Page 39 – The Pulse of Football

Feb

2026

Antonio Vergara: Napoli’s homegrown star unlocked

Antonio Vergara’s emergence has eased Napoli’s injury crisis and could set a new precedent for the Italian champions as a producer of young talent.

By Graham Ruthven

It’s always flattering for a player to be likened to Diego Maradona, but this is particularly true for a Napoli player. That’s where the minds of the club’s fans went after Antonio Vergara scored his first goal for Gli Azzurri last week. Indeed, El Diego would have been proud of the 23-year-old’s individual effort against Chelsea.

Ultimately, Vergara’s dribble and finish was for nothing as Napoli crashed out of the Champions League in the league phase. Just four days later, though, Vergara was at it again, this time racing through on goal to finish calmly in a much-needed 2-1 victory over Fiorentina.

Napoli are in a bad place right now. Antonio Conte’s team are out of the Champions League and have probably given themselves too much ground to make up on Inter at the top of the Serie A table. The defending Italian champions are on the brink of waving the white flag in the Scudetto race.

Kevin De Bruyne, Frank Anguissa, David Neres, Billy Gilmour and Vanja Milinković-Savić are all currently sidelined through injury while Romelu Lukaku is being eased back in after missing the entire season until this point. Conte is scraping the barrel to be able to merely field a team in matches.

At the bottom of the barrel, though, Napoli have found Vergara. He is a diamond in the rough. The kind of player who gets fans off their seats and can create something out of nothing, as he did by dribbling through the entire Chelsea defence before finishing past Robert Sánchez last week.

Just 12 months ago, Vergara was on loan in Serie B. The attack-minded midfielder spent two years at Reggiana where he received a good deal of first team experience, but didn’t exactly make the sort of impression that suggested he would be a difference-maker for Napoli the following season.

Vergara deserves it, he deserves it more than others, so he plays,” said Conte. “I am for meritocracy, I choose whoever deserves it. It doesn’t matter to me if he is 18 or 35, age doesn’t matter. I made my Serie A debut at 16. It means he is in better shape than others, so he plays rather than others. I told him if I choose him in the starting XI, it means we believe in him.”

Conte has publicly voiced his disgruntlement at Napoli’s lack of transfer spending in the past and he could justifiably argue that many of his closest rivals are better equipped to handle an injury crisis due to their larger budgets and larger squads. This is certainly true of AC Milan, Inter and Juventus.

Napoli, however, should be doing more to bring through their own talent. The city of Naples is a football hotbed. Gli Azzurri should position itself as a harness for this homegrown talent like Vergara who has been at the club since the age of 11. This is an area where Napoli can gain an edge on their rivals.

That it took an injury crisis for Vergara to get his opportunity at Napoli doesn’t just raise a discussion about the club’s youth policy, but the youth policy of Italian football as a whole. There is a well-documented dearth of young talent in the Italian game and that has had a detrimental impact on the national team in recent years.

The Azzurri could miss a third World Cup in-a-row with Gennaro Gattuso’s side facing playoffs to qualify for this summer’s tournament. While Italy once boasted a collection of some of the best players in the world, winning the World Cup four times in their history, the current crop is seriously lacking.

Vergara won’t do much to change this, even if he earns a place in Gattuso’s squad for the upcoming World Cup playoff against Northern Ireland in March. However, his breakthrough could encourage others to place more faith in Italy’s youth. At 23, Vergara isn’t even that young. How many others have Italy missed out on due to a lack of game time?

In the meantime, Vergara’s job is to continue performing for a Napoli team clinging on to its targets for the season. While the defending Scudetto champions are disappearing in Inter’s rearview mirror amid a run of just two wins from six games, Conte’s teams have a track record of rounding into form in the second half of the season.

Napoli’s injury fortune will surely improve soon. Key players will return and Vergara might be back on the bench before too long. Nonetheless, the 23-year-old’s Maradona moment and subsequent goal against Fiorentina have raised the prospect that Napoli’s most challenging stretch of the season might have delivered a silver lining.

(Images from IMAGO)

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

Feb

2026

Preview: Man City and Newcastle meet for Carabao Cup semi final, second leg

Manchester City already have one foot in the door of the Carabao Cup final, but their league form has been variable. Can they finish the job off against Newcastle on Wednesday evening?

