Page 36 – The Pulse of Football

Feb

2026

Preview: Man City meet neighbours Salford for FA Cup rematch

There are some worrying warning signs for League Two Salford City, ahead their short journey of their FA Cup Fourth Round trip to Manchester City.

By Ian King

Manchester City are cranking back into gear, while Salford have wobbled in League Two

Manchester City may be slipping back into gear. Three wins in their last four matches have reignited the Premier League title race, with the gap between themselves and Arsenal at the top of the table now cut to four points, while they’ve already booked a place at Wembley in the Carabao Cup and they remain in the Champions League, although they don’t find out who they play in the Round of Death play-off until the 27th February.

Salford City are having a wobble at the top of League Two ahead of their 5-mile journey south to the Etihad. A 1-0 defeat at Accrington Stanley last weekend bumped them down from third to sixth in the table; it was their second defeat in three League games, following a run which had seen them go unbeaten since the 22nd November.

They’ve already won three ties to get this far, having already beaten League One promotion-chasing Lincoln City on penalties in the First Round, another League One side, Leyton Orient, 4-0 in the Second Round, and Swindon Town in the Third.

There are few good omens ahead of this match for Salford City

Two key numbers stand out when considering this tie. Firstly, these two sides have only ever met once before, but this just happened to be in the Third Round of this competition last season, with Manchester City winning 8-0. And secondly, Manchester City have only played one game in this year’s FA Cup, but that was a 10-1 win against League One Exeter City. Neither of these offer a great deal of reason to be optimistic, from a Salford perspective.

This match could be an opportunity for Rayan Cherki to continue his recent goalscoring run

Manchester City’s starting XI for this match is difficult to predict, but we can probably expect an appearance from winger Rayan Cherki, at some point. Cherki has scored a couple relatively recently, against Spurs in the Premier League and Galatasaray in the Champions League. This match could be an opportunity for him to get some more on the board.

It’ll likely have to be all eyes on the Salford City goalkeeper Matty Young, for this match. 19-year-old Young joined Salford on a season-long loan in July 2024 from Sunderland, made 27 appearances for them last season, and has made the starting spot his own this season. He was also the goalkeeper on Salford’s visit here in January last year, so he’ll be hoping for an improvement on that particular night.

Expect sweeping changes from Manchester City

From a Manchester City perspective, it’s best to compare the team which started against Manchester City compared to the team that started their last Premier League match against Fulham, to get an idea of what we might expect, this time around:

Their team vs Exeter – Trafford, Lewis, Khusanov, Alleyne, Ake, Rodri, Reijnders, McAidoo, Cherki, Semenyo, Haaland.

Their team vs Fulham – Donnarumma, Nunes, Ruben Dias, Guehi, Ait-Nouri, Bernardo Silva, Rodri, O’Reilly, Semenyo, Haaland, Foden.

Only three of those who started against Exeter, started against Fulham (Rodri, Antoine Semenyo and Erling Haaland), and we can expect their team to look more like the former than the latter, although Haaland went off at half-time against Fulham with a “niggle”, and can’t be considered to have any greater than a 50-50 chance of featuring in this match at all. John Stones could return from injury.

Salford also have some injury issues. Winger Kelly Nmai has been out since December and will miss the rest of the season, while midfielder Ossama Ashley is out until at least the end of the month, while Ben Woodburn, Dan Chesters, and Josh Austerfield are also on the sidelines for the foreseeable future.

There’s nothing to suggest that Salford won’t be on the receiving end of another shellacking

FA Cup shocks of this nature have come around before. In 2015, for example, Bradford City won 4-2 at Chelsea in this round of the competition, while in 2019, Newport County beat Leicester City.

But it’s rare, and the gulf is massive. Salford City’s annual wage budget is an estimated £180,000 less than Manchester City’s weekly wage budget, and there’s little to suggest that there’s going to be a surprise on this occasion.

Manchester City have made a habit of obliterating small fry who stand to get in their way, and Salford themselves were on the receiving end of this as recently as last season. And we’ve already had one truly generational shock this season, with Macclesfield knocking out Crystal Palace. Salford haven’t even been in great form themselves, over the last couple of weeks.

There are the scenes we all want to see, and the scenes that we are vastly more likely to see. Manchester City are starting to build a head of steam again and struggling to overcome a team three divisions below them would hardly be the winning mentality they need to lock into right now, if they’re to chip away at Arsenal’s lead at the top of the Premier League.

They didn’t take Exeter lightly in the last round, and they may not take Salford lightly either. So where does this end up? 6-1? 8-0 (again)? 10-1 (again)? I’ll go for 7-1 to Manchester City. If there’s a sprinkling of cup magic to be found anywhere this weekend, it’s highly unlikely to be here.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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

Feb

2026

Preview: Liverpool meet Brighton in all-Premier League Cup tie

Premier League duo Liverpool and Brighton face off at Anfield on Saturday evening with a place in the fifth round of the FA Cup up for grabs.

By Sam McGuire

Both teams have been fairly inconsistent.

