Page 65 – The Pulse of Football

Oct

2025

Bayern wonderkid Lennart Karl has arrived

Lennart Karl is wearing Jamal Musiala’s number and is following in his footsteps as Bayern Munich’s next great talent.

It takes a lot to catch the eye at Bayern Munich. This is a team that has started the 2025/26 season by winning 13 out of 13 matches in all competitions. Harry Kane is breaking Bundesliga records with his goalscoring while Luis Díaz and Michael Olise continue to deliver. It is a 17-year-old wonderkid, however, who has dominated most recent discussion.

If you didn’t know Lennart Karl’s name a week ago, you do now, especially if you have any interest in German football. While the teenager made his Bayern debut at the Club World Cup, it’s only in the last seven days that he has truly announced himself, scoring in back-to-back games against Club Brugge and Borussia Mönchengladbach.

Both goals were sensational. Against Club Brugge, Karl dropped a shoulder to lose a couple of defenders before driving forward to the edge of the box and firing into the back of the net from 18 yards out. A few days later against Gladbach, the 17-year-old did something similar, finding the top corner with a curling left-footed strike.

*xG shot map for Karl’s goal vs. Gladbach*

These two goals were an introduction that illustrate exactly what Karl offers. He is a diminutive playmaker with the ability to beat opponents on the dribble, get in between the lines and pose a threat in and around the penalty box. There will be many more moments like the ones Karl produced against Brugge and Gladbach.

Standing at just 5′ 6″, Karl’s low centre of gravity makes it almost impossible to knock him off the ball. The teenager can change direction quickly and is comfortable with both feet. He can absorb possession in tight spaces and make something of it, twisting and turning to find space.

Of course, it’s not unheard of for a player so young to have such a high level of technical ability. Karl joined the Bayern Munich academy at the age of 12 and has had the most sophisticated footballing education. It’s easy to see the hard work of his coaches in the way he plays.

However, it’s not so common to see a teenager with Karl’s sharpness in decision making. He has the sort of composure one would expect of a player who has multiple seasons at the elite level under their belt. Karl looks at home among some of the best players in the world and at the highest level of the German and European game.

“As a young player, you don’t have pressure. I want Lennart to feel that too,” said Vincent Kompany when asked about Karl’s development in the first team. “He has to enjoy what he’s doing. If he makes mistakes, we’ll discuss it. Hopefully, at some point, the pressure will be on his shoulders. But for now he should enjoy these moments without any pressure.”

It’s too early for Karl to be considered a starter for Bayern Munich. The Bavarians boast arguably the strongest forward line in European football right now with Kane, Díaz and Olise combining for 30 goals in all competitions this season. And this is with Jamal Musiala still to return from injury in the new year.

Karl could also improve his off-the-ball work which will be expected if the attacking midfielder is to become a key figure in Kompany’s team moving forward. He must learn to apply himself in the counter-press and also add positional discipline to his game. These things should come with maturity and physical development.

Nonetheless, not since the emergence of Musiala has Bayern Munich produced such an exciting young talent. Comparisons between the pair are unavoidable, especially because Karl has taken Musiala’s former shirt number. The two players operate in the same position and play the game in a similar way.

Musiala tends to drift to the left while Karl is more comfortable shaded to the right. It’s not impossible that the pair could operate in the same team in the future. They embody Bayern Munich’s future, and increasingly their present, with Karl making an impact in his last two appearances.

This season could be a special one for Bayern Munich. The Bavarians are so far clear at the top of the Bundesliga table that they might as well hand out the trophy now while commanding victories over Chelsea, Pafos, and Club Brugge have made an early statement on Bayern’s chances of winning the Champions League.

Last season, Kompany built a foundation through his possession-heavy approach that Bayern Munich are now building on. Not only is their frontline firing on all cylinders, the midfield and defence appears better balanced than it did last term. The emergence of Karl, however, could be the true significance of this season. He is a Bayern superstar in the making.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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

Oct

2025

The five Bournemouth stars behind their rise this season

Second in the Premier League, unbeaten since the opening day away to the champions, nearly £100m in profits banked in the summer transfer market. Can it really stay so good for Bournemouth?

By Karl Matchett

Incredible start, critical test

After a late and undeserved 4-2 defeat at Liverpool back in August, Bournemouth have rattled off five wins and three draws in the next eight. That has taken them to behind only Arsenal, with only Spurs, Man City and Chelsea (17) scoring more goals than the Cherries (16). It’s the hottest of hot streaks for a club which has never finished higher than ninth, but talk is already starting over how much better it could get. To answer that, they need to reach the next international break without a major setback and the two games are tough: away to Man City and Aston Villa, perhaps neither one at their absolute best yet but both showing that when they are in the mood, they are tough to stand against. City have scored ten in their last three home games; Villa have won four on the bounce. A two-match litmus test of just how good Andoni Iraola’s side really are in 2025/26.

