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With Chelsea’s heavy spending under Todd Boehly after his takeover back in 2022, it was always unlikely that every signing would be a success, with numerous of the American’s additions not going as he would’ve planned.

Raheem Sterling was one of his first big-money signings, moving in a £45m deal from Manchester City back in the summer of 2022 with expectations of transforming the club’s forward line.

However, the move for the experienced England international has been nothing short of a disaster, scoring just 19 times in 81 appearances, becoming the club’s highest-paid player at one stage.

Robert Sanchez is just another addition who’s failed to reach the levels expected after his move from Brighton, proving to be a constant source of errors as seen against Manchester City a couple of weeks ago.

The same can’t be said for one player who’s massively caught the eye in the Premier League for the Blues, looking to be worth every penny of the fee splashed out for his signature.

Cole Palmer’s stats for Chelsea since joining

After looking as though he was set for a loan move to Burnley, Chelsea decided to fork out £40m for the signature of Manchester City winger Cole Palmer in the summer of 2023.

Not many people would’ve known what to expect from the youngster, but it’s safe to say he’s exceeded beyond the wildest imagination of any supporter – being the go-to man for action in front of goal over the last two seasons.

The 22-year-old registered 25 goals and 15 assists during his debut season in West London, the most of any player, helping secure the club a place in the Europa Conference League.

This season, the talented star has continued his trend of being the star man in attacking areas under Enzo Maresca, notching 14 goals and six assists in his 27 appearances – helping the club challenge for a Champions League spot.

Despite his superb form since his move, he still earns a whole heap less than one player who pockets a small fortune whilst providing little to no positive impact for the Blues.

The player who earns more than Palmer at Chelsea

After joining the club for a reported £71.6m in the summer of 2018, goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga arrived with high expectations of being a star for Chelsea after costing a world-record sum for a player in his position.

In total, he’s made 163 appearances for the club since his arrival, before joining Real Madrid on loan last summer for the 2023/24 campaign – before linking up with Andoni Iraola’s Bournemouth side on loan for the entirety of this season.

He’s made 17 appearances for the Cherries in their unexpected push for a European spot, keeping five clean sheets – averaging 3.7 saves per 90 down on the South Coast in 2024/25.

However, the 30-year-old still remains a Blues player after only leaving on a temporary basis, having 18 months left on his current deal as things stand.

Despite his impressive form away from the club, Maresca should look to permanently sell the Spaniard in the summer, especially when taking his extortionate earnings into account.

According to Capology, Kepa earns a mammoth £150k-per-week, which sees him take home £7.8m a year – earning a whopping £39m in wages alone during his time at the club, not including loan spells away from the club.

1

Reece James

£250,000

£13,000,000

=2

Wesley Fofana

£200,000

£10,400,000

=2

Ben Chilwell

£200,000

£10,400,000

4

Christopher Nkunku

£195,000

£10,140,000

5

Enzo Fernández

£180,000

£9,360,000

6

Marc Cucurella

£175,000

£9,100,000

7

Pedro Neto

£160,000

£8,320,000

8

Moises Caicedo

£150,000

£7,800,000

=8

Kepa Arrizabalaga

£150,000

£7,800,000

9

Cole Palmer

£130,000

£6,760,000

When coupled with his hefty transfer fee, he’s cost the club a staggering £111m, a huge waste of money given his lack of impact, with his last impression undoubtedly being his penalty shootout antics which have seen him refuse to be substituted whilst also missing a crucial spot-kick.

Kepa, who’s previously been dubbed “shocking” by one social media star, also earns more than current first-team star Palmer, who only earns £130k-per-week despite his impressive form, with the goalkeeper currently earning £20k-per-week more.

Given the amount spent on the shot-stopper, there’s no denying that the club need to part ways with him this summer, as he heads into the final year of his contract.

Undoubtedly, the goalkeeping situation is still an issue for Maresca, but Kepa simply isn’t the answer, needing to offload him to raise funds and invest in a new number one ahead of 2025/26.

