Page 31 – The Pulse of Football

Mar

2025

Preview: Inter Miami face road trip to Houston

Inter Miami will be seeking their first win of the new MLS season when they face Houston Dynamo in Texas on Sunday night. Lionel Messi registered assists for both goals in his team’s opener against New York City FC last week, which finished 2-2. He and teammate Luis Suárez will now be looking to get off the mark in the goals column in MLS.

By James Nalton

Messi contributing in all comps

As was the case with Inter Miami’s 2025 MLS opener against New York City, the game against Houston comes on the back of a midweek Champions Cup game against Sporting Kansas City.

Wednesday’s second leg was a much more comfortable affair compared to the first, both in terms of the weather conditions and the scoreline, as Inter Miami cruised to a 3-1 win to progress 4-1 on aggregate.

Messi got on the scoresheet once again, making it two in two in the Champions Cup so far, while Suárez scored his first goal of the season.

Inter Miami are in four competitions this season, with the Club World Cup and Leagues Cup to come, and are back in Champions Cup action against Cavalier of Jamaica next week.

Their focus is currently split between two tournaments, as it might be for much of the season, but Messi’s involvement in goals has been constant, with two goals and two assists in three games across all competitions so far.

One to watch – Telasco Segovia

When Inter Miami were a goal behind and a man down against New York City last week, a goal from the 21-year-old Venezuelan rescued a point in the 10th minute of added time.

It was a coolly taken finish in the circumstances, lifted over the onrushing NYCFC goalkeeper Matt Freese following the pass from Messi. The type of finish you might see from Messi himself.

Segovia came off the bench in that game, but started both Champions Cup matches.

Coach Javier Mascherano obviously sees him as a key part of the team, and he could end up being the replacement for Diego Gómez who left for Brighton in the January transfer window.

Shaky defence

When Playing Out From The Back Goes Wrong took plenty of headlines in MLS last weekend, with ten goals coming from such defensive errors.

Inter Miami were involved in one of these as Jordi Alba passed straight to NYCFC forward Alonso Martínez to score.

There were other such moments that produced chances for the opposition that didn’t result in goals, so it’s an area Mascherano will have to work on if his team are to become more convincing.

Will Miami have a problem in Houston?

Dynamo have paired one of the most underrated deep-lying midfielders in the league, Artur, with one of the highest-rated young American playmakers around, Jack McGlynn, as they look to service forward and designated player Ezequiel Ponce.

McGlynn joined Houston from Philadelphia Union in the offseason in one of the league’s first cash-for-player trades.

The move made waves, especially as McGlynn was a Union homegrown player and widely considered one of the most gifted American talents on the verge of the national team.

Dynamo hope Artur and others will pick up the defensive work while McGlynn executes his Andrea-Pirlo-like-but-left-footed passing, set-piece delivery, and long shooting; though Artur’s own passing and distribution is not to be underestimated.

Prediction

Houston lost their opening game of the season against FC Dallas so will be looking for their first points. Miami seek their first win but might have to settle for a draw once again as their defence still looks vulnerable.

(Cover Image from IMAGO)

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

Mar

2025

Preview: Barcelona looking to continue title charge against Real Sociedad

Barcelona host Real Sociedad on Sunday as they look to continue their excellent form in LaLiga. Hansi Flick’s side will be aiming to extend their run of straight wins to six in the league against La Real, who have a strong record against Barcelona in recent years.

By Matt Smith

When the two sides met earlier in the season, Real Sociedad secured a 1-0 victory thanks to a goal from Sheraldo Becker. Their last win at Camp Nou came back in 2023, and they’ll be hoping for a repeat of that result once again.

Flick could receive a defensive boost

Barcelona will be without long-term absentees Marc-André ter Stegen and Marc Bernal, but Flick shouldn’t have any fresh injury troubles to contend with.

Andreas Christensen could return for the home side after recovering from his recent fitness problem. We could see a host of changes from Barcelona after resting key stars such as Ronald Araújo, Gavi, and Robert Lewandowski in the Copa del Rey semi-final last time out.

Raphinha unstoppable for Barcelona

Brazilian winger Raphinha has been a major standout for Barcelona so far this season, contributing 20 goals and assists combined in LaLiga. The former Leeds United man has created a whopping 73 chances, more than any other player in the league.

*Raphinha’s passing stats, LaLiga 2024/25*

Only Lewandowski has contributed with more goals and assists combined in LaLiga, while he also has the highest average FotMob rating at 8.04. Raphinha has already surpassed his goals and assists tally from last season and will undoubtedly play a crucial role in Barcelona’s race for the title.

