The Pulse of Football

Mar

2026

Preview: Trip to Anfield is the next test for fragile Spurs

Liverpool have a golden opportunity to keep the pressure on those above them against a ragged-looking Tottenham Hotspur.

By Ian King

English teams had a bad week in the Champions League, but some had worse ones than others

It was a pretty bad week for the Premier League in the Champions League, but while Liverpool and Spurs both lost their games, the former’s performance seemed like it could be reversible in the second leg while the latter’s was more like that of a team that seems to be plumbing new depths in terms of ways in which to make themselves laughing stocks. It feels difficult to second guess what the mood in the Spurs camp since then could have been like, but any descriptions are highly unlikely to include the word “positive.”

Liverpool, meanwhile, have been patchy. A defeat to Wolves in the League was followed up in the same week with a comfortable 3-1 win against the same opponents in the FA Cup, and with the Galatasaray defeat having come following those two results, it remains the case that their improvement has been stop-start. Arne Slot’s position may be dependent on finishing in the top four or winning the Champions League. He’s certainly on shaky ground. Just in time for a visit from Doctor Tottenham.

Spurs have a famously terrible record at Anfield

There’s no other way of putting it; Tottenham’s record at Anfield is famously bad. When they beat them there 1-0 in the First Division on the 16th March 1985, it was the first time they’d done so in exactly 73 years. They’ve only ever won there seven times, and the last time they did so came in May 2011. Liverpool have won their last two meetings – in the League Cup and the Premier League in February and April 2025 – by an aggregate score of 9-1, and they also beat them 2-1 at The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in December.

Ekitike vs Vicario could be the big battle of the afternoon

Hugo Ekitiké has been the star turn for Liverpool so far this season, and he’ll be optimistic of increasing his 11-goal tally for the season following a difficult few weeks. He’s only scored once since his excellent double against Newcastle at the end of January, and he’s capable of better than he’s delivered in his last couple of appearances. He may also have taken note of how chaotic his opponents were on Tuesday night.

Assuming that he starts, this time around, all eyes should be on Gugliemo Vicario for Spurs, following an astonishing selection blunder by head coach Igor Tudor which was only compounded by his atrocious man-management of what was visibly a very difficult moment for Antonín Kinsky, a young goalkeeper with no Champions League experience, who was thrown into a knockout tie and with a rickety team in front of him. Vicario needs to rediscover his form – and he did concede two himself – and he’s likely to have a busy afternoon.

As if the length of their treatment list wasn’t long enough already, Spurs players have now started injuring each other

Given Djed Spence’s reaction to Tudor following his substitution in Madrid, it’ll be interesting to see whether he starts, though the (for now) head coach might not have any choice. Micky Van de Ven is suspended for his sending off against Crystal Palace, while both Cristian Romero and João Palhinha could both be missing after their clash of heads in Madrid left Spurs with nine players on the pitch by the end of the match.

Otherwise, the injury list remains as it has for a while, with Wilson Odobert, Destiny Udogie, Lucas Bergvall, Rodrigo Bentancur, Ben Davies, James Maddison, Mohammed Kudus and Dejan Kulusevski all still out. There will be eleven players out in total for Spurs, if Romero and Palhinha don’t make it, and with both of them having suffered a degree of concussion, it’s unlikely that they will.

Liverpool have a couple of possible returns, though it remains unlikely that Alisson Becker or Federico Chiesa will be ready for this match. Both missed the midweek trip to Turkey. Conor Bradley, Giovanni Leoni, Wataru Endo and Alexander Isak are all longer term absentees for the Reds.

The timing of this home visit from Doctor Tottenham couldn’t have been better for Liverpool

With another five goals conceded in the week, little reason to believe that the players want to play for Igor Tudor, form that’s in the gutter and that fabulously terrible historical record at Anfield, there is little reason to believe that Spurs can take anything from this match. If they do have a chance of staying up this season (and it’s not a foregone conclusion yet), that more likely comes with still-to-play home matches against Nottingham Forest and Leeds. Tudor will be in place for this match, but few believe that he will be for long after it.

*The bottom of the table prior to Saturday’s games*

Liverpool’s position is far from perfect. They also need a win. Arne Slot’s position is also at risk at the end of this season, and qualification for the Champions League is likely to be the minimum that will be expected of him. And it’s still within touch, although the conflagration of English clubs in the Champions League this week has lowered the odds of fourth place being the minimum target to get there for next season.

But although Liverpool have been stuttering all season, Spurs will arrive on Merseyside in such a ragged condition that an extremely comfortable home win feels like the only likely outcome from this match. Liverpool have such a wealth of attacking options that the very idea of their half-baked opponents being able to do anything much about it seems fanciful. I’m going to say 5-1 to Liverpool, and for the hapless Spurs head coach to be looking for another new job by Monday lunchtime.

