Page 33 – The Pulse of Football

Dec

2024

FotMob Feature: Xherdan Shaqiri is front and centre of the Basel revival

When FC Basel won their eighth consecutive Swiss Super League title in 2017 it looked as though no one could stop them from reaching double digits.

By Ross Kilvington

Indeed, since the 2003/04 season, the club had won all but three of the league titles on offer during this time. Five Swiss Cup triumphs and back-to-back appearances in the last eight of the Europa League suggested that this was a dynasty which looked destined to continue for at least a few more years.

But after over a decade of feasting, the consequent seven years have seen Basel endure a severe famine, winning just a single cup between their last title triumph and now.

The 2022/23 campaign saw Basel endure their lowest ebb in recent memory, dropping to fifth in the league. Unthinkable during their heyday. Worse was to come in last year as they ended the 38-game season in eighth.

Fast forward to this season, however, and there’s a chance the club could be about to embark on another prolonged period of success. They currently lead the Swiss Super League by a point following a solid start to the 2024/25 campaign.

Basel’s impressive season start

Several management changes and leadership transitions turned Basel from a dominant force into a laughing stock. Eight different managers have taken charge of the club between 2017 and 2024 (Alexander Frei on two occasions).

Fabio Celestini was appointed in October 2023 and was tasked with cleaning up the mess left by his predecessors. Despite the eighth place finish last term, hopes are now high that the club could end their long title drought.

After 16 fixtures, the club currently top the league table, amassing 29 points, sitting clear of Lugano at the summit by a single point.

Basel have scored more goals than any other team (39) along with conceding the fewest (17) domestically. These building blocks could be the start of something very special.

Not only that, but the club rank first in the league for goals per match (2.4), big chances (45) and Expected Goals (32.1). With Basel conceding just 1.1 goals per game, ranking first in the league, it is clear that Celestini has finally got a tune out of his squad of players.

Bénie Traoré and Kevin Carlos both have six goals in the league, and Albian Ajeti has five. This trio will be crucial between now and the end of the season, yet is it a wily old veteran who is spearheading Basel’s title challenge this season?

The Curious Case of Xherdan Shaqiri

Of course, Xherdan Shaqiri began his career with Basel before making the move to the slightly brighter lights of German football, joining Bayern Munich in 2012.

From there, the diminutive forward enjoyed spells at Inter Milan, Stoke City, and Liverpool, where he won the Premier League and Champions League before moving on to Lyon in 2021.

After a spell with MLS side Chicago Fire, Shaqiri returned to his boyhood club in August, signing a three-year deal. At 32, there is no doubting the player is coming towards the end of his wonderful career, but he is still young enough to inspire Basel to glory.

And it’s been a case of so far so good for the former Liverpool star. Across 13 games in all competitions, Shaqiri has scored six times and registered seven assists, shining in the Super League in particular.

Used mainly as an attacking midfielder or out on the right flank, Celestini has certainly reignited a fire in the Swiss footballing icon, with Shaqiri at the forefront of everything positive about Basel this term.

In the top flight, Shaqiri ranks first for assists (7), big chances created (9), and Expected Assists (4.8), proving that there is life in the old dog yet.

*Swiss Super League goal contributions, 2024/25*

His experience has been a vital component of Basel’s excellent start to the season. For example, during a tense clash with rivals Young Boys at the start of the October, Shaqiri delivered a delightful cross into the box where Adrian Barišić powered a header into the goal to make it 1-0 to the home side.

Young Boys had won six of the previous seven titles since Basel’s last triumph and considering they had won the first match of the season between the two, this result may have potentially altered the balance of power in Switzerland.

Since then, last season’s champions are enduring their own lull, languishing in ninth position, seemingly out of the title race already.

Thanks to Shaqiri, Basel have a wise old head in their squad who knows what it feels like to win a league title with the club.

After years of mismanagement and failings on the field, Celestini has certainly pulled off a masterstroke by luring the 32-year-old back to his homeland.

The next few months will be crucial, but if Basel can stay ahead of the trailing pack, the signing of Shaqiri might go down as the catalyst of a new era at St. Jakob-Park. For that is a certainty.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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

Dec

2024

Caoimhin Kelleher: More than just a placeholder until Alisson’s return

Caoimhin Kelleher hasn’t just filled in for the best goalkeeper in the world recently. He’s actually replaced Alisson Becker between the sticks for Liverpool. That is how good the 26-year-old has been for the table-topping Reds.

By Sam McGuire

Arne Slot’s side haven’t missed the big Brazilian during his latest injury lay-off. Their 100% record in the Champions League remains intact while they’ve managed to extend their lead at the top of the Premier League table to nine points.

Rival teams struggle when a star player misses a run of games. Look at Manchester City without Rodri and Arsenal sans Martin Ødegaard. Others might’ve allowed their season to be derailed by the loss of their No1. Had Liverpool’s form taken a hit, nobody would’ve been shocked. After all, they’re missing one of the best goalkeepers in Premier League history.

