Page 140 – The Pulse of Football

Jan

2025

Transfer of the Week: Why Donyell Malen could be a key addition for Villa

Over the course of the January transfer window, we are taking a close look at some of the biggest and best business in our ‘Transfer of the Week’ columns. This time, our focus is on Aston Villa’s newest signing, Donyell Malen.

By Neel Shelat

The January transfer window has certainly gotten into gear now as a host of big deals have reportedly been in the works this week. Most of them are yet to be completed, though, and at risk of this going out of date as soon as we publish this article – that means that Donyell Malen’s €25 million move to Aston Villa is the most expensive transfer of the window so far.

Even so, that amount is €5m less than what Borussia Dortmund paid to sign the Dutch forward in 2021. It is safe to say that the 25-year-old attacker has not fully lived up to the potential he showed in the early years of his career, but he could yet be a useful addition for Aston Villa.

Career so far

Born and raised in the Netherlands, Malen spent most of his childhood at Ajax but moved over to Arsenal at the age of 16. He certainly caught the eye of those following the Gunners’ youth teams but decided to move back to the Netherlands after a couple of years as PSV Eidhoven signed him for just €600,000.

After impressing with Jong PSV for a season in the Eerste Divisie, Malen soon got his senior breakthrough. Although 25 of his 31 Eredivisie appearances in 2018/19 came off the bench, he hit double digits in terms of goals and got a handful assists to boot. The Dutch youngster then looked well on course to having an explosive 2019/20 season, but a significant knee injury ended his campaign in December. Nevertheless, he came back strong in 2020/21, putting together his best league season with 19 goals and eight assists in addition to a seven-goal tally in the Europa League.

Top teams from Europe’s big five leagues including the likes of Liverpool and Juventus were said to be interested in his services in the summer of 2021 but it was Borussia Dortmund who got a deal over the line for a transfer fee of €30m. They must have expected him to quickly thrive in the Bundesliga considering his direct playing style, but that did not prove to be the case.

Although Malen got his fair share of starts and minutes, he only scored five league goals in his first season in North Rhine-Westphalia. He failed to hit double digits in 2022/23 as well, with seven of his nine Bundesliga goals coming after March. Indeed, the Dutch international has grown into quite a streaky player. Last season, for example, he scored four club goals by mid-September, went on a long goal-drought until late November, netted seven times in as many games in a run between mid-January and early March but then added just two more before the end of the season.

Player profile

Malen’s style of play perhaps partly explains his inconsistent attacking output.

Capable of playing across the front three positions, the 25-year-old forward stands out thanks to his rapid burst of pace for runs in behind opposition defences. So, he poses most of his threat by racing onto through balls and getting one-on-one with the goalkeeper.

This is precisely why Malen’s statistical profile is so pronounced – his overall involvement in the build-up is quite limited but he often serves as the outlet by getting into shooting positions. So, he should be seen as an off-ball attacker.

Although the Dutchman started out as a striker at PSV, he does not seem best-suited for that role in the big five leagues. For one, he is not great at linking up with his teammates as he has misplaced one in four passes in each of his four league seasons at Borussia Dortmund. He cannot be used as a target striker either since he is less than 180cm tall and tends to lose the vast majority of his aerial duels, so he is a little too one-dimensional to be a useful centre-forward for most teams.

His weaknesses can be better masked on the wings, though, while his runs in behind also become more dangerous after the striker distracts the opposition defenders. While he is not overly skilful or flashy on the ball, he can also use his pace to burst past defenders and quickly carry the ball forward.

Malen certainly has the potential to get better, especially by improving his end product. His relatively hopeful one-on-one finishing is a big reason behind his streaky output, especially because he tends to do worse when in a scoring rut. He could also get more assists with better awareness of his teammates’ positions and more pinpoint cutbacks.

Potential role at Aston Villa

Malen’s profile would suggest that Aston Villa are taking a bit of risk in signing him for €25m, but that amount could well be worth it for the balance he can provide to their attack. At the moment, Unai Emery’s side are light in the right wing position. Leon Bailey is their only recognised option in that position, so the likes of John McGinn and Morgan Rogers have had to fill in at times this season.

However, they are bad fits for the right wing role in Emery’s asymmetric 4-2-3-1 system, which becomes more of a 3-2-4-1 in possession. The left back pushes up as the left winger tucks inside, while the right winger stays wide with the right back remaining deeper. Of course, Malen will fulfil the role quite differently to Bailey, so his off-ball threat from wide could well add a different dimension to the Villans’ attack.

Even if he does not score a lot of goals, Malen’s arrival at least ensures that Rogers and company can continue to thrive in their best roles for Aston Villa. And if Emery manages to get the best out of the Dutchman, as he has done with so many other forwards, this will go down as a great transfer.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

To keep up date with all the latest deals this window, check out the FotMob Transfer Centre. Download the free app here.