Liverpool find themselves sixth in the Premier League despite winning their opening five matches. The reigning champions have struggled for form and even their 10-match unbeaten run in the English top-flight felt underwhelming, with four wins and six draws.

Their last four outings in the Premier League have seen them win two and lose two. They travelled to the North East on Wednesday evening and ended Sunderland’s unbeaten run at the Stadium of Light with a 1-0 win courtesy of a Virgil van Dijk header. The Reds are now three points behind fourth placed Manchester United.

In truth, the FA Cup is probably an unwelcome distraction for Liverpool boss Arne Slot. The Reds are struggling with injuries right now and a number of his starting XI are in dire need of a rest. However, it is unlikely he’ll make wholesale changes to his team for the visit of the Seagulls. Momentum matters and he’ll want to make it two wins on the bounce all while protecting his key players. It’s a tricky one to balance but he’s paid to do just that.

For Brighton, the FA Cup is a welcome distraction.

The Seagulls have struggled this season and currently sit 14th in the Premier League table, just seven points clear of the drop zone.

On current form, Fabian Hürzeler’s side are joint bottom of the table with two points from their last five matches. In fact, they haven’t won a match in over a month. Their last victory arrived in the FA Cup when Brighton defeated Manchester United at Old Trafford. They’ve also drawn with Manchester City this season and beaten Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. They lost 2-0 to Liverpool at Anfield in December but, in truth, deserved a lot more from the game.

The point is they can and do raise their game in the bigger matches. They just lack consistency and that’s why they find themselves in the bottom half of the table with a goal difference of zero at this point in February.

*Recent H2H results in all competitions*

Key Players

Identifying key players for an FA Cup game is always tricky. You never know what sort of XI the managers are going to select. Still, I do think Curtis Jones will make his first start for Liverpool since mid-January and he’s going to view it as an opportunity to force himself back into Slot’s thinking.

For the Seagulls, maybe Yankuba Minteh? He was a handful for Liverpool back in December and he’s been out of the team recently, meaning he could be fresh for this fixture. It is also a potential audition for the former Feyenoord man with the Reds in the market for a Mohamed Salah replacement this summer.

Team News

The hosts are without Giovanni Leoni, Alexander Isak, Wataru Endo and Conor Bradley. Joe Gomez made his return on Wednesday evening and could get a start here as he steps up his return from injury.

The visitors, meanwhile, are missing Adam Webster, Solly March and Stefanos Tzimas but Mats Wieffer and Yasin Ayari are back in contention.

Prediction

We’ll go with a narrow 2-1 win for Liverpool.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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

Feb

2026

Preview: Chelsea head to Hull City in the FA Cup

Liam Rosenior returns to the MKM Stadium for the first time since Hull sacked him all the way back in 2024, we doubt even he would have predicted it would be as Cheslea manager. The FA Cup is back for the fourth round.

By Alex Roberts

Chelsea’s convincing 5-1 win over Charlton in the previous round was Rosenior’s first game in charge, and it gone well so far. Defeat to Arsenal in the League Cup semis means this tournament is their only realistic chance of domestic silverware.

Hull shouldn’t be underestimated, though. Flying high in the Championship under Sergej Jakirović, the East Yorkshire outfit could find themselves in the Premier League for the first time since 2016-17 come the end of the season.

*Rosenior had a 35% win percentage as boss of Hull*

A team of two halves

Do you remember the last time Chelsea put in an outstanding 90-minute performance? It was probably the 3-0 Champions League win over Barcelona, since then it feels like every single game has been so Jekyll and Hyde.

Their 2-2 draw with Leeds over the weekend was the latest. 2-0 up and comfortable 58 minutes in, it was hard to imagine Daniel Farke’s side getting back into it. Then, a daft penalty conceded by Moisés Caicedo and some awful defending for the second, and it’s all fallen apart.

Chelsea have now dropped 17 points from winning positions in the Premier League this season. Add them to their current total of 44, they’d be top with a cushion of five. That’s all very ‘what if’, but it’s a clear problem. One thing we can say with a degree of certainty, Chelsea will be good for one half then not so good in the other against Hull.

Fulfilling potential

One of many players compared to the great Wayne Rooney as a youngster, Joe Gelhardt left Wigan for Leeds in 2020. He’s bounced around on loan since then, but now, in his second spell at Hull, he’s starting to look like a fantastic player.

Gelhardt has ten goals and three assists in his 24 Championship games so far this season, which is already his best ever return in front of goal. He missed out on the penalty win over Blackburn in their last game due to injury, so will want to make a mark in the World’s oldest cup competition.

He’s been playing in a number ten role rather than as a striker, which he is better known as, with Oli McBurnie and Kyle Joseph ahead of him. It’s a front three that has done well in the Championship, we’ll have to see how they do against Premier League opposition.

Team news

Expect plenty of rotation from Chelsea for this one. Rosenior has already confirmed that Mamadou Sarr will get some minutes, while the likes of Marc Guiu, Jorrel Hato, Alejandro Garnacho, and Josh Acheampong should feature.

