Page 50 – The Pulse of Football

Oct

2024

Can a new approach improve Scotland’s results in the Nations League?

Battered and bruised after their dismal showing at Euro 2024 – where they finished bottom of their group with just one point – Scotland returned to action in the Nations League last month.

By Ross Kilvington

Facing life in League A, hopes were certainly diminished following the poor showings in Germany. The question was, would Steve Clarke be able to get the public back onside after a failure to qualify for the knockout stages at the Euros?

A Dismal Start

“The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.” Once said physicist Albert Einstein. While not going as far to dub Clarke insane, it appeared as though he hadn’t learnt his lessons from Germany.

Indeed, when Poland visited Hampden for the opening League A tie in the Nations League, eight players who started the 1-0 defeat to Hungary in Stuttgart retained their places.

Clarke did tweak his tactics, however. against the Hungarians, he persisted with three at the back, which clearly didn’t work.

For the visit of the Poles, the manager reverted to a 4-2-3-1 system, hoping to dominate the midfield while deploying Grant Hanley and Scott McKenna as the two centre-backs. Despite the change in approach, the Scots conceded twice in the first half.

Goals from Billy Gilmour and Scott McTominay looked like it would earn Scotland an unlikely (and undeserved) point, but a Nicola Zalewski penalty in the dying embers of the match saw three points head back to Poland.

In the heat of Lisbon three days later, McTominay scored after just seven minutes. Was the Poland result a mere blip? Did Clarke’s men have it in them to secure their first win over Portugal since 1980?

The Portuguese came to life in the second half. Bruno Fernandes equalised shortly after the restart before Cristiano Ronaldo broke hearts in the away end with the winner just minutes from full time.

It was a marked improvement from the Poland defeat, no doubt about that, but questions marks remained over Clarke’s loyalty to certain players.

Will these losses impact the starting XI he unleashes to face Croatia in Zagreb on Saturday? Many of the Tartan Army will certainly hope so.

Fresh Blood and Old Faces

There were a few surprises in Clarke’s squad for the matches against Croatia and Portugal. Craig Gordan returns to the squad, despite his appearance against Finland before the Euros looking like his farewell.

Elsewhere, defenders Liam Lindsay and Nicky Devlin have been called up for the first time, while Andy Irving has been rewarded with a maiden call up having broken into the West Ham United side.

Familiar faces such as Kenny McLean, Ryan Christie and Andy Robertson once again feature in the squad, but by calling up Ryan Gauld and Lewis Morgan, is Clarke perhaps moving away from loyalty and giving chances to those who deserve it based on current form?

His stubbornness was a quality that helped forged an excellent team spirit, allowing Scotland to qualify for back-to-back European Championships. The performances in Germany and against Poland and Portugal last month indicate that he has to move with the times, especially with the pressure building.

A New Approach?

The 4-2-3-1 system which was used last month certainly looks like it could be worth utilising again during the next two Nations League matches.

Devlin can lay a claim to starting against the Croatians after a fine start to the season, while a new centre-back pairing must be found, as McKenna misses out and Grant Hanley has only played just 153 minutes all season.

Billy Gilmour and McLean will likely be deployed at the heart of the midfield, while it is the front four which could look a lot different than it did against Portugal.

Of course, McTominay has a firm grasp on the attacking midfield slot after his displays for Scotland over the previous 18 months. It isn’t just the fact the Napoli man has netted ten goals for his country since March 2023, but it is the importance of those efforts.

Two goals to see off Spain at Hampden. The clincher against Georgia a few months later. Opening the scoring against Switzerland at Euro 2024, the list goes on. He even scored after a minute for Napoli against Como last week, suggesting that he is enjoying life in Naples.

Clarke’s gambles should come on the flanks. Morgan and Gauld must replace John McGinn (injured) and Christie, especially considering their impact in the final third for their respective teams this season.

*Gauld vs. Morgan, MLS stats comparison, 2024 season*

Combined, the duo have registered 22 goals and 16 assists for Vancouver Whitecaps and New York Bulls. Compared to players in similar leagues, Gauld ranks in the top 3% for chances created, while ranking in the top 4% in MLS for winning possession back in the final third. These qualities could be well suited to Clarke’s tactical approach.

On the opposite flank, Morgan could offer a dangerous threat in the final third. Not only does he rank in the top 6% in MLS for total shots (86), but the winger even ranks in the top 2% for chances created when compared to his own peers.

Considering Che Adams’ excellent start to the season with Torino, he could be in prime position to add to his Scotland tally with both Gauld and Morgan flanking him.

Since swapping the south coast of England for Turin, the 28-year-old has already scored four goals, which should see him come back into the starting XI.

If Clarke repeats previous mistakes, Scotland could suffer another two defeats. But if he takes a gamble and goes with those players who are in form, the Scots could secure their first competitive win since September 2023.

It’s the hope that kills you.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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

Oct

2024

Improving the fortunes of the USMNT could be Mauricio Pochettino’s toughest gig yet

If Mauricio Pochettino wasn’t aware of the scale of the job in front of him as the US men’s national team’s new head coach, it surely dawned on him during last month’s friendlies against Canada and New Zealand.

By Graham Ruthven

The 52-year-old’s appointment was confirmed between the two matches, meaning Pochettino wasn’t there in person, but he watched from afar as the USMNT suffered.