Jan

2025

FotMob Profile: Enzo Le Fee, Sunderland’s potential difference maker

It has been nearly eight years since Sunderland last played a Premier League match, losing 5-1 at Chelsea on May 21, 2017, and finishing bottom of the table with 24 points. After a decade in the top-flight, Sunderland dropped down to the Championship – they are yet to return.

By Zach Lowy

Just under a year later, Enzo Le Fée made his debut for Régis Le Bris’ Lorient B team, playing the full 90 in a 2-0 defeat to Boulogne-Billancourt. Having cut his teeth in the French fourth division, Le Fée would break into the first team in 2019/20 under Christophe Pélissier and steer them to the Ligue 2 title. Lorient finished 16th in their first two seasons back in the top-flight before deciding to promote Le Bris to first-team manager in June 2022.

This provided the impetus for Le Fée to unlock his lofty potential: only Paris Saint-Germain’s Lionel Messi (49) and Neymar (47) created more big chances in France than Le Fée (41), who finished as the seventh-highest rated FotMob player in the 2022/23 Ligue 1 season. Having scored 2 goals and 10 assists in his first 106 Lorient appearances, Le Fée scored 6 goals and 5 assists in 36 appearances and led Les Merlus to a 10th-place finish – their best placement in nine years.

*Le Fée’s passing stats from that breakout season (2022/23)*

“For a long time, Le Fée was clearly a technically gifted player, but it was unclear where he would thrive most on the pitch…he looked a bit lost,” said Baptise Reynaud, the co-host of the Le Classique Podcast.“His slight build and lack of end product were also worrying, but under Le Bris, in an ambitious side that played smart, courageous football, he was an absolute delight. He made the team tick as the No. 8 and always seemed to be in the right place at the right time, with a little dash of outrageous creativity once in a while. Boasting smarts and technical ability, he’s a gifted passer who’s capable of dictating play in a possession-based side and taking risks in the right areas on the pitch. He’s intelligent, versatile, and just needs to be trusted to be the team’s technical leader in midfield.”

After 15 years at Lorient, Le Fée departed for fellow Brittany side Rennes, joining for a fee of €20 million. Whilst Le Fée struggled to adjust to life at the Roazhon Park, Lorient failed to cope without his creative spark and were relegated. Le Bris parted ways at the end of the 2023/24 season and joined Championship club Sunderland, whilst Le Fée moved to Roma for €23 million, where he managed just 10 appearances. Exactly six months after penning a five-year contract with the Giallorossi, Le Fée decided to reunite with Le Bris at Sunderland, joining on loan with an option to buy for €23 million – an option that will be triggered should they achieve promotion to the Premier league.

On the face of it, it seems like a massive coup for the Black Cats. Le Fée has made 132 appearances in Ligue 1, he’s represented France at the U20, U21, and U21 level and played for them in the Olympic Games, and he has demonstrated enough talent to merit not one, but two lucrative transfers to two UEFA Europa League-level clubs. But just what can Sunderland fans expect from him?

Le Fée is an all-action No. 8 who has the spatial awareness to pick up the ball in tight spaces and evade pressure with his silky movement and nimble dribbling skills, and whilst he only stands 5’8” tall, he’s proven himself to be no slouch in physical duels. In fact, only Benjamin André (3.8), Andrei Girotto (3.4) and Laurent Abergel (3.2) completed more tackles per game than Le Fée (3.1) in the 2022/23 Ligue 1 season. He uses his low centre of gravity to his advantage by turning on a six pence and leaving his marker in his wake with an elusive drop of the shoulder, a player who thrives at attracting pressure and quickly extinguishing the threat. He’s always thinking one step ahead of his opponent, constantly scanning his surroundings and positioning himself well to receive in an ideal location.

Le Fée is someone who excels at driving forward with the ball, riding physical challenges, slaloming past markers and keeping the ball glued to his feet whilst maneuvering past physical challenges. Even after a year that has seen him struggle to convince at Rennes and Roma, he still ranks in the 97th percentile amongst midfielders for successful take-ons per 90 (1.72) and the 94th for progressive carries per 90 (2.65). These attributes should fit Sunderland’s counter-attacking style like a glove, and they should also provide them with another dimension against deep blocks. His exquisite vision and footballing IQ enable him to thread the needle and tee up his teammate with a perfectly timed pass. Above all, he’s someone who’s always looking to pick up the ball and make things happen, and he’s more than capable of cementing a starting spot as one of the No. 8s in Le Bris’ 4-2-3-1 formation. After working under five different managers in two different countries over the past 18 months, Le Fée will be hoping to knuckle down and find some stability under Le Bris.

Make no mistake: this is a statement signing for Sunderland, who find themselves locked in a heated promotion race, sitting fourth in the table with 50 points behind Sheffield United (52), Burnley (52) and Leeds United (52). At 24 years of age, Le Fée already proven his mettle as a superb ball-winner, a deep-lying midfield creator, and a fleet-footed ball carrier, and there’s reason to believe that he will provide an immediate boost in quality to Sunderland’s engine room.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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

Jan

2025

FPL tips from the reigning champ: GW22

Get ahead of the Group Chat thanks to our new regular column from FPL expert Jonas Sand Låbakk.

