield.
Long shot
Dominic Calvert-Lewin (6.0m) has a great run of fixtures up until Gameweek 15, takes penalties for Everton, and will likely start every game for the Toffees. At the time of writing he is owned by less than 5% of FPL managers. He is a player to really consider if you want to own a differential and get ahead of your mini league rivals at work or among your mates.
Upcoming games to follow
Gameweek 6 looks like a great week from an FPL perspective and I have looked at a few players who I think are going to do well. Arsenal face newly promoted Leicester at the Emirates. A game that I think will be very one sided. I believe Arsenal will keep a clean sheet, so it’s definitely worth targeting Arsenal defenders, in particular Gabriel(6.1m) who has scored in his last two Premier League games. Bukayo Saka(10.0m) averages 0.66 xGI per 90 this season and the Leicester defence is not the greatest, averaging 1.64 xGC (expected goals conceded).
Last, but not least, I just can’t ignore Erling Haaland(15.3m) who has scored a mightily mpressive 10 goals in just five games and although Newcastle should provide decent opposition for Man City this weekend, I believe Haaland will continue his great form against the Magpies. He’s a player who is owned by over 70% of the game but someone I just can’t see myself going against.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
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