(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.

Mar

2026

Preview: Top five rivals Man United and Aston Villa clash at Old Trafford

Goal difference is all that separates Manchester United and Aston Villa ahead of a crunch match in the race to qualify for the Champions League.

By Graham Ruthven

Top five race

Manchester United and Aston Villa will meet on Sunday with Champions League qualification potentially on the line. The outcome could have a big bearing on the race to finish in the top five.

Goal difference is all that’s between the two rivals in the Premier League table, making this weekend’s encounter a potentially season-defining fixture for both teams involved.

Not so long ago, Villa appeared all but certain to finish ahead of United. However, Unai Emery’s team have won just two of their last nine league matches while the Old Trafford outfit have won six of their eight games under Michael Carrick.

Manchester United’s unbeaten run ended with defeat to Newcastle United. They, however, have had the time since then to rest while Aston Villa played a testing match away to Lille in the Europa League on Thursday. Fatigue could be a factor.

Morgan Rogers bagged a brace in Aston Villa’s 2-1 win over United shortly before Christmas, but a lot has changed for both teams since then.

Key players

Benjamin Šeško’s scoring run came to an end at St James’ Park, but the Slovenian striker will be a threat against Aston Villa having found the back of the net seven times in his last nine outings.

Bruno Fernandes continues to be United’s primary creative force. Only Erling Haaland has charted more goal contributions than the Portuguese who has created more Big Chances than any other player in the Premier League.

Casemiro and Kobbie Mainoo will give the home team balance in the centre of the pitch while Senne Lammens could be a key figure.

Rogers is Aston Villa’s top scorer in the league with the England international likely to be a danger to the Old Trafford hosts on Sunday. Rogers, like Fernandes, is also a creator having generated 10 Big Chances this season.

Ollie Watkins has started Villa’s last four matches in all competitions, but hasn’t found the back of the net in the league since scoring in a win away to Newcastle in late-January.

Ezri Konza and Pau Torres are averaging more blocks per 90 than any other two Aston Villa players. The centre back pairing might have to find top form against an in-form Manchester United forward line.

Team news

United are hoping to have Lisandro Martínez, Mason Mount and Noussair Mazraoui available again having been without the injured trio for a number of weeks.

Patrick Dorgu and Matthijs De Ligt, however, are long-term absentees and will miss out for the home team this weekend.

John McGinn made his return from injury off the bench in Aston Villa’s Europa League win away to Lille. This is clearly a boost for Emery’s team, although Sunday’s trip to Old Trafford could come too soon for the Scot to start.

Andrés García, Boubacar Kamara and Youri Tielemens are still sidelined, leaving Villa short of options in centre midfield for the trip to the North West.

Prediction

Considering how heavily the momentum has shifted between these two top five rivals since they last met, we’re expecting a reverse result of the game we saw at Villa Park: Manchester United 2-1 Aston Villa.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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

Mar

2026

Preview: Madrid need a win to keep the pressure on Barca

The original kings of Europe Real Madrid already have one hefty-sized boot in the last eight of the Champions League, but this weekend is no less important as they start playing catchup in LaLiga.

By Karl Matchett

This weekend marks the start of the run-in for clubs in Spain’s top flight; after this round of matches it’s ten games left to achieve dreams, ambitions…or at least salvage a desperate campaign, for some. Real Madrid’s aim is, as always, to win the title – but four points adrift of Barcelona there is work to do. Opponents Elche, on the other hand, are already in full-on survival mode, just one point above the drop zone.

Home form is perfect…or nowhere

There’s not much margin for error in LaLiga if you want to win the title, such is the standard set by the big two over the past decades. By and large, with not much scope for dropped points across the season as a whole, you need to be near-faultless on home soil to set a platform for success – then away day fine margins can make the difference. Real Madrid have already slipped up more than generally allowed then, following two defeats at the Santiago Bernarbéu – one of which came this month against struggling Getafe.

Álvaro Arbeloa cannot take anything for granted, then, when it comes to hosting 17th-placed Elche – even after thrashing a club as strong and rich as Manchester City in midweek. Silverware is all about consistency, not one-off brilliance. It’s all well and good striding on when the challenge is greatest, but league titles are won and lost in these run-of-the-mill games. Stack the victories and you’ve got a chance; silly slip-ups at this time of year will quickly see your ambitions evaporate.

Time is a turning wheel

Fans of a certain vintage could be forgiven for thinking they have time-travelled if they tune in and hear about Argentinian midfielder Redondo getting on the ball at the Bernabéu. Elche’s Federico Redondo, who joined in summer and has just started to get a bit of involvement in recent weeks, is the son of former Real Madrid star Fernando Redondo – and the nephew of another ex-blanco, Santi Solari. Before joining Elche he played for Inter Miami with another Argentinian you may know of: Lionel Messi.

