Following every weekend of Premier League action, theScore examines the most important developmen...

<p><em>Following every weekend of Premier League action, theScore examines the most important developments and biggest talking points to emerge from the slate of matches. Below, we dissect Matchweek 16 of the 2024-25 season.</em></p><h3>Man United let City beat themselves</h3><p>Manchester United could've sensed blood in the water and tried their hardest to embarrass their already wounded rivals. Manchester City entered Sunday's derby with just one win in 10 matches across all competitions and seemed there for the taking.</p><p>Instead of trying hard to make City look bad, United waited for them to do something stupid enough to lose the game. City have lost their heads so many times over the last few weeks. Self-sabotage has become their thing.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Perhaps that's why United boss Ruben Amorim seemed happy enough to leave Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho at home. Maybe he knew he didn't need a lot of firepower. It was worth sending a message here to keep standards high.</p><p>United weren't spectacular Sunday. It felt at times like they were playing with the hand brake on. Rasmus Hojlund made a number of penetrating runs that could've floored City's defenders. His teammates just didn't seem comfortable enough to release him into space. United preferred to keep things under control. They played more high-percentage passes and broke up the game when City began to gain a foothold. Amad Diallo, the 22-year-old winger who has benefited the most from Amorim's arrival, was dangerous enough on his own to keep City on their toes.</p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/760738/cropped_GettyImages-2186664069.jpg?ts=1734296878" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/760738/w220xh124_GettyImages-2186664069.jpg?ts=1734296878 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/760738/w320xh180_GettyImages-2186664069.jpg?ts=1734296878 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/760738/w640xh360_GettyImages-2186664069.jpg?ts=1734296878 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/760738/w768xh432_GettyImages-2186664069.jpg?ts=1734296878 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/760738/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2186664069.jpg?ts=1734296878 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Richard Pelham / Getty Images Sport / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>City didn't look confident either. How could they be? They had kept only two clean sheets in their previous 14 Premier League matches. City retreated as the contest wore on and defended with as many as six men at the back. They didn't record a single shot on target in the second half. Erling Haaland had just two touches in the penalty area all game.</p><p>Pep Guardiola's side was trying to nurse the 1-0 lead. When does it nurse anything?</p><p>Diallo caught City just as they were doubting themselves, drawing a penalty off of Matheus Nunes' feeble back-pass and hopeless tackle before splitting the defense for the winner. Diallo profited off the nervousness at the Etihad with the kind of incisive play Amorim has unlocked in his short time there.</p><p>United played the percentages perfectly. Individual errors have cost City dearly over the last few weeks and were always likely to rear their ugly head again Sunday. Sometimes, the best thing you can do is let your opponent beat itself.</p><p>"It's not about luck," City midfielder Bernardo Silva told <a href="https://www.skysports.com/football/live-blog/11661/13272048/man-city-vs-man-utd-live?postid=8791600#liveblog-body">Sky Sports</a>. "It's the decisions you make. Today, in the last minutes, we played like Under-15s, and we paid the price."</p><h3>Quick free-kicks 📝</h3><p><strong>Jota's return boosts Liverpool</strong></p><p>Under normal circumstances, a 2-2 draw against Fulham at Anfield would be viewed as two points dropped by Liverpool. But context is important. The Reds played Saturday's frenetic match with 10 men for over 70 minutes after Andy Robertson's early red card, and they fought back twice to earn a point. Diogo Jota, back from injury for his first match in nearly two months, came off the bench to score a lovely late equalizer. The Portuguese forward's return is huge for Arne Slot. Mohamed Salah has 22 Premier League goal involvements this season, but no other Liverpool player has reached double figures. At some point, the Egyptian will need some help. Jota, who has more goals off the bench than any player in the league since he joined the Merseyside outfit in 2020, gives Slot a true secondary scoring threat, especially as Darwin Nunez continues to misfire in front of goal. Whether Jota can stay fit enough to help sustain Liverpool's title push is another matter.</p><p><strong>Gunners need more firepower</strong></p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/760739/cropped_GettyImages-2189251734.jpg?ts=1734296921" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/760739/w220xh124_GettyImages-2189251734.jpg?ts=1734296921 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/760739/w320xh180_GettyImages-2189251734.jpg?ts=1734296921 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/760739/w640xh360_GettyImages-2189251734.jpg?ts=1734296921 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/760739/w768xh432_GettyImages-2189251734.jpg?ts=1734296921 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/760739/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2189251734.jpg?ts=1734296921 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">John Walton - PA Images / PA Images / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>Despite Mikel Arteta's suggestions to the contrary, Arsenal should invest during the January transfer window to ensure their title bid doesn't fizzle out. The north London side hasn't scored a goal from open play in three Premier League matches, and Arteta's lack of attacking solutions off the bench was laid bare in Saturday's dull goalless draw with Everton. His "tactical" decision to substitute captain and chief playmaker Martin Odegaard backfired, in part because his options are limited. Ethan Nwaneri is immensely talented and looks like a future star, but he's still only 17. Gabriel Jesus, who also came on, hasn't scored a league goal since January, while Leandro Trossard hasn't been the same impact substitute as he was in previous years. Odegaard and Bukayo Saka can carry the attack, but some help would be welcome for days like Saturday when things aren't quite clicking.</p><p><strong>Newcastle's set-piece prowess</strong></p><p>Who needs Nicolas Jover? Arsenal remain the Premier League's set-piece kings, but Newcastle have clearly been working on dead-ball situations on the training ground. It paid dividends in Saturday's 4-0 hammering of Leicester City, as the Magpies scored a pair of goals through set-piece routines that were clearly rehearsed. Leicester didn't exactly make it difficult for them - there's a reason why the Foxes have conceded the second-most goals in the league - but the tallies were a clear sign of progress for a Newcastle side that went into the match with just three goals from set pieces, one of the worst returns in the division. Saturday's goals, together with a similarly well-worked marker in last month's draw against Crystal Palace, are signs of progress and worth monitoring. The coaching staff will be delighted.</p><p><strong>O'Neil loses control of Wolves</strong></p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/760741/cropped_GettyImages-2190031367.jpg?ts=1734296964" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/760741/w220xh124_GettyImages-2190031367.jpg?ts=1734296964 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/760741/w320xh180_GettyImages-2190031367.jpg?ts=1734296964 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/760741/w640xh360_GettyImages-2190031367.jpg?ts=1734296964 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/760741/w768xh432_GettyImages-2190031367.jpg?ts=1734296964 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/760741/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2190031367.jpg?ts=1734296964 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Carl Recine / Getty Images Sport / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>Things change quickly in the Premier League. Gary O'Neil and his staff signed four-year contract extensions in August, with the Wolves brass seemingly confident he could build on last season's 14th-place finish. Instead, things devolved rapidly in the other direction. Wolves have won just two league matches this campaign, and Saturday's crushing late loss to fellow relegation battlers Ipswich Town was the last straw, resulting in the 41-year-old bench boss being fired. Results were only part of the issue. O'Neil had clearly lost the ability to handle the spiraling situation, as each of the team's last two defeats were followed by on-pitch meltdowns from players. In predictable fashion, Wolves are <a href="https://x.com/David_Ornstein/status/1868291308818972859">reportedly</a> eyeing a Portuguese tactician, Vitor Pereira, to step in and lift the team out of the relegation zone. Restoring discipline will be the first task for whoever comes in for this rescue mission.</p><h3>Star performer 🌟</h3><p><strong>Amad Diallo (Manchester United)</strong></p><p>Why has it taken so long for someone to trust Diallo? United boss Ruben Amorim immediately identified the right-winger as one of the club's most interesting players, trying him out at the wing-back position before restoring him to his natural attacking role this week.</p><p>Diallo's incredible run of form culminated in a match-winning effort against Manchester City on Sunday. He was the most dangerous player in a match low on individual quality. He routinely made runs behind City's defense, forced the penalty that leveled the match, and scored the winner in the 90th minute.</p><p>There's no way Diallo would've evolved under Erik ten Hag. He rarely completed a full 90 minutes and never had a significant run of matches under the Dutch coach. Ruud van Nistelrooy seemed to notice something in Diallo once he took over as interim manager, and Amorim built on Van Nistelrooy's discovery, finding utility in his breathless work rate. Diallo is willing to play anywhere, and perhaps that's because he appreciates how difficult it is to get playing time at a club like United. Being sent on loan to Rangers and Sunderland can certainly humble a player.</p><h3>Best XI 😎</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://www.fotmob.com/api/lineup-builder/team?players=303919:Pickford,23354:Young,793907:Chalobah,683402:Adarabioyo,662428:Robinson,1089691:Anderson,956683:Gravenberch,1070052:Amad,493165:Maddison,771294:Sarr,690107:Isak&amp;formation=4-2-3-1&amp;lineupTitle=Matchweek%2016" srcset="https://www.fotmob.com/api/lineup-builder/team?players=303919:Pickford,23354:Young,793907:Chalobah,683402:Adarabioyo,662428:Robinson,1089691:Anderson,956683:Gravenberch,1070052:Amad,493165:Maddison,771294:Sarr,690107:Isak&amp;formation=4-2-3-1&amp;lineupTitle=Matchweek%2016 220w, https://www.fotmob.com/api/lineup-builder/team?players=303919:Pickford,23354:Young,793907:Chalobah,683402:Adarabioyo,662428:Robinson,1089691:Anderson,956683:Gravenberch,1070052:Amad,493165:Maddison,771294:Sarr,690107:Isak&amp;formation=4-2-3-1&amp;lineupTitle=Matchweek%2016 320w, https://www.fotmob.com/api/lineup-builder/team?players=303919:Pickford,23354:Young,793907:Chalobah,683402:Adarabioyo,662428:Robinson,1089691:Anderson,956683:Gravenberch,1070052:Amad,493165:Maddison,771294:Sarr,690107:Isak&amp;formation=4-2-3-1&amp;lineupTitle=Matchweek%2016 640w, https://www.fotmob.com/api/lineup-builder/team?players=303919:Pickford,23354:Young,793907:Chalobah,683402:Adarabioyo,662428:Robinson,1089691:Anderson,956683:Gravenberch,1070052:Amad,493165:Maddison,771294:Sarr,690107:Isak&amp;formation=4-2-3-1&amp;lineupTitle=Matchweek%2016 768w, https://www.fotmob.com/api/lineup-builder/team?players=303919:Pickford,23354:Young,793907:Chalobah,683402:Adarabioyo,662428:Robinson,1089691:Anderson,956683:Gravenberch,1070052:Amad,493165:Maddison,771294:Sarr,690107:Isak&amp;formation=4-2-3-1&amp;lineupTitle=Matchweek%2016 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution"></span></figcaption></figure><p>(Source: <a href="https://www.fotmob.com/">FotMob</a>)</p><h3>Highlight of the weekend 🎥</h3><p>We're not going to let Aston Villa's loss against Nottingham Forest distract us from this otherworldly one-handed save by Emiliano Martinez.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">STOP WHAT YOU ARE DOING AND WATCH THIS EMI MARTINEZ SAVE 🙌 <a href="https://t.co/IDIbildHLP">pic.twitter.com/IDIbildHLP</a></p>— Men in Blazers (@MenInBlazers) <a href="https://twitter.com/MenInBlazers/status/1868007499284328535?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 14, 2024</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><h3>Stat of the weekend 🔢</h3><p>Extend the man's contract already, Liverpool.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Mohamed Salah now has 100 assists for Liverpool in all competitions. <br><br>Since his debut for the club in August 2017, only three players have made more in Europe's Top Five Leagues (all comps):<br><br>Kevin De Bruyne 132<br>Thomas Müller 118<br>Lionel Messi 108 <a href="https://t.co/3yOl2PWNtm">pic.twitter.com/3yOl2PWNtm</a></p>— Opta Analyst (@OptaAnalyst) <a href="https://twitter.com/OptaAnalyst/status/1867967680331816970?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 14, 2024</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><h3>Social media moment 📱</h3><p>Sean Dyche walked so Mikel Arteta could run.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">“Ah you think corners are your ally? You merely adopted the set-piece. I was born in it, moulded by it. I didn't see the open play xG until I was an experienced Premier League manager, by then it was nothing to me but blinding" <a href="https://t.co/GrbCdb1uQH">pic.twitter.com/GrbCdb1uQH</a></p>— James Pendleton (@jpends_) <a href="https://twitter.com/jpends_/status/1868057038192058758?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 14, 2024</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><h3>Where we stand 👀</h3><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Pos.</th>
<th>Club</th>
<th>Played</th>
<th>GD</th>
<th>Points</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><strong>1.</strong></td>
<td>Liverpool</td>
<td>15</td>
<td>+18</td>
<td>36</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>2.</strong></td>
<td>Chelsea</td>
<td>16</td>
<td>+18</td>
<td>34</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>3.</strong></td>
<td>Arsenal</td>
<td>16</td>
<td>+14</td>
<td>30</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>4.</strong></td>
<td>Nottingham Forest</td>
<td>16</td>
<td>+2</td>
<td>28</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>5.</td>
<td>Manchester City</td>
<td>16</td>
<td>+5</td>
<td>27</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>6.</td>
<td>Aston Villa</td>
<td>16</td>
<td>-1</td>
<td>25</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>7.</td>
<td>Bournemouth</td>
<td>15</td>
<td>+3</td>
<td>24</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>8.</td>
<td>Fulham</td>
<td>16</td>
<td>+2</td>
<td>24</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>9.</td>
<td>Brighton</td>
<td>16</td>
<td>+1</td>
<td>24</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>10.</td>
<td>Tottenham</td>
<td>16</td>
<td>+17</td>
<td>23</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>11.</td>
<td>Brentford</td>
<td>16</td>
<td>+2</td>
<td>23</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>12.</td>
<td>Newcastle</td>
<td>16</td>
<td>+2</td>
<td>23</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>13.</td>
<td>Manchester United</td>
<td>16</td>
<td>+2</td>
<td>22</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>14.</td>
<td>West Ham</td>
<td>15</td>
<td>-8</td>
<td>18</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>15.</td>
<td>Crystal Palace</td>
<td>16</td>
<td>-4</td>
<td>16</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>16.</td>
<td>Everton</td>
<td>15</td>
<td>-7</td>
<td>15</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>17.</td>
<td>Leicester</td>
<td>16</td>
<td>-13</td>
<td>14</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>18.</strong></td>
<td>Ipswich Town</td>
<td>16</td>
<td>-12</td>
<td>12</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>19.</strong></td>
<td>Wolves</td>
<td>16</td>
<td>-16</td>
<td>9</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>20.</strong></td>
<td>Southampton</td>
<td>16</td>
<td>-25</td>
<td>5</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure><p><em>View more stats <a href="thescore:///epl/leaders">here</a>.</em></p>

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EPL Review: Man United's patience rewarded in crisis derby

Even when he scores for Real Madrid, Kylian Mbappe still can't catch a break.  The French superst...

<p>Even when he scores for Real Madrid, <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///chlg/players/66967" href="https://thescore.com/chlg/players/66967">Kylian Mbappe</a> still can't catch a break.</p><p>The French superstar left Tuesday's Champions League match against Atalanta with a leg injury, going down late in the first half and asking to be substituted. <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///chlg/players/160984" href="https://thescore.com/chlg/players/160984">Rodrygo</a> replaced him in the 36th minute.</p><p>"(Mbappe) has a strain, some discomfort in his thigh," Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti <a href="https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/42897461/kylian-mbappe-injury-real-madrid-star-exits-50th-ucl-goal">said</a> after the match. "We'll have to see. It doesn't look serious, but I don't know, we'll see tomorrow. He couldn't sprint. It was bothering him, so we had to substitute him."</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Before the injury, Mbappe recorded the 50th Champions League goal of his career, opening the scoring in Italy with a fine tally that showcased just how devastating he can be when at his best.</p><p>In finding the net, Mbappe became the second-youngest player to reach the half-century mark in the competition, behind only <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mls/players/1126" href="https://thescore.com/mls/players/1126">Lionel Messi</a>. Mbappe, 25, needed only 79 games to hit the milestone.</p><p>Despite his well-documented struggles adapting to his new club since joining in the summer, Mbappe now has 12 goals across all competitions this season.</p><p>Real Madrid went on to win Tuesday's match 3-2, picking up three points the Champions League holders desperately needed as they look to qualify for the knockout stage of the tournament.</p>

Real Madrid's French forward #09 Kylian Mbappe reacts after an injury during the UEFA Champions League football match between Atalanta and Real Madrid at the Gewiss Stadium in Bergamo, on December 10, 2024.

