Preview

04
Jan
2025
Preview: History repeats itself as Barca face Barbastro test

Preview: History repeats itself as Barca face Barbastro test

Barbastro and Barcelona meet in the Copa del Rey for the second season in-a-row with Hansi Flick’s team in desperate need of a positive result to build some momentum.

By Graham Ruthven

Familiar foes

It was only a year ago that Barcelona travelled west to face fourth tier Barbastro in the Copa del Rey round of 32 and the Catalans will make the same journey to take on the same opponent in the same competition this weekend.

Last season, Barca won 3-2, edging a match that was more competitive than many had predicted. Indeed, the lower league side made a good impression against a strong Barcelona team that included most of their big names.

Barbastro will enter Saturday’s cup match on the back of a four-game unbeaten run and having already knocked out Espanyol in this season’s Copa del Rey. They could make it a Catalan double by shocking Barcelona.

A Barbastro win would be one of the biggest upsets in Copa del Rey history and there is belief around the fourth tier club that they can at least push Barca. A sold out crowd of 6,000 supporters will make this a difficult experience for Flick and his players.

Key players

While Barcelona will have a sizeable talent advantage on Saturday, Barbastro have a number of key players who could hurt the top flight team.

Andres Barrera is enjoying an excellent season at left wing back, registering seven goals and two assists in 18 appearances. Marc Prat will also pose a threat in the centre forward position with Javier Albin and Ander El Haddadi also expected to feature in the attack.

Flick is expected to field a strong lineup as Barcelona look to move on from a challenging period which saw them relinquish control of the title race at the top of LaLiga. The Catalans must build momentum again.

Nonetheless, the likes of Pedri, Gavi, Raphinha and Robert Lewandowski could be rotated out of the team with the Spanish Supercopa in Saudi Arabia just around the corner. Ansu Fati, however, could be given an opportunity to make an impact.

Gerard Martín, Eric García, Pablo Torre, Ferran Torres and Fermín López could all be in line for a start with Barcelona fresh after a two-week winter break.

Team news

Reports claim Ronald Araújo could make his first appearance of the season after returning from a long-term injury while Wojciech Szczesny could also be handed a Barcelona debut after joining the club as a free agent two months ago.

Andreas Christensen, Marc Bernal, Lamine Yamal and Marc-André Ter Stegen remain unavailable for Barcelona while Dani Olmo will miss out due to the messy registration saga that is still playing out. Pau Víctor is also caught up in that situation.

Lamine Yamal will soon be back in training, but the Euro 2024 winner is still some way off featuring on the pitch for Barcelona who are desperately missing the creativity of their teenage prodigy.

Prediction

We know that Flick’s high defensive line is vulnerable and likely to concede, but just like last year, we believe the Catalan giants will have enough firepower to see off the plucky upstarts from the fourth tier: Barbastro 1-3 Barcelona.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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

Posted by Bill Biss in Barcelona, Preview, SendAsPush, team_8634, World News
04
Jan
2025
Preview: Gunners aiming to continue positive run at Brighton

Preview: Gunners aiming to continue positive run at Brighton

While Arsenal are on a winning run of three Premier League matches, Brighton are struggling for form amid something of an injury crisis. Saturday’s match has plenty riding on it for both teams.

By Graham Ruthven

Contrasting fortunes

It wasn’t so long ago that Brighton were flying high near the top of the Premier League table. Indeed, the Seagulls lost just one of their opening nine fixtures as Fabian Hürzeler made a strong start as the club’s new manager.

Now, though, Brighton are on a winless run of seven matches, although Monday’s 2-2 away draw against Aston Villa could give the south coast side a platform to build on as they enter 2025.

Arsenal, on the other hand, have breathed new life into their title challenge with successive wins over Crystal Palace, Ipswich Town and Brentford.

The away victory over Brentford on New Year’s Day was particularly impressive given the recent injury suffered by Bukayo Saka. Missing their most productive winger, the Gunners were able to produce a 3-1 win after falling behind.

Key players

With Saka sidelined through injury for the foreseeable future, Gabriel Jesus is expected to once again start in Arsenal’s forward line at the Amex Stadium. The Brazilian’s return to scoring form has come at a good time for the Gunners.

Ethan Nwaneri also caught the eye against Brentford and it’s possible the teenager could keep his place in the lineup, giving Arsenal dynamism on the right side of the attack. Gabriel Martinelli will likely start on the left.