By Graham Ruthven, in conversation with Jonas Sand Låbakk

Introducing our expert

Jonas is a 21 year old student who, like FotMob, hails from Norway. He was Fantasy Premier League champion for the 2023/24 season, finishing ahead of 11 million other managers. So who better to provide expert advice?

Read his expert advice every week.

*Don’t forget the FPL deadline for this round – make your transfers and sort your team out before 11:00 GMT on Saturday 18 January*

The Eye Test vs. The Stats

There is no Premier League winger in better form right now than Anthony Gordon (7.6m).

Indeed, the Newcastle United winger has returned in each of his last six gameweeks in a row with the Magpies currently the most in-form team in the league. Alexander Isak’s nine goals in those six games have caught the eye, but Gordon’s contribution shouldn’t go unnoticed.

Gordon has averaged 0.59 Expected Goal Involvements (xGI) per game over the course of Newcastle’s six-game winning run, registering nine points in GW21.

Newcastle face Bournemouth next before a clash with Southampton. Trickier tests against the likes of Manchester City, Nottingham Forest and Liverpool await in February, but Gordon and the Magpies have proved their ability to beat anyone.

Gordon, along with Lewis Hall (4.9m) and Isak (9.3m) are the best picks from Newcastle.

Erling Haaland and Isak are the only forwards (as defined in FPL) to have scored more Premier League goals this season than Chris Wood (6.9m) who is spearheading Nottingham Forest’s surprise top four challenge.

The New Zealand international has scored 13 goals from just 7.35 Expected Goals (xG), indicating that he is massively over-performing. Wood has had the golden touch in front of goal, but could a course correction come at some point in the future?

However, that course correction hasn’t happened yet and some FPL managers were made to regret their decision to bench Wood against Liverpool in GW21 when he opened the scoring after only eight minutes.

Wood’s goal came from his only shot of the game and was from an opportunity with an xG of just 0.16, highlighting the ruthlessness of his finish into the bottom right corner.

Forest host bottom-of-the-league Southampton in GW22 and so it wouldn’t be surprising if Wood continued his excellent form with another solid return. Wood is also a penalty taker for Forest, boosting his chances of a big points haul.

Long shot

Ibrahima Konaté (5.1m) only has 49 FPL points to his name this season. However, this shouldn’t put you off the Liverpool defender for your team.

Konaté has missed six of Liverpool’s last eight league matches due to injury, but is now available again and is in line to start more games from this point on with Joe Gomez now sidelined.

Owned by just 3.5% of FPL managers, Konaté could be a valuable differential for your team. What’s more, Liverpool have an upcoming match against Ipswich Town in GW23 and a double gameweek in GW24. This could be a good time to bring the defender into your team.

The Liverpool centre back doesn’t carry much of a goal threat, registering just 0.08 xGI per 90 minutes this season. However, the Reds have conceded just 18.2 xG this season, the lowest of any team in the league.

Konaté’s low ownership, clean sheet potential and upcoming double gameweek makes him a player to consider.

Upcoming games to follow

GW22 has the potential to produce a number of high-scoring games and big returns for popular FPL assets, but three matches in particular stand out.

Table-toppers Liverpool travel south to face Brentford in what could be one of the most interesting matches of the weekend.

Brentford have scored 29 goals at home this season, more than any other team in the Premier League. Meanwhile, Liverpool have the best away attacking record in the division (28 goals in 10 games).

This match should produce goals, so consider Mohamed Salah (13.7m), Cody Gakpo (7.4m), Trent Alexander-Arnold (7.2m) and Bryan Mbeumo (7.8m).

Second-place Nottingham Forest will also face Southampton after their disappointing defeat to Manchester United on Thursday which saw the 20th place team conceded three goals in 11 minutes.

Nuno Espírito Santo’s team have been in excellent form at both ends this season, therefore attacking and defensive returns are to be expected from Forrest this weekend. Players to watch in this game are Wood (6.9m), Ola Aina (5.3m) and budget option Neco Williams (4.3m).

Finally, Chelsea will host Wolves on Monday night with the Blues looking to end a run of five league matches without a win.

However, Enzo Maresca’s team are a solid bet to turn around their form against their relegation-threatened opponents. Cole Palmer (11.4m) has scored in three of his last three games in all competitions and could return once more on Monday.

Nicolas Jackson (8.1m) and Reece James (4.8m) are also worth considering after the latter scored a freekick in his cameo off the bench against Bournemouth in GW21. He could be a good differential going forward.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

Did you know that you can track live Fantasy points with FotMob? Simply select any Premier League game, swipe to the Lineup tab, and press the big ‘Fantasy’ button! Download the free app here.

