Page 47 – The Pulse of Football

Jan

2026

Eli Junior Kroupi and the best per 90 stats in the Premier League

It’s been a while since the Premier League has had a ‘baby faced assassin. First it was Ole Gunnar Solskjær, then Javier Hernández and Jermaine Defoe, although the latter deserves more credit than that. Now, it’s Bournemouth’s Super Sub Eli Junior Kroupi.

By Alex Roberts

Admittedly, not all of the 19-year-old’s goals have come from the bench, but a truly ridiculous six in 510 Premier League minutes certainly puts him alongside the others in that deadly category.

Like Brighton and Brentford, Bournemouth are very intentional with their recruitment, a £12 million fee may not seem like much to bigger clubs, but the South Coast club wouldn’t have spent the money if they didn’t believe in his potential.

Coming through the youth ranks at Lorient, Bournemouth made their move in January 2025, reportedly beating Chelsea, who else, to his signature. He had 10 goals in 19 games over the first half of the season, and staying in France on loan for the second, he ended the campaign with 23 in 32.

Standing at 5’10” with a relatively skinny build, Junior Kroupi shouldn’t be considered a traditional number nine, but then again, there aren’t really that many in the Premier League beyond Erling Haaland and Igor Thiago.

Back in France, he was often played on the left wing, naturally drifting inside, not unlike a certain Real Madrid superstar, according to former teammate and ex-Chelsea midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko, who played with him at Lorient.

Speaking after Lorient’s 3-3 draw with Lyon back in 2023, in which Junior Kroupi scored a brace, Bakayoko didn’t hold back in his praise telling Ligue1.com: “He’s a phenomenon. He reminds me a little of Kylian Mbappé in terms of the maturity of his game. He already has good stats for a youngster his age.”

Junior Kroupi became the club’s youngest ever Ligue 1 scorer in 2023/24, his first full season of senior football, ending the campaign with five goals and three assists in 31 appearances, earning widespread acclaim despite Lorient’s relegation.

He’s matured even more since then. Watching him play, it’s clear that finishing is the best aspect of his game. Striking the ball with his instep, his shots generate a LOT of power, with a knack for finding corners beyond the reach of opposition goalkeepers.

*Junior Kroupi’s shot map in the Premier League this season*

Taking a close look at where his goals have found the back of the net, all six of his Premier League strikes have been into a corner. Close range, mid range, long range, it doesn’t matter, he’s finding the back of the net.

So, let’s take a closer look at some of his goals. From close range, there is his 93rd-minute equaliser against Leeds, when, you guessed it, he came off the bench. Bournemouth delivered a free kick into the box, Marcos Senesi nodded it on, and Junior Kroupi fired the ball beyond Karl Darlow to break some Elland Road hearts.

From mid-range, we can look to the mental 4–4 draw with Manchester United just before Christmas. After collecting the ball from Álex Jiménez via slight deflection, Kroupi showcased that finishing we were talking about to slot the ball into the bottom left corner.

Finally, we only need to go as far back as the 3-2 defeat to Arsenal on Saturday for a beautiful long-range goal. Hitting it with his instep, he didn’t give David Raya, arguably the best ‘keeper in the league, a chance.

All of this is amazing, but we’re going to have to put our statistics hat on an potentially rain on the parade. Six goals in 510 Premier League minutes is an anomaly, and with Bournemouth tumbling down the table, it may not even matter.

*Junior Kroupi’s shooting stats per 90 in the Premier League*

Averaging 1.06 goals per 90 minutes, he’s even more prolific than everyone’s favourite Norwegian robot, but is it sustainable? Kroupi Junior is massively overperforming in front of goal, with his six goals coming from an xG of 2.94.

Those are numbers that would make 2024/25 Bryan Mbeumo blush, and he’s one of the league’s biggest xG over performers. Unless your name is Lionel Messi, and you’re a complete statistical anomaly in every sense of the word, it’s unlikely Junior Kroupi will be able to keep it up.

The young striker isn’t the entire answer to Bournemouth’s miserable form, they haven’t won any of their last 11 Premier League games, but Andoni Iraola admitted he needs to find a way to give him more minutes.

