Page 51 – The Pulse of Football

Aug

2024

What we’ve learned about Liverpool under Arne Slot – The Reds will be much different his season

When Liverpool originally announced their pre-season fixtures, there were only four matches scheduled – far fewer than the Reds typically would have had in recent times.

By Matt Ladson, ThisIsAnfield.com

So it was no surprise that new head coach Arne Slot has added in two more games since officially starting on Merseyside, with a behind-closed-doors game against Preston North End kicking off pre-season, followed by three games in the USA – against Real Betis, Arsenal and Man United.

Those three matches were all won, with six goals scored and just one conceded. We should never read too much into pre-season results, but the performances and style of play have given supporters reason for new optimism going into Slot’s first season at Anfield.

Slot’s side host not one but two LaLiga sides at Anfield on Sunday, with Sevilla and Las Palmas the opponents – the latter a late addition to the schedule that will also be behind closed doors.

Here’s what we’ve learned from Slot’s pre-season so far and how Liverpool are shaping up under their new head coach.

Arne Slot’s style is more Guardiola than Klopp

We’d heard prior to his arrival this summer that Slot was a disciple of Pep Guardiola’s, with the Dutchman once saying that the Spaniard’s teams give him the “ultimate joy in football” and that “there is no team in the world I would rather watch than Manchester City.”

He also added, in an interview last year: “I certainly don’t want to compare myself to Pep, but he is a control freak just like me.”

Pre-season has given us a lot of insight into the new coach’s methods and style of play, with an open training session in Pittsburgh providing plenty of early details and the three friendlies giving solid evidence of what we can expect.

Slot clearly wants more control of the play, less rushed, fewer counter attacks conceded.

“Every time you lose the ball, you lose an opportunity to score a goal,” he was heard telling his players in training. “Kill them with passes,” he shouted.

And he was right about the ‘control freak’ comment, too, it seems, being very hands-on in training sessions. He appears to be very much just as advertised; a head coach rather than a manager.

Slot’s training sessions have involved a lot of things we see a lot from Guardiola’s teams; overloads out wide followed by square passes across goal; third man runs from midfield; and up back and through patterns of play.

Liverpool are going to be much less heavy metal and far more meticulous.

Building out from the back – “that is our style”

Slot also, again like Guardiola, wants the team to build from the back – something that will likely lead to seem teething issues in the early days. “I think we gave away too many chances,” admitted Slot despite a 3-0 win over United in South Carolina.

“The style of play, with trying to build out from the back, that is our style,” Slot explained after the first friendly against Real Betis.

“To control the game, to not concede constant counter-attacks, that will hopefully be our style during the season.”

One of the criticisms of Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool, especially in recent seasons, has been their lack of control and how open they have been to counter-attacks, quite often relying on the brilliance of Alisson to bail them out.

Expect Liverpool games to look far less open and basketball-like and more possession-heavy for the Reds. Patience is being practiced.

The midfield will be “the heart of the team”

We’ve heard a lot from players about the new style of play, including Harvey Elliott describing Slot’s style as elegant and typically Dutch ‘Total Football’.

But the most interesting insight arrived from a very open press conference Curtis Jones gave early on the American tour.

“The principles are the same, but I feel that now the centre-mids are going to be more the heart of the team,” he explained.

“We’re not in a rush to attack, we want to have the ball and break teams down. I feel in the past it was a rush to get the ball back and it was a little too direct, up and down, up and down.”

Those words echo those of Slot’s in relation to being open to counter attacks, and provide true insight into how the Dutchman wants his midfield to control the game.

Elliott and Szoboszlai should prosper

Jones added that he felt under Klopp “the centre-mids were always lads who were runners and more disciplined.”

This certainly rings true. Often under the former boss the likes of Jordan Henderson, Gini Wijnaldum and James Milner were critiqued for their lack of contributions from midfield, but it truly does seem that they were simply following out instructions.

The new style will suit almost all the midfielders in the Reds’ squad, with Jones, Harvey Elliott and Dominik Szoboszlai potentially the three biggest benefactors.

Elliott has shone in pre-season, he earned FotMob’s player of the match against Arsenal with an impressive 8.6 rating after creating four chances and assisting two goals. The 21-year-old has occupied the No.10 position, with Slot’s formation being more 4-2-3-1 than 4-3-3 like Klopp’s.