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/29385087/related

Mbappe injures thigh after scoring 50th Champions League goal

<p><em>Following every weekend of Premier League action, theScore examines the most important developments and biggest talking points to emerge from the slate of matches. Below, we dissect Matchweek 15 of the 2024-25 season.</em></p><h3>Are Chelsea true title contenders?</h3><p>The results say they are. Chelsea are second in the Premier League, just four points behind leaders Liverpool, and are well ahead of expectations. Cole Palmer and Enzo Fernandez are turning in match-winning performances, and the likes of Jadon Sancho and Nicolas Jackson are starting to nail down regular roles in the team. The trajectory of the club has crossed a key threshold, and it would be silly to deny it.</p><p>But Sunday's 4-2 comeback win over Tottenham Hotspur doesn't suddenly make them title contenders. Liverpool have a game in hand, and Chelsea have a number of shortcomings to overcome.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Marc Cucurella slipped on the plays that led to Tottenham's first two goals, and giveaways by goalkeeper Robert Sanchez and defender Benoit Badiashile could've heaped misery on Chelsea when the tide was turning in Sunday's London derby. The Blues also needed two penalties - which Spurs gift-wrapped in the most careless possible way - to ignite the comeback effort.</p><p>"Arsenal, (Manchester) City, and Liverpool probably don't slide - like Cucurella did," head coach Enzo Maresca <a href="https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/live/c4g2pd77dert?post=asset%3Ad88ac3d2-507f-40c7-a2ff-aeed3f4636e9#post">said</a> afterward. "To be serious, we are not ready. We are far from these teams, but we focus on (it) day by day and (are) trying to improve the team."</p><p>Chelsea play an open and risky transition game, and as rewarding as it can be, it has its defects. Sometimes you see Moises Caicedo scrambling, and sometimes he lunges, and sometimes he gets away with a studs-up challenge, as he did Sunday. Chelsea's game is built around moments, and they can go both ways. Chelsea have already committed five errors leading to goals - higher than any other top-five team and a clear sign that they still struggle to control matches. The majority of Chelsea's wins have also come against teams in the bottom half of the table.</p><p>None of that is to say Chelsea can't win the title. But there's a lot to do before they can truly consider themselves a complete package.</p><h3>Quick free-kicks 📝</h3><p><strong>Unsung coaching heroes</strong></p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/759590/cropped_GettyImages-2188885195.jpg?ts=1733687626" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/759590/w220xh124_GettyImages-2188885195.jpg?ts=1733687626 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/759590/w320xh180_GettyImages-2188885195.jpg?ts=1733687626 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/759590/w640xh360_GettyImages-2188885195.jpg?ts=1733687626 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/759590/w768xh432_GettyImages-2188885195.jpg?ts=1733687626 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/759590/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2188885195.jpg?ts=1733687626 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Robin Jones - AFC Bournemouth / AFC Bournemouth / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>Besides players underperforming, there's another big reason why teams like Newcastle, Manchester United, and Tottenham are struggling outside the top 10. The trio should be competing for places in Europe. Instead, they can barely string two wins together. While they've toiled, teams like Bournemouth, Brentford, and Fulham have stepped up, overachieving with squads that aren't nearly as expensive. The difference comes down to coaching. Unlike the three high spenders, stability on the touchline has benefited Bournemouth's Andoni Iraola, Brentford's Thomas Frank, and Fulham's Marco Silva. Their innovations and impact aren't talked about nearly enough. But after a weekend in which Brentford battered Newcastle, Bournemouth came from behind to beat Ipswich Town, and Fulham held title contenders Arsenal, it's time to give credit where it's due to the Premier League's most underrated coaches.</p><p><strong>Man United their own worst enemy</strong></p><p>Ruben Amorim has a massive task on his hands to turn Manchester United around. He knows that. It's going to take time and a lot of work. One thing he can't legislate for, though, is basic errors from his players. A brutal giveaway inside his own half from Bruno Fernandes, together with some truly confounding goalkeeping by Andre Onana, gifted Nottingham Forest one goal Saturday. Matthijs de Ligt and Lisandro Martinez simply watched on, as if frozen in time, as a looping Chris Wood header, moving almost in slow motion, nestled into the net for another. The latter stood up as the winner at Old Trafford, consigning Amorim to his second consecutive defeat. Getting the fallen club back to the top is going to be difficult enough for the Portuguese tactician. It'll be downright impossible if his players keep torpedoing their own progress with the types of mistakes commonly seen in semi-pro leagues.</p><p><strong>'Season to suffer'</strong></p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/759591/cropped_GettyImages-2188715340.jpg?ts=1733687707" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/759591/w220xh124_GettyImages-2188715340.jpg?ts=1733687707 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/759591/w320xh180_GettyImages-2188715340.jpg?ts=1733687707 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/759591/w640xh360_GettyImages-2188715340.jpg?ts=1733687707 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/759591/w768xh432_GettyImages-2188715340.jpg?ts=1733687707 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/759591/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2188715340.jpg?ts=1733687707 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Ryan Pierse / Getty Images Sport / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>Manchester City didn't lose this weekend. Considering how things have gone for much of the last month, that's actually an improvement. It's also a sad statement that reflects the reality at the club right now. Pep Guardiola <a href="https://www.premierleague.com/news/4190268?sf275709994=1">admitted</a> after Saturday's 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace that this is Man City's "season to suffer." Whether this team is built for that remains to be seen. Most of these players have won everything already. Sure, they've had to battle extremely hard in previous seasons, fending off fierce title challengers and winning huge matches. But they've never had to deal with a soul-sapping rut like this. Even Guardiola himself isn't sure if he and his squad are capable of digging themselves out of this hole. One thing that would help right off the bat: stop conceding early. Man City have given up a league-high seven goals in the first 15 minutes of matches this season. Always playing from behind isn't a recipe for success.</p><p><strong>Good luck, schedule-makers</strong></p><p>By the Premier League's <a href="https://www.premierleague.com/news/261976">own admission</a>, compiling the annual fixture list is a "meticulous and painstaking process that lasts almost half a year." One of the unintended byproducts of the current schedule, already loaded to the gills with matches, is the difficulty of rescheduling postponed games. With the top clubs seemingly in action every three days, finding a decent window to squeeze in an extra contest is no simple task. The Merseyside derby, called off Saturday due to Storm Darragh, will likely have to be shoehorned into a rare midweek opening somewhere after the jam-packed holiday slate. An already tricky test for Liverpool will be that little bit more challenging.</p><h3>Star performer 🌟</h3><p><strong>Jamie Vardy (Leicester City)</strong></p><p>Vardy is the definition of a talisman.</p><p>Leicester City's season hasn't gone to plan. However, Sunday's come-from-behind draw with Brighton &amp; Hove Albion, which followed an impressive win over West Ham, suggests momentum may finally be shifting in the Foxes' favor. And it was all thanks to their trusted striker.</p><p>With the Foxes teetering toward a defeat, the 37-year-old turned back the clock with a vintage display in the closing stages that was reminiscent of the performances that helped Leicester City win a shock Premier League title almost a decade ago.</p><p>As he's done so often over the years, Vardy brought the King Power Stadium to its feet after cutting Leicester's deficit in half in the 86th minute. The confidence-booster led to bigger celebrations five minutes later after Vardy set up the equalizer to become the second-oldest player to score and assist in a Premier League match.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Jamie Vardy's last 7 games for Leicester... <br><br>• ⚽️ vs Southampton<br>• ⚽️ vs Nottingham Forest<br>• 🅰️ vs Ipswich<br>• ❌ vs Chelsea <br>• 🅰️ vs Brentford <br>• ⚽️ vs West Ham<br>• 🅰️⚽️ vs Brighton<br><br>37-years-old. Incredible. 👏 <a href="https://t.co/tAjtDh0AdN">pic.twitter.com/tAjtDh0AdN</a></p>— EuroFoot (@eurofootcom) <a href="https://twitter.com/eurofootcom/status/1865789410551148704?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 8, 2024</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>Ten years after Ruud van Nistelrooy watched Vardy break his revered Premier League scoring record, Leicester's new coach is now relying on the revived veteran, who has six goals and three assists this season, to keep Leicester from dropping right back down to the Championship.</p><h3>Best XI 😎</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://www.fotmob.com/api/lineup-builder/team?players=317564:Arrizabalaga,955139:Lamptey,766611:Milenkovic,950485:Lacroix,966026:Maatsen,816325:Kamara,923312:Mbeumo,789502:Gibbs-White,1096353:Palmer,846381:Sancho,286119:Vardy&amp;formation=4-1-4-1" srcset="https://www.fotmob.com/api/lineup-builder/team?players=317564:Arrizabalaga,955139:Lamptey,766611:Milenkovic,950485:Lacroix,966026:Maatsen,816325:Kamara,923312:Mbeumo,789502:Gibbs-White,1096353:Palmer,846381:Sancho,286119:Vardy&amp;formation=4-1-4-1 220w, https://www.fotmob.com/api/lineup-builder/team?players=317564:Arrizabalaga,955139:Lamptey,766611:Milenkovic,950485:Lacroix,966026:Maatsen,816325:Kamara,923312:Mbeumo,789502:Gibbs-White,1096353:Palmer,846381:Sancho,286119:Vardy&amp;formation=4-1-4-1 320w, https://www.fotmob.com/api/lineup-builder/team?players=317564:Arrizabalaga,955139:Lamptey,766611:Milenkovic,950485:Lacroix,966026:Maatsen,816325:Kamara,923312:Mbeumo,789502:Gibbs-White,1096353:Palmer,846381:Sancho,286119:Vardy&amp;formation=4-1-4-1 640w, https://www.fotmob.com/api/lineup-builder/team?players=317564:Arrizabalaga,955139:Lamptey,766611:Milenkovic,950485:Lacroix,966026:Maatsen,816325:Kamara,923312:Mbeumo,789502:Gibbs-White,1096353:Palmer,846381:Sancho,286119:Vardy&amp;formation=4-1-4-1 768w, https://www.fotmob.com/api/lineup-builder/team?players=317564:Arrizabalaga,955139:Lamptey,766611:Milenkovic,950485:Lacroix,966026:Maatsen,816325:Kamara,923312:Mbeumo,789502:Gibbs-White,1096353:Palmer,846381:Sancho,286119:Vardy&amp;formation=4-1-4-1 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution"></span></figcaption></figure><p>(Source: <a href="https://www.fotmob.com/">FotMob</a>)</p><h3>Highlight of the weekend 🎥</h3><p>Bryan Mbeumo is having the season of his life. Through just 15 matches, the Brentford talisman has already matched his career high for goals in a Premier League campaign, registering his ninth tally in Saturday's win over Newcastle. He did it in style, too, helping the Bees maintain their status as the best home team in the country.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">🧑‍🎨 Bryan Mbeumo, a master of his art <a href="https://t.co/YBuWzOaL6v">pic.twitter.com/YBuWzOaL6v</a></p>— Brentford FC (@BrentfordFC) <a href="https://twitter.com/BrentfordFC/status/1865516642073194893?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 7, 2024</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><h3>Stat of the weekend 🔢</h3><p>We're still trying to figure out how, exactly, Andre Onana <em>didn't</em> save this. Even the commentators, absolutely perplexed, thought there must have been a deflection to wrong-foot the goalkeeper. There was no deflection.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">A goalkeeper would be expected to save this shot 97% of the time, according to xGOT. <a href="https://t.co/9CVTvpXrMt">pic.twitter.com/9CVTvpXrMt</a></p>— The xG Philosophy (@xGPhilosophy) <a href="https://twitter.com/xGPhilosophy/status/1865467570540642607?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 7, 2024</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><h3>Social media moment 📱</h3><p>If you swapped doppelgangers Jota Silva and Jack Grealish, would anybody at their respective clubs even notice?</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">31' 🟨 Jota Silva is booked for elbowing Garnacho. <br><br>🔴 1-1 🌳 | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MUFC?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MUFC</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MUNNFO?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MUNNFO</a> <a href="https://t.co/wyM7qw5dFT">pic.twitter.com/wyM7qw5dFT</a></p>— Stretford Paddock (@StretfordPaddck) <a href="https://twitter.com/StretfordPaddck/status/1865457376788189461?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 7, 2024</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><h3>Where we stand 👀</h3><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Pos.</th>
<th>Club</th>
<th>Played</th>
<th>GD</th>
<th>Points</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>1.</td>
<td>Liverpool</td>
<td>14</td>
<td>+18</td>
<td>35</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2.</td>
<td>Chelsea</td>
<td>15</td>
<td>+17</td>
<td>31</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3.</td>
<td>Arsenal</td>
<td>15</td>
<td>+14</td>
<td>29</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>4.</td>
<td>Manchester City</td>
<td>15</td>
<td>+6</td>
<td>27</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>5.</td>
<td>Nottingham Forest</td>
<td>15</td>
<td>+1</td>
<td>25</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>6.</td>
<td>Aston Villa</td>
<td>15</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>25</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>7.</td>
<td>Brighton</td>
<td>15</td>
<td>+3</td>
<td>24</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>8.</td>
<td>Bournemouth</td>
<td>15</td>
<td>+3</td>
<td>24</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>9.</td>
<td>Brentford</td>
<td>15</td>
<td>3</td>
<td>23</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>10.</td>
<td>Fulham</td>
<td>15</td>
<td>+2</td>
<td>23</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>11.</td>
<td>Tottenham</td>
<td>15</td>
<td>+12</td>
<td>20</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>12.</td>
<td>Newcastle</td>
<td>15</td>
<td>-2</td>
<td>20</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>13.</td>
<td>Manchester United</td>
<td>15</td>
<td>+1</td>
<td>19</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>14.</td>
<td>West Ham</td>
<td>14</td>
<td>-9</td>
<td>15</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>15.</td>
<td>Everton</td>
<td>14</td>
<td>-7</td>
<td>14</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>16.</td>
<td>Leicester</td>
<td>15</td>
<td>-9</td>
<td>14</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>17.</td>
<td>Crystal Palace</td>
<td>15</td>
<td>-6</td>
<td>13</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>18.</td>
<td>Ipswich Town</td>
<td>15</td>
<td>-13</td>
<td>9</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>19.</td>
<td>Wolves</td>
<td>14</td>
<td>-14</td>
<td>9</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>20.</td>
<td>Southampton</td>
<td>15</td>
<td>-20</td>
<td>5</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure><p><em>View more stats <a href="thescore:///epl/leaders">here</a>.</em></p>

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EPL Review: Chelsea move into title conversation, Vardy's still got it

Lionel Messi was named the 2024 Major League Soccer MVP on Friday.  The Argentine superstar led t...

<p><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mls/players/1126" href="https://thescore.com/mls/players/1126">Lionel Messi</a> was named the 2024 Major League Soccer MVP on Friday.</p><p>The Argentine superstar led the league with 36 goal contributions during Inter Miami's record-breaking regular season, scoring 20 times and providing 16 primary and secondary assists despite playing only 19 matches. The 37-year-old averaged an MLS-record 2.18 goal contributions per 90 minutes.</p><p>Led by Messi, Miami established a new MLS record for points in a single campaign and claimed the Supporters' Shield for the first time in club history.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>"Truly, it is an honor for me to receive this award from all of you," Messi, addressing Inter Miami's academy players who helped present him with the honor, <a href="https://x.com/InterMiamiCF/status/1865048589228994625">said</a> in an acceptance video. "It's a source of pride to watch you all train. I'm very happy to be here every day. I'm very happy to be in this city, in this club that is growing. It's a pleasure to see you grow day by day. I invite you to keep fighting and striving for your dreams."</p><p>Messi beat out teammate <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mls/players/4433" href="https://thescore.com/mls/players/4433">Luis Suarez</a>, Golden Boot winner <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mls/players/15086" href="https://thescore.com/mls/players/15086">Christian Benteke</a>, and All-Star forwards <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mls/players/167806" href="https://thescore.com/mls/players/167806">Evander</a> and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mls/players/96354" href="https://thescore.com/mls/players/96354">Cucho Hernandez</a> to win the award and add new silverware to his overflowing trophy cabinet.</p><p><strong>Voting Results</strong></p><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Player</th>
<th>Votes</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Lionel Messi</td>
<td>38.43%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Cucho Hernandez</td>
<td>33.70%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Evander</td>
<td>9.24%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Christian Benteke</td>
<td>7.10%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Luis Suarez</td>
<td>2.17%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure><p>Messi is the second consecutive Argentine to take home the accolade after FC Cincinnati's <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mls/players/68013" href="https://thescore.com/mls/players/68013">Luciano Acosta</a> received the honor in 2023.</p><p>Overwhelming favorites to win the MLS Cup, Inter Miami were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs, falling to Atlanta United. </p><p>The stunning upset resulted in manager Gerardo "Tata" Martino's departure. Javier Mascherano, Messi's compatriot and former teammate, has since succeeded Martino.</p><p>Messi's contract with Inter Miami expires at the end of 2025, though the deal reportedly includes an option to extend his stay through 2026.</p><p>Other MLS award winners this season include Columbus' Wilfried Nancy (coach of the year), LA Galaxy winger <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mls/players/205843" href="https://thescore.com/mls/players/205843">Gabriel Pec</a> (top newcomer), and Cincinnati's <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mls/players/206341" href="https://thescore.com/mls/players/206341">Luca Orellano</a> (best goal).</p>

FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 14: Lionel Messi #10 of Inter Miami celebrates after scoring a goal against the Philadelphia Union during the first half of the game at Chase Stadium on September 14, 2024 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/29329845/related

Messi named MLS MVP after Inter Miami's historic season

On the first Tuesday of every month during the 2024-25 season, we'll debate which clubs are among...