They will of course be without several stars due to injury, though. Marc Cucurella (hamstring), Reece James (illness), Filip Jörgensen (knock), Tosin Adarabioyo (hamstring), Levi Colwill (ACL), Dário Essugo (thigh), and Jamie Gittens (hamstring) are all out.

Roméo Lavia has been back in training for the past few days, but it’s unlikely we’ll be seeing him anytime soon as the club continue to monitor.

Hull have their own issues too. Mohamed Belloumi (hamstring) is a major doubt, while Cody Drameh (hip), Darko Gyabi (groin), Eliot Matazo (ACL), Matt Crooks (hamstring), Semi Ajayi (hamstring) are all sidelined.

Prediction

Hull are a decent side, and while we certainly expect them to give Chelsea some problems, we think the Premier League side will have too much. So, we’re going with a 2-1 Chelsea win.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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

Feb

2026

James Rodríguez set to shine in MLS ahead of Colombia’s World Cup bid

James Rodríguez has joined Minnesota United in the most unexpected move made by any team before the 2026 MLS season.

By Graham Ruthven

Major League Soccer clubs had long coveted James Rodríguez. Indeed, the Colombian was linked with American teams for years. It always seemed possible that he would one day play in MLS. Few, however, ever envisaged that he would play for Minnesota United. Nobody had that on their bingo card for the 2026 season.

Inter Miami might have been a more obvious landing spot. Rodríguez would have been an attraction to South Florida’s massive Colombian and Latino population. Alongside Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez, the former Galactico also would have added to Inter Miami’s reputation as the most marketable team in MLS.

Los Angeles was another destination James appeared to suit. Even Houston, with its population of approximately 40,000 Colombians, would have made some sense. Minnesota, however, will be a culture shock, both in terms of its climate and the stature of the club he has joined.

It could work, though. Minnesota United are attempting to reset their playing style following two seasons of stodgy, conservative football under Eric Ramsay who left the club last month to take over at West Brom. Last season, the Loons ranked last in MLS for average possession share and relied on set pieces to pose an attacking threat.

With Ramsay at the helm, Minnesota finished fourth in the Western Conference and came within a penalty shootout of reaching the conference semi-finals. His departure, however, presents a chance to change. Minnesota fans expect to see a team more willing and able to play on the front foot this season. The signing of James will help them do that.

For Rodríguez, this is a move with one eye firmly on the summer. The 34-year-old remains a key figure for Colombia and needed a team to keep the engine ticking over before the World Cup. At Minnesota, Rodriguez will at least have some freedom to dictate his own playing time ahead of the tournament. He won’t run himself into the ground at the risk of his national team place.

*James registered a combined 10 goals and assists during Colombia’s World Cup qualifying campaign*

Rodríguez hasn’t played a lot of club football recently. Indeed, he featured in just 14 Liga MX games for León last season and 17 the season before. At Rayo Vallecano, the attacking midfielder played just six times and had his contract terminated after only four months. He also missed more games than he played over two seasons for São Paulo.

It’s been four seasons since Rodríguez last played 20 games or more in a single campaign – for Olympiacos in the 2022/23 season when he registered eight goal contributions. If Minnesota can get that level of output from their new signing this whole endeavour will have been worth it.

If Rodríguez settles quickly as a key player for Minnesota, there’s every chance he will prolong his stay beyond the World Cup. The Loons have managed to land Rodríguez on a non-Designated Player contract that is widely speculated to include a clause to extend until the end of the season.

The 2026 MLS season promises to be fascinating. Inter Miami have responded to losing Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets at the end of 2025 by signing left back Sergio Reguilón, Goalkeeper of the Year Dayne St. Clair and Mexican international forward Germán Berterame. The MLS Cup winners have ramped up the ambition once more.

Los Angeles FC’s frontline of Denis Bouanga and Son Heung-min can blow away any opposition defence while the Vancouver Whitecaps have kept together the core of the team that surprised everyone last season by making it all the way to the MLS Cup final. Thomas Müller and co. will be a threat in 2026.

San Diego, Philadelphia, FC Cincinnati, Seattle and several other sides all have good reason to believe 2026 will be a successful season. There is quality throughout MLS that could rise to the top this year and Minnesota United have thrust themselves into the discussion by making a signing few would have predicted.

That Rodríguez was willing to join a club not normally considered a glamour franchise is a positive sign for MLS. Timo Werner did something similar by signing for the San Jose Earthquakes. A broader spread of talent across MLS can only be a good thing for the growth of the league as a whole, if only to get fans talking about more teams.

Rodríguez in Minnesota is an oddity, but a welcome one. There is an upside for everyone involved – Rodríguez has a place to prepare for the World Cup, Minnesota have a player capable of producing moments of magic and MLS has another talking point. As long as he wraps up warm, this could work.

(Images from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from MLS on FotMob in the 2026 season – with in-depth stat coverage, including xG, shot maps, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Feb

2026

Luka Vušković: The Premier League’s next great defender lighting up the Bundesliga

The Premier League aficionados among us have been treated to some wonderful centre-backs throughout the years.