We also saw Szoboszlai connect nicely with Mo Salah for a goal against Betis, with the Hungarian saying: “Last year it didn’t happen so often so I just always let him know I’m always ready to [make] these runs. Hopefully you’re going to see me [do that] in the season a couple of times.”

“Style of play is different now, it’s more about in possession now,” said Elliott.

Wataru Endo isn’t an Arne Slot style of midfielder – but Zubimendi is!

However, there is one player who seemingly isn’t suited to the new midfield set-up, Japan international Wataru Endo, who was hooked at half time in the friendly against Betis after what was a very off-the-pace showing.

Since then, Slot utilised Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch as the starting holding midfielders against Arsenal and United.

Clearly, the No.6 position is the biggest requirement for the Reds this summer- just as it was last summer – with the pursuit of Martin Zubimendi ongoing at the time of writing.

Zubimendi ranks at 91.4% for successful passes on FotMob, but also offers impressive defensive stats, particularly in the air where his aerial duels won in LaLiga last season put him in at 90% ranking. His interceptions are even better at 96%, and recoveries at 91%.

Get the 25-year-old Spaniard, who seems a much better fit for Slot’s midfield than he would have been for a Klopp midfield, and Liverpool will certainly be looking very strong going into the new season.

(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.

Aug

2024

FotMob Reaction: Emma Hayes leads the USWNT to gold

83 days is all it took Emma Hayes to re-establish the USA as the dominant force in women’s international soccer.

By Graham Ruthven

That was the time between the 47-year-old leaving Chelsea and leading the US women’s national team to Olympic gold on Saturday. In one sense, Hayes has already achieved what she was hired to do.

Of course, the Olympics isn’t the Women’s World Cup and 2027 is when the true measure of Hayes’ USWNT will be taken after failure in 2023 under Vlatko Andonovski. Nonetheless, Paris was the first test for his new generation of American stars under a new leader and they passed with flying colours – that colour in the end being gold.

Mallory Swanson netted the winning goal in the final against Brazil and many will remember the USWNT’s Olympics success for the attacking magic it produced. Trinity Rodman, Sophia Smith and Swanson all sparkled, scoring all but two of the 12 goals notched by the USA over six matches in total.

The truth, however, is that the USA’s defence gave them the foundation to win gold. Australia and Germany were the only opponents to score against the eventual winners and those goals came in USA victories. Three clean sheets in three knockout games highlighted the strength of the American defence led by the outstanding Naomi Girma who Hayes calls “the best defender [she’s] ever seen.”

At their exhilarating best at the Paris Olympics, the USA were a force of nature. Germany bore the brunt of that in the group stage, losing 4-1 as the American attacking quality came to the fore. By the time the two teams faced each other again in the semi-finals, though, the dynamic had changed. The USA had become the ultimate tournament team.

Hayes faced questions throughout the tournament over her team selections. While other sides rotated to cope with the brutal schedule that saw teams play every three days, Hayes stuck with the same core group of players. Indeed, eight players started every single match for the USWNT as Hayes focused on building “connections,” as she put it.

Those connections ultimately carried the USA the distance. Tierna Davidson and Girma forged a rock-solid partnership in central defence. Emily Fox and Rodman were on the same wavelength on the right side. Then there was the aforementioned trio of Rodman, Smith and Swanson whose movement and cutting edge made them impossible to stop.

“It’s the greatest moment in my professional career,” said Hayes after the USA’s win over Brazil. The former Chelsea boss spoke about how quickly she has been embraced by the squad she inherited this summer and highlighted her inherent connection to the country she now leads. “I love America,” she added. “It made me.”

And Hayes has remade the USWNT as standard setters at the top of women’s international football. Under Andonovski, there was no structure. There was no identity. There was no vision. In less than three months, Hayes has brought all of those things with Olympic gold the first sight of what this new-look team could achieve over the coming years.

Further improvements will be required for the USA to win the 2027 Women’s World Cup. Lindsey Horan, for example, was guilty of sluggish play in possession at times during the Olympics. Hayes’ decision to drop Rose Lavelle for the more defensive-minded Korbin Albert for the final also hinted at uncertainty over the midfield balance.

As well as Crystal Dunn played in France this summer, she will will be 35 by the time of the next Women’s World Cup. Alyssa Naeher will be 39. Hayes has continued a generational transition that started under Andonovski, but that transition is not yet complete. The USA need some key players in key positions to emerge.