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ByDan Emery Feb 11, 2025

The middle-order batter finished day 3 just 30 runs shy of what could be his first first-class double-century

Himanshu Agrawal03-Sep-2022Rajat Patidar’s scores in his last few innings, across formats and tournaments, suggests that he is in the middle of a dream run. An unbeaten 170, with the promise of more to come, for India A against New Zealand A in Bengaluru is just the latest.The plan, now, is not to get too far ahead of himself.”It’s all a mental thing and is different for every individual. If you have the ability to play all three formats, then you can play it,” Patidar said after pushing India A 92 runs ahead of the visitors’ first-innings score of 400. “I believe I can do it. You must know how to switch between red- and white-ball cricket. So if I have to do well in red-ball cricket, I need to understand its parameters – like the change in bat speed, which is pretty high in T20 cricket. So, overall, it’s a mental thing. Depends on how you look at it.”Related

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He came into focus when he scored 112 not out for Royal Challengers Bangalore in a must-win IPL Eliminator, followed by 58 in the second Qualifier. Then came the 2021-22 Ranji Trophy. He hit 85 in the quarter-final against Punjab, 7 and 79 in the semi-final, and 122 and 30* in the final against Mumbai as Madhya Pradesh won the tournament for the first time.Switching between formats isn’t easy. This year, for example, players have had to move from the first leg of the Ranji Trophy in February-March to the IPL in April-May, and to the second leg of Ranji Trophy in June. Patidar has managed to maintain his touch.Before he packed his bags for IPL 2022, Patidar had scored 335 runs at an average of 83.75 in the group stage of the Ranji Trophy. He then cracked 333 runs at 55.50, including a century and two fifties, in the IPL. On his return to Ranji Trophy, he got another 323 runs in five innings. Just over two months later, he stands just 30 short of what could be a first first-class double hundred.With the long-form games arriving rather quickly after the T20s, Patidar too made slight adjustments to suit the “situation and the scenario”.”Technique matters a lot in red-ball cricket. For example, when facing fast bowling, you need to avoid playing on the rise,” he said. “I usually go for an on-the-rise cover drive, like it is done in white-ball cricket. But you need to realise which shots you need to play and which ones to avoid in red-ball cricket, which is played with a straight bat.”One of my strengths is the straight drive, and so I try and play with a straight bat and from close to my body in red-ball cricket.”Rajat Patidar finished the Ranji Trophy this season as the tournament’s second-highest run-getter•PTI He has had a bit of luck along the way too.A few days after the IPL got underway, Luvnith Sisodia picked up an injury, which led to Royal Challengers signing Patidar; and not long after that, Anuj Rawat’s dip in form paved way for Patidar’s inclusion in the playing XI.On Saturday, Robert O’Donnell dropped Patidar when he was on 13, and he batted on, and on.Patidar displayed a wide array of shots throughout the third day’s play in Bengaluru. He was especially comfortable against pace, with his strike rate against quick bowlers nearly 78. Patidar added 104 runs with Abhimanyu Easwaran for the third wicket and has already posted an undefeated 167 runs with Tilak Varma for the fifth.Chetan Sharma has been in the stands but Patidar insisted that a national call-up was not on his mind.”I don’t think about the future a lot as to what I must do in the coming seasons, or that I may get a chance to bat higher up, etc,” he said. “These have never crossed my mind – and never will either – as I just enjoy my batting and my shots. I don’t think about what is not in my hands.”

Declan Rice left Kylian Mbappe stunned by scoring two stunning free-kicks for Arsenal against Real Madrid on Tuesday evening.

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• Two sides meet in Champions League quarter-final
• Rice opens scoring in north London
• Two brilliant curling free-kicks from range

Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Rice left Real absolutely stunned on Tuesday evening as he scored two brilliant long-range free-kicks within 10 minutes. First, he took aim from 30 yards and found the top corner with a curling drive, and then, on the other side, he found the same top corner.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Those two strikes left Mbappe stunned, as cameras focused on the World Cup winner after the first hit the net, and he could hardly believe his eyes, even more so after Mikel Merino added a third after a breathless spell.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Rice had never scored a senior free-kick before Tuesday. Having waited 339 games for a direct free-kick goal, he scored two in quick succession.