Recent form

Seven wins and two defeats for Real in the last nine since the shock loss to Benfica. No wins in 11 games this calendar year for Elche, though they’ve at least scrapped for four draws in that time.

Team news

The big misses for Real remain Kylian Mbappé, Rodrygo, Jude Bellingham, Éder Militão and Álvaro Carreras.

Héctor Fort and John Donald remain doubtful for the visitors.

Key player

Arda Güler has started lots but may need an uptick in end product – just one assist and no goals from his last nine matches. He’s top 8% in LaLiga for xA though and top 7% for chances created so there should be more to come from him.

Prediction

Routine three points at home if at full strength but rotations could make it a closer encounter: Real Madrid 2-0 Elche.

(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.

Mar

2026

Preview: West Ham take on Man City, with Pep forced to watch from the stands

It’s a clash between the Premier League’s second-worst defence (54 conceded) and the joint-best attack (59 scored) at the London Stadium.

By Filip Mishov

Is Nuno the man to lead the Hammers to first league win against a Pep Guardiola-led City?

A flawless penalty shoot-out saw West Ham secure a place in the FA Cup quarter-finals for the first time since 2016 and Nuno Espírito Santo‘s appointment has definitely inspired an upturn in form this calendar year. Apart from the away defeats to Liverpool and Chelsea, the Hammers are unbeaten against the rest of the Premier League since early January. However, despite their recent encouraging run (4W, 2D, 2L) in the top flight, Jarrod Bowen & co. still start the weekend in the relegation zone (18^th place) with the same number of points (28) as Nottingham Forest, but only three points away from the 15^th-placed Leeds United, offering survival hope to the Irons’ supporters.

Federico Valverde’s magical night at Estadio Bernabéu snapped Manchester City’s 11-match unbeaten run across all competitions, but still, the Cityzens are low-key enjoying a strong domestic season, with the fight for the Premier League title still very much on, plus the EFL Cup Final and an FA Cup quarterfinal to come. The quadruple dream took a hit in the week but isn’t entirely out of the realms of possibility just yet.

Furthermore, the 10-time English champions are on an impressive run in the top flight, suffering just one defeat – in the Manchester derby – since November last year. Also, the Sky Blues are yet to suffer a league defeat at the London Stadium with Bernardo Silva & co. recording seven wins and a couple of draws, and West Ham’s last league home victory over City dates back to 2014 at Boleyn Ground.

Key players

Mateus Fernandes is attracting interest from the leading Premier League clubs after impressing this season, as the Portuguese U21 international is developing into an all-round midfielder under his compatriot’s guidance. The talented 21-year-old is the squad’s highest-rated player (7.27) and is leading the side in terms of accurate passes per 90 (40), while closely following Jarrod Bowen (29) in chances created (28) and sitting third in tackles made per 90 (3), speaking volumes about his range as a player.

Antoine Semenyo has fit seamlessly in to the City side and the Ghanian has quickly established himself as one of the key players in Pep Guardiola’s starting XI. With that being said, the electric winger is averaging a FotMob rating of 7.24 since his move from Bournemouth, accompanied by five goals and an assist across eight league appearances. Only Igor Thiago (18) and Erling Haaland (22) have scored more league goals than Semenyo this season.

Team news

Pep Guardiola will serve a two-match touchline ban after getting six yellow cards this season, while Joško Gvardiol, Rico Lewis and Mateo Kovačić remain sidelined through injuries.

*Potential Man City XI made with the FotMob lineup builder*

Crysencio Summerville sustained a calf injury against Brentford and the in-form winger will miss a few matches in a big blow, and Lukasz Fabianski is also injured.

Prediction

West Ham could take a big step towards securing safety with a positive result against Manchester City, but Pep Guardiola boasts a supreme record against the Hammers, with the Spaniard leading the Cityzens to 18 wins in 21 matches across all competitions. Despite the Hammers’ form improved lately, I still believe that Nuno Espírito Santo’s squad lacks enough quality to stop the title-chasers City, and I expect another away win in London win for the visitors.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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

Mar

2026

Preview: Champions League sides Chelsea and Newcastle face each other ahead of key second legs

Newcastle can hold their heads high despite conceding a 96^th minute penalty to draw with Barcelona in their midweek Champions League fixture, while Chelsea should be nothing short of embarrassed for their collapse against PSG. Now, the two meet in the Premier League.

By Alex Roberts

It was a very telling round of European fixtures for English sides. Has the Premier League become too reliant on set pieces and physicality? Are the players simply exhausted? Or perhaps their continental counterparts are just better?