Talent, however, has never been a problem for a country with the best women’s football infrastructure in the world. By 2027, Jaedyn Shaw will surely have been better integrated into the national team. Alyssa Thompson will have more caps to her name and Mia Fishel will have continued her development.

The rest of women’s international football laid down a challenge to the USA at the 2023 Women’s World Cup. The likes of England and Spain demonstrated how Europe has caught up with both teams expected to be contenders once again in 2027. In the past, the USA’s superior physicality was enough for them to dominate. That is no longer the case.

It was against this backdrop that Hayes was appointed by US Soccer. Her remit is a long-term one and will be judged over a number of years, not just one tournament. Despite this, nobody expected the USWNT to be this far along in their growth under Hayes. Imagine how good they could be after more than 83 days together.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every USWNT game on FotMob. Download the free app here.

Aug

2024

Season Preview: Leicester City

After just one year away, Leicester City are back in the Premier League.

By Sam McGuire

The Foxes claimed top spot in the Championship to return to the English top-flight at the first time of asking. However, there’s been a lot of change at the King Power Stadium this summer.

What happened last season?

Under new manager Enzo Maresca, Leicester City got off to a flyer in the Championship, winning 13 of their opening 14 matches.

The Foxes then lost back-to-back games before going on a 10-match unbeaten run. At one stage, it felt like a matter of when and not if Maresca’s men would guarantee promotion.

Yet their form in 2024 made the final few months of the season a little more interesting. The Championship title should’ve been a formality for the Foxes but they needed two wins in their final three games to claim top spot over Ipswich by a single point.

And this was with the Tractor Boys drawing three of their final five games. Had they turned one of those into a win, the Leicester collapse would’ve been one for the history books.

Still, this shouldn’t take anything away from what was a positive campaign. Their 1.9 goals per 90 could only be bettered by Ipswich. They conceded the fewest number of goals on a per 90 basis (0.9). Leicester had the highest xG (85.8) and the second-lowest xG against (43.4).

Their 15 clean sheets had them ranked fourth for this metric while only Southampton could better their 62% possession in the Championship. The Foxes carved out the most chances (142) and averaged the second-highest number of passes per game (549).

And from an individual point of view, Jamie Vardy rolled back the years to finish as the club’s top scorer. The 37-year-old finished with 18 goals for the Foxes, his highest return since the 2019/20 campaign.

What has happened during the summer?

Well, Leicester lost their manager. Maresca opted to move to Stamford Bridge to try his hand as Chelsea boss. Steve Cooper, sacked by Nottingham Forest last season, was brought in to replace the Italian tactician.

The Foxes also lost Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall to Chelsea. He was one of the club’s key player last season, involving himself in 26 goals. His FotMob rating of 7.74 could not be better by anyone in the Leicester squad either. The midfielder also carved out 109 chances.

His loss will be felt.

The club have also parted ways with Kelechi Iheanacho. Though the forward never lived up to the early hype, he was still a consistent threat for the Foxes. The 27-year-old, now with Sevilla, had an Expected Goals per 90 average of 0.62 last term. Only Vardy (0.87) could surpass that figure.

Leicester have added to their squad too. Abdul Fatawu made his loan move into a permanent one. Michael Golding joined from Chelsea and could well get an opportunity in midfield this season. Caleb Okoli traded Atalanta for the King Power Stadium while Bobby De Cordova-Reid moved from Fulham on a free transfer.

What they should be aiming for next season?

Like with all of the other promoted clubs, their aim should be survival this season. Leicester have a number of game-changers but is their squad good enough to avoid a relegation battle? Does their squad possess enough of a goal threat to avoid the drop? At the time of writing this, the answer to both questions is probably no. Unless they’re active in the final few weeks of the window and they manage to bring in some quality players, this season could be a struggle for the Foxes.

Prediction: 19th

(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.

Aug

2024

Season Preview: Ipswich Town

After a 22-year absence, Ipswich Town are back in the Premier League.

By Sam McGuire

Kieran McKenna and his team will be hoping that their stay in the English top-flight isn’t a brief one. They have the makings of a team that will claim an upset or two this term.

What happened last season?

The Tractor Boys secured a second successive promotion with a second place finish in the Championship.

