🔎 Analysing why Argentina are my World Cup favourites:

Szoboszlai has been Liverpool’s best player this season. But Curtis Jones has also largely been excellent when he’s played this season. A 4 midfielder setup with Gravenberch-Jones-Szoboszlai-Wirtz looks like a no-brainer for Slot to use at this point.

Slot doesn’t press aggressively but don’t think this is the main reason for Liverpool’s defensive issues. Negative 10 set-piece balance in the league now. 0 scored, 10 conceded. This is easily the biggest limiting factor. Whilst Konaté’s implosion in confidence has rocked him.

How many good Liverpool moves break down with Cody Gakpo ? Can get the odd goal but his actual wing play is a net negative in terms of how the team flows.

Chelsea added several decorative pieces of furniture to their squad but ignored the main foundations of penalty box presence at CB and striker. And for that, they will suffer in achieving their targets.

Foden has successfully lessened the goal burden on Haaland. He’s back in his top goalscoring form from the 2023/24 season. He arrives in the box so well. He shoots from outside the box so well. If Rodri can get back to full fitness then Man City become very dangerous for Arsenal.

Pau Torres is back to his 2023/24 season form. He is one of the best ball-playing CBs in Europe.

Insane from Emery. Looked like the project was stalling after PSR issues and narrowly missing CL qualification which resulted in a bad transfer budget and he’s sparked them up to 2nd with a dominant performance vs 1st place.

That Pau-Maatsen-Rogers left side has been a major source of threat for Aston Villa. Excellent chemistry between the trio. Aston Villa’s form since Pau has been re-installed in the starting XI 📈

No proper runners (Eze LW and Merino striker) vs an Aston Villa high line defensive mid-block doesn’t feel like the correct selection from Arteta. Calafiori has been the designated runner at times. Madueke and Martinelli on the bench too…

Mikel Merino’s approximation of Havertz’s role as a striker has been immense. He’s kept Arsenal ahead in the title race even when Gyökeres got injured too. He’s a beast at dominating aerials in the box & his link play has led to a few goals too.

Man City tried to defend without the ball in the 2nd half and Fulham carved thru them at will. Their squad is not made for this. Therefore, the Elliott Anderson links make sense. They need another midfielder who can defend with Nico G or Rodri plus help them dominate possession.

Foden is absolutely insane at that outside of the box finish from the right side. From the Bernabéu to Craven Cottage, he’s pulled it off everywhere.

Phenomenal half-turn play from Haaland. Completely rocks Joachim Andersen out the way then slips in the thru ball to assist Reijnders. Thats the type of all-round play (to add to his goals) that elevates him to the next level.

Subs were very good from Maresca with 10 men. Chelsea still retained some threat with his choice to have the pace of Garnacho & Neto on. Good learning from the red card and loss at Old Trafford. Then Reece stepped up defensively in Caicedo’s absence with a captain’s performance.

Man Utd took over physically in the 2nd half after Crystal Palace were the better team in the 1st half. Don’t think Palace have the squad to cope with Europe and the Premier League, particularly in midfield. Cheick Doucouré is a big miss for that.

Simple facts are that Man City’s squad hasn’t been constructed in a way that they can defend well for large periods of the match.The only way they can last the pace in the title race is if they get Rodri fit and get Rodri-Nico G playing together to relentlessly dominate the ball.

The fact that Eze has added creative passing to Arsenal’s play vs the bigger teams is a huge bonus. His primary function is to help find a way thru deeper blocks with his close control/dribbling. But the two assists for Martinelli vs Man City & Bayern were phenomenal long passes.

That Rice run which almost led to a goal for Saka...epitomised his whole performance vs Bayern who are Arsenal’s current competitor for best team in Europe this season. He dominated the pitch with his reading of the game & physicality whilst creating Arsenal’s best chances.TITAN.

Even before the amazing goal, Estevão’s passing quality looked immense in that 1st half. He slipped several thru balls behind that Barca high line and even had the range to switch it across to the left. The variety of his threat looks special. Passing, dribbling, shooting mix.

Those wing-back showings from Mazraoui, Dalot & Dorgu were plain garbage. Mazraoui & Dalot simply aren’t wing-backs and Dorgu’s lack of progress in his end-product since joining is a major worry.