The Pulse of Football

Sep

2026

Cole Palmer: Revitalised under Xabi Alonso and now back in the England squad

Xabi Alonso has enjoyed a more than respectable start to life as Chelsea manager, winning four of his six competitive fixtures thus far.

By Ross Kilvington

Chelsea’s only defeat came against the reigning Premier League champions Arsenal a few weeks ago. Things are looking positive again for the Blues after a dismal 2025/26 and much of that has to do with how well the Spaniard integrated his new summer signings into the squad.

A total of 11 players made the move to Stamford Bridge, ranging from experienced professionals such as Danny Welbeck and Jordan Henderson, to future stars Dastan Satpayev and Geovany Quenda.

While several of his new players have hit the ground running, it has been the form of those already at the club which has been the most pleasing.

João Pedro has six goal contributions from five games, Roméo Lavia is back to full fitness and Cole Palmer appears to have returned to his imperious best.

After a poor season by his own high standards last year, Palmer looks reinvigorated under Alonso.

*How Cole Palmer’s player traits compare to positional peers in the Top 5 leagues*

Cole Palmer moving on from an underwhelming campaign

Across his first two seasons at Stamford Bridge, Palmer looked like the player many believed he would turn out to be during his spell at Manchester City. He scored goals in abundance, could generate plenty of chances for his teammates, and had that magnificent ability to produce a moment of magic that could change a game in an instant.

Indeed, 40 goals and 24 assists across 91 matches throughout 2023/24 and 2024/25 certainly back up those assertions, while the attacking midfielder ranked in the top 5% among his peers in the Premier League for big chances created in both of those seasons.

He even carried that form into the Club World Cup, scoring three times in Chelsea’s victorious campaign, yet the months that followed were disrupted by injury and lack of form.

As a consequence, Palmer missed out on Thomas Tuchel’s England squad for the 2026 World Cup. Given how he has begun the current season, that decision might just have been a blessing in disguise for the 24-year-old.

*Palmer’s season stats for 2025/26 and the start of 2026/27*

Alonso has brought out the best in Palmer

Alonso might only be in the embryonic stages of his managerial career, but he knows how to bring the best out of certain players.

Even from his very first press conference, the former Real Madrid boss lavished praise on Palmer and his comments clearly have produced the desired effect.

“We have had a few training sessions already, and from the first day, you can see he’s a special talent,” said Alonso in July.

“He’s a special player. You can notice his quality, how he’s able to play and make the right decision in the right spot.

“I’m happy that he has come in a good mood and a good mindset to have a great season, and we are really looking forward to getting the best from him.

“If we can build a strong team with the proper stability to find our key players, then for sure, Cole is going to be one of those key players in the attacking third.”

After only a few weeks, Palmer is already beginning to click into Alonso’s system with ease and it has helped having players such as Morgan Rogers and João Pedro to link up with.

The Englishman has started five of Chelsea’s six matches so far this term, scoring four goals and registering two assists in the process.

He is already just eight goal contributions shy of the tally achieved last season (14) and it looks as though there is plenty more to come in the weeks ahead.

Palmer ranks third in the Premier League for big chances created (3) in 2026/27 along with ranking in the top 5% for possession won in the final third and total shots among his positional peers.

*A typical Alonso Chelsea formation, with each player’s season stats in the Premier League*

Last season, he operated across the front three, rarely restricted to one specific position.

Under Alonso, however, Palmer has been solely deployed in his best position, just behind the striker in a 4-2-3-1 system, and this has allowed his creative juices to flow.

Given his skillset, this is certainly Palmer’s most productive role and one that he has thrived in recently.

And it’s already paid off, with Thomas Tuchel recalling Chelsea’s No. 10 to the England squad ahead of the Nations League matches against Spain, Czechia, and Croatia in the upcoming international break.

Since scoring against Spain in the Euro 2024 final, the midfielder has only featured five times for England, with three of those games under Tuchel.

The German stated that Palmer wasn’t “decisive or as influential as he was in the last seasons” after announcing that the Chelsea player wouldn’t be part of his England squad for North America.

On the face of it, the decision was probably the right one, especially with Jude Bellingham and Morgan Rogers ahead of him in the pecking order.

Fast forward a few months and there’s no doubt a revitalised Palmer has earned his return to the national team setup. Now, the onus is for the midfielder to perform like he has done for his club side and make sure he gives Tuchel plenty of food for thought.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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Sep

2026

Preview: Chelsea head to Brentford in West London derby

A big change at the top for Chelsea won’t have an immediate on-pitch effect, but Xabi Alonso has already shown he’s making significant moves with the Blues this term which, given time, could turn them back into a title challenger.

By Karl Matchett

It’s not the cash-laden west Londoners, though, who come into this fixture unbeaten this term – that would instead be their hosts, Brentford, the…slightly more west of London side.

£100m on a single or a squad?