The defeat to Canada in particular exposed just how far off the expected standard the USA is right now. There was no coherent game plan. In and out of possession, the USMNT were shown up by a Canadian team coached by Jesse Marsch, an American who previously interviewed for the job Gregg Berhalter ultimately kept. Marsch had reason to be smug.

This current USA team was meant to be a golden generation. Players like Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, Tyler Adams and Gio Reyna were supposed to lift the national team to new heights. Instead, the USMNT is stuck and has called on Pochettino to push them forwards and rescue the 2026 World Cup.

Under Berhalter, the USA was sliding towards a calamitous tournament on home soil. This summer’s Copa America highlighted how Berhalter’s team had regressed since the 2022 World Cup when the USA at least appeared to have given themselves a platform to build on. Ultimately, though, the foundations faltered.

Pochettino has under two years to prepare the USA for the 2026 World Cup. He has no time to waste in remoulding the national team in his own image, particularly because the USMNT doesn’t have to qualify for the tournament as one of three host countries. Pochettino will start with two friendlies against Panama on Saturday and Mexico on Tuesday and even those matches matter. Friendlies – and next summer’s Gold Cup – are all he has to work with.

Berhalter infamously stated he wanted to “change the way the world sees American soccer.” That always seemed like too grand a mission statement and Pochettino’s remit is indeed narrower. The former Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain and Tottenham Hotspur boss is reportedly only contracted until 2026. He will be judged in the micro, not the macro.

*The USMNT group table at 2024 Copa America*

Time might be Pochettino’s biggest opponent as USMNT head coach. The Argentine is renowned as a sharp tactician with a good feel for the modern game, but he may have no choice but to strip back his own ideological beliefs to point the USA in the right direction again. Pochettino might have to go back to basics.

“It’s most important to be simple, players need to not create too many complications,” said Pochettino during his first camp as USA boss in Texas. “The players cannot believe that when they’re going to arrive to their first day in Austin that we are going to be in the room spending two or three hours talking about tactics and different things. Most importantly, we need to settle a few concepts that I think are principle and after that I plan to develop with time.”

Some things will be out of Pochettino’s hands. Many of the USA’s best players are struggling for their club teams at this moment in time. Reyna, for example, has been plagued by persistent injuries for years. Even when he has been fit, the attacking midfielder has struggled for game time at Borussia Dortmund. In fact, Reyna has played more minutes for the USA in 2024 than Dortmund.

Until recently, Folarin Balogun was a peripheral figure at Monaco having made a €40m move from Arsenal last year. Even with the centre forward on a scoring run of three goals in his last three league games, Balogun has yet to be fully integrated into the USA attack. Adams, Sergino Dest and Tim Weah are all injured while goalkeeper Matt Turner hasn’t made a single Premier League appearance for Crystal Palace this season.

It might be the case that Pochettino simply doesn’t have the talent to guide the USA to glory at the 2026 World Cup, but US Soccer has rolled the dice by hiring an elite level manager. No national team at the USA’s level has ever made such an ambitious appointment. It could be argued that the USA’s hiring of Pochettino is the biggest managerial appointment in international football history.

Over 15 years of management, Pochettino has proved himself at all levels of the game. At Espanyol and Southampton, he had raised two teams beyond their perceived potential. He did the same at Tottenham, guiding the North London club to their first Champions League final in 2019. Even at Chelsea, as chaos took hold last season, Pochettino guided the Blues to a respectable sixth-place finish.

For all his experience in the game, though, Pochettino has embraced a new challenge by taking over the USMNT. This is his first job in international management and he could barely have taken on a more demanding one. The true measure of Pochettino’s USMNT will be taken at the 2026 World Cup and progress must be quick for this gamble to pay off.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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

Oct

2024

Preview: Lee Carsley looks to continue his 100% start as England take on Greece

Lee Carsley will be aiming to make it three wins from three games as interim boss of England, boosting his own credentials to perhaps take the job on full time.

By Karl Matchett

In truth, Nations League results perhaps won’t be the barometer by which the FA decide who their permanent successor to Gareth Southgate is, but certainly Carsley can’t be doing his chances any harm if he clocks up further wins and clean sheets.

A first squad which saw several surprise names called up has been replicated this time around, so chances for the likes of Rico Lewis, Angel Gomes and Noni Madueke could again be on the table after strong starts to their respective domestic campaigns. While another big talking point is the return of striker Dominic Solanke to the fold, seven years after his sole cap to-date, it will likely be the familiar faces who determine England’s fate against the Greeks – themselves top of Group B2 with six points as well, but a superior goal difference to the Three Lions.

Despite scoring one fewer, the numbers from fixtures against Ireland and Finland back England in this case: seven big chances, 4.3 xG across two games and 8.5 shots on target per game are top across the board in Nations League B groups…as might be expected, given they were relegated from the top tier in the previous edition.

The same questions remain for Carsley as would have been in place for anyone else after Euro 2024, with a couple of games never likely to yield the sole possible answers: where should Trent Alexander-Arnold play? What is the best midfield combination possible? And how many of Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka, Phil Foden and Cole Palmer should get in the starting lineup?

Quite aside from where they’ve performed this year, Carsley’s suggestion that at least two of that quartet can play from left-back is likely to be one experiment which is left aside, for now at least.