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• AFP
  

  WHAT NEXT?

  This weekend, Arsenal face Brentford while Madrid play Alaves. Then, the two sides will do battle again, this time in Spain, as Madrid look to complete a remarkable comeback.

Amad Diallo is making progress in his injury recovery at Manchester United, as he posted a video on social media of himself sprinting on grass.

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Amad has been out since FebruaryDealing with an ankle injuryPosts video of return to trainingFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Amad has been out since he sustained an ankle injury in training in early February and has not played for the club since their 2-1 win over Leicester in the fourth round of the FA Cup. However, the clip shared on his Instagram account shows he is making good progress, following initial fears he would miss the rest of the season.

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When Amad first sustained his injury, there was speculation that he could miss the remainder of the campaign. That does not appear to be the case, however, and he will now aim to make his return before the curtain comes down on 2024-25.

GettyDID YOU KNOW?

Amad has scored nine goals and registered eight assists in 36 appearances, so his absence has been keenly felt. Ruben Amorim has confirmed they hope to have him back soon.

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Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

WHAT NEXT?

United face Lyon in the second leg of their Europa League quarter-final this week, with the tie finely poised at 2-2. They then face Wolves in the Premier League.

Stephen Doheny and Graham Hume have been handed their first ODI call-ups for Ireland’s series against New Zealand next month. Batter Doheny, the leading run-scorer in the Interprovincial T20 Trophy, was recently named in the T20I squad to face India, while South Africa-born seamer Hume won a retainer contract last month after qualifying for Ireland.Andy Balbirnie will captain the 14-man squad. Of the players who were part of Ireland’s most-recent 50-over engagement, a 2-1 series win in West Indies in January, William Porterfield has recently retired, while Barry McCarthy, Neil Rock and Ben White were omitted.”Taking on the world’s number one ODI side will always be a challenge, but with 30 World Cup Super League points on the line, this series becomes even more significant,” Andrew White, chair of national men’s selectors, said. “One-day cricket is the format we have performed most consistently in over the last few years, and despite the age profile of many in the squad being young, they have gained some important experience in recent times in finding ways of winning against top sides.”With the recent retirement of William Porterfield, we’ve called up Stephen Doheny into his first ODI squad. Stephen has impressed coaches and selectors with his stroke play and is now starting to convert starts into defining and match-shaping innings’ at inter-provincial and Wolves level. His form has warranted his call-up to both white-ball squads and we wish him well.”It’s likewise pleasing to see Graham Hume get his chance in the ODIs after repeated seasons of consistent form while he qualified to play for Ireland. Hume has demonstrated his accuracy and ability to extract bounce and movement in home conditions – we are hoping his knack of prising out early breakthroughs will translate to the higher level.”Ireland will play New Zealand in three ODIs at Malahide between July 10-15, with points for the World Cup Super League on offer. They will then play a T20I series against the same opposition in Stormont.Ireland squad: Andrew Balbirnie (capt), Mark Adair, Curtis Campher, Gareth Delany, George Dockrell, Stephen Doheny, Graham Hume, Josh Little, Andrew McBrine, Simi Singh, Paul Stirling, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker, Craig Young

The USMNT defender said he has been 'struggling with tendinopathy' and decided to withdraw to focus on recovery

Robinson has been managing injury for several monthsDefender's absence is a significant blow to the USMNT'sHis focus now shifts to recovery and getting his fitness backGetty Images SportWHAT HAPPENED

Antonee Robinson, U.S. international and leading Fulham left back, revealed that he's been suffering from tendinopathy for the past few months. This recurring condition has forced him to withdraw from the USMNT squad for the upcoming CONCACAF Nations League matches, prioritizing his health.

