Page 25 – The Pulse of Football

Jan

2025

Marcus Thuram: Football’s favourite nepo-baby

They’re taking over. Checking out one of your favourite actor’s or musician’s Wikipedia page is almost always followed by a frustrated “oh, of course,” when you see the blue hyperlink over one of their parent’s names. You can’t throw a rock in LA without hitting a Caulkin, Quaid, or a Kardashian.

By Alex Roberts

Football is a little different. A traditionally working-class sport, the lavish lifestyle being the son of a successful player affords doesn’t usually ingrain the grit needed to make it professionally. Just look at Romeo Beckham.

Marcus Thuram, however, may be the exception to the rule, and dare we say it, giving them a good name.

Unlike lead singer of The Strokes, Julian Casablancas (we bet you didn’t know he was a nepo-baby), Marcus, son of Lilian, made it to the top the hard way, first at Sochaux, then Guincamp before heading to Germany with Borussia Mönchengladbach.

Originally a winger, Thuram has transitioned into a target man in Simone Inzaghi’s unique 3-5-2 system. Partnering Argentine ace Lautaro Martínez up top, his hold up play, and clever movement pull opposition defenders out of position, allowing for his fellow striker to move in and, well, strike.

Martínez has been the main man for Inter over the past few years, banging in goals and winning titles for the current Italian champions. Those goals have dried up somewhat this season, just nine in 27 games across all competitions so far to be precise, and now it’s Thuram’s time to shine.

He’s been at Inter for the past 18-months, arch-rivals of one his father’s old sides, and the club his younger brother Khephren currently plays for, Juventus. Dinner time in the Thuram household might be interesting, but Marcus won’t care, he’s having the season of his life.

It didn’t take long for Thuram to make his mark on the 2023-24 Serie A campaign, scoring a brace as the current champions were held to a 2-2 draw with Genoa in their first game of the season.

Alessandro Vogliacco was in the right place at the right time to open the scoring for Genoa in the 20^th minute, pouncing on a loose ball that ricocheted off the crossbar after Inter failed to clear their lines.

With a steely look in his eyes, Thuram towered over the Genoa defender to nod home Nicolo Barella’s pinpoint cross, bagging his first and the equaliser for Simone Inzaghi’s side.

Thuram was an attacking threat throughout the game, finally putting his side ahead in the 82^nd minute with a cheeky lob over Pierluigi Gollini. Unfortunately, his hard work was undone by Yann Bisseck, who conceded a penalty in added time, allowing Genoa to score the equaliser.

After a fairly quiet outing in the 2-0 win over Lecce in the game after, Thuram was on hand once again to play a crucial role in Inter’s 4-0 win over Atalanta, scoring a second brace in three games, as the champions inflicted the heaviest defeat on Gian Piero Gasperini’s side of the season so far.

Football mirrors life, there are peaks and troughs. Seven games for both club and country came and went, without a goal to be seen. Thuram was still productive, providing an assist in Inter’s 3-2 league win over Udinese in late September.

The Frenchman finally broke his duck on October 5 in style, scoring his first hat-trick since 2022, while at Gladbach, dragging his side to a 3-2 win over Torino at the iconic San Siro.

Torino defender Guillermo Maripan was given his marching orders after just 20 minutes for a rash tackle on Thuram. It was the type of challenge that cause lesser men to crumble, but there is nothing lesser about Marcus.

He took the game by the scruff of its neck, spanked it’s little bottom and sent it on its way. His first was with his head, the type of header that makes one reminisce about their playing days as a youngster, hearing your coach, likely someone’s dad, tell you to “head the ball back the way it came from.”

His second was also with his head, although this time, he did the exact opposite of what your mate’s dad would have told you to do. Maybe that’s why they didn’t make it pro; it wasn’t the ‘dodgy knee’ after all.

Things were looking pretty peachy for both Thuram and Inter. 2-0 up against ten-men Torino after 35 minutes, this would be a walk in the park, surely? Wrong. Serie A cult hero Duvan Zapata had other ideas.

Just one minute later, the veteran striker made it 2-1, and few anxious looks were shared between the Inter faithful. Torino weren’t going to roll over and go down without a fight. Bulls are famously not big fans of belly scratches.

Thankfully, Thuram was there to round of his hattrick with this goal coming via his feet. He was in the right place at the right time to scramble the ball into the back of the net after Torino failed to clear their lines.

Nikola Vlasic got one back from the penalty spot in the 86^th minute, but it was too little, too late. Thuram had dragged his side to a win against a side who had been down to ten men since the 20^th minute.

*Thuram is our top rated player in Serie A this season*

The game has been indicative of Inter’s season so far; they’ve made it harder than it needs to be. Thuram had a bit of a dry spell after, scoring just once in his next seven games, but he’s since made up for that.