Morgan Rogers was a headline-grabbing transfer this summer of course and he has started in typically excellent fashion to justify his signing, if not the fee (can any player warrant £117m in a few months?!). But Brentford opted to spread around a similar amount, landing the likes of Malick Diouf, Jannik Schuster, Jaidon Anthony and Mamadou Sangaré for around a combined £110m. Chuck in a free Callum Wilson and each zone of the team has had a new addition, though it’s Sangaré who has started like a seasoned veteran of the Premier League, slotting in brilliantly to add ball-carrying, ball-winning and line-breaking distribution to the Bees’ midfield. No eyebrows whatsoever will be raised if Champions League sides come calling for the 24-year-old next summer, when his asking price has already doubled.

Brilliance versus balance

There’s no doubting that Alonso’s side look far more dangerous going forward already. There’s purpose, cutting edge and quality link-up between key players – but he hasn’t quite got it right at the other end of the pitch. Defensive errors, gaps between the lines and a soft centre for teams to run through have all been an issue, though the presence of the impressive Maxence Lacroix should help there over time. For now, though, runners from deep are a real issue – which is exactly what Sangaré is bringing for Brentford.

Recent form

One win and three draws in the league for the hosts, while Brentford have also seen off Birmingham and Reading to reach the EFL Cup fourth round. Their opening day 3-0 win over Spurs remains their best result of the campaign. Chelsea have been more erratic, winning four of six but losing to Arsenal and drawing with newcomers Hull on home soil.

Team news

No Nathan Collins or Sepp van den Berg for Brentford, with Mathias Jensen sidelined too in another big loss.

Chelsea are likely to be without Moisés Caicedo from their first XI, while mystery surrounds João Pedro who pulled out of the Brazil squad for next week but “no one is ruled out” for this game, according to Alonso. Jordan Henderson could make his debut against his former side and Reece James should return after missing training.

Key player

The Cole Palmer-Morgan Rogers attacking axis has been impressive already, but we’ll give the latter the nod as the key to the game with his all-round approach: in 350 league minutes he already has 3 goals from 11 shots, has created 10 chances, won 21 duels and had the same number of touches in the attacking penalty box.

Prediction

There could be goals for both sides in this game and perhaps a fourth draw in five so far for the Bees: Brentford 2-2 Chelsea.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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Sep

2026

FotMob Young Player of the Month: Monaco’s Lamine Camara

Awarded in conjunction with Rising Ballers, past winners of FotMob’s monthly GOAT award include Yan Diomandé and Eliot Anderson. This month, we headed out to Monaco to meet one of the most in demand midfielders in Europe.

By Ben McAleer

According to French publication L’Equipe, Monaco needed to raise €150m through player sales over the summer. They brought in significant funds from the sales of Aladji Bamba, Maghnes Akliouche, Caio Henrique and Kassoum Ouattara.

Then deadline day rolled around, and there was one more high-profile exit on the cards. Both Folarin Balogun and Lamine Camara were linked with Premier League transfers. Balogun was set for a move to Everton. Then Camara was on the cusp of a Chelsea switch. After a deal seemingly fell through, Balogun’s switch to the Hill Dickinson Stadium was back on again, which saw Monaco pull the plug on Camara’s move to Chelsea.

“There was a possibility I could leave. It didn’t go through at the last minute and that’s part of football,” Camara said ahead of Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Strasbourg. “I’ve turned the page and am focusing on the season. It’s part of a professional player’s life. I managed to stay professional and not dwell on it too much. Once it’s happened there’s no point in thinking about it again.”

Balogun’s decision to walk away from the Everton deal at the last moment meant Monaco retained the services of the pair. Balogun is yet to play for Filipe Luis’ side this season due to injury. Conversely, Camara has playing a starring role in Monaco’s flying start to the 2026/27 Ligue 1 campaign.

After four matches, Monaco have picked up 10 points. They’ve beaten Marseille and defending champions Paris Saint-Germain in that time. Paris Brunner is the club’s leading scorer with three goals. Creative star Aleksandr Golovin has two assists to his name. The heartbeat of the team, however, has been Camara.

That’s to be expected. The 21-year-old, after all, is one of the hottest midfield prospects on the continent. If anything, the flying start to the season is par for course for the Senegalese star. The fine showings against the backdrop of regular transfer talk elevates the quality of his displays. Camara didn’t allow speculation surrounding his future to affect his displays under Luis.

*Camara’s defensive numbers in Ligue 1 this season*

Rather, Camara has thrived under the spotlight. The Senegal international has utilised his ball-winning capability to great effect. Indeed, he’s made more tackles (24) than any other player in the 2026/27 Ligue 1 campaign. He’s only been dribbled past four times across the opening matches of the season, returning an impressive 85.7% tackle success rate in the process. No outfield player has made more ball recoveries (37) than Camara.

It means Monaco have the joint-best defensive record in the division having shipped just twice. One of those was from a set-piece situation, the other was an own goal, this despite the Principality side mustering just a 43% possession haul, the third lowest in France’s top tier this term.