By Ian King

Both sides have shown patchy form so far in 2026

Manchester City’s last outing, a trip to Tottenham Hotspur, said a lot about their Premier League season so far. An inability to hold onto a two-goal lead against a team struggling for any sort of form certainly spoke volumes about their league form since the start of 2026.

But one of their better performances of the new year was their comfortable 2-0 win at St James’ Park in the first leg of this Carabao Cup semi-final, and this serves as a reminder that Newcastle have been inconsistent all season and are in a bit of a trough at the moment themselves, too, following their 4-1 chastening at Liverpool at the weekend.

It’s been more than a decade since Newcastle last won at The Etihad

Going to The Etihad and overturning a two-goal lead sounds like a tall order, and the history books don’t offer much comfort to Newcastle, who haven’t won there since a 2-0 League Cup win in 2014, though they did beat City 2-1 at St James’ Park in the Premier League, earlier this season. Newcastle may take some consolation from the fact that they are the holders of this competition.

These two teams met in the 1976 final of this competition, with City winning 2-1 thanks to a spectacular overhead kick from Dennis Tueart. It turned out to be their last major trophy until they beat Stoke City to win the 2011 FA Cup. Newcastle’s win in this competition last year was their first major trophy since, depending on who you ask, the 1969 Fairs Cup, or the 1955 FA Cup.

*A reminder of the where we stand after the first leg*

Newcastle need goals, if they’re to find a way back into this cup tie

The Manchester City player to watch at the moment is quite clearly Antoine Semenyo, who’s made an explosive start to his time at The Etihad following his big money transfer from Bournemouth. He’s scored four in his first five games for them and has taken the heat off Erling Haaland, who hasn’t been firing on all cylinders so far in 2026.

Newcastle need goals if they’re to find any route back into this tie, so Anthony Gordon is an obvious place to start if we’re looking for them. Gordon scored their consolation at Liverpool last weekend as well as bagging one against PSV in their final Champions League group match, though like his team, his form has been inconsistent, of late.

Both sides have growing injury lists, but neither may want to shuffle ahead of a cup semi-final

Manchester City’s injury list continues to grow. Rúben Dias and Rayan Cherki are the latest to have joined it. Dias is training again, but is unlikely to feature in this match. Cherki is unlikely to be risked, given that City already have a comfortable lead from the first leg. Joško Gvardiol, Mateo Kovačić, John Stones, Jérémy Doku and Savinho are all longer-term absentees. Phil Foden and James Trafford could both get a recall. Trafford featured in the first leg of this tie.

For Newcastle, Bruno Guimarães, Sven Botman and Lewis Miley all missed the Liverpool match and may be rested again. Joelinton, Tino Livramento, Fabian Schär and Emil Krafth remain side-lined. Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa could be recalled.

Newcastle can make this an uncomfortable evening for Manchester City, but the home side should still prevail

With a comfortable two-goal lead from the first leg, this should be a comfortable evening for Manchester City, but neither of these sides have shown much consistency this season. Indeed, for Newcastle, inconsistency has been the most notable motif of their 2025-26 so far.

But both sides are in the running for a Champions League place, both are still in this season’s Champions League, and both are still in this year’s FA Cup, so it would be a stretch to describe either of them as being anywhere near in “crisis.”

Newcastle’s 4-1 defeat to Liverpool, coming on top of a 2-0 home defeat against Aston Villa, was a reminder of the work that they still need to do to secure a top four or five finish at the end of this season. But they are capable, and should they get an early goal then Manchester City have enough insecurities of their own at the moment for the visitors to be in with a chance.

Manchester City’s stuttering start to 2026 has been a surprise, considering this is the time of year that they’ve so often kicked into gear in the past. Throwing away a very comfortable two-goal at Spurs of all places was a sign that all is still not well at The Etihad, and their title pursuit is now looking somewhat forlorn again.