While there’s familiarity with some of the names in the Greek squad from playing in the Premier League, the truth is that there are too few elite-end performers in the Hellenic side to pose serious questions to England’s finest across 90 minutes. But in some respects, the best way to ensure focus and performance levels is to play those not assured of their place, thereby potentially levelling the quality level somewhat – and letting the Nations League remain a learning curve for squad and interim boss alike.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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

Oct

2024

Cody Gakpo is stepping up the fight for game time at Liverpool

There’s been no post-Jürgen Klopp hangover at Liverpool.

By Sam McGuire

The Reds sit top of the Premier League having won six of their opening seven matches under Arne Slot. They’ve kept five clean sheets and have the best defensive record in the league having conceded just two goals.

In defence, they’re robust. In attack, Slot has everyone firing.

Luis Díaz leads the way for the Reds with five goals in the English top-flight. Mohamed Salah has struck on four occasions. Diogo Jota has bagged twice while Darwin Núñez opened his account against Bournemouth. Cody Gakpo and Federico Chiesa are the only two forwards not to score in the Premier League this season for Liverpool.

Gakpo has goals in the Carabao Cup though. And the Dutchman was the difference-maker for Slot’s men last weekend in the win over Crystal Palace. He assisted the winner, picking out Jota with a pass into the penalty area after good work down the left.

It wasn’t too dissimilar to his assist at San Siro in Liverpool’s 3-1 win over AC Milan.

His game time has been fairly limited so far this season. The start against the Eagles was his first in the Premier League and he’s made just three starts in all competitions. Despite this, he’s been influential, impactful and full of confidence. For the first time in his Liverpool career, he appears to believe in himself. He’s no longer playing as though he has imposter syndrome.

Perhaps this is because Slot has given the Liverpool No. 18 a home in this team. He is a left-winger. This has clearly had an impact on Gakpo’s confidence because we’re seeing the former PSV man reproduce the sort of form he regularly shows for his national team.

Ahead of the new season, Gakpo told the club’s website: “I spoke to him and obviously he sees me as a left winger.

“That’s how I think he sees me. We have a lot of players in the front line and you know the season is long and there can be some injuries in every position.

“So he (Slot) said, ‘You’re playing there but maybe I need you in another position, you can play there as well. Just be ready.’ For me, I’m here and I try to play the best football I can and help the club as much as I can with my qualities.”

The assumption was that he’d be the first choice option on the left but Díaz’s form has made it difficult for Slot to drop the Colombia international.

But, whenever he’s given an opportunity, Gakpo is making the most of his minutes on the pitch.

He’s grabbed a goal involvement in each of his three starts this term. He set up Dominik Szoboszlai for the all important third goal for the Reds at San Siro.

The 25-year-old netted twice in the Carabao Cup win over West Ham United. He also carved out three chances in the emphatic win against the Hammers.

Then, against Crystal Palace, he assisted the winner. His showing at Selhurst Park earned him a place in the FotMob TOTW. He created five chances and one big chance. Gakpo completed 100% of his dribbles, won two of his three tackles and triumphed in eight of 10 duels.

Across his three starts this term, he’s had an average FotMob rating of 8.8. Gakpo has been an output monster for the Reds when selected.

Slot has had to manage this situation. He referenced the fact he thought Gakpo was fuelled by anger against Milan having struggled for game time.

“His game might have come from anger, but I don’t think you need anger to play in the best possible way,” Slot told reporters after revealing Gakpo had been in line to start in the loss against Nottingham Forest after the international break. However, Díaz returned in better shape and got the nod.

“Every time you play, if you play every week or once in a while, you have to give it your best.

“I think he benefits from two things, apart from anger, that is his own quality – we know how special a player he is – and he benefits from players around him and the team, the structure and the moments when he gets the ball when he is in the right positions.

“But the one he’s in competition with had some good performances as well, so that’s what I mean, it’s all about the team.”

Gakpo is now someone who believes he’s better. He’s confident. He knows he’s bigger, quicker and stronger than most. The Dutchman, who joined the club in January 2023, now seems to believe he’s a Liverpool player. And that sort of confidence is invaluable.

It’s a far cry from last term. He finished the 2023/24 campaign well, scoring against Aston Villa and Spurs while also assisting against the latter, as well as Fulham. Klopo deployed Gakpo as a centre-forward and the Dutch attacker replaced Darwin in the starting XI.

He registered eight goals and five assists in the English top-flight across 1,700 minutes. He was good, he just wasn’t great. The output was there but he just wasn’t as impactful as he had been elsewhere. And his versatility meant he was effectively homeless in the Liverpool team. Klopp treated him as a plug and play type individual. That is perhaps why he wasn’t able to really make any role his own. That is possibly why he was never as confident as he should’ve been, because he didn’t know where he’d be playing the following week.

Slot has unleashed the Gakpo that terrorised Eredivisie defences. The more he plays, the better he’ll be.

(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.

Oct

2024

Analysis: Brighton going big for a European return

After a blockbuster transfer window and the appointment of the youngest head coach in Premier League history, Brighton & Hove Albion are aiming to qualify for Europe for just the second time in the club’s history. They’ve had a tough start to the season in terms of fixture difficulty, so the fact that they are in the top six currently bodes well for their chances.