Considering Luis’ demands that his team sit deeper to soak up possession, it’s hardly a shock that Camara has been able to showcase his out-of-possession qualities.

What’s noticeable, though, is that Camara has been hugely effective on the ball once he does win possession back. 225 passes is more than any other Monaco player. A 92.9% pass success rate is the joint-best for the French giants. 42 forward passes ranks sixth for Luis’ side, which is important for a Monaco outfit that does ultimately rely on quick transitions once they win the ball back.

*Camara’s passing stats in Ligue 1 this season*

A change in shape from a three-man backline deployed by Sebastien Pocognoli to a 4-2-3-1 has lessened the need for Camara to utilise his creative qualities. Operating alongside the experienced Denis Zakaria at the base of the midfield, Camara has created just three chances in the opening weeks of the season.

Rather, there is a greater onus on Golovin to pry apart defences, with Luis implementing a strict defensive structure. This was a priority for the former Flamengo boss, whose first port of call was to tighten up a Monaco side that conceded the fourth most goals (54) in Ligue 1.

A change in shape and gameplan, however, hasn’t impacted Camara. Instead, he’s thrived with the increased defensive responsibility that comes with playing as the number six in the 4-2-3-1 formation. It means that the attacking players have the freedom to work their magic in the final third.

Not only does Russian star Golovin rank top for chances created, but France-born Belgian youngster Stanis Idumbo is top for successful dribbles (8). They can carry out their attacking duties, safe in the knowledge that Camara is mopping up in front of the defence.

🇸🇳🐐 Monaco’s Lamine Camara is the FotMob x @RisingBallers_ Young Player of the Month. pic.twitter.com/y3nH25XG21
— FotMob (@FotMob) September 17, 2026

Chelsea’s failure to sign Camara, then, is a huge blow for the Blues, but it’s proven beneficial for a Monaco side that has started strongly under Luis. The departure of key players hasn’t hindered his opening months at the Stade Louis II. It’s the final – and fortunate – decision to retain Camara’s services that has allowed Monaco to make a superb start to the domestic campaign.

And with that, Camara is a worthy winner of the FotMob Young Player of the Month award. Many would have kicked up a fuss over a failed deadline day move to a top-tier Premier League side. Camara, though, has gotten his head down and played a starring role in Monaco’s unbeaten season so far. Retaining the youngster’s services, even inadvertently, could prove the best decision they ever made.

(Cover image from IMAGO, other images from Rising Ballers)

The FotMob Young Player of the Month Award is decided by virtue of average FotMob match ratings and run in conjunction with Rising Ballers. For all related content, make sure you follow @fotmobapp and @RisingBallers on Instagram.

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Sep

2026

Teething problems or something bigger? Unai Emery is facing his biggest test as Villa manager

Unai Emery is facing biggest challenge in his four years as Aston Villa manager following a summer of change at the club.

By Graham Ruthven

It took Aston Villa until late September to register their first Premier League win of the 2025/26 campaign. Five matches passed before Unai Emery’s team were able to put three points on the board, kick-starting another successful season. 12 months on they are facing a similar scenario.

Something about this season’s situation, however, feels different. Villa have come through a summer of change and there’s no guarantee Emery has the talent at his disposal to point his team in the right direction again. The disappointing results against Brighton, Arsenal, Hull City and Nottingham Forest are emblematic of how difficult this transition will be.

*Villa have been consistent in Emery’s previous seasons at the club*

Villa lost their top scorer in Ollie Watkins when the England international joined Al-Hilal in the Saudi Pro League. They also lost their most creative player in Morgan Rogers who joined Chelsea for a reported transfer fee of £117m. This might have been a good price for the attacking midfielder, but it still left Emery with a big hole to plug.

On top of this, midfield pace-setter Youri Tielemans had his release clause activated by Manchester United while key defensive piece Ezri Konsa signed for Arsenal and goalkeeper Emi Martínez joined Chelsea. Of the eight players who played the most league minutes for Aston Villa last season, six left this summer.

Emery is used to turning over squads. He’s done it before over the course of his four-year tenure as Villa manager and it was also a big part of his role at Sevilla. The Andalucians have a transfer model that requires them to sell a key player every so often and Emery was charged with making sure they weren’t missed too much.

This, however, is a lot of upheaval to compensate for in one go. This is the most substantial reconstruction job of Emery’s career with Aston Villa languishing in the bottom three of the Premier League table after four games. Can they bounce back as emphatically as they did last season?

Aston Villa invested in potential ahead of the 2026/27 campaign. Johan Mazambi was one of the breakout stars of the 2026 World Cup, shining as an all-round attacking force for Switzerland. Ibrahim Mbaye is widely considered one of the best young wingers in Europe after catching the eye at Paris Saint-Germain.

