Page 3 – The Pulse of Football

Aug

2025

Preview: Barcelona visit Mallorca on opening weekend

Barcelona start their league title defence with a potentially tricky away match against Mallorca on Saturday.

By Graham Ruthven

On the road

There’s no place like home, not that Barcelona will get to experience any home comforts for a while. The Spanish champions will start the defence of their LaLiga title with a run of three away games starting with Saturday’s trip to Mallorca.

Barca won’t return to the renovated Camp Nou until September, meaning Hansi Flick’s side face a challenging start to the 2025/26 campaign, not least because Mallorca could be awkward opponents.

The Balearic islanders finished a respectable 10th in the table last season, just four points off European qualification. Mallorca, however, have struggled against Barcelona in recent times. Indeed, they haven’t beaten the Catalans since 2009.

At their best, Barca are a force of nature. Their attack is arguably the strongest in European football right now, scoring 102 goals in 38 league games last term.

However, Flick’s insistence on an exceptionally high defensive line means opponents frequently have opportunities of their own against the Catalans. This is where Mallorca will fancy their chances in front of their own fans.

Key players

Vedat Muriqi can be a handful on his day. The Kosovan striker will lead the line for Mallorca this weekend and could challenge Barcelona’s backline through his physicality and aerial threat.

Sergi Darder and Takuma Asano are expected to feature in the final third with Pablo Torre also in line to make his league debut for Mallorca against his former side. Manu Morlanes and Omar Mascarell will be up against it in central midfield.

Lamine Yamal might well be the best player in the world at the age of 18. The teenager is a phenomenon and is Barcelona’s most consistent attacking and creative threat in the final third.

*Yamal player traits comparison against similar players in top five leagues*

Marcus Rashford could make his debut in LaLiga after a positive pre-season and the resolution of his registration issue. The on-loan Manchester United winger is looking to revive his career at Barcelona and could be in line for a start on Saturday.

Raphinha’s driving runs and sharp shooting made him one of the best attackers in Europe last season and the Brazilian will once again be a danger in both open space and tight areas.

Pedri and Frenkie de Jong could start as a double pivot with Fermín López slightly ahead of the pair while goalkeeper Joan García is also expected to make his competitive bow for Barcelona after joining from Espanyol in the summer.

Team news

Samú Costa is Mallorca’s only injury concern ahead of the season opener against Barcelona. The Portuguese midfielder could still make the squad and will face a late fitness test.

Marc-André Ter Stegen is sidelined with a long-term injury while Robert Lewandowski is a doubt. Ferran Torres could subsequently start as Barca’s first-choice centre forward on Saturday.

Iñigo Martínez’s surprise move to Al-Nassr has opened up a starting spot in Barcelona’s backline something we discussed – here – during the week. Flick has favoured Ronald Araújo alongside Pau Cubarsí, but not having a left-footer in defence could affect the Catalans’ balance.

Prediction

While a clean sheet can never be guaranteed with Hansi Flick’s Barcelona, you can always expect to see the Catalans create and, most likely, take their chances. We can see Barca taking three points back to the mainland: Mallorca 1-3 Barcelona.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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

Aug

2025

Tony Bloom and Hearts could turn out to be the perfect match

Heart of Midlothian football club have often generated headlines for all the wrong reasons over the previous few years. From the Vladimir Romanov era to administration, the support have seen – and been through – it all.

By Ross Kilvington

In June, however, the headlines were positive for once. That was when the news broke of Brighton and Hove Albion owner and chairman Tony Bloom securing a £9.86m deal to buy a 29% stake in the capital club.

Heads were turned. This wasn’t just another foreign investor pumping their money in to see a quick fix (see Romanov) but someone who has a long term vision for the Gorgie outfit.

The fan-led majority shareholder group at Hearts voted in favour of the offer from Bloom and it could well turn out to be a match made in heaven.

Why Hearts? And why the interest in Scottish football from the poker playing entrepreneur?

Tony Bloom can usher in a new era at Hearts

Depending on who you ask, Hearts are the third biggest club in Scotland. Across their history, the Jambos have won 16 major honours, including four league titles, but success has been barren in the 21^st century.

Indeed, the club have won just two Scottish Cups (2006 and 2012) and even spent two seasons in the second tier.

Bloom’s investment, then, could be seen as a masterstroke, especially considering Brighton’s meteoric rise since he became chairman in 2009.

The Seagulls finished eighth in the Premier League last season – their second highest finish in the top flight ever – and the club even played European football for the first time during the 2023/24 campaign.

Furthermore, Bloom has worked wonders in the transfer market. Moisés Caicedo was sold for £115m in 2023. Marc Cucurella and João Pedro also departed for fees in excess of £60m.

In total, six players have been sold by Brighton for £30m or more since the summer of 2021, with the club reinvesting this money wisely in the transfer market.