With 12 goals in his 20 league games, he’s one goal off Atalanta’s Mateo Retegui at the top of the scoring charts. There is plenty of football to be played, don’t be surprised if he ends up as the top dog soon.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from Serie A on FotMob – featuring deep stats coverage, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Jan

2025

Preview: Moyes looking for first win as Everton host Spurs

Everton will host Tottenham in the Premier League on Sunday as David Moyes takes charge of his second game for the Toffees upon his return to Goodison Park. Ange Postecoglou could be under pressure as their inconsistent performances continue, but Everton themselves have struggled this term.

By Matt Smith

Earlier in the season when the two sides last met, Tottenham produced an emphatic 4-0 victory at home while Sean Dyche was still in charge of the Toffees. In this fixture last season, Jarrad Branthwaite rescued a late point in a 2-2 draw thanks to a 94^th minute equaliser.

Moyes receives Garner boost

Speaking to the media ahead of the game against Spurs, Everton manager Moyes confirmed that James Garner has now returned to training after a lengthy spell on the treatment table due to a back injury.

Unfortunately for the Toffees, Youssef Chermiti, Armando Broja, Seamus Coleman, Dwight McNeil, and Tim Iroegbunam remain out for the Merseyside club.

Calvert-Lewin could be the difference

It’s been a tricky season for Dominic Calvert-Lewin, and Everton’s survival hopes could rest on him finding some form. The English striker has scored just twice in the Premier League, but the Toffees have been creating chances for him.

*Calvert-Lewin shot map, Premier League 2024/25*

Calvert-Lewin has had 40 shots in England’s top flight this term with an xG of 5.22, and he missed a gilt-edged opportunity against Aston Villa to equalise in the midweek defeat at Goodison. Moyes will be desperate to get the best out of him heading into the business end of the season.

Tottenham duo added to injury list

Postecoglou has been forced to contend with a lengthy injury list over the last few months, which has undoubtedly had a major impact on their performances. Spurs have received a boost ahead of the trip to Merseyside however, with defender Ben Davies back and available for the game against Everton.

The Australian manager has hinted that Brennan Johnson and Yves Bissouma could be doubts after picking up knocks in their midweek fixture – the North London Derby defeat at Arsenal. Guglielmo Vicario, Micky van de Ven, Cristian Romero, Destiny Udogie, Rodrigo Bentancur, Wilson Odobert and Timo Werner all remain out.

Everton will need to contain Solanke

The major difference between Everton and Aston Villa during the week was the latter having a clinical striker in Ollie Watkins to tuck away a winner. With both Everton and Tottenham struggling, it could be a matter of one player taking their chance to settle the game.

Solanke, despite Spurs’ poor form, has struck seven times in the Premier League this season, providing three assists along the way. With the likes of Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison as creative options behind him, Solanke could be the difference-maker for Tottenham.

Prediction

Spurs have won just three times on the road this season, but Everton themselves are struggling to find the back of the net. The Toffees have conceded just 11 times at Goodison Park this campaign, so we’re expecting a tight affair. We’re going for a 1-1 draw at Goodison Park on Sunday.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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

Jan

2025

Preview: Arsenal face Aston Villa in a key game at the Emirates

Arsenal must back up their mid-week North London Derby win against Aston Villa in Saturday’s late kick-off to put pressure on Liverpool at the top of the table.

By Graham Ruthven

Momentum builder

Wednesday’s win over Tottenham Hotspur must be a catalyst for Arsenal to build momentum again. The Gunners can’t allow the four-point gap between themselves and Liverpool to grow any further otherwise the title race could be over sooner rather than later.

Some believe Liverpool already have the title wrapped up. However, Arne Slot’s side face a tricky test away to Brentford on Saturday, meaning Arsenal might have the opportunity to apply pressure on the table-toppers by the time they face Aston Villa a few hours later.

Villa enter Saturday’s match at the Emirates Stadium on the back of a three-game winning run. Unai Emery’s team have recovered from a difficult period which saw them go eight matches without a win in November to once again climb the Premier League table.

Last season, Aston Villa claimed all three points away to Arsenal in a match that all but ended the Gunners hopes of winning the Premier League. It might be much earlier in the campaign this time, but Arsenal’s title chances are once again on the line.

Key players

Saturday’s match in North London could be decided in midfield where both teams will set up to have control. Arsenal will have Declan Rice, Thomas Partey and Martin Ødegaard while Aston Villa boast Boubacar Kamara, Amadou Onana and Youri Tielemens. The midfield battle will be worth watching.

Gabriel Magalhães and William Saliba’s partnership in central defence is frequently the foundation from which Arsenal build on. The former also poses a goal threat, as he demonstrated by forcing a goal from a corner kick against Spurs.

In attack, Arsenal are currently depleted through a number of injuries to key players. Kai Havertz is expected to start up front despite facing criticism for his finishing in recent defeats to Newcastle United and Manchester United.

Morgan Rogers will be a threat for Villa having registered five goal contributions in his last five games while Ollie Watkins has rediscovered his scoring touch recently, netting twice in four outings.