And there’s no real incentive for Kelleher to perform well for the Reds. Slot already confirmed that Alisson is his undisputed starter when fit. The impending arrival of Giorgi Mamardashvili also suggests the Republic of Ireland international doesn’t have a future on Merseyside.

The Cork native could’ve come into the XI and gone through the motions until the return of Alisson. You wouldn’t really have blamed him either, would you? No matter what he does, he’s going to be on borrowed time in the first team. A move is already on the horizon.

Thankfully for the Reds, Kelleher has remained entirely focused. He’s performed like a player with a point to prove. Maybe he did have a point to prove after the Reds opted to bring in Mamardashvili as the heir to Alisson. Whatever the reason behind it, the 22-cap international is a key reason behind Liverpool finding themselves in such a dominant position right now.

In four of his last five starts for the Reds, he has a FotMob rating of over 8.1. In two of these games, he’s saved a penalty. He thwarted Adam Armstong from the spot in the 3-2 win over Southampton and repelled a Kylian Mbappé effort against Real Madrid as Slot’s men ran out 2-0 winners over the European champions. He then triumphed in a one-on-one with Kevin De Bruyne after a rare Virgil van Dijk error as Liverpool claimed a 2-0 win over Manchester City at Anfield.

Kelleher has been exceptional between the sticks this term and these performances have come during the toughest run of fixtures for the Reds.

He’s been in the starting XI for games against Chelsea, Arsenal, Brighton, Aston Villa and Manchester City in the Premier League and RB Leipzig, Bayer Leverkusen and LaLiga champions Real Madrid in the Champions League.

Before this run of fixtures, rival fans earmarked this period as make-or-break for the unlikely title hopefuls. The fact they dropped points in one game – a 2-2 draw with Arsenal – is remarkable, all things considered.

The recently turned 26-year-old has spared the blushes of senior players recently. Bailing Andrew Robertson out against Madrid and skipper Virgil van Dijk against City.

Robertson took to Instagram to thank the shot-stopper, declaring he owed him dinner, while Van Dijk singled out the No. 62 for praise recently.

“He is a fantastic goalkeeper, a fantastic human being. It is never easy to be a backup goalkeeper but in his case he is having an unbelievable, amazing goalkeeper in Alisson in front of him.

“But the time he has been playing he has been absolutely outstanding. I really enjoy seeing how much he has improved and is playing with confidence. I remember one of his first games when he won us the penalty shoot-out (against Arsenal in the League Cup in 2019/20) and he has come from a long way and he is an amazing goalkeeper.” Asked if Slot will have a difficult decision to make when Alisson returns to full fitness, Van Dijk added:

“Listen, that’s football. We will see. The manager decides but he (Kelleher) did fantastically up until now so we will see what happens.”

The numbers back up the optics too.

*Kelleher’s goalkeeper stats, Premier League 2024/25*

For example, Kelleher, in his seven Premier League starts this season, has prevented 2.1 goals. Alisson, in his six starts, has prevented 2.7 goals. The Republic of Ireland international has saved almost 80% of the shots he’s faced while the ex-Roma man has saved 88%. Both have kept three clean sheets.

The No.62 is doing his best Alisson impression and this is allowing Slot to manage the Brazilian’s return.

*Alisson’s goalkeeping stats, Premier League 2024/25*

He said as much in his pre-match Newcastle United conference: “I think I was clear about our position in the goalkeepers a few weeks ago, but we are just waiting for the moment Alisson is completely fit because Kelleher is doing too well to put Alisson in goal if he is only 50%. He is getting there, it might take a few more days but he’s getting closer and closer. He will be in goal before the end of December.”

On current form, Kelleher isn’t just the best second choice goalkeeper in the Premier League. He might actually be the second best goalkeeper in the English top-flight. This period in the first-team may have changed his entire career. He’s played his way into a big move and it will be well deserved.

(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.

Dec

2024

Oihan Sancet: The key to Ernesto Valverde’s plans at Athletic Club

Last weekend, Oihan Sancet yet again emphatically underlined why he’s one of the most exciting midfielders in Europe by propelling Athletic Club to victory over Rayo Vallecano by virtue of his brilliant brace.

By Edward Stratmann

Coming off the bench in the 56th minute with his team down 1-0, Sancet, who’s been battling an ankle injury, impressively rose to the occasion to power his team to a crucial 1-2 win.

*Sancet shot map vs. Rayo, with match winner highlighted, LaLiga 2024/25*

“Oihan has been very successful and we are happy. He is very focused, we want him to continue like this. He is making a great effort because he has a problem with his ankle and is playing with some pain,” explained Athletic manager Ernesto Valverde.

The player himself was equally delighted with his contribution and knows his team can achieve great things this term if they can keep up their momentum. “Everything went well, I scored two goals to win. I’m happy, we’re near the top of the table. I’m happy to help with goals. I hope I can continue like this,” insisted the 24-year-old.