La Real hit with double suspension blow

Real Sociedad will be without both Becker and Takefusa Kubo to face Barcelona with the duo missing the game due to suspension. Igor Zubeldia will be back and available for selection, however, after serving his LaLiga ban in their previous match.

The away side could be without Arsen Zakharyan for the trip to Barcelona after he suffered a minor injury in La Real’s game against Leganés last time out. Jon Pacheco also looks set to miss out.

Zubimendi the enforcer

Although Martin Zubimendi is often known for his quality on the ball, his ability off it can sometimes go underrated. When facing a side of the quality of Barcelona, with La Real likely to have less of the possession, Zubimendi’s defensive side of the game could shine through.

The Spanish midfielder’s numbers when it comes to recoveries, tackles, and winning duels are up there with the best in LaLiga. Although comfortable in possession, Zubimendi can do the dirty side, and that will undoubtedly be imperative if they want to get a result against Barcelona.

Prediction

With Barcelona playing on their own turf, it’s difficult to see past a victory for Flick’s side. Real Sociedad have only conceded on average 0.9 goals per game, fewer than Barcelona, so it should still be a tight affair. We’re going for a 2-1 victory to 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.

Mar

2025

Preview: Man United face Fulham in FA Cup showdown

Look at this fixture from a Premier League perspective and it’s 14th against ninth – a candidate for a bog standard Saturday 3pm kick-off, you’d be thinking. As it is, this is the FA Cup and it’s a huge chance for both to make a statement for very different reasons.

By Karl Matchett

Can the magic of the cup be restorative?

Every time it seems Manchester United have hit new lows over the past couple of seasons, they find a way to produce another. They very nearly did that in a more literal sense in midweek, more than once being in danger of losing to relegation-threatened Ipswich which would have seen them drop to 16th in the table, improbably.

Instead they turned that game around – and now sit 14th! Upwards! – and can hope for home comforts to help them through in the FA Cup. In recent years this competition has been dominated for the most part by the biggest and most in-form sides or those with the deepest squads – but United themselves won it last year and there’s reason for fans and players alike to believe they could replicate it.

Consider: Liverpool are already out, United knocked out Arsenal themselves, Man City are a shadow of previous years. This competition is wide open at the last-16 stage, and one big performance now followed by a kind draw in the quarters means a Wembley day is very much within reach.

*The last meeting between the two sides back in January*

Eyes on the prize – but which?

It’s worth factoring in Fulham’s priorities here, though. What is of more value to the club and to manager Marco Silva? They’ve been largely good this term, if inconsistent from time to time, but ninth in the league table isn’t the whole story – they are only four points off fifth which carries a probable Champions League spot.

Europe of some sort is definitely within reach with a strong finish to the season – but the aforementioned open nature of the cup goes for Fulham, too. Their honours list is effectively the Intertoto Cup of 2002 and a few Second Division (or Championship) titles. They’ve reached the FA Cup final once, and lost.

Do they gamble league form on going for potentially the best-ever day in their history?

Recent form

At home, United have won three and lost two of the last five under Rúben Amorim. On a longer basis it’s seven wins in 11 games, though that includes questionable quality levels of opposition. For Fulham it’s five wins in seven of late, with four wins on the bounce away from home.

Team news

United have seven still out injured including Amad Diallo and Lisandro Martínez. Patrick Dorgu was sent off last time out and it wouldn’t be a shock to see Amorim sideline Alejandro Garnacho for his petulant reaction to being subbed. The same absentees for Fulham as recently: Reiss Nelson, Kenny Tete, Harry Wilson. Emile Smith Rowe could be fit to return, however.

Key player

Rasmus Højlund hasn’t scored since playing Viktoria Plzeň in December. Joshua Zirkzee isn’t first choice but has two goals in cups since then. United remain reliant on Bruno Fernandes for creating and scoring alike.

*Manchester United goals + assists, Premier League 2024/25*

Prediction

Rotations might benefit the hosts more than the visitors so a narrow win for Amorim: Man United 1 Fulham 0.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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

Mar

2025

Raul Asencio: Making the most of his chance at Real Madrid

Raúl Asencio has been the solution to Real Madrid’s injury crisis and has surprised many with the level of his recent performances.

By Graham Ruthven

Real Madrid’s injury misfortune was so acute that Carlo Ancelotti called it a “total emergency.” His alarm was justified. With Antonio Rüdiger, Dani Carvajal, Éder Militão and David Alaba all sidelined, the Italian manager lacked a single senior defender for a run of fixtures in February that included a derby against Atlético Madrid and two games against Manchester City.