By Ross Kilvington

From the halcyon days of the 90s featuring no-nonsense defenders Steve Bruce, Tony Adams and Paul McGrath to the noughties, where the likes of John Terry, Nemanja Vidić and Rio Ferdinand took the art of defending to a new level.

Now, Marc Guéhi and William Saliba perhaps lead the newest generation, where being comfortable on the ball and defending in one-on-one situations are prerequisites for success in the top flight.

The question is, who is going to break through and become the next great Premier League centre-back?

Luka Vušković could be the very man, or boy, given the fact he is only 18. The Croatian defender was signed by Tottenham Hotspur back in the summer of 2023 from Hajduk Split, eventually linking up with the North Londoners last summer.

*Vušković’s player traits compared with other centre backs in top 5 leagues*

He was immediately sent out on loan to Hamburg, however, despite scoring against Reading in a pre-season friendly.

The move to the Bundesliga has proved to be an inspirational decision, with Vušković demonstrating his vast talents in one of the best leagues on the continent.

Why is everyone talking about Luka Vušković?

The 18-year-old has taken to the German top flight with ease, starting all but one of Hamburg’s league games so far this season.

He has already scored four goals this term, with the latest effort coming against Bayern Munich. Indeed, this goal sealed a share of the spoils against the runaway leaders and it led to some interesting praise from a German footballing icon in the process.

“It’s not just about winning headers and tackles or scoring goals: he’s somebody who can organise a defence. That’s something you find very rarely,” said Lothar Matthäus, who won the 1990 World Cup for his country.

Harry Kane may have gotten on the scoresheet, but the Englishman didn’t have it all his own way during the tie, especially coming up against Vušković.

The defender made seven clearances throughout the game, ranking first in this metric, while also winning 75% of his aerial duels.

No mean feat against a Bayern side who are strolling to yet another Bundesliga title. Before that match, the Bavarian outfit had dropped points in just three league matches.

*Vušković’s defensive numbers in the Bundesliga this season*

Vušković displayed maturity well beyond his teenage years against the European heavyweights, something which clearly impressed Matthäus, who is predicting a bright future ahead.

“He’s 18 years old, but he’s playing with the cool head of someone who has played at three World Cups and won two Champions League titles,” added the former Bayern midfielder.

Prior to the clash against Bayern, the teenager excelled in the derby against FC St. Pauli, helping his side keep a clean sheet. With a game-leading 15 defensive contributions, Vušković finished the match with a FotMob rating of 8.3, the highest of the match.

In the German top flight this season, Vušković ranks third for aerial duels won (101), along with ranking second for clearances (151), which works out as 8.4 per 90 domestically.

Not content with just offering solidity at the heart of the defence, the Croatian youngster has proven to be excellent in an attacking sense.

Among his peers, he ranks in the top 10% for chances created (8), and in the top 1% for both goals (4) and successful dribble percentage, indicating how effective he is in the final third for Hamburg.

Despite being contracted to Spurs until 2030, his performances for Hamburg this season could potentially lead to some interest in the defender this summer.

*Vušković’s shooting numbers in the Bundesliga this season*

Although Spurs have sacked Thomas Frank, whoever takes the reigns of the club will surely be keen to keep a hold of the youngster, especially as he could make a massive impact next season.

What Vušković will offer Spurs

As evidenced by his displays throughout 2025/26, Vušković is equally adept at dominating opposition forwards while also creating attacks from his own half and moving the ball forward.

Spurs are certainly crying out for a player who can do both. In the Premier League this term, the North Londoners have conceded 37 goals. Only six teams have conceded more in the league, with four of them sitting below them in the table.

Compared to fellow Spurs centre-backs Kevin Danso, Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven, the Hamburg loanee is better across several metrics.

Indeed, the Croatian sensation has recorded a higher aerial duel success percentage, more clearances, and take on success percentage compared to the Spurs trio this term.

Could this mean, then, that the teenager would be able to command a place in the starting XI when he returns to England following the end of his loan spell at Hamburg?

*Vušković’s possession numbers in the Bundesliga this season*

There are several variables at play in that regard. One being who becomes the next manager of Spurs.

A coach with progressive ideas on how his centre-backs play could work wonders for Vušković, especially regarding his long-term future at the club.

With two caps for his country already, could impressive performances at the 2026 World Cup also boost his reputation?

First of all, he must make the squad, and secondly, if he does book a ticket on the plan, just how much he will play in North America?

At the 2022 World Cup, Joško Gvardiol was only 20 and entered the tournament with a reputation as one of the finest young defenders in the World.

He played every minute of Croatia’s seven games in Qatar, even scoring in the third-place playoff to ensure his nation sealed bronze medals.

Vušković has the ability to make a similar sort of impact. If so, the Premier League could be about to witness the birth of its next great centre-back.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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

Feb

2026

Ademola Lookman: Atletico Madrid’s new talisman, ready for a fresh challenge

Ademola Lookman’s first two games for Atletico Madrid have generated mixed results, but one thing is clear: the club needs him, and the stage is set for the Nigerian forward to become a headline act.

