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Week of Dec 20, 2025

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Week of Dec 6, 2025

Henrikh Mkhitaryan & José Mourinho: The Transfer Feud Behind the Alexis Saga

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Former Arsenal, Manchester United and Borussia Dortmund midfielder, Henrikh Mkhitaryan has revealed what led to his departure from Old Trafford in his autobiography👇

"I had lost my patience with Mourinho, 'I said to him, you have been criticizing me for two years, you are s**t!' He said 'I never want to see you again.', he would not say a word in training, but every night he'd send a text 'Leave so I can get Alexis."

He'd say on WhatsApp every night, 'Miki, please go away.', it had gotten really bad. And I always copied and pasted the same response, 'If I go, I have to find the right team, otherwise I will wait until the summer.'

Around January, his text changed to 'Miki, please go away so I can get Alexis.' Then my response changed too, I started saying 'I'm not leaving just to please you, and I beg you, please stop texting me. Talk to Mino (Raiola) if you want."

Leeds United vs Chelsea Match Preview

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Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca prepares to face a Leeds United side he has yet to defeat in a competitive fixture, as the Blues travel to Elland Road for a midweek Premier League clash. Chelsea earned a respectable 1-1 draw against Arsenal on Sunday, while Leeds’ brave fightback at the Etihad ultimately counted for nothing in a 3-2 loss to Manchester City.

A high-tempo opening half-hour at Stamford Bridge saw Arsenal pick up three yellow cards while struggling to cope with Chelsea’s intensity, yet it was the home side who eventually went down to 10 men. Moises Caicedo’s red card felt inevitable after repeated warnings, but the setback did little to blunt Chelsea’s threat. Trevoh Chalobah’s clever header put them ahead, only for Mikel Merino to haul Arsenal back into the contest.

Given the circumstances, Chelsea could view the result as a point gained rather than two dropped, even if Arsenal’s closest title rivals Manchester City have now edged ahead of them in the standings. The draw extended Chelsea’s unbeaten run to seven matches in all competitions, and Maresca’s side have become particularly formidable away from home.

They have won five and drawn one of their last six road games, including Premier League victories at Tottenham Hotspur, Burnley and Nottingham Forest, and they have scored in all 10 of their away fixtures this season.

This strong away form presents a worrying picture for a Leeds outfit that have shipped multiple goals in each of their last four league games, all of which ended in defeat against Brighton, Nottingham Forest, Aston Villa and Man City.

Yet Leeds showed tremendous resilience at the Etihad, battling back from 2-0 down before Phil Foden struck a late winner deep into added time. Daniel Farke was frustrated with what he viewed as time-wasting tactics when Gianluigi Donnarumma went down injured, allowing City to regroup on the sidelines, but Leeds could still take positives from their spirited performance.

However, spirit without points is of little use in a relegation fight. Leeds remains in the bottom three but are level with West Ham United on points and only behind on goals scored. Their home record of two wins, two draws and two defeats offer some encouragement, and the memory of a commanding 3-0 victory over Chelsea at Elland Road in 2022 may provide a psychological boost ahead of Wednesday night’s meeting.

INJURIES & SUSPENSIONS

Chelsea will be without Moises Caicedo, who begins a three-match suspension for serious foul play, and Maresca has hinted that Reece James is likely to be rested after his outstanding performance against Arsenal. That situation should see Andrey Santos line up alongside Enzo Fernandez in midfield, which may create space for Cole Palmer to return to the starting XI, although the Joao Pedro–Liam Delap pairing remains the more realistic choice in central attack.

Levi Colwill (knee), Romeo Lavia (thigh) and the suspended Mykhaylo Mudryk are all unavailable, while Dario Essugo is back in full training after his thigh surgery but is still building up his match sharpness

Leeds, meanwhile, had to take James Justin off during the second half of their defeat at Manchester City, but Daniel Farke later described the issue as nothing more than a minor knock. The hosts could also see the return of Sebastiaan Bornauw from a knee injury and Anton Stach following concussion, although Sean Longstaff is facing the possibility of missing the rest of 2025 with a calf problem.