Signed to be Martínez’s replacement, Zion Suzuki has already demonstrated his quality in Serie A for Parma with João Gomes proven at Premier League level. The same could be said of Alejandro Garnacho who Emery is counting on being able to revitalise after a disappointing spell at Chelsea.

As of yet, though, that potential is still to be realised. There have been flashes, like in the Champions League when Villa put three goals past Club Brugge. Another permanent signing, Nicolas Jackson was particularly effective, scoring his first goal as an Aston Villa player. In the Premier League, though, the former Chelsea forward is still finding his feet.

A trip to North London awaits Villa on Saturday with Tottenham Hotspur similarly aiming to kick-start their season. They too rebuilt a large portion of their squad over the summer and are struggling to find cohesion, particularly in the forward line where Spurs have yet to score a single league goal in four games.

Victory for either side would change the narrative of a difficult start to the 2026/27 campaign. Defeat, however, will further entrench the fears that Aston Villa might not bounce back in the way they have previously. That the issues they have are more than just teething problems. That this is one rebuild too far for Emery.

The good news for Villa is that Emery has established a way of playing and a set of principles over several seasons. On the basis of the summer window, the club is still using these principles to guide their business, meaning there should be a sense of continuity to Aston Villa even as they transition into a new age.

Aston Villa supporters point to the Premier League’s restrictive financial rules as reason for their early-season struggles, and with some justification. Villa were vulnerable to the old PSR (Profit and Sustainability Rules) rules and the early indications are that the newly-imposed SCR (Squad Cost Ratio) framework won’t give them much more freedom to spend.

This is where Villa must trust Emery to guide them forward. The Spaniard has moulded the club around himself over the last four years. Emery is an Aston Villa legend and is clearly the best man for the job. Aston Villa wouldn’t want anyone else at the helm. However, this season is becoming his biggest, most challenging puzzle. There’s no guarantee he will solve it.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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Sep

2026

Preview: Man City face Norwich City in Carabao Cup, with Brighton due to face the winners

Manchester City will be looking to continue their perfect start to the season as they host Championship side Norwich City in the third round of the Carabao Cup.

By Matt Smith

The winner of this tie will face Brighton, who knocked out City’s rivals Manchester United on Wednesday night.

It’s been a few years since these two sides have gone head-to-head, and Norwich fans will still remember some of the demolitions they’ve been on the end of against the Manchester club.

City have won the last three meetings between the two sides by a combined score of 14-0, while Norwich haven’t won at the Etihad Stadium in the last four meetings.

Team news

Manchester City will be without Phil Foden after he was sent off against United last time out for kicking Bruno Fernandes. Jérémy Doku remains a doubt for the home side, while it wouldn’t be a surprise to see a host of changes from Enzo Maresca.

Ayyoub Bouaddi is among those who haven’t had many opportunities to impress just yet, while we could see Allan and Gerónimo Rulli make their debuts.

Norwich have a number of injury problems, with Gabriel Forsyth, Mirko Topić, Ali Ahmed, and Lucien Mahovo all ruled out.

Seamless transition for City

Many City fans will have been dreading the day Pep Guardiola headed for the exit door. Maresca has taken charge, and although it’s incredibly early days and he’ll need to hit unbelievable heights to match Pep’s achievements, there have been promising signs so far.

Passing teams to death was City’s previous way of playing, and it’s been a seamless transition with Maresca sharing similar values. Only Brighton have averaged more possession in the Premier League this season.

Pep’s side were known for giving lower-league sides a thumping, but can Maresca replicate that tonight?

Norwich must tighten up defensively

One thing Norwich can’t afford to do against a side like Manchester City is to gift them opportunities. Maresca’s side, as mentioned, haven’t shown any mercy against sides in the lower divisions, so Norwich will certainly have to tighten up compared to some of their performances this season.

Only five teams in the Championship have conceded more expected goals than Norwich so far this season. If they fail to fix that heading to the Etihad, then it could be a long night for the travelling supporters.

Ndiaye’s chance to shine

With Doku remaining out injured and Maresca likely to rotate, it could be a chance for Iliman Ndiaye to show what he’s about. The Senegalese international was named on the bench for the Manchester derby, but made a serious impact when coming on in the second half.

Despite playing just 45 minutes, no City player produced more successful dribbles or won more duels, while he was fouled more times than any player on the pitch. The former Everton man put a real defensive shift in, and it could be a chance to show more in the final third.

Prediction

It has to be a comfortable City win, especially with them being at home: Manchester City 4-0 Norwich City.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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Sep

2026

35-year-old Pascal Gross is pushing Brighton to new heights this season

Pascal Groẞ has been central to Brighton’s impressive start to the season with the veteran more influential than ever before.

By Graham Ruthven

There are some familiar names at the top of the list of the players who have contributed the most goals and assists in the Premier League this season. Erling Haaland, Bruno Fernandes, Morgan Rogers and João Pedro are all in the mix, as one would expect them to be. Pascal Groẞ’ name, however, stands out as an exception.