But a trophy’s a trophy, and Manchester City already have one foot in the door of a place in the final. They should get home this time, though I don’t expect Newcastle to make it easy for them. I’ll go for a 1-1 draw and for City to get through to that date with Wembley, though this tie isn’t quite a foregone conclusion yet.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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

Feb

2026

Preview: Arsenal and Chelsea’s Carabao Cup semifinal, second leg

A place in the League Cup final is still up for grabs heading into the second leg of this semi-final. Arsenal are in the driving seat (leading 3-2 on aggregate), but could Liam Rosenior’s comeback kings pull off another one?

By Alex Roberts

Talk of a wobble appeared premature Arsenal are sitting pretty at the top of the Premier League thanks to their 4-0 win over Leeds over the weekend. The pressure is off now, and the treble (at a minimum) is very much on.

The vibes at Chelsea are getting better by the game. Coming from 2-0 down to beat West Ham will have worked wonders for their confidence, even if the first half performance was abysmal. It turns out, when Chelsea play their best players, they play better.

Gyökeres finding some form

It’s not unfair to say that Viktor Gyökeres hasn’t lived up to the hype since he joined from Sporting in the summer. Whisper it quietly, however, four goals and two assists in his last six games across all competitions is a very good return.

The striker scored last time out, albeit thanks to some poor goalkeeping from Robert Sánchez being unable to gather Bukayo Saka’s low cross. All goals count the same though, it may not have been pretty, but he won’t care.

In another season, Arsenal may not be where they are today with a misfiring forward line. Gyökeres was signed to be the man to fire them to silverware, and recent performances show he still have every opportunity to make it happen.

Are you Frank Lampard in disguise?

Speaking of players who deserve their flowers at the moment, Enzo Fernández has been imperious for Chelsea since the turn of the year. Six goals in in his last ten games are numbers a certain former midfielder would be happy with.

Yes, a couple have been penalties, but it’s the way he’s changed his game over the course of the season that has really caught our attention. Fernández is timing his runs into the box perfectly, and his teammates are getting good at picking him out.

His goal in the 3-2 win over West Ham is the perfect example of that. Tomáš Souček doesn’t pick up his run until it’s too late, and by the time the big Czech ace goes to make a move, the ball is in the back of the net. Fernández is very quickly becoming one of Chelsea’s main goal threats.

Team news

The big team news is that Arsenal’s Mikel Merino is likely to miss the rest of the season with a foot injury. Whether Mikel Arteta has time to bring in a replacement remains to be seen, but either way, this game would be too soon.

Saka is also a major doubt having recently picked up a knock, meaning Noni Madueke will likely retain his place and feature against his former club on the right wing. Young Max Dowman (ankle) is also out.

Turning to Chelsea, their injury list is a little more extensive, but the starting line-up shouldn’t change too much. Rosenior will be without Roméo Lavia (thigh), Dário Essugo (muscle), Levi Colwill (ACL), Tosin Adarabioyo (thigh), and Jamie Gittens (muscle).

Prediction

Chelsea are winning games under Rosenior that they would have probably drawn or lost under Enzo Maresca. Having said that, Arsenal are by far the toughest side he’s faced, and it didn’t go to plan in the first leg.

We’re going with a 2-0 home win and Arsenal to progress to the final.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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

Feb

2026

Preview: Barcelona face giantkillers Albacete in the Copa del Rey

Albacete host Barcelona in the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey as they hope to cause another phenomenal upset in the competition.

By Matt Smith

It’s been a fairytale run for Albacete so far, beating Real Madrid in the previous round, with Jefté Betancor scoring a 94th-minute winner.

It’s been a while since these two sides met, over 20 years in fact, with Barcelona coming out victorious with a 2-0 win in their previous meeting, back in 2005.

Team news

Albacete could be without Higinio Marín for this one, as he’s a doubt for the home side. Edward Cedeno will miss out after undergoing surgery.

Meanwhile, Barcelona remain without Gavi, Pedri, and Andreas Christensen, and Raphinha suffered an adductor strain during Saturday’s win over Elche. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see Hansi Flick rotate his side for this one, but they’ll have to be careful not to underestimate their opponents.

Albacete will want to repeat Madrid display

Against Real Madrid, when Albacete pulled off a sensational 3-2 victory, the second division side set up how you would expect when facing one of the most powerful teams in world football. Alberto González’s men sat deep, looking to absorb the pressure, allowing Madrid to have the ball before hitting them on the counter.

