All posts by z3u9t.icu

Leeds United are back in action once again in the Championship as they travel away from Yorkshire to take on Norwich City at Carrow Road this evening.

The Whites are looking to record a third straight win in the second tier as they aim to move into the automatic promotion places, in their bid to reach the Premier League this season.

Daniel Farke’s side have only lost once in seven league matches so far this term and have kept five clean sheets in their last six outings in the division.

Leeds are up against Norwich for the first time they beat them 4-0 at Elland Road in the second leg of the play-offs, and at Carrow Road for the first time since their 0-0 draw in the first leg.

The Canaries are under new management, however, and Johannes Hoff Thorup aims to succeed where David Wagner failed and claim a victory over the Whites.

Farke’s team come into this game off the back of a 3-0 win over Coventry last time out and the German head coach will have to make at least one change to his starting XI from that match, as Ethan Ampadu has been ruled out.

The player who could replace Ethan Ampadu

The Leeds boss revealed in his pre-match press conference that the Wales international will be out of team training for around ten weeks with a knee injury.

Ampadu was forced off in the first half against the Sky Blues and is now expected to be out of action until January, as he will need time to get back to full fitness after his eventual return to training.

Ao Tanaka was brought on to replace the former Chelsea man and Farke must now unleash the summer signing from the start for the first time, after his impressive showing off the bench.

Minutes played

49

Pass accuracy

94%

Key passes

0

Duels won

3/4

Tackles

2

Interceptions

2

As you can see in the table above, the Japan international provided an incredibly reliable presence at the base of the midfield alongside Ilia Gruev.

He was thrown in during the first half and did not take any time to settle in against Coventry, as shown by his super pass success rate and duel success rate.

Tanaka, despite his slight frame, immediately adapted to the physicality of the match to win an impressive 75% of his duels, which helped him to complete two tackles and two interceptions.

There is also more to come from the midfielder, who played a superb pass in the build-up to the third goal, as he has the potential to offer quality in the final third.

The 26-year-old star scored seven goals in 24 starts in the 2. Bundesliga during the 2023/24 campaign and could, therefore, offer a threat at the top end of the pitch.

Alongside Tanaka, Farke could also make a change at the top end of the pitch as Mateo Joseph could be brutally ditched from the XI to unleash Joel Piroe from the start, who could benefit from the Japanese maestro’s forward passes.

Why Joel Piroe should start

Firstly, this is the second of three games in the space of six days for Leeds and the head coach may want to rotate his squad to avoid fatigue and further injuries, following the blow to Ampadu.

This means it could make sense to drop Joseph down to the bench to keep him fresh for Friday night’s clash with Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.

However, this is a decision that should also be made because of Piroe’s impressive form off the bench for the West Yorkshire outfit in recent weeks.

The former Swansea centre-forward, who was described as “dangerous” by journalist Josh Bunting, came off the bench to score the third goal against Coventry on Saturday, meeting Wilfried Gnonto’s cross to find the back of the net with a well-controlled finish after Tanaka’s fantastic through ball to the Italian winger.

That was Piroe’s third goal in four Championship games for Leeds, having also scored against Hull and Cardiff, despite being a substitute in all four of those outings.

The 25-year-old marksman, who scored 13 goals in 31 starts in the 2023/24 campaign, has caught the eye with his performances in limited minutes so far this term.

Appearances

7

Starts

1

xG

1.65

Goals

3

Assists

1

Minutes per goal

55

As you can see in the table above, the left-footed ace has outperformed his xG and provided four direct goal contributions in seven appearances, despite starting one game.

He has been incredibly effective and now, with three games in six days, could be the right moment for Farke to finally unleash him from the start against Norwich, with Tanaka also coming in to provide the striker with the ball in dangerous areas.

Mateo Joseph's form this season

Joseph has started the season as the first-choice centre-forward option for Leeds and has shown plenty of promise with his displays, albeit there is plenty of room for improvement.

The 20-year-old striker has started all seven of the club’s matches in the Championship so far this term but has only found the back of the net once, with a near-post strike against Hull.

He has scored one goal from 1.95 xG and missed two ‘big chances’, which suggests that the young ace has not been clinical with the chances that have come his way – unlike Piroe.

The academy graduate has, however, showcased his ability to create for others in the second tier. Joseph has created four ‘big chances’ and registered three assists in his seven appearances in the division, which shows that he is a fantastic facilitating striker.

Whereas, Piroe has only recorded four assists in his last 52 appearances in the Championship since the start of last season, which suggests that the Spain U21 international offers more in that regard.

The Dutchman, as shown by their respective form this term, offers more of a clinical edge in front of goal, though, and that is why the ex-Swans star should be unleashed from the start at Carrow Road this evening, up against Jose Cordoba and Shane Duffy.

Better than Aaronson: Leeds wanted to sign World Cup winner under Bielsa

The Whites were once interested in signing the central midfielder under Marcelo Bielsa.