Jan

2025

Premier League Team of the Week: Matchday 21

The gap at the top of the Premier League table has been cut to four points after Nottingham Forest held Liverpool to a draw. Manchester City gave up a 2-0 lead against Brentford and David Moyes’ return to Everton ended in defeat. The midweek fixtures did not disappoint.

By Sam McGuire

More importantly, though, who made the FotMob Team of the Week?

Goalkeeper: Martin Dúbravka

The 36-year-old goalkeeper has been exceptional for Newcastle United since coming in to replace the injured Nick Pope. His fine form continued against Wolves this week as he made seven saves in the 3-0 win. He faced shots with an Expected Goals on Target value of 1.6 and was given a FotMob rating of 8.8 for his exploits between the sticks.

Right-Back: Amad Diallo

Amad exploded into life during the final 10 minutes of Manchester United’s match against Southampton. The 22-year-old scored a 12 minute hat-trick as the Red Devils came from behind to pick up three points at Old Trafford. The wing-back claimed a FotMob rating of 9.7 after a dominant showing. He created three chances, had six shots and completed four of his five dribbles. He was rampant.

Centre-Back: Murillo

The Nottingham Forest centre-back was a colossus in the 1-1 draw with Liverpool. He made the most tackles (four), completed 100% of his dribbles and made 17 clearances. Going further, he also made two interceptions, seven recoveries and won five of his six duels. At times, it felt like he was single handedly repelling the Liverpool onslaught.

Centre-Back: Marc Guéhi

The Crystal Palace skipper scored in the 2-0 win over Leicester City. Guehi completed 83% of his passes, made five clearances, two blocks, recovered the ball on five occasions and won 75% of his aerial duels. He was a little loose with his long passes, completing just 30% but he did more than enough to justify his inclusion in the FotMob Team of the Week.

Left-Back: Antonee Robinson

Robinson is now on nine assists for the season after his showing against West Ham United. The Fulham captain finished the game with two assists in a 3-2 defeat. He created five chances, completed 79% of his passes and attempted nine crosses. Robinson made four interceptions and recovered possession on five occasions. He was also involved in 13 duels in a showing that earned him an 8.3 rating.

Midfield: Bruno Guimarães

The Newcastle skipper was in fine form at St James’ Park against Wolves. He created the most chances (four) and claimed an assist in the 3-0 win. He also completed 84% of his passes, attempted five tackles and involved himself in 12 duels. It was an all action display from the captain.

Midfield: Enzo Fernández

Enzo was on it for Chelsea against Bournemouth. The World Cup winner completed the most passes (49), created the most chances (seven), and was the most fouled player (four). The midfielder played 12 passes into the final third and was accurate with 89% of his long passes. Without the ball, he was just as impressive, recovering possession on 11 occasions.

Attack: Phil Foden

Foden netted twice as Manchester City picked up a point against Brentford. The versatile attacker completed 88% of his passes, carved out three chances and had a total of three shots. He had 10 touches in the box and won 100% of his duels. For the first time this season, he looked back to his brilliant best of last term.

Attack: Kevin De Bruyne

De Bruyne put on a creative clinic against Brentford. The 33-year-old created a match-high eight chances against the Bees and claimed an assist against Thomas Frank’s side. He finished the game with a pass success rate of 88% and he attempted four dribbles. If he’s back, Manchester City could be back.

Attack: Alex Iwobi

Iwobi netted twice for Fulham in their loss to West Ham United. The 28-year-old didn’t deserve to be on the losing side after this display. He created five chances to go along with his two goals. The versatile midfielder also completed 100% of his dribbles and we’d accurate with all six of his long passes.

Attack: Alexander Isak

Another game, another Isak masterclass. Isak has now found the net in each of his last eight Premier League appearances.

The Newcastle United striker scored twice and assisted in the 3-0 win over Wolves on his way to a 9.3 FotMob rating. He hit the woodwork with one of his three efforts, had nine touches in the penalty box and attempted four dribbles. Isak also won 100% of his aerial duels.

(Images from IMAGO)

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

Jan

2025

Jayden Danns: Arne Slot’s ideal No. 9 project and Liverpool’s next Scouse starter

While the future of boyhood Liverpool supporter Trent Alexander-Arnold has become a headline topic this season, the rise of another in Jayden Danns remains a beguiling subplot.

By Jack Lusby, ThisIsAnfield.com

There is as yet no resolution when it comes to Alexander-Arnold‘s future at Anfield – whether he will sign a new contract or leave for Real Madrid in the summer – and the emotional pull to this story is undoubtedly magnified by his local-lad status.

Unlike with Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk, there is a stronger sense of ownership among supporters when it comes to one of their own; which works twofold, clearly making the decision tougher for the player himself.

For Liverpool supporters, the sight of a Scouser in a red shirt, playing week in, week out at Anfield and beyond is the pinnacle. Like Alexander-Arnold and Curtis Jones today, there were Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher before them.