Albacete had just 22% possession against Real Madrid, and it wasn’t a huge contrast compared to how they set up against sides of their level. Albacete rank 21st for possession in LaLiga 2, so they’re well-drilled in getting results when the opposition has plenty of the ball.

Barcelona likely to assert their dominance

Dominating possession isn’t an alien concept to Barcelona, and there’s no doubt they’re going to have plenty of the ball against Albacete. Flick’s side have averaged more possession in LaLiga than any other team, so the Barcelona boss shouldn’t be expecting too much of a difference from a regular league fixture.

Barcelona have scored 60 goals in the league this season, more than any other side, and breaking down low blocks is something they’re forced to do on a regular basis. It’s a real opportunity for some fringe players to prove themselves to Flick, and they’ll be chomping at the bit to show the manager they deserve more minutes.

Rashford deserves his chance

Marcus Rashford has started on the bench in Barcelona’s last five games, and he’ll be itching to play from the beginning in this one. The English forward has proved himself off the bench, providing four goals and assists during that time.

*Rashford’s season summary at Barcelona*

Rashford has now scored twice in his last two substitute appearances, so there’s no doubt he deserves an opportunity to start. Flick gave Rashford a start in their last Copa del Rey clash earlier this year, and he could be the player to watch in this game.

Prediction

Albacete’s fairytale run in the competition could be coming to an end this week, with Barcelona likely too strong for them. We’re going for a 3-0 victory to Flick’s side.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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

Feb

2026

FotMob Interview: Keinan Davis, and leading the line for Udinese in Serie A

From Jude Bellingham to Harry Kane, from Angel Gomes to Fikayo Tomori, we’ve seen quite a few English-born players flourish after making the move abroad in recent years, and the latest to do so is Keinan Davis.

By Zach Lowy

After leaving school early to focus on becoming a professional footballer, Davis found himself released by Stevenage FC while still a teenager. But after that disappointment, he took two steps backward to take three forward, joining the U18 side of non-league club Biggleswade Town, where he impressed enough in a friendly against Aston Villa’s reserve side to earn himself a trial at an institution of the English game, eventually being rewarded with an 18-month professional contract in December 2015.

One year later, he made his professional debut in a 2-0 FA Cup defeat to Tottenham Hotspur. Davis gradually made his presence felt under then-Villa boss Dean Smith, racking up six goals and four assists in 86 appearances for Villa, winning a call-up to the England U20 side, and helping the Villans return to the Premier League at the end of the 2018/19 season.

*Davis’ player traits compared with similar players in top 5 leagues*

“A club the size of Aston Villa should never be in the Championship,” stated Davis in an exclusive FotMob interview. “They’re now third in the Premier League, and that’s the type of standard that they should be holding themselves to. I was very young, so I didn’t play too much at Villa, but to be able to train and play with so many great footballers like Tammy Abraham, Jack Grealish, and Axel Tuanzebe, I learned so many different things both as a player and as a man. Nothing can beat that as a young player, getting to be in that environment with coaches like John Terry and Dean Smith…it was such a good time, and such a good team to be involved in.”

But with minutes drying up under new manager Steven Gerrard, Davis dropped back down to the Championship for a loan spell at Nottingham Forest, scoring five goals and three assists in 22 appearances and spearheading their promotion back to the top flight after a 24-year absence, before registering seven goals and two assists in 34 appearances during the following season at loan to Watford.

Rather than embarking on a third Championship loan, Davis cut the cord with Villa and joined Udinese on 1 September, 2023. Shortly after, he tore his calf in training and missed the whole of the first half of the season, eventually debuting in a 2-1 defeat vs. Lazio on January 2024. All told, he made eight cameo appearances from the bench in his first season in Italy, the last of which came in the season finale vs. Frosinone.

Whereas Udinese looked headed for their first relegation in three decades, Frosinone looked set to stave off the drop until the 76th minute, when Davis smashed home the only goal of the game, opening his account in Italy and securing Udinese’s top-flight status by a razor-thin margin.