By Neel Shelat

Brighton & Hove Albion have been one of the most interesting clubs in the English Premier League in recent years. Ever since they hired Graham Potter in 2019, they have adopted a forward-thinking and eye-catching style of play, matched by some equally brilliant recruitment as they have a great track record of unearthing hidden gems around the world, developing them and ultimately selling them on to the top teams for manifold profits.

That is probably the best approach that a team with little top-flight history and a limited budget can use to establish themselves as Premier League regulars. However, it obviously has a relatively low ceiling. A side that loses its best players every summer and only replaces them with young talent who need time to integrate and develop can hardly go too far beyond the mid-table positions.

That was the position Brighton found themselves in in the early 2020s, though they did manage an impressive 6th-place finish in 2022/23 to earn their first-ever ticket to Europe. The financial boost that gave them – and more importantly the profits they made thanks to some huge sales in the last couple of years – set them up for a big summer in 2024. On the other side of it, their long-term target should be moving a step up and establishing themselves as consistent European contenders.

Blockbuster transfer window

Brighton’s transfer spend this summer was nothing short of astronomical. They made as many as nine new signings, spending a total of around €230 million on transfer fees alone. That is over double their previous seasonal transfer spend record, which they only set in 2023/24.

As ever, the Seagulls did not spend a crazy amount on any individual player but instead wisely split their budget. They did smash their transfer record with the signing of Georginio Rutter from Leeds United for €47 million but also brought in Yankuba Minteh, Mats Wieffer, Brajan Gruda, Ferdi Kadıoğlu and Matt O’Riley for about €30 million each. All of them were already established players at top-level European clubs, which is why Brighton had to pay high fees for them, by their own standards. Of course, that investment is justified because all of these players almost instantly improve the quality of their first team squad and do not need as much careful development as their more typical signings.

At the same time, the Albion have not forsaken their trademark approach as the signings of Malick Yalcouyé for €7 million from Göteborg and Ibrahim Osman for nearly €20 million from FC Nordsjælland highlight. However, with their squad already full of more polished players, they have opted to loan them out rather than instantly oversee their development in England.

Dynamic attacking

Perhaps the most important signing of the summer for Brighton was not a player but head coach Fabian Hürzeler. The 31-year-old German tactician only had a year and a half of experience in such a role at the professional level, but his impressive work in getting St. Pauli promoted to the Bundesliga was enough for the Seagulls to take a punt on him.

So far, that is proving to be a masterstroke. Despite a tough run of fixtures to start the season that has seen them visit Arsenal and Chelsea already besides hosting Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur, Brighton are sixth in the table having tasted defeat just once. Their eye-catching attacking play has been a big part of their success, as they have averaged nearly two goals per game so far.

Hürzeler has liked his side to keep more of the ball as their possession average in the league is currently at 59%, but they are not stale by any stretch of the imagination. Thanks to dynamic and direct forwards such as Kaoru Mitoma, Simon Adingra, Minteh, Rutter and João Pedro, Brighton can test opposition defences at any time from almost anywhere.

This is a significant shift from their more intricate possession-play under Roberto De Zerbi, but it should be more effective against lower blocks in particular. Against higher-quality opposition, this approach will tend to result in thoroughly entertaining end-to-end games such as their 3-2 win over Tottenham last weekend, 4-2 loss to Chelsea in September, and 2-1 win over Manchester United earlier in the season.

*Match stats vs. Man United, August 2024*

Defence could determine Brighton’s fate

While Brighton’s high-octane approach results in lots of goals and great viewing, it does leave their defence exposed rather too often. The goals conceded in those results should indicate that, as does their xG conceded tally.

While some of the issues they face in transition can be mitigated by improving their defensive setup, Brighton will ultimately have to settle with conceding some chances as a trade-off for their attacking creation. The bigger and more pressing issue, then, is the chances they concede in their settled out of possession setup.

Like many German coaches, Hürzeler encouraged his side to press high up the pitch with serious intensity. He is prepared to commit his midfielders forward to support the attackers’ efforts, leaving the back four exposed. Moreover, even after the opponents break the first wave of pressure, they tend to maintain an incredibly high line in a bid to squeeze the space between the lines and generate midfield turnovers.

Of course, if not perfectly coordinated, this high line is prone to being breached quite badly. So far, Brighton haven’t done a great job in this respect as many of their opponents have found joy in behind their defence – most notably Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

Brighton’s attacking approach and player quality means goalscoring will almost certainly not be an issue for them, so how well their defence holds up could well be the key to their chances of competing for the European spots. Whether they shore things up through more training or a couple of tweaks remains to be seen, but they will need to improve if they are to remain in the top six come the end of the season.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every Brighton game on FotMob – with deep stats, xG, and players ratings. Download the free app here.

Oct

2024

Robert Lewandowski is busy reconfirming his status as a generational talent

As goalscorers go, Robert Lewandowski is up there as arguably the greatest of his generation.

By Graham Ruthven

A track record of over 600 goals for club and country proves this. And yet many believed Robert Lewandowski to be finished at the elite level last season. Barcelona might even have allowed the Polish striker to leave had they had the chance.

Rumours linked Lewandowski with a transfer to Saudi Arabia and Major League Soccer. Reports at the time claimed the centre forward had a €100m-a-year offer to make the move to the Saudi Pro League, but turned it down. In Lewandowski’s “heart and head,” he said, it made no sense to leave Barca.