That makes the chance of another product of Merseyside, 19-year-old striker Danns, establishing himself as part of Arne Slot‘s first team all the more appealing.

Part of the club since he was eight years old, Danns first emerged in the senior setup at the start of 2024, having produced an undeniably emphatic run of form as part of Liverpool under-18s and later the under-21s.

Called into first-team training under Jürgen Klopp, he made his debut against Luton in the Premier League one midweek, came off the bench against Chelsea at the weekend and then scored a brace against Southampton in the FA Cup three days later.

“It’s a dream come true, I’ve supported the club since birth so to come on and score at the Kop end was unreal, it doesn’t feel real to me, it feels like I’m in a movie,” was his reaction after that 3-0 victory at Anfield.

Asked about how his father, former Crystal Palace, Leicester and Bolton midfielder Neil Danns – who was once part of the Liverpool academy himself – would have felt, he said: “Last time when I made my debut he was crying so I don’t know what he’s going to be doing now.

“He’s in the stands watching and so is my mum, brother, sister and nan. It’s unbelievable.”

Those words sum up exactly what playing for Liverpool means for a local boy like Danns, and that sheer affection acts as a driving force for players, willing to go the extra mile for the club.

That showed, again, with an influential cameo against Accrington Stanley in the FA Cup earlier this month, with Danns coming away with his third goal in just 100 minutes for Liverpool’s first team – one every 33.3 minutes on average.

Brought on for 16-year-old Rio Ngumoha with 18 minutes left of normal time and the Reds 2-0 up, the teenager produced another impactful cameo as he won the ball in midfield, surged up the pitch and played in Federico Chiesa for a big chance in front of goal.

Chiesa’s effort was palmed out by goalkeeper Billy Crellin, but Danns had followed his pass up and was on hand for a first-time finish that put the previous 76 minutes from Darwin Núñez to shame.

That there were 10 months and only three more substitute appearances between that brace against Southampton and Danns’ latest goal highlights the difficulty he has faced, missing five months with a back injury aggravated at the start of pre-season, but also that his trajectory has not been affected.

“I’m young. There’s still a lot more to do, and hopefully a lot more I can do. So, yeah, looking forward to it,” he reflected after the 4-0 win over Accrington Stanley.

“Obviously, the manager’s put faith in me today and I’m grateful for it, to be honest. I scored and I mean, like I said, I’m really grateful for the opportunity he’s given me. Hopefully, I can do even more if he gives me more opportunities.”

It remains to be seen whether those opportunities will come this season, with Slot coy on the subject of a January loan move as the likes of Plymouth, Derby and Cardiff circle, but there is a strong case to argue that Danns should in fact stay.

His development may accelerate if given the chance of regular first-team football in the Championship, but the No. 76 has already shown that he is capable of fitting in comfortably among Liverpool’s senior side.

He has taken inspiration from Roberto Firmino in the past, but there are also elements of Harry Kane to his game; he is able to operate as a classic No. 9 or a deep-dropping nine-and-a-half, as evidenced by that goal against Accrington Stanley.

There is an industry to his game along with a remarkably silky touch and the ability to cover ground quickly with the ball at his feet, while his finishing ability is undoubted, having translated from the academy to the first-team stage.

Danns already looks better suited to the style employed by Liverpool’s new head coach than another of Slot’s strikers, with Núñez having struggled so far to prove himself in a system which benefits from a more rounded option up front.

There is a growing feeling that Liverpool could and should cut their losses on Núñez at the end of the season, which is only compounded by the emergence of the ideal new No. 9 project for Slot in Danns.

“He will always, like the other academy players, give all he has. James McConnell is also a perfect example of that,” the head coach explained after the FA Cup win.

“If that is your mentality, you can definitely get the most of your potential. That is what’s going to happen with him.”

It is still a long road ahead for a player who only turned 19 on Thursday, with Slot himself stressing that he “probably needs some time to find out if he in the end will be a starter for us.”

But Danns has already shown strong signs that he can be the next Scouser in our team.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

To keep up to date with everything Liverpool, make sure you click follow on the team profile in the FotMob app. Download the free app here.

Jan

2025

Preview: Manchester United look to create momentum against Southampton

Manchester United host Southampton at Old Trafford in the Premier League on Thursday in a game that sees two sides who are struggling for form of late.

By Matt Smith

In the last five games, United and the Saints have won just once between them in England’s top flight.

When the two teams met earlier in the season, United came away with a 3-0 victory under Erik ten Hag, a game that saw Tyler Dibling make his first Premier League start and Matthijs de Ligt score his first goal for the Red Devils.

Amorim praises Collyer impact

In his press conference ahead of the game against United, Rúben Amorim spoke to the media about the challenges his side will face against the Saints. Amorim was quick to point out the progress that young midfielder Toby Collyer has been making, suggesting that he is ‘training really well’.

The Portuguese manager confirmed that Collyer is ‘one more option’ for his squad now after making an impact off the bench against Arsenal.