Of course, Hearts wont be selling players for these types of figures, but with the right recruitment, they can start making solid profits on those who are performing well.

Indeed, the Edinburgh side had a formal relationship with Jamestown Analytics – Bloom’s company – for recruitment purposes. Now, with his investment, this area will surely be ramped up as he bids to secure some silverware in the near future.

Last week, the 55-year-old stated that Hearts will “have an excellent season” before outlining his vision for the club over the next few years.

“I’m not saying we’re going to win trophies this season, that season, next season but I genuinely believe that we will be a significant factor in Scottish football right here, right now and for the long term.”

Bloom is a confident man. But with only Aberdeen splitting the Old Firm in the top flight since the 2016/17 season, Derek McInnes has a major job on his hands, that’s for sure.

Judging by the impressive start to the season under the former Kilmarnock manager, Hearts and Bloom could be ready to take Scottish football by storm over the coming months.

Derek McInnes is the perfect manager for Hearts

Seventh in the Premiership, knocked out of the Conference League at the group stage and a failure to reach the final of either domestic cup signifies how poor Hearts’ 2024/25 season was.

Combined with the fact the club went through two permanent managers, change was needed ahead of this summer in order to prevent another disastrous season.

Step forward McInnes. The Scot led Aberdeen to their first trophy in nearly 20 years back in 2014. Elsewhere, he also brought Kilmarnock back into the top flight before leading the Rugby Park side to fourth in 2023/24, thus qualifying for Europe.

He’s been there and done that in Scottish football, making him the perfect appointment for Hearts.

One of his first jobs was tying Lawrence Shankland down to a new deal. At one stage, it looked as though the striker was set to depart Gorgie, but McInnes’ vision, plus the investment from Bloom clearly persuaded the 30-year-old to pen a three-year contract.

Despite losing James Penrice this summer, McInnes has recruited well thus far. Eight new signings have already arrived in Edinburgh, including forwards Claudio Braga and Elton Kabangu.

The Jambos got off to a fast start in the League Cup group phase, winning all four of their matches by an aggregate score of 16-1, dispatching Dunfermline, Hamilton, Stirling Albion and Dumbarton with ease.

These results were expected, however, and the real challenge awaited on the opening weekend of the Premiership season against McInnes former employees Aberdeen.

Hearts strolled to a comfortable win as an own goal by Graeme Shinnie and a Stuart Findlay header were enough to ensure a positive start.

McInnes’ teams are known for their ability to get the job done by whatever means possible, but Hearts played 122 passes into the final third against the Dons, while also taking 27 touches inside the opposition penalty area.

A sign of things to come perhaps? Against Dundee United last weekend, Hearts scored in the dying embers of the match to seal a 3-2 win that propelled them to the top of the league table.

During that match, the club achieved 79 final third entries along with taking 40 touches in the opposition penalty area.

This 100% start to the season has the supporters bursting with anticipation for the campaign ahead.

Hearts still have to play both Celtic and Rangers, but the first few weeks have shown that the relationship between Bloom and McInnes could steer Hearts into a new era.

“We’ve got a very good chance of at least being second this season.” said the Brighton owner before the Aberdeen clash.

This statement will either turn out to be prophetic or idiotic. Hearts’ performances over the next nine months will be the judge of that.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow all SPFL games on FotMob in the 2025/26 season – with in-depth stat coverage and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Aug

2025

Preview: Liverpool start title defence against the Cherries

The Premier League champions kick off the 2025/26 campaign with Liverpool hosting Bournemouth on Friday evening

By Sam McGuire

Big summer, big expectations

The Reds head into the season as title favourites for the first time in a long time. Arne Slot’s side coasted to title success last term, finishing 10 points clear despite failing to win a game in May.

Liverpool made just one signing last summer with Federico Chiesa joining from Juventus late on in the window. The Dutch tactician wanted to see what he had at his disposal and has no doubt worked closely with Richard Hughes, the club’s Sporting Director, to address what he considered to be weaknesses.

The result? The champions have spent over £200million to bring Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike, Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez to Anfield. More signings are imminent, too, if reports are to be believed.

There’s now an expectation that the Reds retain their title. The fact there could be five new faces in the starting XI won’t be taken into account or considered an acceptable reason if Liverpool fail to challenge for top spot.

How will this group of players handle that pressure?

Defensive worries

Liverpool have looked far from assured during their pre-season friendlies. The champions conceded two goals in games against Milan, Athletic Club and Crystal Palace. The Reds lost the Non-Penalty xG battle against the Eagles on Sunday at Wembley.

The new system leaves them a little exposed. What hasn’t helped matters for Slot is that the team has looked lightweight in that area of the pitch. No replacement has been signed following Jarell Quansah’s sale to Bayer Leverkusen while Joe Gomez was injured early on in the summer.