ByDan Emery Oct 1, 2024

A few weeks ago it looked as though Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea had turned a corner. Long gone were the messy days of Mauricio Pochettino, the turbulent times of Graham Potter. No, Todd Boehly had finally found his man. The good times were returning.

Well, perhaps we better pause for a second. The Blues had won five games on the spin in all competitions before they were halted in their tracks by Nottingham Forest prior to the international break.

They then suffered their first Premier League defeat since the opening weekend against Arne Slot’s Liverpool.

It wasn’t a great afternoon for the Londoners. Tosin was perhaps fortuitous not to see red in the first half, Robert Sanchez was suspect again and Cole Palmer was not at his fluid best.

An interesting statement was made before the game too by Maresca who left Mykhailo Mudryk out of the entire squad.

Why Mudryk missed out against Liverpool

Since moving to English football in January 2023 it has not been plain sailing for the Ukrainian winger. Far from it in fact.

Brought to the club in a mega £88.5m deal, he has thrilled supporters with his incredible speed but he is such a raw talent who currently lacks the tools to register consistent goal contributions.

Mudryk has scored just seven times in 66 games for Chelsea and is struggling big-time. There was no injury this time around. Maresca just left him out.

Their squad is still sizeable but the Italian boss clearly felt the likes of Joao Felix, Christopher Nkunku and Pedro Neto were better options on the bench.

It should be a rather large worry for the attacker who could well be considering his future at the Bridge ahead of January. How he must wish he’d joined fellow suitors Arsenal instead.

Unfortunately, things could get even harder in 2025 due to the arrival of a Ballon d’Or winner in waiting.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast's Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Chelsea's future Ballon d'Or winner

Back in June Chelsea confirmed the arrival of Estevao Willian from Palmeiras. However, he won’t officially join up with the first-team squad until he turns 18.

He’ll be registered next summer and will finally take part in training, moving from Brazil where he has been a sensation.

Chelsea summer signing Estevao

Still only 17 years of age, the winger has been staggering in his homeland, registering 15 goals and ten assists during the 2024 season to date.

You can see why he’s being admired by many from afar but it’s Chelsea who will get to enjoy the fruits of his labour from next campaign.

Hailed as a “future Ballon d’Or winner” by analyst Ben Mattinson, the incredible teenager is already held in extremely high regard. Mattinson has declared that he boasts the ‘same level of talent to early Santos Neymar’ and that he is a ‘better prospect than Endrick’, the Real Madrid superstar who also moved to Europe from Brazil.

So, there’s a great song and a dance being made about him, but why? Well, Estevao is already proving himself to the one of the most dangerous wingers in the world.

Although a right winger by trade, you sense that he will eventually learn to play off both flanks and why not? This is a player who when compared to players in 14 leagues similar to the Brazilian Serie A, ranks inside the top 8% of wingers for progressive carries and the best 4% for successful take-ons per 90 minutes.

On that evidence, he is an exceptional dribbler and manipulator of the ball. Unlike Mudryk, he’s also got the end product at the end of it all to back up his talents.

For context, while Estevao has 25 goal involvements for Palmeiras in 2024, at the same age, Endrick had just 15 contributions in his final full season with Palmeiras.

As for Neymar, he was amassing some totally ridiculous numbers, scoring 44 goals and assisting 17 throughout 49 matches in his final full year with Santos.

Games

225

Goals

136

Assists

64

Minutes played

18,138

Brazilian Cup

Won in 2010

Copa Libertadores

Won in 2011

Estevao may not be touching those sorts of figures yet but he’s somewhere in the middle of both Endrick and Neymar. That’s certainly not bad company, is it?

Chelsea are already blessed with a number of high-quality players on the flanks but the Brazilian could well be their most exciting yet. While the likes of Noni Madueke and Jadon Sancho will back themselves to fight off the competition, you can’t imagine Mudryk having a similar level of confidence.

Perhaps once the Brazilian wonderkid does arrive, the former Shakhtar star will find himself on the scrap heap.

Chelsea nearly signed PL ace who's now worth £100m, they got Mudryk instead

The Blues may have missed a trick with one failed

ByConnor Holden Oct 12, 2024

Chelsea will always be looked at in the Premier League as one of the best defences of all time, as they set the record for the fewest number of goals conceded in a Premier League season, shipping just 15 during the 2004/05 campaign.

The Blues won their first Premier League title under José Mourinho that year, and then went on to win it again the following term, this time conceding just 22 goals, whilst scoring 72 and winning the league with a total of 91 points.

23/24

63

22/23

47

21/22

33

20/21

36

19/20

54

18/19

39

17/18

38

16/17

33

15/16

53

14/15

32

In six of the last ten seasons, Chelsea have managed to concede fewer than 40 goals. However, last season, the Blues had their worst defensive record in the past decade, conceding 63 in their 38 Premier League matches.

This will have Chelsea’s sporting directors looking at ways to improve this, and dipping back into the transfer market could be an option, to add someone with slightly more experience at the back, since losing the likes of Thiago Silva.