Somehow, Real Madrid came through that stretch unbeaten, knocking City out of the Champions League and maintaining their place in the Spanish title race. This was in no small part due to the level found by Raúl Asencio who emerged as the unlikely solution to Los Blancos’ injury crisis at the back.

Asencio has made himself a key pillar of Ancelotti’s team. Even with some of Real Madrid’s injured defenders now returning, the 22-year-old has kept his place in the lineup, starting Los Blancos’ last eight matches in all competitions. Asencio has been so good, it’s remarkable his potential went unnoticed for so long.

At Castilla, Asencio rarely caught the eye. While Real Madrid’s B team is frequently used as a finishing school for the club’s best and brightest young players, Asencio was never thought of in this way. Indeed, recent reports claim Real Madrid has earmarked him for release at the end of the season.

It was only through necessity that Ancelotti called Asencio up to the first team. Real Madrid needed a warm body to bulk out their squad and drafted in the 22-year-old largely because he was already at the training ground shared by Castilla. Asencio, however, grabbed the opportunity he was given with both hands.

Technically and physically, Asencio has proved his ability at the top level over the last month. He is good on the ball and can play out from the back. The 22-year-old is also strong enough to handle himself against the most imposing opposition attackers and is intelligent enough to recognise danger before it even develops.

Asencio’s passing accuracy in LaLiga this season stands at 93% while he also has a 57.1% long ball accuracy, something to speaks to his role in getting service to Real Madrid’s superstar attackers as quickly as possible. The 22-year-old also won an impressive 68.7% of his duels this season and 68% of his aerial duels. He is a defensive all-rounder.

Initially after breaking into the first team, Asencio was sometimes guilty of being too aggressive in certain moments. Now, though, he is walking the tightrope. “We worked on that, and he is doing very well,” Ancelotti said when asked about that side of the defender’s game. “Raúl was a surprise to everyone, really. He is a surprise to me too.”

Alongside Rüdiger, Real Madrid have used Asencio to find balance at the back. Even when Aurélien Tchouaméni has been drafted into the defensive line, Asencio has given Los Blancos a strong foundation and safety net for the likes of Kylian Mbappé, Vinícius Júnior, Jude Bellingham and Rodrygo to do their thing higher up the pitch.

Off the pitch, Asencio has faced controversy. The 22-year-old and three other Castilla players were arrested for allegedly recording and distributing a sexually explicit video of a minor. An appeal by Asencio’s lawyers to end the investigation into the defender was rejected by a court in February with the case still to be resolved.

On the pitch, though, Asencio is getting better with almost every match he plays. Many expect the centre back to be called up to Spain’s next squad for March’s UEFA Nations League games against the Netherlands and his recent performances at club level suggest he would have something to offer the national team.

Out of an unprecedented injury crisis, Real Madrid have emerged with another top-level central defender they can count on with Los Blancos fighting for silverware on three fronts in LaLiga, Champions League and Copa del Rey. Asencio could be an important part of a Treble-winning season.

Had Asencio not emerged as such a dependable option in recent weeks, Real Madrid almost certainly would have entered the transfer market for a new centre back this summer. The Spanish giants wanted one last summer only for Manchester United to usurp them in their pursuit of Leny Yoro. Arsenal’s William Saliba is also believed to be a long-term target.

With Asencio on the rise, though, Real Madrid’s transfer plans might change. Barcelona’s La Masia might still be regarded as the most productive youth academy in Spanish football, but La Fabrica is also doing its bit to provide Real Madrid with young talent and Asencio is the latest to come off the conveyer belt.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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

Feb

2025

Preview: Betis meet Madrid in Battle Real

It’s usually right around this time of year that whatever has happened in the last six months or so at Real Madrid is entirely forgotten, and the focus narrows to just what’s on the horizon. Namely: the chance at three major trophies.

By Karl Matchett

It could have been far worse for Los Blancos at this point – but that’s kind of what is always said. A propensity for not shining in Europe early on in the season, dropped points domestically, managerial conversations and injuries: these always seem to happen at the Santiago Bernabéu, before matters are turbocharged from March to May.

The Champions League form has been overcome, and so too Manchester City. A huge derby tie is next but the champions of Europe fear nobody. In LaLiga, a big potential gap to Barcelona is now merely goal difference. And they have a first-leg lead in the Copa del Rey semi-final, too. Suddenly, it all looks very familiar for Carlo Ancelotti’s side, as they head to their next test at Real Betis.