Ipswich played a nice brand of football under McKenna and recorded two goals per game, the highest of any team in the English second tier. They had the fourth highest Expected Goals total (75.1) while only Leeds United and Leicester City had a lower Expected Goals Against total. Their defensive resilience no doubt contributed to them keeping 15 clean sheets.

In a nutshell, they were good in attack and strong in defence. The perfect storm for promotion. They also had 53% possession in the Championship and completed over 390 passes per 90.

It was very much a team effort but there were two standout performers for Ipswich. Firstly, no player in the English second tier could better Leif Davis’ return of 18 assists. The left-back was an outstanding creator for McKenna last season. He also claimed a 7.54 FotMob rating.

Conor Chaplin also impressed. The 27-year-old attacking midfielder finished the campaign with 21 goal involvements, split 13:8 in favour of goals. If he can get close to these numbers for Ipswich this season, they’ll stand a very good chance of staying up.

*Conor Chaplin shot map, EFL Championship 2023/24*

What has happened during the summer?

Ipswich have managed to keep together the promotion-winning team. They’ve also gone about improving certain areas of the team.

Omari Hutchinson returned on a permanent basis having caught the eye at Portman Road last term. The versatile attacker signed from Chelsea having scored 10 goals for Ipswich last season.

Liam Delap joined from Manchester City. The 21-year-old spent last season on loan with Hull City and scored against Ipswich. It was one of the eight times he found the back of the net for the Tigers.

McKenna has also bolstered his defence.

The highly-rated Jacob Greaves arrived from Hull City in a deal believed to be worth £15million while the Tractor Boys also Ben Johnson after he was released by West Ham United.

Arijanet Muric, who starred for Burnley towards the end of the season, swapped Turf Moor for Portman Road. He’s expected to start the campaign as the first-choice shot-stopper.

What they should be aiming for next season?

First and foremost, their aim will be survival. Ipswich don’t want to head straight back to the Championship after just one season in the top flight. If and when survival is secured, just aim for the highest possible finish. It will be a hard slog though.

Prediction: 18th

(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.

Aug

2024

Season Preview: Brace yourselves for the return of the EFL Championship

The Championship is often billed as one of the most exciting leagues in world football, and it’s easy to see why. A serious amount of young talent, high-level coaches desperate to ply their trade in the Premier League, and a play-off system which gives sides who are sometimes 25 points behind the champions a chance to gain promotion to the top flight.

By Matt Smith

With the 2024/2025 Championship season just hours away, the excitement is building across England with competitive football arriving back on our screens and thousands of fans preparing to take their place on the terraces once again. Experienced managers, rising stars, and sleeping giants, we’re set for another thrilling campaign.

Can the relegated sides bounce back?

Last season, two out of three of the sides who were previously relegated from the Premier League managed to bounce back at the first time of asking. Leicester City and Southampton, two squads packed with players who are more than capable of competing in the Premier League. This time around, we have Luton Town, Burnley, and Sheffield United.

After suffering relegation to the second tier, Burnley and Sheffield United have seen plenty of upheaval throughout the club. Burnley have lost Vincent Kompany, a manager who guided them to a phenomenal 2022/2023 title-winning season, while Sheffield United have lost the likes of Cameron Archer, Oli McBurnie, and Jayden Bogle.

It’s been a relatively quiet window for Luton, who have managed to keep hold of the likes of Alfie Doughty, Elijah Adebayo, and Teden Mengi, at least so far. It’s never going to be straightforward for the aforementioned trio of clubs due to the quality in and amongst the Championship this coming season, but they will all be putting their hat in the ring for a promotion charge.

Two of the sides, Luton and Burnley, will go head-to-head on Monday night.

Promotion experience could be key

The 46-game season that Championship clubs are forced to endure can be a gruelling experience, often playing twice a week for the majority of the campaign. Having that know-how in the squad, and perhaps more important, among the coaching staff, can often be crucial in gaining promotion to the top flight. Leeds, Sheffield United, and Burnley will be many fans’ favourites to finish in the top two, and all three have managers who have been there and done it.

Norwich won the Championship twice under Daniel Farke, who is now preparing for his second season in charge of Leeds. Earlier this summer, Burnley opted to appoint Scott Parker, who helped guide both Fulham and Bournemouth to promotion in his previous roles. Chris Wilder, who returned to Sheffield United in 2023, will go down in history at Bramall Lane after he steered the club back to the Premier League for the first time in 12 years back in 2019.