It has meant the Reds have been using random players there to fill in with Kostas Tsimikas, Andrew Robertson, Ryan Gravenberch and Trey Nyoni all getting minutes at centre-back. In truth, it is the perfect storm for the opposition. Liverpool are trying to strike a balance with their new style while being woefully short at the back, and teams are taking advantage.

All change for Bournemouth

The Cherries have been raided this summer. Kepa’s loan spell from Chelsea was not turned into a permanent deal, Dean Huijsen moved to Real Madrid, Milos Kerkez joined Liverpool and Illia Zabarnyi was snapped up by European champions Paris Saint-Germain. That means four of Andoni Iraola’s first choice back five from last term have departed.

So far, just two new faces have arrived. Djordje Petrovic signed from Chelsea and Adrien Truffert moved from Rennes. Iraola told the media that two centre-backs are needed but it is doubtful they’ll be in situ before the trip to Merseyside: “We are trying to sign centre-backs after we lost Dean [Huijsen] and Zabarnyi. I can’t talk about players that are not ours. We need two new centre-backs. It will be impossible to replace the ones that have left but the best centre-backs we can find, the club is working on it”.

History favours Liverpool

Bournemouth have won just two of their previous 20 clashes with Liverpool. The last draw between the two teams was during the 2016/17 campaign when the Cherries salvaged a point late on at Anfield.

In the 13 games since then, the Reds have claimed 12 wins, scoring 42 goals in the process.

This match-up is about as one-sided as they come. But, losing streaks do have to come to an end at some point.

Score prediction

We’re going to go with a 3-1 win for Liverpool. The Reds haven’t been too robust defensively but have the firepower to blitz Bournemouth at Anfield. Their final third quality should be enough to guarantee all three points in what could be a tricky opening fixture.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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

Aug

2025

Barcelona’s defence faces new challenge without Inigo Martinez

Iñigo Martínez left Barcelona for Al-Nassr despite being one of the Catalans’ most consistent performers last season.

By Graham Ruthven

Barcelona’s defence prompted just about as much discussion as their attack last season. This was despite the Catalans’ forward line being the most potent in Spanish football. Hansi Flick’s team scored an incredible 102 goals in 38 league games last term, yet anyone who watched Barca surely had their eye drawn to what was happening at the back.

Defensively, Barcelona walked a tightrope last season. The high line is a well-established feature of modern football, but Flick took the concept to a new extreme, positioning Barca on the halfway line regardless of where the opposition had possession. It became a common meme to screenshot Barcelona’s wild defensive positioning.

*Barca scored the most goals per game in LaLiga, 2024/25*

It was only due to the strong partnership of Pau Cubarsí and Iñigo Martínez that Barca were able to make this work. They were Flick’s first-choice centre back pairing. Cubarsí’s mobility coupled with Martínez’s natural reading of the game and solid defensive basics gave Barcelona the safety net they required.

Now, though, Martínez is gone. The 34-year-old completed a surprise move to Al-Nassr last weekend, joining the Saudi Pro League outfit as a free agent on a one-year contract. Martínez reportedly had a gentleman’s agreement with Barcelona that allowed him to leave if an offer from Saudi Arabia came in this summer, which it did.

In what has been a lowkey summer by Barcelona’s recent standards, the Catalan club now has a problem to solve. Who will replace Martínez in the backline with the start of the 2025/26 LaLiga season just a few days away? Will Barca’s risky defensive structure hold together now that the 34-year-old has departed?

*Martínez’s defensive numbers in 2024/25 – comparison against other centre backs in LaLiga*

This could be Ronald Araújo’s chance to make up for lost time. Not so long ago the Uruguayan was seen as Barcelona’s next great centre back – their new Gerard Piqué or Carles Puyol. However, a series of injuries knocked Araújo from his stride. He became increasingly error-prone as Xavi Hernández shifted him from centre back to right back.

Araújo’s stock dropped so low that it was even speculated that he could be sold. Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United were all linked at one time or another, but the Uruguayan stayed at Barcelona to fight for his place. With Martínez now out of the picture, this is a fight he might end up winning.

Flick favoured Araújo and Cubarsí as his starting centre backs in Sunday’s 5-0 demolition of Como in the traditional Joan Gamper Trophy. While Como offered so little attacking threat it was difficult to make a solid judgement on the Barcelona defence, there was enough to suggest Araújo and Cubarsí could compliment each other in the same way Cubarsí and Martínez did.

However, Araújo is right-footed. So too is Cubarsí which means one of the two will have to play on the ‘wrong side.’ Martínez, by contrast, was left-footed which gave Barca natural balance at the back, in and out of possession – Martínez was one of the most prolific line-breaking passers in LaLiga last season.