After the defeat to Arsenal, the Spaniard said: “In games where we put him straight away as a nine, also we haven’t had the best of the results and he’s a player that his finishing is very, very good and we have to find, I have to find a way, where he can give us more things because when we play with two strikers, I feel like we lose also the control a little bit of the games.”

Bournemouth had to deal with a similar situation last season, at the other end of the pitch. Dean Huijsen burst on to the scene after a couple of injuries gave him the opportunity to make an impression.

Now, the centre back is living the dream at Real Madrid, although a recent injury has seen him miss the past month or so. Junior Kroupi can look to that as a potential pathway, it may not be the Spanish giants, but it feels like just a matter of time before one of the big boys come calling.

For the time being, he just needs to keep doing what he’s doing. He’s in striker flow state, an incredibly rare vein of form where everything he touches turns to gold. It may not be forever, but we should enjoy it while it lasts, and Bournemouth need to learn how to make the most of it.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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

Jan

2026

Joan Garcia is Barcelona’s next World Class Goalkeeper

Joan García’s performance against his former club made a statement about the quality of Barcelona’s new first-choice goalkeeper.

By Graham Ruthven

Had it not been for Joan García, Espanyol might have dented Barcelona’s title hopes in Saturday’s Derbi Barceloni. Up against his former club, the 24-year-old goalkeeper produced the performance of his career to date, pulling off several stunning saves to somehow keep a clean sheet.

García was the biggest difference between the two rivals. There was one save from Roberto Fernández in the opening 10 minutes which led to the Barca goalkeeper pushing Gerard Martín into a block when Espanyol might have otherwise found the back of the net on the rebound.

There was another fingertip save from a Pere Milla header and a one-on-one stop against Fernández when he scooped the ball away on the ground. For good measure, García denied Carlos Romero in the second half, pushing a shot around the far post when many expected the net to bulge.

It was a performance that proved why Barcelona signed García in the first place. Having a goalkeeper as good as the 24-year-old has elevated Barca’s overall level, giving them a stronger safety net at the back when they certainly needed one last season. As a last line one defence, García is about as effective as they come.

“The first thing I have to do is thank Joan García,” said Hansi Flick following García’s Man of the Match performance in Barcelona’s 2-0 win over Espanyol. “He is one of the best goalkeepers in the world. We suffered, but we took the three points and that is the message we send to LaLiga.”

Flick is right to hail García as one of the best in the world. His rise has been a rapid one, but the 24-year-old has proved his worth to Barcelona since joining in the summer, even accounting for a spell on the sidelines through injury. García’s heroic derby display was simply further confirmation of what had already been witnessed this season.

García’s save percentage of 78.6% currently stands as the highest in LaLiga this season. Of Spain’s top four teams, Barcelona have conceded the highest xG. Flick’s team are capable of out-scoring any opponent, but their high-risk approach comes at a cost. The Catalans allow a lot of opportunities against them.

That is even truer this season than it was last. Flick’s high line has been the subject of much discussion since he took over as Barcelona boss in the summer of 2024, but its effectiveness was clear in the number of times it caught opponents offside. Kylian Mbappé probably still has nightmares about the Clásico he was caught offside eight times in last term.

This season, though, the offside trap has been less effective. Opponents are timing their runs from deep better while the loss of Iñigo Martínez to the Saudi Pro League destabilised the Barcelona backline. Four teams in LaLiga have a better defensive record than Barca this season. They would have conceded even more goals without García.

“The great teams have the best goalkeepers, and he is one of them,” continued Flick, further highlighting García’s brilliance. It’s not just his shot-stopping ability that makes him a standout, but how comfortable he is on the ball. In that sense, Garcia is following in the footsteps of Victor Valdes and Marc-André ter Stegen.

He could follow in the footsteps of Iker Casillas as a World Cup-winning goalkeeper too. Spain will be among the favourites to go all the way in the USA, Canada and Mexico this summer having won Euro 2024 and García could force his way into Luis De La Fuente’s national team before then.

De La Fuente has so far favoured Unai Simón as his number one with David Raya as his back-up. Neither, however, have the potential of García, a goalkeeper tailor-made for the modern game. If he is perfect for Barcelona, why wouldn’t he be perfect for Spain? Especially when Simón remains error-prone.