It’s easy to see why the Championship trio are sticking by or bringing in these kind of managers ahead of the new campaign. Although Parker may have struggled in management over the last few years, Farke failed to take his side up last term, and Wilder was in charge when the Blades were relegated last season, their experience and achievements in this league speak for themselves.

Players to watch

As a Championship club, it’s always a difficult task keeping hold of young talent, with Premier League sides regularly circling to poach the standout stars from the second tier. We’ve seen the likes of Eberechi Eze, Michael Olise, Jarrod Bowen, Ollie Watkins, and João Pedro, to name a few, signed from the Championship before going on to flourish in the Premier League.

Mateo Joseph could be one to watch this season for Leeds. At 20 years old, the young forward hasn’t made a major impact at Elland Road just yet, but with Patrick Bamford struggling with injuries and consistency of late, it could be his time to step up. The youngster has impressed during pre-season, and this could be the campaign where he makes the step up. A technically gifted striker, Joseph could develop into a key player for the Whites.

Another exciting prospect is Tom Fellows. After recently signing a new deal with West Bromwich Albion, the tricky winger featured regularly for the Black Country outfit last season, but mostly from the bench. As Michael Johnston returns to Celtic after his loan spell, it could be time for 21-year-old Fellows to step up and make himself a hero. The Solihull-born youngster will be hoping to make his mark this upcoming campaign.

The final player, who needs no introduction, Jobe Bellingham. Although undoubtedly keen not to be compared to his superstar brother, could this be the season he writes his name in the headlines just like Jude with Birmingham?

Sleeping giants aplenty

The 2024/2025 Championship season is riddled with sides that many of the adult generation of football fans will often associate with being in the Premier League, or at least being in with a shout every season. Two clubs who fall into that category are Portsmouth and Derby County, who will both be competing in the second tier this term after coming up from League One.

Their hefty fanbases coupled with their history in the English pyramid make them two of the sleeping giants in the Football League, and they’re certainly not alone. Leeds, Blackburn and Sheffield Wednesday are just a few of the sides who we’ve seen ply their trade in the Premier League on the regular but have fallen on hard times in recent years. Could we see one of the sleeping giants return to the promised land?

The 2024/2025 Championship season kicks off on Friday night with a double-header as Preston host Sheffield United and Blackburn Rovers take on Derby as the curtain raises on a new campaign for a league that the English footballing pyramid can be proud of.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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

Aug

2024

Fermin Lopez is using the Paris Olympics to press his case for a starting role at Barcelona

Fermín López has received widespread plaudits for his superb performances with Spain at the 2024 Olympics. Although that should come as little surprise.

By Luke Bissett

The attacking midfielder’s breakthrough into the Barcelona first team has been far from conventional. A product of the club’s famed academy, La Masia, Fermín was unable to secure a place in Barcelona’s B team and sent on loan to Linares in the third tier of Spanish football for the 2022-23 season.

It was during this loan spell that Fermín excelled, amassing 40 appearances across all competitions for Linares. The 21-year-old became one of the best players in the Primera Federacion and finished as the side’s top scorer with an impressive 12 league goals.

Upon his return to Barca last summer, Fermín was asked to join first team training as Xavi was still without several key players at the start of pre-season. And after just one week of training alongside the first team, the Barca coach handed the midfielder a shock inclusion in the squad for their tour to the United States.

The midfielder went on to make a huge impression, introducing himself with a terrific strike during a 3-0 friendly win over Real Madrid. As a result, Fermín’s superb performances during the tour earned him a place in the first team squad for 2023-24 and a contract extension until 2027. Barca, and Fermín, haven’t looked back since.

The Spaniard was a revelation for Xavi’s side last season, enjoying a mightily impressive breakout campaign. Indeed, the academy graduate offered the Catalonian’s a completely different dimension, proving to be an extremely valuable profile to have within the squad.

The midfielder is a constant goal threat, something of which Barca have severely lacked from deeper areas in recent years. In fact, only talisman Robert Lewandowski (26) netted more goals across all competitions for the side than him last term (11). This was despite Fermín making just 19 starts for the Blaugrana over the course of the campaign.

