Page 183 – The Pulse of Football

Nov

2023

FIVE games to follow this weekend: Club football is back with a bang!

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

By Bill Biss

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

The powers that be have scheduled the biggest game of the Premier League season, to date, for the early kick-off slot on Saturday. Liverpool, who’ve struggled on the road (earning 9 points from a possible 18) but sit second in the table, go to leaders Manchester City, who’ve won all five of their home games so far, conceding just three goals in the process.

It’s a big fixture every year, with these two clubs sharing the last six titles (City 5, Liverpool 1) between them, but this one comes at a crucial time in the season. The narrative during the international break has been that supposed ‘injuries’ and withdrawals from various national team training camps will mean that Pep Guardiola’s side return to action virtually at full fitness. But also, some of Liverpool’s key performers have been on song for their countries, and come back to England in red hot form. Luis Díaz and Darwin Núñez were on fire in Colombia and Uruguay’s World Cup qualifiers, Mo Salah scored four in one game for Egypt, and Dominik Szoboszlai captained Hungary as they qualified for next year’s European Championships.

However, City can always boast of their recent dominance in this fixture. Liverpool have won just once at the Etihad since Jürgen Klopp’s appointment in 2015, and they’ve only ever been victorious in three league games since City moved to their new stadium back in 2003.

For a Liverpool take on the upcoming game, have a read of this guest column, from our friends at ThisIsAnfield – here.

🇮🇹 Serie A: Juventus vs. Inter

The weekend is bookended by another massive top of the table clash as the Derby d’Italia headlines the Serie A schedule on Sunday night. The eternal battle between Italy’s two most successful clubs – Juventus and Inter – comes at a time when they too occupy the top two places in the league. And that won’t change, regardless of earlier results elsewhere, thanks to the six point cushion that Juve, who sit second, currently have on the sides below them.

Inter’s record so far during this campaign has been phenomenal – W10 D1 L1 – and they’re also the top scorers (29 goals for) and have the meanest defence (six goals against). But Juve have only conceded seven so, as always, we’re expecting this to be a tight game. From their last six meetings, only the 2022 Coppa Italia Final (won by Inter) has produced more than two goals.

Ahead of the international break, Inter were on a nine game unbeaten run and had won their last six on the bounce (all comps). And their strike partnership of Lautaro Martínez and Marcus Thuram led both the Serie A goalscoring and assists charts respectively – Martínez with 12 goals, Thuram with five assists. For their part, Juve hadn’t lost in seven, and had won their last five league games, a run that included the Derby against Torino, and a win at Inter’s city rivals, Milan.

🇫🇷 Ligue 1: PSG vs. Monaco

Ahead of all those fixtures, Friday night brings us a treat from Ligue 1, where first face third in the French capital. Paris Saint-Germain clawed their way back to the top of the table ahead of the international break but now they must face one of the early season pacesetters that had been keeping them at bay in previous game weeks.

Monaco only lost one of their opening nine games and that came against in-form Nice. More recently, a defeat to LOSC, and a draw against newly promoted Le Havre have stalled their progress but they do remain the leagues’ second best goal scorers having outperformed their xG of 17.6 by netting 25 times.

As you’d imagine, PSG are the one team outscoring them, averaging 2.4 goals per game. Neither can boast a defence as tight as Nice though, who’ve conceded just four times in 12 games! Which is astounding.

PSG do have injury concerns coming back from the international break – captain Marquinhos will be missing along with teenage breakout star, Warren Zaire-Emery, who was injured during his goalscoring debut for France. However, they will be able to call on their talisman, and former Monaco striker, Kylian Mbappé. The Frenchman scored three and assisted three goals in the two games he played for the national team in the past week, to go with the 15 goals he’s already bagged for PSG this season.

🇩🇪 Bundesliga: Werder Bremen vs. Bayer Leverkusen

On Saturday, it’s time for the early season success story to get back to action in Germany. Bayer Leverkusen travel to 12th placed Werder Bremen looking to maintain their 17 game unbeaten start to the campaign (all comps).

Xabi Alonso’s side have won their last seven Bundesliga games and have only dropped points once so far – when they drew 2-2 at Bayern Munich. Werder Bremen can’t boast of any such success but they are unbeaten in their last three, and are perhaps showing some form after a dire start to the season that included a #Cupset against third tier opposition in the DFB Pokal and consecutive away defeats versus promoted teams where they conceded four goals in each.

Elsewhere, the league returns with Bayern’s game at FC Köln on Friday night. Besides the fact that the defending champions could move above Leverkusen with a win, the scheduling of the fixture has caused some consternation in German football circles. It’s the second time Bayern have played on a Friday following the international break and coach Thomas Tuchel was quoted as saying that the calendar is stretched to the “absolute limit” and that it was having a detrimental effect on his elite players.

🇪🇸 LaLiga: Cádiz vs. Real Madrid

In Spain, Real Madrid, like Bayern, have an opportunity to take top spot by virtue of playing their fixture before Girona, the current leaders of LaLiga. Madrid visit the southern port city of Cádiz, on Sunday, where the home side have been enduring a torrid campaign to date.

The Yellows have won just twice, and are ranked 20th out of 20 in terms of goals scored, averaging just 0.8 per match. That compares to Madrid’s 2.2 and if it wasn’t for the heroics of goalkeeper, Conan Ledesma, Cádiz would be a lot lower than their current 16th place in the table. The Argentine is averaging 4.2 saves per game, a rate only beaten by Villarreal’s Filip Jörgensen.

Carlo Ancelotti’s final season with Madrid (ahead of his move to take on the Brazilian national team in 2024) is going well. They’ve lost just once in their 17 competitive games, won at defending league champions Barcelona, beaten Girona, and have seen star summer signing Jude Bellingham race to the top of the goalscoring charts. A win at Cádiz would be their 11th league win and would see them go one point clear at the top of the table, at least temporarily.

Elsewhere, Barcelona play at Rayo Vallecano, on Saturday, and we’ll have to wait until Monday, to see how Girona respond to the weekend’s results.

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

🇺🇸 MLS Cup Play-offs: FC Cincinnati vs. Philadelphia Union

This week, we’ve chosen to highlight a couple of the Conference semi-finals as the MLS Cup play-offs head towards crunch time in the States.

And in the East, on Saturday night, we’re focusing on the battle between FC Cincinnati, who finished the regular season first in the Conference, and Philadelphia Union, who did the same in 2022. Philadelphia obviously didn’t reach such heights this season, finishing fourth, 14 points down on Cincinnati, who were also the surprise winners of the Supporters’ Shield, the prize given to the best performing side across the league as a whole.