Donyell Malen – named as a FotMob Transfer of the Week – could make his Premier League debut after joining Aston Villa from Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday, although the Dutchman is most likely to start on the bench.

Team news

Arsenal’s injury troubles have worsened recently with Gabriel Jesus joining Bukayo Saka, Ethan Nwaneri, Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu on the sidelines after coming off against Manchester United in the FA Cup last weekend.

Riccardo Calafiori hasn’t played since early January due to a muscle injury, but could feature against Aston Villa. Myles Lewis-Skelley is, however, expected to keep his place at left back with Jurrien Timber on the right side of the defence.

John McGinn and Ross Barkley will both miss out through injury with Diego Carlos and Pau Torres also currently sidelined. Otherwise, Emery has a full squad to pick from for the trip to North London.

Prediction

This could be a cagy affair where both sides cancel each other out – Villa are in form but the Gunners don’t draw a blank that often, so we’ll go with a 1-1 draw.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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

Jan

2025

Can PSG remain unbeaten at home and progress in Europe?

Paris Saint-Germain, top of the league. Not much of a surprise there, but the Ligue 1 champions still have a massive week ahead of them as they bid to stay in contention to reach the Champions League knockouts – yet can’t take their eye off the ball domestically, either.

By Karl Matchett

For Luis Enrique’s team, there’s probably only one priority in the week ahead. The Parisian side are in danger of missing the cut amid Europe’s top 24, improbable as it seems, and with two league phase games left they are one point adrift of Dinamo Zagreb, PSV and Manchester City to sneak into those Champions League playoff places. Their remaining fixtures are at home to the last of those three sides, a big clash anyway but a crunch one now, and then away to Stuttgart – who themselves are on the same points as PSG, just behind on goal difference.

*The massive sides in and around the play-offs in the Champions League table*

It really could go any which way between that triumvirate in particular, given Man City’s recent poor form, PSG’s lax showing on the continent, and the German side’s recent run of six wins in seven across all competitions. Even so, it’s in their own hands: win twice and PSG will certainly be in the playoffs. Luis Enrique will expect his team to do exactly that, however difficult the opposition – after all, that’s what’s demanded given the financial outlay at the club and the long-term target they’ve sought.

For a long time, PSG have been criticised for being missing in action when it comes to the most critical parts of the campaign and fighting for European honours; no matter the presence of Neymar, of Kylian Mbappé or even of Lionel Messi, they rarely, truly threatened to be conquerors of Europe.

And perhaps a part of that stems from a lack of competition domestically. It has been pointed out, not just with PSG but in previous years with Bayern Munich and their Bundesliga dominance too, that being so far ahead in league terms by the mid point of the season can often mean they are undercooked in competitive terms when they suddenly must step up again, against Europe’s finest.

Perhaps there’s merit to that theory.

And that means it’s not just PSG’s Champions League short-term future at stake across the coming weeks, but also their longer-term prospects, because while they are indeed already seven points clear at the top of Ligue 1, there’s a bigger prize available, one which brings with it historical value as much as sporting, one which nobody has yet achieved in the national top flight.

That is, to go the entire season unbeaten.

And, we could go further – PSG haven’t yet proven themselves in another regard, perhaps again by way of the title being wrapped up so early sometimes that results simply…trail off. Consider this: despite winning ten of the last 12 league titles in France, such dominance has not come with the title of being the nation’s hardest to beat side, ever.

That distinction currently belongs to Nantes, who in 1994/95 – the vintage of Claude Makélélé and Christian Karembeu, of Patrice Loko and Nicolas Ouédec – blew away the competition to win the title, ten points clear of Lyon and losing just a single fixture all season long.

So far, the best that PSG have managed is two defeats in a single campaign. They have equalled that Nantes side in other ways, of course; their long-held record of 32 matches unbeaten from the start of a campaign was matched by PSG in 15/16, while PSG also went 36 unbeaten in the league between 2015 and 2016. That still stands as a league record itself.

But for all the frontiers PSG have crossed, perhaps this one – an invincible domestic campaign – is the most notable one they’ve yet to achieve.

For, if they can truly go the distance mentally as much as technically and tactically, would Luis Enrique’s team then not be also able to replicate that resilience in Europe? If the team have something to fight for all year long, a genuine accolade to keep striving for every time they step on the pitch, would that not eliminate the so-called issue of non-competitiveness which blights them in the latter stages of Europe?

This is a question which can only be answered a single game at a time, and even then only if PSG do lift themselves into the top 24 with their last two fixtures in the league phase. And there’s even an argument in the opposite direction: if PSG go out of Europe at this point, doubling down on becoming France’s best side ever is not just a way to get over the disappointment, but to still ensure this campaign can be seen as a resounding success, not in the way they expected perhaps, but in a way which can never, ever be beaten.

Right now, they at least have the opportunity to do it either way, unbeaten through 17 at the halfway stage.

