Preview

Sep

2024

Preview: England vs. Finland

In the end, it all passed off very much as we might have anticipated. A two-goal half-time lead and a second half closed out fairly effectively. Lee Carsley’s start as England’s interim manager kicked off against Ireland in a manner which felt like a gentle easing away from the late-stage stodginess of the Southgate era.

By Ian King

Carsley takes his Wembley bow against Finland tomorrow night. Finland were comfortably beaten in Athens on Saturday, and this should be a comfortable evening at the office for one of Europe’s strongest teams.

It’s seemed that the fuss and bluster over Declan Rice, Jack Grealish and their very differing reactions to scoring in Dublin on Saturday has blown over quickly, but what about that national anthem business? Lee Carsley didn’t sing it on Saturday, and while again that story has surely now peaked, did its very existence indicate potential media hostility toward Carsley that could solidify should England at some point retreat again to late-stage Southgateism?

Cole Palmer, Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden are all missing from the squad, so we should expect Anthony Gordon and Jack Grealish to start again. They certainly took their opportunity at the weekend. It may also be that second half substitute John Stones could start this one, as could Eberechi Eze and Conor Gallagher.

Historically, England have never lost to Finland, but there isn’t much to go on. They’ve won nine and drawn two from eleven meetings, but the last of those came in qualifying for the 2002 World Cup, when they drew in Helsinki, with England winning the return 2-1 at Anfield.

As with the game in Dublin, the manner of any win against Finland will matter as much as the actual score. Of course, things can always go wrong. There are always two teams on the pitch at any time during a match. Scrambling a last minute 1-0 win would likely be treated very much as drawing or even losing would.

So if these six UEFA Nations League matches are effectively Lee Carsley carrying out an audition to get the job on a permanent basis, this is his opportunity to shine. His freestyle moment. His signature bake. And this is where you see the root of the problem with England. Those expectation levels. Don’t just win. Win in style. It won’t be the last time that Carsley will face this challenge, should he get the job permanently.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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

Sep

2024

Preview: Ireland vs. England

A Nations League Group B fixture probably wouldn’t be one to arouse too much interest and intrigue in the normal course of events, if we’re being totally honest, but it’s a fresh start all around as Republic of Ireland host England in B2 – and with plenty of talking points on either side before a ball is even kicked.

By Karl Matchett

Lee Carsley is, of course, in the dugout for the Three Lions: temporarily chosen to oversee the post-Gareth Southgate era, he has mixed up the squad, called in some unestablished names and generally looks to be giving alternatives a first real chance to impress – all against the nation he represented as a player 40 times.

But it’s also a first game in charge for Heimir Hallgrímsson, selected to lead the Irish side after an extremely lengthy search, yet he starts his tenure without the players who might reasonably be labelled his first-choice goalkeeper, centre-back and potential playmaker, with Gavin Bazunu, Shane Duffy and Josh Cullen all out.

As ever that will merely mean chances elsewhere and there’s a talented group of youthful attackers to choose from: Adam Idah, Troy Parrott, Evan Ferguson and Michael Obafemi are all 24 or under, yet each have a dozen to 25 caps already. There is a group to build around and towards, for the head coach who can find the balance of defensive resolve and attacking intent. Whether Hallgrimsson is that boss, we’ll now begin to see.

Even so, most eyes will remain on England. There are quite significant squad alterations considering they just reached another major tournament final: four uncapped players, a dozen with ten or fewer appearances at senior international level. The usual questions aimed at England will resurface regardless of starting line-up: how to improve the attacking style, who to pair in midfield, who the third attacker should be alongside Bukayo Saka and Harry Kane.

One answer appears to already have been given, though. Kyle Walker’s absence, Reece James’ injuries and Kieran Trippier’s retirement means Trent Alexander-Arnold is not only a definite right-back option, but the likely starter at last. He’s been to three Champions League finals and has won everything the game has to offer, yet at 25 he’s only set to win his 30th cap. Will the interim manager show the next permanent boss that the Liverpool man deserves trust where Southgate lacked it? Ireland and Finland as opponents won’t be definitive, but that’s just one of the new beginnings the Euro 2024 runners-up will be looking at.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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

Aug

2024

Preview: Chelsea vs. Crystal Palace

Perhaps somebody at Premier League HQ does have a sense of humour.

