Kalvin Phillips has "lost all belief" in himself since joining Manchester City in a downfall akin to that of Dele Alli, Dean Saunders says.
Article continues below
Article continues below
Article continues below
Phillips has flopped since joining Man City
Midfielder played 31 games in two years
His struggles drew Dele Alli comparison
WHAT HAPPENED?
After an impressive stint at Leeds, City snapped up Phillips in a deal worth £42 million ($52m) in the summer of 2022, but his career has stalled since then, as he has made only 31 appearances in all competitions for the Premier League champions. Phillips ended up joining West Ham on loan for the second half of the 2023-24 campaign, but he was heavily criticised for his performances in east London, too.
Advertisement
Getty
THE BIGGER PICTURE
The 28-year-old's plight has drawn comparisons to the struggles of Dele, who was once considered one of England's most promising midfielders when he came through at Tottenham, only to drift into obscurity before he was sidelined for the entirety of last season due to injury while at Everton.
WHAT SAUNDERS SAID
Ex-Liverpool and Aston Villa star Saunders juxtaposed the pair when asked about Phillips' struggles under Pep Guardiola, saying on : "We’ve seen it happen to Dele Alli. Dele Alli became disillusioned and all of a sudden, what’s happened to him? I see Dele Alli bursting into the box past Harry Kane, getting on the end of things, making goals. Kalvin Phillips, I see him intercepting things, keeping it simple, passing to people who can go past people and obviously, he’s lost all his belief and confidence. And when your confidence goes, you know, if I went eight games without scoring, I couldn’t even control the ball. Everything’s an effort and your belief goes and you start thinking you’re a bad player and that’s what’s happened to him."
ENJOYED THIS STORY?
Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting
Getty Images
WHAT NEXT FOR PHILLIPS?
Phillips is unlikely to fare any better at City this season as the English champions are expected to move him on in the current transfer window, though it is not yet known where he will end up. Aston Villa have been linked with a move for the 28-year-old in recent weeks.
Chelsea have reportedly agreed a deal to sign Pedro Neto from Wolves for a fee worth up to £54 million ($68.8m/€63m).
Article continues below
Article continues below
Article continues below
Chelsea spent more than £100m on 8 signings
Blues agree to sign Wolves star Neto
Maresca's huge squad set to grow even more
WHAT HAPPENED?
As first reported by Fabrice Hawkins, winger Neto is set to swap Wolves for Chelsea. Talks are at a final stage between the two teams, the Portuguese international wants to join and there is an agreement in principle. The Athletic adds that he could join for £54m (€63m) in total and the 24-year-old will undergo a medical shortly.
Advertisement
Getty/GOAL
THE BIGGER PICTURE
Chelsea have already signed eight players this summer transfer window, taking their spending to approximately £110m ($140m). And while Neto could be an excellent recruit for the Blues, they are not short of wingers; with Raheem Sterling, Mykhailo Mudryk, Noni Madueke, Angelo, and Diego Moreira currently on their books. Plus, Cole Palmer can play out wide so this arrival may lead to a possible exit or more unrest in an already-bloated squad.
DID YOU KNOW?
Since Neto signed for Wolves from Braga in the summer of 2019, he has scored 14 goals and bagged 24 assists in 135 matches. He has spent fairly lengthy spells on the sidelines, however, due to knee, ankle, and hamstring injuries.
ENJOYED THIS STORY?
Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting
(C)Getty Images
WHAT NEXT?
Neto may be unveiled as a new Chelsea player before Sunday's pre-season friendly against Inter at Stamford Bridge. If not, though, he could make his debut against defending Premier League champions Manchester City on August 18 – so long as the transfer goes through.
Newcastle United failed to take advantage of Everton's poor form, with the Magpies only able to secure a 1-1 draw at St James' Park on Tuesday evening.
Eddie Howe's side took the lead through Alexander Isak's first-half strike but were pegged back with just minutes to go after Paul Dummett was adjudged to have pulled down experienced winger Ashley Young.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin stepped up to power his penalty past Martin Dubravka, securing a vital point in the Toffees' hunt for Premier League survival.
The Magpies really should've secured all three points after dominating the game for large spells, but were let down with multiple players failing to take advantage of their rare starts in the Newcastle side.
One player in particular had a shocker, with the Newcastle star being very careless in possession, especially during the second half of the meeting.