It’s easy to agree with that now. Nine games into the 2024/25 LaLiga season, Lewandowski is leading the Pichichi race with 10 goals to his name. The 36-year-old also has two goals in two games in the Champions League and is spearheading a Barcelona team that has renewed energy and ambition under Hansi Flick.

Flick, of course, knew Lewandowski well having worked with the Pole at Bayern Munich. In fact, Lewandowski played the best football of his career under Flick, winning the Champions League together in the 2019/20 season. Lewandowski almost certainly would have won the Ballon d’Or during this period had it not been for the Covid-19 pandemic.

At Bayern Munich, Lewandowski was the quintessential attacking focal point. Harnessed by the creativity of teammates like Kingsley Coman, Serge Gnabry and Thomas Müller, the Pole was free to focus his energy on finding good goalscoring positions. He did this better than anyone else, scoring 55 goals in all competitions including 15 in 10 Champions League games.

This has provided Flick with a template to once again get the best out of Lewandowski. Last season, Xavi Hernández asked the 36-year-old to play as an all-round centre forward, frequently dropping Lewandowski deep to involve him in Barcelona’s build-up. This, however, limited his threat as a penalty box presence.

Now, though, Lewandowski is being played into rather than through. While the Pole had Coman, Gnabry and Müller to buzz around him at Bayern Munich, he now has Pedri, Raphinha, and Lamine Yamal with Dani Olmo another option in attacking midfield after joining from RB Leipzig in the summer transfer window.

“He looks just like the player I remember from his Bayern days, when he was always the best in the opponent’s box – the one player who was always ready to score,” said Flick when asked about Lewandowski’s recent form and how he has managed to revitalise a player who looked every one of his 36 years last season.

Barcelona are counter-pressing as a unit more effectively. They are winning the ball high up the pitch more often and supplying Lewandowski more regularly as a result. Indeed, the striker is averaging 4.4 shots per game this season, an increase from 2.7 shots per game last season. As Lewandowski puts it, “now I receive more and better passes, with more space.”

*Lewandowski shooting stats, LaLiga 2024/25*

The emergence of Yamal as a generational talent has helped Barcelona reach a higher level this season with the teenager already on 10 goal contributions for the campaign. Xavi has surely pondered how much stronger his Barca team would have been had they been able to rely on Yamal in his current form. He is getting better and better.

Lewandowski and Yamal have combined for two league goals this season with Raphinha another played who has linked up well with the Pole, setting him up for two of his three hat trick goals against Alavés. As remarkable as Lewandowski’s turnaround in fortunes has been, it doesn’t compare to that of Raphinha’s who has gone from written off as a flop to one of Flick’s most reliable performers.

Flick’s Barcelona are still a work-in-progress. While the Catalans are setting the early pace at the top of La Liga, the recent defeats to Osasuna and Monaco exposed how vulnerable they can be against opponents with the pace and boldness to get in behind. In defensive transition, Barca remain shaky.

Bayern Munich supporters will remember how Flick’s aggressive high line gave the Bavarians problems, particularly towards the end of his tenure as manager. It requires extremely mobile and positionally intelligent centre backs to pull off. Pau Cubarsi and Inigo Martínez, however, are still building an understanding together. At only 17, Cubarsi is still learning on the job.

At the base of the midfield, Marc Casado is doing an admirable job after being fast-tracked into the first team from Barcelona B, but the 21-year-old lacks the true rhythm building ability of the best number sixes. The youngster is also still building physicality and could be overwhelmed when Barca face stronger opponents over the course of the campaign.

Marc-Andre Ter Stegen is expected to miss the rest of the season after rupturing a patella tendon last month and so there are questions over the goalkeeping position. Iñaki Peña has filled in for the injured German in recent matches while Wojciech Szczęsny has come out of retirement to give Flick another option, but neither player is on Ter Stegen’s level.

Ultimately, Barcelona are still in the midst of a transition and it would be unrealistic to expect everything to come together in just one season. Ironically, the club’s perilous financial situation has forced them to re-establish the player pathway between La Masia and the first team, setting Barca up for the next generation. The future is bright.

Of course, Lewandowski can’t plan too far into the future given his veteran status, but Flick has shown there much more left in the tank of the Polish striker. Barcelona signed Lewandowski to lead their forward line as one of the best goalscorers of his generation and that’s exactly what he is proving himself as all over again this season.

(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.

Oct

2024

Liverpool’s early numbers point to a better defensive future under Arne Slot

“Attack wins you games, defence wins you titles” – that’s what 13-times Premier League-winning manager Sir Alex Ferguson proffered.

By Matt Ladson, ThisIsAnfield.com

And while Liverpool fans may not want to admit it, the iconic Manchester United manager was certainly right about the value of a solid defence.

In the three seasons when Liverpool finished in the top two under Jürgen Klopp (2018/19, 2019/20 and 2021/22), it’s no surprise that these were the three seasons they conceded the least goals in the German’s tenure.

The lowest finish (fifth in 2022/23) was the season with the most goals conceded. Points totals typically correlate with goals conceded. Arguably, it’s a better predictor of success than goals scored.

And while Liverpool’s early start to the new Premier League season must be caveated by the quality of opposition, something Arne Slot himself has been keen to point out on more than one occasion while media lauded his ‘best start’ record as Liverpool boss, the early signs are very promising.