By Alex Connor

Lookman’s career had temporarily stalled at Atalanta, as his relationship with the club deteriorated beyond the point of no return. The €35 million February move to the Spanish capital is the stepping stone for Lookman to elevate his career to the next level. Atleti’s shortcomings, weighed against the attacker’s quality and ambitions, make this an ideal marriage, from which both parties can massively benefit.

Last Thursday, Lookman enjoyed a dreamy debut in the 5-0 Copa del Rey quarter-final victory over Real Betis, recording a goal and an assist. However, Sunday’s disappointing 1-0 LaLiga loss against the same opponents has left Diego Simeone’s men in third place, 13 points behind league leaders Barcelona.

Lookman was involved in everything during the cup thrashing of Betis at Estadio La Cartuja de Sevilla. He squandered an early chance when he side-footed a half-volley over the bar. For Atleti’s second goal, Lookman dropped in deeper and slipped a ball into the advancing Matteo Ruggeri’s path, and he teed up Giuliano Simeone for a close-range finish.

He then showcased his blistering pace, initiating a counter-attack. Lookman played a one-two with Pablo Barrios before cutting inside two Betis men and steering a composed effort into the bottom corner. Lookman turned provider in the second half, setting up Antoine Griezmann on the counter to net the fourth.

In 79 minutes, Lookman registered two goal contributions, five shots, three successful dribbles and created one chance. He supplied 1.24 xG (expected goals) of his side’s total 2.95 xG, missing two big chances. Luckily, Lookman’s wastefulness wasn’t punished due to Atleti’s dominance, and he rectified these errors with his direct dribbling, usefulness on the counter, and the ability to link up with his teammates.

It was Atleti’s biggest margin of victory this season. No one was surprised. These are the standards that Lookman has set himself. He bagged a hat-trick in the 2024 Europa League Final, ending Atalanta’s 61-year wait for silverware, was named African Footballer of the Year a few months later, and has hit double figures for goals in three successive Serie A seasons between 2022 and 2025.

However, Betis took their revenge and ruined his home debut at Estadio Metropolitano, beating Atleti 1-0 at the weekend. Lookman started up top with Julián Alvarez. The pair offered sporadic moments of attacking threat in the first half, with Lookman firing wide from Alvarez’s pass, before the former Atalanta man slid in a ball for the Argentine, whose near-post strike was saved. At the end of the first half, Lookman headed in Marcos Llorente’s cross, but he was offside.

This defeat ended Atleti’s 10-match winning run at home in the league, but poses wider questions regarding their misfiring forward line. Simeone said that this side “struggles against teams that play deep” and “lack clarity in attack.” The manager labelled it a “major weakness.”

Lookman is the answer. The 28-year-old isn’t a youngster short of experience. He’s an established, proven professional who can breathe fresh life into Atleti’s stuttering attack. Alvarez hasn’t scored in LaLiga since 1st November 2025, while the ageing Griezmann has also only managed five league starts. Alexander Sørloth is a functional striker but has limitations. He benefits from a mobile strike partner who can make runs, stretch defences, and create space.

After a meteoric rise since joining Atalanta in 2022, the last 12 months have been tricky for Lookman. In February 2025, he missed a penalty in the second leg of a Champions League knockout play-off tie against Club Brugge. This prompted manager Gian Piero Gasperini to describe him as “one of the worst penalty takers” he has seen. Lookman responded and said his comments were “disrespectful.”

The relationship between Lookman and Atalanta became even more strained when a move to Inter Milan failed in the summer. He was eventually reintegrated into the first team, but the damage had been done. In November, a heated touchline confrontation with Ivan Jurić during his substitution in the Champions League against Marseille was the final straw.

Joining Atleti is a new beginning for Lookman. A shortened Serie A season has yielded just two goals in 12 appearances (nine starts). Nevertheless, he still ranks within the top 11% for chances created per 90 (1.92), successful crosses per 90 (0.68), successful dribbles per 90 (1.81), and touches in the opposition box per 90 (7.45) in these outings. Lookman’s three goals and four assists in Nigeria’s Africa Cup of Nations campaign further indicate he remains a player brimming with confidence and the ability to spearhead a team.

There is pressure on Lookman to adapt instantly. Following his first outing for Atleti, Simeone remarked on how he’s a “big guy” who will “make us better.” The recent Champions League loss at home to Bodø/Glimt meant that Atleti had to settle for the knockout play-offs, and with a credible LaLiga title challenge now seemingly out of reach, they are a side in need of inspiration.

Atleti and Simeone have turned to Lookman, who has been parachuted in as the saviour. Lookman can be the club’s answer to finding some elusive consistency and possesses the tools to emerge as the new talisman.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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

Feb

2026

Preview: Arsenal out to defend their advantage away to Brentford

How fast pressure and possibility can swing in the Premier League. Last weekend Arsenal faced the prospect of a nine-point lead at the top; heading into their match at Brentford, it’s just a clench-inducing three.