Star of the show

It will be described as a group effort publicly, but a handful of players on the pitch are definitely outperforming this year – with Antoine Semenyo front and centre in that group. Despite summer rumours he did not join Dean Huijsen, Milos Kerkez, Dango Ouattara and Ilya Zabarnyi in leaving the club and has instead started the season flying.

Six league goals puts him second behind only goal machine Erling Haaland (11) but it’s his all-round contribution which is so impressive. The powerhouse attacker also has three assists and is third in the squad for final third possession won per 90, second for chances created (11) and top for xG (3.8), dribbles completed per 90 (2.2)…and big chances missed (4) if anyone’s keeping tally. He could be even closer to Haaland.

Determined, direct, incredibly skilful and capable of rocketing off a shot with either foot, he’s a handful coming in off the channels, a brilliant outlet for the team under pressure and is showing the consistency of top players too: across the last year he ranks above 80% of other attacking midfielders or wingers around Europe for defensive actions, shots and goals – plus 95% of them for aerials won – and all this despite only ranking ahead of fewer than a third of them (29%) of them for touches.

Cherries’ super spine

Semenyo is not, of course, doing it alone. Iraola has put in place a consistent backbone of the team despite those defensive departures last summer, which – so far at least – has proven a sound foundation.

Goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic had his detractors at Chelsea but has a 71% save rate this term, preventing 1.7 goals already – that’s fifth-best in the league, with his four clean sheets good enough for joint-third highest at this stage. Ahead of him, Marco Senesi was arguably third choice at centre back last term but has begun this campaign in very good form, with 8.0 clearances per 90 putting him behind only Virgil van Dijk among those to make 50 or more this term. A word too for Alex Scott, who looks to have finally put injury and inconsistency behind him and who has been excellent as part of Bournemouth’s double-pivot midfield.

He won’t necessarily top the numbers game, but his industrious off-the-ball efforts are crucial both defensively and offensively, while he’s also a key conduit for the team’s build-up play, getting it swiftly into the feet of the key chance-creators further upfield. Scott isn’t a headline-grabber, yet is one of those can-do-everything players who is somehow good at both ball-winning and ball-playing, running backwards and getting shots away forwards.

And finally, short-term impact though it is so far, Eli Junior Kroupi cannot be overlooked. The 19-year-old arrived last winter, stayed on loan at Lorient and began as sub for Evanilson – but has four goals in 165 minutes and given that low gametime is second in the league for shots per 90, top for on target per 90 and is second in Bournemouth’s squad for final third possession wins per 90. Iraola has already pointed out he has plenty to learn outside the box, but it’s a stunning start inside it.

Iraola and the Champions League

But back to the star on the sidelines. It seems utterly improbable that Andoni Iraola will next season do anything but manage in the Uefa Champions League – it just remains to be seen where that is. Perhaps he could feasibly move to a ‘fallen giant’ if one is outside the top clubs, but right now it appears equally possible that he qualifies for it with Bournemouth. One spanner in the works: his contract is up at the end of the season.

Of course, guaranteeing eight games in Europe’s top competition – where he only actually played three times in his career with Athletic Club – would be a pretty good incentive to get him to pen for another year or two, yet it feels unrealistic that if he got a mid-table team to gatecrash the most expensive party on planet football, that the biggest and brightest wouldn’t come calling. The first job though is, not-so-simply, to get there – and Bournemouth fans are absolutely loving the journey. The future can wait, be it for celebration or ‘only’ continued progress.

(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.

Oct

2025

Jambos on the March: Hearts’ title dream is beginning to take shape

Hearts’ 3-1 victory over Celtic at Tynecastle on Sunday has sent the supporters into a state of euphoria that arguably hasn’t been seen since the beginning of the 2005/06 season.

By Ross Kilvington

Then, under the leadership of George Burley, the Jambos won their opening eight league matches, including a 1-0 triumph over Rangers, to lead the table.

Just a few weeks later, Burley was gone. Sacked by owner/autocrat/dictator Vladimir Romanov prior to a game against Dunfermline.

The Jambos have tasted success in the Scottish Cup since then, but another early season ascent to the top of the league table has never materialised.

That is until now. Derek McInnes has brought the feel good factor back to Tynecastle. Could the statement win over Celtic be the catalyst for a chance to break the Old Firm duopoly?

Hearts’ stunning win over Celtic cements title aspirations

At a packed Tynecastle, Hearts began like a steam train. Indeed, it took just eight minutes for them to open the scoring courtesy of an own goal by Celtic youngster Dane Murray.

The Parkhead side improved, equalising thanks to Callum McGregor. With the tie finely poised 1-1 at the interval, McInnes’ men began the second half how they started the first – ruthlessly.