Arsenal XI vs. Brentford

Declan Rice could return to the lineup after starting on the bench against Brentford while Myles Lewis-Skelly may come in at left back having forced his way into the first team in recent weeks.

Predicting the Brighton lineup is trickier given the number of injuries being suffered by the Seagulls, but Hürzeler will probably build his attack around João Pedro who registered a brace of assists in the recent draw against Villa.

Simon Adingra and Georginio Rutter will also give Brighton threat in the final third with Carlos Baleba crucial to Brighton’s chances of stopping Arsenal finding rhythm in the centre of the pitch. 

At the back, Bart Verbruggen will have to be in top form to keep out the Arsenal attack with Lewis Dunk and Jan Paul van Hecke expected to start in front of the Dutch goalkeeper.

Team news 

Brighton have a long lost of injury absences and concerns for Saturday’s match with no fewer than six first team players expected to miss out.

Evan Ferguson, Danny Welbeck, Mats Wieffer, James Milner, Ferdi Kadıoğlu and Jack Hinshelwood will all be sidelined with wing back Pervis Estupiñán also a doubt. Brighton’s squad depth is being tested at the moment.

Kai Havertz could miss another match through illness while Jurrien Timber is suspended after picking up his fifth yellow card of the season against Brentford.

Raheem Sterling, Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu will also be sidelined through injury as Arsenal emerge from a hectic Christmas schedule.

Prediction

The Seagulls may have to wait another week to break that run without a win, with the Gunners most likely to extend their run on the South Coast: Brighton 1-2 Arsenal.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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

Posted by Bill Biss in Arsenal, Brighton, Preview, SendAsPush, team_10204, team_9825, World News
04
Jan
2025
Preview: In form Newcastle travel to Spurs for the early kick-off

Preview: In form Newcastle travel to Spurs for the early kick-off

Spurs begin 2025 out of form and with a patchwork defence, which is not the ideal state in which to be facing an in-form Newcastle United.

By Ian King

Two sides heading in opposite directions?

Spurs enter the new year with their Premier League season already running out of gas. They’ve only won once in the League since beating Manchester City six weeks ago and there were few signs of improvement in their last match, with yet another two points dropped from a winning position against Wolves. 

Newcastle, meanwhile, have recently recovered their poise after an underwhelming autumn, during which they won just two of eleven League matches. They arrive in North London having won their last four in a row, having scored 13 goals and conceded none whatsoever.

History suggests a goal fest!

Historically speaking, when these two meet there tend to be goals and big wins. Their last eight meetings have brought 37 of them, including 6-1 and 4-0 wins for Newcastle and 5-1 and 4-1 wins for Spurs. Spurs supporters with longer memories may shudder at the memory of a 7-1 defeat at St James’ Park in December 1996, a 6-1 defeat there in the FA Cup in 1999 or their 5-1 loss there in May 2016.

Key players

As with some other clubs, Spurs’ 2024/25 has thus far been partly defined by who’s been absent rather than who’s been fit. There haven’t been too many bright spots, but the performances of Dejan Kulusevski have become increasingly important to them. 

Alexander Isak is the form player for Newcastle, having scored six goals in their recent four-game winning run, including a hat-trick at Ipswich and their opening goal at Old Trafford on Monday night. But the supply line is equally important; Jacob Murphy, Bruno Guimarães and Anthony Gordon have 14 assists between them so far this season.

Isak shot map, Premier League 2024/25

Team News

Destiny Udogie is the latest name to be added to the Spurs injury list. He has a hamstring injury, while Ben Davies, Micky van de Ven, Cristian Romero, Wilson Odobert, Richarlison and Guglielmo Vicario remain injured, and Rodrigo Bentancur is suspended.

For Newcastle, Fabian Schär is suspended after picking up another yellow card against Manchester United (Lloyd Kelly is likely to replace him), while Kieran Trippier was withdrawn and is doubtful. Sven Botman is understood to be close to returning, but Callum Wilson, Emil Krafth and Jamaal Lascelles all remain injured.

Prediction

Somewhat surprisingly, Spurs’ recent 6-3 defeat against Liverpool was the first time they’d lost a league match by more than a single goal this season. Couple that with them being the second-highest goalscorers in the Premier League and their position going into this match might not quite be as hopeless as it at first appears.