Almost iconic

If you’ve not seen Real Betis recently or glanced at their squad list, you could be forgiven for raising an eyebrow or two at some of the names.

Indeed, at the high point of their respective careers it’s a collection of title-winners, big-money transfer names and those who constantly seemed on the brink of greatness but never quite got there: Isco, Giovani Lo Celso, Antony, Ricardo Rodriguez, Héctor Bellerín, Pablo Fornals, William Carvalho, Abde Ezzalzouli, Diego Llorente, Adrian, Marc Bartra. You can decide for yourself which category each belongs in.

Under the guidance of Manuel Pellegrini – he fits a few of those categories too as head coach – they’re fun to watch, almost very good and definitely capable of upsets.

Recent form

It’s only one defeat in five for Real Betis in LaLiga, though their inconsistency means it’s also only four wins in 14. Since the turn of the year they’ve played 11 and have both won and lost five times, with maybe a packed campaign including European action taking it out of them.

Real Madrid ended a rare run of three without a win in LaLiga by beating Girona last weekend but they are actually unbeaten across seven games in all competitions. They won the first leg of their Copa Del Rey semifinal at another Real, Real Sociedad, 1-0 on Wednesday night.

Team news

A host of sidelined players weakens the Betis squad somewhat, including long-term absentee William Carvalho, fellow midfielders Gio Lo Celso and Pablo Fornals, plus Héctor Bellerín and winger Abde Ezzalzouli. Real Madrid will be likewise missing Dani Carvajal and Éder Militão with cruciate ligament injuries, plus Jesús Vallejo and now Dani Ceballos on shorter-term injuries after their midweek Copa win. Jude Bellingham remains suspended for league action.

Key player

Kylian Mbappé is the man in form but if Real Madrid are to beat the below prediction, it’s goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois who will have to be at his best. He perhaps hasn’t been all season: eighth in LaLiga save percentage terms, 19th in saves per 90, ninth in goals prevented – at just 0.1 for the campaign.

*Courtois’ goalkeeping numbers per 90, LaLiga 2024/25*

Prediction

One loves a draw at home, the other loves a draw away. Hard to imagine either will be distraught if that’s the eventual outcome: Betis 2 Madrid 2.

(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.

Feb

2025

Preview: Serie A’s top two meet as Inter host Napoli

Serie A leaders Inter host Napoli, on Saturday evening, with just a point separating the two sides ahead of a pivotal match in the title race.

By Neel Shelat

Napoli’s attack looking lost post-Kvaratskhelia

Napoli’s surprise title charge was always built on a rock-solid defence, but they obviously needed a decent attack to keep the wins flowing. They managed to replace Victor Osimhen’s goals to a good extent with Romelu Lukaku, while Kvicha Kvaratskhelia’s individual brilliance helped them create something out of nothing in times of need.

Unsurprisingly, then, the Georgian international’s mid-season departure to Paris Saint-Germain has quickly impacted the Neapolitans’ form. Although they won two big games against Atalanta and Juventus after he left, they have since gone on a four-match winless streak.

Despite scoring in each of these games, Napoli’s attack has looked quite uninspiring for long stretches. In fact, they have failed to register five shots on target in any of their last six games, while their xG tally has been limited to under 1 on three occasions. As a result, there are reports that Antonio Conte could revert to the 4-3-3 formation for this big game.

Inter’s drop in form amid growing injury issues

Inter, for their part, are also enduring something of a slump. Simone Inzaghi’s side have only won three of their last six games, losing on the road against Fiorentina and Juventus. Some of their recent performances have also been subpar, though that can be largely explained by the amount of rotation they have had to do.

Besides load management, the Nerazzurri have been forced to change their starters because of a slew of recent injuries. Goalkeeper Yann Sommer fractured his thumb last week and will remain unavailable for the near future, top-scorer Marcus Thuram sprained his ankle at the start of the month and is yet to return to full fitness, and Matteo Darmian went off with a thigh problem in midweek against Lazio. Left wing back options Carlos Augusto and Nicola Zalewski have also missed recent matches.

Three-way title race on the cards

Irrespective of which way this match goes, we are sure to get a thrilling three-way title race in Serie A. Inter and Napoli have always been going neck and neck, but both sides’ recent downturn in form has brought Atalanta right back into the picture. La Dea are just three points off the top of the standings going into the weekend, meaning they could well be up to second by the time this match kicks off as they host relegation-battlers Venezia earlier in the day.

