Author: Frank G. Barnes

Purveyor of footy since the 90s. Favor the Premier League and old school Serie A with a touch of Bundesliga. More than a touch. Professional writer for 20 years, covering every sport but now focused on the Premier League and world football. You won't be able to guess my favorite team.
Liverpool fans will be pleased with Lewis Koumas’s approach to getting minutes
12Oct By Frank G. BarnesNo Comments
Analysis

Liverpool fans will be pleased with Lewis Koumas’s approach to getting minutes

Liverpool were forced to start young prospect Lewis Koumas, and while he could not decide the game in Alexander Isak's stead as the Reds were badly beaten 3-0 by Manchester City, he impressed with his work rate and running. Koumas told reporters that he intends on making the most of his opportunities, “I think any time you're on the pitch for Liverpool, you can't take it for granted because with the quality around you, you don't know whether it's going to be your last. So, to leave everything out there every game and try to affect it as much as I can is the plan. My hunger comes from representing Liverpool Football Club, wanting to give everything for the best club in the world. A lot of it is about what I do off the ball. The gaffer has shown trust to me that I can carry out his plans ...
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Morgan Rogers is answering the big doubts for Jordan Henderson
11Oct By Frank G. BarnesNo Comments
Analysis

Morgan Rogers is answering the big doubts for Jordan Henderson

Jordan Henderson raised a lot of eyebrows when Chelsea signed him, and many wondered why the Blues were after a "past it" Liverpool icon, but with his two goals and an assist against Bournemouth, he blew a lot of minds by totally bossing the pitch with incredible end product. Another new Chelsea signing who was a lot more expensive with much more hype has been a king of end product in Morgan Rogers, and the attacking midfielder waxed poetic about "Hendo" after the 5-1 win. Rogers told reporters, via Peter Rutzler of The Times, "People said he was too old and you saw (vs Bournemouth) what he does. Everyone in the dressing room knows what he can do. He's probably still the fittest player at the club to be honest. He's a machine. People forget about his football because they just think ...
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Bradley Barcola quietly showed an important positive for Liverpool vs. Man City
11Oct By Frank G. BarnesNo Comments
Analysis

Bradley Barcola quietly showed an important positive for Liverpool vs. Man City

New Liverpool attacking signing Bradley Barcola didn't affect the game much offensively and has been pretty quiet since his 120+ million pound move to Anfield this summer, but he did defend at a high level against Manchester City. The former PSG star won five duels in the first half alone at Anfield and three tackles to lead all players in the opening 45 minutes, and while he didn't have any more tackles in the second half, that is still an impressive defensive output. Barcola works hard for his teams, and that's why he is a back to back Champions League winner with PSG. Liverpool will care more about what he does offensively and will want to see that, but in his system, Andoni Iraola will be very pleased at Barcola's defensive work rate. Because if you are not scoring, assisting,...
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Jamie Carragher used Victor Munoz and Lewis Koumas to tear Florian Wirtz up again
11Oct By Frank G. BarnesNo Comments
Analysis

Jamie Carragher used Victor Munoz and Lewis Koumas to tear Florian Wirtz up again

Jamie Carragher already struck the first blow on Florian Wirtz early in the season, stating that this might just be the Liverpool attacking midfielder's true level. And after a disaster class in a 3-0 loss to Manchester City, the former Reds center back tore up the German international again. Speaking on Sky Sports, the iconic pundit said of Wirtz and Bradley Barcola, "Koumas and Munoz were better than the two 100 million pound players!" Barcola is at least new here and still adjusting, but Wirtz cost Liverpool 100 million pounds last year and has been around. And he is still a huge liability for the Reds, creating very little and almost never scoring or assisting. Meanwhile, Munoz and Koumas made fewer negative plays, lost the ball less, and didn't slow down attacks. Wirtz is des...
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Jurrien Timber gave Arsenal fans another reason to fall in love with Bruno Guimaraes
11Oct By Frank G. BarnesNo Comments
Analysis

Jurrien Timber gave Arsenal fans another reason to fall in love with Bruno Guimaraes

Arsenal spent 75 million pounds on Bruno Guimaraes from Newcastle United this summer transfer window, and now that he is getting back to full fitness, the Gunners are hyped for what he can do at the base of the midfield with Declan Rice. Guimaraes changed the game for Arsenal in the second half of their 2-1 win over Leeds United, scoring the winner in the 70th minute, and the club's young star right back Jurrien Timber was full of praise for the veteran Brazilian international: "The way Bruno entered was amazing. He changed the crowd's enthusiasm and the entire atmosphere of the stadium. I'm just describing him as an amazing player. Everyone can see his quality, and he proved it again today. Not only with his personality, but also by scoring goals. He's amazing. Bruno G. was first k...
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Paul Merson spit the take Chelsea fans have been screaming for a long time
11Oct By Frank G. BarnesNo Comments
Analysis