Sometimes, all the very finest sides need is exactly that: opportunity. For PSG to prove they remain one of the finest, after the exits of not just Mbappé but of Manuel Ugarte and Carlos Soler, of Marco Verratti and Leandro Paredes…of Neymar and Messi…this would be the way to do it. Find a way in Europe. Get into the knockouts, and then impact there. And maybe the key to unlock that particular door at last is to not be obsessed by Champions League success, but to instead remain entirely focused on domestic dominance. What follows from that might be more historic than anything they’ve already done.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from Ligue 1 with FotMob this season – featuring deep stats coverage, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Jan

2025

Preview: Bordalás’ Getafe prepared to square up against Barcelona

Barcelona are back in LaLiga action close to a month after their dramatic defeat to Atlético Madrid. Their first league game of 2025 will see them visit the Community of Madrid to face Getafe.

By Neel Shelat

Barcelona’s free-flowing attack

Barcelona certainly kept their fans entertained despite a lack of LaLiga action over the last four weeks. Their short winter break was dominated by squad registration drama surrounding Dani Olmo and Pau Víctor – who will be available for now at least – after which they won all four matches played in resounding fashion.

The victories over Barbastro in the cup and Athletic Club in the Supercopa semifinal were routine enough, but their attack found yet another gear in the last two games. They put five past eternal rivals Real Madrid in Saudi Arabia on Sunday before doing the same to Real Betis back on Spanish soil in a midweek Copa del Rey tie.

Barça alerady were the best attacking team by quite a large margin in the first half of the La Liga season, so the possibility of them getting even better will send shivers down the spines of defenders around the division.

A clash of polar opposite styles

While Barcelona traditionally like to keep a lot of the ball and put together slick attacking moves, José Bordalás’ Getafe side are quite the opposite. Perhaps nothing encapsulates the team better than their most recent result – a single goal win over fourth-tier Pontevedra in the Copa del Rey. This game had all the hallmarks of peak Bordalás-ball: a comically low possession figure, an incredibly resolute defensive display and of course, a red card for violent conduct.

While Getafe’s stats are not quite so eye-catching in every singly match, they do have one of LaLiga’s lowest possession averages this season at 43.6% as well as the second-lowest attacking return of just 13 goals.

Entertainment limited at the Coliseum

Getafe’s attacking numbers have not been much better in any of their recent seasons, so the only reason thay have been able to stay up is their incredibly tight defence. They are on course to repeat the trick having let in just 16 goals in 19 league fixtures so far.

Unsurprisingly, then, Getafe’s games have seen the fewest goals scored. They are particularly stingy at home as just 13 goals have been scored at both ends combined in the 10 league matches they have hosted. Clearly, fans looking for goals should not expect to be too entertained at the Estadio Coliseum.

Getafe’s impressive home record against Barcelona

Barcelona have surely not enjoyed any of their recent visits to Getafe. In fact, they have failed to score in their last four matches at the Coliseum, drawing the last three and losing to a single goal in 2020. So, their last scorers at the venue are Luis Suárez and Junior Firpo.

A full-strength attack led by the irresistible front three of Lamine Yamal, Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha will be keen to change that tonight.

Prediction

Barcelona have the momentum and attacking firepower to break down Getafe’s staunch defence and put an end to their three-match winless streak in LaLiga.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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

Jan

2025

Preview: Brentford prepare to face leaders Liverpool at the GTech

For a little while this game looked like being billed as the Premier League’s best home team against the division’s best team overall; recent events, though, have shown perhaps only one of those is accurate.

By Karl Matchett

Familiar faces at the Gtech

For Sepp van den Berg, this fixture might be a bit of self justification. The Dutch defender departed Anfield the in summer after feeling he wouldn’t get much of a look-in; he joined the Bees and has started 16 times in the top flight. Immediately alongside him once more was Fabio Carvalho; the attacker similarly thought that game time would be at a premium under Arne Slot, but so far it hasn’t been quite as frequent as he’d like under Thomas Frank either – of 16 games for him, 13 have come from the bench.

The two can be seen as examples of Brentford’s own progression and desire to push higher up the league table, signing talents from those above; alternatively they can be seen to hint that Liverpool, who only signed Federico Chiesa in summer for under half the amount received for Carvalho, have kept their powder dry. No moves have been made by the league leaders yet this month, but it could still change quickly.

Fluctuating form

Rewind only a month and Brentford sat top of the table themselves – at least when it came to home form. After battering Newcastle, they sat pretty with seven wins from eight at the Gtech Community Stadium, a fantastic start in front of their own fans which made them top-half contenders, at least on the face of things.

But the truth was slightly skewed and recently has been unveiled somewhat. At the same point of the campaign, Brentford had also lost almost every away game and hadn’t won any. They have since done so – but only at the bottom club, Southampton. And, meanwhile, they’ve lost twice and drawn one at home as well – plus were beaten by Plymouth in the FA Cup. The wheels have come off where they were working for Frank’s injury-hit side.