“Nobody hates missing matches more than me. It was a very difficult decision to miss this international break but I’ve been struggling with tendinopathy for a few months now and it’s increasingly difficult to manage. After consulting with both medical teams, with the quick turnaround of the Nations League games I don’t think I could have contributed to the team at a good enough level,” Robinson said in a Instagram post.

The defender hopes this recovery period will allow him to be included in the Gold Cup this summer.

"This is probably the only opportunity to try and get on top of this issue, finish the season strong, and give myself the best chance of being back in the U.S. this summer in much better shape and ready for another tournament," he wrote.

Tendinopathy is any condition that affects a tendon, causing pain and reducing its functionality. Most people injure tendons by overusing them, and tendinopathy can begin when a tendon injury can’t heal.

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The American left-back has been arguably one of the best full-backs in the Premier League this season, playing a key role in Fulham’s rise up the table. So much so, that only Mohamed Salah has more assists (17) than Antonee Robinson (10) which makes him a big miss for the USMNT.

Getty Images SportWHAT’S NEXT?

With Antonee Robinson out of the international break, the USMNT will have to tackle their CONCACAF Nations League semifinal against Panama on March 21 without the full-back.

It remains to be seen if Robinson will be ready to return when the club faces Arsenal on April 1.

Chelsea have held preliminary talks with an £83 million player via his representatives “in recent days”, as they seek to gauge information on a potential transfer ahead of the looming January transfer window.

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In terms of form right now, Chelsea are arguably the best team in the Premier League right now, reigning supreme in their last six matches across all competitions whilst scoring an impressive 19 goals in that time.

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Manager Enzo Maresca has been forced to continuously bat away suggestions that his side are firmly in the title race, but if they carry on these performances, it will be near-impossible to deny that they have a real shot of clinching their first domestic crown since 2016.

Going forward, Chelsea are showcasing a real imperiousness, but that hasn’t stopped Todd Boehly, BlueCo and the club’s recruitment team from assessing new striker options.

Chelsea’s next Premier League fixtures

Date

Brentford (home)

December 15

Everton (away)

December 22

Fulham (home)

December 26

Ipswich Town (away)

December 30

Crystal Palace (away)

January 4

Reliable media sources like journalist Simon Phillips, who regularly breaks inside information from Stamford Bridge via his Substack, claim that Chelsea have made contact over signing Liam Delap from Ipswich Town, even if there is no guarantee they will make a move for the Englishman.

That same source also shared that Chelsea are actually prioritising the signing of a new centre-back, and it could become their main transfer mission, with both Axel Disasi and Benoit Badiashile facing uncertain futures at Cobham right now.

“The club are looking at many names, and three of the most frequent that are being mentioned to us regularly by sources right now are Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace, and Antonio Silva and Tomas Araujo of Benfica,” wrote Phillips last weekend.

“There are many others on the shortlist though, and sources have pointed out to us this week that Everton and England centre back Jarrad Branthwaite is still being looked at.

“In fact, Chelsea are scouting him this season along with many of the other top clubs including Manchester United.

“The centre back area is seen as a priority, and potentially even the main priority, as they look to complete the squad rebuild.”

Chelsea hold preliminary talks with Palmeiras starlet Vitor Reis

The Blues’ pursuit of a new centre-half has taken another twist this week, as GOAL Brasil share news regarding another target in Palmeiras sensation Vitor Reis.

Brazil’s rising star defender, whose contract includes an £83 million release clause, has been linked with an array of elite clubs, including Real Madrid and Arsenal, heading into 2025 – but Chelsea are believed to be firmly in the race.

GOAL claim that Chelsea have contacted Reis’ camp “in recent days” to gain some information on a potential deal for the 18-year-old, but they’re not alone, with the Gunners, Real and Serie A champions Inter Milan doing the same thing.

The central defensive starlet is set to be one of South America’s biggest transfer talking points in the very near future, given his serious pedigree, with Reis’ sky-high potential not lost on Chelsea, who’ve developed a penchat for bringing in some of world football’s biggest talents.