“When you come to a new team, the first thing you want to do is play, show your teammates and fans what you can do, and gain respect for your ability. It was very difficult not being able to do that and just watching every game from the stands, not even being on the bench, not even being able to train. It was very difficult mentally, being in a new country, but I had my family here, so I still felt comfortable off the pitch. It was a long four months, but the goal was obviously very important to me, because I didn’t feel like I could help my team. We were battling to stay up, so to score that goal, it just made the first eight-nine months of the season worth it. Udinese fans never gave me any abuse, and the manager wasn’t upset at me or anything, so that one moment was basically a thank you for their patience.”

*Davis’ shot map in Serie A this season*

After scoring three goals and one assist in 25 appearances under new manager Kosta Runjaić in 2024/25, Davis was forced to step into the void and become Udinese’s new attacking talisman following Lorenzo Lucca’s transfer to Napoli.

He answered the call, matching his tally for last season as early as October, before following that up with another goal at Parma and the winning assist vs. Napoli. However, it’s fair to say that his best form has come over the past month: after closing out 2025 with a last-second equaliser vs. Lazio, Davis assisted the decisive second goal vs. Torino before bagging in two of his next three vs. Pisa and Hellas Verona.

If he scores tonight against Roma (Monday 2 February), he will achieve the best goal-scoring tally of his entire career.

*Davis’ shooting numbers in Serie A this season*

“If I could give any advice to a young Keinan Davis, it would be just to carry the confidence I have now, not care about what people think, and not be scared to make any mistakes. It really doesn’t matter; it’s all about giving your all. I gave my all, but I sometimes worried, ‘What if I miss that chance? It’s about taking that leap: if you miss, then you miss, if you score, you score.”

Availability is the biggest ability, and that’s proving to be the case for Davis. Having missed 22 and 14 matches in 2023/24 and 2024/25, he has missed just one match due to muscle fatigue in 2025/26. And in just a few months, he might very well get the chance to compete in the biggest tournament in sport.

*Davis’ possession stats in Serie A this season*

Davis was included in Jamaica’s 60-man preliminary squad for the World Cup playoff, with the Reggae Boyz set to travel to Guadalajara in March to take on New Caledonia. If they win, they will face the Democratic Republic of the Congo for a chance to make it to their second World Cup.

“I see myself playing for them: both my grandparents are from the island, so of course it’d be an honour to play for Jamaica, and hopefully I can one day. I’m in the process of sorting out a passport, so it depends on the timing, but hopefully I’ll be able to take part in such an important game vs. New Caledonia…we’ll see very soon.”

Only time will tell if he will be selected for Jamaica’s most consequential match since 1998, but one thing’s for sure: if Udinese are to put an end to their six-match losing streak to the Giallorossi and find a way past Serie A’s stingiest defence, they’ll need Keinan Davis to continue his red-hot form on Monday.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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

Jan

2026

Preview: Madrid get back down to business against Rayo in LaLiga

Álvaro Arbeloa’s side were on the wrong end of one of the Champions League’s most dramatic moments in the competition’s history in midweek. Now, they need to put that behind them and keep Barcelona within touching distance in LaLiga.

By Alex Roberts

Rayo Vallecano aren’t in the best form heading into this one. Toothless defeats in their last two league games against Celta Vigo and Osasuna, conceding three goals and scoring just one means Real Madrid are HEAVY favourites.

Still, Real Madrid’s record against Vallecano isn’t great, winning just twice in their last seven meetings. Arbeloa is yet to grab the imagination of the fans, anything other than a win here could be calamitous.

The best on the planet?

There’s a big ol’ debate about who the best forward in the world is at the moment. Is it Harry Kane, tearing it up in Germany? Perhaps Man City’s giant Norwegian robot Erling Haaland, hunting Arsenal down at the top of the Premier League?

Well, if you’re inclined to say either of those two, let us introduce you to a certain Kylian Mbappé. The Frenchman is in absolutely absurd form, carrying his side through the rougher parts of the season with 11 goals in his last 10 games across all competitions.

*Mbappé is the leading goalscorer in Spain and the Champions League this season*

Mbappé is Real Madrid’s main man, that much is certain. No matter what happens come the end of the season, no one could blame him if it’s ultimately a failure, even in the defeat to Benfica he scored a brace.

Really struggling for goals

What Rayo Vallecano would give for someone who could score ten goals never mind a player like Mbappé. The third lowest scoring side in LaLiga (17 goals), Iñigo Pérez needs to solve that problem quick before they slip even farther down the table.

