Author: Joe Soriano

Joe Soriano is the editor of The Trivela Effect and a FanSided Hall of Famer who has covered world football since 2010. He’s led top digital communities like The Real Champs (Real Madrid) and has run sites covering Tottenham, Liverpool, Juventus, and Schalke. He also helped manage NFL Spin Zone and Daily DDT, covering the NFL and pro wrestling.

This is the new normal for Mohamed Salah
Analysis

This is the new normal for Mohamed Salah

Liverpool had their way with West Ham United as an attack on Saturday afternoon, destroying the East Londoners 5-2 in yet another key victory for the Reds in the Premier League. But Mohamed Salah was conspicuously absent from the proceedings. In fact, it was the record, for him personally, 10th Premier League game in a row that the Egyptian legend has failed to score a goal. He also failed to assist in this matchup with the Hammers, registering no dribbles completed, fouls drawn, or key passes while directly losing the ball four times. It was a rare disasterclass from a superstar player in which his team scored five goals. Now, we have already seen that, somehow, Liverpool are a stronger team with Salah involved than when he sits on the bench, but, at the same time, you can see why A...
Barcelona have another obvious Marcus Rashford decision to make
Analysis

Barcelona have another obvious Marcus Rashford decision to make

As Barcelona close in on the permanent transfer of Marcus Rashford from Manchester United for 30 million euros with just a few loose ends left to tie up, the Blaugrana may need to consider an even bolder but just as obvious decision: the decision to start the England international. No, not on the left wing. Raphinha is a must start in any universe for Barcelona and right there with Pedri and Lamine Yamal as one of the biggest superstars on this team. At striker. Rashford needs to start at striker. Although he is a better left winger than a striker in terms of his playing style and skill set, Rashford at striker, despite being suboptimal, is still a much better solution than Ferran Torres at the No. 9. Once again, Barcelona eviscerated an opponent in La Liga, defeating Villarreal 4...
2026 Ballon d’Or Power Rankings after Lamine Yamal’s hat trick
Rankings

2026 Ballon d’Or Power Rankings after Lamine Yamal’s hat trick

Lamine Yamal had a performance for the ages on Saturday afternoon, as Barcelona shredded Villarreal 4-1 behind the first hat trick of the 18 year old right winger's career, dominating the third best team in Spanish football in the process. Here are the latest updated 2026 Ballon d'Or Power Rankings after Yamal's fleet footed, clinical goal fest against the Yellow Submarine. 5. Real Madrid CF Kylian Mbappe Real Madrid superstar Kylian Mbappe is currently out with a left knee injury that has been slowing him down for several weeks, and after aggravating the injury further, Real have shut the Frenchman down. But he is still having an incredible season as the star man for Madrid, scoring 23 goals with 2.7 dribbles completed and 2.3 key passes per game, ranking him second behind only Ya...
Cody Gakpo gets too much hate, but he’s still a goner
Analysis

Cody Gakpo gets too much hate, but he’s still a goner

Liverpool are finally starting to wake up and just had a dominant offensive performance against relegation candidates West Ham United, winning 5-2. And despite all the criticism levied at him this season, Dutch left winger Cody Gakpo played a crucial role in the win. Gakpo scored his sixth goal of the season as part of the Liverpool romping of their hapless East London counterparts, giving the forward a two goal cushion ahead of right winger Mohamed Salah in the season goal charts. And beyond the goals, Gakpo, as usual, had a nifty creative role with a trio of key passes, standing out as one of the several Liverpool players who had their way with a West Ham defense filled with gaps. Chance creation has never been the issue for Gakpo, and against weaker opponents like West Ham that...
Mohamed Salah quietly sets concerning personal worst record
News

Mohamed Salah quietly sets concerning personal worst record

Liverpool legend Mohamed Salah worked his way back into Arne Slot's starting lineup after a brief exit, but he continues to concern Kopites with a poor record in front of goal, now failing to score in 10 straight games. As relayed by Centre Goals, despite Liverpool dominating relegation candidates West Ham United 5-2 this weekend with three goal contributions from Hugo Ekitike, Salah failed to get involved in the party on the right wing, now making it a personal record 10 straight games without a goal in a Premier League game for the Egyptian icon. It is a career worst for Salah, who is one of the greatest players in Premier League history but has not looked like it this season. Salah's dribbling ability and speed have noticeably taken a huge hit, as Father Time has very much caught ...
Real Madrid get one more bit of bad news on the Kylian Mbappe injury front
Injury News