By Ian King

Chelsea, the Pac Men of the current transfer market, against Crystal Palace, who’ve spent the summer trying to resist the sale of the players who got them through an excellent end to last season, on the very weekend after the window closes is almost too delicious an irony otherwise.

There’s a possibility that a summer of unsettlement has got to Palace. They’ve already lost Michael Olise to Bayern Munich and, at the time of writing, there remains a possibility that others could join him, with admiring noises continuing to be made in the direction of Eberechi Eze and Marc Guéhi, both of whom featured with distinction for England at the European Championships during the summer.

Their opening two league matches have brought two defeats from matches against Brentford and West Ham United. Neither of these losses were particularly horrific, but these matches are the sort of matches that head coach Oliver Glasner will have identified as winnable if the club is to pitch toward some of the loftier predictions that were made for them pre-season. It might even be argued that this slightly underwhelming start is a necessary counterpoint to all that optimism.

Chelsea, meanwhile, remain a curate’s egg of a team. There is no question that their 6-2 win at Wolves last weekend was a huge surprise. There had been few signs in pre-season or in their opening Premier League match against Manchester City a week earlier that they’d be capable of doing anything like this. And that win at Molineux should also be slightly tempered by reminding ourselves of just how dismal the Wolves defending was for three or four of their goals.

Of course, with Premier League hubris being Premier League hubris, the Wolves win seems to have sparked some belief that Chelsea will challenge for the Premier League title. Well, we shall see. Results so far have been mixed, though rattling in six goals in the Black Country was a big step in the right direction. In the meantime, Enzo Maresca would do remember that there remains a lot of work to do at Stamford Bridge and a home game against a mid-table team is exactly the sort of match that last season’s Chelsea would have stumbled over. At this stage, every game is still a litmus test of the new manager’s progress.

(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.

Aug

2024

Preview: Manchester United vs. Liverpool

Over recent years, Liverpool have racked up some big wins over Manchester United.

By Sam McGuire

The Reds romped to 4-2 and 5-0 wins over the Red Devils in back-to-back seasons at Old Trafford and recorded a historic 7-0 victory over their old rivals at Anfield. And yet this fixture hasn’t been anywhere near as one-sided as people would have you believe.

In fact, United have the upper hand over the past five meetings and Erik ten Hag is unbeaten at Old Trafford against Liverpool. It may be hard to believe but the Reds haven’t recorded a win on away soil since October 2021.

The Red Devils, under Ten Hag, have a 2-1 win, a 4-3 win and a 2-2 draw at Old Trafford against the Merseyside club. He also masterminded a 0-0 at Anfield last summer. His record in this fixture is played five, won two, drawn two and lost one. It just so happens that it was a 7-0 loss that everybody talks about whenever these two sides meet.

There’s a bit of deja vu about this upcoming clash.

Liverpool are in good form and head into this game as favourites. The Reds, under new boss Arne Slot, have a 100% record in the English top-flight. They have beaten Ipswich Town and Brentford, scoring four goals in the process while keeping two clean sheets. They have the best underlying numbers in the Premier League. Their Expected Goals Conceded total is just 0.8 across these two games while they have carved out chances worth 5.3 Expected Goals.

Granted, the opposition haven’t been the most dangerous but let’s not forget that the Reds allowed Brentford to create opportunities with an xG of 1.7 in the Anfield clash last season.

There is less chaos under Slot and a lot more control. The Reds control possession, space and the game state. Last season, Liverpool controlled the ball but not the space and certainly not the game state.

So while there are similarities heading into this game, there are also key differences.

The task for Ten Hag remains the same though.