Before the World Cup, García can become a Spanish title winner. Barcelona hold a four-point advantage at the top of LaLiga and appear to be in a better place than either Atlético Madrid or Real Madrid, both of whom are struggling for a coherent playing style and consistent form.

In the Champions League, Barca haven’t fared as well. The Catalans have suffered disappointing results against Paris Saint-Germain, Club Brugge and Chelsea and are slumped down in 15th place in the League Phase table. Nonetheless, Barcelona can’t be discounted as potential European champions.

García will never be the most eye-catching of Barcelona players when he shares a pitch with Lamine Yamal, Pedri and the club’s other superstars further forward. In terms of importance, though, the 24-year-old is now a central pillar of Flick’s side. There will be more performances like the one he produced against Espanyol.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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

Jan

2026

Preview: Manchester City face midweek Brighton test

It’s the mid-season grind now as far as the Premier League goes and for title hopefuls like Manchester City, only consistency in winning matters. Hosting a leaky Brighton defence should help.

By Karl Matchett

A drought!

It says a lot about how lethal he was earlier that he’s still five goals clear in the golden boot race, but Erling Haaland hasn’t scored for three games now and City could probably do with him rediscovering that clinical edge. He came close against Chelsea more than once, hitting the post in particular, but when it comes right down to it, it’s his goals which will likely prove the difference between whether City can catch Arsenal in the title race or not. When he’s plundering one or two a game, it means Pep Guardiola’s team almost certainly win. Without them, the fine margins – as the late concession of a goal against Chelsea highlight – in football mean dropping points is always a possibility.

City have created the most big chances this season, completed the most passes, scored the most goals and kept the joint-most clean sheets, but that hasn’t translated to the most points and they trail the Gunners by six points just past the halfway stage.

Reckless or ambitious?

As for the Etihad visitors, Brighton are a fun team to watch without question, but an erratic one. They seem caught between going all-out as an attack-minded team and trying to balance the number of youthful prospects in the side with some experienced and more steady heads – it’s a little chaotic overall as they are very much a ‘home’ team: only one defeat in ten at the Amex, but only two victories from ten on the road.

Recent form

Ten unbeaten in all competitions for Manchester City, a run of eight straight victories and then two draws of late. Brighton were on a run of six without a win until beating Burnley last time out. Albion have also conceded six in their last three away league games and haven’t won back-to-back matches since November.

Team news

Further emphasising the need for City to fire in attack are a spate of defensive injuries, which now sees Joško Gvardiol and Rúben Dias added to John Stones and the absent Rayan Aït-Nouri.

Omar Marmoush is also still away with Egypt. Mateo Kovačić is a long-term absentee but Rodri is back in action. Carlos Baleba is away at AFCON too for Brighton, with Yankuba Mintah likely to miss out, while Stefanos Tzimas is definitely out.

Key players

Rayan Cherki has been outstanding recently and although he’ll likely be rested sooner or later, with Savinho a doubt, Antoine Semenyo not having signed yet and both Oscar Bobb and Marmoush unavailable, he could be required to continue. Over the last year he’s ahead of 99% of European midfielders for chances created and all 100% for touches of the ball. In the Premier League this term he’s top for assists, xA per 90 and big chances created.

*Rayan Cherki’s passing numbers in the Premier League this season*

Prediction

Might be more chances and goals than you’d expect as Brighton look to make a match of it, but firepower will win out: Man City 4-2 Brighton.

(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: Barcelona meet Athletic Club in Supercopa semifinal

LaLiga leaders Barcelona have won an impressive nine league games in a row – yet Hansi Flick knows there are things to work on in the wake of a late derby win over Espanyol. The Supercopa offers a chance to hone matters against a struggling Athletic Club.

By Karl Matchett

Comebacks vs. consistency

Despite 16 wins out of a possible 19 this term, Barcelona are only four points clear of Real Madrid – such is the need to be relentless in the manner of victory to claim the title in Spain’s top flight. While the three points keep coming, Flick and his team know there’s little margin for error…and the worry will be that, too often of late, Barca have had to do it the hard way. Near the end of November, this exact fixture was played out in LaLiga and Barcelona won 4-0. Thereafter, they had to win from behind in their next three, before needing late winners in two of the most recent three. Control has been lacking too often, so Flick will want to see an improvement on that score in the Supercopa.