Seven minutes in, summer signing Alexandros Kyziridis received the ball before cutting inside to unleash a wonderful effort from just outside the box to restore Hearts’ advantage.

A few minutes later, the home side won a penalty which was duly converted by Lawrence Shankland. In the end, it was a straightforward victory for the Tynecastle side, moving them eight points clear in the Premiership.

With news breaking on Monday evening that Brendan Rodgers has left Celtic, can this be the season that Hearts win their first title since 1960?

If so, the club’s excellent summer recruitment could turn out to be the deciding factor.

Tony Bloom and Jamestown Analytics have worked wonders

When Bloom paid £10m for a 29% worth of non-voting shares in the summer, there was certainly murmurs that Hearts where on the cusp of a new dawn.

“I’m not saying we’re going to win trophies this season, that season, next season but I genuinely believe that we will be a significant factor in Scottish football right here, right now and for the long term.” Said the 55-year-old a few months ago. This prediction appears to be coming true.

While investment was important, the club’s exclusive use of renowned data tool, Jamestown Analytics, has been vital for their early season success.

Given the nature of what Hearts are up against, it wouldn’t be a disservice to herald the use of Jamestown as their equivalent of a ‘Moneyball’ approach to identify undervalued talent.

Most Scottish clubs either recruit from within the country, or sign those who are on the scrapheap in England, offering them a chance to get their careers back on track.

Not Hearts. Of their ten summer arrivals, only one joined from a British club. Of the other nine, players were signed from the Norwegian second tier, the Italian third tier and the Slovakian top flight.

In total, Hearts spent just £2.6m during the summer window. scouring the far corners of Europe and beyond to unearth talent is something that Bloom has utilised on many occasions for Brighton and it now seems to be working wonders for Hearts.

Claudio Braga has arguably been the most impressive signing. A player joining from a Norwegian team who finished fourth in the second tier shouldn’t have had as big an impact, but the forward is currently jointly leading the Premiership scoring charts with five goals.

Furthermore, the Portuguese striker excels in other areas, ranking in the top 9% for successful dribbles (8) and in the top 6% for chances created (11) when compared to his peers in the top flight.

Not content with just being a scoring threat, Braga clearly has many facets to his game which has helped take Hearts to the top of the table.

Kyziridis is another who has demonstrated his class this season. His effort against Celtic was one of three league goals for Hearts. More importantly, however, is his ability to generate chances for his teammates.

Indeed, the Greek winger has already registered four assists across nine league matches. Elsewhere, he also ranks in the top 7% when compared to his positional peers in the top flight for chances created (16), successful crosses (13) and in the top 4% for successful dribbles (10) and for touches in the opposition penalty area (30).

These two have made a massive difference from an attacking point of view, but McInnes wasn’t just keen on improving this area of the pitch.

Goalkeeper Alexander Schwolow was signed from Union Berlin on a free transfer in the summer. Despite being 33, the German shot-stopper has been solid between the posts since making his debut against Rangers last month.

Not only have Hearts conceded the fewest goals in the Premiership this season (7), but Schwolow has recorded the highest save percentage in the league (92.9%) and has kept four clean sheets from his five matches.

As such, his FotMob rating of 7.85 is the second highest in the division, behind only teammate Cameron Devlin.

With regulars such as Shankland recovering his form this season and centre-back Craig Halkett turning into a rock at the heart of the defence, Hearts could be on the cusp of something special.

Matches against St Mirren (tonight), Dundee and Dundee United are next up for McInnes’ side.

Win all three of those games and maybe, just maybe, the Jambos faithful can start truly believing that it might be their season.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow all SPFL games on FotMob in the 2025/26 season – with in-depth stat coverage and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Oct

2025

Brentford have embraced counter attacking football under Keith Andrews

To say it was a summer of change at Brentford would be a bit of an understatement.

By Sam McGuire

The Bees lost manager Thomas Frank to Spurs and captain Christian Nørgaard to Arsenal. Starting goalkeeper Mark Flekken left for Bayer Leverkusen while attacking duo Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa were sold for a combined £120million to Manchester United and Newcastle United, respectively.

Between them last season, Wissa and Mbeumo scored 39 goals in the Premier League, 60% of the team’s total. Add in assists and the forwards had a hand in 76% of the goals scored by the Bees.

A lot of people focused on Bournemouth being raided following a successful season but Brentford underwent a significant rebuild during the same summer they appointed a new manager.

Many had tipped them to be involved in a relegation battle following the appointment of former set piece coach Keith Andrews, but as we head into November, the Bees are 13th in the Premier League, just three points behind fifth placed Manchester City, a point behind free spending Chelsea and two being reigning champions Liverpool.