But in recent weeks Newcastle have found the much-cherished equilibrium of scoring a lot of goals while conceding very few, and considering the dark clouds that have settled over the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium of late and that history of big wins, a 3-0 Newcastle win would only turn the heat up further under Ange Postecoglou.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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

Posted by Bill Biss in Newcastle, Preview, SendAsPush, team_10261, team_8586, Tottenham Hotspur, World News
03
Jan
2025
Preview: Carlos Corberan’s Valencia debut against Real Madrid

Preview: Carlos Corberan’s Valencia debut against Real Madrid

Real Madrid will be looking to return to top spot in LaLiga in their rescheduled fixture against Valencia, for whom the new year marks a new beginning with a new head coach.

By Neel Shelat

Valencia facing the threat of relegation again

Valencia are one of the most storied clubs in Spanish football. Founded over a century ago, they have lifted 15 top-flight league and cup titles besides a couple of continental trophies. Those heights seem worlds away at the moment, though, as the club’s fortunes have taken a sharp downward trajectory over the last decade or so.

They started work to create a Nou Mestalla to replace their now-century-old home ground all the way back in 2007, but funding issues have left that project in limbo for the last 15 years. Indeed, the club’s ownership situation is one of their biggest pain points as Peter Lim is overwhelmingly unpopular among fans but has no plans to sell the club.

His perceived lack of interest and investment are cited as the biggest factors in Valencia’s downfall, causing the club to constantly get sucked into relegation battles. After a promising top-half finish last season, for example, they only made three permanent summer signings and barely invested over €1 million on transfer fees.

Could Carlos Corberán be the man to rescue Los Che?

Rubén Baraja’s nearly two-year-long spell in charge of Valencia made him the club’s second-longest serving coach for nearly twenty years. They have long been stuck in a vicious cycle whereby they bring in a relatively bigger name but fail to back them and drop into a relegation battle, at which point they decide to bring in a firefighter who steadies the ship before the loop repeats.

Carlos Corberán might just be the man who breaks that cycle, though. A boyhood fan of the club, he also came through their academy as a goalkeeper but failed to establish a strong senior career and quickly switched to coaching. He initially did not enjoy a lot of success but seemed to turn a page after working with Marcelo Bielsa at Leeds United. Since then, he has led Huddersfield Town and West Bromwich Albion to promotion pushes in the English Championship.

Corberán will certainly fight tooth and nail to avoid Valencia’s second-ever relegation, and he also has the tactical nous to potentially kick on from there.

Another outing for Real Madrid’s first-choice front four

Real Madrid’s first-choice front four of Rodrygo, Jude Bellingham, Vinícius Júnior and Kylian Mbappé have only started six matches together so far this season as various injuries have kept them apart. They should all be ready to go for this match as Los Blancos’ injury list is now down to three defenders. Dani Carvajal and Éder Militão are out for the season, while David Alaba may return sooner.

The attacking quartet could have a field day against a Valencia side who are missing as many as seven players. The absences of goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili, centre-back Mouctar Diakhaby and full backs José Gayà and Thierry Correia will surely have weakened their defence.

Prediction

Valencia could trouble Real Madrid with their new head coach bounce and potential for tactical surprises, but Los Blancos should have enough quality to come away with all three points.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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

Posted by Bill Biss in Preview, Real Madrid, SendAsPush, team_10267, team_8633, Valencia, World News
01
Jan
2025
Preview: Arsenal targeting second in 2025 opener at Brentford

Preview: Arsenal targeting second in 2025 opener at Brentford

Arsenal’s Premier League campaign is back on track, but insofar as the title fight goes, that challenge may have already fallen by the wayside and a trip to Brentford to kick off 2025 might show why.

By Karl Matchett

Fortress Gtech

Up until recently, the Bees enjoyed a near-perfect home record at the Gtech Community Stadium. Thomas Frank’s side have been poor on the road, without a win all season, but on home soil they have been nothing short of excellent: seven wins from eight games up until they lost to Nottingham Forest in their most recent match. Given Forest sit second in the table, above even the Gunners, that’s nothing to be ashamed about and they’ll have every reason to hope they can trouble Arsenal too.