After seven games, Slot’s side sit top of the table with six wins. They also have:

Most clean sheets (5)
Fewest goals conceded per match (0.3)
Third-highest average possession (60.4%)
Most big chances created (28)
Lowest xG conceded (5.2)

These are very promising signs at both ends of the team, but the xG conceded number (lower than Man City (7.8, fifth best) and Arsenal (7.4, third best)) will be particularly encouraging for Slot – and Liverpool supporters.

It’s these defensive numbers that can give the belief that early success can be maintained, even when tougher challenges in terms of opponents arrive.

“We still have a lot to prove if we’re going to come across the top sides of the table,” assessed the Dutchman, whose side play Chelsea, Arsenal and Aston Villa in their next four league games.

Last season, Liverpool had 147 shots on target against them, below that of Man City (109) and Arsenal (just 83).

The Reds’ goalkeepers – predominantly Alisson Becker – made significantly more saves (108) than their City (76) and Arsenal (54) counterparts.

Liverpool were too open, often reliant on the brilliance of their ‘keeper to bail them out. The opening seven games of this season has seen that reliance on the goalkeeper reduce slightly, seemingly at least in part due to Slot’s less open style of play and a fewer transitions against his side.

So far, Liverpool have conceded 24 shots on target in their opening seven games (Man City lead the league in that respect, with 22; Arsenal have conceded 31 – the same as Crystal Palace).

Such numbers are in line with what Slot’s side produced in the Dutch league, with Feyenoord facing the fewest shots from open play in the Eredivisie last season.

“To control the game, to not concede constant counter-attacks, that will hopefully be our style,” declared Slot in pre-season, and that’s shown through in these seven games so far.

The simple hypothesis ahead of Slot’s arrival was that greater control, less risk, and fewer counter-attacks conceded would result in such defensive numbers, and these early days are proving that hypothesis correct.

And while tougher tests await, this is also early days for Slot and he will be confident that he will further improve these defensive and control numbers through further coaching and time spent working with his new squad.

All signs point to a solid defensive future under the Dutch coach, which in turn points to success.

(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.

Oct

2024

UWCL Preview: New-look contenders, debutantes and more

16 teams have entered the group stage for the 16th edition of the UEFA Women’s Champions League, including big-name debutantes such as Celtic and Galatasaray. Many of the traditional contenders such as Barcelona, Chelsea, and Lyon are being led by new head coaches in what promises to be an intriguing tournament.

By Neel Shelat

While the men’s Champions League has kicked off in the new league stage format, the good old group stage is still being used in the UEFA Women’s Champions League – for one last time. After a typically dramatic and entertaining qualifying stage that saw the likes of Paris Saint-Germain, Benfica, Ajax and Häcken eliminated earlier than they would have liked, some even more tasty matchups are in store for us.

Group A

Group A is undoubtedly among the tougher ones this season as Lyon, Roma and Wolfsburg should have an epic fight for the two knockout spots. Debutantes Galatasaray, meanwhile, can only realistically aim to give the best account of themselves against such tough opponents.

Lyon are by far the most successful side in UWCL history with twice as many titles as anyone else, so they are always expected to compete till the end. They have a new head coach at the helm as Joe Montemurro took over from Sonia Bompastor this summer, so they may drop off a touch as the team gets used to his tactics.

OL certainly are not short of attacking firepower as they have an embarrassment of riches in the forward department. Eugénie Le Sommer, Kadidiatou Diani and Ada Hegerberg are all incredible goalscorers, and they will be more than ably supported by the likes of Melchie Dumornay, Tabita Chawinga and Lindsey Horan. The solidity of their defence could well determine their fate this season.

Roma and Wolfsburg will hope to dent the French side’s campaign early on and bounce back from last season’s disappointments in the process. The Italian champions were knocked out of the group stage, while the German giants did not even make it that far after losing to Paris FC in the qualifiers. In all likelihood, one of them will fail to reach the knockouts again.

Group B

For the first time in their history, Chelsea will begin a UWCL campaign without Emma Hayes as their head coach. They brought her successor in from Lyon, presumably hoping that Sonia Bompastor’s Champions League winning experience can help the Blues win the coveted trophy for the first time. Their squad has remained largely unchanged from the summer, so they certainly have the quality to go all the way.

Just like last season, Real Madrid find themselves in the same group as the English champions. Las Blancas will be keen to avoid a repeat of 2023/24 when they managed to register just one point in six games in a shocking campaign considering the quality in their squad, which includes numerous Spanish internationals and world champions. Alberto Toril stayed on and eventually even extended his contract despite that, but his position should come under yet more scrutiny if he fails to lead his side to the quarter-finals.

FC Twente will make their UWCL group stage debut this season, but they should not be content with just that. Real Madrid’s potentially unpredictable form means Joran Pot’s side must aim to pounce on any slip-ups from the Spanish giants. Celtic, meanwhile, will have lower expectations in their UWCL debut proper, though they too could at least impress with their performances under 30-year-old head coach Elena Sadiku.

Group C

Group C seems the clear group of death going into the tournament as all four teams have enough quality to reach the quarterfinals.

After their shock elimination in the qualifiers against Paris FC last season, Arsenal must aim to overcome any challenge and return to the knockouts. They have already succeeded in their first tough test this season as they overturned a first-leg deficit to beat Häcken 4-1 on aggregate in the qualification playoff, so that is the kind of form they will want to maintain.