Jaka Bijol and Dominic Calvert-Lewin made a significant impact from the bench at the Etihad, sparking Leeds’ second-half fightback, and Farke may reward both by starting them on Wednesday, with Calvert-Lewin expected to partner Nmecha in attack.

POSSIBLE LINE-UPS
Leeds United possible starting lineup:

Perri; Rodon, Struijk, Bijol; Bogle, Gruev, Ampadu, Tanaka, Gudmundsson; Calvert-Lewin, Nmecha

Chelsea possible starting lineup:
Sanchez; Gusto, Adarabioyo, Chalobah, Cucurella; Santos, Fernandez; Estevao, Pedro, Neto; Delap

EXPERT PREDICTION

Leeds 1-2 Chelsea

Barcelona vs Atletico Madrid Match Preview

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Barcelona and Atletico Madrid will meet at Camp Nou on Tuesday in a clash that could have major implications for the La Liga title race. Barcelona enter the contest at the top of the table, while Diego Simeone’s men are three points behind in fourth and eager to close the gap.

Barcelona have not consistently hit the same heights they displayed last season, but they have still put themselves in a strong position after 14 league matches. Hansi Flick’s side have collected 11 wins, one draw and just two defeats, and they approach the Atletico clash on the back of four consecutive La Liga victories following their El Clasico loss to Real Madrid in late October.

They recovered from recent Champions League disappointment against Chelsea by beating Alaves 3-1 on Saturday. Despite conceding just 43 seconds into the match – their earliest league concession in two years – the hosts rallied as Lamine Yamal equalised and Dani Olmo struck twice to secure all three points. The result extended Barcelona’s unbeaten league run against Alaves to 16 games and pushed them above Real Madrid, who later dropped points against Girona.

With Real Madrid not playing until Wednesday, Barcelona have the opportunity to open up a four-point lead at the top. Having scored a league-high 39 goals, they will feel confident in their ability to break down an Atletico side that prides itself on defensive solidity and currently boasts the joint-best defensive record in the division.

Atletico, meanwhile, have transformed their fortunes after a slow start that yielded just three wins from their first eight league matches. They have since embarked on a superb run, winning each of their last six La Liga games and their last seven matches in all competitions since suffering a heavy Champions League defeat to Arsenal in October.

Their belief received another major boost last Wednesday when they secured a late 2-1 Champions League win over Inter Milan, and they followed that up with a controlled 2-0 league win against Real Oviedo thanks to Alexander Sorloth’s first-half double. That victory moved Simeone level with Real Madrid legend Miguel Muñoz on 323 La Liga wins as a manager, and Tuesday’s encounter offers the chance to move clear in second place on the all-time list.

This fixture, brought forward from January due to the Spanish Super Cup, will see Atletico attempt to win consecutive away league matches against Barcelona for the first time in modern history. Sorloth’s dramatic 96th-minute winner last December sealed a rare victory at Camp Nou, and Simeone will hope his in-form squad can repeat that feat in another pivotal showdown.

INJURIES & SUSPENSIONS
Barcelona and Atletico Madrid will meet at Camp Nou on Tuesday in a clash that could have major implications for the La Liga title race. Barcelona enter the contest at the top of the table, while Diego Simeone’s men are three points behind in fourth and eager to close the gap.

Barcelona have not consistently hit the same heights they displayed last season, but they have still put themselves in a strong position after 14 league matches. Hansi Flick’s side have collected 11 wins, one draw and just two defeats, and they approach the Atletico clash on the back of four consecutive La Liga victories following their El Clasico loss to Real Madrid in late October.