In the play-offs, where that regular season form can go out the window, Cincinnati needed just two games to win their best-of-three series against wildcard entrants New York Red Bulls. And similarly, Philadelphia dispatched New England Revs in two. Unlike the previous round, these semi-finals are decided on the day, meaning Cincinnati’s home advantage could come in to play.

🇺🇸 MLS Cup Play-offs: Seattle Sounders vs. LAFC

On Sunday, in the West, we’ll see whether defending MLS Cup holders, LAFC can once again reach the Conference Final when they take on Seattle. The Sounders finished the regular season one point better off than the champions thanks to a late run of form that saw them lose just one of their final nine games. That contrasts with LA, who won only three times over the same period.

Both sides needed all three matches in the previous round of the play-offs – Seattle started with a win over FC Dallas, lost the second game away from home, then recovered with a 1-0 victory in game three. The first match between LAFC and their opponents, Vancouver Whitecaps, ended in a draw, with the Californians then going on to win 5-3 in game two, and then 1-0 in game three back in Canada.

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

Or join our new WhatsApp Channel for updates on all the important football going on this weekend!

Cover Image from IMAGO

Nov

2023

Premier League Preview: Matchday 13

The final international break of the year is over and we’re now closing in on the most wonderful time of the campaign. The festive season is filled with football matches galore. We kick this off at the Etihad on Saturday afternoon with one of the biggest matches in Europe.

By Sam McGuire, Premier League expert

Top spot up for grabs

Manchester City host Liverpool in the early kick-off on Saturday with first position in the Premier League up for grabs. A win for the champions would see them open up a four-point lead at the summit. A win for the Reds would see them leapfrog City.

The international break couldn’t have been more different for these clubs. City had a number of injuries with Rodri, Ederson, John Stones and Nathan Aké all ruled out. Erling Haaland then caused concern for Pep Guardiola and his coaches when he picked up a knock against the Faroe Islands.

Rodri, Ederson, and Haaland have all made miraculous recoveries though and should be fit for the visit of the Reds.

By comparison, Liverpool players enjoyed stints away with their respective national teams. Luis Díaz, Darwin Núñez and Harvey Elliott scored multiple goals while Trent Alexander-Arnold was named Player-of-the-Match for England.

Jürgen Klopp will hope his players can carry their momentum into the game against the leaders. The Reds are without a league win at the Etihad since 2015 and their away form this season hasn’t been great. They have won just two of their six fixtures and have conceded eight goals. City have a 100% record at home and are averaging over three goals per game.

Newcastle need to dig deep

The narrative heading into the game between Newcastle United and Chelsea is that the former have struggled while the latter are having yet another positive campaign. Yet a win for Mauricio Pochettino’s side would move them to within a single point of their hosts.

Newcastle suffered back-to-back losses before the international break, losing to Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League and Bournemouth in the Premier League. Eddie Howe’s men have just one goal across their last three matches – Anthony Gordon’s controversial winner against Arsenal – and injuries are threatening to derail their campaign.

If results don’t go their way this weekend, they could finish matchday 13 in eighth position, nine points off the pace in their pursuit of another top-four finish.

Believe it or not, Chelsea have found their form. The loss to Brentford skews perception but they’ve beaten Spurs and drawn with Manchester City and Arsenal over recent weeks. After early season struggles in front of goal, the Blues have found their shooting boots with eight goals across their last two outings.

The only thing missing for Pochettino is a statement victory against a top team. They’ve performed well against Liverpool, Arsenal and City but weren’t able to pick up maximum points while the win over Spurs was, oddly enough, disappointing from a performance point of view.

A strong performance and a win at St James’ Park would make people sit up and take notice.

Can Spurs get back to winning ways?

A lot can change in the space of a week as Spurs found out prior to the international break.

Ange Postecoglou’s side were Premier League leaders and unbeaten heading into their Monday night game against Chelsea. They lost 4-1 but, perhaps more worryingly, they lost Micky Van De Ven and James Maddison to injury while Cristian Romero was sent off. In their next outing, they conceded two stoppage-time goals to lose to Wolves. They’re now fourth in the table and play host to fifth-placed Aston Villa this weekend.

A win for Unai Emery’s men would see them leapfrog Spurs.

Villa have been in unbelievable form this term.

A recent shock loss to Nottingham Forest has allowed them to go somewhat under the radar. That defeat was only their third of the season. Prior to that, they had put together a six-match unbeaten run that included five wins. This run included a 6-1 win over Brighton and a 4-1 victory against West Ham. Only leaders Manchester City (31) have more goals than Villa (29) and the Villians are going to fancy their chances of adding to that tally against a depleted Spurs side this weekend.

A sticky situation for the Toffees

This is Everton’s first match since their 10-point deduction. A defiant Goodison Park is going to be up for the visit of Manchester United on Sunday afternoon and, if truth be told, they’re going to need to be.

The Toffees have an abysmal home record this season, picking up just four points from their six matches at Goodison. They have lost four times in front of a home crowd and are averaging less than a goal a game.

All things considered, United have a surprisingly good away record this term. The Red Devils have won three of five and have taken as many points away from home as Liverpool this term despite having played a game fewer.

Erik Ten Hag’s side have won four of their last five in the Premier League with their only defeat coming against rivals Manchester City. The performances might not be great but they are getting points on the board. A win here ensures they retain sixth position in the Premier League and remain within touching distance of the top four places.

Wolves on the prowl at Craven Cottage

Matchday 13 comes to a close on Monday night when Fulham entertain Wolves.

Gary O’Neil’s team have found their groove. They have suffered just one defeat in their last seven and it was a shock one against Sheffield United In their last outing, they beat Tottenham, coming from 1-0 down to snatch all three points in stoppage-time. During this run, they have also beaten Manchester City.

A win here could see them climb into ninth position. It’d be quite the turnaround for a team tipped to be involved in a relegation battle during the pre-season predictions. They’re up against a Fulham side in free fall.

Marco Silva’s side have lost three of their last four and have just one win since the September international break. Only Burnley (nine) have scored fewer goals than Fulham (10) and it is their lack of fire power following the sale of Aleksandar Mitrović which has seen them drop into a relegation scrap.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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

Nov

2023

Liverpool have 3 things they must overcome to remain in title race vs. Manchester City

Almost exactly eight years ago, Liverpool produced a hallmark performance under new manager Jürgen Klopp, blitzing Manchester City 4-1 at the Etihad with a new brand of ‘heavy metal’ football.