“The goal is to finish as high as possible, we are going to dream of the Champions League, but we are still in December. We don’t set limits for ourselves, we have to take it game by game, but there’s no reason we can’t fight for the top spots.”

Bringing his goal tally up to eight on the season (seven in LaLiga, one in the Europa League), not only has he already surpassed his tally from last term (six), but he’s also the highest scoring midfielder in LaLiga and joint-second for goals among midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues behind only Cole Palmer.

Carrying on his exceptional rise, where he’s especially shone in the last two-and-a-half campaigns, the Spanish international and 2023/2024 Copa del Rey winner’s been a joy to watch.

Such a uniquely skilled player and one who brings so much to the table on both sides of the ball, there’s no denying what a key driving force he is for Valverde’s expertly coached Athletic.

An instrumental figure in connecting the midfield and attack from his hybrid No. 8 / No. 10 role within Valverde’s base 4-2-3-1/4-3-3, his presence is vital in helping his team progress upfield in many ways.

A master at recognising and exposing weaknesses in opposition structures, it’s always notable how successfully he exploits space between the lines and in the half spaces. Moreover, how he drops deep into central midfield to form numerical and positional superiorities is another important string to his bow.

Helping give his team control when checking towards the ball, another thing that warrants mention is how he coalesces smoothly with his colleagues to help manufacture space by drawing opponents and executing rotations, as the above is integral at unbalancing defensive shapes.

Reading the play intelligently and awake to gaps to attack in behind and into the box, his surges into depth amplify his effectiveness while adding verticality and directness.

As can be seen by his shot map, it’s clear how superbly he times and angles his runs into the area to be an option, which, in combination with his instinctive finishing, makes him a tremendous threat in and around the box.

Standing a towering 188 cm and using his hulking frame to his advantage, this sees him act as an ideal target man and outlet when his team need to go long to beat the press or quickly clear. Picking up the ball’s trajectory swiftly and timing his leap well, his aerial prowess is extremely beneficial to help his team win second balls via headed flick-ons or knock-downs.

*Sancet shooting stats per 90, LaLiga 2024/25*

Furthermore, his ability to hold the ball up with his back to goal while remaining balanced and maintaining his composure enables him to bring others into play, lure out markers and win fouls in quality zones.

A fantastic reference point and always on hand for teammates to utilise in transition and measured build-up, his presence ensures Los Leones can hurt opponents in a variety of manners.

Accompanying the aforementioned with his incisive passing, he’s showcased on countless occasions how valuable he conjures chances for teammates. Be it obliging runners with considered through balls, linking play with slick combination play, switching the angle of attacks with aplomb or breaking the lines with precision, he has a pass for most situations even if his numbers are down on last season at this stage.

*Sanset passing stats per 90, LaLiga 2023/24*

*Sancet passing stats per 90, LaLiga 2024/25*

Additionally, the way he flexes his muscles on the dribble to maraud upfield enhances his impact, for he’s so tough to stop when in full flight and crucially can outfox opponents with power and finesse.

Mightily effective on the defensive end as well, Sancet enjoys hunting down opponents and leading Valverde’s fierce high-press. Combative, disruptive and boasting an enviable work rate, watching him frequently regain possession for his team is definitely an endearing factor of his game.

Robust in the tackle, knowing when to drop off, shift across or push up and excellent at blocking passing lanes behind him, getting these details spot on duly accentuates what a complete package he is.

One of a number of talented generation from the Basque Country and Athletic’s Lezama academy in particular, such as fellow national team regulars Unai Simón, Kepa Arrizabalaga, Aymeric Laporte and Nico Williams, it was intriguing hearing his thoughts on his development.

“In the north, football is taught very well,” he asserted after his first Spain call-up that saw him reunite with his former Spain U18 and U21 coach in Luis de la Fuente. “There is a high level, the people of the Basque Country really like to play football. Reaching the national selection is the dream of every player. You train and fight to be at the top, so of course it is a dream and an objective achieved.”

Phenomenally talented and destined to achieve huge things in the beautiful game, it’s little wonder the Spanish ace is attracting interest from a host of elite clubs such as Manchester City, Liverpool, Inter Milan and Aston Villa.

He won’t come cheap, however, given his talent and that Athletic typically demand hefty sums for their stars due to their recruitment policy of only signing Basque players.

Furthermore, the fact he signed a remarkable contract extension until 2032 last year, and it’s understandable why the reported fee to acquire his services is believed to be in the region of €80 million.

All that talk will have to wait for now, though, for the multifaceted Sancet’s firmly focused on improving his game in his pursuit to reach the top of the sport and to keep along his sharp upward trajectory.

(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.

Dec

2024

Preview: Second meets fourth as Madrid travel to Athletic in LaLiga

All of a sudden, Real Madrid have the initiative in the LaLiga title race.

