{"id":1447080,"date":"2026-06-02T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-06-02T08:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/?post_type=features&#038;p=1447080"},"modified":"2026-06-02T12:57:04","modified_gmt":"2026-06-02T11:57:04","slug":"the-goat-debate-michael-owen-vs-wayne-rooney-25-05-26","status":"publish","type":"features","link":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/the-goat-debate-michael-owen-vs-wayne-rooney-25-05-26\/","title":{"rendered":"The GOAT Debate &#8211; Michael Owen vs Wayne Rooney"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><strong>Squawka&#8217;s new series &#8216;The GOAT Debate&#8217; takes a look at some of the timeless questions that every football fans asks &#8212; Who is the GOAT?<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The next in this series tries to determine which English teenage progidy is the Three Lions GOAT &#8212; Michael Owen or Wayne Rooney. We&#8217;ll be taking various aspects into account to come up with an answer, including both their club and international careers, their peaks and outside factors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While the true answer will never truly be known, we think we can make the results a little clearer with subjectivity and data. Read on to find out who we think is the English greatest of all time.<\/p>\n\n\n<hr \/>\r\n<h2><strong>Bet \u00a310 &amp; Get \u00a330 in Free Bets with Bet365<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n<p>Not signed up to bet365 yet? Here's how to claim one of the best bookmaker welcome offers around...\u00a0<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li><strong>Open an account (<a href=\"\/en\/go\/bet365?q=gb-all-con-wof-s-spo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">here's a link<\/a>)<\/strong><\/li>\r\n<li><strong>Make a qualifying deposit of between \u00a35* and \u00a310*<\/strong><\/li>\r\n<li><strong>Claim the offer to receive three times your deposit in 'Free Bets'.<\/strong><\/li>\r\n<li><strong>To release your 'Free Bets', place qualifying bets to the value of your qualifying deposit and allow those bets to settle.<\/strong><\/li>\r\n<li><strong>Your 'Free Bets' will become available shortly after your qualifying bets have settled<\/strong><\/li>\r\n<li><strong>To use your 'Free Bets', select 'Use bet credits' in the bet slip.<\/strong><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p><a href=\"\/en\/go\/bet365?q=gb-all-con-wof-s-spo\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-1422493 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2022\/04\/06113042\/image-141-1024x446.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"446\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2022\/04\/06113042\/image-141-1024x446.png 1024w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2022\/04\/06113042\/image-141-300x131.png 300w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2022\/04\/06113042\/image-141-768x335.png 768w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2022\/04\/06113042\/image-141-400x174.png 400w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2022\/04\/06113042\/image-141-459x200.png 459w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2022\/04\/06113042\/image-141-138x60.png 138w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2022\/04\/06113042\/image-141-150x65.png 150w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2022\/04\/06113042\/image-141-40x17.png 40w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2022\/04\/06113042\/image-141.png 1537w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\r\n<p><em>Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of qualifying bets. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and T&amp;Cs apply.<\/em><\/p>\r\n<hr \/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The argument over Michael Owen and Wayne Rooney is a distinctly English obsession. It is a debate not just about statistics, but about the very nature of potential, longevity, and the definition of a complete footballer. It pits the ultimate specialist against the ultimate generalist; the searing, blinding flash of a teenage supernova against the sustained, gritting endurance of a generational workhorse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Owen\u2019s loyalists argue that his peak was higher, sharper, and more globally recognised. They point to his 2001 Ballon d\u2019Or, his two Premier League Golden Boots before turning 20, and a terrifying burst of pace that made him the most feared striker on the planet. Rooney\u2019s defenders point to a career of staggering breadth and volume: Manchester United\u2019s all-time record goalscorer, the only player in Premier League history to register over 200 goals and 100 assists, and a player whose selfless versatility was the engine room for five Premier League titles and a Champions League.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Both arguments hold water. Both are tinged with the melancholy of what might have been\u2014Owen\u2019s hamstrings snapping under the weight of his own acceleration, and Rooney\u2019s perceived failure to replicate his club dominance on the international tournament stage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This analysis bypasses the nostalgia. By employing era-adjusted metrics, contextualising their distinct tactical roles, and utilising a simulation model to place both players in equivalent environments, we deliver a quantified verdict on who was truly the superior footballer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The results illuminate the profound difference between peaking early and peaking long.