The match signalled what was to come from Klopp’s Liverpool, with Roberto Firmino netting his first goal for the club, and Philippe Coutinho outstanding on the left of a new front three.

By Matt Ladson, ThisIsAnfield.com

That 4-1 victory was Liverpool’s first league win at the home of the Citizens in seven years.

Eight years later, it remains Liverpool’s only Premier League win at Man City under Klopp, and actually their only league win at the Etihad since 2008.

Since the 2015 blitzing, Liverpool away to Man City have three draws and four defeats – including a 5-0, a 4-0 and a 4-1.

A 2-1 win for the Reds in the Champions League quarter-final in 2018 provided proof that they are capable of winning at the Etihad, but their record at the Etihad/City of Manchester Stadium, in the 20 years since its opening in 2003, is three wins in 20 league games.

And if Liverpool are to have any chance of denying City a fourth consecutive league title, they simply must be taking points from Pep Guardiola’s side on Saturday.

A working theory is that, in order to stop City, you must take a minimum of four points from your two head-to-head games against them. That means a good swing in the title race.

Winning your home game but losing away is null, and leaves you having to overcome City’s near-perfection in the league. You need that swing of at least three points in your favour.

Thankfully for Liverpool, their visit to the Etihad in their title-winning season came after the title was already won – days after, which resulted in a 4-0 drubbing.

The early kick off issue

Liverpool’s terrible record at Man City isn’t the only thing against them this weekend, with this being yet another early kick-off for the Merseysiders.

Klopp’s side have had more early kick-off games than any other in the last five years, by a considerable margin, and now face what is already their third of this season.

Last season, the Reds faced four early kick-off fixtures and won none. This season so far they’ve enjoyed success against Wolves and Everton – but Man City away, after an international break is an entirely more difficult task.

Speaking about the decision for it to be a 12.30pm kick-off, which was actually determined by Manchester Police and not by television companies on this occasion, Klopp was critical.

“How can you put a game like this on Saturday at 12.30pm?” he said. “Honestly, the people making the decisions, they cannot feel football, it is just not possible.”

Nobody tell Jürgen about games between Liverpool and Man United that kicked off at 11.30am during the 2000s.

Post-internationals

The international break throws another dilemma for Liverpool and Klopp in particular.

In the game at Wolves in September, Klopp bizarrely opted to start Alexis Mac Allister despite the Argentine having represented his country in a game at an altitude of 12,000 feet in Bolivia little more than 48 hours earlier. Mac Allister was replaced at half time, with the manager admitting after that the Liverpool No.10 felt relieved to be hooked early.

This week, Argentina play Brazil in the early hours of Wednesday morning (UK), with a private plane then being ready to fly Mac Allister, plus Alisson, and other members of both Liverpool and Man City’s squad back to the UK.

One player who won’t be on that plane is Man City and Brazil goalkeeper Ederson, who is among the lengthy list of international withdrawals for Guardiola’s side.

Mateo Kovačić withdrew from duty with Croatia due to a small muscle issue, so he’s fully expected to be fit on Saturday.

Matheus Nunes withdrew from Portugal duty, Nathan Aké missed the Netherlands’ games, while Erling Haaland dropped out of the Norway squad after their first match, missing their fixture against Scotland.

Unsurprisingly, Haaland is expected to be fit for Saturday.

Title challenge – or not

Liverpool go into Saturday’s game a point behind City, and if they are to remain in with a title challenge, they need that gap not to widen by full time.

It’s a fixture that pairs the duo of Haaland and Mo Salah – the duo who lead the Premier League for goals, expected goals and expected goals on target.

But the key battle could be in midfield, where Liverpool will need energy and tackling ability when they come up against Rodri – the player with the league’s highest FotMob rating (and most accurate passes per 90.

Liverpool must overcome the odds to get a point on Saturday, then hope to be in the title race for the return fixture at Anfield in early March – and win that.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

To keep up to date with everything Liverpool, make sure you click follow on the team profile in the FotMob app. Download the free app here.

Nov

2023

Diogo Jota: Liverpool’s student of the game may be their most underrated player

While Diogo Jota’s numbers show he is a key player for Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool, the versatile forward remains an enigma to many that has left him underrated.

By Jack Lusby, ThisIsAnfield.com

The temperatures are dropping as winter sets in, Jürgen Klopp’s first team are not due in training, and time off is becoming a luxury as Liverpool contend with the uniquely busy schedule of a season back in the Europa League.

But boots are still on the ground at the AXA Training Centre, as Diogo Jota joins goalkeeper Adrian in putting members of the Steven Gerrard Academy through their paces in a specialised training session.

It isn’t a pastime the majority of 26-year-old footballers would opt for in their downtime from the day job, but Liverpool’s No. 20 is already working towards life after his time on the pitch.

Jota is currently studying for his UEFA B Licence, with his experience with Gerrard’s youth initiative coming after a similar exercise with those from Robbie Fowler’s Football Education Academy earlier in the year. It is something he described in a recent interview as “like Football Manager converted into real life,” with the Portuguese an avid gamer who has invested heavily into eSports.

All of this could be considered a distraction for an elite-level footballer – not to mention a father of two, which brings its own off-field challenges – but for Jota, it only adds to the mystique of a player who has proved more effective than perhaps many would expect.

A £45 million signing from Wolves in the pandemic summer of 2020, Jota was brought in to disrupt the world-best front three of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mané and Roberto Firmino; the first move in a long-term regeneration of the unit that fired Klopp’s side to success.

Now in his fourth season on Merseyside, there is a sense that he has never quite cemented himself as first choice, with 83 of his 129 appearances to date coming from the start but another 46 as a substitute. Surprisingly, he has only completed the full 90 minutes on 26 occasions.

Luis Díaz and Darwin Núñez have both become more popular names among supporters after Mané’s time at the club came to an end, but Jota has arguably been more dependable and consistent than either of his fellow forwards.

With 49 goals and 17 assists in his 129 games for the club so far, Jota is the fourth-highest scorer throughout Klopp’s reign, averaging a direct goal contribution every 115.2 minutes. Seventeen of those goals (34.7%) were match-winners and six of them (12.3%) were equalisers, while 19 of his efforts (38.8%) were the first goal of the game. This season, with eight goals in 16 appearances (all comps), he is outscoring his xG by 3.6.