Jorge de Frutos has shouldered most of Vallecano’s goal scoring responsibility so far this season, with six from his 19 La Liga games. That’s not a terrible return, but beyond him, options are limited to say the least.

The Madrid based side that finished eighth last season are just one point above the relegation zone and have lost seven of their 11 away games in 2025/26. To make matters worse, they haven’t won at the Bernabéu since 1996. Perhaps all of that means a sensational win is written in the stars?

Team news

Real Madrid’s season defining defensive injury crisis isn’t over just yet, but it’s looking better than it once was. Antonio Rüdiger is close to returning from his knee injury, although this game looks like it’s come too soon.

Reports are linking Trent Alexander-Arnold with a move away just months after joining. Like Rüdiger, he’s close to returning, and once he does, he has several points to prove. Don’t expect him to be playing today, though.

We’re still some way off seeing Éder Militão (tendon) and Ferland Mendy (ankle) in their famous white shirts.

As for Vallecano, the good news is that Abdul Mumin is back in training after the ACL injury that has ruled him out since last March, but Andrei Rațiu (hamstring), and Iván Balliu (muscle) are out.

Prediction

Real Madrid are in desperate need of a win here, and the odds are heavily stacked in their favour. So, we’re going with a 3-1 win for Árbeloa’s lads.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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

Jan

2026

Preview: Manchester City visit Tottenham Hotspur in a must-win situation

After ebbing and flowing around the turn of the year, the gap at the top of the Premier League is back down to four points. As they approach the final third of the season, Manchester City now have to keep building the pressure on their rivals.

By Neel Shelat

Both sides’ crucial midweek successes

Fixture congestion is a huge concern for top teams around Europe in this period of the season. Both of these teams have been kept quite busy lately as this will be their fifth match in 15 days. With that in mind, it should be easy to understand why their top eight finishes in the UEFA Champions League could prove crucial going forward.

Manchester City will be particularly glad to have snuck into eighth place as it leaves them with an open midweek on either side of a tough league match against Newcastle United. Moreover, Tottenham Hotspur’s direct progression to the Round of 16 could also benefit them as Spurs face Arsenal on the same weekend. If City are to profit at all, though, they will first have to ensure they pick up all possible points in the intervening period.

Spurs remain Pep Guardiola’s bogey team

Among opponents that Manchester City have faced more than thrice under Pep Guardiola, they only have a lower win percentage against Liverpool and Real Madrid than Tottenham Hotspur. In fact, in the Premier League, no other side has a better record than Spurs’ 8-3-8.

The North London club have won three of the last four meetings between these sides, including the reverse fixture on the second matchday of this season. Of course, much has changed for Thomas Frank since the end of August, but his side have every chance of coming away with a result in this match.

Team news

Both teams will have to contend with pretty long injury lists. Spurs have seen Micky van de Ven, Mohammed Kudus, Richarlison, Rodrigo Bentancur, Lucas Bergvall and Ben Davies all suffer issues in January, joining James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski on the treatment table.

City have been missing centre-backs Joško Gvardiol, Rúben Dias and John Stones amidst a defensive injury crisis, with Mateo Kovačić also out for a good while. Up front, Savinho and Oscar Bobb have not featured for a month or so, while Jérémy Doku went off with a calf issue in the last match against Galatasaray.

Key players

Erling Haaland ended a five-match goal drought and scored his first open-play goal in 10 appearances in midweek. He already has 30 goals this season despite that dry patch, and will be raring to resume his battle against Cristian Romero.

At the other end, Marc Guéhi will have a key role to play in just his second league start for Manchester City, as the returning Dominic Solanke will fancy his chances against a weakened back line. Rodri could play a big part in helping his defenders out, while Conor Gallagher will look to disrupt the Spaniard’s game.

Prediction

These two teams have not played out a goalless draw in their last 36 meetings, so a dramatic match is to be expected. In the end, City might just have enough to eke out a victory.

(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

2026

Preview: Man United host Fulham in latest test of Carrick’s credentials

Can Michael Carrick’s Manchester United team build on impressive wins over Manchester City and Arsenal to further highlight their progress?