Emil Krafth's stats against Everton
Defender Emil Krafth hadn't started a Premier League game for Howe's side since the 3-0 victory over Fulham back in December but was handed a rare start last night as a result of the club's horrendous injury crisis.
The Swedish international full-back played the full 90 minutes for the Magpies and had a decent game, but nothing to shout about with the 29-year-old doing an adequate job given the circumstances.
Emil Krafth for Newcastle.
He failed to win any tackles and was dribbled past once, but the Swede also won 50% of both his aerial and ground duels as he tried to prevent Dyche's side from getting on the scoresheet.
The defender also managed 27 passes at a completion rate of 73%, two of his passes creating an opportunity in the final third for the likes of Isak and Harvey Barnes.
Krafth received a rating of 7/10 from Chronicle Live journalist Lee Ryder, with the journalist claiming he played the game with 'little fuss' in his first league start in over three months.
However, receiving the same rating as Krafth, one Newcastle player had a night to forget, failing to take advantage of his rare start under Howe.
Jacob Murphy's stats against Everton
In what was his second start in as many games, winger Jacob Murphy endured a disappointing evening at St James' Park with the 29-year-old losing possession 23 times during his 90 minutes on the pitch.
He also attempted ten crosses during his outing, with only two reaching another player in black and white, with Murphy only achieving a 20% success rate.
The attacker missed one big chance in front of goal, with his miss costing Howe's side any opportunity of gaining a vital victory as they looked to close the gap on the European places despite their recent injury issues.
Murphy's stats against Everton
Statistics
Tally
Minutes played
90
Big chances missed
1
Crosses attempted
10
Possession lost
23
Dribbled past
1
Dribble success
50%
Stats via Sofascore
As previously mentioned, the 29-year-old somehow received a 7/10 rating for his performance against the Toffees, but his display was far from impressive, with his place in the starting eleven in danger.
Despite the club's injury worries, Howe should look to bench the winger ahead of the trip to face Fulham at the weekend, with Murphy looking a shadow of his former self that saw him score once and assist twice in the 4-0 victory over Crystal Palace in October.
Newcastle can repeat Bruno coup by signing £40m "Rolls Royce"
Newcastle United are showing interest in a French centre-back
Come the end of the season, it will be hard to argue against Gary O'Neil's nomination for Manager of the Year should it deservedly come his way. The former Bournemouth boss has taken Wolverhampton Wanderers from relegation contenders to the comforts of mid-table and he may not be done there, with one star's return set to provide his side with a major boost in the unlikely quest for European football.
Wolves injury news
Whilst the headlines have been focused on Newcastle United's mounting injury list, Wolves have quietly been enduring struggles of their own on that front, resulting in a poor run of form. O'Neil cut a frustrated figure after his side's loss against Aston Villa a couple of weeks ago, admitting that without injuries, the 2-0 defeat could have ended differently.
Ranking Wolves' best managers by win percentage
Where does Vitor Pereira rank among the best to work in the Wolves dugout?
By
Jack Salveson Holmes
Apr 15, 2024
O'Neil told the official Wolves website: “We were ahead on loads of things, more shots, more possession, higher xG away to Aston Villa with the attacking players we have missing, it makes a huge difference today.
.
“Let’s not do any disservice to the ones who played because they gave everything and had some good moments. But when you have Pedro Neto, Cunha, Bellegarde and Channy [Hwang] to some of those moments with the xG we had, I’m sure we’d have converted higher.”
Now, he is finally set to see some of his frustrations come to an end. As revealed by O'Neil via Liam Keen, Hwang Hee-chan is set to be back in the Wolves squad for today's game against Nottingham Forest. The striker will be hoping to pick up where he left off before his injury and instantly get back in the goals.
The South Korean missed the last five games for Wolves, in which they endured a run of just one win, three defeats and two draws to highlight just how important he is to O'Neil's side. His return comes at the worst time for Nottingham Forest, however, given their current fight for survival.
"Fantastic" Hwang the key for Wolves
Even if Hwang does not start from the off, the fact that Wolves have such a player to introduce from the bench hands them a major boost. With 11 goals to his name in 24 appearances for Wolves this season, there are not many outside of the Premier League's top six who have been as clinical as the forward has been in the current campaign.
Now, with seven games to go, he has the chance to take Wolves into the top-half and take his own goals tally ever closer to the very best players that English football has to offer. Having already outscored the likes of Diogo Jota, Julian Alvarez and Rasmus Hojlund so far this season, Hwang will look to make his mark once more against Forest.