Bruno Fernandes is stepping up to the task

Although United’s form has been inconsistent in recent weeks, the Manchester club have picked up two impressive results on the road consecutively, beating Arsenal in the FA Cup last time out while securing a point at Anfield in the Premier League seven days before.

Portuguese midfielder Bruno Fernandes has stepped up to the plate in big moments for his side, providing an assist against Liverpool and a crucial opening goal against Arsenal. Although the former Sporting man is far from having his best season for the club, he’s still been a standout star for the Red Devils this campaign, particularly in the final third.

Saints receive major Downes boost

Ivan Jurić confirmed to the media this week that Flynn Downes has returned to training and should be available to face United. The Southampton boss wasn’t able to ensure supporters that he will play from the start, but his return is a major boost nonetheless.

Dibling finding goalscoring form

Dibling has been a revelation for the Saints this term and a shining light in what has been a disappointing campaign. At the age of just 18, the English attacker has shown signs of huge potential, and he’s starting to contribute in front of goal for Southampton.

In the last three games in all competitions, Dibling has found the back of the net on three occasions including a brace last time out in the FA Cup. Jurić will need the young star to be at his best if they want to get a result at Old Trafford. The teenager has shown flashes of brilliance, but contributing with goals and assists regularly in the final third will help propel him to the next level.

Prediction

Although both sides have shown plenty of inconsistency this campaign, the Saints have picked up just two points on the road. It’s difficult to see United not winning this one, especially after two impressive results on the bounce. We’re going for a comfortable 3-0 victory for the Red Devils.

(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.

Jan

2025

Preview: Real Madrid looking to recover against Celta Vigo

After suffering a serious thrashing at the hands of Barcelona in the Supercopa, Real Madrid will look to get back on track in their Copa del Rey tie against Celta Vigo.

By Neel Shelat

Defence rejig is in order for Real Madrid

On the back of last weekend’s El Clásico humiliation, Carlo Ancelotti will quite likely try to change something in his Real Madrid side. Their depleted defence should get the most attention as it was badly exposed by some relatively simple quick attacking play. It was particularly weak on the right, where Aurélien Tchouaméni was at centre-back and Lucas Vázquez in the full back position.

There were a host of issues in Los Blancos’ defensive block which Ancelotti acknowledged, but they were hardly new developments. Real Madrid had similar weaknesses last season, but their superior player quality masked that in most matches. This term, the season-ending ACL injuries to Dani Carvajal and Éder Militão have simply exacerbated what was always an underlying problem.

Unless the Spanish champions make any signings in the January window, Ancelotti will have to fashion a long-term solution from the limited options he has. 21-year-old Raúl Asencio will be keen to get some more regular game time, while David Alaba could soon become an option having returned from an ACL injury himself.

Star striker Aspas a big miss for Celta

Iago Aspas is still going strong for Celta Vigo at the ripe old age of 37. He is their top scorer in LaLiga with six goals and has three assists to boot, making him the team’s most valuable attacking contributor.

*Celta goals and assists, LaLiga 2024/25*

However, the former Liverpool forward suffered a calf injury in Celta’s first match of 2025 – their previous Copa del Rey tie against Racing Santander. He is expected to be out until early February, so Los Celestes will have to find a different source of goals for the next couple of weeks at least.

Celta keen to give Real Madrid’s defence another test

Despite Aspas’ absence, Celta Vigo will back themselves to create some chances against Real Madrid. Although Claudio Giráldez’s men ended up on the losing side when the two teams met earlier in the season, they managed to outshine the defending champions both in terms of the quality and quantity of chances created.

Indeed, Celta have sustained a pretty impressive level of attacking output so far this season. They are sixth in the league in terms of goals as well as xG and also have the fifth-highest possession average. Although they will most likely not do as well as Barcelona, they certainly have the potential to put some slick moves together.

Real Madrid’s spotless head-to-head record

Real Madrid have won each of their last nine fixtures against Celta Vigo in a run that predates Carlo Ancelotti’s appointment. Their head-to-head unbeaten run stretches back almost eight years, though their last defeat did come in a Copa del Rey tie at the Santiago Bernabéu. One Iago Aspas was the star of the show that day with a goal and assist.

Prediction

As is so often the case, Real Madrid’s superior player quality should just about get them over the line.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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

Jan

2025

FotMob Profile: Jhon Duran and his underlying numbers

No player in the Premier League this season has a higher goals per 90 return than Jhon Durán.

By Sam McGuire

The 21-year-old has, so far, chipped in with 1.06 goals per 90. For a little more context here, the next best on the list is Mohamed Salah, the man leading the race for the Golden Boot, with 0.92.

Durán started the season as a super sub for Aston Villa before eventually displacing Ollie Watkins in Unai Emery’s starting XI prior to his unfortunate dismissal against Newcastle United.

Ahead of that game against the Magpies, the Villa No. 9 had scored in four successive matches across all competitions. This included goals against RB Leipzig in the Champions League and Manchester City in the Premier League.