Chelsea looking to sign new defender

According to reports from CaughtOffside, Chelsea remain interested in Barcelona defender, Ronald Araujo, who is currently in talks over a new deal.

The report states if there is no movement in contract talks over the next few months, Chelsea could move for the 25-year-old.

Manchester United are also reportedly interested in Aruajo, and the Uruguayan could be available for a cut-price fee next summer, as he would be entering the last year of his deal for the Catalan giants.

Araujo made 37 appearances for Barcelona last season in all competitions, scoring one goal, providing two assists, contributing to 11 clean sheets, and totalling 3,024 minutes played.

How Aruajo compares to current Chelsea defenders

Levi Colwill has started the season in fine form, the left-footed defender cementing his spot in Enzo Maresca’s side, having played all eight Premier League games so far, totalling 720 minutes. His passing ability, reading of the game, and leadership are all qualities that are shining through.

But it’s the right-footed central defenders who are looking to cement their spot next to Colwill, as Wesley Fofana has done so far this season, starting seven of the eight Premier League games, totalling 597 minutes played, only missing one game due to suspension from his five yellow cards.

So, could Araujo come in and take his place? We’ve compared the Barca star to both Fofana and Tosin Adarabioyo.

Progressive Carries

0.88

1.06

0.00

Progressive Passes

4.34

2.12

2.41

Passes Attempted

70.5

64.5

102.1

Pass Completion %

88.3%

89.0%

93.9%

Passes into Final Third

4.75

3.94

1.72

Tackles

1.32

1.06

1.38

Blocks

1.15

1.21

0.69

Interceptions

0.63

1.36

0.34

Aerials Won

2.47

1.67

0.69

Chelsea’s other right centre-back, who has featured under Maresca, is new signing Tosin, who has made seven appearances in all competitions so far, totalling 443 minutes played, but as his error showed against Liverpool he’s perhaps not up to it.

Indeed, he was fortuitous not to be sent off after a last-man tackle at Anfield.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

So, signing “one of the best centre-backs in the world” as he was described by Spanish legend, Xavi, would surely go down a treat. The above metrics support this too.

He 1.32 tackles, 1.15 blocks, and won 2.47 aerials per 90 minutes last term, winning his defensive duels, but still also offering 4.75 passes into the final third, and 4.34 progressive passes per 90.

Whilst there are similarities between Araujo and Fofana in their tenacity to win the ball, and recovery speed/power, the Uruguayan does have extra experience, and extra ball playing ability which he could add to the side.

As a result, he’d be a fabulous replacement for Tosin, offering Chelsea with almost a blend of both their other right-footed central defenders.

Imagine him & Palmer: Chelsea make contact to sign £50m striker

Chelsea are reportedly eyeing up a potential transfer for the Juventus star.

ByDan Emery Oct 22, 2024

Glasgow Rangers booked their place in the final of the League Cup for the second time under Philippe Clement after they beat Motherwell 2-1 at Hampden Park on Sunday.

The Light Blues claimed the victory after going 1-0 down to a goal from former Gers man Andy Halliday, which left them with plenty of work to do after the break.

Cyriel Dessers levelled the score just five minutes into the second half, with a neat finish from Connor Barron’s pass, before Nedim Bajrami secured the win with a deflected finish inside the box.

Despite the eventual win for Clement’s men, there were a few players who either struggled with their performance or had moments to forget, one of whom was Jefte.

Jefte's performance against Motherwell

There is no getting away from the fact that the Brazilian full-back made a huge error in judgement for the opening goal from Motherwell in the first-half.

Jefte is completely unaware of Halliday’s run across him, despite checking his shoulder moments before, and starts to run towards the corner, presumably thinking that the cross is going to sail past him and towards the left-back position.

Instead, the ball gets past Leon Balogun, who potentially could have communicated with Jefte, and Halliday runs in to find the back of the net, whilst the full-back is sprinting away.

However, the young defender was still trusted to play the full 90 by Clement and produced a solid display aside from that error, with some neat touches in possession and a good link-up with Bajrami down the left flank.

The Rangers star who was even worse than Jefte

James Tavernier, meanwhile, was even worse than Jefte and the Belgian head coach must, now, ruthlessly ditch him from the starting XI for the upcoming clash with Olympiacos in Greece.

Like the Brazilian, the veteran right-back was partially at fault for the opening goal. Journalist Joshua Barrie stated that the Englishman was “far too slow” to get out to the crosser and described his defending as “passive”.

That was exactly the word to describe his performance – passive. Too many loose passes and crosses with no real intention, other than to play the ball into an area, which led to him conceding possession back to Motherwell on a consistent basis – particularly in the first-half.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast's Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Tavernier was then withdrawn from the action in the 67th minute, well before the winning goal from Bajrami, and this suggests that the manager did not believe that he was the right man to help win the game for Rangers, which is a telling moment in of itself.

GlasgowWorld handed him a dismal player rating of 5/10 for his performance at right-back, whilst Jefte earned himself a very respectable score of 7/10, despite his mistake.