Brentford have had a tricky start to the new season. Just nine games into the campaign and they’ve already faced off against Chelsea, Manchester United, Liverpool and Manchester City. Remarkably, the Bees have taken seven points from those four clashes. They scored a late equaliser against Chelsea to claim a 2-2 draw, beat Manchester United 3-1 and then dismantled the champions at the Gtech Community Stadium on their way to a 3-2 victory last time out. City are the only team from that group to beat Andrews’ side and that was only a narrow 1-0 loss.

The Bees have managed to bed in players while also allowing others to step into the limelight following the departures of others.

For example, Kevin Schade and Igor Thiago are now the main men in attack in a post-Mbeumo and Wissa world. Thiago leads the way with six goals this term for Brentford while Schade has two. The pair are a handful for any opponent, as Andrews hinted at recently.

“The one thing we have got is individual brilliance,” said the 45-year-old.

“I think we really have that in the squad – players capable of moments. That comes from the environment, the support they get, the training model as we are big on developing players’ individual qualities.”

Dango Ouattara, a big-money signing from Bournemouth this summer, has also impressed for the Bees. He scored against Liverpool and was a real handful against West Ham United, having five shots and created three chances in that game.

The system plays to the strengths of these individuals in attack. Brentford have embraced counter-attacking football. They rank 19th for possession in the English top-flight this term but are seventh of Expected Goals and fifth for Big Chances. They might not have much of the ball but when they do, they make it count.

Caoimhin Kelleher arrived from Liverpool and has settled quickly. Despite losing Ben Mee this summer, the Bees look resolute defensively with new skipper Nathan Collins and Sepp van den Berg bossing things in the heart of the defence. Ahead of the centre-backs is another new signing, Jordan Henderson. He arrived from Ajax on a free transfer, reportedly rejecting a move to Porto. The one-time Liverpool captain replaced Nørgaard in the middle third and currently leads the way for assists with two. That is looking like one of the shrewdest signings of the summer.

The only other summer arrival was Antoni Milambo from Feyenoord. The 20-year-old signed for a reported £16million but is being eased into life in England, making just one Premier League appearance and two Carabao Cup outings. Brentford have a great track record with developing young, attacking talent, so expect Milambo to make an impression with the Bees in the near future.

Andrews, although this is his first job in management, knows what it takes to be successful in the Premier League. He’s assembled a physical side, one with pace in abundance, and he’s making sure they make the most of home advantage.

Speaking after the match against Liverpool, he said: “The team’s growing, clearly: the relationships of the players, the rapport of the players; there’s trust in the group. I wouldn’t be able to sleep at night if I felt teams were coming here and having a comfortable game.”

And no team has managed to have a comfortable game at the Gtech Community Stadium. The Bees have the joint-fourth best home record in the English top-flight and Man City, with the freescoring Erling Haaland within their ranks, are the only team to beat the Bees on home turf this season.

Brentford have a squad to really push for a top-half finish this term. They have a group of players with a point to prove and it’s the perfect storm for Andrews and his staff.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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

Oct

2025

Preview: Manchester City head to Swansea City in the Carabao

One of the more one-sided ties in the EFL fourth round takes place in Wales on Wednesday where even a heavily rotated Manchester City side should see off Swansea City – with Pep Guardiola’s side aiming for a first final in five years in a competition they once dominated.

By Karl Matchett

From four in a row to two off top

The strength in depth is what kept City competitive in this competition in the early part of Guardiola’s tenure, with even changed teams still boasting hosts of internationals and big-money signings. It led to an incredible six League Cup trophies in the space of eight seasons, including four in a row from 2016 to 2020. It also took City to joint-record holders alongside Liverpool with the most wins in the competition – but the depth now perhaps isn’t quite what it was in that particular period.

*Man City’s list of honours in the Carabao Cup*

City haven’t made the final in what will be five years come the Wembley date later this season, with Liverpool winning twice more in that period to reestablish supremacy in this second-tier tournament. But if winning the League Cup is not on the list of requirements for owners, big-club coaches have seen it as a springboard to greater successes. After last year’s fall from grace you can be sure Guardiola and his squad would love to kickstart things by winning the EFL Cup in March 2026.

A who’s who of nearly made it

Opponents and hosts Swansea have bigger things on their mind than an improbable run to Wembley right now. Another middling campaign so far of hit-and-miss football leaves them in bang average territory: Championship midtable, 13th, zero goal difference, as many matches won as drawn…as lost.

The squad speaks to a collection of could-have-beens and almost-men, once-young-hopefuls and career journeymen. There is nothing of shame or disrepute in that – these players are a single step away from the elite. But, the shortcoming of the modern-day Swansea side is perhaps that almost all of them have always been a step away from that.

Jay Fulton managed 11 games one season in the Premier League, but was never a regular until the second tier beckoned. Josh Tymon couldn’t crack it with Stoke until they were relegated. Ben Cabango didn’t break through until after Swansea went down. Cameron Burgess has yet to play a top-flight game anywhere and Ethan Galbraith debuted for Man United, but had never even played Championship level league action until this year. On-loan Malick Yalcouyé will hope in time to break that trend but he’s yet to debut for Brighton.