By Graham Ruthven

Madrid hot on Barca’s tail

Barcelona’s recent slip-ups have handed a slight advantage to Carlo Ancelotti’s team who, following Barca’s win at Mallorca on Tuesday, now have two games in-hand over their Catalan rivals ahead of kick off against Athletic Club on Wednesday night.

Real Madrid have struggled for top form this season, but have built momentum in the league by winning nine of their last 11 matches with their only two slumps coming in games against Atlético Madrid and Barcelona.

Athletic Club have also hit a rich vein of form recently, winning four of their last five games in all competitions. The Basque outfit haven’t suffered defeat since losing to Girona in early October and will be difficult opponents for Los Blancos.

Ernesto Valverde’s team boast one of the best home records in LaLiga this season with San Mames a notoriously difficult place for away teams to visit. Despite this, Real Madrid have won their last five league games there.

Key players

Kylian Mbappé has come under intense scrutiny since his summer move from Paris Saint-Germain, but the French forward produced arguably his best performance in all-white against Getafe on Sunday.

This came with Vinícius Júnior watching from the sidelines, meaning Mbappé could operate in his preferred position on the left wing. Without Vinícius occupying the same area, Mbappé looked more like the player Real Madrid expected to be when they signed him.

Jude Bellingham has recently found goalscoring form, netting three times in his last four appearances for Real Madrid in all competitions. The Englishman is once again a driving force for the Spanish giants.

At the back, Raúl Asencio has emerged as the answer to Real Madrid’s defensive prayers following injuries to David Alaba, Dani Carvajal and Éder Militão.

Oihan Sancet scored both goals in Athletic Club’s 2-1 win over Rayo Vallecano on Sunday and is expected to be a key figure once again for the Basque outfit when Real Madrid visit San Mames. He will pose a threat.

Brothers Iñaki and Nico Williams have the ability to decide a match while Alex Berenguer is a good bet to start Wednesday’s match after impressing in the weekend victory over Rayo Vallecano.

Team news

Vinícius missed Sunday’s victory over Getafe due to a hamstring injury and is a doubt for Wednesday’s trip to the Basque Country.

Eduardo Camavinga is also expected to miss out through injury with Alaba, Carvajal and Militao all sidelined for the long-term. Despite their injury troubles, Real Madrid are finding solutions to their problems.

Beñat Prados will return from suspension after missing Sunday’s match against Rayo through yellow card accumulation. Yuri Berchiche is Athletic Club’s only injury concern at the present moment.

Valverde must decide whether to stick with Julen Agirrezabala as his first-choice goalkeeper or bring Unai Simon back into the lineup after a lengthy period out of action.

Prediction

Will stick with the recent historical trend on this one, and the fact that Ancelotti’s side are finding ways to win at the moment, so Athletic Club 1-2 Real Madrid.

(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.

Dec

2024

Joe Gomez was an afterthought, now he has just become Liverpool’s most important squad player

Though Joe Gomez went into his 10th campaign at Liverpool with doubts over his future, the versatile defender has now been thrust back into the forefront of Arne Slot’s plans.

By Jack Lusby, ThisIsAnfield.com

In a title race defined, in these early months at least, by injuries, Arne Slot’s Liverpool have navigated their own ongoing problems with almost effortless ease.

Despite Alisson, Diogo Jota, Harvey Elliott and Federico Chiesa all spending lengthy spells on the sidelines, the head coach has managed his squad effectively while overseeing 18 wins and a draw from his first 20 games in charge.

Those results leave Liverpool nine points clear at the top of the Premier League, already qualified for the next round of the Champions League after five wins from five and into the League Cup quarter-finals, where they will travel to Southampton.

In Slot’s words, injuries are viewed through the lens of a side’s results, telling reporters last week: “I think in general people only talk about injuries if the results are not there, so it’s a good thing that nobody talked about our injuries. That means that we got our results in.”

Soon after, though, the narrative changed to a degree with the absences of Ibrahima Konaté and Conor Bradley confirmed, along with a setback in the recovery of Kostas Tsimikas. Konaté and Bradley are not expected back until next year, while the sight of Tsimikas on crutches and wearing a protective boot suggests the Greek will not return before January either.

“Five defenders for four positions going into a month like this is far from ideal,” Slot admitted before Sunday’s clash with Manchester City at Anfield – a point when, despite their form, the treatment room became so full people finally began to talk about Liverpool’s injuries.

Without his first-choice centre-back and with Trent Alexander-Arnold only having just returned from three weeks out with a hamstring injury, Slot was forced to take risks with his back line against the reigning champions.

Alexander-Arnold was brought straight back into the starting lineup in place of his stand-in Bradley, while Joe Gomez was given the nod over youngster Jarell Quansah as partner to Virgil van Dijk at centre-back.

For the first time since the 5-2 loss to Real Madrid at Anfield in February 2023, a back four long considered Liverpool’s strongest was reunited in the starting lineup: Alexander-Arnold at right-back, Gomez and Van Dijk at centre-back and Andy Robertson at left-back.