Brentford’s contrasting points haul

The Gunners’ own recent record at the stadium is impressive though; after being overwhelmed in 2021, with Brentford making their Premier League bow on a Friday night in front of super-noisy home fans and winning 2-0, Mikel Arteta’s team have since won 3-0, 1-0 and 1-0 across league and cup in the ground. At the Emirates it has also been almost all Arsenal’s way, so six in a row unbeaten against this opposition – and the promise of second place being theirs if they win – means the Gunners have both motivation and reason for optimism, even if their away form has wavered this term. Still, two wins and two draws on the road from the last four shows they’ve steadily improved there too – but eight points fewer than leaders Liverpool away from home is a big indicator of where they’ve fallen short.

Recent form

A big win at Crystal Palace and a narrow one over Ipswich mean Arsenal have second place in their own hands, given Man City’s ongoing decline and Chelsea’s Christmas hangover. A battle with Nottingham Forest was unexpected, but consistency and experience should see Arsenal win that battle over the longer term, with even a point enough to go second here.

As for the hosts, Brentford were on a very decent run up until mid-December, but Frank’s side looked to have run out of steam a little of late. Three straight defeats to Chelsea, Newcastle (League Cup) and Nottingham Forest were a tough run in fairness, and a stalemate at Brighton was a show of defensive resolve and a return to taking points.

Team news

The Bees’ fine winter form was all the more notable because of an ongoing injury crisis, which goalkeeper Mark Flekken looks to have joined. He’s among 11 possible absentees: Ethan Pinnock, Kristoffer Ajer and Sepp van den Berg are big defensive absences, but Aaron Hickey, Rico Henry, Thiago, Ben Mee and others could all be starters too.

The Gunners remain without Raheem Sterling, Bukayo Saka and Ben White but otherwise look strong.

Key player

Martin Ødegaard took four shots and created two chances against Ipswich but hasn’t been as electric since returning from injury. His team need the captain to shine again, given he ranks among the top 1% of attacking midfielders in Europe’s top leagues for creativity. He’s overdue a goal.

Prediction

A noisy and enjoyable way to kick-start the league in 2025, with both teams going at each other and the goals flowing freely: 2-2.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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

Posted by Bill Biss in Arsenal, Brentford, Preview, SendAsPush, team_9825, team_9937, World News
30
Dec
2024
Preview: Chelsea look to round off the year in style at Ipswich

Preview: Chelsea look to round off the year in style at Ipswich

Winless in their last two Premier League games, perhaps Enzo Maresca was right regarding Chelsea’s title hopes. The West London club travel to East Anglia to face Kieran McKenna’s struggling Ipswich.

By Alex Roberts

Fulham earned their first win at Stamford Bridge in the Premier League era on Boxing Day, with Harry Wilson and Rodrigo Muniz both scoring late goals to cancel out Cole Palmer’s opener and leave Maresca visibly furious at full-time.

Ipswich’s luck wasn’t much better. Unsurprisingly losing to Arsenal, who leapfrogged Chelsea into second (now third following yesterday’s games), as their hopes of Premier league survival are dealt another major blow.

An audition for Liam Delap

The 21-year-old has been a standout performer for Ipswich since leaving Man City in the summer, scoring six goals and providing a single assist in his 16 Premier League appearances.

Delap shot map, Premier League 2024/25

His fine form has earned him some admirers amongst the more established sides, including Chelsea. Maresca’s side have had immense success from former City academy graduates in recent years, with Cole Palmer being the obvious archetype.

Delap hasn’t made a goal contribution since their 2-1 win over Tottenham, but he has every opportunity to steal the show against Chelsea.

Attack wins you games, defence wins you titles

The old adage sums up Chelsea’s season so far pretty well. Maresca’s side have no issues putting the ball in the back of the net, they’re the second highest scorers in the league, but they struggle to keep it out of their own.

Some of it could be put down to youthful exuberance, the West Londoners do have the youngest squad in the Premier League after all, but most of it is just straight up naivety.

Robert Sánchez has made three errors that have led to a goal this season, thankfully for Chelsea, Ipswich’s Arijanet Muric tops the charts with five.

Omari Hutchinson has a point to prove

The young playmaker will face his old club for the first time this season after being shipped out in the summer, feeding Chelsea’s need for ‘pure profit’ to help satiate PSR’s never-ending hunger.

Hutchinson, who played a key role in Ipswich’s promotion last season, has struggled to recapture that form since making the move permanent, scoring just one goal, and providing one assist in his 16 Premier League games.

Like many before him, Hutchinson will face Chelsea with a point to prove, and he will doubtless be intent on making them regret letting him go.

The cracks are starting to show

Chelsea’s immense squad depth is both a blessing and a curse for Maresca. While he has the ability to field entirely different teams for different competitions, keeping all the players happy is a full-time job in and of itself.