Recent form

Swansea have two wins, two draws and two defeats in six. Man City had won five of six prior to the weekend but lost at Aston Villa.

Team news

Ricardo Santos is missing for the hosts, with Rodri and Rayan Aït-Nouri out for the visitors.

Key player

Omar Marmoush has just returned so should start here and is a matchwinner: over the past year he’s top 82% for chances created, 92% for shots and 70% for goals compared to Europe’s finest.

Prediction

Nothing too clever about an away win really: Swansea 0-3 Man City.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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

Oct

2025

Preview: Chelsea visit Wolves for Carabao Cup clash

Vítor Pereira’s side have found some solace in the League Cup following a dismal start to their Premier League campaign, although Chelsea at Molineux on Wednesday will be their toughest test so far.

By Alex Roberts

Wolves’ two wins of the season so far have come in this tournament, beating fellow strugglers West Ham in the first round before going on to get the better of Everton in the previous.

As for Chelsea, their laboured 2-1 comeback win over League One side Lincoln City was one of several disappointing results from Enzo Maresca’s side so far. They’ll have to be much better if they want to progress this time around.

Is it time to worry about João Pedro?

Pedro stepped off a Brazilian beach and into the Chelsea first team in the summer, playing a key role in the side’s Club World Cup triumph. While he started the season well, his form has since dropped off a cliff.

The forward has now gone ten games for club and country without a goal, only providing a single assist, in Chelsea’s 2-2 draw with Brentford during that time. Pedro has only been at the club a few months, but he already looks bereft of confidence.

In the 2-1 defeat to Sunderland over the weekend, where he played in his preferred position as more of a number ten, behind Marc Guiu, he had just three touches in the opposition box, made two passes into the final third, and was dispossessed three times.

With his performances through the floor, perhaps a lower pressure cup game against Wolves is a good place to get back on it.

The start of something good?

Wolves were disappointing in their 3-2 defeat to Burnley, but the fans can take hope from the fact that main man Jørgen Strand Larsen was back amongst the goals, even if it was a penalty.

The Norwegian has impressed in this season’s League Cup, coming off the bench to score two goals in two minutes to send his side through against West Ham. He didn’t score in the win over Everton, but considering his recent fitness issues, he got some much-needed minutes in those legs.

It’s starting to feel like the writing is on the walls for Wolves, in the league at least, but stranger things have happened, and if Pereira wants to save their season, he will need to do everything he can to get the best out of Strand Larsen.

Team News

Chelsea’s injury crisis is slowly subsiding, but they’ll still be without Levi Colwill (knee), Dário Essugo (thigh), Liam Delap (thigh), Cole Palmer (groin) and Benoît Badiashile (muscle).

Maresca will likely make a few changes following their defeat to Sunderland, with Wesley Fofana, Andrey Santos, Romeo Lavia, Jorrel Hato, Jamie Gittens, and Tyrique George all available to return to Chelsea’s starting XI. Malo Gusto is also back from suspension.

As for Wolves, Pereira has a clean bill of health with no players expected to miss out through injury or suspension. Expect him to play a strong side, he knows better than anyone his side needs a win.

Prediction

We’re not expecting a particularly exciting game here. Chelsea should dominate proceedings and have most of the ball but considering their recent form, might be a little nervous if they don’t get an early goal. So we’re going with a 2-1 win for the visitors.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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

Oct

2025

Preview: Arsenal face Brighton in the Carabao

Arsenal can extend their seven-game winning run in all competitions against Brighton in the Carabao Cup.

By Graham Ruthven

More momentum

The mood at the Emirates Stadium is optimistic right now. Arsenal are four points clear at the top of the Premier League and also have a perfect record in the early stages of this season’s Champions League.

Wednesday’s match against Brighton gives the Gunners the chance to build more momentum in the Carabao Cup with Mikel Arteta’s team playing for a spot in the quarter-finals.

Arsenal enter the game on the back of a 10-game unbeaten run in all competitions. Brighton, on the other hand, saw their five-game unbeaten streak end with Saturday’s 4-2 loss to Manchester United.

It’s been over 30 years since Arsenal last won the League Cup and while the competition might not be their biggest target this season, a trophy would be some vindication of Arteta’s process.

Key players

Viktor Gyökeres will lead the line for the Gunners and will press from the front to make Brighton’s job of playing out from the back more difficult. The Swede is leading the Premier League in pressures in the final third per 90 minutes.

Eberechi Eze struck the winner against Crystal Palace and is expected to start as the number 10 once more with Martin Ødegaard still injured.

Arteta could rotate his options in midfield and defence with Cristhian Mosquera among those who could come into the lineup after making a cameo off the bench in the victory over Palace.