Liverpool, meanwhile, remain top of the league. A recent blip could only be described that way for the team who were previously near-faultless: their current league form reads “drawn twice”. It’s not quite into the dramatic territory some would have you believe. Worse still for Brentford, Liverpool have yet to lose once away in the league this term.

Team news

Liverpool have Darwin Núñez back from suspension and Joe Gomez is out injured – Slot has very nearly a full squad. Frank has far more issues, with seven still out, the main ones of which are Ethan Pinnock, Kristoffer Ajer, Aaron Hickey and Igor Thiago.

Key player

With Mohamed Salah looking off-key of late – against his very high standards – we’ll go for Alexis Mac Allister to pull some strings. Brentford’s midfield is physical but he can mix it too – and still find the pass at the end. He’s 93rd percentile for xA, 90th for possession won in the final third and is vital to the Reds’ tactical plan.

Prediction

Brentford’s home form showed they can beat the sides below them, but they are still a way off those above. Three points for the visitors: Brentford 1 Liverpool 3.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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

Jan

2025

A season of stick or twist in Premier League management

Football management is a fickle occupation, just ask the six Premier League managers who have been sacked so far this season.

By Ross Kilvington

Erik ten Hag, Steve Cooper, Gary O’Neil, Russell Martin, Julen Lopetegui and Sean Dyche all paid the price for underperforming at their respective clubs.

A couple could perhaps count themselves a tad unlucky while for others, such as Martin and O’Neil, the writing was on the wall. The duo registered only three wins in the top flight between them this term in charge at Southampton and Wolves.

The revolving door in football is continuous. Some clubs are worse than others when it comes to hiring and firing. For every managerial sacking in the Premier League, an opportunity is presented elsewhere for someone to turn around the fortunes of a club.

David Moyes, Graham Potter and Ivan Jurić are the three most recent hires, joining Everton, West Ham and Southampton respectively.

Here at FotMob, we take an in depth look at all three, examining exactly what they can bring to their respective clubs over the final few months of the season.

David Moyes

“Everton is different.” Said Moyes during his first press conference since returning to the Toffees, 12 years after departing Goodison Park to take over from Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United.

We all know how that turned out, but the Scot refused to let this disappointment linger, returning to management with Real Sociedad just seven months later. It was at West Ham, however, where the 61-year-old proved he wasn’t just a one-trick pony.

At times, the football may have been a tough watch, but Moyes led the Irons to their first major silverware in 43 years, claiming the Europa Conference League title in May 2023.

The Friedkin Group secured their takeover of Everton towards the end of 2024, heightening the pressure on Dyche, who was eventually sacked on January 9 after two years at the helm.

Next season marks the start of a new era for the Merseyside club, moving into their new stadium at Bramley Moore Docks. Considering £800m has been spent on building the ground, retaining Premier League status this season is imperative.

Moyes, in that respect, is the ideal candidate. Not only does he know the club inside out, but a two and a half year contract indicates the new owners have faith in his abilities.

Everton have the joint-fifth best defensive record in the top flight, conceding just 26 goals. The priority for Moyes will be finding a way to get his team to score more goals in the second half of the season.

With 15 goals, they rank as the second-worst attacking side in the division. If Moyes can utilise the counterattacking style that was often on show at points during his two spells at West Ham, then the Toffees will claw themselves away from the drop zone over the next few months.

The prodigal son has returned.

Graham Potter

Graham Potter has bided his time with regards to making a return to management, turning down various offers since his Chelsea sacking in April 2023.

The next move had to be the right one, especially with his reputation at stake. West Ham, therefore, is the ideal club for him.

His spell at Chelsea was forgettable, but this shouldn’t take the shine off the incredible work he did at Brighton.

Across three seasons on the south coast, Potter took the club from the lower reaches of the table into the top half and the West Ham supporters will be hoping the 49-year-old can repeat the feat at the London Stadium.

Potter’s tactical philosophy centres around a possession based system, but will this change at West Ham? He has plenty of players who are capable of individual brilliance such as Lucas Paquetá, Mohammed Kudus and Jarrod Bowen.

His greatest strength is being adaptable, which could see him move away from the 3-4-2-1 system he used at Brighton, shifting in the direction of 4-2-3-1, a formation Julen Lopetegui shaped with his summer signings.

If given time, Potter can turn West Ham into his next big project, which may just see them return to European competition sooner rather than later.

Ivan Jurić

Of the three sides discussed here, Southampton certainly took the biggest gamble when appointing their new coach. Ivan Jurić’s arrival on the south coast marks his first coaching role outside of Italy.

His spells with Hellas Verona and Torino established the Croatian’s managerial reputation, finishing either ninth or tenth across five seasons in Serie A with both clubs, leading to his big move to AS Roma.