Even played out in the still-strange environment of Jeddah (or ‘the s**t environment’, as Athletic Club captain Iñaki Williams said), Barcelona will feel they have the early upper hand in this four-team tournament, given the other semi-final is the Madrid derby, Real v Atlético.

With the final set for Sunday, the Catalan outfit will no doubt be hoping that they can have one, rather than two, demanding fixtures to get through, rotate the team a little if necessary and emerge by retaining the trophy they won last year. The chances of that are boosted by their Basque opponents’ struggles of late.

Trying times

Ernesto Valverde’s team won the opening three league matches of 2025/26, but since then it has been a dismal campaign. Take only points won after that August run – so from 1 September – and Athletic are only just hovering outside LaLiga’s relegation zone, a more than four-month stretch which at this point is more than just bad form, it’s quickly becoming a forgettable season, despite still sitting in eighth.

As for any hopes of a shock triumph in this cup, the squad will be keenly aware that following that heavy loss at Barcelona, they also lost 3-0 to Real Madrid soon after. A victory over Atlético provides at least some confidence – but they look woefully undercooked right now.

Barcelona have seven straight wins in all competitions against two wins from the last nine for Athletic. PSG, Sevilla, Real Madrid and Chelsea remain the only teams to beat Barcelona so far this season.

Team news

Barca are without Andreas Christensen, Gavi and Ronald Araújo.

Athletic are missing Yeray, Aymeric Laporte, Yuri Berchiche and Beñat Prados.

Key player

With three goals and three assists in his last eight league games, Lamine Yamal looks like he’s gearing up again. Over the last year he’s in the top two percentile in Europe for touches, top 9% for goals for players in his position, and simply top for shots taken!

Prediction

A “home” win without too much concern this time – and another failure to find the net for the Basque outfit: Barcelona 3-0 Athletic Club.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from this week’s Supercopa tounament with FotMob – featuring deep stats coverage, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Jan

2026

Preview: Darren Fletcher takes Man United to Burnley

Burnley’s last home victory against Manchester United dates back to 2009 with the latter winning six of their eight meetings since then.

By Filip Mishov

Burnley desperate for a spark to end their three-month winless run

Scott Parker finds himself under severe scrutiny after defeat to Brighton extended the Clarets’ winless run to 11 games at the start of the new year, leaving Burnley second from the bottom in the Premier League standings. And with Wolves finding a bit of form lately, the Lancashire club is now one of the most out-of-form teams in the top flight, boasting both the third-worst defence (39 goals conceded) and attack (20 goals scored) after 20 league rounds played. With this match against United, and games versus Liverpool and Spurs coming soon, the writing could be on the wall for the under-fire coach if results do not improve quickly.

Ruben Amorim’s disastrous reign at Old Trafford finally came to an end on Monday as the Portuguese coach seemingly forced the club’s hand after his latest public outburst. The decision leaves the Red Devils in no man’s land midseason, with their U18s coach, Darren Fletcher, taking over first-team duties for the Turf Moor visit at the least. The former midfielder began his coaching career only last summer, and although the sample is quite limited, a change of system feels inevitable, with a back four in a 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 formation, aided by fast-attacking football, which the 41-year-old has successfully implemented in the youth side.

Key players

Jaidon Anthony is Burnley’s main attacking threat this season and the Englishman’s importance grew further in recent weeks with both Lyle Foster and Zian Flemming absent due to international duty and injury, respectively. The electric winger is leading the way in terms of goals + assists (5) and the 26-year-old is the second-best chance creator (15) in the squad, earning him an average FotMob rating of 6.70.

Casemiro continues to play a central role in United’s starting XI and despite the Brazilian’s contract running down, he has been one of Manchester United’s top performers this season, averaging a FotMob rating of 7.17, the fourth-highest in the squad. Furthermore, the 33-year-old is ranking high in more than a few key categories for his position – blocks per 90 (0.7) being one, and only Manuel Ugarte (4.8) is ahead of Casemiro for tackles per 90 (3.1). He is also outshining a lot of his teammates in an attacking sense, with only three players scoring more than the four goals he has recorded in the Premier League.

Team news

A number of players are missing in Scott Parker’s squad for various reasons and most are not expected to be back for the upcoming match. Hannibal Mejbri and Lyle Foster are, however due back from AFCON duty with Maxime Estève also close to a return.