Real Madrid get one more bit of bad news on the Kylian Mbappe injury front

Kylian Mbappe suddenly had to miss the second leg of the Champions League playoff round against Benfica with his left knee acting up, and it looks like he will miss the next Champions League match against Manchester City, too. Once again, Real Madrid will face Man City in the Champions League knockout stages, and while there was optimism at first that the French superstar would be able to feature in the first leg, it looks like that will be too soon of a comeback. According to a report from Spanish outlet Carrusel Deportivo, Mbappe will have to miss three more weeks with this latest left knee tweak, taking him out of the first leg vs. Pep Guardiola's men. Mbappe was already ruled out for Monday night's tough game against rivals Getafe, which was obvious, and he will also miss the ...
Manchester City get positive Erling Haaland injury news after late scratch vs. Leeds
Injury News

Manchester City get positive Erling Haaland injury news after late scratch vs. Leeds

Manchester City superstar striker Erling Haaland suffered an injury in training just before the Saturday Premier League fixture against Leeds United, but he is not expected to miss the next game against Nottingham Forest. A shoo-in for the Premier League Player of the Season award and the obvious top Golden Boot candidate, Haaland is the only out and out striker for Man City, and any time he is missing for them, it is a huge blow. The good news is that although he is missing the Leeds game, the injury is minor and will not take him out of the Forest game, as Jan Aage Fjortoft reports that he is expected to play against Forest on Wednesday night in the Premier League. If Haaland cannot play, Man City's best bet to cover the striker position is to use a twin headed forward duo, much...
Dortmund want to bring Inter Milan star back to relevancy as Nico Schlotterbeck replacement
Transfer News

Dortmund want to bring Inter Milan star back to relevancy as Nico Schlotterbeck replacement

Nico Schlotterbeck has been central to Borussia Dortmund's success this season but is fully expected to leave for a bigger club, so BVB are monitoring center back options with Inter Milan owned defender Benjamin Pavard on their transfer radar. Per a report from German outlet Sport Bild, Dortmund are eyeing Pavard as a summer 2026 transfer. Although he is on loan at Marseille this season, it is highly unlikely for OM to sign him permanently from the Nerazzurri, and he clearly has no future in Milano. Pavard was a star in the Bundesliga before moving to Serie A in the fabled Inter back three, which is his best fit as a player in that wide center back role. He was a phenom for Stuttgart, shining brightly with his technical quality on the ball, and then he was a key part of Bayern Munich...
Max Allegri addresses rumors on his AC Milan future
News

Max Allegri addresses rumors on his AC Milan future

Former Juventus manager and serial Scudetto winner Max Allegri has pulled AC Milan up to second place in Serie A, and despite rumors about a potential parting of ways with the club, Allegri is stating publicly that there is no discontent behind the scenes. Ahead of Milan's next game against relegation candidates Cremonese, Allegri said, via Fabrizio Romano, “There’s total harmony with AC Milan. We are on the same page, working together. The club is planning for AC Milan future. I am happy to be here”. It would be insanity for Milan to part ways with Allegri, but the rumors come more from the idea of there being disagreements on future planning between Allegri and the club's leadership, which has been notorious for skimping on quality in the recent past. But it looks like it is all...
Manchester United want to sign one of the Premier League’s biggest breakout CBs
Transfer News

Manchester United want to sign one of the Premier League’s biggest breakout CBs

Manchester United have been hampered by injuries to Matthijs de Ligt and Lisandro Martínez at the center back position, and they are interested in beefing up their quality at the position, preparing to show an interest in Newcastle United star Malick Thiaw, per Sport Bild reporter Christian Falk. Thiaw was discarded by AC Milan despite being one of the best young defenders in Italy, tabbed by Paolo Maldini for greatness before the incomparable Maldini himself was canned by the miscreants at RedBird Capital. Well, Thiaw has been a revelation for Newcastle this season, balling out alongside Magpies veteran Fabian Schar, throwing himself at challenges and showing a high degree of technical quality and athleticism both on the ball and in defense, fulfilling the potential both Schalke and...