There would have been few concerns, then, about a lack of cohesion, but the manner in which Liverpool’s defence reprised their strong form up against the likes of Erling Haaland, Phil Foden and, later in the game, the direct and dangerous Jérémy Doku and Savinho, was a credit to the dedication of one player in particular.

Gomez was making his first Premier League start of the season and his first of any kind since the end of October, with his only two previous starts under Slot coming in the League Cup against West Ham and Brighton. Prior to Sunday, he had clocked only 84 minutes on the pitch in the league and Champions League combined, averaging 14 minutes per outing.

But he was near-faultless as Liverpool suffocated Manchester City on their way to a 2-0 win which, even on the basis of xG (3.57-0.84), should have ended with an even more convincing scoreline.

No Liverpool player had more touches of the ball than Gomez (79), who naturally also completed the most passes (67/76) for a success rate of 88 percent – the fifth-highest of any of Slot’s starters. He left the defensive actions to Van Dijk, who made a game-high 13 to his two, but led in terms of ball recoveries (seven) and won both of his duels (one in the air, one on the ground).

Alexis Mac Allister (six) was the only Liverpool player to make more passes into the final third than Gomez (five), whose remit alongside Van Dijk was in mopping up and progressing play while the captain shut down Haaland with ease.

It was a hugely encouraging start for a player who was required to come in from the cold – and will hopefully serve as a prelude to a vital run of starts as Gomez becomes one of Slot’s most important players.

With Konaté, Bradley and Tsimikas all out, Liverpool are without their leading centre-back and their natural backups at right-back and left-back respectively.

That comes at the beginning of a month where the Reds will play eight more times across three competitions, and having opened up such a resounding lead over their Premier League rivals, the onus is on them to keep the momentum going.

While Slot had rotated effectively when the majority of his defenders were fit – before Sunday, no player had been subbed off more than Alexander-Arnold (nine) and Robertson had not started more than two games in a row since mid-September – an absence of alternatives will now put pressure on his still-fit starters.

With five defenders for four positions and Newcastle, Everton, Girona, Fulham, Southampton, Tottenham, Leicester and West Ham all to come in the space of 26 days (a game every 3.25 days on average), Liverpool are fortunate they have the equivalent of a skeleton key still fit.

Gomez, who almost joined Newcastle in a £45 million deal over the summer and was left out of the first game of the season amid uncertainty over his future, is proficient at all three roles across the back line.

Though considered a natural centre-back, only 106 of his 233 appearances for Liverpool have come in that role; 93 have been as a right-back, 31 at left-back and three as a defensive midfielder. Under Slot so far this season, Gomez has played four times as a centre-back, four as a right-back and once as a left-back.

That makes him an invaluable asset for the month ahead and likely beyond, as first choice alongside Van Dijk but also a reliable option to cover for Robertson and Alexander-Arnold when their workload needs to be managed.

It is a strange twist of fate for a player who has so often found himself on the fringes at Liverpool – through injury or the form of others – only to prove his value time and time again when called upon.

(Images from IMAGO)

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

Dec

2024

Preview: Chelsea visit a depleted looking Saints side

Bottom placed Southampton welcome Enzo Maresca’s impressive Chelsea to St Mary’s side on Wednesday seeking vindication after VAR’s frustrating intervention in their 1-1 draw with Brighton in the previous round.

By Alex Roberts

Last Friday at the AMEX, Cameron Archer had his goal chalked off after teammate Adam Armstrong was deemed to have influenced play while in an offside position. Not only did it rob Russell Martin’s side of a valuable three points, but a Southampton win would also have impacted the gap between Chelsea and Brighton at the top end of the table.

As it was, Chelsea’s win over Aston Villa on Sunday was arguably their best performance of the season so far, with star man Cole Palmer once again stealing the show, keeping his side within touching distance of Liverpool, despite Enzo Maresca’s insistence that the Blues are not in the title race.

How much longer can Russell Martin last?

With just five points from their opening 13 Premier League games, the writing is already starting to appear on the wall for Southampton. Much like Burnley last season, Martin’s insistence on sticking with the style that got them promoted has seen them struggle in the top-flight.

Not only are they leaking goals, but the Saints also hold the worst attacking record in the league, scoring just 10 goals – underperforming their xG by 4.40 – despite creating more big chances than Everton, Leicester City, and Wolves.

Something drastic is going to have to happen for Southampton to stay in the Premier League come the end of the season. If results keep going this way, Martin is either going to get sacked or, like Vincent Kompany, somehow end up as the next boss of Bayern Munich!

Nicolas Jackson… You are for reeeeal

Whisper it quietly, but Nicolas Jackson is very good at football. Eleven goal contributions so far this season has him in the league’s top five, behind Mohamed Salah, Bukayo Saka, Cole Palmer, and Erling Haaland.

Jackson has cemented his status as a forward with elite potential, building on everything that made his game special last season and adding a newfound ability to finish his chances. Yes, there have been some glaring misses, notably one against Brighton, but he is overperforming his xG + xA by 3.40.