For United, captain Bruno Fernandes and Mason Mount are back in training and expected to be in the squad and to get some minutes in the match, but Matthijs de Ligt, Harry Maguire and Kobbie Mainoo remain doubtful while all of those players away at the AFCON represent sides who have made it through to the tournament’s quarterfinals.

Prediction

Even though the Red Devils are in turmoil both on and off the pitch, the Clarets are in much worse position at the moment, and I expect a debut win for Darren Fletcher at the helm of Manchester United to lift their spirits and kickstart the chase for a top four finish.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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

Jan

2026

Preview: Bournemouth take on Spurs in a game both sides are desperate to win

Can Tottenham Hotspur overcome a struggling Bournemouth side to ease the growing pressure on Thomas Frank?

By Graham Ruthven

Tottenham troubles

Tottenham Hotspur’s home 1-1 draw against Sunderland followed a familiar pattern for Thomas Frank’s team this season, adding to the sense of frustration around the North London club.

After taking the lead, Spurs invited pressure on to themselves, making Sunderland’s second half equaliser an inevitability. It was another indicator of Frank’s failure to forge a team capable of playing on the front foot for 90 minutes.

Bournemouth are experiencing troubles of their own. The Cherries are without a win in their last 11 league games and have conceded 14 goals in their last five outings. Andoni Iraola must find a way to tighten things up.

Not so long ago, Frank and Iraola were both considered among the best managers in the Premier League. Now, they are under pressure to turn around the fortunes of their respective sides.

Key players

Ireola insists Antoine Semenyo will feature against Tottenham despite the Ghanaian being on the verge of a £65m transfer to Manchester City. Semenyo is Bournemouth’s top scorer this season and will be a threat in attacking transition should he play.

Evanilson found the back of the net against Arsenal on Saturday and will lead the line for Iraola’s team once more on Wednesday. Only Semenyo has a higher Expected Goals (xG) than the Brazilian forward this term.

Alex Scott and Marcus Tavernier will start in central midfield with Justin Kluivert ahead of them in a free role behind the forward line. Tavernier has created 26 chances in total this season, highlighting his creative threat.

Richarlison has scored seven goals in 20 league outings and is at his best when he is a chaos merchant in the opposition box. His erratic finishing, however, can be an issue.

As can Tottenham’s lack of creativity in possession. Archie Gray and João Palhinha are expected to start in central midfield – the pair have created just one Big Chance between them this season.

Xavi Simons could return for the visitors after seeing red against Liverpool. The Dutch international was starting to find his feet for Spurs before his suspension and has been missed in recent matches.

Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven are top-level central defenders on their day, but have struggled to find their best form this season, like so many Tottenham Hotspur players.

Team news

Tyler Adams is still sidelined through injury for Bournemouth and will be a big miss in the centre of the pitch for the hosts on Wednesday. Ben Gannon-Doak and Veljko Milosavljević are also unavailable for the Cherries.

Tottenham’s injury list remains a lengthy one with James Maddison, Dominic Solanke, Dejan Kulusevski, Yves Bissouma and Destiny Udogie all stuck in the treatment room.

Mohammed Kudus is a doubt after limping off with a knock against Sunderland. In better news for Spurs, as mentioned, Simons is back from a three-game suspension and is expected to come back into the starting lineup.

Prediction

For all the concern among Spurs supporters, their side remain the second best on the road in the Premier League this season, so with them, and Bournemouth desperate for a result, we’ll go for a draw. A scoreline that doesn’t really suit anyone: Bournemouth 1-1 Tottenham.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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

Jan

2026

Preview: Chelsea visit neighbours Fulham before Rosenior appointment

Both Fulham and Chelsea snatched late equalisers to bag precious points in the previous round of fixtures. There isn’t any reason either shouldn’t be looking to go one better when they meet at Craven Cottage in midweek.

By Alex Roberts

It’s been a mental week for Chelsea, even by their standards. Enzo Maresca walked out after what appeared to be some major differences with the board only for under-21s boss Calum McFarlane to come in and pull off a tactical masterclass against none other than Pep Guardiola.

Liverpool looked set to secure the win in Fulham’s last game, only for Harrison Reed to rocket in a 97^th minute goal of the season contender. This West London derby should be pretty tasty.