Jota has scored in 40 different games for Liverpool; when he finds the back of the net, it often means something.

So why is he such an enigma?

Perhaps it is due to his directness. It was often remarked upon his arrival from the Midlands that Jota, with his pale skin, tight curls and firm grasp of English, looked and acted more like a Scouser than he did a Portuguese, and that translates to the pitch, too.

Jota’s play is marked by a relentless energy – and a surprising aerial ability for a player under 5’10” – but also a tendency to drift in and out of games. He is less pacy and certainly less flashy than Díaz, while he is less commanding than Núñez; he doesn’t possess the X factor that Salah has.

Compared to his positional peers this season, Jota is in the 99th percentile when it comes to goals and the 90th percentile in terms of attempts on goal, but only the 25th percentile for touches. He is in the 27th percentile for pass accuracy and the mid-range for defensive attributes such as tackles won (48th), interceptions (49th), duels won (64th) and recoveries (41st), but ranks extremely high, in the 85th percentile, when it comes to touches in the opposition’s box.

It has certainly made him underrated in terms of his value to the squad, often seen as fifth in the pecking order below Salah, Núñez, Díaz and Cody Gakpo.

But it would be wrong to paint Jota as a passenger, as instead he should be seen more as a difference-maker. Speaking after his third of 17 match-winning goals for the club so far, a clinical finish in the 2-1 victory over West Ham in October 2020, he revealed how he had spotted his opening while watching on as a substitute.

“The goal means a lot,” he explained. “Seeing the game on the bench, I’m always thinking about what I can do to change things.”

But while he may remain typecast as an impact player, the evidence shows that he is far from that in Klopp’s mind; the perception of Jota as a squad player is undermined by long spells in the starting lineup which are often only broken by untimely injury.

He has started each of the last four games in the Premier League and, after following a well-taken consolation in the 3-2 loss to Toulouse with a rocket of a strike in the 3-0 pummelling of Brentford, is favourite to keep his place ahead of Díaz when the trip to Manchester City comes around on May 25.

That will largely be due to the manager’s trust in his student of the game to execute the plan of action, with Jota’s obsession with football spanning from the pitch to his PlayStation and now to coaching on the training field.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

To keep up to date with everything Liverpool, make sure you click follow on the team profile in the FotMob app. Download the free app here.

Nov

2023

MLS Cup Playoffs Power Rankings: Game Three

Major League Soccer’s conference semi-finals are now set as eight teams from the league’s 29 remain in the battle to win the MLS Cup and be crowned the 2023 champion.

With the round one, game three deciders tidied up, the MLS Cup Playoffs will move to single-elimination games following the international break.

Three of the best-of-three round one games went to a decider and saw standout performances from some more experienced players as well as from promising stars of the future for the United States.

As the playoffs reach the business end, names can be written into the history books and legends emerge.

Here are a few with a chance of performing such feats.

By James Nalton, MLS expert

João Paulo 8.8 (Seattle Sounders)

MLS Cup dark horse Seattle progressed to the Western Conference semi-finals where it will face defending champions Los Angeles FC.

The Sounders put together an unbeaten run of nine games towards the end of the regular season, edging ahead of LAFC, to finish runner-up in the Western Conference.

This is extra important now as it means Seattle, as the higher seed, will be the home side in this playoff tie between the two.

Unbeaten runs are a good sign ahead of playoff football, and despite one defeat in the best-of-three round one series against FC Dallas, Seattle has continued its end-of-season progress into the playoffs.

Anchoring this performance, and this progress generally, is midfielder João Paulo.

Fifteen passes into the final third along with 12 recoveries are an example of the kind of work that has made João Paulo one of the best in his position in this league.

One of those passes into the final third was a pinpoint, perfectly weighted pass through the defence to assist Albert Rusnák’s goal, which was enough to win the game and the series against Dallas.

When he was subbed off in the 87th minute, João Paulo received a standing ovation for his efforts. Having missed most of 2022 with an ACL injury, Seattle has its midfield anchor back in form at just the right time.

Diego Rossi 8.8 (Columbus Crew)

The Crew’s attacking orchestrator was another key player in top form as his team progressed at Atlanta United’s expense.

Columbus scored three goals in 21 minutes to take control of a tie it eventually won 4-2.

It was an exaggerated version of the Ohio club’s season so far.

Going into this game, Columbus hadn’t lost back-to-back games since May. Its home record was the second-best in MLS, and it had scored 41 goals in 17 home games in the regular season.

Its defence had often left a lot to be desired, though. Two goals conceded in this game were an example of that, but the attacking play meant progress to the next round.

Rossi had five shots in the game, scoring the Crew’s fourth goal just after half time, making sure of the win, having also assisted Alexandru Mățan’s near-post blast that had made it 3-0.

The Uruguayan attacker and former LAFC player, who signed for Columbus from Fenerbahçe in the middle of the 2023 season, has a big part to play if his new side is to continue its playoff progress as it travels to Orlando City in the next round.

Aidan Morris 8.5 (Columbus Crew)

The 21-year-old American has impressed throughout this playoff series for Columbus.

Morris finished this most recent game having completed 50 of 53 passes attempted for a pass success of 94%. This is exactly what a team like Columbus needs in this area of the field as part of its style of possession football.

On the other side of the ball, Morris made nine defensive actions and completed ten ball recoveries in his midfield role.

He also gets the assist for Malte Amundsen’s wonder strike from distance, but if you’re neat and tidy with your passing, finding players in space and recycling possession, sometimes such assists will come.

It was an ideal performance alongside midfield partner Darlington Nagbe and behind the more attacking Rossi.

Héctor Herrera 8.3 (Houston Dynamo)

The Mexican designated player was once again heavily involved in the latest episode of Houston Dynamo success.

The 2023 US Open Cup champion extended its run in another competition, going through against Real Salt Lake, on penalties, following a 1-1 draw in regulation time in game three.

Herrera contributed to his side’s goal, heading a Nelson Quiñónes cross back into the path of Corey Baird.

Herrera finished the game having touched the ball 115 times — another demonstration that pretty much everything this Dynamo side does goes through him.

One thing he wasn’t required to do was take a penalty in the shootout.

A winning spot-kick from Griffin Dorsey meant the Dynamo progressed to the next round where it will host Sporting Kansas City.

Diego Luna 7.9 (Real Salt Lake)

One player who did take a penalty in that shootout was RSL’s young star Diego Luna.

Luna missed from the spot and his side was eventually knocked out, but that shouldn’t take away from what has been an impressive series and campaign overall from the 20-year-old.