So, Erik ten Hag has packed his bags. Ruud van Nistelrooy has enjoyed an interim stay with no complications. Now, Ruben Amorim is here. Manchester United, for all of the thrills and spills, have something to look forward to again.

The reign of Ten Hag at Old Trafford was about as topsy-turvy as you can get. The Dutchman won two domestic cups but United’s form in the league was torrid.

They currently sit 13th in the Premier League even in spite of Van Nistelrooy’s unbeaten period. He has shown what is possible with good foundations, strong coaching and a positive attitude.

There was no delusion and there certainly won’t be from Amorim, one of the best young minds in the coaching world.

It will take time to fix what’s gone wrong. This won’t be an overnight job. Rome wasn’t built in a day and all that. The biggest question will be, is the Portuguese going to employ his infamous 3-4-3 formation?

His first training session in charge of the group at Carrington on Monday might well have just given us a big clue.

The takeaways from Amorim’s first training session

In clips posted online by the United media team, we have already been given a rare insight into the system and players that may be used.

Of course, the former Sporting boss was missing a number of players through international duty but it was interesting to see what roles certain members of the squad had been selected in.

This isn’t access we usually get. Training footage usually involves a few running drills and nothing tactical but this was different.

So, how did the team’s shape look? Well, he lined up with wing-backs as has been expected.

Man Utd positions in Amorim’s training
Right wing-back	Antony
Right centre-back	Yoro
Central centre-back	Evans
Left centre-back	Shaw
Left wing-back	Malacia
Central midfield	Casemiro
Central midfield	Mainoo
Right att midfield	Amad
Left att midfield	Mount
Centre forward	Rashford

As we can see from the table above there were some notable surprises, chiefly the inclusion of mega-money signing Antony at right wing-back.

There were also spots for Marcus Rashford as the main centre forward and Mason Mount as the left-sided number 10.

All three of those players struggled under Ten Hag. Antony only scored once last term in the league while Mount barely kicked a ball due to injury.

In a separate clip, we also see Jonny Evans shape up as the most central defender in a three-man back line with Luke Shaw acting as a left-sided centre-back.

That final point was seemingly good news for United’s forgotten man, Tyrell Malacia.

Why Malacia is Amorim’s perfect wing-back at Man Utd

Since signing from Dutch side Feyenoord early on in the Ten Hag reign, Malacia has endured a nightmare stint in Manchester.

The defender did not play a single minute last term due to injury and hasn’t been seen on a first team pitch since the final day of the 2022/23 season when the Red Devils defeated Fulham 2-1.

From that point forth he’s missed a whopping 499 days of action and 70 consecutive matches. The problem? Having torn his meniscus, the £13m signing has gone under the knife twice in a bid to fix the issue. He’s only just returning now and having seen the footage of Amorim’s first training session, he could be vital.

What we could see is that the 25-year-old was playing as the left wing-back. Unless the new boss decides he wants an upgrade in January, the path could become clear for Malacia to nail down a regular starting berth too.

Chalkboard

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

Neither Diogo Dalot nor Noussair Mazraoui are natural left-sided players and with Shaw playing as a left-sided centre-back in training on Monday, a pathway has opened up.

He could well be the perfect player for Amorim’s system, ranking among the top 8% of positionally similar players in the Eredivisie throughout 2021/22 for progressive passes per 90 (5.94) and the best 10% for progressive carries per 90 (3.53).

Those numbers underline his attacking strengths and suitability for the wing-back role that will be required under the new boss. Perhaps there is life in the injured dog yet…

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Jack Salveson Holmes

Nov 19, 2024

Everton have only lost one of their past eight Premier League matches, but this is a facade that covers up the deep-fissured issues at Goodison Park.

Bereft of colour and attacking intent under Sean Dyche, whose days may well be numbered, Everton need to spark some improvements – and fast.

While the Toffees sit 15th in the Premier League, they are only two points ahead of Ipswich Town in the drop zone and have scored just ten times across 12 matches – with bottom-placed Southampton the only side with fewer goals (9).