Keeping Liam Rosenior’s seat warm

Liam Rosenior being appointed the next Chelsea manager is looking like nothing more than a formality, but he won’t be in charge for this one. McFarlane will get a second bite of the cherry in a must win game for the club.

McFarlane certainly deserves his flowers, though. This time last week, his pass didn’t even let him into Chelsea’s first team training complex, he turned up to the Etihad with a notebook that said ‘Academy Staff’ on the front.

He managed to galvanise a squad that by all accounts loved Maresca. Picking up a much-needed win over West London rivals Fulham would further cement his status as a cult hero for Chelsea, and who knows, give him some cred should another first team opportunity come knocking.

Harry Wilson is tearing it up

The now 28-year-old was a bit of a wonderkid at Liverpool, but after a bunch of loans, Wilson finally found his home at Fulham. Since joining back in 2021, he’s never been in the kind of form he is now.

Wilson scored the opener against his former club last time out, but his celebrations were muted as VAR checked to see if he was offside. He then RIGHTFULLY erupted once it was given, none of that ‘woke’ not celebrating against a former club nonsense.

*Harry Wilson’s shot map in the Premier League this season*

It was the latest in a run of really fine performances from the Welshman. Wilson now has eight goal contributions in his last ten Premier League games, which is already his best return for the club in England’s top flight. Adding one or two against Chelsea would be sweet.

Team news

Chelsea will be happy to have Moisés Caicedo back following his suspension against Man City, it’ll be another five yellow cards (or a red) before another one, so we’ll probably be talking about it again in a month or so.

Robert Sánchez (muscle) is still a doubt for this one after being forced to pull out of the City game shorty before kick-off. It’s the same for Wesley Fofana, who missed the draw due to an illness.

Marc Cucurella is also a doubt with a hamstring injury, but McFarlane will definitely be without Roméo Lavia (thigh), Dário Essugo (thigh), and Levi Colwill (ACL).

Fulham are going to miss their Nigerian trio Alex Iwobi, Calvin Bassey, and Samuel Chukwueze for a little longer following their 4-0 AFCON round of 16 win over Mozambique on Monday.

The Chelsea game will likely come too early for Kenny Tete (knock), Ryan Sessegnon (hamstring), and Josh King (knee), as they’re all expected to return over the next couple of weeks.

Rodrigo Muniz (hamstring) will definitely be out.

Prediction

Fulham are a good side, but they’re even better at home. There games are usually pretty tight, and with Chelsea’s current predicament, we’re going with a 1-1 draw.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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

Jan

2026

Danny Rohl’s Rangers revival could spark a title challenge

We’ve been here before, haven’t we? Rangers go on a poor run of form, sack the manager, appoint someone else who then begins in a positive manner.

By Ross Kilvington

For reference, you only need to go back and look at the opening few months of both Michael Beale and Phillippe Clement’s stints in charge of Rangers.

Both went on impressive winning runs, before their time in Glasgow was cut short due to poor results and performances.

Danny Röhl, on the contrary, didn’t exactly enjoy the best of starts when taking over from Russell Martin in October.

Indeed, he lost three of his opening five matches, including Europa League losses to Brann and Roma, with a League Cup semi-final loss to Celtic sandwiched in between.

Since a 3-0 win over Dundee on November 9, Rangers have lost just once in the Premiership – to league leaders Hearts – and this run culminated in a wonderful 3-1 win over Celtic at Parkhead on Saturday.

Comeback win over Celtic could prove to be a catalyst for Rangers

Prior to the second Old Firm clash of the Premiership season, Rangers had secured a single victory at Parkhead this decade.

After a dismal 45 minutes, it certainly appeared as though another defeat in enemy territory was on the cards.

A stunning solo effort from Yang Hyun-Jun gave the hosts the lead and it was one-way traffic as Rohl looked out of ideas.

Whatever was said at halftime clearly worked, as the Light Blues emerged with renewed vigour.

Thelo Aasgaard was brought off for Mohamed Diomande, who offered much more in the heart of the pitch as Röhl moved to a flat three in midfield.

Within four minutes of the restart, Nicolas Raskin drifted into the Celtic penalty area before setting up Youssef Chermiti to equalise.