They recovered from recent Champions League disappointment against Chelsea by beating Alaves 3-1 on Saturday. Despite conceding just 43 seconds into the match – their earliest league concession in two years – the hosts rallied as Lamine Yamal equalised and Dani Olmo struck twice to secure all three points. The result extended Barcelona’s unbeaten league run against Alaves to 16 games and pushed them above Real Madrid, who later dropped points against Girona.

With Real Madrid not playing until Wednesday, Barcelona have the opportunity to open up a four-point lead at the top. Having scored a league-high 39 goals, they will feel confident in their ability to break down an Atletico side that prides itself on defensive solidity and currently boasts the joint-best defensive record in the division.

Atletico, meanwhile, have transformed their fortunes after a slow start that yielded just three wins from their first eight league matches. They have since embarked on a superb run, winning each of their last six La Liga games and their last seven matches in all competitions since suffering a heavy Champions League defeat to Arsenal in October.

Their belief received another major boost last Wednesday when they secured a late 2-1 Champions League win over Inter Milan, and they followed that up with a controlled 2-0 league win against Real Oviedo thanks to Alexander Sorloth’s first-half double. That victory moved Simeone level with Real Madrid legend Miguel Muñoz on 323 La Liga wins as a manager, and Tuesday’s encounter offers the chance to move clear in second place on the all-time list.

This fixture, brought forward from January due to the Spanish Super Cup, will see Atletico attempt to win consecutive away league matches against Barcelona for the first time in modern history.

Sorloth’s dramatic 96th-minute winner last December sealed a rare victory at Camp Nou, and Simeone will hope his in-form squad can repeat that feat in another pivotal showdown.

POSSIBLE LINE-UPS
Barcelona possible starting lineup:
Garcia; Kounde, Garcia, Cubarsi, Balde; De Jong, Pedri; Yamal, Olmo, Raphinha; Lewandowski

Atletico Madrid possible starting lineup:
Oblak; Molina, Gimenez, Hancko, Ruggeri; Cardoso; Simeone, Barrios, Koke, Baena; Alvarez

EXPERT PREDICTION
Barcelona 2-2 Atletico Madrid

Leeds United vs Chelsea Match Preview

With Caicedo set to miss this game, I fancy Leeds United winning

Bournemouth vs Chelsea Match Preview

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Bournemouth and Chelsea both head into Saturday’s meeting at the Vitality Stadium looking to recover from disappointing midweek defeats. This will be their first encounter since January, when they shared a 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge, capped by Reece James’s dramatic 95th-minute equaliser.

Bournemouth endured a miserable November, failing to win any of their four league games and conceding 12 goals along the way. Their most recent setback came last weekend at Sunderland, where they let a two-goal lead slip in a chaotic 3-2 defeat. December began in similar fashion, with Everton snatching a 78th-minute winner on Tuesday night to hand the Cherries their first home loss of the season.

After that match, Andoni Iraola didn’t hide his frustration, describing his side’s display as “really poor.” He highlighted a worrying lack of energy in midfield — a key factor behind their slump, with only two wins in their last 10 Premier League games. The Cherries have tumbled from second place to 14th, and while they remain just five points adrift of fourth-placed Chelsea, the pressure on Iraola — out of contract this summer and linked with top clubs — is growing.

Bournemouth will try to avoid consecutive home defeats for the first time since April. Fourteen of their 19 points have been secured at the Vitality Stadium this season, but their overall record against Chelsea at home is bleak: just two wins in 11 meetings, the last coming back in January 2019.

Chelsea, meanwhile, turned in one of their worst displays of the season on Wednesday as they fell 3-1 to struggling Leeds United. Despite dominating possession and completing a season-high 630 passes, they carved out only three real chances and looked disjointed at the back. Enzo Maresca admitted afterwards that Leeds — who had lost four in a row — were “better in all aspects.”

Now nine points behind leaders Arsenal, Chelsea have coped admirably without Cole Palmer for much of the season, but the loss of Moises Caicedo to a three-game suspension could be far more damaging. Since his arrival in 2023, the Blues have won just two of eight league matches without him.