By Graham Ruthven

Carrick’s at the wheel

Michael Carrick couldn’t have dreamt of a better start to his second stint as Manchester United interim manager. Indeed, wins over Manchester City and Arsenal have pushed United into the top four where they now want to stay.

Sunday’s home fixture against Fulham will be a different sort of test. Against City and Arsenal, United could stay compact at the back and play in quick transition. This is an approach that clearly suits their players.

*Table standing prior to Saturday’s games*

Fulham, however, will attempt to flip the script at Old Trafford. They will likely set up to play on the break and have lost just one of their last eight league games.

Under Ruben Amorim, Manchester United regularly struggled to break down low defensive blocks, demonstrated best by the recent poor performances at home against Wolves, West Ham and Everton.

Carrick has made a strong start, but United must win more matches at home to keep their place in the top four and qualify for next season’s Champions League.

Key players

Nobody has registered more goal contributions (15) for Manchester United this season than Bruno Fernandes who has rediscovered his best form since being moved back into his usual number 10 position.

By using Fernandes ahead of Casemiro and Kobbie Mainoo, Carrick has given United some much-needed balance in the centre of the pitch. All three midfielders are expected to start on Sunday.

Bryan Mbeumo has scored in each of his last two appearances and could once again feature as a mobile centre forward with Amad Diallo in line to start on the right wing. Matheus Cunha could come into the lineup after scoring the winner against Arsenal.

Harry Wilson is in the form of his life at the moment, scoring stunners for fun. Indeed, the Welsh international has found the back of the net four times in his last five games for the Cottagers.

Raúl Jiménez will pose a threat as a physical centre forward capable of matching up against Harry Maguire in the air inside the box. Fulham have scored seven set piece goals since December, hinting at an area they could exploit at Old Trafford.

Calvin Bassey will be briefed with tracking Mbeumo’s movement. The Nigerian hasn’t featured for Fulham since playing at the Africa Cup of Nations for his national team.

Team news

Manchester United will be without Patrick Dorgu after the Danish wide player was sidelined for the next 10 weeks with a hamstring injury suffered in the win over Arsenal.

Matthijs De Ligt and Joshua Zirkzee are also unavailable. Otherwise, Carrick has a fully fit and available squad to choose from for his third match in charge.

Rodrigo Muniz, Saša Lukić, and Kenny Tete won’t make the trip to Old Trafford with all three Fulham players currently out through injury. Tete, however, isn’t too far away from a return to action.

Prediction

After the highs of their last two results, the Londoners could be exactly the sort of opposition that bring the Old Trafford crowd back down to earth. We’re going to go a with a frustrating draw for the home side: Manchester United 1-1 Fulham.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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Jan

2026

Preview: Barcelona travel to Elche on Saturday evening

Elche host Barcelona as the home side look to end a dismal run against Hansi Flick’s men. Barcelona have won the previous nine meetings between the two sides, with Elche’s last point coming all the way back in 2014.

By Matt Smith

When the two sides met earlier in the campaign, it was a comfortable victory for Barcelona, with Lamine Yamal, Ferran Torres, and Marcus Rashford all getting on the scoresheet that day.

Team news

Elche could be without a host of players heading into this game, with Héctor Fort and Rafa Mir out injured for the home side. Aleix Febas will also miss out due to suspension, while both Josan and Álvaro Núñez are doubts.

Meanwhile, Barcelona shouldn’t have any fresh injury concerns for their trip to Elche. Gavi, Pedri, and Andreas Christensen all remain on the treatment table.

Elche’s fascinating style

Elche are one of the most eye-catching teams in LaLiga this season. Despite only just being promoted to the top division this term, Elche are giving a fantastic account of themselves, not sitting back and absorbing pressure during games like a lot of newly promoted teams like to do.

Manager Eder Sarabia has kept his style that gained them promotion, looking to dominate possession, sticking with his key principles. In fact, only Real Madrid and Barcelona have averaged more possession than Elche this season (58.8%), an incredible achievement considering they were in LaLiga 2 last campaign.

Barcelona can’t afford too many more slip-ups

Barcelona recently suffered a defeat against Real Sociedad away from home, helping the likes of Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid close the gap. Looking at the form of the two sides behind Barcelona, they can’t afford to make too many more slip-ups if they want to win the title.