Chelsea pulled off arguably their best performance under Liam Rosenior to beat Aston Villa last time out, but down to ten men, Newcastle’s 2-1 win over in-form Man United may have been better.

A goalkeeping conundrum

It’s starting to feel like Rosenior is falling into the exact same trap Enzo Maresca did when it comes to Chelsea’s goalkeeper options. He wants to play out of the back, so he drops Robert Sánchez for Filip Jörgensen, only to realise Jörgensen is probably worse.

Antonín Kinsky’s 17-minute Champions League debut got all the headlines, but Jörgensen’s performance was just as bad. Now, with elimination from Europe’s elite club competition looking inevitable, Rosenior needs to take a long hard look in the mirror.

Sánchez was on track to have his best season in a Chelsea shirt before all of this. Yes, he looked a little shaky against Arsenal, but he’s once again being asked to play in a way that doesn’t suit him. Let Sánchez make saves and hoof it up the pitch every now and again, and it would be fine.

Time to worry about Woltemade?

The big German in his long-sleeved Newcastle shirt looked like he had the makings to become a genuine Tyneside icon at the start of the season. The fall off has been pretty dramatic since then.

Nick Woltemade hasn’t scored a Premier League goal since his brace in their 2-2 draw with Chelsea in the reverse fixture, so, perhaps that’s an omen. One in his last 20 appearances across all comps would imply he’s certainly due.

Eddie Howe has options. Yoane Wissa hasn’t been particularly impressive either, but he is Premier League proven, and Will Osula’s incredible winner last time out could have persuaded his boss to give him more chances. Either way, Woltemade needs to up his game.

Team news

Neither side have too many injuries they need to worry about. Estêvão (hamstring) is a doubt for Chelsea, while Jamie Gittens (muscle) is also close to returning, but this game has come too soon.

The big news is that Levi Colwill (ACL) is back doing light training with his teammates. The centre back has been a huge miss for Chelsea this season, it remains to be seen whether he will feature before the end, but it’s a positive sign.

Speaking of huge misses, Bruno Guimarães is still sidelined with a muscle injury and isn’t expected to return until mid-April. Newcastle are also without Lewis Miley (knee), Fabian Schär (ankle), and Emil Krafth (knee).

Predictions

Chelsea have more to play for than Newcastle at the moment, considering they’re still in contention for a top four finish. With that been said, we’re going with a 1-1 draw.

(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.

Mar

2026

Preview: Leaders Arsenal face Everton who are hard to beat on the road

Arsenal host Everton in the Premier League on Saturday as the Gunners look to extend their lead at the top of the table. They face an in-form Everton side, who have much preferred playing on the road so far this season.

By Matt Smith

The last time Arsenal hosted the Toffees last season, Everton made it tough, securing a 0-0 draw despite having just two shots all game.

Team news

Both Martin Ødegaard and Leandro Trossard missed Arsenal’s midweek Champions League fixture against Bayer Leverkusen, so they are doubts heading into the game against Everton.

In more positive news, both Ben White and Riccardo Calafiori both returned to the squad in Germany, but Mikel Merino remains out.

Meanwhile, the Toffees will be without Jack Grealish, who is likely to miss the remainder of the season, while Carlos Alcaraz will also be unavailable. Seamus Coleman could return to action, but Everton shouldn’t have any fresh injury concerns.

Defence wins you titles?

The Gunners now have a seven-point lead heading into the weekend’s fixtures, and if they manage to get over the line, their defence and structure will be taking a large portion of the credit. Arsenal have conceded just 21.1 xG, while Man City are second in the Premier League on 32.6.

In terms of xG created, Arsenal only rank fourth, so it’s certainly their defensive solidity that has helped get them this far. Man City will be breathing down their neck if Mikel Arteta’s side slips up in the coming weeks, but they’ve given themselves a healthy advantage heading into the final months.

Everton the away specialists

The Toffees entered a new, state-of-the-art stadium ahead of the 2025/2026 season, but it’s been far from a fortress so far this campaign. Thankfully, David Moyes’ men have been phenomenal on the road, producing top-four worthy results away from home.

*The Premier League table – away games only*

Only Chelsea, Man City, and Arsenal themselves have picked up more points on their travels, and it’s easy to see why. Moyes’ style of play suits coming up against sides that dominate the ball, and that’s usually the type of football they face when the opposition is on their own turf.

Havertz’s time to shine?

It’s easy to forget that Kai Havertz struck 15 times for Arsenal last season, and he’s been a huge miss for the majority of the 2025/2026 campaign. The German international came off the bench to score a last-minute penalty against his former club during the week, and it could be his time to shine.

*Havertz’s season summary at Arsenal (all comps)*

Against an Everton side that are likely to sit in a low block, Havertz’s aerial ability could be crucial to help Arsenal find a route to goal. Viktor Gyökeres has struggled in recent weeks, and it could be time for Havertz to be unleashed from the start.