With seven fixtures crammed into the final 24 days of 2025, there is no time for Chelsea to dwell on their latest setback. Their trip to Bournemouth will be followed quickly by a Champions League showdown in Italy against Atalanta. Encouragingly, they have been stronger on the road this season, claiming 13 away points compared to 11 at Stamford Bridge, and they remain unbeaten in their last four visits to Bournemouth, including a 1-0 win on their most recent trip in September 2024.

INJURIES & SUSPENSIONS
Bournemouth will again be without Ryan Christie, who is recovering from a knee injury, and Ben Gannon Doak, who remains sidelined with a hamstring problem. Lewis Cook and Tyler Adams are also unavailable due to suspension, with Adams serving a one-match ban after collecting his fifth yellow card of the season.

On a more positive note, Marcos Senesi and David Brooks return from their own one-match suspensions. Senesi is expected to come straight back into central defence in place of Veljko Milosavljevic, while Brooks is poised to compete with Amine Adli for a place on the right wing. Cook and Adams being out may force Marcus Tavernier into a deeper midfield role next to Alex Scott, and Evanilson could be recalled to lead the line ahead of Eli Junior Kroupi.

Chelsea will again be without Moises Caicedo as he serves the second match of his three-game suspension. Levi Colwill is sidelined with a knee issue, while Romeo Lavia, Dario Essugo and suspended winger Mykhaylo Mudryk are also unavailable. Cole Palmer, who recently returned from a long layoff, made his comeback as a second-half substitute in the defeat at Leeds, and Enzo Maresca must now decide whether to start him at the Vitality Stadium.

If Palmer is restored to the starting XI in his preferred No.10 role, Liam Delap may drop out, with Joao Pedro moving into the central striker position. Enzo Fernandez is expected to remain in a deeper midfield role and could be joined by captain Reece James, who was rested in midweek.

Pedro Neto and Alejandro Garnacho are pushing for starts on the wings ahead of Estevao and Jamie Gittens, while Malo Gusto is likely to reclaim his right-back role, allowing Trevoh Chalobah to return to centre-back alongside Wesley Fofana.

POSSIBLE LINE-UPS
Bournemouth possible starting lineup:
Petrovic; Jimenez, Diakite, Senesi, Truffert; Scott, Tavernier; Brooks, Kluivert, Semenyo; Evanilson

Chelsea possible starting lineup:
Sanchez; Gusto, Fofana, Chalobah, Cucurella; James, Fernandez; Neto, Palmer, Garnacho; Pedro

EXPERT PREDICTION
Bournemouth 2-2 Chelsea

Week of Nov 29, 2025

Liverpool vs Nottingham Forrest Match Preview

As an Arsenal fan, I'm happy with the way things are going for the reigning champions, makes our job easier.

BREAKING: Renewal talks between Real Madrid & Vini Jr have STALLED.

According to reports, contract renewal talks between Real Madrid and Vinicius JNR has stalled, with the club offering him an increase in salary, at around €20M, and the player said NO.

The club then told the player to make a counter-offer, and he demanded the biggest contract in club history, similar to Cristiano Ronaldo.

Chelsea vs Barcelona Match Preview

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Neck and neck in the Champions League standings at the midway point of the competition, Chelsea and Barcelona meet at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday in a clash between two European giants.

Both Chelsea and Barcelona have picked up seven points from their first four matches, a mixed run of results that leaves them sitting outside the automatic last 16 positions in 12th and 11th place.

Chelsea were the latest side to be frustrated by surprise contenders Qarabag, and they had to fight hard to take even a point from their hosts on matchday four. Alejandro Garnacho struck late to seal a 2-2 draw for the Club World Cup champions, extending their wait for a first away win in this season’s competition. However, at Stamford Bridge they have been perfect, defeating both Benfica and Ajax.