The 21-year-old was used in both an advanced midfield role and on the left of the front-three under Xavi last season – providing a real attacking edge to the side with his relentless forward running. Fermín is an extremely direct operator and is constantly looking to progress the ball into the final third. The attacking midfielder was undoubtedly one of Barca’s standout performers across 2023-24 and was deservedly rewarded with an inclusion in Spain’s squads for EURO 2024 and this summer’s Paris Olympics.

Despite being limited to just a 28-minute cameo during La Roja’s European Championships success, Fermín has been entrusted with a vital role during the Olympics. The Spaniard has scored four goals, with only Morocco’s Soufiane Rahimi netting more (eight). And the importance of those strikes can not be understated.

*Leading average FotMob ratings, Paris Olympics*

The midfielder netted a brace in their 3-0 quarter-final victory over Japan, before spearheading his side to a 2-1 comeback win over Morocco in the semi-finals with a goal and assist. In fact, Fermín has averaged the fourth highest FotMob rating in the competition (7.89).

The 21-year-old is uber-effective in the final third, be it through fashioning opportunities for himself or acting as creator. He has developed a real knack for crashing into the box via perfectly timed runs to pounce on second balls. Indeed, his instinctive nature offers his side a real attacking presence and accumulated the eighth highest non-penalty xG per 90 in LaLiga last season (0.47). Fermin’s ball-striking is also something to be marvelled at, which has been evidenced in the goal reel that he has already assembled during his short career. This is aided by the fact that he does not shy away from getting shots off – he averaged the third most shots on target per 90 in LaLiga last season (1.5).

Fermín especially excels in tight spaces, while his ability to receive the ball under pressure provides an impressive outlet. When deployed as a No.10 or out wide, the 21-year-old always seeks to drift into the half-spaces and pockets between the lines to avoid being marked. This poses a nuisance to the opposition as they are unsure whether to track his runs or remain in their structure and leave him unmarked.

The Spaniard is particularly proficient on the ball, utilising his close control to ride challenges and surge forward. In fact, Fermín thrives in one-on-one duels, boasting the third highest dribble success rate among Barcelona players to have attempted 50+ dribbles last season (56.4%). The 21-year-old’s proactiveness is a real feature of his game, as he is fearless when driving forward to wreak havoc upon opposition back-lines.

New Barca manager Hansi Flick will also be relishing the opportunity to work with the 21-year old. Fermín provided the Blaugrana with some much-needed energy out of possession last season, while he displayed a real desire out of possession to regain the ball. And it’s a skillset that will be greatly suited to Flick’s high-pressing philosophy.

*Potential Barcelona starting XI made with the new line-up* *builder on fotmob.com*

This begs the question as to why Barcelona are set to sign RB Leipzig midfielder Dani Olmo for a reported £60million, when they already boast an abundance of attacking midfielders within their ranks. One potential solution could be that Olmo is deployed on the left-wing, with Fermín then operating in the No.10 role that he has thrived in during the Olympics.

Yet before sights turn firmly to Barca’s campaign, Fermín is set to star in the Olympics Gold Medal match against France on Friday evening. And Spain will be looking to go one better than the Silver Medal they earned at Tokyo 2020, while the last time that they won the competition was in Barcelona 1992.

From Barcelona B outcast to potential Olympic Gold medallist in little over two years, who would dare put a cap on what heights Fermín López could reach.

(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.

Aug

2024

Season Preview: Everton

Everton will be eager to have a boring season this season after the highs and lows of the last few years.

By Sam McGuire

Sean Dyche is settled, they’ve been active in the market and they’ve kept hold of key players, for now at least. It could well be a much-needed straightforward campaign for the Toffees.

What happened last season?

Relegation appeared to be a genuine threat for Everton at multiple stages of the season last time out. They suffered points deductions on two occasions and struggled for form at various stages. Their cause wasn’t helped by injuries to Dominic Calvert-Lewin while summer signings struggled to find their feet.

In the end, though, the Toffees achieved a 15th placed finish.

This was quite astonishing when you consider they didn’t win any of their opening five matches and their first points deduction undone all of their hard work. It was initially a 10-point deduction, though it was eventually cut to six. But when points are at a premium, every single one counts.

A strong December, in which they recorded four wins on the bounce, and a decent end of the season, with five wins from their final eight, was enough to guarantee a comfortable finish. Fortunately for them, a number of teams just weren’t to Premier League level. It meant you only needed 27 points to stay in the top flight last season.