<p><em>On the first Tuesday of every month during the 2024-25 season, we'll debate which clubs are among Europe's elite in our Soccer Power Rankings. In our December edition, we're picking out one summer signing that must step up his game for each team on our list.</em></p><p><strong>Jump to:</strong><br><a href="#Arsenal">ARS</a> | <a href="#Atalanta">ATA</a> | <a href="#Atletico%20Madrid">ATM</a> | <a href="#Barcelona">BAR</a> | <a href="#BVB">BVB</a> | <a href="#Chelsea">CHE</a> | <a href="#Bayern">FCB</a> | <a href="#Fiorentina">FIO</a> | <a href="#Inter">INT</a> | <a href="#Juventus">JUV</a> | <a href="#Lille">LIL</a> | <a href="#Leverkusen">LEV</a> | <a href="#Liverpool">LIV</a> | <a href="#Man%20City">MCI</a> | <a href="#AC%20Milan">MIL </a>| <a href="#Napoli">NAP</a> | <a href="#PSG">PSG</a> | <a href="#Real%20Madrid">RMA</a> | <a href="#Sporting">SCP</a> | <a href="#Frankfurt">SGE</a></p><h3>1. <a id="Liverpool" name="Liverpool">Liverpool</a> 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/747979/cropped_GettyImages-2174518261.jpg?ts=1727818503" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/747979/w220xh124_GettyImages-2174518261.jpg?ts=1727818503 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/747979/w320xh180_GettyImages-2174518261.jpg?ts=1727818503 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/747979/w640xh360_GettyImages-2174518261.jpg?ts=1727818503 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/747979/w768xh432_GettyImages-2174518261.jpg?ts=1727818503 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/747979/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2174518261.jpg?ts=1727818503 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Nikki Dyer - LFC / Liverpool FC / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p><strong>Previous rank:</strong> 2 📈</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Considering Liverpool's sensational start to life under Arne Slot, this is little more than a nitpick. It obviously hasn't hindered them in any way, but <strong>Federico Chiesa</strong> has been virtually nonexistent since joining the club from Juventus in the summer. The Italian, struggling to achieve full fitness, has made just three appearances in all competitions, playing a grand total of 78 minutes. Imagine if they actually get <em>anything</em> out of him this season.</p><h3>2. <a id="Atalanta" name="Atalanta">Atalanta</a> 🇮🇹</h3><p><strong>Previous rank:</strong> 7 📈</p><p>Atalanta are flying right now, with Mateo Retegui, Charles De Ketelaere, and Ademola Lookman all in scintillating form for a side that's scored 26 times during an eight-game winning streak. <strong>Nicolo Zaniolo</strong> is the only player yet to flourish under Gian Piero Gasperini. The Italian, on loan from Galatasaray, has more yellow cards than goals this season. At some point, Atalanta's scoring spree will slow down. Having Zaniolo at his best will help in those moments.</p><h3>3. <a id="Inter" name="Inter">Inter Milan</a> 🇮🇹</h3><p><strong>Previous rank:</strong> 11 📈</p><p>Captain Lautaro Martinez and strike partner Marcus Thuram continue to carry the attacking load, combining for nearly half of Inter's goals in Serie A this season. With the Nerazzurri competing on several fronts, <strong>Mehdi Taremi</strong>, who's still goalless in league play, will need to step up and offer a credible secondary scoring threat who can give Simone Inzaghi's first-choice pair a break as the fixture list keeps piling up.</p><h3>4. <a id="Bayern" name="Bayern">Bayern Munich</a> 🇩🇪</h3><p><strong>Previous rank:</strong> 5 📈</p><p>Having finally landed the defensive midfield specialist they long coveted, Bayern Munich probably expected a little more out of <strong>Joao Palhinha</strong>. The ball-winning machine saw limited playing time early in the season before getting injured, raising questions about his suitability for Vincent Kompany's system. Nearing a return from an adductor tear, the Portuguese international will be looking to supplant a resurgent Leon Goretzka in the starting lineup.</p><h3>5. <a id="Arsenal" name="Arsenal">Arsenal</a> 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/758599/cropped_GettyImages-2186396848.jpg?ts=1733229987" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/758599/w220xh124_GettyImages-2186396848.jpg?ts=1733229987 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/758599/w320xh180_GettyImages-2186396848.jpg?ts=1733229987 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/758599/w640xh360_GettyImages-2186396848.jpg?ts=1733229987 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/758599/w768xh432_GettyImages-2186396848.jpg?ts=1733229987 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/758599/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2186396848.jpg?ts=1733229987 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Soccrates Images / Getty Images Sport / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p><strong>Previous rank:</strong> 9 📈</p><p>Raheem Sterling has been a non-factor this season, but his loan deal was a low-risk, last-minute summer signing. <strong>Mikel Merino</strong>, on the other hand, cost nearly €40 million and has yet to look comfortable in north London, starting just four Premier League matches since moving from Real Sociedad. Injuries have delayed his acclimation. Getting more out of the Spanish midfielder in the second half of the season would be a big boost to Arsenal's title push.</p><h3>6. <a id="Chelsea" name="Chelsea">Chelsea</a> 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿</h3><p><strong>Previous rank:</strong> 16 📈</p><p>Chelsea are making excellent progress under Enzo Maresca. Despite the justified criticism of the club's scattergun transfer policy, the ceiling for this team is very high after multiple windows spent doling out huge sums of cash. But one area that could yet derail the Blues' ascent is between the sticks, where Robert Sanchez remains an unconvincing No. 1. <strong>Filip Jorgensen</strong> can wrest that job away and provide Chelsea with a better backbone in goal.</p><h3>7. <a id="Barcelona" name="Barcelona">Barcelona</a> 🇪🇸</h3><p><strong>Previous rank:</strong> 1 📉</p><p><strong>Dani Olmo</strong> has looked great when he's been on the pitch - five La Liga goals in just seven appearances - but that's just it: He's not been available consistently enough to justify Barcelona's €60-million outlay. Fitness issues have been the one real knock on the Spaniard throughout his career. He gives Barca a unique set of versatility and creativity and needs to stay healthy for a team dealing with its first bit of adversity under Hansi Flick.</p><h3>8. <a id="Napoli" name="Napoli">Napoli</a> 🇮🇹</h3><p><strong>Previous rank:</strong> 8 ⚖️</p><p>Napoli, unlike so many other teams on this list, aren't burdened by sapping midweek European fixtures. Antonio Conte doesn't have to worry about squad rotation nearly as much as his peers. That's helped Matteo Politano retain his starting place on the right wing despite limited production this season. <strong>David Neres</strong>, often a late-game substitute in that position, has a chance to make the starting spot his own if he can fully win Conte's trust.</p><h3>9. <a id="Real Madrid" name="Real%20Madrid">Real Madrid</a> 🇪🇸</h3><p><strong>Previous rank:</strong> 3 📉</p><p>Who else? <strong>Kylian Mbappe</strong> hasn't exactly hit the ground running in the Spanish capital. His raw numbers aren't <em>that</em> bad - eight league goals in 13 games - but he's been an awkward fit on the pitch while Carlo Ancelotti tinkers and figures out how to make the best use of his skills. Mbappe was always going to be judged more harshly than any other summer signing. He's set the bar sky-high, and he hasn't come close to reaching it yet in Madrid.</p><h3>10. <a id="Atletico Madrid" name="Atletico%20Madrid">Atletico Madrid</a> 🇪🇸</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/758600/cropped_GettyImages-2186851455.jpg?ts=1733230057" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/758600/w220xh124_GettyImages-2186851455.jpg?ts=1733230057 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/758600/w320xh180_GettyImages-2186851455.jpg?ts=1733230057 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/758600/w640xh360_GettyImages-2186851455.jpg?ts=1733230057 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/758600/w768xh432_GettyImages-2186851455.jpg?ts=1733230057 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/758600/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2186851455.jpg?ts=1733230057 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Flor Tan Jun / Getty Images Sport / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p><strong>Previous rank:</strong> 17 📈</p><p>Atletico are still unsure when Robin Le Normand will be available to return from the traumatic head injury he suffered in September. The club won't take any chances with the defender, who only recently resumed light training while wearing protective headgear. In his continued absence, <strong>Clement Lenglet</strong> has stepped in. He was signed on loan from Barcelona to provide defensive depth but has suddenly been thrust into a key role for Diego Simeone.</p><h3>11. <a id="Man City" name="Man%20City">Manchester City</a> 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿</h3><p><strong>Previous rank:</strong> 4 📉</p><p>Manchester City need better play from virtually <em>everyone</em> right now to get out of their stunning tailspin. <strong>Savinho</strong>, who looked so promising early in the season, has hit a wall of late, just like so many of his struggling teammates. The Brazilian, without a goal on the campaign, hasn't recorded a league assist since September. That's simply not good enough for a winger tasked with being one of the key creative forces and suppliers for Erling Haaland.</p><h3>12. <a id="PSG" name="PSG">Paris Saint-Germain</a> 🇫🇷</h3><p><strong>Previous rank:</strong> 6 📉</p><p><strong>Desire Doue</strong> was a signing for the future, but Paris Saint-Germain need him right now. Luis Enrique's men are cruising in Ligue 1, as usual, but they've been pitiful in the Champions League, sitting 25th after five matches. Filling the void left by the game's best forward is a huge undertaking, and it can't be done by one player alone. Doue, 19, can help soften the blow of Mbappe's absence by showing why PSG splashed €50 million to sign him from Rennes.</p><h3>13. <a id="Fiorentina" name="Fiorentina">Fiorentina</a> 🇮🇹</h3><p><strong>Previous rank:</strong> 10 📉</p><p>Red-hot striker Moise Kean has been one of the best signings in Italy this season. His resurgence after a goalless 2023-24 has been vital to lifting Fiorentina near the top of the Serie A table. Fellow summer arrival <strong>Albert Gudmundsson</strong> hasn't been able to have the same impact yet, though. The Icelandic playmaker was coveted by some of Europe's top clubs before landing in Florence and has the talent to help Fiorentina climb even higher.</p><h3>14. <a id="Sporting" name="Sporting">Sporting CP</a> 🇵🇹</h3><p><strong>Previous rank:</strong> 12 📉</p><p>With Ruben Amorim getting poached by Manchester United, all eyes are now on prolific star Viktor Gyokeres. It's only a matter of when, not if, he leaves for an enormous fee. Sporting, one of the shrewdest operators in the transfer market, preplanned for that by spending more than €20 million on Danish teenager <strong>Conrad Harder</strong> in September. The young striker could be tasked with leading the line as early as January if Gyokeres departs this winter.</p><h3>15. <a id="Frankfurt" name="Frankfurt">Eintracht Frankfurt</a> 🇩🇪</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/758601/cropped_GettyImages-2182903966.jpg?ts=1733230149" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/758601/w220xh124_GettyImages-2182903966.jpg?ts=1733230149 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/758601/w320xh180_GettyImages-2182903966.jpg?ts=1733230149 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/758601/w640xh360_GettyImages-2182903966.jpg?ts=1733230149 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/758601/w768xh432_GettyImages-2182903966.jpg?ts=1733230149 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/758601/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2182903966.jpg?ts=1733230149 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">NurPhoto / NurPhoto / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p><strong>Previous rank:</strong> 15 ⚖️</p><p>Frankfurt, who won all six of their games in November, nailed several of their summer signings. Robin Koch has played more minutes than anybody on the team, Arthur Theate and Rasmus Kristensen are defensive pillars, and Hugo Ekitike has nine goal involvements in 11 league games. The only new face not fully settled is <strong>Mahmoud Dahoud</strong>. The midfielder, aiming to get his career back on track after a tough 2023-24, has just one Bundesliga start so far. </p><h3>16. <a id="Leverkusen" name="Leverkusen">Bayer Leverkusen</a> 🇩🇪</h3><p><strong>Previous rank:</strong> 18 📈</p><p>Leverkusen's greatest accomplishment in the summer window was keeping hold of all the key contributors from their undefeated title-winning season. They didn't rest on their laurels, though, and committed more deeply to Xabi Alonso's possession-based style by recruiting deep-lying midfield quarterback <strong>Aleix Garcia</strong> from Girona. The diminutive Spaniard is starting to show in recent games why he was viewed as a perfect fit for Alonso's squad.</p><h3>17. <a id="AC Milan" name="AC%20Milan">AC Milan</a> 🇮🇹</h3><p><strong>Previous rank:</strong> N/A 📈</p><p>A bevy of credible attacking options means Alvaro Morata's modest scoring output isn't Paulo Fonseca's biggest worry. Inconsistency in defense has been more baffling - Milan are capable of shutting down Real Madrid one day and conceding three goals to Cagliari the next. Fonseca's used four different center-back pairings in the past five outings in search of a solution. <strong>Strahinja Pavlovic</strong> can lock down one of those spots by simply refining his game.</p><h3>18. <a id="Juventus" name="Juventus">Juventus</a> 🇮🇹</h3><p><strong>Previous rank:</strong> 14 📉</p><p><strong>Teun Koopmeiners</strong>. Juventus made the Dutchman the centerpiece of their summer rebuild, signing him for nearly €60 million. They expected he'd provide goals from midfield, something the club has long lacked. It hasn't worked out yet, with Koopmeiners still seeking his first tally for the Bianconeri. Ravaged by injuries of late, Thiago Motta's Juve desperately needs him to recapture last season's form and uplift a squad struggling badly to score.</p><h3>19. <a id="Lille" name="Lille">Lille</a> 🇫🇷</h3><p><strong>Previous rank:</strong> 20 📈</p><p>Tiago Santos' impressive play last year was one of the reasons why Lille reached the Champions League. But an early-season ACL tear ruled the Portuguese right-back out for the remainder of this campaign, leaving <strong>Aissa Mandi</strong> to patrol that position. A natural center-back, the veteran Algerian international has slotted in well on the right side, and his defense-first mindset allows winger Edon Zhegrova to play with more freedom in front of him.</p><h3>20. <a id="BVB" name="BVB">Borussia Dortmund</a> 🇩🇪</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/758602/cropped_GettyImages-2187699207.jpg?ts=1733230227" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/758602/w220xh124_GettyImages-2187699207.jpg?ts=1733230227 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/758602/w320xh180_GettyImages-2187699207.jpg?ts=1733230227 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/758602/w640xh360_GettyImages-2187699207.jpg?ts=1733230227 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/758602/w768xh432_GettyImages-2187699207.jpg?ts=1733230227 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/758602/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2187699207.jpg?ts=1733230227 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Stuart Franklin / Getty Images Sport / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p><strong>Previous rank:</strong> N/A 📈</p><p>Borussia Dortmund games might look like track meets over the next month. Among teams in the top half of the Bundesliga, only Stuttgart have conceded more goals than Dortmund this season. With key defender Waldemar Anton likely out until January due to injury, BVB might have to simply outscore their defensive issues for a bit. Getting more out of <strong>Maximilian Beier</strong>, who has just two goals this season, would go a long way toward making that possible.</p><p><strong>Dropped out</strong>: RB Leipzig, Nottingham Forest<br><strong>On the cusp:</strong> Benfica, PSV Eindhoven, AS Monaco, Galatasaray</p>

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Soccer Power Rankings: Summer signings who must step up for each team