The Blues have not lost a European group stage match at home since 2019, going 16 games unbeaten in that time and winning 12. Their domestic form has also surged ahead of Barcelona’s visit, with three straight Premier League wins without conceding and a recent 2-0 victory at Burnley lifting them to second in the table.

Chelsea’s youthful squad continues to impress, with the club remarkably going 50 Premier League matches without starting a player aged 30 or above. Barcelona, on the other hand, are benefiting from both youthful energy and veteran quality.

The doors of Camp Nou finally reopened on Saturday, and Barcelona marked the occasion with a dominant 4-0 win over Athletic Bilbao, their first match at the revamped stadium in 909 days. Ferran Torres struck twice, Lamine Yamal delivered two assists, Robert Lewandowski scored his expected goal, and Fermin Lopez added another as Hansi Flick’s team temporarily climbed to the top of La Liga.

Barcelona also ended a long wait for a clean sheet, shutting out an opponent for the first time in 11 matches. Their high defensive line went unpunished this time, although Club Brugge managed to exploit it during a dramatic 3-3 draw in the previous Champions League outing. Barca have conceded in every match of the competition so far.

Barcelona shut out Chelsea in their most recent meeting, claiming a 3-0 aggregate win in the 2017-18 last 16, but their record at Stamford Bridge is far less encouraging. They have won just once in seven previous visits, a 2-1 success on their way to lifting the 2005-06 trophy.

INJURIES & SUSPENSIONS
Reece James caused some initial worry at Turf Moor on Saturday when the injury-hit Chelsea captain was substituted at half time, but Maresca later explained that the decision was planned and not the result of a new setback.

Wesley Fofana was left out of the squad against Burnley purely as a precaution, meaning he should be available to face the Spanish champions. Even so, Tosin Adarabioyo has made a strong case for keeping his place after an outstanding performance at the weekend.

Chelsea are still without Romeo Lavia, Cole Palmer, Dario Essugo and Levi Colwill, while Mykhaylo Mudryk remains unavailable as he continues to serve his doping suspension, which has kept him out for nearly a year.

Barcelona manager Hansi Flick also replaced one of his full backs at halftime on Saturday after Alejandro Balde took a knock to the head, though the club currently has no major concerns over his fitness for Tuesday’s match.

Marcus Rashford’s involvement remains uncertain due to illness, but Raphinha made his return from a hamstring injury by coming off the bench against Athletic. Ferran Torres, fresh from scoring twice, has certainly strengthened his case to stay in the lineup.

Frenkie de Jong is available again after completing a domestic suspension, but Pedri, Gavi and Marc-Andre ter Stegen remain sidelined for the visitors.

POSSIBLE LINE-UPS
Chelsea possible starting lineup:
Sanchez; James, Adarabioyo, Chalobah, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernandez; Neto, Pedro, Garnacho; Delap

Barcelona possible starting lineup:
J. Garcia; Kounde, E. Garcia, Cubarsi, Balde; Casado, De Jong; Yamal, Lopez, Torres; Lewandowski

EXPERT PREDICTION
Chelsea 2-2 Barcelona

Arsenal vs Bayern Munich Match Preview

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The two best teams in Europe at the moment, according to the Champions League table after four matchdays, Arsenal and Bayern Munich, face off in a highly anticipated clash at the Emirates on Wednesday evening.

Both Mikel Arteta and Vincent Kompany have guided their sides to 12 points from 12 so far, but by the final whistle, at least one perfect record will be gone.

When Arsenal fans looked at Tottenham’s lineup on Sunday, it was understandable to expect a tough afternoon, with Spurs fielding eight defensively minded players. Yet Eberechi Eze, who chose the Gunners over Spurs, stole the show, scoring the first-ever Premier League North London derby hat-trick in a 4-1 victory. Leandro Trossard had opened the scoring with a deflected effort, and even Richarlison’s audacious long-range strike could not spark a comeback. The win extended Arsenal’s lead at the Premier League summit to six points and furthered their domestic and continental ambitions.