As far as form goes, though, Bayern Munich cannot be outmatched. The German champions are currently on a 44-match unbeaten run in the Frauen Bundesliga having completed an invincible season last term, so they will take some stopping.

Juventus are on a comparatively humble 10-match winning streak, although that does include both legs of a tough qualification playoff against Paris Saint-Germain. New head coach Massimiliano Canzi has gotten his campaign off to a great start, but he will do very well to preserve an unbeaten record by the end of the group stage.

Norwegian side Vålerenga cannot be written off either in their UWCL group stage debut as they are on a whopping 18-match winning run. That incredible streak will enable them to wrap up the Toppserien title in the next match or two, allowing them to fully focus on continental matters.

Group D

Defending champions Barcelona are in Group D, which should be smooth sailing for them. While they did lose head coach Jonatan Giráldez to the NWSL in the summer, their style of play has hardly changed as his former assistant Pere Romeu has taken over. The Spanish champions’ attack has gotten even scarier with the addition of Polish striker Ewa Pajor, so they could put up some more cricket scores in addition to their exploits in the league.

Manchester City are the favourites to join them in the top two at the end of the group stage. Gareth Taylor’s side also added a star attacker in the summer with the signing of Vivianne Miedema, though she has started as a number eight so far. That has led to some questions being asked about the balance of the side, though that should not be a problem against the other two teams in the group.

Hammarby will face a couple of incredibly tough tests in their UWCL debut, though they are sure to produce some unforgettable moments thanks to the incredible home support at the Tele2 Arena. As ever, they have a lot of promising youngsters in the squad such as 20-year-old striker Ellen Wangerheim and former Manchester City winger Julie Blakstad, so many of their players will be closely watched on the European stage.

Austrian champions SKN St. Pölten will likely not be able to break their frustrating cycle as this will be making their third consecutive group stage appearance, but their chances of reaching the quarterfinals are quite slim.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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

Oct

2024

The top performances in MLS, Matchday 37

Our Major League Soccer expert James Nalton picks the standout players from the latest round of games in MLS, including his two votes for the North American Soccer Reporters (NASR) MLS Player of the Matchday.

By James Nalton

The Top Two

9.1 FotMob rating: Ramiro Enrique, Orlando City

Ramiro Enrique lit up Orlando City’s game away to one of the strongest teams in MLS, FC Cincinnati, where the team from central Florida were able to claim an impressive 3-1 win.

Enrique opened the scoring, playing a long one-two with Kyle Smith, making the run into the box to receive Smith’s cross from out wide and finish ingeniously on the volley. The home crowd went silent, but maybe a few of them appreciated the finish.

Lucho Acosta had drawn Cincy level, but Enrique knocked the ball down for Iván Angulo who restored Orlando’s lead before Angulo returned the favour to set up Enrique for a tap-in to give him a brace on the night.

Inter Miami, Columbus Crew, and FC Cincinnati have been the big three in the Eastern Conference all season, but Orlando have now won ten of their last 13 games to make them arguably the best team in the East going into the playoffs.

9.4 FotMob rating: Cucho Hernández, Columbus Crew

Is there anything Cucho Hernández can’t do?

While there will be debates around who will receive the MVP award in MLS this season, if the award was simply for best player, Cucho would be up there alongside Lionel Messi.

He opened the scoring with his head in a 3-2 win against Philadelphia Union this weekend, showing another aspect of his game.

And he repeated the trick later on, heading in a second goal from a corner late in the second half to put Columbus 3-1 up. It would eventually be the winning goal.

Cucho had a total of nine shots in this game, 90 touches, and created four chances as he continues to perform the duties of a number 10 and a striker combined.

Three more standout performers

9.3 FotMob rating: Riqui Puig, LA Galaxy

Riqui Puig was instrumental in another LA Galaxy win as the team from Carson push to finish ahead of Columbus Crew as the second-best team in all of MLS in 2024.

It wasn’t the easiest of wins against Austin, but Puig assisted both goals for his side in a game which finished 2-1 in LA Galaxy’s favour.

Puig was pulling the strings from midfield throughout, as he often goes, but the first goal was all about Gabriel Pec.

The Brazilian received the ball out on the right wing before beating his marker, cutting inside into the area and finding the far corner.

For the Galaxy’s second, Puig carried the ball to the edge of the area before offloading it to Dejan Joveljić who scored the winner.

The former Barcelona man finished the game with 98 touches, and an impressive 16/17 ground duels won.

Austin’s frustration with Puig’s dominance spilt over late in the game as Guilherme Biro was sent off for a nasty lung on the Spaniard in added time.

8.7 FotMob rating: Jimmy Maurer, FC Dallas

It was a win for the Goalkeepers Union as Portland Timbers and FC Dallas played out a 0-0 draw in Oregon.

Despite their unremarkable position in the Western Conference, Portland Timbers have been one of the best attacking teams in MLS in 2024, scoring 64 goals in 33 games.

But they were kept goalless thanks to an excellent display from Austin’s Brad Stuver last week and faced a similar goalkeeping performance from Maurer in Sunday night’s 0-0 draw against FC Dallas.