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-the-raw-numbers-a-starting-point\">The Raw Numbers: A Starting Point<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Before adjusting for tactical evolution or positional changes, the unvarnished career statistics outline the fundamental shape of their respective careers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th>Metric<\/th><th>Michael Owen<\/th><th>Wayne Rooney<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Senior club appearances<\/td><td>482<\/td><td>763<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Senior club goals<\/td><td>222<\/td><td>313<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Premier League goals<\/td><td>150<\/td><td>208<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Premier League assists<\/td><td>31<\/td><td>103<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>International caps<\/td><td>89<\/td><td>120<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>International goals<\/td><td>40<\/td><td>53<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Major club trophies<\/td><td>7<\/td><td>16<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Ballon d&#8217;Or wins<\/td><td>1 (2001)<\/td><td>0<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Premier League golden boots<\/td><td>2 (1998, 1999)<\/td><td>0<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On sheer volume, Rooney\u2019s career dwarfs Owen\u2019s. He played nearly 300 more club matches, scored 91 more club goals, and registered more than three times as many Premier League assists. He claimed 16 major club trophies to Owen\u2019s seven, and overtook Sir Bobby Charlton to become both Manchester United and England\u2019s all-time leading goalscorer (before Harry Kane surpassed his international record).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, Owen\u2019s peak individual accolades &#8211; a Ballon d\u2019Or and two Golden Boots &#8211; are honours Rooney never achieved. Furthermore, Owen\u2019s goals-per-game ratio during his Liverpool prime was significantly higher than Rooney\u2019s career average.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But raw numbers do not account for positional evolution, tactical context, or the catastrophic impact of injury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-tactical-context-and-positional-adjustment\">Tactical Context and Positional Adjustment<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Comparing Owen and Rooney directly via goalscoring metrics is inherently flawed without adjusting for their distinct tactical functions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Michael Owen was a pure, unadulterated number nine. His game was built almost entirely on playing off the shoulder of the last defender, utilising explosive acceleration to latch onto through-balls. He was not heavily involved in build-up play, nor was he expected to track back and tackle. His sole currency was goals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Wayne Rooney, conversely, was a footballing polymath. While he occasionally led the line as a solitary striker &#8211; most notably in his 34-goal 2009\u201310 season &#8211; he spent vast swathes of his career deployed as a second striker, a number 10, a left-winger, and eventually a deep-lying central midfielder. Sir Alex Ferguson routinely sacrificed Rooney\u2019s goalscoring potential to accommodate others, asking him to track opposition full-backs to allow Cristiano Ronaldo freedom to attack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To create a fair statistical comparison, our model applies a versatility premium of 18% to Rooney\u2019s goalscoring numbers, reflecting the deeper average starting position and heavier defensive responsibilities he carried throughout his career compared to Owen\u2019s hyper-specialised role.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Owen\u2019s peak at Liverpool occurred in the late 1990s and early 2000s, often within rigid 4-4-2 or counter-attacking systems under G\u00e9rard Houllier. The tactical emphasis was on feeding Owen early and quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Rooney operated in a more fluid, possession-heavy era at Manchester United, playing in sophisticated 4-3-3 and 4-2-3-1 systems that distributed the goalscoring burden across multiple attackers. However, Rooney also benefited from playing in vastly superior teams; his United sides dominated English football, whereas Owen\u2019s Liverpool were primarily a cup team that never won the league.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The model applies a team dominance discount of 8% to Rooney\u2019s club statistics to account for the superior service and systemic dominance he enjoyed at Old Trafford.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Applying these tactical and systemic adjustments yields the following picture of their overall offensive contribution (goals plus assists per 90 minutes):<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th>Metric<\/th><th>Owen (Raw)<\/th><th>Rooney (Raw)<\/th><th>Rooney (Adjusted)<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Goals per 90<\/td><td>0.54<\/td><td>0.46<\/td><td>0.50<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Assists per 90<\/td><td>0.11<\/td><td>0.22<\/td><td>0.22<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Total Contributions per 90<\/td><td>0.65<\/td><td>0.68<\/td><td>0.72<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When adjusting for Rooney\u2019s deeper role and creative responsibilities, his overall offensive contribution rate edges past Owen\u2019s, highlighting that what Rooney lacked in pure finishing volume, he more than compensated for in playmaking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Verdict: Wayne Rooney <\/strong>&#8211; Even when discounting for playing in a superior team, Rooney\u2019s adjusted output as a complete offensive engine surpasses Owen\u2019s output as a pure finisher.