The U.S. resume their rivalry against Mexico in October to wrap up their fall friendlies.
Article continues below
Article continues below
Article continues below
U.S. will travel to Mexico to face
Match wraps up fall friendlies schedule
Will Pochettino coach?
WHAT HAPPENED?
The U.S. men's national team will wrap up their fall friendlies with a matchup against their heated rivals Mexico in Guadalajara.
The match, scheduled for Oct. 15 at 10:30 pm ET, is the first friendly in Mexico against El Tri since Aug. 15, 2012. In that match, Michael Orozco's 80th-minute goal helped the Americans edge a gritty 1-0 affair.
The USMNT are riding a record seven-match unbeaten streak against Mexico heading into October's encounter.
Advertisement
Getty Images Sport
THE BIGGER PICTURE
It will be interesting to see if Mauricio Pochettino, the reported next manager of the USMNT, will be announced before the October friendly – a window that also sees them clash with Panama.
Mikey Varas is reportedly set to coach the team on an interim basis in September, regardless of whether Pochettino is announced before the games on September 7 and 10. Pochettino is reported to be in a contract dispute with Chelsea over unpaid wages. Until that is resolved, he can not accept a contract with the U.S.
DID YOU KNOW?
As of August 2024, Mexico leads the all-time series against the USMNT 36–23–17. Yet, their recent fortunes haven't been the same.
The last time Mexico beat the U.S. was in 2019, when they won 3-0 against the Americans at MetLife Stadium on Sept. 6.
ENJOYED THIS STORY?
Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting
WHAT NEXT FOR THE USMNT?
The U.S. has now locked in its fall friendlies schedule and will play Jesse Marsch's Canada on Sept. 7, New Zealand on Sept. 10, and Panama on Oct. 12 stateside before traveling to face Mexico on Oct. 15.
Inconsistency and a lack of reliability have disrupted Manchester United’s season completely, as the Red Devils now sit as low as seventh in the Premier League.
Erik ten Hag’s squad has lacked stability throughout, which is mainly due to a vicious injury crisis that seems never-ending.
The entire squad has been impacted by this, but it’s the defensive department that’s really been hit hard, with every defender bar Diogo Dalot suffering an injury this season.
Therefore, a new centre half is almost guaranteed to be brought in this summer by Sir Jim Ratcliffe, replacing Raphael Varane.
Manchester United’s centre-back search
According to a recent report from TEAMtalk, Man United have a 'serious interest' in signing Jean-Clair Todibo.
The defender’s entourage has been in frequent contact with the English club, and talks seem to be heading in the right direction, with sources describing everything as "positive and exciting".
Nice centre-back Jean-Claire Todibo.
Man Utd’s competition for Todibo’s signature has 'backed off', meaning that the Red Devils are in a strong position.
The other defender at the top of Ratcliffe’s shortlist is Jarrad Branthwaite of Everton, who would be a much more expensive option.
Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite
Nice are rumoured to have set a £40m price tag for Todibo, yet the English defender could cost two times more than that.
Therefore, the smart move for the Reds should be to forget about Branthwaite for the time being and put their efforts into signing the Ligue 1 star.
Solskjaer allowed Man Utd's dream Casemiro replacement to leave for £0
The former Man United wonderkid has starred in France this season.
By
Tom Lever
Apr 18, 2024
Why Todibo would be the perfect Varane replacement
Out of all the centre-halves at Man United, the injury-prone Varane has featured in the most Premier League games this season, 21.
When on the field, the World Cup winner performs brilliantly nine times out of ten, but he’s been unable to build any partnerships at the heart of the backline due to injuries.
Varane is currently the second-highest earner in the Man United squad, earning a wage per week of £340k, as per Capology, and given his lack of reliability, the United hierarchy will reportedly look to move him on in the summer.
The number 19’s potential exit will leave the door open for a new defender, which is where Todibo comes into the picture, who’s been impressive for Nice this campaign.
Todibo's 23/24 Ligue 1 Stats
Stats (per 90)
Todibo
League Percentile
Passes completed
77.60
Top 6%
Progressive passes
5.67
Top 15%
Progressive carries
1.10
Top 18%
Touches
96.56
Top 6%
Ball recoveries
7.53
Top 5%
Tackles
1.99
Top 30%
Via FBref
As you can see by the table above, Todibo is the definition of a “complete” defender, as dubbed by football scout Jacek Kulig, due to his athleticism, physicality, and technique.