Martínez was also Barcelona’s best long passer last season, averaging 4.9 long balls per 90 minutes in 28 LaLiga appearances. This allowed the Catalans to mix things up. Sometimes they would build gradually out of the back and into the midfield where Pedri would progress play into the final third.

Other times Martínez would launch it forward to get the likes of Raphinha and Lamine Yamal running at goal. It was this variety that made Barcelona so difficult to play against. If opponents stood off, Barca would play through them. If they pressed high, the Catalans would turn them quickly. Martinez was key to this.

The financial upside of Martínez’s departure is that Barcelona have removed €14 from their wage bill which will help them register new signings Joan García and Marcus Rashford for the start of the season. The Catalan club is still counting the cost of years of gross mismanagement with the redevelopment of the Camp Nou also causing financial strain.

Barcelona currently have to balance what is best for the team on the pitch with what makes sense for the club off it and Martínez’s exit is the latest sign of this. Flick’s life will be harder without the 34-year-old still around, but this is the job the German coach signed up for when he became Barca manager last year.

Last season was a momentous one for Barcelona as they surged to the Spanish title playing a brand of exciting, attack-minded football. This season, fans will expect further progress towards a more rounded approach that can also deliver success in the Champions League. Doing that without Martínez, however, will be a challenge.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow all Barcelona games on FotMob in the 2025/26 season – with in-depth stat coverage, including xG, shot maps, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Aug

2025

Benjamin Sesko: The Premier League’s new chaos merchant

After three years causing chaos in the Premier League, Darwin Núñez has departed. The maverick Uruguayan left Premier League champions Liverpool for Al Hilal of the Saudi Pro League.

By Sam McGuire

His time in England will be remembered for the many, many missed chances.

He missed 20 big chances during his debut campaign in the English top-flight, ranking joint-third for this metric despite racking up just 1,700 minutes. He missed 27 during the 2023/24 campaign, ranking second in the Premier League. Last term, he missed just eight, but Arne Slot did limit his minutes on the pitch to just 1,118 in the English top-tier.

Darwin, a one-time Manchester United target, was someone who found himself in the right place at the right time more often than not. A combination of bad luck and bad finishing prevented him from rivalling Erling Haaland for the Golden Boot during his stint in England.

During his final campaign with Benfica, it was the complete opposite. He significantly overperformed in the penalty area, scoring 22 open-play goals in the Portuguese top-flight from a Non-Penalty Expected Goals total of 14.9.

He was full of confidence in Portugal after finding his feet. As a result, his finishing was clinical.

Things went awry for him in what was a transitional campaign for Liverpool. The Red looks to revamp their forward line with two attackers from Portugal – though Luis Díaz joined in January – and Cody Gakpo, another United target under Erik ten Hag, was signed in the winter window following Darwin’s arrival. Combine this with the fact the midfield needed reinforcements and it’s no wonder Jürgen Klopp’s plan didn’t play out.

This brings me to Benjamin Šeško, Manchester United’s latest forward.

The 22-year-old was linked with Arsenal before the Gunners opted to sign Viktor Gyökeres from Sporting. Šeško was reportedly on Liverpool’s radar, likely due to their good relationship with RB Leipzig, but the champions settled on Hugo Ekitike while still, at the time of writing, looking to bring in Alexander Isak for a British record fee.

At a glance, there are comparisons between Šeško and Rasmus Højlund, another big-money move made by Manchester United. Like with the Slovenian forward, Højlund was highly-rated and joined the Red Devils in a deal worth £64million in 2023.

The general consensus online, from rival fans at least, is why spend £73million on Šeško, a raw, erratic forward with huge upside, when you already possess Højlund, a raw, erratic forward with huge upside?

*Benjamin Šeško’s player traits comparison*

The answer to that is simple. Šeško has a much higher ceiling and there’s more for Ruben Amorim to work with. You can see it in the FotMob radars.

Šeško is involved, attempts shots, wins aerial duels and scores goals.

*Rasmus Højlund player traits comparison*

Højlund, last season, did none of that.

Couple that with the fact the former RB Leipzig man was one of the fastest strikers in the Bundesliga last term with a top speed of 35.7km/h and it’s easy to understand why he was wanted.

The next question is whether or not he’s another Darwin. A young striker with a huge xG overperformance in a foreign league who then can’t do it in the Premier League.

That could be the case. We won’t know for a couple of years. But the fears are justified. Last season, Šeško netted 13 goals in the German top-flight from an xG haul of just 9.89. The season prior, he had 14 strikes to his name from an xG total of 7.66.

Last term, 37% of his efforts in total arrived from outside of the area – viewed as low value attempts.

*Benjamin Šeško’s shot map, Bundesliga 2024/25*

In a nutshell, he hasn’t been great at getting into good areas on a reliable basis. He’s a low-volume shooter and his game needs a lot of refinement if he’s to do well in the Premier League. But there’s a lot for Amorim to work with. And despite the narrative that United are a bit of a shambles, the attack at Old Trafford is a good environment for Šeško to develop.