United are the home team but they are going to want to frustrate the Reds. They are going to want to play almost as an away side, looking for moments to take advantage of. That is their style of play, despite investing heavily in players the Dutchman wants.

They lost to a late goal against Brighton and needed an 87th-minute winner against Fulham on the opening day to pick up all three points. United, once again, need to up their game if they’re going to extend this good run of form against 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.

Aug

2024

Preview: Celtic vs. Rangers

Old Firm derbies always matter, but Sunday’s clash will have more riding on it than most.

By Graham Ruthven

Even at this early stage of the season, there is a sense that Rangers must take something from the match to prevent Celtic from running away at the top of the Scottish Premiership. A home win could set the tone for another season of green and white dominance.

Rangers have endured a challenging start to the 2024/25 campaign. Philippe Clement has struggled to hide his unhappiness at a lack of activity in the summer transfer window with the Ibrox club currently not playing at Ibrox due to delayed construction work. The failure to qualify for the Champions League only deepened the malaise.

Celtic, on the other hand, have opened their Scottish Premiership title defence with three straight wins. The Hoops lost Matt O’Riley to Brighton this week, but will still have enough midfield quality in the form of Callum McGregor, Reo Hatate and Paulo Bernardo to control Sunday’s Old Firm derby.

McGregor has been in goal-scoring form for Celtic of late, finding the back of the net in each of his last two league appearances. Kyogo Furuhashi is also a good bet to notch having scored eight times in the 14 matches he has played against Rangers. Brendan Rodgers faces a choice between the Japanese and Adam Idah to lead the line.

Nicolas Kühn has been a standout performer for Celtic so far this term with the German expected to start on the right side of the front three against Rangers. On the other wing, Daizen Maeda’s pace could give James Tavernier a problem just as it did in more than one Old Firm derby last season.

Cyriel Dessers sharper finishing has been a positive for Rangers early on this season. The Nigerian international has scored three goals in his last three games and is starting to silence his doubters with Rabbi Matondo and Tom Lawrence also providing more in the attacking third of late.

Kasper Schmeichel has barely been tested since joining Celtic having conceded just one goal in four games in all competitions for his new team. Rangers will pose a threat if they can replicate the sort of form that saw them put six goals past Ross County at their temporary home of Hampden last weekend, but all signs point towards this being a derby dictated on Celtic’s terms.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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

Aug

2024

Preview: Newcastle United vs. Tottenham Hotspur

Even though Newcastle and Tottenham both find themselves on four points from the first six on offer in this new Premier League season, there is a slightly different narrative between the Tyneside and North London outfits.

By Dan Tracey

For the Magpies, there is a sense that is all not well at St James’ Park and with manager Eddie Howe largely being frustrated at not landing the capture of Crystal Palace defender Marc Guéhi, that frustration has filtered through to the club’s passionate set of supporters.

Considering this club is perceived to have all the riches in the world, it is not spending them like a global superpower and with the shackles of PSR holding them back off the field, a draw against Bournemouth last Sunday showed signs of shackles on the field.

A point on Howe’s most recent return to the Vitality Stadium is all that Newcastle earned for their troubles and they looked like being in serious trouble when Dango Outtara thought he scored a late winner for the Cherries.

Unfortunately for the Bournemouth player, VAR had other ideas in mind. His goal wiped out for handball – a decision that drew the ire of the usually placid Andoni Iraola, the Spaniard feeling he had been robbed, his opposite number knowing that his team probably got away with one.

However, there was no getting away from how bad Everton’s showing at Tottenham was last Saturday. The Toffees finding them in a rather sticky situation as Ange Postecoglou’s side hit four unanswered goals in front of their own support.

A performance that certainly lifts in the mood in N17 and one that was the perfect tonic after throwing away their lead at Leicester at the start of last week. Everton put to the sword, but maybe that was an indication of how bad Sean Dyche’s side have started this season.

Which means Sunday should be a fairer reflection of where both these teams are at and more importantly, where they aim to be at the end of the season. The hosts and the visitors have top four aspirations, you get the feeling that at least one of these outfits will end up disappointed.