Firstly, it’s instantly clear that Todibo is absolutely fantastic in possession, as he has the ability to progress the ball with ease, yet he also has the understanding of when to control the tie and slow play down, which is vital.
Furthermore, although the former Barcelona ace’s defensive statistics aren’t extremely high, he does play for a side that’s kept the most clean sheets in the division this season (15) – playing his part in 12 of those.
Todibo also uses his dynamic profile to stop attackers from progressing, as shown by his high balls recovered, which means that United would become much more secure when defending transitions, which they’ve struggled with the most this season.
The 24-year-old wouldn’t only be a brilliant replacement for Varane, but he would also be a huge upgrade, with the former Real Madrid player ranking in the bottom 73%, 68%, and 54% for tackles, touches, and passes completed this season in the league, as per FBref.
Therefore, signing a player for £40m who ticks every box needed and has so much quality seems like a no-brainer compared to the price of Branthwaite, especially considering United don’t employ a centre-back like him currently.
Mats Hummels has signed for AS Roma after leaving Borussia Dortmund at the end of last season.
Article continues below
Article continues below
Article continues below
Hummels moves to Serie A
Centre-back signs one-year deal
Won World Cup with Germany
WHAT HAPPENED?
Hummels has joined Daniele De Rossi's Roma on a one-year deal after leaving Dortmund in the summer. The 35-year-old was linked with a host of clubs, including Brighton, Bologna and Real Sociedad, but he has finally settled on Roma and will earn a yearly salary of €2 million, according to .
Advertisement
(C) Getty Images
THE BIGGER PICTURE
The World Cup-winning German defender replaces former Manchester United centre-back Chris Smalling in Roma's backline after the English star ended his stint in Italy to sign for Saudi Pro League club Al-Fayha on a two-year deal.
WHAT HAS BEEN SAID?
The official statement from the Serie A side read: "AS Roma is pleased to announce the signing of Mats Hummels. Born in 1988, the German is a central defender with enormous international experience. He has over 600 appearances in all competitions, national and international, 78 games with his own national team, as well as 16 titles won between club and national team, including the 2014 World Cup.
"During his career he wore the shirts of Borussia Dortmund (in two periods of time) and Bayern Munich. He chose the number 15 shirt, he is the seventh German footballer in the history of the Giallorossi. Welcome to Rome, Mats!"
ENJOYED THIS STORY?
Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting
Getty
WHAT NEXT FOR MATS HUMMELS?
The veteran defender could make his debut after the international break as De Rossi's side take on Genoa in a Serie A clash on September 15.
Al-Nassr are reportedly looking to sign Paris Saint-Germain defender Milan Skriniar this summer.
Article continues below
Article continues below
Article continues below
Skriniar not wanted at Ligue 1 champions
Al-Nassr close to agreeing terms with PSG
Deal will depend on player agreeing to move
Getty Images
WHAT HAPPENED?
PSG signed Skriniar from Inter last summer as part of Luis Enrique's overhaul of the club's defensive structure. However, the Slovakian defender has failed to impress the Spanish coach and has now been told that he is not in the club's plans for the future.
Advertisement
THE BIGGER PICTURE
reports that Al-Nassr are interested in signing Skriniar as they look to challenge Al-Hilal for the Saudi Pro League title after finishing second to their rivals last season. The Riyadh club opened talks with PSG over making the move before the end of the transfer window.
(C)Getty Images
DID YOU KNOW?
Fabrizio Romano also reported that PSG and Al-Nassr are very likely to find an agreement over the terms of the transfer. However, Skriniar has not been very keen to leave the club, and the move will now depend on the player reaching an agreement with the Saudi Pro League side.
ENJOYED THIS STORY?
Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting
WHAT NEXT FOR PSG?
If the Ligue 1 champions do manage to sell the Slovakian, they will then look to sign a new central defender which Luis Enrique has asked the club to do as they aim to defend their title.
With just five games left to play in 2023/24, Premier League title hopefuls Liverpool simply can't afford any more slip-ups if they are to end Jurgen Klopp's tenure on a high, with a trip to Goodison Park next on the agenda later today.
Taking on an Everton side who edged toward top-flight survival after beating relegation rivals Nottingham Forest at the weekend, the Reds will be hoping to keep their unbeaten run going in this fixture, having last tasted defeat against the Toffees back in February 2021.