Like his predecessor, Daniele De Rossi, Jurić wasn’t offered much time to implement his own ideas in the capital, receiving his marching orders after just eight matches in charge.

His spell in Italy allowed Jurić to develop his high intensity pressing approach which is built on defensive solidity. It may be too late to save Southampton from relegation this season, but this tactical philosophy could be perfect for the club in the long run.

Languishing at the bottom of the table having won just one game in the Premier League this season, Jurić faces a difficult task indeed.

The 49-year-old has endured a baptism of fire since taking over at the Saints, losing his first four league games, scoring just twice in the process. But there was some positivity following the FA Cup win over Swansea City.

Long term Atalanta boss Gian Piero Gasperini has been Jurić’s mentor for nearly two decades. If Southampton can achieve half of what La Sea have in recent years, then it could be a marriage made in heaven.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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

Jan

2025

Premier League Preview, Matchday 22

Every single matchday in the Premier League now feels pivotal. Margins are finer and results are more impactful with the number of games remaining now dwindling. After all, we’re into the second half of the season.

By Sam McGuire

So, with a lot still to play for, here’s a look ahead at what might be the biggest talking points this weekend.

The Alexander Isak show continues?

The Newcastle United forward is on an incredible run of form right now. He’s scored in eight successive Premier League matches and is now on 15 goals for the campaign. Only Erling Haaland (16) and Mohamed Salah (18) have more than the Sweden international.

He’s on 20 goal involvements for the season, a figure that only Salah (31) can better.

This weekend, he comes up against a Bournemouth team that is going under the radar. And the striker doesn’t necessarily have the best record against the Cherries. He’s got one goal in three matches against them and he’s yet to be on the winning side against Andoni Iraola’s men.

Bournemouth are quietly going about their business in the English top-flight this term. A win for the Cherries would, momentarily at least, lift them up to sixth. They’re 10 matches unbeaten across all competitions and their last defeat arrived in November. Iraola’s side have kept four clean sheets in their last eight Premier League matches with Dean Huijsen playing a key role in their new-found defensive resilience.

If Iraola and his players can end Isak’s streak, people might start to take notice of them as contenders for European football.

*Isak’s eight game streak shown in FotMob ratings*

Pressure on Liverpool

Liverpool have seen their lead at the top of the Premier League table cut to just four points following a 1-1 draw with Nottingham Forest.

The Reds have looked a little leggy so far in 2025, struggling against Spurs and Manchester United.

They travel to Brentford on Saturday needing a performance and a result. Arne Slot‘s side have the best away record in the Premier League, and they’ve scored the most away goals. However, they’re up against a team with the most home goals this season as well as the second best home record in the English top-flight.

Brentford have an in-form attacker in Bryan Mbeumo within their ranks. The versatile attacker has 16 goal involvements this term, including 13 goals.

Liverpool have their own potent weapon in Salah. He leads the way for goals (18), assists (13) and goal involvements (31).

It looks set to be the battle of the left-footed right-wingers at the Gtech on Saturday afternoon. The winner of that battle will likely determine the winner of the match.

This is a big day for the Reds. They could finish the weekend seven points clear at the top if things go their way. If results to against them, they could end the weekend just one point clear.

A sustained Arsenal challenge?

It is also a big day for Arsenal.

Depending on results, they could be seven points off the pace at the top or just a point behind the leaders on Saturday evening, albeit having played a game more.

This matchday is massive for momentum.

Mikel Arteta‘s side ended their three match winless streak with a 2-1 victory over Spurs in the North London derby. The win was a hard fought one.

The game on Saturday looks set to be another difficult one for the title hopefuls at the Emirates as they welcome Aston Villa.

Unai Emery will be looking to get one over on his former side and his Villa team are in good form right now. They have won three on the bounce and are unbeaten in four. A win could see them move up to fifth position. Despite their inconsistent form overall this term, they’re still in contention for claiming a top four finish.

The Villans have won two of the last four meetings between the two sides. A win here would be a statement one for the away side and it could be the result needed to give them a platform for the remainder of the season.

The Chelsea collapse?

A little over a month ago, Chelsea looked like genuine title contenders. They’d were on a nine-match unbeaten run and had claimed six victories during this period. Now, though, they’re sitting in fifth position, 10 points off leaders Liverpool having played a game more.

Enzo Maresca’s side are winless in five having recorded three draws and two losses.

They welcome a struggling Wolves side to Stamford Bridge on Monday evening looking to get back to winning ways in their pursuit of a top four finish.

Their visitors had improved under Vítor Pereira but they’ve lost their last two Premier League matches by an aggregate scoreline of 6-0.

Wolves are outside of the relegation zone having scored more goals than Ipswich Town. The two teams are on 16 points and both have a goal difference of -17. Earlier in the season, Chelsea romped to a 6-2 win over Wolves. A similar scoreline here would likely see Pereira’s side end the matchday in the relegation zone.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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

Jan

2025

Transfer of the Week: Why Donyell Malen could be a key addition for Villa

Over the course of the January transfer window, we are taking a close look at some of the biggest and best business in our ‘Transfer of the Week’ columns. This time, our focus is on Aston Villa’s newest signing, Donyell Malen.