The turnaround for Durán at Villa has been remarkable.

Last summer, it looked as though he would depart Villa Park with West Ham United interested in the Colombia international. The Hammers reportedly offered £30m plus teenager Lewis Orford, an offer that was swiftly rejected. Chelsea also showed an interest and were prepared to pay £42million for his services. That transfer collapsed, however, when the player rejected the contract offer proposed to him by the Blues.

He then scored the winner against West Ham having come off of the bench in the opening game of the season.

Durán has been scoring ever since.

In total, he has 12 goals across 26 appearances this term. Of those appearances though, only seven have been starts and he has just shy of 1,000 minutes to his name.

There have been claims that the Villan is the best finisher in Europe right now. Some of his goals this term have been outrageous. He scored an effort with an Expected Goals value of just 0.02 against Everton. The xG value for his goal against RB Leipzig was 0.03 while his goal against Bayern Munich, when he caught Manuel Neuer out, had an xG value of 0.01.

His striking ability is ridiculous. His technique is ludicrous.

But how sustainable is this run he’s on? As we know, finishing can be fickle. Players can be on a hot streak that does eventually dry up. Sometimes, players aren’t able to buy a goal before the floodgates open and they can’t stop. There’s no rhyme or reason to it. It is just football.

Durán, reportedly a target for Paris Saint-Germain this month when it appeared as though their pursuit of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia may have failed, is now under pressure to make this form the norm. Is it possible, though?

The numbers don’t appear to suggest so.

*Durán shot map, Premier League 2024/25*

Across 592 Premier League minutes this term, Durán has seven goals from an Expected Goals haul of 4.77. His Expected Goals on Target total is 5.57, which suggests he’s adding value to his efforts with his shot placement, something all good finishers do. But there’s more to it than that. The Villa man is able to add value to his shots because a high number of his efforts are of low value. The sheer volume eventually plays a significant part in the numbers. For example, if he’s taking 10 efforts with an average xG value of 0.02 but they had an xG on Target average of 0.20, he immediately has an xG haul of 0.20 but an xGOT total of two. It isn’t quite as extreme as this with Durán, but you get the point, don’t you?

Durán is averaging 4.41 shots per 90. He has an xG per shot average of 0.16. He is what you’d call an elite chance-getter. If he wasn’t, he wouldn’t be averaging over four shots per game. He’s someone who generates a lot of shots and causes chaos for the opposition. But these players can be streaky with their end product. He isn’t the sort to simply be in the right place at the right time. Maybe he won’t ever be that sort of player.

When they’re hot, they’re hot. When they’re cold, they’re cold. They haven’t quite yet figured out how to balance it out. Some don’t ever work that part of their game out. It isn’t a given.

Durán’s shooting numbers, Premier League 2024/25

Last season, it was a similar story. He finished with five goals from an Expected Goals total of 2.03. In fact, his five goals arrived from just seven shots on target. There was a lot of luck on his side during the 2023/24 campaign. And, again, it was over a small sample size and he was impacting the game against tired legs.

Right now, Durán is an enigma. He’s either one of the best finishers in the world or he’s currently on a prolonged hot streak. The more often he starts, the more we’ll learn about the former Chicago Fire player. Until then though, we’ll just enjoy watching him try to win the Goal of the Season award every single week.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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

Jan

2025

Everton and the return of the Moyesiah

David Moyes is back at Everton more than a decade after he last managed the Goodison Park club with the Toffees facing a fight to stay in the Premier League.

By Graham Ruthven

In David Moyes’ own words, Everton has changed in the 11 years since his first managerial stint there. “I don’t think it’ll be the same Everton,” said the 61-year-old after replacing Sean Dyche as Toffees boss, hinting at the looming stadium move coming this summer. It certainly won’t be the same Everton if they’re not still in the Premier League by then.

Moyes might also be referencing how Everton’s standards have fallen through the floor since he left Goodison Park to replace Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United in 2013. While the Toffees were a permanent member of the top half back then, they are now stuck in a never-ending fight against the drop.

It’s been this way for a number of seasons. Everton haven’t finished higher than 15th in any of the last three Premier League campaigns. They scored the fewest league goals of any team in 2024 and are currently uncomfortably close to the bottom three. Indeed, Everton are above the relegation zone by a single point.

In the immediate term, Moyes must do all he can to keep Everton in the Premier League. The £800m construction of the new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock has already weighed down the club in a financial sense and that weight would get even heavier should the Toffees be relegated. They need the revenue that comes with being in the top flight.

“I see it as a huge pressure and when you care so much about a club and have such a long period [away], it makes me realise it is a really popular club, one that needs to be – and has been – in the top flight,” said Moyes. “It would be a great feeling for us all to be in the new stadium. But it would mainly be great if we are a Premier League club and can give everyone something to shout about.”