The Scotsman, meanwhile, awarded the captain a dismal score of 3/10 and described his display as ‘lamentable’, suggesting that the pressure on him at the moment contributed to his struggles.

This backs up that the former Newcastle United defender was even worse than the summer signing, who did well enough away from his mistake to earn a solid rating.

Quite simply, Tavernier did not perform and was substituted by Clement with the score at 1-1 because of that, and it turned out to be the right decision because the Light Blues went on to win the match.

The Rangers manager must, now, make another big call on Thursday night by dropping him from the starting XI for the visit to Olympiacos, as Sunday was not the first time that the defender has struggled this season.

James Tavernier's performances this season

Tavernier has been far from his best in a Gers jersey this term, after an impressive return of 24 goals and 12 assists in all competitions during the 2023/24 campaign.

Instead of carrying that form into the current season, the English dud has managed one goal and three assists in 17 matches for the Scottish giants in all competitions.

That is far from a terrible return for your average right-back but the bulk of Rangers’ attacking play goes through the defender, who also takes his share of set-pieces, and he has been wasteful with his use of the ball.

In the Scottish Premiership so far this season, Tavernier has lost possession a whopping 20.5 times per match on average, 205 times in ten games, and contributed with zero goals and two assists.

No other Rangers player has lost the ball more than 16 times per outing in the league on average, which speaks to how wasteful the skipper has been, when you consider his lack of direct goal involvements to go alongside that.

Appearances

3

Assists

0

Big chances created

0

Pass accuracy

73%

Possession lost

41x

As you can see in the table above, the 33-year-old dud has struggled in the Europa League this season, losing possession a whopping 41 times without creating a single ‘big chance’ for his teammates.

This shows that his struggles on the ball have not been limited to domestic action, after his poor showings in possession in the League Cup and in the Premiership, as he has been sloppy in Europe.

With a clash away at Olympiacos coming up on Thursday night, and pressure growing on the captain, it could be the right time for Clement to do him a favour and take him out of the spotlight for a match.

Clement could save his job by unleashing Morelos-like Rangers star

The Rangers attacker has not had many chances to impressive Clement so far.

ByDan Emery Oct 22, 2024

Dujon Sterling and Neraysho Kasanwirjo are both natural alternatives to the Englishman at right-back and either of them could come in to take his place at the back, alongside John Souttar, Leon Balogun, and Jefte, in Greece.

Hopefully, being dropped to the bench will give Tavernier the kick he needs to bounce back and get back to his best in a Rangers shirt, because his incredible record last season shows that there is still a quality player there to be unearthed, if he can recapture his finest form.

Chelsea clawed back against Arsenal in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon, with that well-earned point taking Enzo Maresca’s side to third place heading into the November international break.

The Italian tactician has left his imprint on the Blues squad and is nurturing the manifold layers of talent, with his brand of football bringing out the best in some of Chelsea’s first-teamers.

Perhaps the biggest winner, concerning improvements, is Moises Caicedo.

Moises Caicedo is hitting the price tag

It was a transfer saga that sent shockwaves crackling through English football. In 2023, Chelsea had spent most of the summer fighting to sign Brighton & Hove Albion’s Moises Caicedo.

Liverpool attempted to hijack the deal and had a British-record bid accepted by the Seagulls, but Caicedo’s blood ran blue and he chose Chelsea, joining the London club in a deal worth £115m.

Last season was certainly a mixed bag, but the Ecuador international has bloomed under Maresca’s wing, shaping into one of the finest midfielders across Europe.

BBC analyst Raj Chohan has recently remarked that he’s “become Chelsea’s most consistent performer”, and this is on the money.

Chelsea would love to repeat the feat and indeed are looking at bringing in a first-class talent who carries many of the same properties as the 22-year-old.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

Chelsea could sign their next Moises Caicedo

According to a report from Caught Offside last weekend, Chelsea are among the high-profile clubs interested in LOSC Lille midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi, who has made a fine start to life on the senior stage.

The 17-year-old, who is valued at €30m (£25m), has been the subject of scouts from such clubs, and thus Chelsea would be wise to maintain their current tack and forge ahead to secure his signature before other clubs step up.

As per FBref, the teenager is already one of the best on the continent in his role. He remarkably ranks among the top 9% of midfielders across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for pass completion and the top 5% for tackles per 90, which indeed leads the statistics-led site to draw Caicedo as one of his most comparable players.

Talent scout Jacek Kulig has very much been coloured and impressed by the young ace, who might even prove to be a talent of the highest distinction, perhaps touching heights similar to that of Cole Palmer. After all, Bouaddi has already been described as “one of the brightest young talents in France” and Palmer, arguably, is the finest just across the Channel.

Aged 22, the former Manchester City ace is certainly one of the best in the Premier League and has been an utter revelation at Stamford Bridge, but Bouaddi’s success in slotting into regular starting action for Lille despite only being 17 speaks of his quality and potential, so mature and composed for his bracket.

1.