In the Champions League, Arsenal have been flawless this season, winning all four matches, scoring 11 goals, and conceding none. Only Bayern’s superior goals tally keeps Arsenal off top spot in the 36-team league phase table, although results on Tuesday could shuffle both sides’ positions before their blockbuster showdown. Arsenal now seek a 16th consecutive Champions League home win, but they face their sternest test yet.

Bayern may not match Arsenal’s defensive solidity this season, but under Kompany, they have been in exceptional attacking form. On matchday four, Luis Diaz’s brace secured a 2-1 win at Paris Saint-Germain, though his red card on the stroke of halftime rules him out of Wednesday’s clash. On Saturday, Bayern produced a remarkable comeback from 2-0 down to defeat Freiburg 6-2, with Michael Olise directly involved in five of the goals.

Bayern remain undefeated across all competitions this season, with only a 2-2 draw against Union Berlin interrupting their run. However, their seven clean sheets from 18 matches highlight some defensive vulnerability. Historically, the German champions were formidable opponents for Arsenal during the Arsene Wenger era. They head to the Emirates on a five-game unbeaten run against the Gunners, winning four, though Arsenal narrowly lost 3-2 on aggregate in the 2023-24 Champions League quarter-finals.

INJURIES & SUSPENSIONS

Arsenal’s bench received a boost on Sunday with the returns of Noni Madueke and Gabriel Martinelli, though Viktor Gyokeres (hamstring) and Martin Odegaard (knee) were left out, with only Odegaard a possible contender for this game. Gabriel Magalhaes (hamstring) and Gabriel Jesus (ACL) are confirmed absentees, while Kai Havertz has suffered a setback in his knee surgery recovery and will remain on the sidelines.

Bayer Leverkusen loanee Piero Hincapie impressed in Gabriel’s place during the North London derby, and he is expected to feature again as part of what will likely be an unchanged Arsenal starting eleven, even with a crucial Premier League clash against Chelsea coming up.

Bayern Munich will be forced to make at least one change due to Luis Diaz’s red card against PSG, which carries a three-match Champions League suspension, ruling him out of Europe for the remainder of 2025. His absence would be more significant if former Arsenal winger Serge Gnabry were also sidelined, but Bayern are confident that the Germany international will be fit after a knee issue kept him out of the eight-goal thriller with Freiburg.

Jamal Musiala (ankle) and Alphonso Davies (knee) are definite misses for Bayern, opening the door for 17-year-old sensation Lennart Karl, who became Bayern’s youngest-ever Champions League scorer earlier this season and added a goal and assist over the weekend.

POSSIBLE LINE-UPS
Arsenal possible starting lineup:
Raya; Timber, Saliba, Hincapie, Calafiori; Eze, Zubimendi, Rice; Saka, Merino, Trossard

Bayern Munich possible starting lineup:
Neuer; Laimer, Upamecano, Tah, Guerreiro; Pavlovic, Kimmich; Olise, Karl, Gnabry; Kane

EXPERT PREDICTION
Arsenal 2-2 Bayern Munich

Liverpool vs PSV Eindhoven Match Preview

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Liverpool’s historical advantage over PSV Eindhoven may count for little on Wednesday when the struggling Reds host the Eredivisie leaders in matchday five of the Champions League.

The defending Premier League champions have won all three previous meetings against PSV at Anfield, but they have arguably never faced the Dutch side in such poor form, giving Peter Bosz’s team reason for optimism ahead of their eighth European encounter with Liverpool.

Saturday’s 3-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest was a stark illustration of the Reds’ domestic struggles. Coming just two weeks after a 3-0 loss to Manchester City, it highlighted how deep the crisis runs, leaving Liverpool 12th in the Premier League after 12 games.

Alisson Becker’s return could not prevent three goals being conceded in consecutive matches for the first time since April 1965, while the defence led by Virgil van Dijk looks fragile. Ibrahima Konate appears distracted amid contract talk, Milos Kerkez struggles to fill his role, and the right-back position remains exposed following Trent Alexander-Arnold’s departure to Real Madrid.