Inter set to compete in three competitions

Most Serie A experts will agree that Inter are the best team in Italy on paper, but the reason they will find it tough to simply march to the title is the fact that they have three major titles to compete for while their rivals can solely focus on the league. The Nerazzurri have a big cup semi-final against Milan coming up in April, and they could well have a Champions League quarter-final against one of Germany’s top two teams between those two legs.

Prediction

A tight contest is to be expected, but Inter might just have enough to squeeze out a 1-0 win.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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

Feb

2025

Preview: Giantkillers Plymouth go to Manchester City

Following wins against Brentford and Liverpool, Plymouth Argyle will be looking to complete a hat-trick of sensational FA Cup wins against Premier League teams, but will Manchester City prove a step too far?

By Ian King

Pride and silverware to fight for

Plymouth have been struggling near the foot of the Championship all season, and their form since the Liverpool match has been mixed. They followed it up with a 5-1 win against Millwall the following Wednesday, but since then they’ve lost 2-0 at Blackburn and had two draws against fellow strugglers, Cardiff and Luton. They’re no longer bottom of the Championship table, but they’re still three points from safety.

Manchester City’s 1-0 win at Spurs on Wednesday night continued their recent rollercoaster-like trajectory. They’ve won-lost-won-lost their last four Premier League matches, while elimination from the Champions League came at the hands of Real Madrid. This is their last chance of silverware, this season.

*Plymouth’s precarious league position in the Championship*

Distant history

SInce Plymouth have never played top-flight football, their only previous meetings with City have come when their spells in the second tier coincided or in cup matches. They haven’t played each other since 1989, when City won 2-0 at Maine Road. Plymouth’s last win against City came with a 3-2 win at Home Park back in January 1988.

Key players

Since this is City’s last chance of winning anything this season, we might expect a strong line-up for this match to build on their recent win at Spurs. Erling Haaland is back from injury, and Pep Guardiola may well feel that a game against moderate opposition should be fertile ground for his main striker to keep his eye in. Goalkeeper Conor Hazard was the star of the show during Plymouth’s win against Liverpool in the last game with a string of excellent saves, and Plymouth will need more of the same from him if they’re to cause another shock in this round.

*Haaland’s shot map in the Premier League, 2024/25*

Team News

Manchester City emerged from their midweek trip to North London untroubled by any fresh injuries, so their absent list remains Rodri, Oscar Bobb, John Stones and Manuel Akanji. Plymouth’s most notable absentee is striker Ryan Hardie, who scored the winning goal from the penalty spot against Liverpool but is now out until the middle of March with a back injury. It had been hoped that the Plymouth captain Joe Edwards, who hasn’t played since the end of October, might return for this match, but it now seems likely that he’ll just miss out.

Prediction

Plymouth have been further than this in the FA Cup before, you know. In 1984, while in the Third Division (!), they went all the way to the semi-finals before losing 1-0 to Watford at Villa Park. But football is a very different game now to then, and City have exactly the reputation of being dream-wreckers to make a Premier League hat-trick feel very remote indeed, although they were knocked out of the Cup by League One Wigan Athletic in 2018. City’s up and down form makes predicting them difficult, but they should win this at least 3-1, shouldn’t they?

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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

Feb

2025

Dominik Szoboszlai’s importance to Arne Slot’s title chasing Liverpool

Until recently, Dominik Szoboszlai had been this season’s version of the 2023/24 edition of Darwin Núñez.

By Sam McGuire

Simply put, the Liverpool No. 8 had been terribly unlucky in front of goal.

Some efforts have narrowly missed the bottom corner. Defenders had thrown themselves in front of goal bound shots. Keepers had pulled off good saves to thwart the former RB Leipzig man.

And after Arne Slot had said he expected more from the attacking midfielder earlier in the campaign, a return of one Premier League goal before the turn of the year wasn’t doing anything to change the narrative that he was underperforming.

Ultimately, he’s judged on output. Despite the fact he’s not really in the team for that. Jürgen Klopp even used him as a facilitator for the Reds after the Hungary skipper moved to Anfield in the summer of 2023.

*Szoboszlai shot map, Premier League 2024/25*

He was there to do a lot of the running for Trent Alexander-Arnold and Mohamed Salah. It nullified him in possession and, eventually, it resulted in him picking up injuries. Well, the same injury twice. He missed two months of action early on in 2024 with two separate hamstring issues. From what I can see, it’s the first time in his career that he’s suffered a muscle injury.

It was a matter of when and not if this would happen.