Diego Gómez sensationally scored four times to get Brighton through against Barnsley in the previous round and could keep his place in the team for the visit to North London.

Georginio Rutter will be an attacking threat for the away side with James Milner in line for a start in the centre of the pitch. His experience could be key for the Seagulls as they attempt to make the final eight.

Lewis Dunk and Maxim De Cuyper will come under pressure to keep things tight at the back against an Arsenal forward line that has failed to find the back of the net in just one game this season.

Team news

While Saturday’s win over Crystal Palace strengthened Arsenal’s position at the top of the Premier League, it came at a cost. Indeed, the Gunners’ injury list is now longer than it was before the weekend.

Declan Rice, William Saliba, Ricardo Califiori and Gabriel Martinelli all picked up knocks against the Eagles meaning they are doubts to take on Brighton in the Carabao Cup.

Kai Havertz, Ødegaard, Noni Madueke and Gabriel Jesus remain on the sidelines through long-term injury and will play no part in Wednesday’s match.

Kaoru Mitoma, Joel Veltman and Brajan Gruda missed the trip to Old Trafford for Brighton. The trio are closing in on a return to action, but Wednesday’s match could come too early.

Jack Hinshelwood, Solly March and Adam Webster are long-term absentees, limiting the Seagulls’ options to freshen up the side that lost to Manchester United.

Prediction

There may be a lot of changes in Mikel Arteta’s starting XI at the Emirates, but there should still be enough quality in defence to maintain their current resolve, especially with Brighton expected to change things up as well: Arsenal 2-0 Brighton.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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

Oct

2025

Preview: Newcastle meet Spurs in the Carabao Cup

Both Newcastle and Spurs will have one eye on winning the Carabao Cup this season, so it’s bad news for one of them that they’ll be going out in the last sixteen.

By Ian King

Neither Spurs or Newcastle have built much momentum this season

Spurs’ 3-0 win at Everton at the weekend was a curate’s egg of a performance, a comfortable win in which they maximised their set-piece opportunities without looking that impressive. The performance at least counterbalanced their poor performance at home to Aston Villa a week earlier.

Newcastle, meanwhile, stuttered their way to a 2-1 win against Fulham at the weekend. They’ve been masters of inconsistency so far this season, having failed to win, lose or draw twice in a row in their opening nine League matches. The goalscoring issues with which they started the season have largely evaporated, but overall performances have remained mixed.

Newcastle have had a hold over Spurs in recent years

Newcastle have won five out of the club’s last six meetings, including a 6-1 win in April 2023 and a 4-0 win almost exactly a year later.

The two clubs met in the semi-finals of this competition in 1976, with Spurs winning the first leg 1-0 but Newcastle winning the return 3-1 to book a place at Wembley, where they lost to Manchester City. Spurs have won both of the clubs’ meetings in this competition since then, winning 2-1 in 2008 and 4-0 in 2014.

The Carabao Cup is an opportunity for players who haven’t yet caught light to prove themselves

The last few weeks at Newcastle have been all about Nick Woltemade, but he’s more likely than not to be rested for this one, so we have to turn our attention elsewhere. One player who may feature who could do with a kick-start is Anthony Elanga, who cost them £55 million during the summer from Nottingham Forest but has registered neither a goal nor an assist from 13 appearances for them so far.

Spurs will also be shuffling their pack, and this may mean a start for Wilson Odobert on the right wing. Odobert has made 11 appearances for Spurs this season and hasn’t registered a goal or an assist either. The Carabao Cup is a perfect opportunity for players who have been on the fringes of a regular first-team place to demonstrate their value. Odobert is another player with a point to prove to his manager.

Schedule pressures and injury lists mean that there will be changes to both teams

Valentino Livramento, Lewis Hall, Yoane Wissa and Harrison Ashby will all be missing for Newcastle through injury, while Sven Botman is also a doubt. Both teams will probably swap out their goalkeepers, which will mean a rare sighting of the lesser-spotted Aaron Ramsdale for Newcastle, while Gugliemo Vicario – who’s earned a rest, given his recent performances for Spurs – will likely be replaced by Antonin Kinsky.

Cristian Romero, Ben Davies, Destiny Udogie, Yves Bissouma, James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski, Dominic Solanke, Kota Takai and Radu Dragusin all remain injured for Spurs, which isn’t that far off a full team’s worth of players. For Mathys Tel, Wilson Odobert, Lucas Bergvall and Archie Gray, there is an opportunity to shine.

Home advantage may be the key difference between two teams who’ve not found much consistency so far this season

Both teams go into this match having ended lengthy trophy droughts in 2025. Newcastle are the holders of this competition, while Spurs won the Europa League. Both of these wins were something of a surprise, and winning a trophy of some sort can often be a kick-start towards more sustained success, but neither have particularly looked like doing so yet this season.