Maurer made seven saves and prevented an xG on target of 1.65, including a stop with his feet from Felipe Mora, a close-range save from Santiago Moreno thanks mostly to good positioning, and an acrobatic save from Mora’s overhead kick

Portland were wasteful again but would have expected to score at least one of their chances.

James Pantemis also made numerous good stops for the Timbers at the other end, most notably in the second half, in what was one of the more entertaining 0-0 draws.

Stopping Portland scoring doesn’t happen too often, but is a good way for a goalkeeper to get themselves among the top performers.

Maurer managed it this week, and his opposite number Pantemis deserves to feature alongside him.

9.2 FotMob rating: Santi Rodríguez, New York City

It took just 17 seconds for New York City to open the scoring against Nashville in a 3-1 win.

City were playing this particular home game at Red Bull Arena, home of the New York Red Bulls in New Jersey, as the baseball fields where they usually play their home games are occupied by the Yankees and Mets due to the progress of both to the MLB playoffs.

That early goal was the first of two for Santi Rodríguez in a game in which all of the New York team’s goals were scored in the first 21 minutes.

Santi scored his second in the 18th minute, getting on the end of Hannes Wolf’s cross at the far post.

He makes the list of top performers just ahead of Simon Becher of St. Louis City who also stood out this week, scoring twice in a 3-0 win against Houston Dynamo.

(Cover Image from IMAGO)

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

Oct

2024

Premier League Team of the Week: Matchday Seven

That’s it then. Another international break is upon us. Before you turn your attention to those matches though, we need to look at the FotMob Team of the Week for Matchday Seven.

By Sam McGuire

It is quite a varied XI with four teams having multiple players involved. Who made the cut, though and why?

Goalkeeper: Jordan Pickford

Everton kept their first clean sheet of the season on Saturday as they held Newcastle United to a draw at Goodison Park. Pickford was the hero for the Blues having saved an Anthony Gordon penalty, much to the delight of the home crowd. It was one of three saves the England international made on the night and was a key reason behind his 8.6 FotMob rating.

Right-Back: James Garner

The versatile 23-year-old was deployed at right-back for Everton in their 0-0 draw with the Magpies. Garner impressed for Sean Dyche’s side, completing 72% of his passes and winning four of his five tackles. No player won more tackles at Goodison Park. He also completed 100% of his dribbles, recovered the ball on 11 occasions and won 70% of his ground duels.

Centre-Back: Nathan Collins

Collins haunted his former club this weekend. The Brentford centre-back claimed an 8.2 FotMob rating having scored a goal as well as winning a penalty against Wolves. He completed 76% of his passes, made eight headed clearances and won 100% of his duels in what was a dominant showing.

Centre-Back: Virgil Van Dijk

Another Van Dijk masterclass, this time away to Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park. The Liverpool skipper completed the most passes (101) and won the most duels (nine) on his way to an 8.1 FotMob rating. He also created one chance, completed 100% of his dribbles, made three interceptions and won eight of his nine aerial duels. He didn’t put a foot wrong as the Reds kept another clean sheet while guaranteeing top spot for the next fortnight.

Left-Back: Riccardo Calafiori

Calafiori has settled into life in the Premier League. He’s now the starting left-back for Arsenal and it’s hard to see him giving that role up anytime soon after his showing against Southampton on Saturday.

The Italy international completed 82% of his passes and 100% of his dribbles. He won two of his three tackles and nine of his 12 duels, the most of any player involved at the Emirates.

Midfield: Mateo Kovačić

The loss of Rodri was supposed to damage Manchester City’s hopes of retaining the title. However, his replacement was the difference maker for the champions against Fulham. Kovačić scored two goals in the 3-2 win at the Etihad. The ex-Chelsea midfielder completed 90% of his passes and won 100% of his tackles on his way to an 8.7 rating on Saturday.

Midfield: Bukayo Saka

Saka put in another impressive showing for Arsenal. Saka registered two assists to take his haul for the season to seven, and he scored a goal in the 3-1 win over Southampton. His showing earned him a 9.3 FotMob rating. The England international also created seven chances and carved out three big chances.

Midfield: Mikkel Damsgaard

The 24-year-old has found his feet this season. Damsgaard claimed the Player of the Match award with a FotMob rating of 8.9 having registered two assists. He also created six chances, two of which were classed as big chances. The Denmark international found a teammate with five of his eight crosses and won four of his six ground duels.

Midfield: Kai Havertz

Havertz was at his impactful best for Arsenal in their win over Southampton. The former Chelsea man had a total of seven shots and created a single chance for the Gunners. He scored a goal, his fourth of the Premier League campaign, while attempting four dribbles, winning 100% of his tackles and winning seven of his 13 duels.

Midfield: Cody Gakpo

Another start for Gakpo, another goal involvement. The Liverpool attacker is currently behind Luis Díaz in the pecking order but whenever Arne Slot gives him an opportunity in the starting XI, his compatriot seems to deliver. Against Crystal Palace on Saturday afternoon, the 25-year-old assisted the winner and was a general menace. He finished the game having created five chances and one big chance while completing 100% of his dribbles.

Attack: Michail Antonio

Antonio bossed Ipswich Town on Saturday. In truth, the 34-year-old was barely involved, attempting just 10 passes, but he made it count. He scored a goal from his four efforts, carved out two big chances, missed two big chances and hit the woodwork. It was a whirlwind showing and he was instrumental in the Hammers winning their first game since August.

(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.