Not only that, but the Italian has to field multiple questions about why he decided against playing any one player at any one time. His press conference after the defeat to Fulham was no different.

Maresca has made just three substitutions in his last two Premier League games, is that a simple tactical decision or does he not trust his squad players? Only Maresca knows, but if it continues, players such as João Félix and Christopher Nkunku may come knowing on his door.

Prediction

A game against Ipswich is the perfect Christmas pallet cleanser for Chelsea after a frustrating couple of games. While McKenna’s side have had their moments, the visitors have too much firepower. We’re going to go with a 3-1 Chelsea win.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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

Posted by Bill Biss in Chelsea, Ipswich, Preview, SendAsPush, team_8455, team_9902, World News
30
Dec
2024
Preview: Newcastle visit Old Trafford looking for a fourth win on the bounce

Preview: Newcastle visit Old Trafford looking for a fourth win on the bounce

Two games, two goals conceded directly from corners for Rúben Amorim’s side, as Manchester United’s baffling lack of a ‘new manager bounce’ continues. They head into their final game of 2024 against Newcastle on Monday with much to ponder.

By Alex Roberts

Amorim would have had an inkling about the situation at Old Trafford but it’s hard to imagine he knew it was this bad. Someone tell Sir Jim Ratcliffe that sacking dinner ladies and scrapping Christmas bonuses isn’t helping as they fall to 14th following their 2-0 defeat to Wolves.

Newcastle United, on the other hand, are flying towards the Champions League spots, comprehensively beating fellow top four hopefuls Aston Villa 3-0 to go above them into fifth on Boxing Day. Yesterday’s results have since seen the Toon drop back down to seventh.

Bruno, Bruno, Bruno

United will be without their talismanic captain for the game against Newcastle after he was given a second yellow card for a rash challenge on Nelson Semedo in the defeat to Wolves. 

Fernandes has been a standout for United since Amorim took over, making five goal contributions in the ten games across all competitions under his new manager, but his nasty side once again got the better of him.

His red card against Wolves was his second of United’s Premier League campaign, not the kind of disciplinary record you’d want your captain to have. Although, he’s no Roy Keane.

Isak’s on fire, your defence is terrified

Alexander Isak might be the best Scandinavian striker in the Premier League after all. With seven goals from his last five games and 11 in the league altogether, he’s catching up to Erling Haaland.

The Swede used his feet rather than his suede to double Newcastle’s lead in the win over Villa, timing his run perfectly to tap Jacob Murphy’s low cross past Emiliano Martínez.

Man United’s defensive frailties are clear having conceded nine goals in their last three league games. At least Isak doesn’t take corners.

Isak shot map, Premier League 2024/25

How to solve a problem like Maguire

Speaking of defensive frailties, Harry Maguire isn’t one of them and with Fernandes suspended, he could wear the armband once again. The big centre-back was the best of a bad bunch against Wolves, ending the game having won 100% of his tackles, made 12 defensive actions, and won 2/3 of his ground duels.

Amorim’s 3-4-3 system requires a rock at the centre of his three-man back line, Sebastián Cortes was once his guy at Sporting, and Maguire appears to have stepped up at United.

There was a few rocky moments in the 3-0 defeat to Bournemouth, but he could hardly be blamed for the loss. With positives few and far between for Amorim, Maguire’s redemption arc would be a huge feather in his cap.

Newcastle United: Reinvented

Anthony Gordon cited a ‘mindset shift’ for Newcastle’s impressive uptake in form that has seen them win their last three Premier League games, having previously gone four without a victory.

The rivalry between Newcastle and Man United can trace it’s origin all the way back to the 90s, with memories of Kevin Keegan scream “I would love it!” still fresh in the memories of both sets of fans.

Newcastle lost out the last time these two faced off, falling to a 3-2 defeat at the end of last season. There has been a seismic shift since then, not just in the mind, but on the pitch.

Prediction

The Manchester derby suddenly feels like a long time ago as Man United continue to struggle. It’s hard to see anything other than a win for Newcastle here, we’re going to go with 2-0 to the visitors.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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

Posted by Bill Biss in Manchester United, Newcastle, Preview, SendAsPush, team_10260, team_10261, World News
29
Dec
2024
Preview: Leaders Liverpool go to West Ham

Preview: Leaders Liverpool go to West Ham

Flying clear at the top of the Premier League, Liverpool seem to have everything positive going their way heading into the new year.