<p><em>Following every weekend of Premier League action, theScore examines the most important developments and biggest talking points to emerge from the slate of matches. Below, we dissect Matchweek 13 of the 2024-25 season.</em></p><h3>Does Guardiola have any answers?</h3><p>Midway through Liverpool's otherwise dominant 2-0 win over Manchester City, the champions finally emerged from the rubble of an utterly one-sided opening half-hour with the ball. A lifeline was suddenly up for grabs. Liverpool had missed several chances to make it a blowout and began to retreat into their own end. But the opportunity came and went without much ado. City couldn't summon anything. They had 63% of possession between their first attempt on goal in the 38th minute and Mohamed Salah's game-clinching 78th-minute penalty but couldn't get a shot on target in that time. They couldn't disturb Liverpool, even as the hosts challenged them to do so.</p><p>Guardiola tried to inspire change beforehand, dropping Ederson for backup 'keeper Stefan Ortega and defender Josko Gvardiol for Nathan Ake. Removing Ederson and Gvardiol from the firing line seemed like a responsible choice; their errors precipitated at least a couple of City's recent losses.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Neither Ortega nor Ake could reset the side. Ortega conceded a penalty when he was left all alone with two Liverpool players, while Ake did his best to resist the press on his own. They just couldn't prevent the mistakes that have cost City over the past five weeks from repeating themselves here. They gave away the ball cheaply, attempted low-percentage passes at the wrong time, and committed silly challenges early on. The self-belief that made City seem unstoppable in previous years deserted them yet again.</p><p>Guardiola <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3146465" href="https://thescore.com/news/3146465">said</a> afterward that City will have to hit the reset button and start from scratch. But he's rarely had to do that with any team he's coached. He's not used to doing something so drastic midseason. And he's never had to rethink his entire approach amid such a startling downturn. City haven't won in seven games, and it's not unreasonable to think they could lose many more before the end of the season. They face sixth-placed Nottingham Forest on Wednesday and then have a tough run of fixtures against Juventus, Manchester United, and Aston Villa. That leads them like a pig to slaughter into the meat grinder that is the festive period, which is uncompromising at the best of times.</p><p>Now is probably the worst time to have an existential crisis.</p><h3>Quick free-kicks 📝</h3><p><strong>Statement win for Amorim's United</strong></p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/758279/cropped_GettyImages-2187190636.jpg?ts=1733068357" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/758279/w220xh124_GettyImages-2187190636.jpg?ts=1733068357 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/758279/w320xh180_GettyImages-2187190636.jpg?ts=1733068357 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/758279/w640xh360_GettyImages-2187190636.jpg?ts=1733068357 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/758279/w768xh432_GettyImages-2187190636.jpg?ts=1733068357 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/758279/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2187190636.jpg?ts=1733068357 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA / Getty Images Sport / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>Ruben Amorim's angry reactions were telling at the start of Manchester United's clash against Everton. With the visitors regularly venturing into United's half, Amorim went ballistic on a few of his players for underperforming in one of the most winnable games of the season. His patience was clearly running out just three matches into his United career. But after playing like Erik ten Hag's timid side to start the match, United started to show signs that Amorim's philosophies were taking hold. Amad Diallo was outstanding, while Joshua Zirkzee - a target of one of Amorim's early outbursts - ended his 17-game drought with a brace in United's biggest league win since 2021. The next test for Amorim's United is performing just as well against better opponents than relegation-threatened teams like Everton.</p><p><strong>If at first you don't succeed ...</strong></p><p>Daniel Munoz showed the power of persistence Saturday. The Colombian missed two glorious chances in the first half against Newcastle, one an open-net sitter with his left foot on the counterattack, the other a close-range tap-in denied on the goal line by a diving Dan Burn. But the Crystal Palace wing-back wasn't deterred. He kept taking opportunities to creep in at the back post, and it paid dividends when he finally scored his first Premier League goal, a 94th-minute equalizer that got Palace out of the drop zone. "He scored the most difficult chance," manager Oliver Glasner said after the 1-1 draw, according to <a href="https://uk.sports.yahoo.com/news/crystal-palace-boss-oliver-glasner-195125686.html?guccounter=1&amp;guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly9jbXNhZG1pbi50aGVzY29yZS5jb20v&amp;guce_referrer_sig=AQAAABoxZvG_2o67V9IR1MhEd9CKldpDF316JC0rT94Lm_MqyV9kq_m0etTz0jVIwSVEayoqsAIuqfYMR89llBFm-Bl2P3f0sbjt6M_VGgWyQSc5VcF7ut1LF3VGdKk_BDdMUuXMayBa4bj0KTxuHEe3Nu0adoww-2pKtFhgy3bJB6rC">Yahoo Sports' Bobby Manzi</a>. "This shows his character, the character of the team, and the character of all of us."</p><p><strong>Kluivert holds his nerve</strong></p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/758100/cropped_GettyImages-2187589859.jpg?ts=1732985902" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/758100/w220xh124_GettyImages-2187589859.jpg?ts=1732985902 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/758100/w320xh180_GettyImages-2187589859.jpg?ts=1732985902 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/758100/w640xh360_GettyImages-2187589859.jpg?ts=1732985902 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/758100/w768xh432_GettyImages-2187589859.jpg?ts=1732985902 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/758100/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2187589859.jpg?ts=1732985902 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Robin Jones - AFC Bournemouth / AFC Bournemouth / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>Penalties often get dismissed when looking at a player's body of work. They're the easiest chances in the game to convert - you really <em>shouldn't</em> be squandering a free attempt from 12 yards out. And yet, so many do. Justin Kluivert had no such trouble Saturday, though, becoming the first player in the Premier League era to convert three spot-kicks in the same game. That hasn't happened in England's top flight since 1957. This was a showcase of mental fortitude from the Bournemouth forward as much as anything. Mind games are a key part of penalties, which is why many teams use different takers if they get multiple opportunities from the spot within a match. But Kluivert didn't get in his own head trying to outwit Wolves' Jose Sa - and made history.</p><p><strong>Brentford love home cooking</strong></p><p>The Gtech Community Stadium is a fortress. Brentford have been the best home team in the league so far this season, racking up more points on their own turf than any club. Thomas Frank's men are pouring it on against everyone who visits west London. They're unbeaten in seven home matches, winning six of those games. The Bees' 4-1 win over Leicester City on Saturday, powered by a hat-trick from Kevin Schade, gave them 16 goals in their last four home games in the Premier League (all wins). The tests get tougher in the new year - Arsenal, Manchester City, and Liverpool make the trip in January. But Brentford's explosive attack, backed by boisterous support, can cause problems for anyone.</p><p><strong>RvN has huge task on his hands</strong></p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/758105/cropped_GettyImages-2186992089.jpg?ts=1732988090" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/758105/w220xh124_GettyImages-2186992089.jpg?ts=1732988090 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/758105/w320xh180_GettyImages-2186992089.jpg?ts=1732988090 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/758105/w640xh360_GettyImages-2186992089.jpg?ts=1732988090 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/758105/w768xh432_GettyImages-2186992089.jpg?ts=1732988090 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/758105/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2186992089.jpg?ts=1732988090 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Steven Paston - PA Images / PA Images / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>One person in attendance at the Gtech on Saturday who likely didn't enjoy what he saw was Ruud van Nistelrooy. Watching from the stands just one day after being named Leicester manager, the Dutchman looked on as his new team fell apart after scoring the opening goal. Jamie Vardy, now 37, continues to provide production up front, and Facundo Buonanotte, on loan from Brighton, is making the leap, but there's little else to be excited about right now. The defense, which hasn't kept a clean sheet since Oct. 5, is slow and susceptible, while a lack of playmakers in central midfield puts all the burden on the aforementioned attack-minded players. There's plenty for the former Manchester United interim boss to fix.</p><h3>Star performer 🌟</h3><p><strong>Bukayo Saka (Arsenal)</strong></p><p>The Premier League record for assists in a single season is jointly held by Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne, who each recorded 20 helpers in 2002-03 and 2019-20, respectively. That mark is in serious jeopardy of being eclipsed.</p><p>Saka is already up to 10 assists in the league this season after another terrific display in Arsenal's 5-2 dismissal of a woeful West Ham United side. He's played just 12 matches. Saka set up two goals against the Hammers, won his team a penalty with crafty footwork inside the area, and converted another spot-kick that he himself helped earn.</p><p>Some may scoff and claim the English winger inflates his numbers because he takes set pieces, an area where Arsenal are more lethal than any team in the league; indeed, one of his assists Saturday was a corner kick that Gabriel Magalhaes headed home. But that would be doing him a disservice. One of the reasons Arsenal have scored 20 goals from the corners since the start of last season - more than any team - is <em>because</em> of Saka's wicked swinging delivery, which causes instant havoc. With Martin Odegaard back and looking to feed Saka at every chance, Arsenal are humming again after a recent blip.</p><p>If Saka does eclipse the assist record shared by Henry and De Bruyne, he'll be hoping for a slightly different outcome to Arsenal's season; neither Henry nor De Bruyne won the Premier League title in their record-setting campaigns.</p><h3>Best XI 😎</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://www.fotmob.com/api/lineup-builder/team?players=789571:S%C3%A1nchez,859282:Munoz,188058:Burn,1458711:Murillo,1070052:Amad,956683:Gravenberch,1137705:Fern%C3%A1ndez,873289:Cucurella,961995:Saka,1083796:Schade,794253:Kluivert&amp;formation=3-4-3&amp;lineupTitle=Matchweek%2013" srcset="https://www.fotmob.com/api/lineup-builder/team?players=789571:S%C3%A1nchez,859282:Munoz,188058:Burn,1458711:Murillo,1070052:Amad,956683:Gravenberch,1137705:Fern%C3%A1ndez,873289:Cucurella,961995:Saka,1083796:Schade,794253:Kluivert&amp;formation=3-4-3&amp;lineupTitle=Matchweek%2013 220w, https://www.fotmob.com/api/lineup-builder/team?players=789571:S%C3%A1nchez,859282:Munoz,188058:Burn,1458711:Murillo,1070052:Amad,956683:Gravenberch,1137705:Fern%C3%A1ndez,873289:Cucurella,961995:Saka,1083796:Schade,794253:Kluivert&amp;formation=3-4-3&amp;lineupTitle=Matchweek%2013 320w, https://www.fotmob.com/api/lineup-builder/team?players=789571:S%C3%A1nchez,859282:Munoz,188058:Burn,1458711:Murillo,1070052:Amad,956683:Gravenberch,1137705:Fern%C3%A1ndez,873289:Cucurella,961995:Saka,1083796:Schade,794253:Kluivert&amp;formation=3-4-3&amp;lineupTitle=Matchweek%2013 640w, https://www.fotmob.com/api/lineup-builder/team?players=789571:S%C3%A1nchez,859282:Munoz,188058:Burn,1458711:Murillo,1070052:Amad,956683:Gravenberch,1137705:Fern%C3%A1ndez,873289:Cucurella,961995:Saka,1083796:Schade,794253:Kluivert&amp;formation=3-4-3&amp;lineupTitle=Matchweek%2013 768w, https://www.fotmob.com/api/lineup-builder/team?players=789571:S%C3%A1nchez,859282:Munoz,188058:Burn,1458711:Murillo,1070052:Amad,956683:Gravenberch,1137705:Fern%C3%A1ndez,873289:Cucurella,961995:Saka,1083796:Schade,794253:Kluivert&amp;formation=3-4-3&amp;lineupTitle=Matchweek%2013 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution"></span></figcaption></figure><p>(Courtesy: <a href="https://www.fotmob.com/">FotMob</a>)</p><h3>Highlight of the weekend 🎥</h3><p>Justin Kluivert's historic hat-trick of penalties hogged all the headlines, but teammate Milos Kerkez scored the goal of the weekend with a left-footed rocket off a sweeping team move.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">A brilliant team move ✅<br>A rocket of a finish ✅<br>First ever <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/afcb?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#afcb</a> goal ✅<br><br>This goal has a bit of everything ️‍🔥 <a href="https://t.co/lujRmEBdB1">pic.twitter.com/lujRmEBdB1</a></p>— AFC Bournemouth 🍒 (@afcbournemouth) <a href="https://twitter.com/afcbournemouth/status/1863161870435373352?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 1, 2024</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><h3>Stat of the weekend 🔢</h3><p>Arsenal have given traveling fans plenty to cheer about in 2024.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">5 - Arsenal have scored 5+ goals in five away games in all competitions in 2024, a joint-record by an English top-flight team in a single calendar year, along with Sunderland in 1892 and Manchester City in 1937. Relentless. <a href="https://t.co/1uWL5qexUr">pic.twitter.com/1uWL5qexUr</a></p>— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) <a href="https://twitter.com/OptaJoe/status/1862941743437508999?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 30, 2024</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><h3>Social media moment 📱</h3><p>Pep Guardiola channeled his inner Jose Mourinho with the pettiest of replies to chants of "you're getting sacked in the morning" during Manchester City's loss to Liverpool. "All of the stadiums want to sack me, starting with Brighton," he <a href="https://x.com/NBCSportsSoccer/status/1863309433264046553">said</a>. "Maybe they're right. Maybe I must be sacked for the result that we have, but I didn't expect (that) at Anfield. ... I didn't expect (it) from the people from Liverpool. But it's fine."</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Liverpool fans chant "you're getting sacked in the morning" to Pep Guardiola 🎶<br><br>Pep responds with six fingers, one for each Premier League title 😏<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LIVMCI?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LIVMCI</a> <a href="https://t.co/T4UUmuaNax">pic.twitter.com/T4UUmuaNax</a></p>— Premier League (@premierleague) <a href="https://twitter.com/premierleague/status/1863279288159522891?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 1, 2024</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><h3>Where we stand 👀</h3><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Pos.</th>
<th>Club</th>
<th>Played</th>
<th>GD</th>
<th>Points</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>1.</td>
<td>Liverpool</td>
<td>13</td>
<td>+18</td>
<td>34</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2.</td>
<td>Arsenal</td>
<td>13</td>
<td>+12</td>
<td>25</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3.</td>
<td>Chelsea</td>
<td>13</td>
<td>+12</td>
<td>25</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>4.</td>
<td>Brighton</td>
<td>13</td>
<td>+5</td>
<td>23</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>5.</td>
<td>Manchester City</td>
<td>13</td>
<td>+3</td>
<td>23</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>6.</td>
<td>Nottingham Forest</td>
<td>13</td>
<td>+3</td>
<td>22</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>7.</td>
<td>Tottenham</td>
<td>13</td>
<td>+14</td>
<td>20</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>8.</td>
<td>Brentford</td>
<td>13</td>
<td>3</td>
<td>20</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>9.</td>
<td>Manchester United</td>
<td>13</td>
<td>4</td>
<td>19</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>10.</td>
<td>Fulham</td>
<td>13</td>
<td>+0</td>
<td>19</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>11.</td>
<td>Newcastle</td>
<td>13</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>19</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>12.</td>
<td>Aston Villa</td>
<td>13</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>19</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>13.</td>
<td>Bournemouth</td>
<td>13</td>
<td>1</td>
<td>18</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>14.</td>
<td>West Ham</td>
<td>13</td>
<td>-7</td>
<td>15</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>15.</td>
<td>Everton</td>
<td>13</td>
<td>-11</td>
<td>11</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>16.</td>
<td>Leicester</td>
<td>13</td>
<td>-11</td>
<td>10</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>17.</td>
<td>Crystal Palace</td>
<td>13</td>
<td>-7</td>
<td>9</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>18.</td>
<td>Wolves</td>
<td>13</td>
<td>-10</td>
<td>9</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>19.</td>
<td>Ipswich Town</td>
<td>13</td>
<td>-11</td>
<td>9</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>20.</td>
<td>Southampton</td>
<td>13</td>
<td>-15</td>
<td>5</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure><p><em>View more stats <a href="thescore:///epl/leaders">here</a>.</em></p>

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/29269968/related

EPL Review: Liverpool plunge Man City into existential crisis

The supersized Champions League resumed this week, with all 36 teams back in action over 48 frene...