Groẞ has registered two goals and two assists in four league appearances for Brighton this term. One goal and two assists of that tally came in the 5-0 thumping of Coventry City on Sunday, but the German’s influence has been strong in almost every match he has played. Groẞ is the driving force pushing Brighton up the table.

This time last year, Groẞ was embarking on a new challenge at Borussia Dortmund. The attacking midfielder joined the Bundesliga club after a seven-year stint with Brighton who said an emotional farewell to one of their best players of the modern era. It was expected that Groẞ would remain in his homeland until the end of his career.

Instead, Groẞ returned to the English south coast in the January transfer window, immediately picking up where he left off for the Seagulls. The 35-year-old has started the majority of Brighton’s league matches since the start of the year with Groẞ adapting his game to be even more impactful.

Brighton manager Fabian Hürzeler has openly spoken about his desire for Groẞ to make more forward runs into the opposition box. Groẞ has played all over the pitch for Brighton over the course of his career at the club, even operating at left back on occasion, but his current purpose is as a box-crashing creator in the final third.

*Groẞ’s heat map in the Premier League this season*

Nobody has created more chances for Brighton in the Premier League this season than Groẞ who is also the Seagulls’ most prolific midfield passer, averaging 64.8 accurate passes per 90 minutes. It’s rare that someone so involved in the game also takes so many risks with their passing in the final third.

On top of this, Groẞ’ physical data is just as impressive as his technical numbers. Indeed, the German has covered more distance than any other Brighton player this season. The Seagulls might play with youthful exuberance, but it’s their 35-year-old midfielder who is setting the standard with his work rate.

“He’s a great connector. He’s a great person,” said Hürzeler when asked about Groẞ and his importance to Brighton. “We spend an amount of time together and you can build these kinds of connections and relationships by really getting to know each other, by building a trustful relationship. And when you have a trustful relationship, you can speak and share things quite openly and that helps also on the pitch.”

*Groẞ is in the top 1% for distance run in the Premier League this season*

Not many knew what to expect from Brighton this season. An eighth-place finish in back-to-back seasons suggested that while Hürzeler had established a platform in the Premier League table, he lacked the ideas to push the Seagulls into the continental qualification places. His position was questioned at times.

So far this season, though, Brighton have been among the Premier League’s most potent attacking forces. No team has found the back of the net more times than the Seagulls who are also averaging the highest possession share per match. Hürzeler’s side appear to have taken a step forward over the summer.

Wednesday’s EFL Cup clash with Manchester United is also an opportunity to make a run in a cup competition. While Brighton have certainly made their mark on the Premier League since winning promotion in 2017, they have never made it past the fourth round of the EFL Cup. The Seagulls have the potential to be contenders.

Groẞ isn’t the only Brighton player to have started the season well. Attacker Malick Yalcouyé has hit the ground running after returning from a loan spell at Swansea City last season while central defender Luka Vušković has settled quickly after a summer transfer from Tottenham Hotspur.

Brighton still have Kaoru Mitoma, Yankuba Minteh and Georginio Rutter to return from injury, raising the prospect they will continue to get stronger over the course of the campaign. Even with so much talent to come back into the squad, Groẞ can be certain of his place in the central midfield unit.

The transfer model adopted by Brighton in the modern era places an importance on youth. The club targets young players around the world and develops it at the Amex Stadium with a view to one day moving them on for a sizable profit. They then reinvest the proceeds and the cycle repeats.

In Groẞ, though, Brighton have a central pillar to build around. At 35, they’re not going to make a profit on the German. They have already drawn their value out of the player in other ways and continue to do so with Groẞ currently enjoying his most productive season in blue and white.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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Sep

2026

Preview: Man United come up against inform Brighton in the Carabao Cup

Manchester United face Brighton in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday evening with the pressure already starting to build under Michael Carrick.

By Ian King

Manchester United’s early exit vs. Grimsby last season is a warning

Manchester United entertain Brighton & Hove Albion in England’s secondary cup competition with a rather too familiar nervousness starting to settle over Old Trafford again, with one win from their opening four matches of the Premier League season seeing them pushed back into the bottom half of the table. It’s been more than a year since United lost on penalty kicks to Grimsby Town at Blundell Park, a match which turned out to be the beginning of the end for Michael Carrick’s predecessor, Ruben Amorim.

Brighton & Hove Albion, meanwhile, have been the Premier League’s entertainers so far this season. They’re the division’s top scorers, with thirteen scored in their first four games, including a 4-0 win against Aston Villa on the opening weekend and a 5-0 win at Coventry City last Sunday. This season marks their tenth since promotion to the Premier League in 2017, but they remain without a trophy to mark that decade.

Brighton recorded their first-ever cup win against United at the start of this year

Brighton started 2026 with a 2-1 win at Old Trafford in the FA Cup, their first ever cup win against Manchester United, but United did complete a league double over them last season, winning 4-2 at Old Trafford in October and 3-0 at The Amex in May. Prior to that meeting in October 2025, Brighton had also won their previous three trips to Old Trafford.