Unlike Liverpool when trying to bed Darwin in, United have opted to sign Premier League proven players in Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo. Both players are 26 and both have experience in the English top flight with a combined 55 goals across the last two campaigns. Yes, the pair will need to adapt to life with the Red Devils, but they’re well aware of the physicality needed in the Premier League. They can help Šeško settle a lot quicker.

In Amorim, there’s a manager who got the best out of Gyökeres during his time in Portugal. Šeško possesses traits he wants from a centre forward, as detailed recently when speaking to MUTV: “He has the characteristics that we needed. He is really young, he is good in the air, he is good at running the channels and he is good on the ball, so I think he has great potential. I think he can improve a lot.

“For sure, he is going to feel at home in our club. He is the right character in this group, so we are really, really happy to have him.”

It is set up for Šeško to succeed. His weaknesses will be masked by the likes of Cunha and Mbeumo, with the pair technically brilliant and creative, while the team should play to his strengths, allowing him to bully opponents with his pace and size. Work on his finishing and he could be a revelation for the Red Devils.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can track all the summer moves via the FotMob Transfer Centre. Download the free app here.

Aug

2025

Preview: PSG take on Spurs in the UEFA Super Cup

PSG ended up not becoming the Champions of the World during the summer, but they can collect a pre-season consolation against Spurs in the UEFA Super Cup in Udine.

By Ian King

Post-summer recap

PSG arrive in Italy for the UEFA Super Cup still licking their wounds following their World Club Cup final defeat to Chelsea. But their form against English clubs in last year’s Champions League was something else; they beat Premier League opposition in the group stage and every knockout round of last year’s tournament before their thumping win against Inter in the final. Spurs won just one of their last 12 in the Premier League last season and finished 17th. Winning the Europa League was insufficient to keep Ange Postecoglou in his job.

History favours the Champions League winners

Somewhat surprisingly, these two have never met in a competitive match before. Spurs beat the Parisians 4-2 in a friendly match back in 2017 thanks to goals from Christian Eriksen, Eric Dier, Toby Alderweireld, and Harry Kane, none of whom have now been with the club for several years.

The Champions League winners have won the last six successive Super Cups, so the historical omens aren’t great for Spurs.

Key Players

All Spurs eyes will be on the new new arrivals, Mohammed Kudus and João Palhinha, who arrived over the summer from West Ham United and Bayern Munich respectively. Perhaps the biggest key player for them will be new head coach Thomas Frank, for whom this is a first competitive game in charge of the team.

PSG aren’t the star-studded galacticos of several years ago, and that served them just fine last season. Fabián Ruiz scored two in the first half of their 4-0 shellacking of Real Madrid in the World Club Cup semi-final, and the Spanish international is always a danger, while it’ll be a competitive debut in goal for their new goalkeeper, Lucas Chevalier.

Team News

Chevalier’s arrival in Paris from Lille is the big summer news from PSG, because it does mean the almost certain departure of Gianluigi Donnarumma, who’s probably played his last game for the club. Other than that PSG will look very much the same as they did at the end of last season. Spurs will be missing James Maddison, who’ll probably be out for the season, while Dejan Kulusevski and Radu Drăgușin are both still injured too and Destiny Udogie is a doubt.

*Lucas Chevalier’s Ligue 1 save map at Lille last season*

Prediction

The ease with which Chelsea brushed PSG aside in the World Club Cup final is the one small glimmer of light that Spurs have ahead of a match from which it’s difficult to see them taking anything.

They may have more transfer business to carry out before the end of August, but there’s little to suggest they’ll be much improved upon last season beyond, “Well, they can’t do any worse”.

PSG proved what we could all see in the Champions League final, that they were the best team in Europe throughout 2024-25 by a distance. They should be comfortable winners here, and a 4-0 win doesn’t seem out of the question.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every game that PSG and Spurs play on FotMob this season – featuring deep stats coverage, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Aug

2025

Everton’s slow summer is putting that all-important new season optimism at risk

Everton have a new stadium, new owners and new hope, but have they done enough in the summer transfer window?

By Graham Ruthven

The sound of the Z Cars anthem as Everton walked out for Saturday’s friendly against Roma was familiar even if the surroundings certainly weren’t. Playing in their new stadium for the first time, the excitement among the Toffees support was palpable. This was a moment they’d waited years (decades, even) for.

Of course, a stadium is only bricks and mortar. The real excitement around the construction of Hill Dickinson Stadium relates to how its opening marks the start of a new era. Everton have a new stadium, new owners and new hope, yet there is concern over how little the club has done in the transfer market this summer.