<p><em>The supersized Champions League resumed this week, with all 36 teams back in action over 48 frenetic hours. Below, theScore's soccer editors reflect on Matchday 5 in Europe's premier club competition.</em></p><h3>Key takeaway from Matchday 5 📝</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/753990/cropped_GettyImages-2183147874.jpg?ts=1730986225" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/753990/w220xh124_GettyImages-2183147874.jpg?ts=1730986225 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/753990/w320xh180_GettyImages-2183147874.jpg?ts=1730986225 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/753990/w640xh360_GettyImages-2183147874.jpg?ts=1730986225 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/753990/w768xh432_GettyImages-2183147874.jpg?ts=1730986225 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/753990/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2183147874.jpg?ts=1730986225 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Quality Sport Images / Getty Images Sport / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p><strong>Anthony Lopopolo</strong>: Kylian Mbappe is in a tailspin. He's scored two goals in his last nine matches and missed a penalty in Real Madrid's damaging 2-0 loss to Liverpool on Wednesday. His lukewarm display at Anfield comes as investigators in Sweden investigate rape allegations and while his team fights former club Paris Saint-Germain over unpaid bonuses. Liverpool right-back Conor Bradley was the latest opponent to get the best of Mbappe, keeping the Frenchman from turning on the afterburners and running into space Wednesday. While Mbappe is struggling to adapt to Madrid's system and finding it uncomfortable to flip between the left-wing and center-forward positions, even his pace and dribbling ability, widely considered his greatest strengths, have deserted him at times.</p><p><strong>Daniel Rouse</strong>: Let's give Angel Di Maria the respect he deserves. The winger, who turns 37 in February, produced two beautiful crosses to set up goals in Benfica's 3-2 comeback win over Monaco on Wednesday and now has the second-most assists in Champions League history with 41, one above Lionel Messi and one below Cristiano Ronaldo. His overall performance at Monaco was excellent - and this is far from a rare throwback performance in the autumn of his career. He hit a hat-trick, including a stunning bicycle kick, in a domestic cup game Saturday and scored twice in a 4-1 Primeira Liga dismissal of FC Porto before the international break.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p><strong>Gianluca Nesci</strong>: Robert Lewandowski isn't slowing down any time soon. His two goals in Tuesday's win over Brest weren't particularly special - a penalty and a simple stoppage-time tally - but what they signified certainly was. The veteran striker, 36, became only the third player in Champions League history to crack the 100-goal barrier; he now sits at 101. Only Ronaldo (141) and Messi (129) have more. Company doesn't get more elite. One of the most lethal, consistent scorers of his generation, Lewandowski is soaring under Hansi Flick, and barring injury, there's no reason to think he can't mount a serious challenge to Messi's tally, which in itself is a huge achievement.</p><h3>This week's crisis club 😬</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/757454/cropped_GettyImages-2187031294.jpg?ts=1732658251" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/757454/w220xh124_GettyImages-2187031294.jpg?ts=1732658251 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/757454/w320xh180_GettyImages-2187031294.jpg?ts=1732658251 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/757454/w640xh360_GettyImages-2187031294.jpg?ts=1732658251 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/757454/w768xh432_GettyImages-2187031294.jpg?ts=1732658251 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/757454/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2187031294.jpg?ts=1732658251 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">James Gill - Danehouse / Getty Images Sport / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p><strong>Lopopolo</strong>: RB Leipzig. Apart from their second Champions League fixture, a seesaw 3-2 loss to Juventus, Leipzig have sleepwalked through each matchday. They lost all five games without much of a fight and were similarly absent-minded during Tuesday's 1-0 defeat to Inter, which the Nerazzurri should've won by more. Leipzig have certainly had one of the most difficult run of fixtures in the Champions League - they've faced Atletico Madrid, Liverpool, and Celtic - but the whole point of their operation is to disturb the football establishment. Losing five straight games to direct rivals is a horrific blow to their development. They're lucky they still have a chance to earn a playoff spot. But that would require an unlikely turnaround and a perfect three wins out of three against Aston Villa, Sporting CP, and Sturm Graz.</p><p><strong>Rouse</strong>: Manchester City. Pep Guardiola had already suffered the worst run of his managerial career with five straight defeats before Feyenoord's visit, but how Manchester City folded after merely having a three-goal lead trimmed to two in Tuesday's 3-3 draw makes it the most troubling performance of their recent skid. This slump is down to more than the absence of Rodri or Ruben Dias or anybody else - it's due to a myriad of reasons, including a lack of resilience, lethargy spreading through the squad, and, perhaps most surprisingly for a Guardiola side, flawed tactics. And there's little time available on the training ground to fix City's alarming issues.</p><p><strong>Nesci</strong>: Paris Saint-Germain. The wheels are off. Tuesday's 1-0 loss to Bayern Munich and Wednesday's subsequent results left PSG in 25th place in the table, outside the qualification places for the knockout stage. On paper, the remaining schedule is forgiving. Red Bull Salzburg are even worse off right now, Manchester City are in full-blown crisis, and Stuttgart, their final opponent on Matchday 8, just got smoked by Crvena Zvezda. But there's no reason to think PSG can beat any of them right now. A team that was seeking more harmony by allowing its high-profile stars to depart instead looks more disjointed and fragile than ever. <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3141404" href="https://thescore.com/news/3141404">Internal belief</a> remains, but PSG are in real danger of being the biggest flop of the opening round.</p><h3>Player of the week 🌟</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/754604/cropped_GettyImages-2184021404.jpg?ts=1731260619" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/754604/w220xh124_GettyImages-2184021404.jpg?ts=1731260619 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/754604/w320xh180_GettyImages-2184021404.jpg?ts=1731260619 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/754604/w640xh360_GettyImages-2184021404.jpg?ts=1731260619 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/754604/w768xh432_GettyImages-2184021404.jpg?ts=1731260619 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/754604/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2184021404.jpg?ts=1731260619 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Quality Sport Images / Getty Images Sport / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p><strong>Lopopolo</strong>: Charles De Ketelaere. With two goals and three assists in Atalanta's 5-1 destruction of Swiss club Young Boys, De Ketelaere continued his transformation from bust to protagonist. AC Milan famously gave up on the Belgian midfielder after one season, sending him to Atalanta on a cut-rate loan deal that the club eventually made permanent last year. De Ketelaere has repaid them for their faith with 18 goals and 20 assists in one-and-a-half seasons. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini is unlocking De Ketelaere's potential, and it's resulting in a steady supply of defense-splitting passes and goal-creating actions in and around the penalty area.</p><p><strong>Rouse</strong>: Julian Alvarez. The Argentine forward has overcome a slow start following his summer move from Manchester City, firing in seven goals in his past 10 outings for Atletico Madrid. His free-kick and narrow-angle finish (after a powerful run and one-two with the manager's in-form son, Giuliano Simeone) were excellent against Sparta Prague on Tuesday. And aside from his two goals, he was a creative force with a game-high four key passes and two completed dribbles. He also kept possession well for a player who takes risks with the ball in attacking positions.</p><p><strong>Nesci</strong>: Florian Wirtz. Bayer Leverkusen teammate Alejandro Grimaldo also made a strong case, but Wirtz gets the nod after collecting his fourth Man of the Match award in five Champions League outings. The mesmerizing German, 21, scored twice and set up another in Leverkusen's 5-0 thumping of Red Bull Salzburg on Tuesday, helping his side get back on track after a humbling loss to Liverpool last time out. "We know how different he is for us," manager Xabi Alonso <a href="https://www.reuters.com/sports/soccer/leverkusen-boss-alonso-wants-help-wirtz-shine-more-after-huge-salzburg-win-2024-11-27/">said</a> of his prized player. Few other young stars possess the same type of game-breaking ability.</p><h3>Team that's back from the dead <a href="https://emojipedia.org/zombie">🧟</a>
</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/757446/cropped_GettyImages-2186358293.jpg?ts=1732655009" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/757446/w220xh124_GettyImages-2186358293.jpg?ts=1732655009 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/757446/w320xh180_GettyImages-2186358293.jpg?ts=1732655009 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/757446/w640xh360_GettyImages-2186358293.jpg?ts=1732655009 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/757446/w768xh432_GettyImages-2186358293.jpg?ts=1732655009 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/757446/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2186358293.jpg?ts=1732655009 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">-STR / AFP / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p><strong>Lopopolo</strong>: AC Milan. The Rossoneri have rattled off three consecutive Champions League wins for the first time in 18 years and scored three goals in three straight European Cup matches for the first time since 1989. These are serious records for the seven-time European champions to break, especially given the current state of this team. Milan lost their opening two matches of the league phase and currently sit in seventh place in Serie A. But something has clicked in Europe. While Tuesday's 3-2 result at Slovan Bratislava was far sweatier than their previous victories over Real Madrid and Club Brugge, Paulo Fonseca's men have created more chances in the Champions League than they have in recent Serie A fixtures and are now in a position to clinch a playoff spot for the knockout phase.</p><p><strong>Rouse</strong>: PSV Eindhoven. The Dutch champions' hopes of securing an automatic knockout berth were on life support. Twice. Two points from their opening three matches put them in serious trouble. Then, after a morale-boosting win over Girona earlier this month, PSV were two goals down at halftime of a Champions League home game for the first time since 2008. But three goals from the 87th minute onward - two from Malik Tillman and one from fellow U.S. international Ricardo Pepi - sensationally clinched a 3-2 win over Shakhtar Donetsk on Wednesday. The result lifted Peter Bosz's side two points behind the automatic spots with winnable games ahead.</p><p><strong>Nesci</strong>: Celtic. A 7-1 annihilation at the hands of Borussia Dortmund on Matchday 2 threatened to derail The Bhoys' Champions League adventure. Getting back on track after such a demoralizing defeat is no small feat, particularly for a club that's struggled to make headway in the competition for so long. But that's precisely what Brendan Rodgers' team has done. Celtic are right in the mix for a knockout place, four points above the elimination zone. They've "<a href="https://www.bbc.com/sport/articles/cy0ge8nzrxko">grown and matured</a>" from past failures, as evidenced by Wednesday's draw with Club Brugge, in which the Scottish side recovered after a brutal own goal to earn what could end up being a critical point.</p><h3>Where we stand 👀</h3><p><em>Here's the complete league phase table after Matchday 5. Remember: The top eight teams advance directly to the last 16, and the sides that finish ninth to 24th head to the new knockout phase playoffs, two-legged ties that determine who joins the eight automatic qualifiers in the round of 16. The bottom 12 clubs are eliminated from the Champions League.</em></p><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Rank</th>
<th>Club</th>
<th>GD</th>
<th>Points</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><strong>1</strong></td>
<td>Liverpool</td>
<td>+11</td>
<td>15</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>2</strong></td>
<td>Inter</td>
<td>+7</td>
<td>13</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>3</strong></td>
<td>Barcelona</td>
<td>+13</td>
<td>12</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>4</strong></td>
<td>Borussia Dortmund</td>
<td>+10</td>
<td>12</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>5</strong></td>
<td>Atalanta</td>
<td>+10</td>
<td>11</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>6</strong></td>
<td>Leverkusen</td>
<td>+6</td>
<td>10</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>7</strong></td>
<td>Arsenal</td>
<td>+6</td>
<td>10</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>8</strong></td>
<td>Monaco</td>
<td>+5</td>
<td>10</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><em>9</em></td>
<td>Aston Villa</td>
<td>+5</td>
<td>10</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><em>10</em></td>
<td>Sporting CP</td>
<td>+3</td>
<td>10</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><em>11</em></td>
<td>Brest</td>
<td>+3</td>
<td>10</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><em>12</em></td>
<td>Lille</td>
<td>+2</td>
<td>10</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><em>13</em></td>
<td>Bayern Munich</td>
<td>+5</td>
<td>9</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><em>14</em></td>
<td>Benfica</td>
<td>+3</td>
<td>9</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><em>15</em></td>
<td>Atletico</td>
<td>+2</td>
<td>9</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><em>16</em></td>
<td>AC Milan</td>
<td>+2</td>
<td>9</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><em>17</em></td>
<td>Man City</td>
<td>+6</td>
<td>8</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><em>18</em></td>
<td>PSV</td>
<td>+3</td>
<td>8</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><em>19</em></td>
<td>Juventus</td>
<td>+2</td>
<td>8</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><em>20</em></td>
<td>Celtic</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>8</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><em>21</em></td>
<td>Feyenoord</td>
<td>-3</td>
<td>7</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><em>22</em></td>
<td>Club Brugge</td>
<td>-3</td>
<td>7</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><em>23</em></td>
<td>Dinamo Zagreb</td>
<td>-5</td>
<td>7</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><em>24</em></td>
<td>Real Madrid</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>6</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>25</td>
<td>PSG</td>
<td>-3</td>
<td>4</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>26</td>
<td>Shakhtar</td>
<td>-4</td>
<td>4</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>27</td>
<td>Stuttgart</td>
<td>-7</td>
<td>4</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>28</td>
<td>Sparta Prague</td>
<td>-9</td>
<td>4</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>29</td>
<td>Sturm Graz</td>
<td>-4</td>
<td>3</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>30</td>
<td>Girona</td>
<td>-5</td>
<td>3</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>31</td>
<td>Crvena Zvezda</td>
<td>-8</td>
<td>3</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>32</td>
<td>Salzburg</td>
<td>-12</td>
<td>3</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>33</td>
<td>Bologna</td>
<td>-6</td>
<td>1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>34</td>
<td>RB Leipzig</td>
<td>-6</td>
<td>0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>35</td>
<td>S. Bratislava</td>
<td>-14</td>
<td>0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>36</td>
<td>Young Boys</td>
<td>-15</td>
<td>0</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure>

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/29199819/related

Champions League, Matchday 5: Mbappe outshone, big clubs spiral

Robert Lewandowski joined an exclusive club Tuesday, becoming just the third player to reach 100 ...

<p><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///chlg/players/9563" href="https://thescore.com/chlg/players/9563">Robert Lewandowski</a> joined an exclusive club Tuesday, becoming just the third player to reach 100 career Champions League goals.</p><p>The veteran striker hit the century mark when he slotted home an early penalty kick to open the scoring in Barcelona's league phase match against Brest. He added another goal in the closing seconds, bringing his tally to 101 and capping Barca's comfortable 3-0 victory over the French club.</p><p>All-time top scorer <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///natleaguea/players/1310" href="https://thescore.com/natleaguea/players/1310">Cristiano Ronaldo</a> (141) and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mls/players/1126" href="https://thescore.com/mls/players/1126">Lionel Messi</a> (129) are the only other players to reach the 100-goal plateau in Europe's premier club competition. One of Ronaldo's goals came in qualifying, leaving him with 140 in the tournament proper.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Only three players have scored 100 or more goals in Champions League history:<br><br>◎ Cristiano Ronaldo (140)<br>◎ Lionel Messi (129)<br>◉ Robert Lewandowski 🆕<br><br>It's taken him just 125 games to reach the milestone, two more than Messi (123) and 12 fewer than Ronaldo (137). 💯<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UCL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UCL</a> <a href="https://t.co/eFO3akA9vs">pic.twitter.com/eFO3akA9vs</a></p>— Squawka (@Squawka) <a href="https://twitter.com/Squawka/status/1861504075436613914?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 26, 2024</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>Lewandowski leads this season's Champions League with seven goals in five matches.</p><p>"I am very happy. Many years ago, I did not think I could score more than 100 goals in the Champions League," the Polish star <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3141307" href="https://thescore.com/news/3141307">said</a> afterward. "For me, the most important thing is that we try to win every game. If I can score, then that's the perfect solution."</p><p>The 36-year-old shows no signs of slowing down. He's also the top scorer in La Liga, having found the net 15 times on the campaign. Nobody else in Spain's top flight has more than eight goals this season.</p><p>Lewandowski did the bulk of his scoring damage in the Champions League with Bayern Munich after joining the German giants from rivals Borussia Dortmund. Now at Barca and prospering under Hansi Flick, he'll look to continue closing in on club icon Messi on the tournament scoring chart.</p><p>Lewandowski has won the Champions League once in his career, with Bayern in 2020, and was a runner-up with Dortmund in 2013.</p>

BARCELONA, SPAIN - NOVEMBER 26: Robert Lewandowski of FC Barcelona celebrates scoring his team's third goal during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD5 match between FC Barcelona and Stade Brestois 29 at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys on November 26, 2024 in Barcelona, Spain.

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Lewandowski joins Ronaldo, Messi as only players to score 100 UCL goals