Both of these teams’ previous meetings in this competition have resulted in Manchester United winning. United won 3-0 at The Amex in September 2020, and 2-1 over two legs in September 1992, with a Mark Hughes goal deciding the second leg after the two sides had drawn the first leg 1-1 at The Goldstone Ground.

Brighton’s goal threats could come from any position on the pitch

Brighton may be the division’s top goalscorers, but none of their players are at the top of the goalscoring charts. Their 13 goals have included two own goals, with the other 11 having been scored by eight different players.

One of their standout performers so far this season has been defensive midfielder Pascal Groß, who put in an outstanding performance at Coventry on Sunday as part of a superb renaissance with the club since spending the first half of last season on loan in Germany with Borussia Dortmund. He’s also scored more goals against Manchester United – seven, in total – than against any other opponent in his career.

*Groß, a regular thorn in United’s side*

One of the bigger complaints that Manchester United fans had about Michael Carrick’s handling of Sunday’s derby match was his failure to introduce Benjamin Šeško until the midway point in the second half as the home team laboured to get back into the match. Šeško’s performances this season have been somewhat patchy, but he scored against Sabah FK in their first Champions League match, and he may be what United need to break down a Brighton defence which has only conceded five goals in their first four League matches of the season.

Expect changes from Michael Carrick following Sunday’s derby defeat

It may be early in the season, but injuries are already starting to pile up for both teams. Manchester United will be missing Matthijs de Ligt (back), Manuel Ugarte (knee), Amad Diallo (ankle), Tom Heaton (hamstring) and former Seagull Carlos Baleba (ankle), while Luke Shaw will be assessed ahead of kick-off, with Patrick Dorgu likely to continue to deputise should Shaw not make the cut. Matheus Cunha was ineffective in Sunday’s derby match, and Šeško may well be called up as a replacement for him.

Brighton also have their fair share of absentees. Yankuba Minteh (calf), Kaoru Mitoma (thigh), Jack Hinshelwood and Zadok Yohanna (unspecified knocks), Mats Wieffer and Stefanos Tzimas (both knee) and Evan Ferguson (ankle) will all be missing, while Georginio Rutter (ankle), Femi Azeez (thigh) and Michael Svoboda (knee) all missed their 5-0 win at Coventry on Sunday and will be assessed ahead of the match.

The pressue is all on the home side, not the visiting Seagulls

Having made 464 appearances for the club as a player over twelve years which spanned the Late Stage Ferguson years and those which followed, Michael Carrick will be fully aware of the expectations at Old Trafford and the way in which pressure can quickly start to build should a Manchester United team not deliver on the pitch.

Losing at home to Manchester City was only part of the story. The way they did so, having had a player advantage for three-quarters of the match, was just as important, and the controversial nature of what turned out to be the only goal of that match doesn’t negate how unimaginative their performance was otherwise.

Brighton & Hove Albion are now playing their tenth season of Premier League football, but while other clubs around them – including, not insignificantly, their bitter rivals Crystal Palace – have accumulated some silverware, they still don’t have a major trophy to their name. The Carabao Cup would be an excellent place to start correcting this, and they should be motivated to go to Old Trafford and come away with a result which allows them to continue to do so.

With an international break to come following the weekend’s Premier League fixtures, this match coupled with a trip to Fulham on Sunday will not make or break Michael Carrick, but they will set a mood for three weeks during which there’s no actual football to break up The Discourse surrounding his suitability for the job. Carrick needs a win, if a head of steam isn’t to build behind the idea that perhaps his appointment into the position on a full-time basis was a mistake after all.

But Brighton have been excellent under Fabian Hürzeler so far this season. Their performances against Aston Villa and Coventry City have ranked amongst the best we’ve seen from anyone in the division, and they have the motivation to want to push on and see if they can have a deep run in this year’s competition. With goals that could come from anywhere and a relatively stable defence, I suspect that things might be set to get worse for Carrick before they get better, and a 3-2 Brighton win would certainly turn the heat under him still higher.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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Sep

2026

Preview: Eye-catching Racing visit Barcelona

The current champions of Spain’s top two tiers meet at Camp Nou.

By Neel Shelat

Barcelona’s attack firing on all cylinders

Barcelona topped La Liga’s scoring column by quite some margin in each of the last two seasons, yet there were some quiet questions about how they would fare in front of goal coming into the season. The cause for concern was that they had lost three of their top five goalscorers from last term, including star striker Robert Lewandowski and world champion Ferran Torres.

Just a month into the new campaign, it would be safe to say that any lingering doubt has been emphatically crushed. Hansi Flick’s side are averaging 4.3 goals per game across all competitions, having netted at least four in all but one of their six games so far. All members of the rejigged attack – be they starters or substitutes, new signings or established stars – are firing on all cylinders as they terrorise defences around Spain and Europe.