He wasn’t properly conditioned for that role or that position. He went from playing as an attacker for RB Leipzig to being a box-to-box midfielder, appearing in almost every single game.

It has to be gradual. Szobozlai had a good fitness base, but the demands placed on him as an attacker in the Bundesliga are completely different to the demands placed on him as a shuttler in midfield for Liverpool.

At some point, something is going to give. With him, it was his hamstring.

After returning from injury, he struggled. He made just five starts in the final 12 Premier League games of the season and failed to score a goal in the English top-flight post-January.

This isn’t exactly Klopp’s fault, but his handling of him didn’t help.

This season, we’re seeing a better version of the Hungary skipper. The narratives had remained the same though.

He doesn’t score enough. He doesn’t create enough. He isn’t as impactful in the final third as people would’ve liked.

Yet when he’s not in the team, you notice, don’t you?

The headline figures haven’t necessarily backed up his performances either.

After a flurry of goals recently, Szoboszlai has five for the season in the Premier League. He’s also has three assists to his name.

These numbers have been boosted lately with four goals and an assist in his last eight appearances.

The underlying numbers have painted a nicer picture. And the underlying numbers tell more of the story.

*Szoboszlai shooting numbers, Premier League 2024/25*

For example, this term, in the Premier League, he has an Expected Goals total of 6.6. He also has an Expected Assists total of 4.16.

Immediately, you can see he’s underperforming both metrics. The latter is tied to the finishing of his teammates though. If he’s creating good, high-quality chances, it isn’t his fault they aren’t being converted. As we know, finishing can be fickle.

*Szoboszlai passing numbers, Premier League 2024/25*

This is why I’m comparing him to Darwin Núñez.

He’s getting chances, good ones at that, he just hadn’t been able to finish. You can argue he should be doing better with his opportunities but there’s also an element of bad luck too.

For example, he’s had four shots inside the six-yard box this season and none of them have resulted in a goal. The one against Brentford was blocked, as was the one against Nottingham Forest. The efforts against Wolves and Spurs, with a combined xG of 1.4, were both saved.

When you take a deeper look at the numbers, you realise how good he’s actually been. He has an xG90 of 0.31 from his 2.54 shots per 90. Only Salah, Diogo Jota, Luis Díaz, Núñez and Cody Gakpo have a higher xG90 this term. But, remarkably, there’s barely anything separating Gakpo (0.38), Diaz (0.38) and Szobozlai.

He’s posting the numbers of an attacker. But whereas Gakpo and Diaz have eight and nine goals respectively, Szoboszlai has just five.

He’s also got an xA90 average of 0.20, giving him a combined xG90 Involvement of 0.51. As a fourth goal threat, which he is in this team, you’d absolutely take that, wouldn’t you?

Compare that to last season and you really get to see how much he’s improved as a goal threat.

He was averaging 2.56 shots per 90 last season but had an xG90 of just 0.16. Low value efforts on a regular basis. His xA90 was identical to this term (0.21) but his xG90 Involvement was just 0.37. It might seem minimal but over a 38-game campaign that is a difference of almost seven expected goal involvements.

The return of two goals in his last two appearances has been on the cards for quite some time. It could be a prolific end to the campaign for the Liverpool No. 8.

(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.

Feb

2025

Football’s biggest meme? Turning the FA Cup into an after-thought

Increasingly, football is becoming ‘meme-able’. Individual moments are taken out of context for likes. Photos from weeks prior are exhumed for retrospective retaliation. A player’s entire career can be condensed into a single gif. On FA Cup weekend, perhaps its most magical moments are the original memes? Radford’s goal, Beasant’s save, Di Matteo’s hypersonic cup final opener. Memes, by their nature are disposable, a quick joke that regularly does the rounds. The Cup could be going the same way.

By Sanny Rudravajhala

Crystal Palace have their own meme at the moment. They’re doing all they can to finish 12^th and give their fans nothing to cheer about. To be fair, a subdued Selhurst Park in the week eventually sprang into life at their 4-1 dispatching of Aston Villa. There’s joy in the journey but since their play-off promotion in 2013, their consistency for midtable has been astonishing.

*Palace’s meme-able, W9 D9 L9 record in mid-table 12th*

With at least three utterly incompetent teams below them, Palace’s chances of Premier League relegation are zero. So, Oliver Glasner, dare you put your eggs into the FA Cup basket and bring glory to SE25? I’d love to see a full-strength Crystal Palace give the cup a real go. And on paper at least, facing rivals Millwall on Saturday afternoon is an entertaining prospect.