He scored two goals in these three games against Houston, including another impressive finish in game three.

Long highly regarded by many in the game, 2023 has felt like a real breakout season for the American, and not before time.

He has unsurprisingly become a key player in the RSL attack and a senior international call-up is surely just around the corner.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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

Nov

2023

Premier League Team of the Week: Matchday 12

This might be the most varied Team of the Week we’ve had so far this season with players from nine teams making the XI. Here’s the starting XI for matchday 12.

By Sam McGuire, Premier League expert

Goalkeeper: André Onana

Perhaps a surprise to many but Onana’s showing against Luton Town has earned him a place in the team. Manchester United claimed a 1-0 win to lift themselves into sixth position.

Onana made four saves at Old Trafford on his way to an 8.1 FotMob rating. The 27-year-old also recovered the ball on nine occasions. A real confidence boost for the former Inter goalkeeper.

Right-Back: Pedro Porro

Porro ended on the losing side on Saturday afternoon as Spurs fumbled a 1-0 lead. Ange Postecoglou’s team conceded two goals in stoppage time in defeat to Wolves but the Spanish full-back still impressed. The 24-year-old assisted Brennan Johnson’s goal and created two chances throughout his 90 minutes on the pitch.

He also won two of his four tackles and eight of his 15 duels to round off a a decent showing.

Centre-Back: William Saliba

The French centre-back caught the eye for Arsenal in their 3-1 win over Burnley.

Saliba scored the second for the Gunners to put his name up in lights. But his overall showing was enough to justify his inclusion in this XI. He completed the most passes of any player in the match and found a teammate with 92% of his attempts.

The 22-year-old also won six of his eight duels in total, playing a key role in limiting Vincent Kompany’s side to just one goal.

Centre-Back: Victor Lindelöf

Lindelof was the unlikely match-winner for Manchester United against Luton. The Swedish centre-back scored just before the hour mark, reacting quickest in the penalty area to lash the ball home.

He also completed the most passes of any player (107), won 100% of his tackles and ground duels while winning 60% of his aerial battles.

Left-Back: Oleksandar Zinchenko

The former City full-back really impressed for Arsenal, even getting on the scoresheet in their win over Burnley.

Zinchenko won the most duels of any player in the match (14) and found a teammate with 87% of his 95 passes. He created a chance too and was successful in three of his five tackles. His showing at the Emirates earned him a FotMob rating of 8.9.

Midfield: James Ward-Prowse

Ward-Prowse really was the perfect signing for West Ham. The 29-year-old registered two assists in the 3-2 win over Nottingham Forest to take his tally for the campaign to five.

The former Southampton skipper also completed the most passes of any player (66), created five chances and finished with an Expected Assists total of 0.57. Defensively, he put in a shift too, winning four of his five duels in total.

Midfield: John McGinn

McGinn ran the show for Aston Villa in their 3-1 win over Fulham on Sunday afternoon. The Scotland international scored, completed the most dribbles of any player (seven), was fouled the most times (seven) and won the most duels (15).

He was relentless and really encapsulated exactly what Unai Emery wants from his team. The 8.7 FotMob rating was more than deserved.

Midfield: Mario Lemina

Lemina performed a similar role for Wolves in their comeback victory over Spurs.

He scored the winner in the 97th minute but his overall play really allowed him to standout. The 30-year-old completed 88% of his passes, completed 100% of his dribbles, won 100% of his tackles and triumphed in seven of his nine ground duels.

Forward: Mohamed Salah

Salah was back to his ruthless best for Liverpool in the 3-0 win over Brentford. The prolific wide forward had three shots and scored two goals to take his tally to 10 for the season. In the process, he scored his 200th Premier League goal.

His first was a curled effort into the far corner. His second was a rare header after Kostas Tsimikas had kept the ball in play and delivered a smart cross.

Salah is now just the second player to hit double figures this season and is three goals behind Erling Haaland in the race for the Golden Boot.

Forward: Dominic Solanke

Solanke helped Bournemouth stun Newcastle United. The 26-year-old scored twice to give the Cherries just their second win of the Premier League season.

It was a strange game for the forward. He attempted just 10 passes – so he was barely involved – but had four shots and created three chances. So when he was involved, something happened.

The one-time Liverpool striker is now on six for the season and is averaging a goal every other game.

Forward: Erling Haaland

Another game, another double for Haaland.

The Manchester City forward is now on 13 for the reason after netting twice in the 4-4 draw with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. He kept his calm from the spot to open the scoring and he slid in to give the champions a 3-2 lead just after the break.

Haaland won the penalty, created three chances and had four shots in what is now considered a normal showing from the goal machine.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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

Nov

2023

Premier League Review: Matchday 12

We’re without Premier League football for a fortnight now as we head into yet another international break but there’s so much to talk about after what happened this weekend. Matchday 12 certainly did not disappoint. Here’s your weekly round-up.

By Sam McGuire, Premier League expert

Stoppage time haunts Spurs

What a week it has been for Spurs. They went into their Monday night game with Chelsea unbeaten and top of the table.

They finished the week with two defeats and are now in fourth position. They took the lead against Wolves at Molineux but for the second successive match Ange Postecoglou’s side crumbled late on.

This time it was under different circumstances though.

A weakened Spurs side, without the injured James Maddison and Micky Van de Ven, went 1-0 up inside of three minutes when Brennan Johnson fired in. They then struggled to create, well, anything.

Wolves peppered Guglielmo Vicario’s goal, having 17 shots and creating four big chances in total. They left it late though to find a way past the Italian shot-stopper.

Pablo Sarabia scored in the 91st minute before Mario Lemina fired in the winner in the 97th minute. Wolves are now back to winning ways after the shock defeat to Sheffield United last weekend.

The Eagles in a sticky situation

Everton’s march up the table continues. The Toffees were pegged back twice by Crystal Palace before Idrissa Gueye scored the eventual winner in the 86th minute in what was a five goal thriller.

Sean Dyche’s side have won three of their last five in the Premier League to climb to 14th.

Everton had just five shots inside the penalty area but managed to fire past Sam Johnstone on three occasions. The Palace goalkeeper had a bit of a nightmare at Selhurst Park just one week after making it into the FotMob Team of the Week. The 30-year-old finished with a rating of just 4.7.

Solanke steals the show

Bournemouth picked up just their second win of the season on Saturday evening after claiming a 2-0 victory over Newcastle United.