<p><em>Following every weekend of Premier League action, theScore examines the most important developments and biggest talking points to emerge from the slate of matches. Below, we dissect Matchweek 12 of the 2024-25 season.</em></p><h3>First impressions of Amorim 🤔</h3><p>Ruben Amorim doesn't have any illusions. This is going to take some time.</p><p>The Portuguese manager's first match in charge of Manchester United, a 1-1 draw with Ipswich Town on Sunday, was a mixed bag. Amorim immediately put his stamp on the team by rolling with his preferred 3-4-3 formation, the first time the Red Devils have played with a back-three in the Premier League since 2022 when Ralf Rangnick was on the touchline.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Amad Diallo, starting in an unfamiliar right wing-back position, set up a goal for Marcus Rashford 80 seconds into the contest; the Englishman got the nod in the No. 9 role. Ipswich were the better team after that, though, and it became increasingly clear that Amorim was dealing with square pegs in round holes at various positions; Noussair Mazraoui, arguably the most versatile player in the side, lined up at right center-back.</p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/757075/cropped_GettyImages-2186664290.jpg?ts=1732476987" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/757075/w220xh124_GettyImages-2186664290.jpg?ts=1732476987 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/757075/w320xh180_GettyImages-2186664290.jpg?ts=1732476987 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/757075/w640xh360_GettyImages-2186664290.jpg?ts=1732476987 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/757075/w768xh432_GettyImages-2186664290.jpg?ts=1732476987 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/757075/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2186664290.jpg?ts=1732476987 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Richard Pelham / Getty Images Sport / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>Some of this is simply a matter of getting players back from injury - Lisandro Martinez missed the match - and becoming more comfortable and acquainted with his squad after working together each day. It's not the answer frustrated Manchester United fans want to hear, but there's no substitute for time spent on the training ground.</p><p>Amorim himself needs to be patient. He didn't drop a single point in the league this season with Sporting CP before departing for Manchester. There's no quick fix with his new team, and, judging by his <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3138626" href="https://thescore.com/news/3138626">reaction</a> after Sunday's draw, he knows it.</p><h3>Quick free-kicks 📝</h3><p><strong>Diagnosing Man City's tailspin</strong></p><p>It's not <em>just</em> Rodri. Manchester City's five-match losing streak, the worst of Pep Guardiola's managerial career, is the result of a perfect storm. The Ballon d'Or winner's absence is the most glaring issue, but Saturday's 4-0 shellacking at the hands of a mercurial Tottenham Hotspur side - City's heaviest home loss since 2003 - highlighted several other problems. The team suddenly looks old and slow, especially in midfield; the internal decline has been painful. By Guardiola's own admission, City are "fragile" defensively right now. They've conceded 14 goals during their skid, and are giving away huge chances from open play seemingly every time the opposition comes forward. Complacency can't be ruled out, either. Nearly all of these players have already won everything, and the squad hasn't been sufficiently refreshed - they've hit on their "main" summer signing for several years, but much of their business has been questionable at best. Fixing all this is no simple task.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Man City 2023-24 vs 2024-25 in defence (non-penalty shots faced). <a href="https://t.co/S7wF4K1rgS">pic.twitter.com/S7wF4K1rgS</a></p>— Opta Analyst (@OptaAnalyst) <a href="https://twitter.com/OptaAnalyst/status/1860410074067333222?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 23, 2024</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p><strong>What's wrong with Aston Villa?</strong></p><p>Unai Emery is facing his first sustained period of difficulty since joining Aston Villa. The club is winless in its last six matches across all competitions following Saturday's 2-2 draw against Crystal Palace. Similar to Man City, there are multiple issues at play. Villa haven't kept a clean sheet in over a month and consistently give up high-quality chances. Douglas Luiz's absence after his summer transfer is looming larger of late - Villa is unable to control games in midfield in the same way without the Brazilian. Emery also needs to get more out of Leon Bailey, who only has two assists this season and is carrying more of the creative burden from wide areas with Moussa Diaby no longer at the club. Emery has more than earned the trust to get things back on track, but goodwill doesn't last forever in this sport, no matter who you are or what you've done.</p><p><strong>Authors of their own demise</strong></p><p>What Russell Martin is trying to do at Southampton is admirable. His distinct style includes playing the ball out from the back, and his team is dedicated to implementing it. But you also need to be smart and pick your spots. Southampton shot themselves in the foot Sunday against Liverpool, gifting the Reds an easy goal with some ill-advised passing inside their own penalty area. The Saints, last in the Premier League, have committed more errors leading to goals than any team this season. Liverpool, meanwhile, are one of the best sides at generating chances off high turnovers. You shouldn't abandon your identity, but subtle tweaks based on the opposition can make all the difference. Southampton paid for their reluctance to do that in their 3-2 defeat - and eventually came away with their 10th loss in 12 league games.</p><p><strong>Salah's contract situation</strong></p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/757060/cropped_GettyImages-2185787278.jpg?ts=1732463727" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/757060/w220xh124_GettyImages-2185787278.jpg?ts=1732463727 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/757060/w320xh180_GettyImages-2185787278.jpg?ts=1732463727 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/757060/w640xh360_GettyImages-2185787278.jpg?ts=1732463727 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/757060/w768xh432_GettyImages-2185787278.jpg?ts=1732463727 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/757060/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2185787278.jpg?ts=1732463727 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Adam Davy - PA Images / PA Images / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>Liverpool have a seismic decision to make with Mohamed Salah's contract set to expire at the end of the season. Conventional wisdom would advise against giving a hefty long-term deal to a 32-year-old. But Salah, who scored twice in Sunday's win over Southampton and now has 16 goal involvements in just 12 league games, is obviously a unique case. The Egyptian superstar isn't slowing down - he's been involved in 67% of the Reds' tallies, powering them to an eight-point lead atop the table. That kind of production can't be easily replaced in the transfer market if Salah walks. He's earned the right to demand what will likely be the last massive contract of his career. Liverpool probably won't be able to get away with offering him any type of bridge deal. There are valid arguments to be made on both sides, but, ultimately, when given the option to sign one of the most consistently excellent players in league history or let him go, the former is the clear choice.</p><p><strong>Cooper doomed from the start</strong></p><p>Steve Cooper never had a chance at Leicester City. His history with Nottingham Forest made him an unpopular choice with the fans right from the jump, and they were never shy about voicing their displeasure with the move. Replacing Enzo Maresca, who guided the Foxes back to the Premier League in such impressive fashion, was always going to be a difficult task. The timing of Sunday's firing was admittedly odd - why wait until <em>after</em> the international break if a loss to Chelsea was going to be the nail in the coffin - but it became clear in just 12 Premier League matches that Cooper wasn't taking this team anywhere. Leicester need to get their next appointment right, otherwise they'll end up right back in the second tier.</p><h3>Star performer 🌟</h3><p><strong>James Maddison (Tottenham Hotspur)</strong></p><p>Matheus Cunha, who scored two excellent goals in Wolves' win over Fulham, was a <em>very</em> strong contender after continuing his red-hot run, but we're going with the birthday boy.</p><p>James Maddison was the standout performer in the most notable result of the weekend, scoring twice in Tottenham's stunning obliteration of Manchester City. Maddison, who turned 28 on Saturday, celebrated his return to the starting lineup in style after beginning Tottenham's last two league matches on the bench. He also completed 100% of his take-ons, won nine duels, recovered five loose balls, and chipped in with a couple of clearances. He did everything as Tottenham's somewhat bewildering run of success against Pep Guardiola's City continued; Spurs have inflicted nine defeats on the reigning champions since the Spaniard took over, more than any other club.</p><p>Maddison is emblematic of his team. At his best, the attacking midfielder can be genuinely unstoppable, creating and scoring goals in equal measure. Like Spurs, though, he can be inconsistent, mixing performances like Saturday's masterpiece with anonymous displays.</p><p>Maddison needs to be a primary contributor for Tottenham to kick on from here and not revert back to their maddening inconsistencies.</p><h3>Best XI 😎</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://www.fotmob.com/api/lineup-builder/team?players=611491:Onana,941573:Porro,421786:Lemina,961306:Collins,874025:Mykolenko,534670:%C3%98degaard,1137705:Fern%C3%A1ndez,493165:Maddison,292462:Salah,1021382:Pedro,863098:Cunha&amp;formation=4-3-2-1&amp;lineupTitle=Matchweek%2012" srcset="https://www.fotmob.com/api/lineup-builder/team?players=611491:Onana,941573:Porro,421786:Lemina,961306:Collins,874025:Mykolenko,534670:%C3%98degaard,1137705:Fern%C3%A1ndez,493165:Maddison,292462:Salah,1021382:Pedro,863098:Cunha&amp;formation=4-3-2-1&amp;lineupTitle=Matchweek%2012 220w, https://www.fotmob.com/api/lineup-builder/team?players=611491:Onana,941573:Porro,421786:Lemina,961306:Collins,874025:Mykolenko,534670:%C3%98degaard,1137705:Fern%C3%A1ndez,493165:Maddison,292462:Salah,1021382:Pedro,863098:Cunha&amp;formation=4-3-2-1&amp;lineupTitle=Matchweek%2012 320w, https://www.fotmob.com/api/lineup-builder/team?players=611491:Onana,941573:Porro,421786:Lemina,961306:Collins,874025:Mykolenko,534670:%C3%98degaard,1137705:Fern%C3%A1ndez,493165:Maddison,292462:Salah,1021382:Pedro,863098:Cunha&amp;formation=4-3-2-1&amp;lineupTitle=Matchweek%2012 640w, https://www.fotmob.com/api/lineup-builder/team?players=611491:Onana,941573:Porro,421786:Lemina,961306:Collins,874025:Mykolenko,534670:%C3%98degaard,1137705:Fern%C3%A1ndez,493165:Maddison,292462:Salah,1021382:Pedro,863098:Cunha&amp;formation=4-3-2-1&amp;lineupTitle=Matchweek%2012 768w, https://www.fotmob.com/api/lineup-builder/team?players=611491:Onana,941573:Porro,421786:Lemina,961306:Collins,874025:Mykolenko,534670:%C3%98degaard,1137705:Fern%C3%A1ndez,493165:Maddison,292462:Salah,1021382:Pedro,863098:Cunha&amp;formation=4-3-2-1&amp;lineupTitle=Matchweek%2012 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution"></span></figcaption></figure><p>(Courtesy: <a href="https://www.fotmob.com/">FotMob</a>)</p><h3>Highlight of the weekend 🎥</h3><p>Don't count Arsenal out of the title race just yet. With Martin Odegaard back pulling the strings, Bukayo Saka has more room to operate. The winger's tight control, patience, and increasingly devastating finishing ability were on display for this goal in a reassuring win over Nottingham Forest. He kept waiting, and waiting, and waiting before creating a lane and ripping a shot home.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">📂 Arsenal Highlights<br> └📂 World-Class Goals<br> └💿 Saka.mp4 <a href="https://t.co/Z750MPn65Q">pic.twitter.com/Z750MPn65Q</a></p>— Arsenal (@Arsenal) <a href="https://twitter.com/Arsenal/status/1860624434500940156?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 24, 2024</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><h3>Stat of the weekend 🔢</h3><p>Just how bad are things at Manchester City right now? We're dipping into the 1950s for a comparable.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">5 - Manchester City are the first reigning top-flight champions to lose five games in a row in all competitions since Chelsea in March 1956. Unbelievable. <a href="https://t.co/iwhPdDRoFC">pic.twitter.com/iwhPdDRoFC</a></p>— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) <a href="https://twitter.com/OptaJoe/status/1860406885922341103?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 23, 2024</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><h3>Social media moment 📱</h3><p>Few things in the sport are more heartwarming than seeing young fans' reactions when they meet the game's big stars. Cole Palmer is already generating those moments.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Leicester's young mascots were starstruck after high-fiving Cole Palmer ahead of the Leicester vs. Chelsea match 🥹 <a href="https://t.co/zmpeUn3Oq0">pic.twitter.com/zmpeUn3Oq0</a></p>— ESPN UK (@ESPNUK) <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNUK/status/1860316141844836582?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 23, 2024</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><h3>Where we stand 👀</h3><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Pos.</th>
<th>Club</th>
<th>Played</th>
<th>GD</th>
<th>Points</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><strong>1.</strong></td>
<td>Liverpool</td>
<td>12</td>
<td>+16</td>
<td>31</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>2.</strong></td>
<td>Manchester City</td>
<td>12</td>
<td>+5</td>
<td>23</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>3.</strong></td>
<td>Chelsea</td>
<td>12</td>
<td>+9</td>
<td>22</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>4.</strong></td>
<td>Arsenal</td>
<td>12</td>
<td>+9</td>
<td>22</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>5.</td>
<td>Brighton</td>
<td>12</td>
<td>+5</td>
<td>22</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>6.</td>
<td>Tottenham</td>
<td>12</td>
<td>+14</td>
<td>19</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>7.</td>
<td>Nottingham Forest</td>
<td>12</td>
<td>+2</td>
<td>19</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>8.</td>
<td>Aston Villa</td>
<td>12</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>19</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>9.</td>
<td>Newcastle</td>
<td>11</td>
<td>+2</td>
<td>18</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>10.</td>
<td>Fulham</td>
<td>12</td>
<td>+0</td>
<td>18</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>11.</td>
<td>Brentford</td>
<td>12</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>17</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>12.</td>
<td>Manchester United</td>
<td>12</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>16</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>13.</td>
<td>Bournemouth</td>
<td>12</td>
<td>-1</td>
<td>15</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>14.</td>
<td>West Ham</td>
<td>11</td>
<td>-6</td>
<td>12</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>15.</td>
<td>Everton</td>
<td>12</td>
<td>-7</td>
<td>11</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>16.</td>
<td>Leicester</td>
<td>12</td>
<td>-8</td>
<td>10</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>17.</td>
<td>Wolves</td>
<td>12</td>
<td>-8</td>
<td>9</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>18.</strong></td>
<td>Ipswich Town</td>
<td>12</td>
<td>-10</td>
<td>9</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>19.</strong></td>
<td>Crystal Palace</td>
<td>12</td>
<td>-7</td>
<td>8</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>20.</strong></td>
<td>Southampton</td>
<td>12</td>
<td>-15</td>
<td>4</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure><p><em>View more stats <a href="thescore:///epl/leaders">here</a>.</em></p>

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EPL Review: Can Amorim, Guardiola fix ailing Manchester clubs?

Manchester United wasted no time getting the Ruben Amorim era up and running.  Marcus Rashford, s...

<p>Manchester United wasted no time getting the Ruben Amorim era up and running.</p><p><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///epl/players/66886" href="https://thescore.com/epl/players/66886">Marcus Rashford</a>, starting as a central striker in the new manager's first match in charge, opened the scoring after just 80 seconds against Ipswich Town on Sunday.</p><p><em>(Available to view in U.S. only)</em></p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">DREAM START FOR RUBEN AMORIM. 😲<br><br>Marcus Rashford scores just 80 seconds into the new manager's debut for Man United!<br><br>📺 USA Network | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IPSMUN?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IPSMUN</a> <a href="https://t.co/AXC0qfEIh5">pic.twitter.com/AXC0qfEIh5</a></p>— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBCSportsSoccer/status/1860724471683777017?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 24, 2024</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p><em>(Available to view in Canada only)</em></p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Marcus Rashford SCORES!!<br><br>⚽ 0-1 Ipswich Town vs Manchester United<br><br>WATCH EVERY GOAL 👉 <a href="https://t.co/2w98QqADfX">https://t.co/2w98QqADfX</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PL</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PremierLeague?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PremierLeague</a> <a href="https://t.co/NU9YFfTQW5">pic.twitter.com/NU9YFfTQW5</a></p>— FuboCanada 🇨🇦 (@fuboTVCanada) <a href="https://twitter.com/fuboTVCanada/status/1860724569545347131?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 24, 2024</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>Rashford entered the contest with just one league goal on the season.</p><p>Amorim was ultimately forced to settle for a 1-1 draw on his debut, as <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///epl/players/183578" href="https://thescore.com/epl/players/183578">Omari Hutchinson</a>'s long-range goal earned a point for Ipswich.</p>

IPSWICH, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 24: Marcus Rashford of Manchester United celebrates scoring a goal to make the score 0-1 wit Amad (L) during the Premier League match between Ipswich Town FC and Manchester United FC at Portman Road on November 24, 2024 in Ipswich, United Kingdom.

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Watch: Rashford scores 80 seconds into Amorim's 1st game as Man Utd boss

The Orlando Pride claimed their first National Women's Soccer League title with a 1-0 win over th...

<p>The Orlando Pride claimed their first National Women's Soccer League title with a 1-0 win over the Washington Spirit on Saturday, a victory that also saw Brazilian legend <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///wwcup/players/159314" href="https://thescore.com/wwcup/players/159314">Marta</a> lift the trophy for the first time.</p><p><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///olymsw/players/199797" href="https://thescore.com/olymsw/players/199797">Barbra Banda</a> scored the lone goal of the championship match, finishing off a solo run with a low shot from inside the penalty area in the 37th minute. </p><p>In the process, the Zambian star set a new NWSL record with four goals in a single postseason. She found the net in every playoff game en route to Orlando's title win.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Washington coach Jonatan Giraldez immediately appealed to the referee after Banda opened the scoring, asserting there was a foul in the buildup, but the goal was allowed to stand.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">PURE BANDA-MONIUM!!!<br><br>Barbra Banda scores the opening goal in the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NWSLChampionship?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NWSLChampionship</a> <a href="https://t.co/5oK0B1h50m">pic.twitter.com/5oK0B1h50m</a></p>— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NWSL/status/1860502468209090945?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 24, 2024</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>"This means so much," Marta, who joined Orlando in 2017, told <a href="https://x.com/AttackingThird/status/1860525132768252078">CBS Sports</a> after the match. "Playing with these players, it's something really special that I never had before in any other club, so I'm so happy."</p><p>The 38-year-old added: "I've asked myself why I still play for Orlando. After eight years, I'm the only player in this club since 2017, and I have so many questions about it. Now I have the answer: It's because it was time to be a champion."</p><p>Marta, a six-time recipient of FIFA's player of the year award, had her mother in attendance to watch her play live for the first time in the United States.</p><p>The Pride are the first team since 2019 to win both the NWSL Shield - given to the side with the best regular-season record - and the NWSL championship in the same campaign. They started the season by going unbeaten in the opening 23 games, setting a league record.</p><p>Despite having more possession and outshooting Orlando 26-9, Washington, led by American star <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///wwcup/players/199754" href="https://thescore.com/wwcup/players/199754">Trinity Rodman</a>, couldn't find an equalizer to extend Saturday's contest at CPKC Stadium in Kansas City.</p><p>The 2021 champions applied consistent pressure deep into stoppage time, but Orlando's backline held on to give the club its maiden title.</p>

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - NOVEMBER 23: Orlando Pride players celebrate after defeating the Washington Spirit 1-0 in the NWSL 2024 Championship Game at CPKC Stadium on November 23, 2024 in Kansas City, Missouri.

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Marta, Orlando Pride win 1st NWSL title

Veteran forward Junior Hoilett came off the bench to score in the 82nd minute and give Canada a n...

<p>Veteran forward <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///intfr/players/2098" href="https://thescore.com/intfr/players/2098">Junior Hoilett</a> came off the bench to score in the 82nd minute and give Canada a narrow 1-0 win over Suriname in the first leg of their CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinal clash Friday.</p><p>Just four minutes after being introduced, Hoilett snuck behind the Suriname defense and redirected a clever pass from <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///fran/players/159817" href="https://thescore.com/fran/players/159817">Jonathan David</a> into the net off the underside of the crossbar, giving Jesse Marsch's team the edge going into the return fixture at BMO Field in Toronto on Tuesday.</p><p>The winner of the two-legged affair qualifies for the Nations League finals, a four-team event being held in March at SoFi Stadium, along with next summer's Gold Cup.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">GOAL 🇨🇦<br><br>JUNIOR HOILETT, LET'S GO 😎<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CanMNT?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CanMNT</a> go up 1-0 over Suriname in Leg 1 of this Concacaf Nations League quarter-finals series 💥<br><br>🔴 Watch LIVE on OneSoccer <a href="https://t.co/SJgS9EVSQu">pic.twitter.com/SJgS9EVSQu</a></p>— OneSoccer (@onesoccer) <a href="https://twitter.com/onesoccer/status/1857592284390236251?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 16, 2024</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>Canada, No. 35 in the FIFA rankings, controlled the play in Paramaribo against the world's 136th-ranked side but struggled to find a consistent attacking rhythm on the artificial turf at the Frank Essed Stadion. A physical Suriname squad, led by Real Sociedad forward <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///espcr/players/54539" href="https://thescore.com/espcr/players/54539">Sheraldo Becker</a>, managed to disrupt the flow of the game and limit Canada to mostly sterile possession.</p><p><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mls/players/187409" href="https://thescore.com/mls/players/187409">Tani Oluwaseyi</a> came close to scoring his first international goal and breaking the deadlock in the opening half but was horribly unlucky to hit both posts with a shot after getting free inside the penalty area.</p><p>The home side was also denied by the frame of the goal when <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///wcqconca/players/182899" href="https://thescore.com/wcqconca/players/182899">Gleofilo Vlijter</a> clipped the crossbar with a header off a corner kick just before the hour mark.</p><p>Marsch responded to that scare by turning to his bench, showing off the improved squad depth that has served him well since taking over as Canada's coach.</p><p>The late introduction of Hoilett proved decisive, as he scored the only goal of the match with one of his first touches of the game after his streaking run into the box was perfectly spotted by David, the in-form Lille striker who turned provider as he's done so often for the national team.</p><p>"His savviness and understanding on how to break plays in the last third is why we brought him," Marsch said of Hoilett, according to <a href="https://www.tsn.ca/soccer/canada-scores-late-to-down-suriname-in-concacaf-nations-league-quarterfinal-1.2205888">The Canadian Press</a>.</p><p>Canada, which outshot Suriname 13-2, continues to have trouble converting chances. The Canadians have nine goals in 12 games under Marsch.</p><p>"It's a little bit the story of our team ... because we don't find a way to get that goal in the first half with some big chances, the game is in the balance. And then we have to put a lot of energy into it," Marsch explained.</p><p>Canada was without star left-back and captain <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///bund/players/69320" href="https://thescore.com/bund/players/69320">Alphonso Davies</a>, who withdrew from the squad ahead of the two-legged tie as a "precautionary measure due to physical fatigue."</p><p>Midfielder <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///uefa/players/134054" href="https://thescore.com/uefa/players/134054">Stephen Eustaquio</a> wore the armband in Davies' absence.</p><p><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///seri/players/148092" href="https://thescore.com/seri/players/148092">Tajon Buchanan</a> made his return for Canada in the match, coming off the bench for his first appearance since undergoing surgery to repair a fractured tibia suffered in training during this summer's Copa America.</p>

DOHA, QATAR - DECEMBER 01: Junior Hoilett of Canada gestures during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group F match between Canada and Morocco at Al Thumama Stadium on December 01, 2022 in Doha, Qatar.