By Karl Matchett

February and March has more than once been the Gunners’ undoing when it comes to fighting for recent titles, so given the routine-looking fixtures they face in the coming weeks, finding wins is all that matters. Job done against Sunderland, but Brentford have one of the better home records in the league this term.

Attacking variance

One massive boost for Arsenal’s hopes of powering their way through any lingering uncertainty will be over the timely return to fitness or form of a host of attacking talents.

Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz have scored five goals between them in the past month after having had long-term injuries – both No. 9 options, but also both able to contribute from other areas when the Gunners need to go in full attack mode or are switching up their usual wide options. Viktor Gyökeres too, much maligned for a lack of clinical touch so far this term, has netted against each of Chelsea, Inter, Kairat, Leeds and Sunderland in that period. Whether it’s a flat-track bully style false start or the real deal for the Swedish striker, the fact he’s hitting the back of the net will raise confidence and competition for places alike – the latter likely most important when it comes to a three-month run-in for major honours.

Added to all this, Bukayo Saka should be back involved at Brentford, after missing the last three.

Home comforts

For Brentford, the prospect of points in this game comes in the fact they’ve been so strong at the Gtech Community Stadium – which makes the recent reversal to Nottingham Forest all the more surprising. Prior to that only Man City had won there this term, with Chelsea and Aston Villa held and each of Liverpool, Man United and Newcastle soundly beaten.

It’s unlikely to be a happy homecoming for Christian Nørgaard, meanwhile; the former Brentford midfielder has played only 32 minutes in the league for Arsenal since his £15m move, the lowest amount of any player other than Max Dowman, who was 15 when the season started.

The Bees sit a thoroughly impressive seventh in the table but Europe has to be a target now.

*Brentford’s home and away points breakdown*

Recent form

Five wins in the last seven in all competitions highlights how strong Brentford remain but this is still a new type of challenge – Arsenal have seven wins from the last nine and only one defeat since early December.

Team news

Reiss Nelson is ineligible as he’s on loan from the Gunners, while Kevin Schade is suspended. Martin Ødegaard should be back but Mikel Merino is out.

Key player

Caoimhin Kelleher has a 67% save rate, the same as David Raya, though is at -2.5 goals prevented versus his shots faced xG…again, like Raya (-2.6). His three penalty saves is a league high.

Prediction

Tough one to call given the Bees’ home form, but a title is a mighty motivator: Brentford 1-2 Arsenal.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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

Feb

2026

Bruno Fernandes, FotMob’s top rated player in the Premier League season so far

Ruben Amorim didn’t get much right as Manchester United boss. The Portuguese tactician was hired in November 2024 and dismissed in January 2026. During this time, he guided the Red Devils to a 15th placed finish and crashed out of the Carabao Cup to Grimsby Town. His managerial approach seemed to divide opinion. Those struggling under the former Sporting boss have looked like completely different players under interim manager Michael Carrick.

By Sam McGuire

But he did get one thing right though. During the summer transfer window, Saudi club Al-Hilal wanted Manchester United skipper Bruno Fernandes. They would’ve paid an eye-watering fee for the playmaker and made him one of the highest paid footballers in the world.

Fernandes has spoken openly about this situation previously and he made a point that it was Amorim who urged him to remain at Old Trafford. Speaking to Canal 11, a channel owned by the Portuguese Football Federation, the 31-year-old said: “From the club I felt it was, ‘If you go it’s not so bad for us’. It hurts me a bit. More than hurting me, it makes me sad. I’m a player that no-one can criticise, I’m always available, I always give my best.

“I could have left in this transfer window, I would have earned much more money. I would have won many trophies this season, but I decided not to go, not only for family reasons but because I genuinely love the club.

“The club wanted me to leave. I told the directors that, I think they didn’t have the courage to make that decision because the manager wanted me. But if I said I wanted to leave, even with the manager wanting me to stay, the club would let me.”

*Fernandes player traits compared to similar players in top 5 leagues*

Fernandes is a key reason the Red Devils are in contention for a top four finish this term. United find themselves fourth right now and rank joint-top of the form table with 13 points from a possible 15. At the time of writing, Carrick’s men are six points clear of sixth-placed Liverpool and one clear of Chelsea. They’re also just five points behind second-placed Manchester City.

The United No. 8 hasn’t single-handedly transformed the season for United, but he’s played a significant role. Since the turn of the year, Fernandes has five assists and one goal across his seven appearances. The five-match unbeaten run for the Red Devils has seen their skipper assist in wins over Manchester City, Arsenal and Fulham. He netted in the win over Spurs. His only blank was in the 1-1 draw with West Ham United.

It’s surely just a coincidence that Carrick’s winning run halts in the first game his skipper fails to get a goal or an assist.

Fernandes’ good form extends beyond this spell though. The 85-cap international, who registered his 200th goal involvement for United against Spurs, has, once again, put himself in the Player of the Year conversation. Yes, the award is usually given to a player from the title-winning team, but exceptions can be made for exceptional campaigns. And Fernandes’ 2025/26 season is on the brink of falling into such a category.