Calls for Maresca to start Christopher Nkunku over Jackson have now died down. The Senegal international has put a marker down as Chelsea’s best striker.

*Jackson shot map, Premier League 2024/25*

Tyler Dibling will be missed

Reminiscent of Jack Grealish before Pep Guardiola got his hands on him, with the long hair and low socks, 18-year-old Dibling is having a break-out season at Southampton, impressing against Brighton and running the show against Liverpool.

Versatile enough to play anywhere from central midfield to right-wing, Martin has primarily deployed him in the centre of the park, bagging his first and only Premier League goal in the 1-1 draw with Ipswich.

However, he is suspended for this fixture, as are Flynn Downes, their goalscorer at Brighton, and centre-back Taylor Harwood-Bellis. All three have impressed so far this season and their absence will no doubt be giving Martin some selection headaches.

Prediction

Nothing in football is ever a foregone conclusion but it’s hard to look beyond Chelsea for this one. Southampton gave Liverpool a good game and were unlucky against Brighton, but we’re gonna go with 2-0 to Chelsea.

(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.

Dec

2024

Preview: Forest out to heap more misery on Man City

Manchester City are in freefall. Sunday’s defeat to Liverpool means Pep Guardiola’s team are now without a win in their last seven games in all competitions with the defending Premier League champions a shadow of their former selves.

By Graham Ruthven

Nottingham Forest could add to City’s recent struggles. Not only have Nuno Espírito Santo’s team emerged as one of the surprise packages of this season, currently sitting sixth in the table, they could have the tactical profile to expose Manchester City as many other teams have in recent weeks.

Forest are at their best when they have open space to burst into on the counter attack with Anthony Elanga, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Morgan Gibbs-White all capable of deciding a match.

City will have the talent advantage at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday, but with Forest renowned for being difficult to break down another tricky test awaits. There’s no guarantee seven games without a win won’t become eight.

Key players

Rúben Dias’ return from injury was one positive of Sunday’s loss to Liverpool. The hope for City is that the presence of the Portuguese centre back will help steady the defence of the Premier League champions. He could prove integral to any recovery against Forest.

Erling Haaland has failed to score in his last two league outings, representing a relative drought for the Norwegian striker. Nonetheless, Haaland will be a threat against a Forest side that have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last four away games in the Premier League.

Kevin de Bruyne could be handed a start in an attempt to give Manchester City more creativity and guile on the ball. The Belgian hasn’t started a league match since the victory over Brentford in mid-September.

Only Haaland and Mohamed Salah have scored more Premier League goals this season than Chris Wood who netted the winner against Ipswich Town in his last outing.

In Nikola Milenković and Murillo, Nottingham Forest boast one of the strongest defensive pairings in the division right now. Both centre backs will have to be in top form to keep City at bay despite their well-documented recent struggles.

Team news

Rodri and Mateo Kovačić remained unavailable for Manchester City meaning Guardiola will likely have to rely on the likes of İlkay Gündoğan, Rico Lewis and Bernardo Silva in the centre of midfield against Nottingham Forest.

John Stones missed Sunday’s trip to Merseyside to face Liverpool and will be assessed before Wednesday’s home match at the Etihad Stadium. Oscar Bobb still isn’t ready to return to first team action.

Danilo and Ibrahim Sangaré are both expected to miss Nottingham Forest’s match against the defending Premier League champions due to injury, but Nuno has an otherwise fully fit squad to choose from.

Jota Silva could keep his place in the starting lineup over Elanga after catching the eye in the narrow victory over Ipswich. Elliott Anderson is another who could start having impressed recently in central midfield.

Prediction

One week on from the Champions League debacle against Feyenoord, could Wednesday be the day that the poor run comes to an end? Man City 2-1 Nottingham Forest

(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.

Dec

2024

Preview: Newcastle have the unenviable task of taking on Premier League leaders Liverpool

Just two teams have taken points off of the Reds so far this term and Arne Slot’s men arrive at St James’ Park having beaten reigning European champions Real Madrid and reigning champions of England Manchester City in the past week.

By Sam McGuire

They’re in ominous form. But the Magpies have stepped up in the big games this season. Can they do the same again this week?

The season so far

To say Newcastle have been inconsistent this season would be an understatement.

Eddie Howe’s side find themselves in 11th position having won just five of their 13 encounters in the English top-flight. The Magpies have beaten Spurs and Arsenal while also claiming a point against Manchester City at St James’ Park. Against the big(ger) teams they seem to scale their performances. Against the inferior opposition, at least on paper anyway, they struggle. They’ve drawn with relegation candidates Everton and Crystal Palace this term while also losing to an out-of-sorts West Ham United.

They conceded a 94th-minute equaliser to the Eagles over the weekend too.

A big issue for Eddie Howe and his team this season is their inability to score goals. They’ve found the back of the net just 14 times across their 13 matches and their goal difference currently stands at zero.