By Neel Shelat

The January transfer window has certainly gotten into gear now as a host of big deals have reportedly been in the works this week. Most of them are yet to be completed, though, and at risk of this going out of date as soon as we publish this article – that means that Donyell Malen’s €25 million move to Aston Villa is the most expensive transfer of the window so far.

Even so, that amount is €5m less than what Borussia Dortmund paid to sign the Dutch forward in 2021. It is safe to say that the 25-year-old attacker has not fully lived up to the potential he showed in the early years of his career, but he could yet be a useful addition for Aston Villa.

Career so far

Born and raised in the Netherlands, Malen spent most of his childhood at Ajax but moved over to Arsenal at the age of 16. He certainly caught the eye of those following the Gunners’ youth teams but decided to move back to the Netherlands after a couple of years as PSV Eidhoven signed him for just €600,000.

After impressing with Jong PSV for a season in the Eerste Divisie, Malen soon got his senior breakthrough. Although 25 of his 31 Eredivisie appearances in 2018/19 came off the bench, he hit double digits in terms of goals and got a handful assists to boot. The Dutch youngster then looked well on course to having an explosive 2019/20 season, but a significant knee injury ended his campaign in December. Nevertheless, he came back strong in 2020/21, putting together his best league season with 19 goals and eight assists in addition to a seven-goal tally in the Europa League.

Top teams from Europe’s big five leagues including the likes of Liverpool and Juventus were said to be interested in his services in the summer of 2021 but it was Borussia Dortmund who got a deal over the line for a transfer fee of €30m. They must have expected him to quickly thrive in the Bundesliga considering his direct playing style, but that did not prove to be the case.

Although Malen got his fair share of starts and minutes, he only scored five league goals in his first season in North Rhine-Westphalia. He failed to hit double digits in 2022/23 as well, with seven of his nine Bundesliga goals coming after March. Indeed, the Dutch international has grown into quite a streaky player. Last season, for example, he scored four club goals by mid-September, went on a long goal-drought until late November, netted seven times in as many games in a run between mid-January and early March but then added just two more before the end of the season.

Player profile

Malen’s style of play perhaps partly explains his inconsistent attacking output.

Capable of playing across the front three positions, the 25-year-old forward stands out thanks to his rapid burst of pace for runs in behind opposition defences. So, he poses most of his threat by racing onto through balls and getting one-on-one with the goalkeeper.

This is precisely why Malen’s statistical profile is so pronounced – his overall involvement in the build-up is quite limited but he often serves as the outlet by getting into shooting positions. So, he should be seen as an off-ball attacker.

Although the Dutchman started out as a striker at PSV, he does not seem best-suited for that role in the big five leagues. For one, he is not great at linking up with his teammates as he has misplaced one in four passes in each of his four league seasons at Borussia Dortmund. He cannot be used as a target striker either since he is less than 180cm tall and tends to lose the vast majority of his aerial duels, so he is a little too one-dimensional to be a useful centre-forward for most teams.

His weaknesses can be better masked on the wings, though, while his runs in behind also become more dangerous after the striker distracts the opposition defenders. While he is not overly skilful or flashy on the ball, he can also use his pace to burst past defenders and quickly carry the ball forward.

Malen certainly has the potential to get better, especially by improving his end product. His relatively hopeful one-on-one finishing is a big reason behind his streaky output, especially because he tends to do worse when in a scoring rut. He could also get more assists with better awareness of his teammates’ positions and more pinpoint cutbacks.

Potential role at Aston Villa

Malen’s profile would suggest that Aston Villa are taking a bit of risk in signing him for €25m, but that amount could well be worth it for the balance he can provide to their attack. At the moment, Unai Emery’s side are light in the right wing position. Leon Bailey is their only recognised option in that position, so the likes of John McGinn and Morgan Rogers have had to fill in at times this season.

However, they are bad fits for the right wing role in Emery’s asymmetric 4-2-3-1 system, which becomes more of a 3-2-4-1 in possession. The left back pushes up as the left winger tucks inside, while the right winger stays wide with the right back remaining deeper. Of course, Malen will fulfil the role quite differently to Bailey, so his off-ball threat from wide could well add a different dimension to the Villans’ attack.

Even if he does not score a lot of goals, Malen’s arrival at least ensures that Rogers and company can continue to thrive in their best roles for Aston Villa. And if Emery manages to get the best out of the Dutchman, as he has done with so many other forwards, this will go down as a great transfer.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

To keep up date with all the latest deals this window, check out the FotMob Transfer Centre. Download the free app here.