Passing equally key in Racing’s approach

Barcelona fans who have not watched Racing Santander previously should expect to enjoy what they see from their opponents. José López’s side places a heavy emphasis on short ground passing and fluid combination play with the ball, having attempted fewer long balls than even the Catalan pass masters so far this season.

What they do without the ball, though, has been a bit of an issue for the newly-promoted side. Racing are without a clean sheet in 10 games, stretching back to the end of their Segunda División-winning campaign. They will certainly need to tighten up at the back if they are to arrest a run of eight consecutive defeats against Barça in their first visit to Camp Nou since 2011.

Team news

Barcelona’s only absentees remain Frenkie de Jong and Roony Bardghji, with the latter unlikely to be fit before the turn of the year due to his ACL injury.

Racing also have just a couple of injuries to contend with. Andrés Martin will be out for another month, while backup goalkeeper Simon Eriksson may return sooner. Midfielder André Almeida is suspended for this fixture after being sent off at the very end of the win over Alavés.

Key players

The solution to Barcelona’s supposed striker problem has been Raphinha, who has started and contributed in all six games so far this season to put up a mighty impressive tally of eight goals and three assists. Lamine Yamal has also stepped up his goalscoring, already netting seven times this term and earning player-of-the-match ratings in each of his last four outings.

🤩 Lamine Yamal has won Player of the Match in ALL of his last four games, averaging a rating of 9.4! pic.twitter.com/Jle6HxVl7X
— FotMob (@FotMob) September 14, 2026

The ever-excellent Pedri will continue to supply his attackers from midfield.

Rennes loanee Yassir Zabiri is one to watch in this Racing side. The Moroccan under-20 World Cup winner has been the hero of both of his side’s wins so far, scoring five goals in those games. Santander native Sergio Canales will hope to set the tempo behind him, having returned to his boyhood club at the end of a long and successful playing career. At the other end, Julen Agirrezabala should expect a very busy day in goal.

Prediction

Barcelona’s overwhelming attacking firepower should be enough for them to seal a club-record seventh-straight win at the start of the season.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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Sep

2026

The FotMob TOTW for the Premier League: Matchday 4’s Best XI includes Rice, Calvert-Lewin, Saka and Dunk

Matchday 4 of the Premier League is in the bag, leaving Arsenal and Manchester City leading the way on 12 points in what already looks like a season that develops into a two-horse race.

By Ross Kilvington

Goalkeeper: Bart Verbruggen

The Brighton goalkeeper was superb in the 5-0 win over Coventry on Sunday. Across the entire game, the Dutchman made a total of six saves in order to keep his third clean sheet across five matches in all competitions this season.

Centre-Back: Tarik Muharemović

Tarik Muharemović has enjoyed a stellar start to his Leeds career and his display against Newcastle might just have been his finest yet.

The defender completed the joint-most passes (52) during the game, while also providing a threat in the final third, registering one assist and creating one chance.

Defensively, Muharemović won 100% of his aerial duels and made eight clearances to keep the Magpies at bay, earning an 8.2 rating from FotMob in the process.

Centre-Back: Lewis Dunk

The veteran centre-back may have scored the goal of the Premier League season so far against Coventry.

His stunning effort rounded off a wonderful display, especially at the heart of the defence in which he succeeded with 100% of his ground duels and made four clearances.

Dunk also completed the most passes (89) during the game and took 102 touches as he was constantly demanding the ball to make things happen.

🤯🚀 Lewis Dunk just scored perhaps the least Lewis Dunk goal of all time. pic.twitter.com/S5GHDtB2I1
— FotMob (@FotMob) September 13, 2026

Centre-Back: Murillo

Murillo was a rock at the back for Nottingham Forest as they swept aside Aston Villa to record their first league win of the season.

The Brazilian set up Liam Delap for the opener, while making eight clearances and recording six recoveries throughout the 90 minutes.

Midfield: Mohamed Belloumi

Hull have been the surprise package in the Premier League this term, with Mohamed Belloumi really showing his worth against Chelsea.

The winger scored both of Hull’s goals and finished the match with the joint-most shots (3) as he ran the defence ragged.

He may have only taken 17 touches, but he certainly made them count at Stamford Bridge, that’s for sure.

Midfield: Pascal Groß

Pascal Groß is the star man this week, receiving a rating of 9.4 for his stunning display against Coventry.

The German midfielder created the most chances (6), covered the most distance (11.1km) and had the most touches (113) of anyone on the pitch.

Oh, he also scored and provided two assists as well. Should he keep this form up, Brighton may perhaps improve on their eighth place finish from last term.

Midfield: Declan Rice

Arsenal were solid, rather than spectacular, against Sunderland, but it was another three points won.

Declan Rice might not have been at his imperious best, yet he still managed to provide an assist and take the most touches (78) of anyone on the field.