Newcastle beat Fulham at the weekend but didn’t tear up any trees in doing so, and that’s been the story of their season so far, while Spurs’ have been getting the results without the performances quite being at the level which makes you believe that they’re not going to glitch out and perform in the way that they did against Aston Villa again at some point in the relatively near future.

When two teams who’ve both been somewhat inconsistent are meeting in a match for which both are expected to make changes, picking a winner feels particularly fiendish. But Newcastle have an excellent recent record in this fixture and it’s a long journey north for Spurs, and while winning a domestic trophy would be a perfect aperitif after their Europa League win, it does feel as though this trip might be a step too far. I’ll go for Newcastle to get home 2-1, but given the way these two teams have performed so far this season, anything could happen.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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

Oct

2025

Preview: Liverpool and Crystal Palace meet again

Anfield plays host to an intriguing Carabao Cup match-up on Wednesday evening as an out of sorts Liverpool take on a Crystal Palace team with just one win in October.

By Sam McGuire

The story so far

If you ignore the Community Shield (loss to Palace), Liverpool started the season with seven wins from seven across all competitions. Since then though, the Reds have won just one of six and this run includes four consecutive losses in the Premier League.

Arne Slot’s side have one of the worst defensive records in the Premier League and only five teams have conceded more than the Reds after nine matches. The reigning champions are now seven points off of the pace, injuries are racking up to key players while a number of their title winning team are out of form.

The Carabao Cup is both a hindrance and an opportunity. It is a game they don’t need right now with the squad looking thin and so many big matches on the horizon, but it’s a chance for a bit of a confidence boost.

The same could be said for the visitors too.

For Palace, they kicked off Liverpool’s losing run with a 2-1 win at Selhurst Park. Olivier Glasner’s men had been on an 19-match unbeaten run until recently. They’re now four without a win across all competitions and find themselves 10th in the Premier League. They’ve blanked in their last two outings and are struggling for clean sheets.

Recent form

The 5-1 win over Eintracht Frankfurt was a bit of a false dawn for Liverpool.

It was supposed to be a confidence boost for the Reds. Yet it was more of the same for Slot’s side in the loss to Brentford. Slot’s side conceded an early goal, couldn’t deal with the direct nature of their hosts and were wasteful in attack.

It was the same in losses against Palace, Chelsea and Manchester United too. The Premier League champions are in a rut.

The Eagles haven’t been as bad as Liverpool, but the wheels have fallen off a little bit over recent weeks. Glasner’s side conceded two late goals to Everton to bring their unbeaten run to an abrupt halt. They showed great resolve to claim a 3-3 draw with Bournemouth before back-to-back losses to AEK Larnaca and Arsenal. The game against the Cherries aside, Palace are finding goals hard to come by and that seems to be their problem.

Key Players

Both sides might rotate heavily with the focus being on other competitions. Both teams might go with strong starting XIs as they look to return to winning ways. It’s difficult to really know what either manager will do and, as a result, it’s difficult to know who might be the key players for this game.

Fede Chiesa will likely get the nod for Liverpool though, regardless of how strong Slot goes against the Eagles. He’s had an influential season for the Reds and will look to, once again, make the most of his opportunity in the team.

For Palace, Glasner isn’t going to resist the urge to play Ismaïla Sarr against Liverpool, is he? The Senegal forward has a good record against the Merseyside club and is one of the few players in Europe who seems to have the better of Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konaté on a regular basis.

Team News

Alisson Becker, Jeremie Frimpong and Giovanni Leoni all miss out for Liverpool while the expectation is that Ryan Gravenberch, Curtis Jones and Alexander Isak won’t be risked in this clash with so many big games coming up for Liverpool. Having played so much football recently it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Van Dijk and Dominik Szoboszlai rested for this clash either.

For Palace, Cheick Doucouré is still out but, other than that, Glasner appears to have a full squad to pick from.

Prediction

Under Slot, Liverpool don’t have the best record against Palace. They picked up a 1-0 win at Selhurst Park early last season but have failed to win any of the last three matches between the two teams. They could only manage a draw in the final game of the 2024/25 season, the two sides played out a 2-2 draw at Wembley in the Community Shield before Palace claimed a 2-1 win in their last meeting.

Without knowing how strong either team will go, it’s hard to predict what might happen. Liverpool have home advantage but with the way they’ve been playing recently, will it matter? We’re going to say 1-1 with the match going to penalties.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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

Oct

2025

Gilberto Mora is Mexico’s next big thing

It feels like football is getting younger and younger, mostly because it is. Some of the world’s best players are teenagers, wearing braces, doing TikTok dances, and fearlessly ripping it up on the biggest stages.

By Alex Roberts

Elite clubs are constantly on the hunt for the next big thing, scouring every corner of the earth. Many of them have landed in Mexico, hoping to snap up a 17-year-old that plays for Tijuana, Gilberto Mora.