By Karl Matchett

One last challenge for 2024 remains, though; one last test of Arne Slot’s side – and in West Ham United that’s a much tougher game than it might have seemed even a month ago.

Skewed history

Once in the Premier League past, this might have been seen as a fairly close-call fixture. From 1994 to 2000, from 13 top-flight meetings the Reds won four, five were draws and the Hammers claimed the other four. Of late, that isn’t quite the same: of the last 17 in all competitions, Liverpool have won 14. Jürgen Klopp definitely had the edge over David Moyes – as well as Slaven Bilić and Manuel Pellegrini – and earlier this term, Arne Slot continued the recent tradition with a 5-1 League Cup win over Julen Lopetegui. It was looking bleak for the Spaniard for a period after that, but much has changed.

West Ham’s uptick

The aforementioned cup defeat came in a run of one win in seven and Lopetegui was linked with a swift departure more than once. But a corner appears to have been turned: it’s just two defeats in eight now and West Ham are undefeated in four. Eight points in that run has lifted them to 13th, above Manchester United and only six points off Newcastle in fifth – the margins remain fine, but they’re in the upper-mid-table group for sure.

That improvement will give Slot pause for thought and he’ll know this is a different team to the one Liverpool trounced in September. Still, his own team haven’t lost since that same month and the league leaders have put together back-to-back wins around Christmas after successive draws beforehand. In all competitions it’s 11 wins in the last 13 and they hold a six-point advantage at the top.

Team news

Goalkeeper Łukasz Fabiański is out due to concussion protocols and Tomáš Souček is suspended. Michail Antonio is out for the foreseeable future and Max Kilman is a doubt for West Ham. For Liverpool, Dominik Szoboszlai is suspended and Ibrahima Konaté remains injured. Conor Bradley is the only other expected absentee for the Reds.

Key player

Cody Gakpo’s form has been immense on the other flank and he’d be our choice – but there’s an amount of rotation to consider and Luis Díaz didn’t play against Leicester so that might be one swap. It’s Curtis Jones therefore who could dictate Liverpool’s fortunes here; he scored on Boxing Day and will be the No. 10 again with Szoboszlai suspended. On a per 90 basis Jones ranks 91st percentile for xGOT, 97th for passes, 98th for dribble success and 100th – the best of all in his role – for pass accuracy. He’s the team’s press monster, instigates play from deep and has great movement around the box.

Prediction

Could be a bit of a slog, given the Hammers’ recent upturn and the rapid turnaround between winter fixtures, but an away win all the same: West Ham 1-2 Liverpool.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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

Posted by Bill Biss in Liverpool, Preview, SendAsPush, team_8650, team_8654, West Ham, World News
29
Dec
2024
Preview: City travel to Leicester for Guardiola’s 500th game in charge

Preview: City travel to Leicester for Guardiola’s 500th game in charge

Manchester City may be on a bad run of form at the moment, but Leicester City are in the bottom three. Who shall yield?

By Ian King

City’s notoriously bad run

Manchester City were as insipid as they have been at any stage over the last two months on Boxing Day, extending their bad run to one win in thirteen. A slide is gathering pace. One point and goal difference separate them from 9th place. They’re as far from Liverpool (1st) as they are from Crystal Palace (16th).

Leicester, meanwhile, don’t appear to have appreciably improved under Ruud van Nistelrooy, with their defence an ongoing issue. They’ve only kept one clean sheet all season, and that was at the start of October. Defeat in the fog at Liverpool on Boxing Night was their third in a row, with ten goals conceded.

Pointers from history

Leicester’s 3-1 win at Manchester City in February 2016 really sent out the message that the eventual fairytale champions really had a head of steam building up. But recent form has been patchier. Leicester’s last win against them came in the 2021 Community Shield at Wembley. Manchester City have won all four of their meetings since.

Key players

Questions are starting to be asked of Erling Haaland, who’s scored just four goals throughout this thirteen game run. He’s missed half as many penalties as he’s scored, and while much has been made of the loss of Rodri since his season-ending injury, it has felt at times as though Haaland has been just as absent, and he’s been on the pitch. Is it merely a supply issue? Is it fatigue? Something isn’t going according to plan.