However, the opportunity to earn a statement victory so early in the campaign is not one that either will want to overlook and whoever can make it seven points from nine, will go in to the international break with plenty of reasons to be cheerful.

(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.

Aug

2024

Preview: Barcelona vs. Real Valladolid

After their opening three matches of the 2024/25 La Liga campaign, Barcelona remain the only side still perfect in the Spanish top-flight, winning each of their three outings so far via the same 2-1 scoreline.

By Nathan Evans

Last time out it was Rayo Vallecano who fell victim to Hansi Flick’s side, as new signing Dani Olmo sealed all three points on his return to the club with a lovely finish in the 82^nd minute. In fairness, it was exactly what Barcelona deserved come the final whistle, as they dominated large spells of the match and finished the game with 22 shots to their name.

Now attentions will quickly turn back to Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys where Valladolid arrive as the next visitors after being promoted from Spain’s second flight last season. Their arrival is unlikely to set Barcelona’s fans on edge given that unlike their hosts, they haven’t fared as well so far this campaign.

A 0-0 draw at home to Leganes last time out proved to be a disappointment during a match in which they would have been targeting a victory. It also meant that to date this campaign, it’s one win, one draw and one loss for Valladolid and improving upon that record in this latest outing will prove a very tall order.

Their only defeat came in the form of a 3-0 loss on their travels to face reigning champions Real Madrid and if that result and performance is anything to go by, a long afternoon could be in store in Catalonia this weekend. The same could also be said when taking a look at how Valladolid have fared on their recent away days to face Barçq because as may be expected, their form in this fixture is weak to say the least.

Not since November 1997 have Valladolid won an away league outing against the Catalan giants, whilst overall in history, they’ve won just two of their 46 meetings on Barcelona’s home turf. Each of their prior such nine matches have all ended in defeat too, with a combined losing scoreline of 31- 4 in that time hardly acting as much of a confidence boost ahead of this latest visit.

That’ll come as music to the ears of the home faithful and their attacking stars in particular, especially Lamine Yamal, who has already delivered a goal and two assists across his three league appearances in August 2024 and will be looking to add further to that tally on this occasion.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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

Aug

2024

Preview: West Ham United vs. Manchester City

After their impressive showing at Crystal Palace last weekend, West Ham are not only off the mark for the season but they have also earned their first win under new manager Julen Lopetegui. Goals from Tomáš Souček and Jarrod Bowen proving to be the difference in their 2-0 away win.

By Dan Tracey

The Hammers are making the journey back across the capital buoyed by their showing on the road and on the evidence of their first 180 minutes of this new Premier League campaign, there is no doubt that the transformation in playing style has been a rather quick one.

Just edged out by Aston Villa at the London Stadium on the opening weekend, there were still plenty of positives to take from the Hammers’ performance that evening and even more to take from their win at Selhurst Park.

One main take away is that instead of revolution under Lopetegui, it is more a sense of evolution instead. In time, the likes of Niclas Füllkrug and Crysencio Summerville will be given more opportunities but for now, they are very handy options to have off the bench.

Of course, this evolution of the West Ham side is still largely a work in progress and there is no doubt that the East London outfit will be put to work when they welcome Manchester City through their doors on Saturday.

Pep Guardiola’s men make the journey south having made it two wins from two at the start of the season and after cruising past Chelsea in their opener, they subsequently crushed Ipswich last weekend.

However, that crushing did not come about before taking a dent themselves and with Sammie Szmodics scoring early on for the Tractor Boys, there was delirium for those in attendance in the away end.

That delirium would eventually turn to disaster for Kieran McKenna’s men and with the Manchester City bear well and truly poked after conceding in the seventh minute of the game, that bear then swiped its paws at last season’s Championship runners-up.

Just nine minutes later, City had turned the game on its head and turned a one-goal deficit into a two-goal lead. Such is the power of their attack; Ipswich could not catch their breath and they were all but done when Erling Haaland completed his hat-trick after the break.