It was a deserved three points for the Cherries against a depleted Newcastle United side.

The hosts had twice as many efforts (18 to nine) and finished with an Expected Goals total of 2.46. By comparison, the Magpies had chances worth just 0.49 Expected Goals.

Dominic Solanke was the match-winner with two goals but he also created three chances as he claimed a FotMob rating of 8.9 for his efforts.

Without Nick Pope between the sticks, it could’ve been embarrassing for Eddie Howe’s side. The shot-stopper made eight saves in total.

Newcastle are now seventh in the Premier League while Bournemouth moves three points clear of the drop zone.

A routine Anfield win for the Reds

Liverpool returned to winning ways on Sunday afternoon to end a difficult week on a high. The Reds could only manage a draw with Luton last weekend and then lost to Toulouse in the Europa League on Thursday. On paper, Brentford was a potential banana skin.

However, Jürgen Klopp’s side coasted to victory. Darwin Núñez had two goals disallowed in the first half before setting up Mohamed Salah for the opener.

The Liverpool No. 11 doubled his tally after the break and scored his 200th Premier League goal in the process. He’s now on 10 for the season, a total only Erling Haaland can better.

Diogo Jota added a third but it was much trickier than the scoreline suggested.

Brentford had chances and actually finished with a higher Expected Goals total- 1.57 to 1.44.

The Seagulls continue to stutter

Brighton’s winless run in the Premier League continues. The Seagulls haven’t picked up all three points in the league since September and despite taking an early lead against Sheffield United on Sunday, they weren’t able to see the game out.

Simon Adingra scored after just six minutes but Roberto De Zerbi’s side weren’t able to use that as a platform to dominate.

Sheffield United scored an equaliser in the 74th minutes when Adam Webster put the ball into the back of his own goal. In truth, it was a deserved point for the Blades. They looked just as dangerous as their hosts and created more big chances.

Stamford Bridge hosts the game of the season

We may only be in November but I doubt we’re going to see a better game all season. Chelsea and Manchester City put on a show at Stamford Bridge in a 4-4 draw.

City had the lead on three occasions but we’re pegged back by an impressive Chelsea side.

Erling Haaland scored twice for City with Rodri and Manual Akanji also getting on the scoresheet for the champions. Thiago Silva, Raheem Sterling, Nicolas Jackson and Cole Palmer responded for the hosts, with the latter firing home from the spot in the 96th minute.

Neither team probably deserved the win but neither deserved to lose, so this was a fair result.

Both teams finished with an Expected Goals total of almost three and both had five big chances in what was a brilliant game for the neutral.

The point sees City claim top spot outright, while Chelsea are now in 10th after a big week.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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

Nov

2023

FIVE games to follow this weekend: Big derbies and clashes between teams in contrasting form

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

By Bill Biss

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Premier League: Chelsea vs. Manchester City

In a game no one is calling the Cole Palmer Derby, Chelsea meet current Premier League leaders Manchester City on Sunday afternoon. And it’s a game that both sides will be very keen to win. City, because they’ll need to in order to return to the top of the table (presuming earlier weekend results have gone against them) and Chelsea, because they are looking to build on what was their biggest win of the season, the 4-1 thrashing that ended Spurs’ unbeaten start last Monday night.

The aforementioned Palmer performed well in that game, and the City academy product has been a rare source of consistency for Mauricio Pochettino’s side since his summer move; providing seven goal involvements across league and cup.

City come in to the game following a midweek result in the Champions League that secured the defending champions their place in the knockout stages of the competition. Erling Haaland scored twice and Phil Foden provided the other in a 3-0 victory over Swiss side Young Boys at the Etihad.

Interestingly, the last time City lost to Chelsea was in the 2021 Champions League Final. Chelsea haven’t so much as scored against City in the six meetings since then – games all won by Pep Guardiola’s side.

🇪🇸 LaLiga: Sevilla vs. Real Betis

In LaLiga, we’ve selected ‘El Gran Derbi’, the battle between Sevilla and fierce city rivals Real Betis. In truth, neither are challenging for honours, as yet, but outside of the Clásico and the Madrid Derby, this is perhaps the biggest game in the Spanish football calendar.

Betis, still under the steady stewardship of Manuel Pellegrini, sit sixth in the table and are unbeaten in 11 games, winning each of their last five. They haven’t suffered defeat since Round 5 when they were smashed at Barcelona but they appear to have tightened up at the back since then – conceding an average of 0.7 league goals per game.

They stayed top of their Europa League group on Thursday, beating Cypriot side Aris Limassol 4-1 at home.

A day earlier, Sevilla were on the receiving end of a 2-0 defeat at Arsenal in the Champions League. A result that left them bottom of their group with two points from four matchdays. Back in the league, it’s been another difficult start to the campaign for the current Europa League champions. They find themselves in 15th position, on a run of four straight draws, having won just twice. The club have also changed manager, with former Uruguay coach Diego Alonso stepping in to steady the ship during October. His only win, so far, came in a Copa del Rey tie against sixth tier opposition.

Elsewhere, surprise leaders Girona face Rayo Vallecano while Madrid host Valencia on Saturday, and on Sunday, Barcelona face Alavés.

🇮🇹 Serie A: Lazio vs. Roma

Sunday is also Derby Day in Serie A as Lazio and Roma meet at their shared home, the Stadio Olimpico. Another key spectacle in European football, this one can get very heated, not least on the sidelines, where master tacticians Maurizio Sarri and José Mourinho will once again lock horns.

In typical fashion, neither played down the rivalry in their respective pre-match press conferences, with Mourinho aiming a number of digs at the amount of silverware won by his Lazio counterpart! On the pitch this season, there isn’t much between them, with Roma seventh and Lazio tenth, but separated by a single point. Both have five wins to their name but it’s Lazio, last season’s runners-up, who’ve looked more inconsistent, having also lost five games, and scoring just 13 goals to Roma’s 22 in their first 11 games of the campaign.

Sarri’s side lost to in-form Bologna last Friday but did get back to winning ways with a narrow 1-0 victory over Dutch champions Feyenoord in the Champions League on Tuesday. The usually reliable Ciro Immobile scored that goal, just his fourth in what’s been a quiet season for the club captain. Roma have had an equally turbulent week – they needed goals scored on 90+1 and 90+4 to come back and beat Lecce at home last weekend, then travelled to Prague where they lost 2-0 to Slavia in the Europa League on Thursday.