For Leicester, the key question is how much more can they wring out of Jamie Vardy, who’s now a fortnight off his 38th birthday yet still playing with the energy of a man who runs on pure taurine alone. With six League goals already this season but with Leicester’s defence one of the division’s most porous, they need him fit and scoring more than ever.

Team News

Manchester City carry the same long-term losses, though there were no fresh injuries from the Everton match. Jack Grealish and Kyle Walker missed that one and may return, as could Kevin de Bruyne from the start. Jamie Vardy should return for Leicester after missing their trip to Anfield. Facundo Buonanotte and Harry Winks may also return.

Prediction

There’s been little to suggest that Leicester have been significantly revitalised by their new manager yet, despite taking the lead at Anfield and holding it until first half stoppage-time. But for Manchester City, this remains a test. Throughout their recent poor run, there’s been an expectation that they’ll just click back into gear and all this will be forgotten, but there have been few signs of this yet, and it’s starting to feel as though the rot may run deeper than injuries alone. We’ve been waiting for them to bottom out, but it hasn’t come yet. In the expectation that this can’t go on forever, I’m going City to nick this 2-1, giving Pep Guardiola a win on what is the occasion of the his 500th game in charge of the club.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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

Posted by Bill Biss in Leicester, Manchester City, Preview, SendAsPush, team_8197, team_8456, World News
27
Dec
2024
Preview: Arsenal aiming to do a job on the Tractor Boys

Preview: Arsenal aiming to do a job on the Tractor Boys

Arsenal sat third going in to Christmas, not a terrible position on the face of it for an Arsenal side expected to be one of three teams capable of challenging for the title.

By Karl Matchett

Following the Boxing Day games however, the Gunners have slipped to fourth and as ever, context is king: they’re now nine points off the pace, while those above them include last year’s distant third-placed team and two sides who weren’t even in the conversation.

Job No.1: Staying in touch

Manchester City’s dramatic fall from grace should, in theory, have presented Arsenal with an opportunity – but their own decisions on and off the pitch, more pragmatic and with solid rather than spectacular transfer work, have seen them fall away too. If ten winless games throughout the Premier League season is effectively a cut-off point for title race involvement, the Gunners are 80 percent of the way there already. Most games are now must-win for them, especially home to newly promoted sides such as Ipswich Town. All Arsenal can aim for, for now at least, is to do exactly that and trust to hope that another opportunity to overhaul the teams above them will roll their way.

Staying in touch isn’t just the message at the top though. Ipswich are three points adrift of safety, 19th in the table – but probably somewhere about where they expected to be after promotion and signing for the future in the summer. That’s not to say they don’t want to try staying up, but they don’t need it to be done by the new year. Keeping in contact with those above them is all important, such as the win over Wolves recently, not defeats to Newcastle last time out or potentially at the Emirates. Their quality in attack means they cannot be dismissed but they’ll target mini runs against Everton, Brentford and Leicester, not the Magpies, the Gunners and Chelsea.

Good runs and bad runs

Being off the pace can make it feel Arsenal are in a bad run, but they’re not right now – seven wins from the last nine in all competitions, four wins in the last six in the league. It’s just that for the title, margins are so fine, but they are scoring and winning, netting eight in two matches against Crystal Palace in the past week.

Even if winning matches against bigger clubs isn’t the absolute key, the Tractor Boys do need to keep nicking points here and there. Four defeats from their last five isn’t sustainable either, and they have only two victories in all competitions all season. They’ve only kept one clean sheet, too – back in September.

Team news

The biggest loss is the biggest news: Bukayo Saka’s absence for “weeks” through a hamstring injury means Gabriel Jesus must really step up in productivity and consistency, and Mikel Arteta needs to find an alternative threat from Saka’s position on the right flank. Ipswich are without suspended Sam Morsy, injured George Hirst and sidelined Chiedozie Ogbene.

Key player

Gabriel Jesus has come into the side of late and immediately rediscovered his scoring touch – Mikel Arteta is desperate for that to continue. It also makes a mockery of him playing 266 league minutes before last week. If he can now play more but keep averaging 3.84 shots and 8.2 touches in the box per 90 minutes, they have another dangerous forward to rely on.

Jesus’ last four appearances

Prediction

Arsenal won’t – can’t – have any trouble seeing off strugglers at home if they are to rebuild any sort of momentum at the top into the new year: Arsenal 3-1 Ipswich.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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Posted by Bill Biss in Arsenal, Ipswich, Preview, SendAsPush, team_9825, team_9902, World News