Less than ten minutes later, Chermiti pounced on a mistake to race towards goal and score his second of the afternoon to give Rangers the lead. A lead which looked highly unlikely just 15 minutes prior.

Loanee Mikey Moore wrapped up all three points with a well taken effort just inside the penalty area and the result leaves Rangers level on points with their rivals in the league table.

Hearts still lead the way by six points, however, this result might well be the catalyst for Röhl and his men to continue building momentum.

If he continues to get the best out of some of his players, then a title challenge is very much on.

Zero to hero

“£8m down the drain, Chermiti scores again” was chanted by the vibrant away end at Parkhead following his exploits against the defending champions.

Prior to the Old Firm clash, however, the former Everton man had scored just twice for the Gers after signing in an £8m move during the summer.

While the result against Celtic might prove to be a real turning point in their bid for a 56^th league title, might Chermiti’s two-goal salvo kickstart his Rangers career?

Over the festive period, his performances were improving. He registered five shots in the 1-0 win over Hibs while linking up well with those around him.

A late goal against Hearts was nothing more than a consolation and he then went on to grab an assist against St Mirren in the last match of 2026.

He certainly looked clinical against Celtic, taking his second goal especially well and it will surely give him a major confidence boost heading into the next few games.

If Röhl can get this type of display out of a player who, by all accounts, looked finished as a Rangers player a few weeks ago, just think of others in the squad who will look to kick on now.

A change in midfield could be the way forward

Aasgaard registered zero shots against Celtic, succeeding with a single dribble and was even booked during the opening 45 minutes when deployed in a number ten role.

Diomande replaced him and Röhl shifted to a flat midfield three of him, Raskin and Connor Barron.

It worked beautifully in the second half, with the trio being involved in the first and third goals as they linked together superbly.

Will the second half performance at Parkhead convince Röhl that a flat midfield three is the way forward? It is certainly an option.

Barron has been given a new lease of life under the German and his defensive attributes allow others to have free reign in the final third.

Indeed, the Scot averages six ball recoveries in the Premiership this season, along with averaging 2.87 tackles and 1.15 interceptions per match.

Impressive stats to say the least. With Aasgaard being miles off it since joining the club, having Barron operating alongside Raskin and Diomande could well be the change that sees Rangers turn the screw and emerge as title contenders.

This looked a distant dream a few weeks ago, but Röhl has steadied the ship and then some, no doubt about that.

A double header against a managerless Aberdeen is the next challenge. On Tuesday, the Gers play host to the Dons, before travelling to the North East on Sunday afternoon (weather permitting).

Six points from six would be the perfect follow up to that excellent win at Parkhead. With league matches against Dundee and Kilmarnock coming up after that Aberdeen double-header, Röhl will be licking his lips as the prospect of winning seven Premiership matches in succession.

Football eh? It’s a funny old game.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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Jan

2026

Preview: Managerless Chelsea head to Manchester City

Where to start with this one? Man City host managerless Chelsea (at the time of writing) in the first game of the post-Enzo Maresca era as Pep Guardiola’s side hope to keep league leading Arsenal within touching distance.

By Alex Roberts

Chelsea’s frustrating 2-2 draw with Bournemouth was ultimately Maresca’s final game at the club. Results haven’t been great, one win in seven Premier League games is damning, but its clear other factors have been at play.

As for City, a pretty exciting 0-0 draw with Sunderland last time out, ending an eight-game winning run across all competitions leaves them five points off Arsenal at the top of the Premier League.

New year, same circus

Maresca became the first manager in Premier League history to be sacked, or leave by mutual consent, depending on who you ask, on New Year’s Day. Not the best way to start 2026 but a fat cheque will have likely smoothed things over.

It’s just the latest in a long line of confusing decisions made by the club’s sporting directors and ownership. Yes, it was a poor end to 2025, but reports are suggesting that this wasn’t necessarily due to footballing reasons, but more because Maresca was less willing to be a yes man led by those who face zero accountability.

There have also been reports that Maresca was in talks with Man City over eventually taking over from Guardiola, so maybe Chelsea decided to pull the trigger before he jumped ship. Under-21s boss Calum McFarlane will be keeping the seat warm for Liam Rosenior in this one.