We had thrills and spills in Round Four and I’ll be at Old Trafford on Sunday to see Manchester United face Fulham. United’s own soap opera adds an extra element, but no doubt we’ll see rotated sides and, looking at the fixtures, the attention of most teams will be elsewhere.

When you’re battling for survival or focusing on a final league flourish, how much can a manager care about a spot in the FA Cup quarter finals?

Plymouth Argyle have already knocked out the best team in the country and as Miron Muslić told them, they are in the club’s history books forever. The FA Cup fact file doesn’t have an asterisk to denote that Arne Slot played his second-string. And, if they were to upend Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City on Saturday, they would rightly be compared to Wimbledon’s Crazy Gang and join the pantheon of sides with amazing runs in the world’s oldest cup competition.

But Muslić was brought in to save Argyle from the the Championship drop. I think we’ve seen enough now to say he’ll do it. Even if he didn’t, Wigan Athletic fans will tell you that they’d take beating City in the cup over a couple more seasons of survival. But they’re referring to when they lifted the trophy at Wembley and were relegated in the same season, not when they knocked them out again as a Championship club a year later.

*Plymouth’s precarious position in the Championship*

So, who else can dream of Wembley to save their season? How about another historic name, Preston North End? I was at a half-empty Deepdale for their penalty shoot-out victory over Wycombe. Their 2001 play-off final failure under David Moyes is a long-distant memory. This is their 10^th season outside of the Championship play-offs since their return from the third tier in 2015. Their continued midtable mediocrity is made all the worse by Saturday’s derby-day opponents, Burnley, chasing another Premier League return. The heat of this rivalry means there’s only so much rotation Scott Parker can undertake but his squad is big enough to change their entire XI and make it into the next round.

*Burnley’s formidable form and H2H record vs. Preston*

Fulham and Millwall both have an outside chance of breaking into the top six in their respective division, so the jury is out on how much they’re up for the cup. And so, we invariably come to the holders. The one club desperately needing the cup to stave off their never-ending malaise, Manchester United.

Were it not for Bruno Fernandes and an Ipswich side so bad at defending that they’ve conceded 23 goals in their last 10 Premier League outings, this week’s omnibus episode would have been bleak. Altay Bayındır’s heroics against Arsenal in the last round justified Rúben Amorim’s goalkeeper rotation and if he is fit, he’d be strengthening the XI after yet more comedy ‘keeping from André Onana on Wednesday.

It’s this week too that United have announced a post-season tour of Asia. You can’t deny that it’s a huge cash-cow for a club that are leaking money at faster rate that the water flowing through the Old Trafford roof on a rainy weekend. And although we can joke, there are the hundreds of workers who’ve taken pride in working for Manchester United, facing an uncertain future and my thoughts are with them.

But, and I know I’m ‘old man shouts at cloud’ here, from a footballing point of view, this is yet more mockery of the dispensing of cup replays to appease the top sides from having to play too many games. Now, nobody at Deepdale wanted a replay between Preston and Wycombe but that’s the nature of the cup, isn’t it? Or at least, it was.

Add to that, we’re adding changes to VAR and semi-automated offside at all grounds except Deepdale. It’s a compromised competition that has accepted that tweaking elements of the format, mid-season, can’t devalue it any further.

To put the boot on the other foot, there’s nothing to say that Premier League pros desperate to break into their league XIs can’t put on a star showing and light it up this weekend. We’ve already had some brilliant games and EFL players doing just that. Jamie Donley’s incredible effort for Leyton Orient that helped give them the lead over Manchester City was a magical moment. Tomoki Iwata’s every touch inside the opponent’s half is now greeted with ‘shoot!’ after his superb strike for Birmingham City in their defeat to Newcastle United. Both, remember, were against rotated sides.

*Jamie Donley’s shot vs. Man City that went down as an own goal*

The magic is still there and whoever makes those moments happen will provide us with the entertainment that we need, either way. And when we get to the Wembley semis, let alone the final, we’ll of course see the strongest sides on offer.

I’d be lying though, if I said my heart didn’t sink when looking at our fourth-round offerings. Are Bournemouth and Wolves fans willing for fork out to see their fringe players? How many empty seats will the TV directors be trying to frame out at the Etihad? How willing are Ipswich fans to make a Monday night trip to Nottingham to see how the players left from their League One days do at a side focussed on making the Champions League? I just hope there’s a manager out there willing enough to care and able to give it a go this weekend.