Flick’s side have a comfortable enough cushion over Atlético, but Real Madrid are breathing down their neck right now. Barcelona have secured maximum points at home, winning 10 from 10, but they’ve failed to win four of their 11 away trips so far this season. It’s shaping up to be an exciting title race.

Fermín López – new contract?

Reports have claimed that Fermín López is edging closer to signing a new deal, and it’s no surprise considering some of the performances he’s produced in recent months. The likes of Lamine Yamal, Robert Lewandowski, and Raphinha take a lot of the plaudits in the final third, but the job that Fermín is doing this season can’t be understated.

Fermín made it 10 goals and assists combined in his previous eight appearances last time out, and he could be the danger man for the away side this weekend. Interestingly, Flick deployed both Dani Olmo and Fermín in the same side against FC København, so we could see plenty of firepower from Barcelona.

Prediction

Elche could pose a threat to Barcelona, having lost just once at home this season, but Barcelona should have too much in attack. We’re going for a narrow 2-1 victory for Barcelona.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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Jan

2026

Preview: Liverpool meet Newcastle United late on Saturday evening

Liverpool’s 13-match unbeaten run came to an abrupt halt last weekend as Bournemouth claimed a surprise but deserved 3-2 win. The Reds bounced back mid-week with a 6-0 demolition of Qarabağ in the Champions League and now welcome Newcastle United to Anfield on Saturday night.

By Sam McGuire

The story so far

The only consistent thing about Liverpool this season is how inconsistent they’ve been. The Reds started off perfect, winning their five opening games in the Premier League. They then lost nine of 12 before going on an unconvincing unbeaten run that stretched 10 games in the English top-flight.

The Reds have struggled against teams that adopt a low-block this season. Arne Slot has referenced it in a number of press conferences and the numbers tally up with it too. Liverpool rank top for possession (62%), but are sixth for goals, seventh for Expected Goals, and eighth for Big Chances Created.

Liverpool have a lot of the ball but don’t really know what to do with it. There’s a reason they rank 17th in the form table despite losing just one of their last five matches. Only Spurs, Burnley and Palace have picked up fewer points during this period.

By comparison, Newcastle United top the form table having claimed 10 points from their last five outings. The Magpies are another team to struggle for consistency this term and it’s why they find themselves in ninth position with 33 points. They’re five points behind fourth-placed Manchester United and five points clear of 15th placed Crystal Palace. A win this weekend could see them finish the matchday in sixth position while a loss could see them end gameweek in 12th.

Eddie Howe’s side battled it out to a 1-1 draw with reigning European champions PSG on Wednesday. They’ve followed up their last two Champions League matches with defeats in the Premier League.

They’ll probably feel a little confident heading to Anfield though. They don’t have the best record there but their tactics are like kryptonite to their hosts. Newcastle actually have the second best defensive record in the Premier League this term with an xG Against of just 25.2. They’re going to make it difficult for the Reds.

Key Players

For Liverpool, the key players in this game could be Florian Wirtz and Mohamed Salah. The former is in good form with four goals and an assist since the turn of the year. Salah, meanwhile, looked in fine form against Qarabağ in midweek, bagging a goal and creating a match-high seven chances. The duo combined well in periods during the game and Slot will be hopeful of a repeat showing under lights at Anfield.

For the visitors, the key man is Bruno Guimarães. He picked up a knock against PSV and missed the loss to Aston Villa and the draw with PSG but could return for the trip to Merseyside. His return would be a huge boost for Howe and his team. The skipper leads the way for goals (eight) and assists (three) this season. With him in the starting XI, Newcastle are just better.

Team News

Conor Bradley and Giovanni Leoni are ruled out for the season for Liverpool while Stefan Bajčetić, Jeremie Frimpong and Alexander Isak are out for the foreseeable future. Ibrahima Konaté could miss the match but there’s hope that Joe Gomez and Curtis Jones could return to the first-team picture after missing the mid-week game.

For Newcastle, Howe is still without Fabian Schär, Valentino Livramento, Jacob Murphy, Joelinton and Jamaal Lascelles. Guimarães could well be risked.

Prediction

We’re going with a 2-1 win for the hosts.

(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.