Rayan Cherki lighting it up

Getting back to the stuff that happens on the pitch, Rayan Cherki is starting to look like the Kevin de Bruyne replacement Man City replaced him to be. He was good in the Sunderland draw, but incredible in the 2-1 win over Nottingham Forest.

Playing off the right, Cherki’s goal and assist will get all the headlines, and rightfully so, but his overall performance shouldn’t go overlooked. He created the most chances in the game (3), completed two successful dribbles, and won five ground duels.

He now has two goals and seven assists in his 14 Premier League games, only nine of which have been from the first whistle. Comparisons with Liverpool’s Florian Wirtz feel a little insulting at this point.

Team news

Maresca is gone, but there are still a few things we can say for certain with Chelsea. Moisés Caicedo is once again suspended after picking up his fifth yellow card in the 2-2 draw with Bournemouth, even if it was harsh.

Jorrel Hato (discomfort), and Marc Cucurella (hamstring) are both out, leaving Chelsea without a natural left-back. Levi Colwill (ACL), Dário Essugo (thigh), and Roméo Lavia (thigh) are also out.

Don’t expect too many changes from Guardiola. Omar Marmoush and Rayan Aït Nouri are both away at AFCON, while Mateo Kovačić (ankle), John Stones (muscle), and Oscar Bobb (muscle) are both also out. Savinho is a doubt.

Prediction

This isn’t going to be a good day for Chelsea fans. No manager, little confidence, and with Caicedo out, we expect City to put in a BIG BOY performance and teach the visitors a lesson. So, 4-1 to City.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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Jan

2026

Preview: High-flying Sunderland visit struggling Spurs

After playing out two very different goalless draws on New Year’s Day, Tottenham Hotspur and Sunderland meet for their second fixture of 2026.

By Neel Shelat

Tottenham’s desperate search for goals

Tottenham Hotspur have scored just two goals in their last four matches, both of which came from corner kicks. Frankly, they have not been creating much else, as their combined open play xG tally from those games is as low as 1.9.

The absence of many key forwards and creators has not helped Spurs’ case. Xavi Simons remains suspended for this match after receiving a straight red card against Liverpool, so his side are left without any recognised attacking midfielders as both James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski are sidelined with long-term injuries. Lucas Bergvall’s groin issue further limits the midfield, while Dominic Solanke and Destiny Udogie are also missed going forward.

Even so, the appalling lack of attacking intent or any semblance of creative ideas cannot simply be justified by injuries. Fans are growing increasingly frustrated with Thomas Frank – particularly after their first goalless draw in 137 league matches – so a much-improved performance at home will be critical.

Sunderland seeking first win over Spurs since 2010

Sunderland preserved their status as one of just two Premier League sides to be unbeaten at home this season with a mightily spirited performance against Manchester City, all while making do without six of their African players, namely DR Congo duo Arthur Masuaku and Noah Sadiki, Burkina Faso captain Bertrand Traoré, Moroccan winger Chemsdine Talbi, Senegalese midfielder Habib Diarra, and experienced Mozambican defender Reinildo.

All of their respective teams have advanced to the knockouts, so the Black Cats will have to contend without them for the next couple of games at least. Nevertheless, with just one defeat in their last seven games, they will back themselves to end a run of 16 games without a win against Tottenham.

Key players

Sunderland will be keen to win the midfield battle in this match, and they will be counting on the quality of Granit Xhaka to make the difference both with and without the ball. His forward passing will surely benefit Enzo Le Fée, who has looked quite lively in recent games but is without a goal or assist in five.

Spurs, meanwhile, may well look down their right wing to get some attacking inspiration. Pedro Porro is one of the precious few creative passers in the side at the moment, although a significant proportion of his threat comes from dead-ball deliveries. Mohammed Kudus has not put together a good run of form since his summer transfer, but a month-long goal involvement drought in the league is a new low.

Both strikers will also have an important role to play in terms of making the most out of likely limited service. Brian Brobbey has shown excellent work rate in recent matches but only has two goals and nine shots in 14 league appearances, while Richarlison will be keen to get the goals to show for a long-awaited string of consecutive appearances.

Prediction

A quiet affair is to be expected between two teams that are clearly prioritising defence first, particularly as Sunderland play away from home. A low-key draw or a one-goal victory are the most likely outcomes.

(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.