He’s already breaking records. Over the summer he featured in Javier Aguirre’s Mexico side for their triumphant Gold Cup campaign, dazzling against North America’s biggest names.

Just 16 at the time, when a player is called up to an international tournament at that age, they must have something about them. But still, it’s almost always more of a learning experience, with little expectation of actually featuring much.

Not for Mora. Aguirre had absolutely no problem leaning on the youngster, handing him his debut in their 2-0 quarter final win over guest nation Saudi Arabia. Mora would then provide the assist for veteran striker Raúl Jiménez in their 1-0 win over Honduras in Mexico’s next game.

Aguirre was clearly impressed with his input, giving Mora the nod to start ahead of more established stars like Orbelín Pineda and Carlos Rodríguez for the final against arch rivals USA.

Mexico went on to lift the CONCACAF Gold Cup, beating Mauricio Pochettino’s lads 2-1. It was a great achievement for them, but on a personal level for Mora, he now holds the record as the youngest-ever player to lift an international trophy, aged 16 years and 265 days, overtaking Lamine Yamal and the late great Pelé.

What makes off this more interesting, is that Mora wasn’t really played in his preferred role throughout the Gold Cup and was primarily used as a midfielder. He’s more of a winger, incredibly small standing at 5’3″, but what he lacks in stature he makes up for in trickery.

Watching him play it’s easy to tell how much he loves football. Mora is so free when he steps onto the pitch, boldly getting the crowd off their seats with nutmegs and drag backs, using his remarkable close control to get the better of defenders that are old enough to be his dad.

He was just 15 when he made his Liga MX debut with the number 251 on his back. For those of you that have watched much Mexican football, that’s par for the course, it’s an unorthodox league.

Two weeks later he became the youngest goal scorer in Liga MX history, slotting home after a cross broke kindly to him around the penalty spot against Club León.

Even his manager, Juan Carlos Osorio, couldn’t help but carried away with how big of a deal Mora could be. “I hope he goes on to have a successful career,” he said after the game. “This is a triumph for the academy and for Gilberto’s family.”

He went on to play 1483 minutes across 30 league games for Tijuana last season, scoring two goals and providing one assist. It may not sound remarkable, but don’t forget Mora is a child playing in a league with a lot of pretty gruff men.

This season, he’s really starting to look the business. Playing off the left wing, although occasionally featuring up front, Mora has already beaten last season’s goal return with five in 14 across all competitions.

Mora is a modern winger, not afraid to drive toward the opposition penalty area, wriggling around defenders and striking with his preferred right foot. His low centre of gravity makes it desperately hard to get the ball off him, think Eden Hazard when he was at Chelsea, not Real Madrid.

Don’t let that make you think he’s one dimensional, however. In the game against the US, he popped up on the left demanding the ball from full-back Jorge Sánchez, turning inside and forcing ‘keeper Matt Freese into action from distance.

At club level this season, Tijuana have been happy to give him as much attacking freedom as their able, often leaving him out wide, knowing that the pros far outweigh the cons when out of possession.

He’s been an almost constant attacking threat, exceeding his xG of 2.21 by 0.79, having 17 shots, six of which have been on target, suggesting he’s adding a more clinical edge to his game.

Mora isn’t quite as creative as he should be, however, creating just eight chances for his teammates, providing one assist along the way. His 179 successful passes isn’t great either, brimming with confidence he wants the ball, knowing he can make a difference.

Having starred for Mexico’s senior team, he was called up to their under-20s for the World Cup in September. Unsurprisingly, Mora looked a cut above the rest, ending the tournament as FotMob’s highest rated player. That should make up for losing to Argentina in the quarters.

His best performance came against Spain in the group stage. Just after the half-hour mark, he nutmegs their number eight, plays it off to a teammate, who quickly feeds it back to him, allowing Mora to slot past the ‘keeper to open the scoring. He made it look so easy.

*FotMob’s best rated players at the 2025 U20 World Cup*

Spain restored parity just before the break, then went 2-1 up in the 81^st minute thanks to a penalty from Udinese striker Iker Bravo. Mora wasn’t having that. He didn’t hesitate when the ball fell to him six minutes later, sending in a gentle yet well placed volley to make it 2-2.

Mora has everything in his locker to become a household name, although there are, of course, still a few things that can be improved up. His decision making isn’t great, he also needs to bulk up a bit, but we’ll put that down to him being a kid.

It’s just a matter of time before he’s playing somewhere in Europe. Real Madrid and Barcelona have already been linked, but they’ll have to wait until he’s 18 before he can officially join.

Wherever he ends up, Mora will be fine.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow Liga MX on FotMob during the 2025/26 season – with in-depth stat coverage, xG, and player ratings, where available. Download the free app here.