Liverpool, meanwhile, have been relentless. The Reds are top of the Premier League, nine points clear of Arsenal following the 2-0 win over Manchester City at Anfield on Sunday.

They are currently on a seven-match winning streak across all competitions and have lost just one game all season. This was at home to Nottingham Forest in September. Since that shock defeat, Arne Slot has guided his side to 15 wins in 16 matches.

The Reds are scoring goals (26) and keeping clean sheets (seven). They’re the only team in the Premier League to still be in single digits for goals conceded.

Previous encounters

This has been a one-sided fixture for the best part of a decade. Newcastle last picked up a win over Liverpool in 2015. Since then, the Reds are unbeaten in 15 against the Magpies and have won six on the spin with an aggregate scoreline of 14-5.

Howe doesn’t have the best record against Wednesday’s opponents. The Newcastle boss has faced off against Liverpool on 19 occasions and has just one win and one draw to his name. He’s suffered 17 losses and his teams have conceded 47 goals in the process.

Current form

Right now, Liverpool are the best team in Europe, statistically speaking. The Reds lead the form table in the Premier League with 13 points from 15. During this time, they have scored 11 and conceded on just five occasions.

Newcastle’s inconsistent form can be seen in the mini-form table. The Magpies are 12th with seven points and a goal difference of zero.

The injury situation

Alexander Isak is missing for the Magpies, as is long-term absentee Sven Botman. Isak picked up a knock in the recent draw with Crystal Palace and he’ll be a big loss to the Magpies. He always has a decent game against the Reds.

Liverpool are without Ibrahima Konaté, Conor Bradley, Kostas Tsimikas and Diogo Jota. Alisson Becker is training again and Federico Chiesa is expected to be fit following a stint on the sidelines. But Slot is going to have to rotate to keep players fresh during this injury crisis.

Prediction

It’ll be a slog but you can’t look past Liverpool right now, can you? Mohamed Salah is the best player in the league and has the ability to single-handedly win games. He’s been doing just that over recent weeks.

(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.

Dec

2024

Preview: Arteta meets Amorim in new chapter for a historic Premier League rivalry

The Premier League have only gone and served up one of the most storied fixtures in the English calendar for you on Wednesday night. North versus South. The longest serving inmates of the English top flight against the club that’s been champions of it more times than anyone other.

By Ian King

A bit of history

Arsenal and Manchester United have played each other 240 times in all competitions with United having won 101, Arsenal 89, and fifty draws. Their first meeting came 130 years ago this year, when they played out a 3-3 draw in what was then the Second Division, as Newton Heath and Woolwich Arsenal.

More recently than that, things got spicy with Arsenal’s return to the ascendency under Arsene Wenger in the late 1990s. Seven red cards were shown between February 1997 and February 2005, a period which also included the league fixture in September 2003 which became known as the “Battle of Old Trafford”. Slightly more recently, of course, came United’s 8-2 win against Arsenal in August 2011.

Recent form

Consistency is turning out to be the key to success this season, and both of these teams are making encouraging moves in this direction. Arsenal have recovered from their end of October mini-wobble by winning their last three matches and scoring 13 goals into the bargain. Manchester United remain unbeaten since they sacked Erik Ten Hag, though how much progress Rúben Amorim has made is somewhat tempered by the modesty of the opposition he’s faced. This is his first serious United test.

Key players

Marcus Rashford has scored three goals in the two league games for which Amorim has been in charge. Is this the beginning of a rebirth for a player who looked for a long time as though he’d fallen out of love with the game?

Regarding Arsenal, the better question is probably who isn’t a key player now Martin Ødegaard is now back to build a side around. They’ve scored eight goals in their last two Premier League matches, and those goals have come from seven different players.

Team News

Gabriel had to be withdrawn against West Ham after an issue that he picked up against Sporting flared up in the first half, though Mikel Arteta described that early withdrawal as ‘precautionary’. There may also be doubts over Mikel Merino, Thomas Partey and Myles Lewis-Skelly. Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu are definitely missing.

Manchester United are sweating on captain Bruno Fernandes, who came off against Everton and was later seen on the bench with an ice pack on his ankle. In addition to this, Lisandro Martínez and Kobbie Mainoo are both suspended. Harry Maguire is fit again, but Jonny Evans, Victor Lindelof and Leny Yoro may all miss out.

Prediction

With so many key participants in both defences absent, both teams having scored goals for fun last weekend, and a history of this being a fairly high-scoring match, we might anticipate a lot of goals from this one. The recent Manchester City implosion will have given supporters of both clubs something to cheer about, albeit for somewhat different reasons. With United looking purposeful again under their new manager, this could end up a high-scoring draw. So let’s go for 2-2 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.

Dec

2024

FotMob Profile: Rayan Cherki, Lyon’s in-demand creator

Olympique Lyonnais have been renowned for having one of the great academies in European football. The list of graduates in the 21st century is impressive, with the youth system utilised considerably to help the club get through their first financial crisis during the early 2010s while they were building their new stadium.