Cole Palmer

34

33

2.

Erling Haaland

31

32

2.

Ollie Watkins

37

32

4.

Mohamed Salah

32

28

5.

Phil Foden

35

27

5.

Heung-min Son

35

27

It’s worth taking a punt on. Chelsea are amassing quite a prodigious collection of youngsters, but this one might just take the cake.

Chelsea ace who Neville said was "sensational" had one of his worst games

Chelsea picked up a hard-fought point against Arsenal in the Premier League last weekend.

ByAngus Sinclair Nov 11, 2024

Everton face a difficult run of Premier League fixtures between now and the start of 2025, taking on the likes of Liverpool, Manchester City, Arsenal and Manchester United in the next few weeks.

While the club have been on a decent run of late, Sean Dyche would rather avoid these sides as he looks to bring the Toffees away from the relegation zone.

If several of his key players can maintain their current form, then Everton may have a chance of securing positive results against a few of the aforementioned teams.

Those such as Iliman Ndiaye, Orel Mangala and most notably Dwight McNeil are vital to their survival hopes this season.

Dwight McNeil’s season in numbers

So often the club’s talisman this season, McNeil has scored four goals and provided three assists in 12 games across all competitions.

His proficiency in front of goal could well be the reason Everton retain their Premier League status this term.

McNeil has also created eight big chances, averages 2.8 key passes and succeeds with 1.6 dribble attempts per game – a success rate of 56% – in the top flight this season so far.

Dyche will be praying the Englishman doesn’t get an injury, as his quality in the final third is irreplaceable.

Despite his stature in the side, McNeil is one of the club’s lowest earners, taking home £25k-per-week for his efforts.

There have been plenty of players in the past who have earned much more yet failed to have a similar sort of impact. One of them took home a far greater salary than McNeil.

Everton wasted millions on Benitez signing

Salomon Rondon is a name that immediately springs to mind. The striker joined the Goodison Park side in 2021 on a free transfer as Rafa Benitez sought to improve his attacking options, yet it was clear he was past his prime.

Across 23 appearances in his maiden season, Rondon scored just three goals, with only one coming in the Premier League, as he failed to justify his signing.

Goals

1

Assists

1

Big chances created

0

Shots per game

1.1

Successful dribbles per game

0.2

Total duels won per game

2.6

He was even described by Andy Hinchcliffe as “reckless” following a poor tackle against Brentford which saw the Venezuelan frontman sent off.

It was clear that Frank Lampard didn’t exactly want him at the forefront of his attack, with the striker making just one start during the first half of the 2022/23 campaign.

With six months left on his contract on Merseyside, Rondon was released in January 2023, with the move suiting all parties involved, especially considering how much the player was taking home in wages.

Rondon was earning a staggering £80k-per-week and £4.1m-per-year during his 18-month stint at Everton. Given he scored just three goals, this cost the club around £2m per effort.

This was hardly the best way of spending money, with Rondon earning a sizeable £55k-per-week more than McNeil does at this moment in time.

Dyche appears to be more diligent in the transfer market than both of his predecessors and this could work wonders for Everton

Everton struck gold selling a "diamond" who's spent 665 days out injured

This former fan’s favourite at Everton has seen his transfer value fall.

ByKelan Sarson Nov 17, 2024

Arne Slot could be praised for many things, but his uncanny ability to identify the richest vein of fluency and grasp and sustain it at Liverpool has worked wonders.

Rotation is not enforced freely this season. While Luis Diaz and Cody Gakpo regularly jockey for stardom on the left wing, and Kostas Tsimikas is enjoying minutes at left-back, the Dutch tactician has refrained from making sweeping changes thus far – despite the congested nature of Liverpool’s fixture list.

On the opening day of the season, Jarell Quansah was handed a significant show of faith when placed alongside Virgil van Dijk at Ipswich Town, but he was replaced by Ibrahima Konate at half-time, with Slot frustrated by a (collective) lack of success in the duel. Someone had to go. Konate has started every Premier League outing since.

Now, against Southampton, who Liverpool meet in the top flight on Sunday after the November international break, the Reds might be forced to ring a number of changes, for injuries, while not severe, are starting to slide wintry tendrils into the squad.

The biggest concern would probably be Trent Alexander-Arnold, who pulled out of England duty after injuring his hamstring against Aston Villa two weeks ago. Slot has confirmed that he will be absent, and may miss the midweek Champions League clash against Real Madrid too.

Who then should replace the one-of-a-kind defender on the South Coast tomorrow?

1 The Obvious Choice Conor Bradley

Maybe we got a bit carried away. When Conor Bradley burst onto the scene last year, it felt for all the world that Liverpool had plucked a prodigy capable of dominating at right-back from the offing.

The thing is though, Alexander-Arnold is a generational talent and Bradley, though exciting and sparkling with potential, would be hard done by if expected to play that role with regularity, to the same degree, should the Reds’ vice-captain leave next summer.