Midfield options are similarly stretched. Dominik Szoboszlai, one of the team’s best performers, has occasionally been forced to play out of position at right-back, weakening the side’s ability to control the game. In attack, Mohamed Salah has yet to recapture the form that earned him fourth place in the 2025 Ballon d’Or, Alexander Isak has struggled to link effectively with Hugo Ekitike, and Florian Wirtz has yet to settle in English football.

With so many issues, Liverpool’s title defence looks all but over, and even competing for European qualification next season could be in jeopardy unless they win the Champions League this year. Domestically poor form contrasts with their European record, where they have won three of four group matches, currently holding the eighth and final automatic qualification spot for the round of 16.

Historically, Liverpool have fared well against PSV, winning five of seven previous encounters, including three at Anfield. Yet this Wednesday could present one of the toughest tests of that streak. Bosz’s PSV side will be aware of Liverpool’s record against Dutch clubs at Anfield—seven wins and two draws in the last nine matches—as well as the Reds’ 16-game home winning streak in European group matches. However, Liverpool have rarely appeared so vulnerable.

PSV remain unbeaten in 11 games across all competitions and have had a mixed start to this season’s Champions League, winning one, drawing two, and losing one of their first four matches. The team’s approach under Bosz is clear: nine goals scored and seven conceded, reflecting an attacking but high-risk style.

After a shock 3-1 loss to Union Saint-Gilloise in the opening matchday, PSV recovered with two 1-1 away draws against Bayer Leverkusen and Olympiacos, separated by a 6-2 win over Antonio Conte’s Napoli. They currently sit 18th in the 36-team league phase, a position that secures participation in the knockout phase playoffs, though they could easily slip out of the top 24 given how tight the points are between 25th and 28th.

Travelling PSV fans will have mixed expectations. Historically, their club has won only once in the last 14 encounters against English sides in Europe, but this Liverpool team appears exposed, and Bosz’s men will be confident they can inflict further misery on a team in disarray.

INJURIES & SUSPENSIONS
While Florian Wirtz’s participation remains uncertain, Liverpool are set to be without long-term absentee Giovanni Leoni, as well as right-backs Jeremie Frimpong and Conor Bradley.

With options limited at right-back, Dominik Szoboszlai may continue in a makeshift defensive role, while Andrew Robertson is expected to fill in on the opposite flank in place of Milos Kerkez.

Up front, Mohamed Salah, who has gone three matches without scoring in all competitions, will look to become the first African player to reach 50 Champions League goals, aiming to get there with a brace. He is likely to start alongside Hugo Ekitike, who may replace Alexander Isak, and Cody Gakpo, formerly of PSV, who scored 55 goals in 159 appearances for the Dutch club.

PSV emerged from their league victory over NAC Breda on Saturday without any new injury concerns. The Eindhoven side’s only absentees remain Ruben van Bommel and Alassane Plea.

Guus Til is expected to continue as PSV’s makeshift striker, seeking to extend a strong run that has seen him contribute to six goals in his last five matches, including five goals and one assist. Til is level with Ismael Saibari on 10 goal contributions in the Eredivisie, one behind Joey Veerman’s 11, and leads the team in European assists with two, although Ricardo Pepi has more overall goal involvements with three.

Pepi has scored in three of his last four Champions League matches, including the goal against Liverpool on matchday eight last season.

POSSIBLE LINE-UPS
Liverpool possible starting lineup:
Alisson; Szoboszlai, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Jones, Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Ekitike, Gakpo

PSV Eindhoven possible starting lineup:
Kovar; Dest, Gasiorowski, Schouten, Salah-Eddine; Junior, Veerman; Man, Saibari, Perisic; Til

EXPERT PREDICTION
Liverpool 1-1 PSV

Week of Nov 22, 2025

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