Prediction

We’re not expecting too many goals, considering Everton’s away record, but Arsenal should edge it. We’re going for a 1-0 home win

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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

Mar

2026

Donyell Malen is busy solving Roma’s attacking issues

Donyell Malen has given Roma a different dimension since making the January move to the Stadio Olimpico from Aston Villa.

By Graham Ruthven

It took Donyell Malen just 26 minutes of his Roma debut to score his first goal for the Giallorossi and he hasn’t stopped scoring since. The Dutch forward has notched six goals in eight games for his new team, filling something of a problem position for Gian Piero Gasperini’s side.

Many expected Evan Ferguson to be an instant hit in the Italian capital. While the Irish forward had lost his way at Brighton, paying for a series of injuries over successive seasons, Roma appeared to be a good fit for a striker not so long ago considered one of the Premier League’s best attacking prospects.

Gasperini, however, was scathing in his assessment of Ferguson. “He isn’t convincing,” said the veteran coach who recognised the need for a new forward heading into the January transfer window. Artem Dovbyk also failed to deliver despite costing €38m only two summers ago.

In Malen, though, Roma found the perfect addition to supercharge their attack for the second half of the season. Signed from Aston Villa on loan, Malen was a low-risk addition that covered Roma both ways. An obligation to buy for €25m will only be activated if Roma qualify for the Champions League or Europa League.

Malen has changed the dynamic of Roma in the final third of the pitch. With Ferguson as their starting number nine, the Giallorossi had to play into the Irishman. Roma had to get players around Ferguson to make the most of him as a focal point. He required service in and around the penalty box.

As someone who plays on the shoulder of the last defender, Malen is a very different sort of forward. He is someone who wants to get in behind, as has already done multiple times since joining Roma – see the Dutchman’s goal in the recent 3-3 draw against Juventus. This has completely changed the profile of their attack.

At their best, Gasperini’s Atalanta were one of the most dynamic teams anywhere in Europe. They attacked open space at speed and could hurt even the strongest of opponents, as Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen found out by losing the Europa League final 3-0 to Atalanta when they hadn’t lost a single Bundesliga game that season.

While progress under Gasperini has been slow for Roma, the 68-year-old is putting his stamp on the team. Wesley has been a hit since joining from Flamengo last summer, giving the Giallorossi the mobile wing back they required on the left side to make Gasperini’s system work. His strike against Juve was one of the highlights of the season so far.

Manu Koné is another player flourishing under Gasperini. Indeed, the 24-year-old is operating at such a level many expect him to be called up by France manager Didier Deschamps for the World Cup. Koné is the sort of two-way central midfield his club and country requires right now. He will be key for Roma in their Europa League run.

There could be further remodelling this summer when Paulo Dybala is out of contract. While the Argentine remains a fans favourite at the Stadio Olimpico, there is a growing recognition that Roma could be getting more for the money (€8m-a-season) they are paying for a player who spends just as much time in the treatment room as on the pitch.

*Malen’s attacking numbers per 90 in Serie A*

Some have questioned if Malen could ultimately become a winger for Roma if they can find another new forward to replace Dybala. His pace and willingness to drive forward with the ball at his feet could be useful in a wide position, but Gasperini has been quick to quash this notion.

“I hope not,” said the Roma manager when asked if Malen could settle into a wide role beyond this season. “In my ideal world he gets to play at centre-forward, with the rest of the team set up to exploit his qualities. He has the versatility to play out wide, but you make the most of him inside the area.”

Currently sitting fifth in the Serie A table, Roma still have some work ahead of them to qualify for next season’s Champions League. On recent form, Como might be a better bet to pull up a chair at European football’s top table with Cesc Fàbregas’ side on an impressive winning run of three games.

With Malen now in the team, though, Roma could be genuine challengers for the Europa League. Thursday’s all-Serie A last 16 tie against Bologna will be a litmus test of whether Gasperini’s side are ready to win the trophy that evaded the Giallorossi three years ago when they lost to Sevilla in the final. Malen could provide the goals to make amends.

(Images from IMAGO)

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

Mar

2026

Nathan De Cat: The next big thing out of Belgium

It may be hard for fans to admit, but Belgium’s golden generation is over. They had a good run, third place in the 2018 World Cup is a proud moment, but now it’s time to let the kids take it from here.

By Alex Roberts

Belgium is filled with some of the best academies in Europe. Club Brugge, Genk, and of course, Anderlecht, have all produced players that changed the game, and they aren’t showing signs of letting up any time soon.

These clubs have always been sure to have a clear pathway for exceptional talents, Anderlecht’s Nathan De Cat is the latest, and arguably the most impressive in years, to take advantage of that opportunity.