Still, though, Bradley’s not exactly a bad prospect. He’s endowed with a balanced skill set but has an “eye-catching” attacking approach, as The Athletic’s James Pearce noted, that lends itself to success in Slot’s system.

He’s not like Alexander-Arnold, though. While both are creative and high-level attacking outlets, Bradley’s pace and dribbling serves as the nuts and bolts of his style; he drives forward, penetrating lines and fizzing balls inward to the likes of Mohamed Salah and Darwin Nunez.

Goals

0.10

0.08

Assists

0.20

0.24

Shot-creating actions

4.42

2.66

Progressive passes

7.76

3.84

Progressive carries

1.72

3.76

Successful take-ons

0.95

1.33

Touches (Att. pen)

1.42

3.76

Alexander-Arnold, conversely, has probably the best range of passing of any full-back in history. Quite a claim, but not without substance: Sky Sports’ Jamie Carragher even remarked that “it’s like having Kevin De Bruyne playing at right-back” when waxing lyrical about the 26-year-old’s strengths.

Bradley’s the most obvious replacement, but Slot is blessed with a few alternative options that he may want to consider.

2 The Senior Option Joe Gomez

Joe Gomez has been used sparingly under Slot’s wing, and perhaps he resents the missed opportunity to end his storied Anfield career this summer, having been tipped for a transfer away in August.

It didn’t happen, and in fairness, Gomez is Liverpool’s longest-serving first-team player with a deep love for the club. Sure, he’ll have wanted more than the three substitute appearances he has been afforded in the Premier League this season, and now might be his chance.

Gomez is a highly versatile defender who has even been entrusted with a deep-sitting midfield role on occasion in the past, operating industriously and selflessly.

He’s certainly a different kind of player than Alexander-Arnold, but Gomez could be the perfect option to sit behind Salah and provide him with stability as the talismanic attacker looks to continue his incredible start to the campaign, with ten goals and ten assists apiece across 17 matches.

Should Slot decide against this option as well, Liverpool’s options would be slim. However, there could be a rogue shout to start an up-and-coming talent in a new role, having plied his trade exclusively at centre-back since breaking into the Liverpool first team.

3 The Wildcard Pick Jarell Quansah

The wildcard. Quansah is a centre-back but played at right-back prominently throughout his youth career, with his physicality and robust athleticism lending itself to moonlit success in the role.

He’s got attacking qualities that could see him, in part, compensate for Alexander-Arnold’s absence. FBref record that the 21-year-old ranks among the top 1% of centre-backs for goal scored per 90 over the past year. He’s also been described as a “monster” by talent scout Jacek Kulig.

Moreover, he racked up three assists across five Carabao Cup matches en route to the title last season, so clearly has a creative spark that Liverpool could benefit from at right-back, albeit to a lesser degree than the likes of Alexander-Arnold and Bradley.

Slot may not go for this one. It’s definitely left-field. But it’s food for thought in any case. Quansah will be desperate to prove himself worthy of a prominent role in the Merseysiders’ team, and alongside Konate, might prove to become a weirdly workable right-sided partnership.

Well, one thing’s for certain: whatever happens at the St. Mary’s Stadium, Liverpool are going to be weakened by Alexander-Arnold’s injury absence. How will they ensure that victory is still secured?

Liverpool thought they had the next Alonso, but then he left for £0

Before Bajcetic, Liverpool sold a flop who was supposed to be the next Xabi Alonso.

ByAngus Sinclair Nov 23, 2024

Julen Lopetegui will desperately be hoping to claim a win against Leicester City on Tuesday night to try and save his West Ham United job.

The Spaniard has once again found himself under growing pressure after yet another defeat at the weekend, this time in embarrassing fashion to London rivals Arsenal once again.

The Hammers suffered a 6-0 battering to Mikel Arteta’s side last term, before falling to a 5-2 defeat to the Gunners on Saturday night, with the visitors scoring four in just 36 first-half minutes.

However, this evening’s clash against newly promoted Leicester, with boss Ruud van Nistelrooy taking charge of his first game, gives them a real opportunity to kickstart what has been a lacklustre start to the 2024/25 Premier League campaign.

The Foxes haven’t won in five league outings, losing four of them, leading to the dismissal of Steve Cooper, handing Lopetegui the chance to return to winning ways.

West Ham’s record against Leicester City

The meeting at the King Power Stadium tonight sees 16th take on 14th, with both sides desperately needing points to pull themselves clear of any looming relegation fears.

However, the last couple of games against the Foxes do not bode well for West Ham, failing to win in each of the last three matches against the East Midlands outfit.

The two sides last met back in May 2023, the season in which the hosts suffered relegation, but they were able to secure a 2-1 win on the final day after goals from Harvey Barnes and Wout Faes.

Leicester’s win on home soil saw them claim a league double over the Irons, after a 2-0 win at the London Stadium six months prior, following goals from that man Barnes and midfielder James Maddison.

However, neither of the latter two players ply their trade for Van Nistelrooy’s side anymore, leaving after dropping into the Championship, but the task in hand remains just as tricky with West Ham failing to win at the King Power since 2020.