Everton lost six squad members at the end of last season. This might have been necessary to clear the decks ahead of a summer rebuild, but that reconstruction process has stalled with just three notable additions made. The 2025/26 Premier League season will kick off this weekend with the Toffees decidedly short-handed.

David Moyes knows this. The 62-year-old has publicly called for new signings, expressing his belief that Everton need “nine or 10” additions to be ready for the Premier League campaign. The Toffees have captured two more since Moyes made those comments, but their squad is still a long way from where it needs to be.

Jack Grealish’s impending arrival will help. The 29-year-old is set to join Everton on a season-long loan from Manchester City in a move that reflects the ambition of new owner Dan Friedkin. However, Grealish is an award fit for a team that already has a top-level left winger in the shape of Iliman Ndiaye who scored nine Premier League goals last term. Grealish only scored once.

It’s possible Moyes could deploy Grealish as a number 10. However, this is where Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall operates best with the 26-year-old only just in the door from Chelsea. What is the plan to get Grealish, Ndiaye and Dewsbury-Hall into the same lineup without making the team too top-heavy?

*Ndiaye vs. Grealish top stats compared, Premier League 2024/25 season*

Liam Delap had been a target earlier in the window. The 22-year-old was identified as the perfect centre forward to lead a new-look frontline with the £30m release clause in Delap’s Ipswich Town contract making a deal realistic. When Delap decided to join Chelsea instead, Everton turned to Thierno Barry.

Barry has potential. The 22-year-old scored 11 goals for Villarreal in LaLiga last season and has the physicality to succeed in the Premier League. Beto has enjoyed an unexpected resurgence since Moyes’ appointment, but now faces stiff competition from Barry for his place as Everton’s starting striker. The two could even play as a pair.

*Barry’s shot map at Villarreal, LaLiga 2024/25*

Carlos Alcaraz has been signed permanently after an encouraging spell on loan from Flamengo last season. The Argentine is another attacking midfielder who would prefer to play through the centre. However, it’s likely Alcaraz will play on the right side to give Everton at least some sense of balance in the final third.

There are bigger gaps in midfield where Everton lack a natural pace-setter. James Garner and Idrissa Gueye will likely start Monday’s season-opener against Leeds United as a double pivot, but neither are particularly comfortable at progressing the ball. This is something that will hold Everton back when it comes to imposing their own game on opponents.

Defensively, there are also concerns. Everton still haven’t added a new right back to their squad despite Ashley Young leaving and Nathan Patterson still chronically injury-prone. Jake O’Brien can play there, and has played there through pre-season, but the Republic of Irishman doesn’t offer much in an attacking sense.

If everyone can stay fit, Everton have the players to be solid this season. They still boast England’s starting goalkeeper in Jordan Pickford and a reliable centre back pairing in Jarrad Branthwaite and James Tarkowski. However, the long-suffering Toffees support had hoped this season would be more than just solid.

What is the point of building a new £800m stadium as a symbol of Everton’s new ambition if it’s the same old story on the pitch? Everton have a duty to forge a team worthy of playing in one of the most impressive venues in the Premier League. The supporters expect Friedkin to put his money where his mouth is. They – and Moyes – expect more new signings before the end of the summer.

After years of fighting relegation, it won’t be easy for Everton to immediately change direction. As Moyes said, the club must “rebuild trust in people who should come to Everton.” That process could be a slow one, as demonstrated by the struggles of the summer transfer window, but it has at least started.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow all Everton games on FotMob in the 2025/26 season – with in-depth stat coverage, including xG, shot maps, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Aug

2025

Meet Dastan Satpaev, the Champions League youngest goalscorer and future Chelsea star

Rightly or wrongly, Chelsea have been accused by many of playing video games in real life when it comes to their transfer strategy. At worst, it’s felt scattergun, at best, they’ve signed some of the most exciting young talent in the world.

By Alex Roberts

Dastan Satpaev, a 16-year-old striker from Kazakhstan is every Football Manager player’s dream, he clearly has 200 PA (if you know you know). At the moment, Chelsea’s decision to sign him for a reported fee of €4 million, including add-ons, is looking like a master stroke.

Compared to Sergio Agüero, who came close to joining the West London club as a teen before finally landing at Manchester City and becoming a Premier League great, has been with current club Kairat Almaty since the age of eight.

It’s not an unfair comparison, physically at least, he still has some way to go if he wants to have the type of career the little Argentinian did. Like Agüero, he has a low centre of gravity and incredible balance, along with that trademark burst of pace that catches defenders completely off-guard.

As a result, his link up play is one of his best assets. Not afraid to make a nuisance of himself, he brings teammates into the fold with an impressive touch, playing a one-two, and using his speed to get in the right position and get a shot off on goal.

*Satpaev is top scorer for the Kazakh league leaders this season*

Of course, given his age, there is still room for improvement. He’s not the best in the air but then again, he’s only 5’5”, he’s due a growth spurt over the next few years, if he keeps eating his Beshbarmak, Satpaev will be a big strong boy in no time.