The 31-year-old leads the way for assists with 12, he’s a considerable distance ahead of Rayan Cherki in second spot with seven. Only Erling Haaland (27) has more goal involvements to his name than the United skipper (18). It is Fernandes with the highest average FotMob rating in the English top-flight (7.98), an even more impressive feat when you consider he’s playing for an inconsistent United team.

He is first for big chances created with 18, he leads the way for chances created with 78 and he tops the charts for Expected Assists with 6.7. To really hammer home how impressive these numbers actually are, Declan Rice is second for chances created with 47. Yes, Fernandes is the main man for United but to be 31 clear of your closest rival for this particular metric is ridiculous.

This is the norm for Fernandes though. The last time he didn’t rank first for chances created was during the 2021/22 campaign when he finished one behind Trent Alexander-Arnold. And that was arguably Alexander-Arnold’s best ever season for Liverpool creatively.

Had United cashed in on their playmaker this season, who knows where they’d find themselves in the Premier League right now. He’s been a revelation for the Red Devils under both Amorim and Carrick. He’s played his part in getting them into this position.

If they see it out and claim a top four finish just 12 months after finishing 15th, it’d arguably be Fernandes greatest ever campaign for the club.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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

Feb

2026

Gianluigi Donnarumma could prove to be City’s best signing of the season

By demonstrating his shot-stopping ability Gianluigi Donnarumma is proving why Manchester City signed him in the first place.

By Graham Ruthven

Sunday’s match at Anfield will live long in the memory. For various reasons. For Dominik Szoboszlai’s chaotic red card and Rayan Cherki’s disallowed goal right at the end. For Szoboszlai’s freekick stunner. For Manchester City’s late comeback that just about keeps this season’s Premier League title race alive.

There was another moment, however, that was just as crucial to the final outcome even if it got somewhat lost in the mayhem. Had it not been for Gianluigi Donnarumma’s save to prevent Alexis Mac Allister making it 2-2, Liverpool might have reduced a point and Arsenal would be champions in-waiting.

*The shot map for Donnarumma’s special save*

Pep Guardiola knew how special the Italian’s save was, recreating his gogo gadget arm reaching up to palm Mac Allister’s shot over the bar and keep Manchester City in the lead in an image that went viral. It was a stop that only a handful of goalkeepers in the world would have been able to pull off.

Questions were asked when City moved to sign Donnarumma from Paris Saint-Germain last summer. While nobody doubted the Italian’s shot-stopping, particularly after helping PSG to Champions League glory last season, he is a very different mould of goalkeeper to the kind usually favoured by Guardiola.

Ederson was the perfect goalkeeper for Manchester City’s style of play. Not only could the Brazilian be counted on to keep the ball out the back of the net, he was extremely comfortable on the ball and was frequently the first line of possession when City constructed sequences from the defence.

Guardiola more than once mentioned how Ederson could hold his own in Manchester City’s midfield while Manuel Akanji revealed he was one of the best penalty takers at the club. It could be argued that Ederson epitomised Guardiola’s outlook on the game better than anyone at the Etihad Stadium ever did.

At Bayern Munich, Guardiola had Manuel Neuer as one of the most modern goalkeepers of his generation while Victor Valdes was similarly known for how comfortable he was in possession. The likes of Lionel Messi, Xavi Hernandez, Andres Iniesta and the rest needed to know their goalkeeper could play a pass.

This, however, has always been Donnarumma’s biggest weakness. He’s not like Ederson, Neuer or Valdes. Instead, he’s closer to someone like Thibaut Courtois whose one and only job is to make saves. That is also Donnarumma’s role for Manchester City and that signifies an ideological change for Guardiola.

Only David Raya has kept more clean sheets than Donnarumma in the Premier League this season with the Italian also ranked in the top four for save percentage. Manchester City’s Expected Goals Difference is the second-best in the English top flight and Donnarumma deserves his share of the credit for that.

City are in a state of transition. This season might come too early for Guardiola’s team to clinch another Premier League title even if Sunday’s comeback win at Anfield kept them in contention for a while longer. It’s with this transition and squad rebuild that Manchester City might have signed Donnarumma to be their safety net.

While City have made clear progress this season, bringing in the likes of Rayan Cherki, Tijani Reijnders, and Antoine Semenyo to strengthen, their weakness in defensive transition is exposed every so often. Defensive injuries to Rúben Dias and Joško Gvardiol haven’t helped them achieve stability at the back.

Of course, James Trafford started the 2025/26 season as City’s number one. When it became apparent, however, that the 23-year-old lacked the experience to hold such a pressurised position the Etihad Stadium club moved quickly to land Donnarumma when Luis Enrique decided he wanted a more modern goalkeeper.

With Donnarumma between the posts, though, Manchester City have one of the best goalkeepers in the world as a brick wall when all else in front of him has failed. It’s partly because of this that Guardiola and his players were able to leave Merseyside with all three points on Sunday.