Undoubtedly, given the situation both clubs currently find themselves in, the meeting will be a cagey affair as both sides look to claim three valuable points to put their respective campaigns back in the right direction.

28/05/2023

2-1

Loss

12/11/2022

2-0

Loss

13/02/2022

2-2

Draw

23/08/2021

4-1

Win

11/04/2021

3-2

Win

If Lopetegui is to claim just a third away league victory of the season, he must unleash one player who is deserving of a recall to the starting lineup.

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Football FanCast's Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

How West Ham can stop Leicester's answer to Saka

Bukayo Saka tore West Ham apart in East London on Saturday night, registering a goal and two assists during his 74-minute display, inflicting more pain on the Hammers boss.

However, tonight, he will face a similar situation in the form of Argentine attacker Facundo Buonanotte, who’s been impressive despite their poor form in recent weeks.

The 19-year-old, who’s currently on loan from Brighton, has scored four and registered two assists in his 11 Premier League outings – possessing a threat that certainly needs neutralising.

Lopetegui can do just that by recalling Edson Alvarez to the starting lineup in the East Midlands this evening after his impressive cameo off the bench at the weekend.

The Mexican missed the meetings with Newcastle United and Everton after his second red card of the season in the 3-0 defeat against Nottingham Forest back at the start of November.

However, he was brought off the bench against Arsenal on Saturday, producing some impressive figures despite the embarrassing loss against the title challengers.

Minutes played

45

Touches

29

Passes completed

17/18 (94%)

Dribbles completed

1/1 (100%)

Passes into the final third

5

Tackles won

1/2 (50%)

Defensive actions

3

The “sensational” midfielder, as dubbed by performance analyst Marcus Bring, completed all but one of his attempted passes after his introduction – achieving the highest pass completion rate of any player who featured for 45 minutes or more.

He also won five duels and completed three defensive actions as he tightened up the midfield after what was a dismal first-half showing at the London Stadium.

There’s no denying that he is a player who can often lose his head, as demonstrated by his two dismissals, but he does possess serious qualities that could aid Lopetegui’s hopes of saving his job.

The meeting will be a huge game for both sides, but if the Spaniard is to claim all three points, he simply must unleash the former Ajax ace to give himself the best chance of coming out on top in the East Midlands.

West Ham must axe £125k-p/w flop who was dubbed a "massive signing"

West Ham must ensure one of the club’s highest earners is given the boot.

ByConnor Holden Dec 2, 2024

Arsenal have now had two opportunities to close the gap to league leaders Liverpool and failed.

A week ago Arne Slot’s side had no fixture due to the adverse weather which meant the Gunners could have narrowed the bridge between the two teams to four points.

Sadly for Mikel Arteta’s men, they ruined that opportunity, drawing 1-1 with an impressive Fulham side at Craven Cottage.

Having then beaten Monaco in the Champions League they welcomed Everton to the Emirates Stadium but once again struggled to create goalscoring opportunities from open play.

In fact, Arsenal were so underwhelming that they only created two big chances during the course of the match.

Believe it or not, there were some positives…

Arsenal’s best players against Everton

It won’t come as a surprise to many to learn that despite drawing 0-0 on Saturday, it was the effervescent Bukayo Saka who stood out the most in red and white.

The England international has taken himself to the next level this season, notably scoring five goals and assisting ten in the league thus far.

Despite not finding a goal involvement against the Toffees he was without a doubt the best player on the pitch and was unfortunate not to find the net.

Perhaps Arsenal’s biggest chance in the second half fell to Saka who hammered a volley towards the front post only for international colleague Jordan Pickford to sprawl to his left-hand side to make a fine save.

Passes

William Saliba – 103

Touches

Gabriel – 118

Key passes

Bukayo Saka – 3

Crosses

Saka – 10

xG

Martin Odegaard – 0.59

Defensive actions

Ashley Young – 14

Blocked shots

James Tarkowski – 3

Interceptions

Young – 3

Tackles

Young – 7

Duels won

Gabriel & Gueye – 9

A constant livewire on the right, it was a shame he didn’t get much help from his colleagues in the final third.

Still, at least assistance was forthcoming from a stern defence with the likes of Gabriel and William Saliba shining at the back. To sum up their influence and Arsenal’s dominance, no two players had more touches on the field than their 118 and 117 respectively.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast's Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

That trio aside, not too many covered themselves in glory.

Arsenal’s big underperformers against Everton

One of Arsenal’s biggest underperformers at the Emirates was skipper Martin Odegaard, something that was summed up by his withdrawal in the 62nd minute.

It is unusual for the Norwegian not to create much but that was exactly what happened on Saturday as he left the field with 0 key passes to his name.

Once again, Gabriel Martinelli also faltered on the left-hand side, with his performance against 39-year-old Ashley Young really unconvincing.

The Brazilian won just one of eight duels during the game while Young walked away from north London having completed more tackles (7) than any player on the pitch.