*De Cat’s player traits comparison with other midfielders playing at a similar level*

His club may no longer be the dominant force in Belgian football, but De Cat is certainly a dominant force on the pitch, despite being only 17 years old, establishing himself as one of the first names on Jérémy Taravel’s team sheet.

De Cat has played most of his incredibly short career as a defensive midfielder. He’s not a Sergio Busquets, constantly scanning, playing short one-touch passes, nor is he an N’Golo Kante, relying on remarkable game reading to intercept and cover every blade of grass.

He’s strong standing at a healthy 6’4”, hard to dispossess and beat in duels, on the ground or the air, making him a calming presence for teammates, using subtle body movements and sharp turns to get out of trouble.

We hate to say ‘he’s mature for his age’, but he is. De Cat has a varied passing range, he doesn’t want to play side and backwards passes, he wants to take risks, playing balls over the top and diagonally creating space for teammates.

*De Cat’s passing stats in the Pro League*

Of course, he’s not the complete package. De Cat’s progressive dribbling leaves a lot to be desired; he’s only completed 11 so far this season at a success rate of 39.3%. In his defence, not many sides want their defensive midfielders to be running about too much.

He the metronome, an anchor, building a foundation that allows Anderlecht’s more expressive players to do their thing. Well, up until recently anyway, in recent weeks, he’s been handed a slightly different role.

See, it’s been a weird season for Anderlecht. They started 2025/26 with Besnik Hasi in charge, but he was given his marching orders in February, ending his 11-month tenure. They collected just five points from their final seven league games together, and after a couple of ‘crisis meetings’ the call was made.

Edward Still, brother of former Southampton boss Will, was then handed the job on an interim basis. He lost his single game in charge, a 1-0 defeat to Royal Antwerp in the Cup semi-final before leaving and becoming the latest in a long, long line of Watford mangers.

Taravel was handed his first managerial job shortly after, despite not possessing a UEFA Pro Licence, which is a requirement for head coaches in Belgium. It’s been a point of contention.

Anderlecht were originally told they must hire a manager with the qualification before April 10^th, but it has since been reported he will be able to remain in the position for the rest of the season.

Anyway, no more admin. Taravel has had five games in charge, and it’s coincided with De Cat’s best form in front of goal for Anderlecht, with two goals and four assists in that time as his new manager plays him higher up the pitch.

In their 4-0 win over Royal Antwerp in the second leg of their Cup semi-final, De Cat played out on the left wing. The out of the box decision paid off after just 52 seconds when his absolutely exquisite cross landed directly on the head of Nathan Saliba.

De Cat was a constant threat; Royal Antwerp’s defenders simply didn’t know how to handle his physicality out wide. He ended up getting his goal just before the break, a half volley from just outside the box. In all honesty, the ‘keeper could have probably done better.

He was placed back into central midfield for the next games against RAAL La Louviere and Zulte Waregem but still spent a lot of his time out on the left, particularly in the latter, when he managed to provide two more assists.

His first came from his incredible ability to read the game, reaching it just before the opposition defender and threading Thorgan Hazard through. Hazard still had plenty to do, but his low drive was just about enough to beat Brent Gabriel in goal.

De Cat’s physicality created his second assist. We really shouldn’t forget just how big he is, and again, using his strength this time, he just about beat his challenger to the ball inside the box passing it to Hazard, who bagged his second of the night.

Clearly keen to have De Cat affecting the game a little further up the pitch, Taravel has played De Cat in the number ten over his last two games, and it’s paying off. The youngster opened the scoring in their 2-2 draw against rivals Club Brugge.

It simply wasn’t the type of finish you’d expect from a defensive midfielder. De Cat was instinctive, passing the ball into the back of the net without even taking a touch to set himself. It was confident, clinical, and intentional.

A lot of it could simply be down to the fact that he’s a bit of an unknown quantity in the final third. Opposition defenders just aren’t used to having to deal with a playmaker of his size and stature. Either way, De Cat’s game is evolving and he’s making himself an even more enticing prospect to Europe’s elite.

It’s looking increasingly likely that they’ll come sniffing in the summer. Bayern Munich have been linked as they look for a successor to Leon Goretzka, while rivals Borussia Dortmund are also said to be keen.

Of course, Premier League sides will come sniffing, but he’s still so young, remaining in Belgium for the next couple of years may be the best course of action. The country that has produced some of the best players we’ve seen over the past ten years may well have done it again.

(Images from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from Belgian football on FotMob – with in-depth stat coverage, xG, and player ratings, where available. Download the free app here.

Mar

2026

Joao Pedro has become the main man for Rosenior’s Chelsea

Chelsea’s scattergun approach in the transfer market is often ridiculed but they’re playing the odds. Sign enough players in one window and one of them is bound to deliver. During the 2023/24 season, Cole Palmer proved to be the bargain buy for the Blues. This season, that title belongs to João Pedro.