Everton’s Remaining Premier League Fixtures in 2024

Date

Opponent

Venue

01/12/24

Man United

Old Trafford

04/12/243

Wolves

Molineux

07/12/24

Liverpool

Goodison Park

14/12/24

Arsenal

Emirates Stadium

22/12/24

Chelsea

Goodison Park

26/12/24

Man City

Etihad Stadium

29/12/24

Nott’m Forest

Goodison Park

A tough December lies ahead. Dominic Calvert-Lewin isn’t scoring and creativity is negligible. If only the Merseysiders could call upon some of the fine playmaking architects from over the years.

Everton's finest number tens

Tim Cahill deserves the first mention. The Australian’s Premier League career stretched across 226 games and 56 brilliant goals, with Phil Neville once praising him as a truly “special” part of the Goodison make-up.

The very embodiment of what it takes to be an Evertonian, Cahill’s legacy remains intact over a decade beyond his departure, with his performances and dedication to the cause something that can be used by up-and-comers to try and emulate even to this day.

Not long after Cahill signed for the New York Red Bulls (in 2012), Ross Barkley exploded into action, rising from the youth ranks to establish himself as the latest homegrown hero at the club, becoming a mainstay before completing a contentious £15m transfer to Chelsea in January 2018.

The England international, now 30, hit 29 top-flight goal contributions across his final two terms with his boyhood club, but could have been so much more on Merseyside.

Now, the rise of another creative marvel is occurring at Goodison…

Everton's very own Cole Palmer

Dyche has fashioned principal winger Dwight McNeil into a central attacking midfielder to great effect. There might be concerns over the former Burnley star’s impact on the midfield fluency, but his return rate bespeaks his quality.

He could be the difference-maker. After all, McNeil’s performances have led to comparisons with none other than Cole Palmer.

McNeil has been the spear driving Everton forward throughout the opening months of the 2024/25 campaign, from an attacking standpoint at least.

Three goals and three assists apiece in the Premier League after 11 matches have showcased a potency that hasn’t always been on show at Everton. After all, last year’s return produced three goals and assists across 35 matches.

But now, his clinical edge and creativity have seen him produce results that have led statistical site FBref to rank him alongside Palmer in the Premier League this season.

The Chelsea sensation is of course enjoying superior success, but it’s promising for Dyche’s cause that McNeil’s form is from the same vein as the Blues man.

Premier League 24/25: Dwight McNeil vs Cole Palmer

Stats (per 90)

Dwight McNeil

Cole Palmer

Goals scored

0.28

0.60

Assists

0.28

0.43

Shot-creating actions

4.88

5.08

Passes attempted

39.89

41.43

Progressive passes

4.79

6.46

Progressive carries

2.40

3.36

Crosses

7.46

4.74

Ball recoveries

4.88

3.62

All stats via FBref

While Palmer ranks higher across the lion’s share of the pairs’ metrics in the top flight this term, it’s intriguing to see how close McNeil runs to the pre-eminent number ten’s numbers.

More squarely, he’s been an excellent creative outlet despite operating in a team more insular and restricted in its attacking play. It bodes well, looking forward and assessing the exciting eventualities for Everton in a potential Friedkin Group-led world.

Toward the end of October, Squawka’s player comparison matrix revealed that Palmer was the only attacking midfielder in the Premier League outperforming McNeil, who has plateaued since but remains a keen-edged threat for Dyche’s side.

Of course, the Three Lions superstar is quite patently outstripping his countryman, but that’s not to the discredit of McNeil’s campaign, for he is playing admirably within the confines of Dyche’s pragmatic Toffees system.

Who knows what the future might hold for Everton, but it could be a brand new world, one that might herald a freer and more expansive style of football that could see McNeil rise closer to the ceiling of his potential.

It could reap a lucrative reward. Palmer, for example, is understood to have a market value of £118m presently, according to CIES Football Observatory’s player valuation model, which makes an exciting comment on McNeil’s future.

Everton signed Burnley’s chief creator in 2022 for a £20m transfer fee, following their relegation from the Premier League under the wing of… Dyche.