After impressing in the academy, scoring a total of 27 goals and registering 10 assists in 28 matches, during the 2023 and 2024 seasons in the QJ League, Kazakhstan’s premier youth competition, he was promoted to the senior team.

He went on to make his debut on 26 May 2024 in their 9–0 Kazakhstan League Cup win against Akzhayik, coming on to replace Élder Santana in the 80th minute. He wasn’t among the scorers, but you could tell he had something special.

Despite the minimal number of appearances, the European elite were starting to take notice and in March, it was announced that he would be joining Chelsea for a Kazakhstan league record fee.

Since then, he’s arguably been the first name on the team sheet, scoring his first senior goal in the first game of the 2025 season, an equaliser against FC Astana, the biggest side in Kazakhstan.

The young man hasn’t looked back since. He’s played a key role in taking Kairat Almaty to the top of the Kazakhstan Premier League, scoring eight goals and providing one assist in his 19 games, as they look well on their way to a second consecutive title.

Domestically, Satpaev is already a relatively big fish in a small pond. On the continent, he’s just another kid, looking up at the grown up’s table, hoping to get a bite of the cake while they’re distracted by their phones.

Kairat Almaty entered the Champions League at the first qualifying round, where they would face Slovenian champions Olimpija Ljubljana, with the first game held in the historic and scenic city of Ljubljana.

After 59 minutes, a record was broken. Running alongside teammate Jorginho, not that one, he was in the right place at the right time to tap the ball home after his fellow forward broke free to go one-on-one with the ‘keeper.

And just like that, 16 years, 10 months, and 26 days, Satpaev become the youngest goal scorer in the competition’s history – although technically Ansu Fati is still the record holder for the Champions League proper.

Olimpija equalised seven minutes later to end the game 1-1. Kairat Almaty would go on to win their second leg back in Khazakhstan 2-0, although Satpaev didn’t get on the scoresheet this time around.

Drawn against Finnish champions KuPS for their next qualifier, it was starting to look like Satpaev’s first foray into Europe’s elite club competition would come to an end after their lost the first leg 2-0.

As everyone who follows football knows, 2-0 is a dangerous scoreline, however, and Satpaev was the main man/boy in the game back at the Ortalyq Stadion, bagging a goal and providing an assist.

Nine minutes in, he took the iniative to latch on to a pass that didn’t appear to be meant for him, taking a touch, catching his breath, and shooting his shot through a sea of legs. The ‘keeper got a hand to it, but it wasn’t enough, and Kairat Almaty were back in it.

Jorginho got the tie level on the 29^th minute before Satpaev was involved once again, this time setting up Valeri Gromyko just before the break to make it 3-0 and win the tie outright. We’d like to say it was the best assist we’d ever seen but, in all honesty, Gromyko did most of the work.

Next up were Slovan Bratislava, a side that made it to the new-look league phase last season, where they would go on to face the likes of Man City, AC Milan, and Atletico Madrid. They didn’t pick up a single point but sometimes it’s about the friends you make along the way.

Kairat Almaty dominated the game but were unable to break their opponents down. Rahim Ibrahim’s red card left Slovan Bratislava more vulnerable, but it would take another 30 minutes for a goal to be scored.

Again, it was our boy. Kairat Almaty were awarded a penalty in added time and Satpaev showed bravery beyond his years to absolutely smash it into the back of the net and give his side the advantage going into the second leg.

That will be played on Tuesday, with a final qualifier against the mighty Celtic in the balance. Then, should Satpaev and co snatch an unlikely victory against Brendan Rodgers’ lads, they can call themselves a proper Champions League side.

Looking to the future, Chelsea will be delighted with the progress he’s already made, and the maturity he’s shown in some of his club’s biggest moments. Perhaps, the next big thing in football, is a kid from Khazakstan.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every Champions League game on FotMob in the 2025/26 season – with in-depth stat coverage and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Aug

2025

Preview: All-Floridian Derby for Orlando and Inter Miami

Inter Miami return to Major League Soccer action against Orlando City following the break for the Leagues Cup group stage.

By James Nalton

There are stars to watch out for on both sides in this Florida derby, even if the MLS main attraction might be missing.

Messi injury status

Inter Miami managed to get the result they needed to remain in the Leagues Cup, defeating Pumas UNAM 3-1 to progress to the knockout rounds which begin later in the month.

They did so without the injured Lionel Messi, with Rodrigo De Paul scoring his first goal for the club and Luis Suárez and Tadeo Allende also getting on the scoresheet.

Messi remains out for the game against Orlando, but that win against Pumas gives the team encouragement that they can win without their main star.

The addition of De Paul to the ranks helps. He brings the teamwork and experience that Messi himself values so much, and can now rub off on the rest of the team.