Starting XI's last time Everton beat Liverpool – 20 Feb 2021
Liverpool 0-2 Everton (Richarlison, Sigurdsson)
Home
Away
GK – Alisson
GK – Jordan Pickford
RB – Trent Alexander-Arnold
RWB – Seamus Coleman
CB – Ozan Kabak
RCB – Mason Holgate
CB – Jordan Henderson
CB – Michael Keane
LB – Andy Robertson
LCB – Ben Godfrey
CM – Curtis Jones
LWB – Lucas Digne
CM – Gini Wijnaldum
CM – Abdoulaye Doucoure
CM – Thiago
CM – Tom Davies
RW – Mo Salah
CM – Andre Gomes
CF – Roberto Firmino
CF – James Rodriguez
LW – Sadio Mane
ST – Richarlison
Via BBC Sport
With Arsenal routing Chelsea to move three points clear at the summit on Tuesday night, Klopp's men need to ensure they deliver a timely response this evening, having got back to winning ways after seeing off Fulham on the road last time out.
Liverpool team news vs Everton
In a campaign that has largely been dominated by injuries, the Anfield outfit have received another notable setback following the news that Diogo Jota is facing a two-week stint on the sidelines, having only recently returned from a knee ligament tear.
While Klopp insisted that this latest injury issue for the former Wolverhampton Wanderers man is "pretty much nothing", it will keep the Portuguese star out for the trip to face Sean Dyche's side, while Conor Bradley also remains unavailable.
Liverpool striker Diogo Jota
The visitors do seemingly have a relatively clean bill of health other than that, with no other fresh injury blows, ensuring Klopp should have no excuses ahead of what is another pivotal battle in the title race.
In need of someone to make the breakthrough against a stubborn Everton backline – who have the fifth-best defensive record in the division – turning once again to Cody Gakpo could make all the difference.
Why Cody Gakpo needs to start against Everton
The former PSV Eindhoven man has started the last two games in all competitions, although it is fair to say that he hasn't always been a regular fixture in the lineup in 2023/24, having been restricted to just 13 league starts thus far,
The versatile asset – who can feature all across the frontline – does still boast 14 goals and five assists from his 49 appearances across all fronts this term, however, notably registering an assist last time out against the Cottagers.
Chalkboard
Football FanCast's Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.
That outing saw the towering Dutchman shine despite not getting on the scoresheet himself, registering two key passes and winning seven duels off the left flank, as well as successfully completing three of his four attempted dribbles.
With Jota out of action and the likes of Darwin Nunez and Mohamed Salah – who both started on the bench in west London – currently failing to fire, the onus may be on Gakpo to step up once again, with the 24-year-old also boasting previous in this fixture after scoring in the 2-0 win at Anfield last season.
Liverpool player Cody Gakpo
It was following that goal that the 2023 arrival was earmarked as the "new [Divock] Origi" by Men in Blazers, with the Netherlands international seeking to replicate the influence of a player who repeatedly came good in the big moments, the current Nottingham Forest man notably scoring six times against today's opponents.
In what will likely be a hard-fought contest with their Merseyside rivals, Liverpool will need to recapture the spirit of Origi to do so, with Gakpo also able to offer that hard-working presence in attack for such an occasion, as he ranks among the top 98% (or in the top 2%) among those in his position in Europe's top five leagues for tackles made per 90.
If that work ethic can be combined with an end product, the 6 foot 4 ace could become Klopp's new hero in the derby…
Jota replaced by “unstoppable” gem in predicted Liverpool lineup v Everton
The Reds must win at Goodison Park to keep their title dreams aflame.
Leeds United are back in action once again in the Championship as they travel to Loftus Road to take on Queens Park Rangers this evening.
The Whites can move four points clear of Ipswich Town, who are currently third, with a win against the London-based outfit, although their rivals would then have two games in hand to potentially overtake them.
Daniel Farke's side come into his match off the back of a dramatic 4-3 win over Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium last time out in the second tier, and then host Southampton at Elland Road in the final game of the regular season next weekend.
The German head coach may hope for a more comfortable evening against QPR, who are fighting to avoid relegation from the Championship, when they take to the field tonight.
Leeds United manager Daniel Farke watches a Championship game.
