Fede Valverde Is an Exceptional Right-Back
Yes, we knew this already — but against Valencia, Fede Valverde once again showed his best version from right-back. I’m as excited as anyone to see what Trent
Alexander-Arnold can bring to Real Madrid, but Valverde at right-back still feels like the perfect role to maximize his attributes.
He can burst into open space with those surging carries, switch play effortlessly to Vinícius, pick up loose balls on the edge of the box and unleash shots, and play progressive passes from deep. Defensively, his recovery speed, tenacity, and ball-winning instincts remain vital. Valverde is a full-field player — and right-back lets him be all of that.
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Jude Bellingham Scores Goals in Bunches
Jude Bellingham is the definition of a “ketchup-bottle” goal scorer — once one comes out, more follow quickly. When he finds the net, he tends to score in bursts across several games. Can he keep the run going at Anfield, the club that desperately wanted his signature back in 2023?
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Xabi Loves Mastantuono
Xabi Alonso understands that an 18-year-old fresh off the plane from Argentina isn’t going to light the world on fire immediately — and he doesn’t expect him to. Alonso is patient enough to invest in the adaptation period, accepting short-term struggle for long-term gain.
What Mastantuono provides right now is defensive value. His pressing angles are sharp, his reaction time in transition is exceptional, and alongside Arda Güler, he’s one of the best pressers in the team. Those defensive traits give Alonso the comfort to let him grow offensively.
Unfortunately, Mastantuono has been diagnosed with pubalgia after the match. Reports suggest he played through discomfort, and his subdued performance reflected it. Now is the time to protect him and manage an injury that often lingers if not handled carefully.