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Late goal gives Canada slim win over Suriname in Nations League quarters

The latest edition of theScore's Eras project, which celebrates greatness in every major sport ov...

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The 5 greatest soccer players of the last 25 years

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Ranking the greatest soccer players since 2000 (Nos. 11-15)

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Ranking the greatest soccer players since 2000 (Nos. 16-20)

Throughout 2024, theScore's Eras project evaluated and ranked the top 25 performers of the past 2...

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Introducing our list of the greatest soccer players since 2000

<p><em>Following every weekend of Premier League action, theScore examines the most important developments and biggest talking points to emerge from the slate of matches. Below, we dissect Matchweek 11 of the 2024-25 season.</em></p><h3>Sound the alarm 🚨</h3><p>Is it time to panic yet?</p><p>Pep Guardiola is enduring the worst streak of his managerial career, losing four consecutive matches (in normal time) for the first time ever after his reigning champions capitulated late and fell, 2-1, to Brighton &amp; Hove Albion.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Man City are scoring fewer goals than last season on average and conceding more at the other end. It's not an ideal combination. So, what gives? We wrote in <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3115284" href="https://thescore.com/news/3115284">this space</a> last week that Guardiola still hasn't figured out how to best set up his team without Rodri. That remains true despite Mateo Kovacic's best efforts to fill the Spaniard's enormous shoes. But it's more than that.</p><p>City, more than ever before under Guardiola, look out of gas. Mentally, more than anything. Perhaps several years of Guardiola demanding the absolute maximum out of the squad and extracting every last ounce has <em>finally</em> taken its toll. Aside from a few recent additions, these players have won absolutely everything. At some point, motivation and drive have to wane a little bit. At the sport's upper echelon, and with Liverpool on a tear, the slightest dip gets magnified. That's happening to City right now.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">1 - Pep Guardiola has lost four games in a row in all competitions for the very first time in his managerial career, while Manchester City have lost four straight games for the first time since August 2006, when Stuart Pearce was manager of the club. Unthinkable. <a href="https://t.co/yAnz6ct8dn">pic.twitter.com/yAnz6ct8dn</a></p>— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) <a href="https://twitter.com/OptaJoe/status/1855332643853815819?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 9, 2024</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>Sure, injuries have compounded the issue, but that explanation will, understandably, be met with rolled eyes and tiny violins by rival fans. Even for a club with unlimited riches, an uneven track record in the transfer market will eventually catch up with you. That's a factor, too.</p><p>This may all be moot, of course.</p><p>Man City are still <em>only</em> five points off top spot despite the walls seemingly caving in. There are 27 games left. It's a long season. Two seasons ago, they erased an eight-point deficit at the start of April to reel Arsenal in and claim the title. It's still November.</p><p>Writing them off now would be foolish, but it seems like this is the most vulnerable City have been since Guardiola's arrival.</p><h3>Quick free-kicks 📝</h3><p><strong>Nice to have you back</strong></p><p>It's not a big revelation to say that Arsenal badly missed captain Martin Odegaard while he was sidelined for two months with an ankle injury. Still, Sunday's 1-1 draw with Chelsea was a good reminder of how influential the creative Norwegian is for Mikel Arteta. Odegaard, who's created more chances from open play than any Premier League player in 2024, crafted the Gunners' goal at Stamford Bridge with a delightful assist for Gabriel Martinelli. In his absence, the middle of the field was a black hole for Arsenal, relying almost exclusively on Bukayo Saka and set pieces to generate scoring opportunities. Odegaard changes that entire equation.</p><p><strong>Mo Salah appreciation</strong></p><p>With another decisive display in Saturday's 2-0 win over Aston Villa, Mohamed Salah is up to 10 goals and as many assists in all competitions this season. We haven't even reached mid-November. No other player across Europe's top five leagues has hit double figures in both categories. Salah, 32, is a machine, producing at an elite level every season without fail. Liverpool's blistering start to the campaign and five-point lead atop the table is the product of several factors, but the Egyptian's continued greatness is chief among them. Get his contract situation sorted out, Liverpool.</p><p><strong>The great entertainers</strong></p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/751816/cropped_GettyImages-2181201127.jpg?ts=1729961391" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/751816/w220xh124_GettyImages-2181201127.jpg?ts=1729961391 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/751816/w320xh180_GettyImages-2181201127.jpg?ts=1729961391 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/751816/w640xh360_GettyImages-2181201127.jpg?ts=1729961391 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/751816/w768xh432_GettyImages-2181201127.jpg?ts=1729961391 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/751816/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2181201127.jpg?ts=1729961391 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Alex Pantling / Getty Images Sport / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>Looking for a guaranteed thrill ride every week? Watch Brentford. The Bees are the most entertaining team in England. Only Tottenham Hotspur have scored more goals than Thomas Frank's men, who've found the net 14 times in their last five league games after Saturday's seesaw 3-2 win over Bournemouth. On the flip side, only 19th-placed Wolves have <em>conceded</em> more than Brentford. They haven't kept a single clean sheet in the league on the campaign but have only been shut out once - in August by Liverpool. There's never a dull moment.</p><p><strong>Class of '22</strong></p><p>Nottingham Forest are sitting in a Champions League spot. Fulham have climbed into the top half of the table after two victories in less than a week. Bournemouth, meanwhile, are comfortably mid-table after beating Arsenal and Manchester City over the past month. The three clubs all climbed into the top flight together in 2022. Considering how badly overmatched so many promoted teams look when making the leap from the Championship, this trio is quickly building a case as one of the best promoted classes in Premier League history. The 2001 triumvirate, which also featured Fulham along with Blackburn and Bolton, holds that title for now after coming up together and staying in the top tier for over a decade.</p><p><strong>One step forward, two steps back</strong></p><p>The only thing consistent about Tottenham this season is their inconsistency. On the back of an excellent display against Aston Villa in the league last week, Spurs crashed back down to earth Sunday, losing at home to previously winless Ipswich Town after an atrocious first-half showing that Ange Postecoglou dubbed "unacceptable." Spurs might be the most erratic team in the league, and it's becoming increasingly clear into Postecoglou's second season that the squad and coach aren't compatible. So, really, what are we doing here? How long should Tottenham persist? They can be one of the better teams in the league at their best but only show their best sporadically before inevitably taking a step backward.</p><h3>Star performer 🌟</h3><p><strong>Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United)</strong></p><p>It took him a while, but Fernandes is finally on the board this season.</p><p>The Manchester United captain marked his 250th appearance for the club with a goal and an assist in the Red Devils' 3-0 win over Leicester City on Sunday, continuing the rich vein of form that has directly coincided with Erik ten Hag's firing. The Portuguese midfielder, who publicly apologized for his lack of production under the Dutchman, didn't score in 13 games with Ten Hag at the helm this season. In four matches with Ruud van Nistelrooy as the interim coach, Fernandes has four tallies and two helpers.</p><p>His slump to begin the campaign was an outlier. Fernandes isn't everyone's cup of tea, far from it, but he's been enormously productive since arriving in Manchester. He's been directly involved in 100 goals in 170 Premier League appearances and is the only Manchester United player to create seven or more chances in a single league match since 2020, doing so 10 times.</p><p>You can stomach the histrionics when you're getting that type of output. </p><p>Incoming manager Ruben Amorim will be hoping his compatriot can keep shining and help him get off to a strong start at the club.</p><h3>Best XI 😎</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://www.fotmob.com/api/lineup-builder/team?players=303919:Pickford,775539:Mazraoui,820140:Konat%C3%A9,789578:O%27Shea,873289:Cucurella,422685:Fernandes,535936:Joelinton,604785:Iwobi,863098:Cunha,1021382:Pedro,666857:Wissa&amp;formation=4-2-3-1&amp;lineupTitle=Matchweek%2011" srcset="https://www.fotmob.com/api/lineup-builder/team?players=303919:Pickford,775539:Mazraoui,820140:Konat%C3%A9,789578:O%27Shea,873289:Cucurella,422685:Fernandes,535936:Joelinton,604785:Iwobi,863098:Cunha,1021382:Pedro,666857:Wissa&amp;formation=4-2-3-1&amp;lineupTitle=Matchweek%2011 220w, https://www.fotmob.com/api/lineup-builder/team?players=303919:Pickford,775539:Mazraoui,820140:Konat%C3%A9,789578:O%27Shea,873289:Cucurella,422685:Fernandes,535936:Joelinton,604785:Iwobi,863098:Cunha,1021382:Pedro,666857:Wissa&amp;formation=4-2-3-1&amp;lineupTitle=Matchweek%2011 320w, https://www.fotmob.com/api/lineup-builder/team?players=303919:Pickford,775539:Mazraoui,820140:Konat%C3%A9,789578:O%27Shea,873289:Cucurella,422685:Fernandes,535936:Joelinton,604785:Iwobi,863098:Cunha,1021382:Pedro,666857:Wissa&amp;formation=4-2-3-1&amp;lineupTitle=Matchweek%2011 640w, https://www.fotmob.com/api/lineup-builder/team?players=303919:Pickford,775539:Mazraoui,820140:Konat%C3%A9,789578:O%27Shea,873289:Cucurella,422685:Fernandes,535936:Joelinton,604785:Iwobi,863098:Cunha,1021382:Pedro,666857:Wissa&amp;formation=4-2-3-1&amp;lineupTitle=Matchweek%2011 768w, https://www.fotmob.com/api/lineup-builder/team?players=303919:Pickford,775539:Mazraoui,820140:Konat%C3%A9,789578:O%27Shea,873289:Cucurella,422685:Fernandes,535936:Joelinton,604785:Iwobi,863098:Cunha,1021382:Pedro,666857:Wissa&amp;formation=4-2-3-1&amp;lineupTitle=Matchweek%2011 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution"></span></figcaption></figure><p>(Courtesy: <a href="https://www.fotmob.com/">FotMob</a>)</p><h3>Highlight of the weekend 🎥</h3><p>Sammie Szmodics went for a bike ride to help Ipswich Town sink Tottenham Hotspur and finally pick up their first win of the Premier League season.</p><p><em>(Available to view in U.S. only)</em></p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">IPSWICH SHOCK SPURS. 🚜👀<br><br>Sammie Szmodics scores a stunning overhead kick to give Ipswich Town the lead!<br><br>📺 USA Network | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TOTIPS?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TOTIPS</a> <a href="https://t.co/8jafRA57eN">pic.twitter.com/8jafRA57eN</a></p>— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBCSportsSoccer/status/1855622069305606509?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 10, 2024</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p><em>(Available to view in Canada only)</em></p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Sammie Szmodics SCORES!!<br><br>⚽ 0-1 Tottenham Hotspur vs Ipswich Town<br><br>WATCH EVERY GOAL 👉 <a href="https://t.co/2w98QqADfX">https://t.co/2w98QqADfX</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PL</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PremierLeague?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PremierLeague</a> <a href="https://t.co/wWMrx6bYXD">pic.twitter.com/wWMrx6bYXD</a></p>— FuboCanada 🇨🇦 (@fuboTVCanada) <a href="https://twitter.com/fuboTVCanada/status/1855620862008770856?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 10, 2024</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><h3>Stat of the weekend 🔢</h3><p>Manchester City are setting all kinds of unwanted firsts right now.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">1 - Erling Haaland has lost a Premier League match in which he scored a goal for the very first time, having won 40 and drawn six of the previous 46 he’d scored in before today. Humbled. <a href="https://t.co/o6fBiyew4J">pic.twitter.com/o6fBiyew4J</a></p>— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) <a href="https://twitter.com/OptaJoe/status/1855333701430976945?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 9, 2024</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><h3>Social media moment 📱</h3><p>It was quite a day for this Fulham supporter at Selhurst Park:</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">They say romance is dead met my future wife at palace away up the fulhammmm <a href="https://t.co/1J0Hjw3xfw">pic.twitter.com/1J0Hjw3xfw</a></p>— Luke (@Lukehsffc) <a href="https://twitter.com/Lukehsffc/status/1855300144524120189?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 9, 2024</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><h3>Where we stand 👀</h3><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Pos.</th>
<th>Club</th>
<th>Played</th>
<th>GD</th>
<th>Points</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><strong>1.</strong></td>
<td>Liverpool</td>
<td>11</td>
<td>+15</td>
<td>28</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>2.</strong></td>
<td>Manchester City</td>
<td>11</td>
<td>+9</td>
<td>23</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>3.</strong></td>
<td>Chelsea</td>
<td>11</td>
<td>+8</td>
<td>19</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>4.</strong></td>
<td>Arsenal</td>
<td>11</td>
<td>+6</td>
<td>19</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>5.</td>
<td>Nottingham Forest</td>
<td>11</td>
<td>+5</td>
<td>19</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>6.</td>
<td>Brighton</td>
<td>11</td>
<td>+4</td>
<td>19</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>7.</td>
<td>Fulham</td>
<td>11</td>
<td>+3</td>
<td>18</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>8.</td>
<td>Newcastle</td>
<td>11</td>
<td>+2</td>
<td>18</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>9.</td>
<td>Aston Villa</td>
<td>11</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>18</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>10.</td>
<td>Tottenham</td>
<td>11</td>
<td>+10</td>
<td>16</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>11.</td>
<td>Brentford</td>
<td>11</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>16</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>12.</td>
<td>Bournemouth</td>
<td>11</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>15</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>13.</td>
<td>Manchester United</td>
<td>11</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>15</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>14.</td>
<td>West Ham</td>
<td>11</td>
<td>-6</td>
<td>12</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>15.</td>
<td>Leicester</td>
<td>11</td>
<td>-7</td>
<td>10</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>16.</td>
<td>Everton</td>
<td>11</td>
<td>-7</td>
<td>10</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>17.</td>
<td>Ipswich Town</td>
<td>11</td>
<td>-10</td>
<td>8</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>18.</strong></td>
<td>Crystal Palace</td>
<td>11</td>
<td>-7</td>
<td>7</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>19.</strong></td>
<td>Wolves</td>
<td>11</td>
<td>-11</td>
<td>6</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>20.</strong></td>
<td>Southampton</td>
<td>11</td>
<td>-14</td>
<td>4</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure><p><em>View more stats <a href="thescore:///epl/leaders">here</a>.</em></p>

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EPL Review: Man City officially in tailspin, Bruno back on track

Just like that, Lionel Messi and Inter Miami are done in the MLS playoffs.  Atlanta United stunne...