Everton’s Premier League survival was tied to their defensive efforts. The Blues kept 13 clean sheets, the second joint-most along with Manchester City. In attack, things weren’t great, but they didn’t have to be because of how solid the rearguard was.

Abdoulaye Doucouré and Calvert-Lewin finished as joint-top scorers with seven goals each while Dwight McNeil was the chief creator for the Toffees, raking up six assists.

What has happened during the summer?

At the time of writing this, Everton have managed to keep hold of Jarrad Branthwaite. The centre-back was of interest to Manchester United but the Red Devils had their bid rejected and moved on to Leny Yoro.

The Toffees did lose a key play in Amadou Onana, who moved to Aston Villa, but the £50million they banked for the Belgian is good business. They also sold Ben Godfrey to Atalanta while Lewis Dobbin joined Aston Villa.

And Everton have strengthened. Jake O’Brien has been signed from Lyon to provide the centre-back department with real depth. Iliman Ndiaye has returned to the Premier League after a disappointing stint with boyhood club Marseille and the Merseyside club signed Villa youngster Tim Iroegbunam. Jesper Lindstrøm has arrived on loan to bolster the attacking ranks at Goodison Park.

What they should be aiming for next season?

The safety of mid-table. The Blues need a drama-free season. Instead of looking to not lose certain games, purely because they need points on the board, they can look to play football and win matches.

Dyche can develop players and fans can enjoy the Everton experience for one final year at Goodison.

Prediction: 14th

(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.

Aug

2024

Preview: City and United meet in the Community Shield

After a summer full of international football, the 2024/25 season is already set to get underway in England. As is tradition, the Community Shield will start proceedings by pitting Premier League winners Manchester City against FA Cup holders Manchester United.

By Neel Shelat

New Names, Same Issues For United?

Despite their FA Cup triumph, Manchester United had a big decision to make in the summer regarding head coach Erik ten Hag. An eighth-placed finish in the league and some of the worst underlying defensive numbers not just in England but across Europe’s top five leagues were big causes for concern, but the new management brought in by INEOS’ takeover decided to stick with the Dutchman and bring him reinforcements in the transfer window.

The signing of Leny Yoro as well as the various other names they have been linked to suggest that United are attempting a defensive renovation, but their performances and results in recent friendlies have seemingly reinforced the idea that the problems go beyond personnel and down to a tactical level.

The injury issues that plagued the Red Devils last season have not gone away either, as Yoro had to undergo surgery very soon after joining, Rasmus Højlund and Tyrell Malacia are out for the foreseeable future, while Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelöf are both doubtful for this match.

*Manchester Derby results, 2023/24 season*

Stability Promises Success For City

On the other side of Manchester, City have enjoyed an incredibly peaceful window. The only signing they have made has been Sávio from sister club Troyes, so their expenditure this summer is by far the lowest since the Abu Dhabi-led takeover. They are yet to announce any major departures either, although that may soon change with Julián Álvarez reportedly set to join Atlético Madrid. Even then, their squad will be almost identical to the one that won the Premier League last season.

The most important transfer news for City this season will be about Pep Guardiola’s contract, which expires next summer. Regardless of whether or not he stays further, they look primed for success in 2024/25 at least.

Can Ortega Stake A Claim To A Starting Spot?

There was a good deal of speculation around Ederson and a potential move to Saudi Arabia this summer, but it looks like he will be staying for now. The Brazilian goalkeeper’s fitness is a doubt for this game, so Stefan Ortega might get a chance to continue making his case to become City’s number one. He might not have the same long passing range, but he is about as comfortable with the ball at his feet and potentially a more composed shot-stopper.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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Aug

2024

Season Preview: Crystal Palace

Crystal Palace will be hoping their end of season form can be carried over into the new campaign.

By Sam McGuire

Oliver Glasner’s men racked up stunning win after stunning win to end the season and confidence will be high heading into the new campaign.

What happened last season?

The Eagles looked to be in real danger around New Year. Their 3-1 win over Brentford on December 30th was just their fifth win of the campaign at that stage, and that was gameweek 20.

Crystal Palace made the brave decision to sack Roy Hodgson, a manager famed for steadying the ship. To the surprise of many, they hired Oliver Glasner. He won the Europa League with Eintracht Frankfurt during the 2022/23 campaign.