The attack is surely where Moyes is looking to make the biggest difference. Only Southampton have scored fewer goals than Everton in the Premier League this season with Iliman Ndiaye and Dwight McNeil the club’s joint top-scorer on three goals each. Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Everton’s first-choice centre forward, has two goals in 1,389 minutes.

Calvert-Lewin could argue that Everton aren’t creating the opportunities he needs to find the back of the net. The Toffees have created just 28 ‘Big Chances’ this season which ranks them 20th out of 20 Premier League teams in that metric. They are also third-bottom for touches in the opposition box. And bottom in terms of Expected Goals (xG). Everton simply don’t ask enough attacking questions.

Dan Friedkin’s family takeover of the Goodison Park outfit could give Moyes funds to spend in the transfer market, but Everton’s Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) situation could restrict their January business. Nonetheless, speculation is swirling over reported targets such as Lyon winger Ernest Nuamah and Aston Villa’s Jaden Philogene.

Moyes’ remit is also to carry Everton into a new era. Friedkin’s takeover has renewed ambition around the club with supporters desperate to experience something other than relegation anxiety. It’s time for Everton to plot their way up the Premier League table and Moyes is seen as the man to make this happen.

At West Ham, Moyes won a European competition not long after the club moved into a new stadium. He somehow managed to handle a sometimes toxic environment to point the Hammers in the right direction. Even as Moyes left West Ham last summer, they were nowhere near relegation trouble. Everton surely looked at all this before calling the 61-year-old.

Tactically, Moyes might not be the most inspiring appointment Everton could have made. By the end of last season, West Ham desired a more modern, expansive approach and decided the Scot was incapable of delivering this. ‘Moyes-ball’ is about compact defensive organisation, physicality in the wide areas and quick attacks into open space, not aesthetics.

This, however, would be an improvement on what Everton are currently producing. Fans tolerated Dyche’s ‘Burnley-ball’ as long as it kept the Toffees up, but its effectiveness wore off as his team got pulled closer and closer towards danger at the foot of the Premier League table. A change was necessary to stop the slide.

Of course, Everton have had false dawns before. Farhad Moshiri’s takeover in 2016 was meant to turn the club into a genuine force, yet the Toffees only succeeded in spending their way into trouble. Now, the Friedkins are the ones promising better times with Moyes back at Goodison Park. A look to the past could be the catalyst for a better future.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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

Jan

2025

Preview: Arsenal host Spurs in the North London Derby

The key question ahead of Wednesday’s North London Derby is whether the timing is worse for Arsenal or whether it’s worse for Spurs.

By Ian King

Hangovers from a troublesome weekend?

The Third Round of the FA Cup turned out to be a difficult weekend for both clubs. Arsenal had plenty of opportunities to kill Manchester United off at The Emirates but failed to take them and were eventually beaten on penalties. Spurs got through, but were held for more than 100 minutes by non-league Tamworth. But in the League, there is a distinct contrast. Arsenal are unbeaten in their last ten Premier League games, while Spurs have only won one of their last eight.

History

There is, of course, a lot of history to be had here and recently it has been in Arsenal’s favour. They’ve won six and drawn one of the last eight meetings between the two, and they’ve already won 1-0 at The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this season. But Spurs supporters looking for a little encouragement don’t need to look back too much further than this. Arsenal won only two out of twelve meetings between the two clubs between November 2015 and December 2020.

Key players

Arsenal need goals, and with Gabriel Jesus now injured, attention will fall upon Raheem Sterling, Kai Havertz, and Leandro Trossard to provide them. Sterling and Trossard were both anonymous against Manchester United. Havertz may well wish that he had been.

That Angeball high press may mean chances for the hosts, and as such the question may well be whether new Spurs goalkeeper Antonín Kinský can maintain his record of having kept clean sheets in his first two appearances for the club.

Team News

The latest player to appear on the Arsenal treatment table is the aforementioned Gabriel Jesus, who could be out for the rest of the season after suffering an ACL injury against Manchester United. He’ll join Ethan Nwaneri, Bukayo Saka, Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu on the wounded list, while Riccardo Calafiori missed the Manchester United match with injury and is likely to be absent again.

There isn’t much that Arsenal can teach Spurs about injuries, of course, though at least they came through their trip to Tamworth without any new ones. Destiny Udogie, Ben Davies, Richarlison, Micky van de Ven, Guglielmo Vicario, Wilson Odobert , Cristian Romero and Rodrigo Bentancur will all likely be missing, and although Fraser Forster may be available, whether he can dislodge Kinský is a different matter.

Prediction

Sunday might have highlighted a recent issue over Arsenal and goalscoring, but how much of this is hyperbole? After all, they’ve only failed to score in three of their Premier League matches this season, so far. And while Spurs have occasionally impressed against the bigger clubs this season, they’ve pointedly failed to do so when it’s been a local derby, with both Arsenal and Chelsea having already returned from N17 this season with all three points. Local derbies can be unpredictable, but Arsenal need the points and a 2-1 home win feels about right.

(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.