With the nature of this season’s title race already being shaped into a scenario where every encounter is a must win. Pep Guardiola knows this is another hurdle that must be cleared. At the same time, Julen Lopetegui would love to claim a major scalp so early in his West Ham tenure.

(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.

Aug

2024

Preview: Arsenal vs. Brighton

In the third set of Premier League fixtures, Arsenal are preparing to host Brighton at the Emirates Stadium, with both teams looking to continue their perfect start to the 2024/2025 season.

By Matt Smith

The Gunners kicked off their campaign with a 2-0 victory over Wolves as Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka both found the back of the net without reply. Havertz and Saka produced trademark finishes to secure the victory, with the former heading in from a cross and the latter cutting inside from the right to fire home.

Leandro Trossard and Thomas Partey struck in Arsenal’s next fixture as they beat Aston Villa 2-0, and they will now face Brighton who have enjoyed an impressive start to the season under their new manager.

Saka has been a standout star for the north London outfit since the season got under way as the England international continues to shine in the Premier League. Producing a goal and two assists, the young winger will be looking to add to his goalscoring and creative tally this weekend.

Arteta’s side were well-known for their defensive prowess last term, conceding fewer goals than any other team in the Premier League, and it’s been a similar story this season with two clean sheets on the bounce.

Brighton took a huge risk in the summer, appointing 31-year-old manager Fabian Hürzeler, who is comfortably the youngest head coach in England’s top flight. It’s been a dream start for the Seagulls this campaign under his tutelage, beating Everton and Manchester United so far, scoring five goals in the process.

Despite Brighton enjoying an exciting summer transfer window, it’s been experienced striker Danny Welbeck who has stolen the show in front of goal, scoring twice and providing a singular assist.

Yankuba Minteh has flourished since being plunged into the Premier League after his move from Newcastle. The pace of Minteh and Kaoru Mitoma caused plenty of problems for both Manchester United and Everton and Hürzeler will be hoping they can do some damage once again when they face Arsenal.

Last term, Arsenal were victorious on both occasions when the two sides met, scoring five goals without reply. The Seagulls will be a different task for the Gunners under the guidance of Hürzeler, so it’s set to be an interesting match-up between two teams hoping to end the weekend at the top of the Premier League table.

(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.

Aug

2024

Preview: Inter vs. Atalanta

Gian Piero Gasperini’s Atalanta have often existed on the peripheries of the Scudetto talk but on Friday, they will have a chance to show if they can challenge for the title when they take on Inter.

By Kaustubh Pandey

La Dea had started their Serie A campaign in sublime fashion. Despite not having Teun Koopmeiners, Gianluca Scamacca, Nicolo Zaniolo, Sead Kolašinac and Ademola Lookman around for the game against Lecce, they picked up a 4-0 win.

That came amidst talk of a crisis in Bergamo but the new signings – Matteo Retegui and Marco Brescianini fired on their debuts.

The game against Torino saw them pick up a defeat against a new-look Paolo Vanoli Il Toro side, but the performance was still decent.

On another day, they would have won the game. They created many more chances than Torino and Mario Pašalić also missed a key penalty in stoppage time.

It was a reminder that despite the defeat and despite prominent players missing, they are still very much a force.

Koopmeiners has now left for Juventus, but Lazar Samardžić made his debut at the weekend and Zaniolo also came off the bench. La Dea have made a raft of new signings to improve their squad too, with Raoul Bellanova, Juan Cuadrado, Odilon Kossounou and Rui Patrício all arriving.

All of this suggests that there is reason for Inter to be fairly cautious of their opponents on Friday.

Simone Inzaghi’s side got back to winning ways against Lecce after being held to a 2-2 draw by Genoa in the first game.

In the 2-0 win last weekend, Inter weren’t exactly at their best but managed to get vital three points. It almost seems as if multiple Nerazzurri players are dealing with a post-EURO 2024 hangover.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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