Martinelli’s afternoon wasn’t helped by Mikel Merino, a player who was brought in to improve the club’s dynamics on the left-hand side of the pitch. Sadly, the Spaniard has been inconsistent since signing from Real Sociedad over the summer.

He didn’t offer much at all during his 69 minute outing against Sean Dyche’s side with his performance summed up by the fact that his pass count of 19 was fewer than even goalkeeper David Raya (22) managed.

Minutes played

69

Touches

37

Accurate passes

19/23 (83%)

Key passes

2

Accurate crosses

1/3

Accurate long balls

0/1

Shots

1

Successful dribbles

1/1

Ground duels won

2/3

Aerial duels won

2/3

Tackles

1

Interceptions

0

Truth be told, Merino offered so little in possession that it was alarming with just two key passes and a single shot. He also lost the ball nine times in a game where he looked restricted in his ability to evade the press and keep the team ticking over. It was hardly a surprise, therefore, to see him earn a rather average 6/10 match rating from Football.London come full-time.

A look at his heat map also tells you that he needed to do more. The Spain international wasn’t required much inside his own half but also didn’t show a great deal on the edge of his own area, failing to offer the much-desired qualities Arsenal have been after since Granit Xhaka’s departure.

As a result, it would not be a surprise if Arteta dropped his summer signing back to the bench for their clash with Crystal Palace next week.

While on paper a trio of Declan Rice, Merino and Odegaard should work, a more tried and tested configuration that involves Jorginho or Thomas Partey might be wiser.

Arsenal were let down by "uninspiring" 5/10 star who lost 88% duels

Arsenal dropped points for the third time at the Emirates Stadium this season.

5 ByMatt Dawson Dec 14, 2024

It’s been another poor season for Tottenham Hotspur so far this year.

Ange Postecoglou’s side have fought their way to a League Cup semi-final and still have a chance in the Europa League, but as things stand, they find themselves down in 11th place in the Premier League.

Now, the North Londoners have scored the second-most goals in the league so far this year, but it’s their dire defence and mountain of injuries that has cost them.

In particular, January signing Radu Dragusin has been particularly poor, so it’s good news that the club already has an incredibly exciting young defender who could replace him next season, a young defender who currently has more league goals than Son Heung-min and Dejan Kulusevski.

Tottenham's dreadful defence

So, as we’re sure any Spurs fan will sadly attest this season, their most significant problem has been, and still is, their defence.

Postecoglou’s side are more than capable of scoring against practically any team in the league, but the reverse is also true.

With 19 league games played, the North Londoners have already conceded 28 goals and, according to FBref, have an expected goals allowed figure of 31.2, which is the fifth worst in the competition.

Now, while the manager’s determination to play incredibly aggressive football certainly contributes to these damning statistics, the team has not been helped by a slew of injuries to their first-choice backline, injuries that have seen Dragusin play more minutes than fans would have expected.

The Romanian international has shown glimpses of quality this season, but more often than not, and especially of late, he’s been a problem for the club.

For example, he’s currently averaging just 1.30 points per game, received a 4/10 match rating from Alasdair Gold for his performance against Liverpool, and was so poor against Ipswich Town that journalist and fan Mitch Fretton described his performance as an “absolute horror show.”

In all, Spurs need a new backup centre-back if they are going to progress next season, and the good news is that they will have one.

Spurs' unreal Dragusin upgrade

So, to get straight to the point, the player in question is Croatian prospect Luka Vušković.

The tremendously exciting teenager agreed to join the Lilywhites in September 2023 but won’t officially join up with the club until the summer due to regulations introduced after Brexit concerning the registration of foreign players under 18.

However, even though he can’t impact the club’s current form, fans should be incredibly excited about what he could do going forward and in defence next season.

We can see his defensive qualities through his FBref scout report, as it ranks the 18-year-old in the top 4% of centre-backs in the next best 14 competitions for clearances, the top 7% for ball recoveries, the top 9% for aerial duels won and the top 24% for shots blocked, all per 90.

In contrast, Dragusin’s two best defensive statistics in his FBref scout report for Europe’s top five leagues see him sit in the top 16% for shots blocked and the top 22% for blocks overall, all per 90.

It’s not just his ability at the back that makes the Split-born dynamo such a “freak” talent, as dubbed by analyst Ben Mattinson, though, it’s also his ability in front of goal.

For example, in just 20 league appearances this season, the 6 foot 4 titan has scored six goals and provided one assist, meaning he’s currently averaging a goal involvement every 2.85 games, which is frankly absurd for a centre-back.

Appearances

20

16

19

Goals

6

5

5

Assists

1

6

4

Goal Involvements per Match

0.35

0.68

0.47

Moreover, this means he currently has more league goals to his name than Son and Kulusevski, who are on five a piece.

Ultimately, while he’s not the answer this season, Vuskovic certainly looks like he could be the perfect Dragusin upgrade next season to help make Spurs’ defence far more robust.

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ByJack Salveson Holmes Dec 30, 2024