<p>Just like that, <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mls/players/1126" href="https://thescore.com/mls/players/1126">Lionel Messi</a> and Inter Miami are done in the MLS playoffs.</p><p>Atlanta United stunned the Supporters' Shield winners Saturday, going on the road and winning a do-or-die Game 3 in the opening round of the postseason.</p><p><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mls/players/178185" href="https://thescore.com/mls/players/178185">Bartosz Slisz</a> scored a towering header in the 76th minute, giving Atlanta a thrilling 3-2 upset victory over a Miami team that was widely expected to reach the MLS Cup final following a record-breaking regular season.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Miami was incensed with the officiating on Slisz's winning goal, asking referee Lukasz Szpala to stop the play because defender <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mls/players/200232" href="https://thescore.com/mls/players/200232">Tomas Aviles</a> was down inside the penalty area. Atlanta's attack was allowed to continue - the referee is only obliged to halt play for a head injury - and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mls/players/165816" href="https://thescore.com/mls/players/165816">Pedro Amador</a> took advantage of the distracted Miami defense with a perfect ball for Slisz.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Another game, another assist for Amador. ATLANTA LEAD!<a href="https://twitter.com/ATLUTD?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ATLUTD</a> // Audi <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MLSCupPlayoffs?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MLSCupPlayoffs</a> <a href="https://t.co/9oI18VqPsR">pic.twitter.com/9oI18VqPsR</a></p>— Major League Soccer (@MLS) <a href="https://twitter.com/MLS/status/1855443030171320581?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 10, 2024</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>Atlanta, which needed a minor miracle on Decision Day simply to reach the playoffs as the No. 9 seed, had to navigate a wild-card game against Montreal just to set up the first-round meeting with Messi, <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mls/players/4433" href="https://thescore.com/mls/players/4433">Luis Suarez</a>, and the rest of Inter Miami's star-studded squad.</p><p>After losing the opening match of the three-game series, Atlanta roared back to claim the last two and advance to the Eastern Conference semifinals, where Orlando City awaits.</p><p>"Grinding. Believing. Resilience," Atlanta captain <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mls/players/1693" href="https://thescore.com/mls/players/1693">Brad Guzan</a>, who made seven saves in the winner-take-all match, <a href="https://x.com/MLS/status/1855450547933053115">said</a> afterwards when asked about his team's formula for unexpected success. "There's some fairy dust in our locker room. I couldn't be more proud of our guys."</p><p>Saturday's contest looked early like it would be a procession for Miami when <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mls/players/159502" href="https://thescore.com/mls/players/159502">Matias Rojas</a> opened the scoring at Chase Stadium in the 17th minute. But striker <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mls/players/200231" href="https://thescore.com/mls/players/200231">Jamal Thiare</a> silenced the home crowd with two goals in quick succession minutes later.</p><p>Messi, who could yet come away with this season's MVP award, scored a rare header to level proceedings in the 65th minute. Momentum was with Miami.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Miami need a goal. Who else? MESSI delivers.<a href="https://twitter.com/InterMiamiCF?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@InterMiamiCF</a> // Audi <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MLSCupPlayoffs?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MLSCupPlayoffs</a> <a href="https://t.co/jqYMye2FCj">pic.twitter.com/jqYMye2FCj</a></p>— Major League Soccer (@MLS) <a href="https://twitter.com/MLS/status/1855440305752801558?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 10, 2024</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>But the Five Stripes, as they've done continually down the stretch of the regular season and into the playoffs, stayed poised, weathered the storm with some excellent saves Guzan, and then struck in dramatic fashion to keep their improbable run alive.</p><p>Miami, meanwhile, will be forced to conduct a post-season debrief far earlier than anyone envisioned after Messi and Co. romped to a single-season MLS points record.</p><p>"This season has had good and bad things. If you think about where we were in November last year, there has obviously been progress in terms of the club, not just the team. If you think about the expectations we had for this playoffs, obviously we came up a little short," Inter Miami coach Gerardo Martino, who led Atlanta to playoff glory in 2018, said.</p><p>"The players are sad, as they should be when there are so many expectations and the team can't fulfil them. In this final part of the year we got used to achieving the objectives but we couldn't achieve the most important one."</p>

FT. LAUDERDALE, FL - NOVEMBER 9: Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi (10) reacts after missing a scoring opportunity during the match between Atlanta United and Inter Miami CF on Saturday, November 9, 2024 at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/28980509/related

Messi, Miami crash out of MLS playoffs as Atlanta pulls off huge upset

<p><em>The supersized Champions League resumed this week, with all 36 teams back in action over 48 frenetic hours. Below, theScore's soccer editors reflect on Matchday 4 in Europe's premier club competition while also taking a step back to survey the landscape at the midway point of the opening round.</em></p><h3>Key takeaway from Matchday 4 📝</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/753785/cropped_GettyImages-2182456262.jpg?ts=1730849011" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/753785/w220xh124_GettyImages-2182456262.jpg?ts=1730849011 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/753785/w320xh180_GettyImages-2182456262.jpg?ts=1730849011 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/753785/w640xh360_GettyImages-2182456262.jpg?ts=1730849011 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/753785/w768xh432_GettyImages-2182456262.jpg?ts=1730849011 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/753785/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2182456262.jpg?ts=1730849011 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">NurPhoto / NurPhoto / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p><strong>Gordon Brunt</strong>: There's never a shortage of excuses after Arsenal lose. Some complaints about outside forces conspiring against them have even seemed justified. But this time it's their struggling attack that needs to shoulder the blame. The latest perceived injustice involved the ever-confusing handball rule in Wednesday's 1-0 loss to Inter Milan. The decision to award Inter a spot-kick felt harsh on Mikel Merino, especially after he was denied one of his own after being punched in the head by Inter goalkeeper Yann Sommer at the other end. Another Arsenal grievance for the pile. From a perceived refereeing agenda against them to injuries that have proved costly, Arsenal routinely have something to moan about. But their lack of creativity after conceding right before halftime was the real reason they lost. The glaring issue that Mikel Arteta needs to fix is an Arsenal attack that can't cope when Kai Havertz is in a slump. Signing another proven striker last summer might've helped.</p><p><strong>Anthony Lopopolo</strong>: The little guys still stand a chance. In the tournaments of old, a newcomer like Brest, who had never qualified for the Champions League, would've been buried at the bottom of a group of heavyweights with zero chance of progressing. They would've simply enjoyed the ride. But here they are in fourth place in the Champions League table with 10 points out of a possible 12 after Wednesday's 2-1 win over Sparta Prague. Those 10 points should be enough for Brest to earn at least a playoff spot, according to Opta's projections. But with matches to come against 24th-placed PSV Eindhoven and 28th-placed Shakhtar Donetsk, Brest could reasonably finish with the 16 points likely necessary to earn automatic qualification to the knockout round. UEFA expanded the tournament to make it more profitable, but in a weird way, it has offered previously overlooked teams a lifeline.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p><strong>Gianluca Nesci</strong>: Matchday 4 was a turning point in the competition. One of the biggest gripes about the new format, aside from fixture congestion and general resistance to change, was that the supersized opening round created less jeopardy for the top clubs, which had more time to recover from any setback because there were simply more points available. Even when some stumbled early, there was no sense of panic. That's changing now. Shocking - and comprehensive - losses for Real Madrid and Manchester City, the two overwhelming tournament favorites, have blown things open, while other teams such as Paris Saint-Germain, expected to cruise comfortably into the next round, still have lots of work to do and little time to do it.</p><h3>This week's crisis club 😬</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/753820/cropped_GettyImages-2183149838.jpg?ts=1730899151" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/753820/w220xh124_GettyImages-2183149838.jpg?ts=1730899151 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/753820/w320xh180_GettyImages-2183149838.jpg?ts=1730899151 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/753820/w640xh360_GettyImages-2183149838.jpg?ts=1730899151 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/753820/w768xh432_GettyImages-2183149838.jpg?ts=1730899151 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/753820/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2183149838.jpg?ts=1730899151 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">David Ramos - UEFA / UEFA / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p><strong>Brunt</strong>: Manchester City. Pep Guardiola's side is in panic mode after getting pummeled by Sporting CP. Manchester City's long list of injuries was a major talking point heading into the encounter, and rightfully so with stars like Rodri missing and Kevin De Bruyne not fit enough to start. But that didn't make Tuesday's 4-1 scoreline any less shocking. City did well to get back into the game, threatening to cut the deficit down to one goal before disaster struck when Erling Haaland's penalty rattled off the crossbar. Heads went down and the team showed an uncharacteristic lack of fight on its way to losing three straight games in a season for the first time since April 2018. Is this the beginning of City's downfall? Highly unlikely. But it presents a rare opportunity for rivals to take advantage of a City side that won't likely be down for long.</p><p><strong>Lopopolo</strong>: Real Madrid. Carlo Ancelotti is on the hot seat after losing back-to-back matches at home to Barcelona and AC Milan. They conceded seven goals across the pair of games and looked entirely out of sorts in Tuesday's 3-1 defeat to Serie A's seventh-placed team. Kylian Mbappe doesn't look comfortable alongside Vinicius Junior, and Dani Carvajal's injury-enforced absence has allowed opponents to wreak havoc on Madrid's right flank. Jude Bellingham hasn't scored for Madrid in 177 days and seems unsure how to interpret his deeper midfield role. It doesn't get any easier for Los Blancos: Liverpool and Atalanta are up next, and they only have one more game to play at home. With just six points in the bag, Madrid have to win at least two of their final four games just to have a chance to make the playoffs.</p><p><strong>Nesci</strong>: RB Leipzig. A last-second away loss to Atletico Madrid on Matchday 1? Aggravating, but not panic inducing. Blowing a lead, at home, against 10-man Juventus and losing? Rough, but it was one of "those" games. Falling to Liverpool, the best team in the tournament so far? No shame in that. But Leipzig followed up those results by getting outplayed - and comfortably beaten - by Celtic in a match they badly needed to have in order to keep their dwindling hopes of reaching the knockout stage alive. <em>That</em> is cause for serious concern. Leipzig are one of only five teams in the competition without a point. Instead of tussling with Europe's elite, their peers at the bottom of the table are the likes of Slovan Bratislava and Sturm Graz. With no points and a tough remaining schedule, Leipzig now look destined for a very early exit.</p><h3>Player of the week 🌟</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/753438/cropped_GettyImages-2182360914.jpg?ts=1730726301" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/753438/w220xh124_GettyImages-2182360914.jpg?ts=1730726301 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/753438/w320xh180_GettyImages-2182360914.jpg?ts=1730726301 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/753438/w640xh360_GettyImages-2182360914.jpg?ts=1730726301 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/753438/w768xh432_GettyImages-2182360914.jpg?ts=1730726301 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/753438/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2182360914.jpg?ts=1730726301 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Gualter Fatia / Getty Images Sport / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p><strong>Brunt</strong>: Viktor Gyokeres. The Swedish striker is finally getting the recognition he deserves. After more than a year of tormenting defenses in Portugal, it took scoring a hat-trick against Manchester City in Tuesday's Champions League win for the spotlight to <em>truly</em> beam on Gyokeres. While everyone's been in awe watching Haaland score at a record-setting pace in England, the 26-year-old Gyokeres has mastered his craft at Sporting to become one of the most prolific strikers in the world. He went from scoring 21 goals for Championship side Coventry City in 2022 to more than doubling that amount with 43 goals in his debut season for Sporting. And he's showing no signs of slowing down. Recording his third hat-trick of the season Tuesday gives him 23 goals in 17 games and launched him into a share of the lead atop the Champions League scoring chart with five tallies.</p><p><strong>Lopopolo</strong>: Luis Diaz. The Colombian's evolution continued Tuesday with a hat-trick performance against Bayer Leverkusen, the first of his professional career and the strongest evidence yet that he can lead Liverpool's attack. A left-winger by trade, Diaz has played more centrally under head coach Arne Slot and reminded fans of Roberto Firmino with the way he hustled and pounced on opportunities in Liverpool's 4-0 win. Diaz chipped the 'keeper like he had done it a million times before, shrugged off his marker at the far post to score, and finished off an odd-man rush to complete the hat-trick. He can hurt opponents, and if he plays centrally, Slot can shelter Darwin Nunez on the wing where he'll have less pressure to score.</p><p><strong>Nesci</strong>: Edon Zhegrova. A baller, pure and simple. The winger was at his dynamic best in Tuesday's 1-1 draw with Juventus, setting up Jonathan David's first-half goal with one of his many mesmerizing runs and incisive passes. The 25-year-old completed eight successful dribbles in the match, continually twisting Juan Cabal into a pretzel until the Juve left-back was mercifully substituted after chasing Zhegrova's shadow around for over an hour. Nobody has attempted more take-ons in this season's Champions League than the Kosovo international, who could dribble past an opponent inside a phone booth.</p><h3>Best XI so far 😎</h3><p><em>With the league phase officially hitting the midway point, here's a look at our standout players of the tournament thus far.</em></p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://www.fotmob.com/api/lineup-builder/team?players=268375:Martinez,279461:Lala,1027472:Singo,939780:Hien,671529:Tsimikas,868344:Reijnders,541820:Barella,696679:Raphinha,846033:Vinicius,664500:Gy%C3%B6keres,939569:David&amp;formation=4-2-2-2&amp;lineupTitle=Champions%20League%20Best%20XI" srcset="https://www.fotmob.com/api/lineup-builder/team?players=268375:Martinez,279461:Lala,1027472:Singo,939780:Hien,671529:Tsimikas,868344:Reijnders,541820:Barella,696679:Raphinha,846033:Vinicius,664500:Gy%C3%B6keres,939569:David&amp;formation=4-2-2-2&amp;lineupTitle=Champions%20League%20Best%20XI 220w, https://www.fotmob.com/api/lineup-builder/team?players=268375:Martinez,279461:Lala,1027472:Singo,939780:Hien,671529:Tsimikas,868344:Reijnders,541820:Barella,696679:Raphinha,846033:Vinicius,664500:Gy%C3%B6keres,939569:David&amp;formation=4-2-2-2&amp;lineupTitle=Champions%20League%20Best%20XI 320w, https://www.fotmob.com/api/lineup-builder/team?players=268375:Martinez,279461:Lala,1027472:Singo,939780:Hien,671529:Tsimikas,868344:Reijnders,541820:Barella,696679:Raphinha,846033:Vinicius,664500:Gy%C3%B6keres,939569:David&amp;formation=4-2-2-2&amp;lineupTitle=Champions%20League%20Best%20XI 640w, https://www.fotmob.com/api/lineup-builder/team?players=268375:Martinez,279461:Lala,1027472:Singo,939780:Hien,671529:Tsimikas,868344:Reijnders,541820:Barella,696679:Raphinha,846033:Vinicius,664500:Gy%C3%B6keres,939569:David&amp;formation=4-2-2-2&amp;lineupTitle=Champions%20League%20Best%20XI 768w, https://www.fotmob.com/api/lineup-builder/team?players=268375:Martinez,279461:Lala,1027472:Singo,939780:Hien,671529:Tsimikas,868344:Reijnders,541820:Barella,696679:Raphinha,846033:Vinicius,664500:Gy%C3%B6keres,939569:David&amp;formation=4-2-2-2&amp;lineupTitle=Champions%20League%20Best%20XI 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution"></span></figcaption></figure><p>(Courtesy: <a href="https://www.fotmob.com/">FotMob</a>)</p><h3>Where we stand 👀</h3><p><em>Here's the complete league phase table after Matchday 4. Remember: The top eight teams advance directly to the last 16, and the sides that finish ninth to 24th head to the new knockout phase playoffs, two-legged ties that determine who joins the eight automatic qualifiers in the round of 16. The bottom 12 clubs are eliminated from the Champions League.</em></p><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Rank</th>
<th>Club</th>
<th>GD</th>
<th>Points</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><strong>1</strong></td>
<td>Liverpool</td>
<td>9</td>
<td>12</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>2</strong></td>
<td>Sporting CP</td>
<td>7</td>
<td>10</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>3</strong></td>
<td>Monaco</td>
<td>6</td>
<td>10</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>4</strong></td>
<td>Brest</td>
<td>6</td>
<td>10</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>5</strong></td>
<td>Inter</td>
<td>6</td>
<td>10</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>6</strong></td>
<td>Barcelona</td>
<td>10</td>
<td>9</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>7</strong></td>
<td>Borussia Dortmund</td>
<td>7</td>
<td>9</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>8</strong></td>
<td>Aston Villa</td>
<td>5</td>
<td>9</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><em>9</em></td>
<td>Atalanta</td>
<td>5</td>
<td>8</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><em>10</em></td>
<td>Man City</td>
<td>6</td>
<td>7</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><em>11</em></td>
<td>Juventus</td>
<td>2</td>
<td>7</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><em>12</em></td>
<td>Arsenal</td>
<td>2</td>
<td>7</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><em>13</em></td>
<td>Leverkusen</td>
<td>1</td>
<td>7</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><em>14</em></td>
<td>Lille</td>
<td>1</td>
<td>7</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><em>15</em></td>
<td>Celtic</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>7</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><em>16</em></td>
<td>Dinamo Zagreb</td>
<td>-2</td>
<td>7</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><em>17</em></td>
<td>Bayern Munich</td>
<td>4</td>
<td>6</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><em>18</em></td>
<td>Real Madrid</td>
<td>2</td>
<td>6</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><em>19</em></td>
<td>Benfica</td>
<td>2</td>
<td>6</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><em>20</em></td>
<td>AC Milan</td>
<td>1</td>
<td>6</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><em>21</em></td>
<td>Feyenoord</td>
<td>-3</td>
<td>6</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><em>22</em></td>
<td>Club Brugge</td>
<td>-3</td>
<td>6</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><em>23</em></td>
<td>Atletico</td>
<td>-4</td>
<td>6</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><em>24</em></td>
<td>PSV</td>
<td>2</td>
<td>5</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>25</td>
<td>PSG</td>
<td>-2</td>
<td>4</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>26</td>
<td>Sparta Prague</td>
<td>-3</td>
<td>4</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>27</td>
<td>Stuttgart</td>
<td>-3</td>
<td>4</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>28</td>
<td>Shakhtar</td>
<td>-3</td>
<td>4</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>29</td>
<td>Girona</td>
<td>-4</td>
<td>3</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>30</td>
<td>Salzburg</td>
<td>-7</td>
<td>3</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>31</td>
<td>Bologna</td>
<td>-5</td>
<td>1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>32</td>
<td>RB Leipzig</td>
<td>-5</td>
<td>0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>33</td>
<td>Sturm Graz</td>
<td>-5</td>
<td>0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>34</td>
<td>Young Boys</td>
<td>-10</td>
<td>0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>35</td>
<td>Crvena Zvezda</td>
<td>-12</td>
<td>0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>36</td>
<td>S. Bratislava</td>
<td>-13</td>
<td>0</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure>

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