Rice also created three chances for his teammates and made 11 passes into the final third as the Gunners tried to break the Black Cats down.

Midfield: Leif Davis

Leif Davis was superb in Ipswich’s win over Crystal Palace, especially when going forwards.

He demonstrated his physical attributes by recording a top speed of 33.8km/h, the fastest on the pitch. Davis also scored and provided an assist in the victory, while also making five passes into the final third.

The Englishman could be an important player for the Tractor Boys this season and performances like this could well be key in helping the club avoid relegation.

Attacking Midfield: Bukayo Saka

Bukayo Saka scored his third Premier League goal in four games against Sunderland at the weekend thanks to a late penalty.

The winger was lively throughout, taking the joint-most shots in the game (4) while also being fouled four times as the Sunderland defence simply couldn’t contain him.

Another goal will further boost his confidence in what was a gritty win for the champions.

Attacking Midfield: Kevin Schade

Kevin Schade was Brentford’s star man at the weekend, scoring twice to seal a point for the Bees against Bournemouth.

The German was clinical in the final third while he also succeeded with 100% of his crosses during the game.

Those two goals were his second and third in the Premier League this season and he more than deserved his 8.7 rating.

💪🏼 Leeds United are now UNBEATEN after four games in the Premier League, beating Newcastle 4-1 tonight.

Daniel Farke has got this Leeds team playing some serious football. 👏🏼 pic.twitter.com/XlTBish7uJ
— FotMob (@FotMob) September 14, 2026

Centre-Forward: Dominic Calvert-Lewin

Dominic Calvert-Lewin had scored once in his first three Premier League games, but the Englishman got back on the scoresheet against Newcastle.

It could have been two, but his header came off Jayden Bogle and was thus awarded to him.

Nevertheless, he was sensational against the Magpies, not only taking the most touches in the opposition penalty area (8), but also recording the most shots (4) during the game.

Calvert-Lewin also won three of his four aerial duels and on this sort of form, you wouldn’t be surprised to see him named in Thomas Tuchel’s England squad this Friday.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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Sep

2026

Preview: Winless Elche play host to Real Madrid in LaLiga

Real Madrid travel to the Estadio Martínez Valero to face a winless Elche in LaLiga on Tuesday evening with a chance to go level with Barcelona at the summit by securing all three points.

By Ross Kilvington

José Mourinho has Real Madrid ticking along nicely

Five wins from six games has given José Mourinho a solid start to his second spell at the Bernabéu.

The only blip was a 1-0 loss to Real Betis a couple of weeks ago. Since then, however, Madrid have defeated Inter Milan 2-1 in the Champions League, before sealing a comfortable 4-1 over Rayo Vallecano in LaLiga a few days ago.

The display against Rayo saw Los Blancos register 24 shots and finish the game with 66% possession, but it was the victory over Inter that might characterise how Mourinho’s second stint will go when his side face a member of Europe’s elite.

Indeed, Real could only muster 36% possession throughout the 90 minutes, with Inter recording more shots, corners and nearly double the amount of passes during the game. Somehow, Mourinho saw his men triumph, but they will have to improve against the best on the continent should the club wish to win another Champions League crown.

Closer to home, though, Real have been more vibrant and a win over Elche will move them level with Barcelona at the top of LaLiga – for a day at least.

*Barca are once again setting the pace in LaLiga*

Elche still searching for their first league win

It hasn’t quite been the start to the season Martin Anselmi had anticipated as Elche have failed to win any of their first five league games of the campaign.

Defeats to Barcelona, Racing Santander and Real Sociedad were bookended by a pair of 1-1 draws against Deportivo A Coruña and most recently, Athletic Club, which leaves Elche 19th in the table on just two points.

Elche’s recent record against Real doesn’t offer any further encouragement that they can get a result on Tuesday evening. Across their previous 13 meetings with Los Blancos, they have failed to win any, recording just three draws.

One of those stalemates came at home last season, but you have to go all the way back to March 1978 for their last victory over their opponents.

Might home advantage prove crucial? Only time will tell.

Team news

Yago Santiago is the only definite absentee for Elche due to injury. Kevin Lomonaco might come into the squad, while Thomas Lemar is pushing for a start against Real Madrid.

Éder Militão, Ferland Mendy and Rodrygo will all be missing for Mourinho due to injury. Several players could come into the starting XI, including Trent Alexander-Arnold, Marc Cucurella and Arda Güler.

Prediction

The chance to join Barcelona at the top of the standings on 15 points, even if only for 24 hours, is surely all the incentive Mourinho needs ahead of this clash.

Back-to-back wins has Madrid purring along nicely and another victory will further boost the confidence among the squad.

Elche need a win, and fast, if they are to avoid getting dragged into a relegation dogfight. Two of their three draws with Madrid have come at the Estadio Martínez Valero, but their winless league drought will continue after this match: Elche 0-3 Real Madrid.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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