Paul Merson spit the take Chelsea fans have been screaming for a long time

Chelsea star defensive midfielder Moises Caicedo was finally back in the starting lineup after several weeks out with a calf injury, and he was monstrous next to new signing Jordan Henderson as the Blues blew out the Cherries 5-1. Everyone around Chelsea has been praising Caicedo highly, and now pundit Paul Merson, a former Arsenal star, has joined in by effusively praising the Ecuadorian defensive midfielder on Sky Sports: "When you’ve got Henderson and Caicedo in there, they can just sit, and you just let the other three just get on with it. They shouldn’t let in too many goals, they shouldn’t be that open, because you’ve got them two that can hold in midfield and then you’ve got three that are as good as anything. Henderson’s got the experience and Caicedo, for me, is the best hol...
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Levi Colwill admitted the issue every Chelsea fan can see
11Oct By Frank G. BarnesNo Comments
Analysis

Levi Colwill admitted the issue every Chelsea fan can see

Chelsea have transitioned to a new formation with a back three under Xabi Alonso, and while Levi Colwill used to play in that formation, everyone can see that he is still adjusting to making his full impact defensively. Colwill told reporters after Chelsea's key win over Bournemouth, "I haven't played on the left of a three for maybe two years, and it's a lot different. So I'm still adjusting. I've still got to learn so much about the role and try to improve in the position..." While Colwill has looked good in one on ones, he isn't making enough plays defensively with fewer than a tackle and an interception per game for the Blues in a handful of starts as the left sided center back. Chelsea and Colwill are all adjusting to the new coach and new responsibilities, but as Colwill say...
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Florian Wirtz is still hurting Liverpool with the same fatal flaw
11Oct By Frank G. BarnesNo Comments
Analysis

Florian Wirtz is still hurting Liverpool with the same fatal flaw

Liverpool's 100 million pound attacking midfield signing Florian Wirtz has drawn the ire of fans around the league, including pundit Jamie Carragher, for his continued struggles, and he has been one of the worst players in the Premier League at maintaining possession. Well, Wirtz had another rough outing for the Reds this weekend in a 3-0 blowout loss to former title rivals Manchester City at Anfield, and, as WhoScored points out, he was the least secure player on the pitch with 16 possessions lost in the first half - double anyone else in the game. Wirtz only created two chances and won three fouls, winning zero dribbles and failing to do anything decisive as Liverpool were shut out in yet another important game. While losing the ball isn't the worst thing in the world for a play...
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David O’Leary hammered home the uncomfortable truth about Bukayo Saka
11Oct By Frank G. BarnesNo Comments
Analysis

David O’Leary hammered home the uncomfortable truth about Bukayo Saka

Arsenal superstar Bukayo Saka is still one of the best wingers in the Premier League, but when it comes to being a Ballon d'Or candidate, the England international has yet to reach that potential or become a true superstar. Former Arsenal legendary center back David O'Leary is the latest to drive that point home, and he made the claim to the media after Arsenal scrounged out another tough win, 2-1, over Leeds United. O'Leary said, “I'd love to give you an honest answer on that, the guy hasn't changed, we haven't got the arrogant side. He's not the player that he was, without a doubt. He's still a top player, but is he the player that got this fantastic new contract at Arsenal to make him one of the top-paid players in the country? I don't think so at the moment. I don't know what's h...
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Gary Neville told the brutal truth about Youri Tielemans at Manchester United
11Oct By Frank G. BarnesNo Comments
Analysis

Gary Neville told the brutal truth about Youri Tielemans at Manchester United

Youri Tielemans was one of the best midfielders in the Premier League for years at Aston Villa and Leicester City, but club legend Gary Neville is not impressed with the way he and Kobbie Mainoo fit together as the pairing at the base of the Manchester United midfield. Neville said of the duo after United's 1-1 draw with Tottenham,"Tielemans and Mainoo, I think we've seen enough now. I don't want to draw a definitive line, as that would probably be too radical, but I've seen enough to think that this midfield [the two of them together] isn't dynamic enough for the Premier League. Both are good players individually, but sometimes it just doesn't work together." Mainoo is having a career start to the 2026/27 season under Michael Carrick and is one of the leaders in passin...
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