Just don’t show them Alan Pardew in his cup final suit, dancing in his technical area as his Palace side took the lead at Wembley in 2016. We know how that turned out.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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

Feb

2025

Premier League Team of the Week: Midweek Matchday 27

There are a few surprise names in this midweek FotMob Team of the Week. There would be. After all, there were a few surprise performances. However the biggest shock might be the exclusion of one player. Mohamed Salah. The Liverpool winger has been a regular in this feature all season after his workouts for the Reds and you just expect to see his name in the team. Not this week though.

By Sam McGuire

So, who replaced him? And who else made the Matchday 27 Team of the Week?

Goalkeeper: Ederson

Ederson kept just his fifth clean sheet of the season during Manchester City’s 1-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur. The Brazilian shot-stopper was busy, too, making six saves and facing efforts with an Expected Goals on Target total of 1.7. He also completed 84% of his passes and his performance earned him an 8.8 rating. He stepped up for the reigning champions and delivered a match-winning performance.

Defence: Harry Maguire

For the second time this month, Harry Maguire has been the difference maker for Manchester United. He scored the winner against Leicester City in the FA Cup and he’s now notched the winner in a Premier League game, helping the Red Devils to a 3-2 win over Ipswich Town at Old Trafford. His goal way in the second half ensured Rúben Amorim‘s 10 men had a lead to hold onto. And then Maguire ensured they did just that, winning a match high nine duels.

Defence: Levi Colwill

Colwill scored his first of the season as Chelsea romped to a 4-0 win over Southampton. The England centre-back completed the most passes (78) and created one chance, showing his ability on the ball. He also won 50% of his tackles, recovered the ball nine times, and won five of his eight duels. With and without the ball, he was an asset for Enzo Maresca and his team.

Defence: Aaron Cresswell

Cresswell has a new lease of life under Graham Potter. The versatile full-back has been deployed as a third centre-back and he’s thriving in the role. Against Leicester on Thursday evening, he claimed the FotMob Player of the Match with an 8.3 rating. He completed the most passes (104), had a 90% pass success rate and carved out two big chances for the Hammers. He also completed 100% of his dribbles.

Midfield: Jake O’Brien

O’Brien has done an admirable job filling in for compatriot Seamus Coleman. The defensive behemoth has impressed for David Moyes’ side recently. He upped his game against Brentford though, scoring in a 1-1 draw. The 23-year-old won five of his eight aerial duels. He also won three of his five ground duels against the Bees. The goal was a nice bonus for the former Lyon man.

Midfield: Dominik Szoboszlai

The Liverpool midfielder made it two goals in two games after notching the opener against Newcastle United on Wednesday evening. The attacking midfielder is coming into his own in Arne Slot‘s system, earning an 8.8 FotMob rating against the Magpies. He created two chances, completed 100% of his dribbles, won 80% of his tackles and 80% of his duels at Anfield.

Midfield: Enzo Fernández

The captain ran the show for the Blues against the Saints. Enzo created a match-high six chances, including two big chances. He also completed 88% of his passes and 100% of his dribbles. The Argentine also won 100% of his ground duels.

Midfield: Marc Cucurella

Cucurella put in a Man of the Match showing for Chelsea. He made the most tackles (five) and won the most duels (eight). The Spanish full-back grabbed a goal, completed 93% of his passes and 100% of his attempted dribbles. He owned the left side for the Blues.

Attack: Ismaïla Sarr

Crystal Palace stunned Aston Villa with a 4-1 win. Key to that was Sarr. The versatile winger scored twice and created the most chances (four) at Selhurst Park. He also carved out a big chance and finished the game with an Expected Goals involvement of 2.06, easily the highest of the match. He missed two big chances but that highlighted the fact Unai Emery‘s men couldn’t contain the former Watford man.

Attack: Pedro Neto

Deployed as a centre-forward, by Maresca, Neto impressed. The former Wolves winger scored and assisted in the 4-0 win for Chelsea. He completed 96% of his passes and was replaced with a 100% shot accuracy. He might’ve found a new role for himself in the team.

Attack: Jaden Philogene-Bidace

The former Aston Villa man caught the eye at Old Trafford, scoring twice for Ipswich Town. Albeit there was some luck with both goals. He latched onto a Patrick Dorgu mistake for the opener and then his cross into the box evaded everyone before nestling into the bottom corner of André Onana’s goal. He also carved out two chances on his way to a 9.1 FotMob rating.

*Philogene-Bidace’s individual shot map vs. Man United, second goal highlighted*

(Images from IMAGO)

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