The incremental progress on display has been exciting to see, for his playmaking prowess has led him to create eight big chances in the Premier League already this term, as per Sofascore, averaging 2.7 key passes per fixture too.

Of course, it’s not levelled alongside Palmer’s, but he has the quality to become a true Premier League sensation, and his stylistic approach mirrors that of the Chelsea man.

Where Everton will go this season is anyone’s guess at this stage. However, McNeil’s success in a central attacking midfield role might prove to make the difference in the fight to escape the relegation battle and perhaps mount a concerted effort toward the upper level of the Premier League.

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Posts 1 ByAngus Sinclair Nov 24, 2024

After a good start to the 2024/25 campaign, Aston Villa are on a run of poor form. Unai Emery’s side have not won in their last four games, and have actually lost their last three in a row. That includes a humbling 4-1 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur away from home, in a game they were winning at half-time.

Despite this sticky patch, the Villans are not in a bad position as the busy Christmas period fast approaches. They are sixth in the Premier League, but level on points with fourth-place Chelsea. In the Champions League, Emery’s side sit eighth on nine points, just inside the automatic qualification spots.

However, there is no doubt they need to turn their form around, starting with a big trip to Anfield later today to face league leaders Liverpool. It is a game that Emery could shake things up, and perhaps start strikers Jhon Duran and Ollie Watkins together.

Villa’s potential tactical tweak

It is not common to see Emery line up with both Duran and Watkins in the same starting lineup. The experienced England international tends to be first choice, with the young Columbian an option for the Villans boss to turn to off the bench.

However, given their poor run of form recently, it might be a good time for the Spaniard to switch it up and give the pair a start leading the line together. Incredibly, they have only played together 34 times, likely because Watkins is often replaced by Duran, and they have never combined for a goal.

Just because they are rarely on the pitch at the same time does not mean they don’t score in the same game. It has happened twice this season, and scored all three goals between them in an impressive 3-2 win against Everton, with Watkins scoring two and Duran a sublime winner.

However, their talent is undeniable. Watkins, in his role as first-choice number nine for the Villans, has performed well this term. He has five goals and three assists in 14 games, including seven goal involvements in just ten top-flight matches so far.

Likewise, 20-year-old Duran has worked hard despite so few minutes, as Emery looks to ease him into first-team football. He has played 16 times this term and has eight goals to his name, although that comes from just 580 minutes, the equivalent to just 6.4 full 90-minute games.

Should Emery decide to go down this route and start his deadly strike partnership at the same time, it would mean he has to drop another of his attackers.

Who could drop out to accommodate Duran and Watkins

Perhaps the prime candidate to drop out of the Villa starting lineup ahead of the crunch clash at Anfield is John McGinn. Initially, this may be an odd suggestion given the Scotsman is Villa’s captain and a brilliant utility player.

He has played 12 times this campaign, with a goal and assist to his name, both coming in the Champions League.

Sadly, however, the midfielder struggled in the Villans’ last outing in the Champions League against Club Brugge. In that game, his side lost 1-0, with the home side scoring a penalty won in bizarre fashion after a mistake from Tyrone Mings.

It was a disappointing showing from the Villa skipper, whose Sofascore stats from the game show just how difficult of a game it was for him. He had just 30 touches in the midfield, losing the ball five times and winning just one from three attempted duels.

McGinn stats vs. Club Brugge

Stat

Number

Touches

30

Pass accuracy

91%

Passes completed

20/22

Number of times possession lost

5

Duels won

1/3

Big chances missed

1

Stats from Sofascore

After a poor performance, the Scotland international, who earns £120k-per-week, could be the man to make way against the Reds.

His exclusion for Duran would not unbalance the team much, because Morgan Rogers can drop back and take McGinn’s role up instead.

It would be a bold move from Emery, but a tactical change like that could be just what Villa need to rejig their starting lineup as they look to get back to winning ways.

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Posts ByKelan Sarson Nov 7, 2024