By Mohamed Mohamed

Lyon might have to do so once again. As has been widely reported, the club’s finances are being seriously squeezed – something we reported on here – and it could even result in their enforced relegation unless things improve considerably, through likely player sales.

One of the players who has become a serious transfer target in recent weeks is Rayan Cherki, who’s been billed as Lyon’s best academy graduate since Karim Benzema burst onto the scene in the mid to late 2000s, which is no small feat. Cherki’s breakout 2022/23 season appeared to back up that assessment, when he was among the league leaders in chances created per 90 and expected assists per 90. Following a less impactful 2023/24 campaign, and numerous transfer rumours over the summer, Cherki has arguably been back to playing some of his best football in a Lyon shirt this season.

In some ways, Cherki plays the kind of football one would remember from a bygone era. He looks the part of an old school playmaker who floats around and would be tasked with tons of progressive passing and ball-carrying responsibilities, while also being a focal point in the final third. He’s constantly looking to create quick combination sequences with nearby teammates. Few players in the world have his repertoire of passes (backheels, throughballs, dink passes, etc.), aided by him being genuinely two-footed to afford him more angles. This is combined with an aggressive mindset to play passes into advantageous areas, yet not going overboard with too many mindless attempts at those Hollywood balls. It’s hard to pick holes in his ability as a playmaker, something you don’t often say about young attacking talents.

*Cherki passing stats per 90, Ligue 1 2024/25*

For someone who’s not a speedster nor possesses a lightning first step, Cherki’s dribbling numbers are ridiculous and have consistently been at a very high level since he got into the first team back in 2021. This season, he’s completing 3.80 dribbles per 90 at a 56.8% success rate in Ligue 1. Amazingly, his successful dribbles per 90 rate is lower than the previous two seasons. At a young age, he’s already masterful when it comes to going at his own pace. While no one would call him fast exactly, he can change gears to keep his opponent off balance. Being close to ambipedal also helps in making it tough for defenders to show him a certain direction. Cherki’s second assist vs Rangers in the Europa League from their meeting in early October was a good illustration of why he’s tough to contain. The assortment of fakes, change of pace, and ability to use his right foot for the square pass to Malick Fofana were all on display.

*Cherki possession stats per 90, Ligue 1 2024/25*

Without the ball is where there are some question marks about Cherki’s game, both defensively and in attack. Out of possession, he has his issues with effectively covering his man. He also doesn’t have the most robust engine defensively, although that’s improved compared to previous season, and his usage offensively means it’s draining to be both a defensive and offensive asset. In attack, Cherki isn’t someone who’ll constantly spam runs in behind against high defensive lines. Rather, it comes through situations like third man runs or providing an underlapping option towards the wide zone. Occasionally, he’ll move across the pitch to help drag his marker and create space for others. This helps explain why the shot map below is relatively uninspiring, and how he’s been just under 0.10 non-penalty expected goals per shot per throughout his career.

Since becoming a regular starter in the 2022/23 season, Cherki has been a very good player in Ligue 1, which is no small feat considering he’s not turning 22 until next August. Footballers who provide positive value at such a young age have a good chance of becoming a star going forward. This is part of the glass half full argument with Cherki, in addition to believing that his ability to function in tight areas and subtle off-ball movement would work anywhere. Skeptics would argue that his combination of heavy on-ball dominance and questionable defensive play would make it tough for him to scale up and have similar impact alongside supremely talented teammates. They would say that Cherki would need a special environment for him to be at his absolute best.

Players like Martin Ødegaard and Florian Wirtz are examples of how gifted playmakers can still perform at the highest level of play in today’s game. They are the creative engines of Arsenal and Bayer Leverkusen respectively, two of the best clubs in the world right now. While having a high on-ball usage, they also play an important role defensively for how they press in aggressive setups. This is one of the questions concerning Cherki’s portability as a player, as the best teams today don’t carry passengers. While he’s gotten better in this area compared to a couple of years ago, it still can be a sore spot.

If Lyon do sell Cherki in the upcoming January transfer window, to appease French soccer’s financial watchdog, clubs looking to acquire him will have to weigh up several factors. Perhaps the biggest one is whether his out of possession work can reach another level through different coaching. Just how much will his prolific dribbling and ball-carrying translate elsewhere. Will the off-ball movement and directness continue the upward trends from what’s been seen so far this season. Of all the teams who’ve been reported to have an interest, Bayer Leverkusen might be the most interesting one given he might serve as a replacement for Florian Wirtz in the event the German does depart to one of Europe’s super clubs.

Between his production at a young age, unique skill-set, and his availability due to outside circumstance; it’s fair to say that Rayan Cherki is one of the most fascinating young talents in recent memory.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every match from Ligue 1 live with FotMob — featuring deep stats coverage, xG and player ratings. Download the free app here.