Farke could be without one of his starters from the win over Boro on Monday night, though, as Patrick Bamford is doubtful to be fit enough to feature at Loftus Road.
Leeds United's "major" fitness doubt
Yorkshire Evening Post journalist Graham Smyth described the former England international as a "major doubt" for the game, after the manager revealed that the forward has a big bruise on his knee.
Farke, who also stated that the striker is a "major doubt", now looks set to be without the ex-Middlesbrough marksman for this clash with QPR, unless he can make a surprise recovery to make himself available for selection this evening.
Bamford scored the first goal for Leeds against Boro, which was an equaliser after Isaiah Jones' opening strike, as he bundled Junior Firpo's cross into the back of the net.
Patrick Bamford
Vs Middlesbrough (22/04/24)
Minutes played
75
xG
0.91
Goals
1
Big chances missed
1
Duels won
3/9
Key passes
0
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, however, the 30-year-old attacker did not offer much outside of that goal, with a 33% duel success rate, zero key passes, and a 'big chance' missed after his finish.
His finishing has left a bit to be desired at times this season. He has scored eight goals from an xG (Expected Goals) of 11.11 in the Championship, which shows that Bamford has not made the most of the chances that his teammates have created for him.
The experienced striker had failed to score in six games prior to the win over Boro, and missed a whopping five 'big chances' in those six outings.
Patrick Bamford in action for Leeds United in the Championship.
This means that, including the last match at the Riverside, the Leeds ace has scored one goal and missed six 'big chances' in his last seven league appearances for the Yorkshire-based outfit.
Bamford has also lost 60% of his duels in the division throughout his 33 games this term, which shows that opposition defenders have found it too easy to get the better of him in physical contests at times.
He has also struggled to create for his teammates in the league. One assist and one 'big chance' created in 33 matches does not suggest that the forward is a regular source of creativity for the Whites.
These statistics show that, whilst losing him is still a blow, Bamford has not been a faultless performer. His potential absence tonight does, however, provide Farke with an opportunity to finally unleash Mateo Joseph.
Why Leeds should start Mateo Joseph
The 20-year-old starlet is yet to make his full Championship debut for the Whites, with his only appearances coming as a substitute so far, and the manager must now hand him an opportunity to shine to ease the major doubt over Bamford.
Whilst this may come across as a huge risk at this crucial stage of the season, the talented academy graduate has showcased his potential at first-team level and has the attributes required to make the step up.
Joseph was selected to start a big game in the FA Cup earlier this year as Leeds travelled away to face Premier League giants Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, and the Spain U21 international put on a show.
Mateo Joseph
Vs Chelsea (28/02/24)
Sofascore rating
8.0
Goals
2
Shots
3
Key passes
2
Pass accuracy
81%
Duels won
3/8
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, the 5 foot 11 whiz scored twice and created two chances for his teammates against top-flight opposition, which shows that he can handle pressure on the big stage and has the ability to find the back of the net against quality opponents.
Mateo Joseph
Joseph, who U23 scout Antonio Mango hailed as a "deadly" forward who is "dynamite" in the box, has made 18 appearances as a substitute in the Championship and scored once.
His cameos have not allowed him to showcase the best of his abilities and that is why Farke must now ease the blow of possibly losing Bamford tonight by unleashing the Spanish marksman from the start to lead the line.
Why Joel Piroe should not start
Joel Piroe would be the obvious, given his experience, option to replace the English forward from the start this evening, particularly given that he started against Blackburn Rovers recently.
However, the former Swansea star has been in poor form at the top end of the pitch throughout 2024 and should be left on the bench against QPR.
Piroe put in a poor display in his last start against Blackburn that earned him a lowly match-rating of 3/10 from LeedsLive reporter Beren Cross, which was a fair score based on his statistics from the game.
Joel Piroe
Vs Blackburn Rovers (13/04/2024)
Minutes played
90
Goals
0
Shots on target
0
Assists
0
Big chances created
0
Pass accuracy
68%
Duels won
3/7
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, the Dutch attacker did not offer anything in the final third for Leeds, with zero shots and zero 'big chances' created, and lost the majority of his duels.
In 22 appearances in all competitions this year, Piroe has scored two open-play goals, three if you include penalties, and provided his teammates with two assists.
These statistics show that the left-footed forward has not been a reliable contributor in the final third, as illustrated in his shocker against Blackburn, and that is why Farke must pick Joseph, instead, to replace Bamford against QPR.