By Sam McGuire

The Blues spent over £300million during the summer transfer window, signing the likes of Pedro, Jamie Gittens, Alejandro Garnacho, Liam Delap and Jorrel Hato. Another squad overhaul coupled with a number of clubs investing heavily in attackers meant Pedro’s arrival from Brighton went a little under the radar.

Courted by Newcastle United and a one-time Liverpool transfer target, the Brazilian attacker moved to Stamford Bridge for an initial £55million. Hugo Ekitike, Alexander Isak, Victor Gyökeres and Benjamin Šeško all had transfer fees that eclipsed that. In a grossly inflated market, Chelsea, incredibly, managed to find a value for money forward.

What makes this deal even more impressive is that few had the six-cap international down as a stone cold, ruthless No. 9. He seemed to fall into the Roberto Firmino category. Yes, he was a centre-forward but he wasn’t necessarily in the team to score goals. He’d, of course, find the back of the net but he was by no means a 20-goal per season attacker.

His highest return in the league arrived for Watford during a stint in the Championship when he netted 11 goals. He did score 20 for Brighton across all competitions during his debut campaign at the Amex but 10 arrived via the penalty spot.

During his last season with the Seagulls, he scored 10 goals but chipped in with six assists in the Premier League. That was Pedro in a nutshell. His game wasn’t centred on goals. He could be a facilitator. He could drop deeper and link play. He was more of a 9.5 than he was a pure, out and out No. 9.

Or so we thought.

This term, the 24-year-old has taken his game to another level. His treble against Aston Villa in his last Premier League outing means he’s on a career high 14 league goals. Only Erling Haaland (22), Igor Thiago (18) and Antoine Semenyo (15) have more to their name in the English top-flight.

*João Pedro’s shot map in the Premier League this season*

Pedro leads the way for goals scored amongst the Chelsea squad and he ranks first for assists too with five. He’s on 19 goal involvements in the league and has 18 goals to his name across all competitions. Unless there’s an extreme drop-off between now and the end of the season, he’s going to eclipse the 20 he scored for Brighton.

Only Moisés Caicedo, a £100million signing, and Palmer (both on 7.3) have a higher average FotMob rating this season than Pedro (7.28). The No. 20 has made himself right at home in Chelsea’s ever changing squad.

He’s showing he can be the main man as well as being a facilitator.

Against Aston Villa recently, he was a fox in the box. A real penalty box predator.

In the comeback victory over West Ham United in late January, when Pedro was a second half substitute, he was everything but a penalty box presence. He did, however, finish the game with a goal and an assist despite doing most of his work on the edge of the area.

Pedro finds himself in fine form right now. He has nine goals and two assists in his last nine outings across all competitions. This return includes a double against Napoli in Naples and a hat-trick against Aston Villa at Villa Park.

Chelsea boss Liam Rosenior heaped praise on him recently, saying: “I wouldn’t swap João [Pedro] for anyone at this moment – he is showing all the qualities and attributes I want to see.

The great thing for João is his age – he can still improve, and I’ve already noticed several areas where he can get better. But the level he’s operating at now is world class, and it’s my job, the club’s job, and his job to keep him there.”

And Pedro has himself acknowledged the manager’s role in his form: “I also think my form is largely down to the conversations I’ve had with Liam, from him showing that he genuinely wants to help me improve. When you feel that support from the manager, you push yourself harder every day, and because of that, I’m improving steadily.”

Under Rosenior’s more fluid, possession-heavy system, Pedro has seen his touches in the opposition box skyrocket. He’s no longer just a link-up player; he’s a pay-off player. The former Watford man is full of confidence and he’s showing he’s not just a support act. Chelsea have been without Palmer for the majority of the season and yet find themselves in fifth, just three points off of third-placed Manchester United. A key reason for that is the form of their No. 20.

Chelsea’s spending is excessive but it shouldn’t take anything away from them when they get it right. And they did get it right with the Brazil international.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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

Mar

2026

FotMob Interview: Jens Petter Hauge driving Bodø/Glimt’s European charge

The hottest ticket in the UEFA Champions League isn’t Barcelona, or Arsenal, or Bayern Munich, or Paris Saint-Germain. It’s Norwegian side Bodø/Glimt, who have opened the new year with four straight wins against Manchester City, Atlético Madrid, and Inter.

By Zach Lowy

Having made it past the qualifiers in Europe’s premier competition for the first time ever, Bodø/Glimt have already knocked out the runaway Scudetto favorites Inter, and now, they’ll be looking to do the same against the back-to-back champions of Liga Portugal: Sporting CP. If they are to get past Sporting, they’ll need Jens Petter Hauge to be at his brilliant best.