Telasco and Tadeo’s time to step up (again)

All season, Telasco Segovia and Tadeo Allende have felt like key players in this Inter Miami team.

It’s OK having several star names, but the key to truly being successful is complementing that individual greatness with a functioning team and players being the big names.

Other parts of the recruitment model for MLS teams should be finding younger players to develop and prime-age players to fit in the middle.

The profile of 22-year-old Segovia makes him the replacement for Diego Gómez, who joined Brighton in January, while at the age of 26, Allende should be at his peak and playing his best football.

Both have contributed this season and are the second-highest scorers at the club, behind Messi on seven goals apiece in MLS.

It is they, alongside the additional guidance from De Paul, who will need to step up in Messi’s absence and match Orlando’s attacking stars.

Opposition watch: Orlando City

Orlando also progressed to the knockout rounds of the Leagues Cup, joining Inter Miami in the quarterfinals alongside Seattle Sounders and LA Galaxy from the MLS side of the draw.

Óscar Pareja’s side have been one of the best teams in MLS this season when it comes to creating chances in attack, and are the second-highest scorers in the Eastern Conference with 46 (behind Miami’s 49)

They are second in the league for expected goals with 44.2 and also second for the number of big chances created, with 78, behind the San Jose Earthquakes on both counts.

Orlando have also missed the most big chances in the league with 54, which suggests they have even more goals in them than the 46 they have scored.

Martín Ojeda has been the standout player for Orlando this season and is one to look out for. He has been ably supported by Marco Pašalić and experienced Colombian forward Luis Muriel.

Prediction

Orlando City’s attack will be too much for Inter Miami’s defence, but it has the potential to be yet another high-scoring game.

(Cover Image from IMAGO)

You can follow every Inter Miami game live this season with FotMob — featuring deep stats coverage including shot maps, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Aug

2025

Preview: Palace and Liverpool meet in traditional curtain raiser

Crystal Palace and Liverpool will face each other in the Community Shield curtain-raiser with the season’s first piece of silverware at stake.

By Graham Ruthven

Early statements

After a landmark 2024/25 campaign for Crystal Palace and Liverpool, Sunday’s Community Shield is an opportunity for both teams to make an early statement.

For Liverpool, the sight of Arne Slot and his players lifting another piece of silverware could hint at another dominant season to come. The Reds strolled to the Premier League title term and have made a number of blockbuster additions over the summer to, in theory, grow even stronger.

Crystal Palace’s summer has been challenging with the Selhurst Park club demoted to the Conference League. The Eagles have also struggled to recruit in the way that was surely hoped for with Borna Sosa the only notable addition.

Liverpool are firm favourites to win at Wembley on Sunday, but Palace have demonstrated their capacity for upsetting the odds against an elite opponent at the national stadium once before.

*The last five meetings between these two*

Key players

Palace’s defence won them the FA Cup final against Manchester City last season and the likes of Dean Henderson, Marc Guéhi, Maxence Lacroix and Chris Richards must find top form to keep Liverpool at arm’s length on Sunday.

Eberechi Eze has been the subject of speculation linking him with Arsenal this summer, but is expected to start for Palace. His dribbling and creativity will be a threat to the Liverpool backline with Jean-Philippe Mateta’s physicality another danger.

Mohamed Salah netted an incredible 29 league goals for Liverpool last season and after penning a new two-year deal to stay at Anfield the Egyptian winger remains the Reds’ greatest threat in the final third.

Florian Wirtz has been signed to play as Liverpool’s new number 10. The German could operate in behind another summer signing, Hugo Ekitike. The young Frenchman is quick, skilful and will give Liverpool a different dimension in and around the box.

Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez could start as Liverpool’s new full back pairing while Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konaté will make up the rest of the back four.

Team news

Chadi Riad and Cheick Doucouré are long-term absentees for Crystal Palace while Eddie Nketiah will be missing for up to six weeks after suffering a hamstring injury in a pre-season match.

Matheus Franca is also an injury doubt. Otherwise, Oliver Glasner has a fully fit and available squad to choose from.

Van Dijk, Conor Bradley and Joe Gomez will all be assessed before the match for various reasons, but stand a good chance of being cleared to feature. Liverpool’s injury list is generally clear ahead of the start of the season.

Slot faces a number of selection decisions across the pitch. Should Giorgi Mamardashvili start over Alisson Becker having impressed in pre-season? Is Kerkez a better bet at left back than Andy Robertson?

Where does Wirtz fit into the midfield and which deep-lying player should be sacrificed? How will Ekitike be deployed in the attack? These are things Slot will have to consider.

Prediction

Glasner’s team know how to defend and Liverpool may take some time to bed in their shiny new signings but the Reds should have enough attacking options to make the difference: Crystal Palace 1-2 Liverpool

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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