🇩🇪 Bundesliga: Bayer Leverkusen vs. Union Berlin

These sides finished sixth and fourth, respectively, in the Bundesliga last season but their form in 2023/24 couldn’t be more different. Leverkusen, in what will be Xabi Alonso’s first full season in charge, are flying, top of the table with nine wins and a draw after 10 rounds. In contrast, Union Berlin sit in the relegation zone having drawn twice and lost all eight of their other games.

The side from the capital remain in a positive mood though, this being a period of unprecedented success having qualified for, and now enjoying their debut in the Champions League, and Urs Fischer remains in the dugout he has occupied since 2018. In midweek, Union finally stopped the rot – ending an extraordinary run of 12 consecutive defeats (all comps) by earning a 1-1 draw at Serie A holders Napoli in their Champions League group. David Datro Fofana’s goal in that game was the club’s first in six competitive fixtures.

Leverkusen, who’ve only dropped points once, in either the league, or their Europa League group have now won 11 straight games. The latest of which was a 1-0 victory secured in Azerbaijan, against Qarabağ, thanks to an injury time penalty from their form man, Victor Boniface.

The Nigerian striker has seven goals and five assists in his first 10 leagues games with the club, plus four goals in cup competitions, and is one to watch whenever Leverkusen play.

🇫🇷 Ligue 1: Stade Reims vs. Paris Saint-Germain

French league leaders Nice drew a blank at Montpellier on Friday night so our attention now focuses on the game between two sides among the chasing pack – second placed PSG and fourth placed Reims. In fact, PSG can leapfrog Nice should they find a way to beat Will Still’s impressive outfit on Saturday afternoon.

We made reference to the fact that PSG had scored three goals in each of their previous four games when we previewed their own match with Montpellier last weekend. And sure enough they beat them 3-0. But that quirky run was ended with defeat at Milan in the Champions League group of death on Tuesday, a result that left them second behind Dortmund with two matchdays to go.

As you’d imagine of a club with their resources, PSG are currently the top scorers in the division with 26 goals, and Kylian Mbappé is already in to double figures. But it appears that new coach Luis Enrique has sorted out things at the back with his side having the second best defensive record behind Nice (who’ve conceded just four goals in 12 matches!). Reims sit four points down on the Parisians and are currently scoring at a rate of 1.5 goals per game, which is the third highest rate behind Monaco and PSG, the two sides directly above them in the table.

Will Still, their young English/Belgian manager, came to worldwide attention thanks to the club’s 17 game unbeaten run when he took over last season, a run which included two draws with PSG. And although they ultimately only finished in 11th place, it looks like the club are building on that this season with six wins in their first 10 fixtures. They should give PSG a real test, especially with the game coming at the end of a week where the defending league champions will be low on confidence following that defeat at Milan.

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

🇸🇪 Swedish Allsvenskan: Malmö vs. Elfsborg

On Sunday we’ll have a nail-biting title-decider in Sweden’s top flight where after 29 rounds the top two in the table face each other on the final day of the season.

With a three point advantage, a draw is all Elfsborg need to secure what would be their first Allsvenskan since 2012. But should Malmö win, they’ll take back the title they lost to Häcken last year, having won it in both 2020 and 2021.

The equation could have been even tighter had Malmö not lost at Häcken last weekend at the same time that Elfsborg were rescuing a point thanks to a 95th minute equaliser against Degerfors.

🇵🇹 Liga Portugal: Benfica vs. Sporting

Not to be outdone by the headline grabbing action in Europe’s biggest leagues, other huge local rivalries are also scheduled in for Sunday across a number of countries. Not least in Portugal, where Lisbon clubs Benfica and Sporting face off against one another.

This is another top of the table clash, with Sporting currently holding a three point advantage over Benfica thanks to a 10-game unbeaten start to the new season. Benfica have only lost once themselves, way back in round one, so domestically speaking at least, this is as big as it gets.

And despite their woes in the Champions League, where they’ve lost four all four of their group games, Benfica will point to their recent win over Porto in the country’s other big game as a sign that they remain on course to back up last season’s title win.

The two Derby games last season ended in 2-2 draws and with both sides averaging just over two goals per game it would be fair to expect a similarly exciting match up in this one.

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

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

Cover Image from IMAGO

Nov

2023

Premier League Preview: Matchday 12

There’s another international break on the horizon so let’s make the most of matchday 12 in the Premier League. Thankfully, there are a number of eye catching clashes to look forward to.

By Sam McGuire, Premier League expert

Are Spurs the real deal?

Tottenham suffered their first defeat of the season earlier in the week in what was one of the games of the season.

Chelsea ran out 4-1 winners with Spurs finishing the game with nine men. It was a freak result and one that won’t define their campaign. However, their reaction against Wolves could well shape their season. Ange Postecoglou takes his team to Molineux on Saturday afternoon knowing a win lifts them back into top spot.

Gary O’Neil’s side had been in good form prior to the shock defeat to Sheffield United last week. Wolves had drawn against Aston Villa and Newcastle while also picking up all three points against champions Manchester City. They have the quality to cause an upset and Spurs are going to have to be wary of this.

Back-to-back losses ahead of the international break is not the sort of momentum you want.

Time for Manchester United to deliver

Manchester United face Luton Town on Saturday. The narrative against Liverpool was that Luton showed they weren’t pushovers but the Reds did rack up an Expected Goals haul of 2.85 while creating six big chances. This is an opportunity for United to really make a statement with both a result and a performance.

To say Erik Ten Hag’s side have been inconsistent this term would be an understatement. They brought a two-match losing run to an end last weekend with a late win over Fulham but then lost 4-3 to FC København in the Champions League in mid-week despite leading on two occasions.

Pressure is mounting on the Dutch tactician and anything other than a win here at Old Trafford could leave him in a precarious position. A win will alleviate some pressure but a resounding victory could turn the tide.

The Seagulls need lift off

It has gone under the radar but Brighton are without a win in the Premier League since September. Roberto De Zerbi’s side last picked up all three points in the English top-flight during the 3-1 win over Bournemouth. Since then, they have drawn three and lost two. They are just three points clear of 11th placed Crystal Palace.

The goals have dried up too. They’ve managed to score two goals in just one of these five outings – the 2-2 with Liverpool. Another couple of winless matches will see them in the bottom half of the table.

They face off against a Sheffield United side that claimed their first win of the season last weekend. The Blades brought a six match losing streak to an end and they will be looking to build on that victory this Sunday at the Amex.

Paul Heckingbottom’s team are joint-bottom but, surprisingly, come into this game with as many points as Brighton from their last five games.