Donnarumma has more weaknesses to his game than just his possession play. For someone of his size and frame, the 26-year-old is surprisingly shaky from set pieces. Opponents have tried, and succeeded more than once, to unsettle him when slinging crosses into the Manchester City box.

As long as City can play to Donnarumma’s strengths and not his weaknesses, though, they have someone who can make the difference for them in the biggest matches, just as he did against Liverpool. There will be more saves like the one that had Guardiola flattering his goalkeeper through imitation.

(Images from IMAGO)

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

Feb

2026

FotMob Interview: We speak to Spurs stars Tinka Tandberg and Hanna Wijk

“I am getting goosebumps when I’m walking out [on to the pitch,” Cathinka ‘Tikka’ Tandberg says after heading through the tunnel of the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium for the first time. “It’s like a dream come true. It’s an unbelievable stadium.”

By Girls On The Ball

Sitting down with the young Norwegian forward ahead of Sunday’s league encounter with Chelsea, the newfound excitement and energy that has encompassed the club this season is palpable. For of the many stories that have already emerged across the Barclays WSL over the last few months, the transformation that has been happening at Spurs is one of the most notable.

After a woeful 2024/2025 campaign that saw them finish 11th and possess the joint-second leakiest defence (44 goals), it was clear that a change of direction was needed both on and off the pitch if they were to realise their ambitions. Robert Vilahamn was sacked in June and Martin Ho, a highly-rated young manager, arrived a month later just ahead of pre-season. After three years in an assistant role at Manchester United, he had spent the last two seasons managing SK Brann in the Toppserien (Norway’s first division) where he led the Bergen-based outfit to the Champions League quarterfinals.

In addition, the arrival of Vinai Venkatesham as the club’s Chief Executive in April 2025 was another sign of positive change. He spent 14 years as CEO of Arsenal and was widely lauded for his consistent support for and impact on the women’s team.

Tandberg was his second of two signings in the summer transfer window as he settled into his new surroundings. For the 21-year-old, a life-long Tottenham Hotspur fan, the decision was simple.

“It’s been really easy to settle in here,” she says. I’m enjoying every day, every training. I’m living my childhood dream. I love being here and playing in front of these fans. I just feel I haven’t even started yet so I’m looking forward to the future.”

“Since I was young, I’ve been to White Hart Lane with my Dad. One of my favourite players played here before so when Spurs came, there was no doubt… My Dad is buzzing. He was like, “You can’t choose something else. You have to choose Spurs.”

She wasted little time in announcing herself to the Tottenham supporters, scoring an audacious 40-yard effort against Everton in the second game of the season to open her account, a goal that she calls “a little teaser” of what is to come.

Tandberg isn’t the only Scandinavian to come to England. In the recent transfer window, the Damallsvenskan became one of the most fruitful sources of new players for the WSL and is held in high regard by managers across the league. Of Ho’s four permanent signings in January, three arrived from Sweden’s top league and the other – Norway’s rising star Signe Gaupset – from the Toppserien.

Hanna Wijk was amongst them, arriving from BK Häcken where she had spent the last six seasons.

“Häcken has been a big part of my development and that’s why I’m here today,” the 22-year-old full-back says of her former club. “I’m really happy for everything Häcken has done for me. I think the Swedish league is a really good place for players to grow and develop and then move abroad.”

Tandberg echoes this thought, viewing the Damallsvenskan as an important stepping stone to prepare her to compete at the top of the sport.

“For me, it was perfect to go to the Swedish league to get confidence and goals,” she says. It’s been very important to take the right steps and not to jump from a small step to a big step. At the age I am, I need to play and that has been the most important thing for me.”

The pull of the Barclays WSL and the challenges it brings against some of the world’s best players was a factor in both their decisions to move to England.

“The games are very competitive and also the league is so tough,” Wijk remarks. “You have to give 100% every game. You have to be at your best every week. As a footballer, that is what you want.”

Ho’s approach and the club’s ambitions were also key for both when choosing their next career move. The 35-year-old wants his team to control the football, attack with intensity and confidence, press high but also be diligent and hardworking out of possession.

“He wants the team to be free but also have principles to follow so that it’s clear for everyone,” Wijk states. “Also that they work a lot with the player one-on-one. That’s a big part for me.”

It has reaped rewards. Tottenham sit comfortably in fifth in the Barclays WSL, just four points off Chelsea who are occupying the final Champions League spot. They currently have the fifth highest average possession (51.8%), expected goals (19.9) and goals per match (1.3) and are third for clean sheets (5). It, of course, has not been perfect but there are clear signs that they are moving in the right direction. Against Chelsea last Sunday, they were arguably the better team for much of the first half before falling to a 2-0 defeat.

Champions League qualification is probably too soon in their journey which is at the very beginning under Ho. Mounting a serious challenge to the more-experienced teams this time out is perhaps unlikely but, whatever happens, there is no doubt that this campaign will be viewed as a success, a springboard for the years to come.

(Images from Girls on the Ball, with additional images from IMAGO)

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