Born in Bodø, Hauge was hooked on football from the very start, and after joining Bodø/Glimt at 12 years of age, he ascended through the ranks before eventually signing a professional contract on April 12, 2016. One day later, he came off the bench in the 64th minute and scored a hat-trick on his senior debut, leading them to a 6-0 cup win against IK Start.

“Of course, it was a really special day for me, and a fantastic start to my professional career,” stated Hauge in an exclusive FotMob interview. “I hadn’t trained a lot with the first team before; a couple of days earlier, I signed my first professional contract, and they brought me to this away trip in the first round of the cup. I was not having any hopes of getting any minutes, but when the manager subbed me on, I was really happy with scoring three goals at the end of the game. It was a special day for me, and I’ll never forget that day.”

*JPT’s player traits compared with similar players in comparable leagues*

Hauge quickly made an impression on the team, becoming the club’s youngest-ever goalscorer in the Eliteserien, and watching as the club suffered relegation to the second tier. This proved to be a blessing in disguise for Hauge, who scored two goals and recorded 13 assists in 2017 to lead Superlaget to promotion.

After being loaned to second-tier Aalesunds FK, Hauge returned with a vengeance in 2019 by scoring 9 goals and 3 assists in 29 appearances across all competitions. He did even better in 2020, scoring 14 goals and 10 assists in 18 league appearances and being awarded the Eliteserien Young Player of the Year. And after finding the back of the net vs. AC Milan, Hauge left his hometown and joined Milan for €5 million. Unfortunately for him, however, Hauge was unable to make his presence felt with the Rossoneri and eventually departed after a year and joined Eintracht Frankfurt, where he won the UEFA Europa League title and enjoyed success under now Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner.

“German football is amazing: they have the best fan atmosphere and the fullest stadiums in the world…even in the 2. Bundesliga, you’ll see teams fill up their stadiums with 80,000 fans. The fans and the culture were amazing, Eintracht itself is a really well-driven club and a good place to be, and the memories of the 2021/22 Europa League trophy are really special for me. [Glasner] was maybe the biggest reason why I actually went to Frankfurt because I really liked his identity, the way he speaks and understands football…he’s a top coach. I also had the pleasure of meeting him again when Bodø faced Crystal Palace in a friendly, so it was nice to catch up with him. We also exchange some messages once in a while, just to catch up. He was a really good coach, and the way he was preparing our matches and match plans…it was really exciting and interesting to see how hard he was working and how much he put into it.”

After a futile loan spell with Gent, Hauge found himself deprived of playing time on his return to Eintracht. It’s why he decided to return to Bodø/Glimt in January 2024, quickly making an impact by assisting in his first two matches vs. Ajax. Whilst he had been away in Italy, Germany, and Belgium, Bodø/Glimt had won the first, second and third league titles in their entire history, and with Hauge delivering the goods in attack, they were able to pick up their fourth championship in 2024.

And although Bodø missed out on the 2025 Eliteserien title to Viking FK on the final day of the campaign, they were able to make headway on the continental front. After finishing ninth in the Europa League league phase, Bodø brushed past Twente, Olympiacos, and Lazio, before losing to eventual champions Tottenham Hotspur in the semifinals. Hauge has proven his worth against a number of teams in Europe’s top divisions, and while he’s more than comfortable at his boyhood club, he isn’t ruling out a return abroad.

“I think I’m going into my best form right now. I think the next two-three years are going to be where I’m physically at my best, where I’m mature, and where my fitness is at peak performance. Hopefully, that will result in some good years, and I’ll find the time to go out again and try myself in a top-five league again, because that’s something that I always wanted to do. I just need to keep working hard and playing my game, because my game is good enough. Maybe I have to be a little bit more consistent – I think that’s what all coaches and directors want when they are bringing in new players – they want to make sure that the player is at a good overall level. Of course, every player goes through ups and downs, but if I am able to make sure that my down period is less often and my best periods are more often, that would help a lot of teams.”

He may be living in the Arctic Circle, but Jens Petter Hauge’s form is red-hot. He’s scored four goals and registered one assist in his last five Champions League matches, and at 26 years old, there’s reason to believe that he’s only going to continue heating up. And if he can continue leading the charge in Bodø/Glimt’s historic European run, then he might very well land himself his first Norway call-up since March 2025 and earn a spot in Norway’s upcoming World Cup squad.

*JPT’s shooting and physical metrics in the Champions League this season*

“One of the most beautiful things about football is that no matter how small the town you’re from or how cold it is here during the winter, when the ref blows their whistle, it’s 11 against 11. Anything can happen if we just believe in ourselves and trust the people around us. It’s amazing and really inspiring for other Norwegian clubs to see that it’s possible.”

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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