Jan

2025

FotMob Profile: Enzo Le Fee, Sunderland’s potential difference maker

It has been nearly eight years since Sunderland last played a Premier League match, losing 5-1 at Chelsea on May 21, 2017, and finishing bottom of the table with 24 points. After a decade in the top-flight, Sunderland dropped down to the Championship – they are yet to return.

By Zach Lowy

Just under a year later, Enzo Le Fée made his debut for Régis Le Bris’ Lorient B team, playing the full 90 in a 2-0 defeat to Boulogne-Billancourt. Having cut his teeth in the French fourth division, Le Fée would break into the first team in 2019/20 under Christophe Pélissier and steer them to the Ligue 2 title. Lorient finished 16th in their first two seasons back in the top-flight before deciding to promote Le Bris to first-team manager in June 2022.

This provided the impetus for Le Fée to unlock his lofty potential: only Paris Saint-Germain’s Lionel Messi (49) and Neymar (47) created more big chances in France than Le Fée (41), who finished as the seventh-highest rated FotMob player in the 2022/23 Ligue 1 season. Having scored 2 goals and 10 assists in his first 106 Lorient appearances, Le Fée scored 6 goals and 5 assists in 36 appearances and led Les Merlus to a 10th-place finish – their best placement in nine years.

*Le Fée’s passing stats from that breakout season (2022/23)*

“For a long time, Le Fée was clearly a technically gifted player, but it was unclear where he would thrive most on the pitch…he looked a bit lost,” said Baptise Reynaud, the co-host of the Le Classique Podcast.“His slight build and lack of end product were also worrying, but under Le Bris, in an ambitious side that played smart, courageous football, he was an absolute delight. He made the team tick as the No. 8 and always seemed to be in the right place at the right time, with a little dash of outrageous creativity once in a while. Boasting smarts and technical ability, he’s a gifted passer who’s capable of dictating play in a possession-based side and taking risks in the right areas on the pitch. He’s intelligent, versatile, and just needs to be trusted to be the team’s technical leader in midfield.”

After 15 years at Lorient, Le Fée departed for fellow Brittany side Rennes, joining for a fee of €20 million. Whilst Le Fée struggled to adjust to life at the Roazhon Park, Lorient failed to cope without his creative spark and were relegated. Le Bris parted ways at the end of the 2023/24 season and joined Championship club Sunderland, whilst Le Fée moved to Roma for €23 million, where he managed just 10 appearances. Exactly six months after penning a five-year contract with the Giallorossi, Le Fée decided to reunite with Le Bris at Sunderland, joining on loan with an option to buy for €23 million – an option that will be triggered should they achieve promotion to the Premier league.

On the face of it, it seems like a massive coup for the Black Cats. Le Fée has made 132 appearances in Ligue 1, he’s represented France at the U20, U21, and U21 level and played for them in the Olympic Games, and he has demonstrated enough talent to merit not one, but two lucrative transfers to two UEFA Europa League-level clubs. But just what can Sunderland fans expect from him?

Le Fée is an all-action No. 8 who has the spatial awareness to pick up the ball in tight spaces and evade pressure with his silky movement and nimble dribbling skills, and whilst he only stands 5’8” tall, he’s proven himself to be no slouch in physical duels. In fact, only Benjamin André (3.8), Andrei Girotto (3.4) and Laurent Abergel (3.2) completed more tackles per game than Le Fée (3.1) in the 2022/23 Ligue 1 season. He uses his low centre of gravity to his advantage by turning on a six pence and leaving his marker in his wake with an elusive drop of the shoulder, a player who thrives at attracting pressure and quickly extinguishing the threat. He’s always thinking one step ahead of his opponent, constantly scanning his surroundings and positioning himself well to receive in an ideal location.

Le Fée is someone who excels at driving forward with the ball, riding physical challenges, slaloming past markers and keeping the ball glued to his feet whilst maneuvering past physical challenges. Even after a year that has seen him struggle to convince at Rennes and Roma, he still ranks in the 97th percentile amongst midfielders for successful take-ons per 90 (1.72) and the 94th for progressive carries per 90 (2.65). These attributes should fit Sunderland’s counter-attacking style like a glove, and they should also provide them with another dimension against deep blocks. His exquisite vision and footballing IQ enable him to thread the needle and tee up his teammate with a perfectly timed pass. Above all, he’s someone who’s always looking to pick up the ball and make things happen, and he’s more than capable of cementing a starting spot as one of the No. 8s in Le Bris’ 4-2-3-1 formation. After working under five different managers in two different countries over the past 18 months, Le Fée will be hoping to knuckle down and find some stability under Le Bris.

Make no mistake: this is a statement signing for Sunderland, who find themselves locked in a heated promotion race, sitting fourth in the table with 50 points behind Sheffield United (52), Burnley (52) and Leeds United (52). At 24 years of age, Le Fée already proven his mettle as a superb ball-winner, a deep-lying midfield creator, and a fleet-footed ball carrier, and there’s reason to believe that he will provide an immediate boost in quality to Sunderland’s engine room.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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