Can fortress Anfield hold firm?

The Reds have won all five of their home matches this season and have conceded just two goals in the process at Anfield. However, Brentford come into this game as the form team having won their last three Premier League matches. By comparison, Liverpool have taken just eight points from their previous four outings following the controversial loss to Spurs.

Brentford’s away form this season has been deceptively positive. The Bees have taken seven points from a possible 15, and this has included trips to St James’ Park, Old Trafford and Stamford Bridge.

Since their promotion to the English top-flight, Brentford have taken four points from four matches against the Jürgen Klopp’s side. Thomas Frank’s men have also scored three goals on two occasions.

This has the potential to be a banana skin tie for Liverpool, especially after back-to-back underwhelming performances.

A Stamford Bridge shock?

Another week, another opportunity for Chelsea to impress under new manager Mauricio Pochettino in a big game.

The Blues caught the eye in a 2-2 draw with Arsenal a few weeks back but then followed that up with a 2-0 loss against Brentford. They ran out 4-1 winners over Spurs but the performance was far from dominant. Now they welcome Manchester City to Stamford Bridge.

City old boys Raheem Sterling and Cold Palmer have stepped up for Chelsea recently and a big showing here would be the icing on the cake.

The reigning champions have looked in ominous form since their 1-0 loss to Arsenal. Pep Guardiola’s side have won five on the bounce and scored 17 in the process, conceding just three goals.

Manchester City have won their last six matches against Chelsea. Their last defeat to the Blues was in the Champions League final.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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

Nov

2023

MLS Cup Playoffs Power Rankings: Game Two

With two games of the 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs round one best-of-three matches played, only one of the conference semifinal matchups has been decided.

Three ties have gone to a third game, which means there will be plenty at stake this weekend in deciders between Columbus and Atlanta, Houston and Real Salt Lake, Seattle and Dallas.

The latest group of games saw notable performances from Atlanta United’s recent award winners, and some important contributions from players helping their teams advance or keep their playoff hopes alive.

The Argentine MLS MVP-in-waiting played with the kind of quality MLS followers have come to expect, and a 20-year-old playmaker who helped his side through.

Here is the story of the latest round of playoff games via the performances of some of its standout players.

By James Nalton, MLS expert

Giorgos Giakoumakis 9.3 (Atlanta United)

Having been named 2023 MLS Newcomer of the Year days earlier, Atlanta’s Greek striker showed why he was deemed the best addition to the league this season with a goal and two assists against Columbus.

Atlanta’s 4-2 win at home in game two of this best-of-three sets up a decider in Ohio this weekend.

Atlanta also had 2023’s Young Player of the Year, Thiago Almada, back in the team having served a suspension in the first game, but it was Giakoumakis who helped make the difference in game two.

He powered a header in from Brooks Lennon’s cross to open the scoring, before spotting Xande Silva’s overlapping run for Atlanta’s second.

Giakoumakis then set up his side’s third, forming the middle part of a one-two with Edwin Mosquera, before Thiago Almada finished the job with a neat chip when through on goal.

Giakoumakis should have had an earlier assist, too, but Silva missed an open goal from close range.

Either way, and much to Silva’s relief, they got the job done eventually to take this series to a deciding game.

Jefferson Savarino 8.5 (Real Salt Lake)

Real Salt Lake took their series with Houston Dynamo to a deciding game three thanks to Savarino’s second-half free kick.

The Venezuelan No. 10 managed to beat Houston goalkeeper Steve Clark from 30 yards out, steering his shot past a crowded wall into the corner.

It has been one of the more absorbing, even matchups in the first round of the playoffs, and this was reflected in the fact the teams couldn’t be separated after 90 minutes of game two, which went to penalties.

Another of the eye-catching players in this series has been RSL attacker Diego Luna, and it was he who scored the penalty to give them the win and send this tie to a decider.

Jack McGlynn 8.4 (Philadelphia Union)

Philadelphia Union’s 1-0 win in New England sets up the first confirmed conference semi-final matchup, in which they will face Supporters’ Shield winner FC Cincinnati.

Having won the home game 3-1, the Union did just enough in Foxboro to advance.

McGlynn has become one of the standout playmakers in MLS whether operating from deeper areas or further upfield.

The 20-year-old mostly plays on the left of the Union’s diamond midfield, where he can do a bit of both of those things.

He threatened the New England goal with crossing, a shot from a free kick, five chances created and the assist for the only goal of the game for substitute Chris Donovan.

It was a free kick curled low into the area that was impossible to defend, and all Donovan had to do was get a touch.

Cincinnati, having got past the most difficult of the wildcard opponents in New York Red Bulls, will now have to get past a similarly stubborn but more talented side in the shape of Philadelphia, if it is to follow up its Supporters’ Shield win with an MLS Cup.

Luciano Acosta 8.4 (FC Cincinnati)

In the end, Cincinnati made fairly easy work of that potentially tricky tie with New York Red Bulls, although the game in New Jersey went all the way to penalties.

They could have lost the shootout, too, having to play a third game, had John Tolkin dispatched his penalty for the Red Bulls after Santiago Arias’s earlier miss.

But Tolkin’s miss plus a couple of subsequent misses from the home side, including a matchwinning save from goalkeeper Roman Celentano, meant Cincinnati progressed with a game to spare.

Acosta was his usual self, showing why he is, or should be, a shoo-in for the league’s MVP award in 2023.

Despite having no shots, he made five successful dribbles and created six chances in total, including the assist for the equalising goal for Aaron Boupendza.

If the pair can continue this linkup in the upcoming single-elimination knockout games, all of which will be played in Cincinnati thanks to their table-topping regular season, they will take some stopping in the MLS Cup.

Logan Ndenbe 8.2 (Sporting Kansas City)

The burgeoning rivalry between Sporting Kansas City and 2023 expansion team and Western Conference leaders St. Louis continued in to the playoffs.

While St. Louis can claim the regular season glory, Sporting KC came out on top on this occasion, winning the second game of the best-of-three 2-1, having won 4-1 in St. Louis in the opener.

Belgian left-back Ndenbe was causing trouble for St. Louis throughout the first half and rounded it off with a goal.

Having burst forward down the left earlier in the move, he saw space open up inside and moved into it to receive a pass from Alan Pulido.

He curled the ball right-footed into the far corner from just outside the area to give Sporting KC the lead.

Daniel Salloi sealed the win in the second half to send Kansas City through.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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