He had positive ideas but attempting to bed them in during the season, when Palace needed wins, seemed risky. But the decision to hire the Austrian manager paid off. He guided the Eagles to what initially appeared to be an unlikely 10th place finish after a remarkable end to the season.

Everything seemed to fall into place around matchday 32. They finished the season with six wins from seven. This run included impressive wins over Liverpool, Newcastle United, Manchester United and Aston Villa.

These weren’t just smash-and-grab victories that sides sometimes manage against the European hopefuls. These were confident and dominant showings.

Glasner had his team defending well and he found a way to unlock his forward line. During those final seven games, Palace conceded four goals and scored 21.

In the end, Jean-Philippe Mateta ended with 16 goals and this included a final day hat-trick over Aston Villa. Eberechi Eze (11) and Michael Olise (10) both finished with double digits in the Premier League.

What has happened during the summer?

So far, they have managed to keep hold of Eze despite interest from Liverpool and Spurs. If they’re able to retain his services, he could be a lot of fun to watch in this Glasner team, especially with a full pre-season under the new manager.

They have also fended off reported interest in Adam Wharton.

They did, however, lose Olise to Bayern Munich. The French forward rejected a return to Chelsea in favour of a switch to the Bundesliga.

This is a big loss but Ismaïla Sarr, returning to the Premier League after a stint with Marseille in Ligue 1, could be a surprise package for the Eagles. The club have also brought in Chadi Riad from Real Betis.

What they should be aiming for next season?

Palace, with the squad they have and a manager as tactically switched on as Glasner, should be nowhere near a relegation battle next season. If they’re able to add a bit more quality during the transfer window, a top-half finish isn’t an outlandish shout, especially if they can replicate the end-of-season form from last year. They have the players for it. Do they have the consistency?

Prediction: 11th

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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Aug

2024

Season Preview: Chelsea

Chelsea, under a new manager yet again, will be looking to gatecrash the European spots this season after another summer of heavy spending. Is it going to be a case of too much, too soon or is this the season it finally clicks for them?

By Sam McGuire

What happened last season?

A bit of everything.

Chelsea struggled initially under Mauricio Pochettino, winning just one of their opening six matches. At the halfway point of the season, the Blues had just seven wins to their name in the Premier League. For context here, they had eight losses after matchday 19.

Respectable draws with Arsenal (2-2) and Manchester City (4-4) were false dawns.

But then things started to fall into place. They finished the season with just one defeat in 15 and this run included nine wins. They put together a five match winning streak to end the campaign.

This form allowed them to claim a sixth-place finish and earned themselves a Europa Conference League spot. Impressively, they finished just five points off of fourth-placed Aston Villa.

Had they been able to get their act together a little sooner, a Champions League place would’ve been a genuine target.

Chelsea also reached the semi-finals of the FA Cup and the final of the Carabao Cup.

Despite the narrative, it wasn’t a bad season at all for the Blues. Obviously, people expect success given the money pumped into this project but, for a campaign under a new manager with a number of players to bed in, they did quite well.

The star was, of course, Cole Palmer. He was a revelation following his move from Manchester City, netting 22 goals in the Premier League and chipping in with 11 assists. His 33 goal involvements in the Premier League could not be bettered by anyone.

Nico Jackson also finished the season under the radar with 14 goals.

What has happened during the summer?

Same old, really.

Chelsea have hired a new manager, pinching Enzo Maresca from Leicester City after he guided the Foxes to promotion.

The Blues have also been fairly active in the transfer market, reuniting Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall with his former boss while also bringing in Filip Jörgensen, Omari Kellyman, Renato Veiga, Caleb Wiley, Marc Guiu and Tosin Adarabioyo.

To fund this spending, Chelsea have cashed in on Ian Maatsen and Omari Hutchinson while Conor Gallagher, the stand-in captain last season, has joined

Atlético Madrid according to reports. Expect to see more movement at Stamford Bridge before the transfer window comes to a close.

What they should be aiming for next season?

Had Pochettino remained, a top four push would’ve been very much on the agenda for the Blues this season. But with Maresca now at the helm and looking to put his stamp on things, who really knows how long things will take to settle down? He could hit the ground running as Graham Potter did, or he might struggle for a while, like his predecessor before things take shape.

They could finish anywhere between 5th and 10th, it really does depend on how well players adapt to yet another new manager and how quickly he can get his points across. It is a guessing game at this stage.

Prediction: 10th

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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