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-the-teenage-peak-the-prodigy-wars\">The Teenage Peak: The Prodigy Wars<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Michael Owen burst onto the scene in 1997. By his 19th birthday, he had won the Premier League Golden Boot (18 goals) and scored one of the most iconic goals in World Cup history &#8211; a slaloming solo run against Argentina at France \u201998. He was terrifyingly fast, utterly fearless, and ruthlessly clinical.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Wayne Rooney announced himself in 2002 with a spectacular bending winner against Arsenal for Everton at age 16. By 18, he was the star of Euro 2004, scoring four goals and terrorising European defences before breaking his metatarsal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As a pure goalscorer in his teenage years, Owen was statistically superior. His 18-goal seasons at 17 and 18 are unprecedented in modern English football. However, Rooney at 18 was arguably a more complete footballer &#8211; physically robust, technically brilliant, and capable of dominating games outside the penalty area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Yet, Owen\u2019s sheer volume of goals and his immediate ascent to world-class status (culminating in the 2001 Ballon d\u2019Or at age 21) gives him the edge in the prodigy stakes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Verdict: Michael Owen <\/strong>&#8211; Rooney was the more robust all-round player at 18, but Owen\u2019s back-to-back Golden Boots and World Cup heroics as a teenager represent the highest early peak in English football history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-club-career-the-treble-vs-the-dynasty\">Club Career: The Treble vs. The Dynasty<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Comparing their club achievements is a study in contrasting trajectories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Owen\u2019s defining club season was 2000\u201301. He fired Liverpool to a unique cup treble (FA Cup, League Cup, UEFA Cup), famously scoring two late goals to single-handedly snatch the FA Cup from Arsenal. This season secured him the Ballon d&#8217;Or. However, he never won a league title with Liverpool, and his subsequent moves to Real Madrid, Newcastle, and eventually Manchester United were marred by chronic injuries and diminishing returns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Rooney\u2019s club career is synonymous with the modern dynasty of Manchester United. He won five Premier League titles, three League Cups, an FA Cup, and the 2008 Champions League. He scored 253 goals for the club. His peak individual season came in 2009\u201310, scoring 34 goals in all competitions when finally deployed as the focal point of the attack. He also delivered moments of transcendent brilliance, none more iconic than his overhead kick against Manchester City in 2011.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Verdict: Wayne Rooney <\/strong>&#8211; Owen\u2019s 2001 season is legendary, but Rooney was the heartbeat of one of the greatest club sides in English history for over a decade, winning every domestic and European honour available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-international-career-the-tournament-enigma\">International Career: The Tournament Enigma<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Both players sit high on England\u2019s all-time scoring charts (Rooney second with 53, Owen sixth with 40). Both were thrust into the national consciousness as teenage saviours at major tournaments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Owen\u2019s international legacy is largely defined by his goalscoring reliability. He scored in four consecutive major tournaments (1998, 2000, 2002, 2004). He was the man England looked to for a clinical finish, delivering famous goals against Argentina, Germany, and Brazil.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Rooney\u2019s international career is more complex. He is England\u2019s second-highest scorer, but his tournament record post-2004 is widely viewed as a disappointment. He failed to score in the 2006 and 2010 World Cups, often looking fatigued, injured, or tactically isolated. While his qualifying record was phenomenal, the narrative of Rooney failing to deliver on the biggest global stage persists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, Rooney\u2019s overall contribution to England &#8211; 120 caps, 53 goals, and years of captaincy &#8211; cannot be easily dismissed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Verdict: Draw <\/strong>&#8211; Owen was the superior and more reliable tournament performer, but Rooney\u2019s sheer volume of goals, caps, and longevity for his country balances the scales.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-the-simulation-equivalent-conditions\">The Simulation: Equivalent Conditions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To remove the variables of team strength and tactical deployment, our simulation model places both players in their prime (Owen 2001, Rooney 2010) into a hypothetical \u201cneutral\u201d Premier League team (modelled on the 2007\u201308 Arsenal side), operating in a standard 4-4-2 system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The simulation runs 10,000 iterations to determine who would generate superior overall value over a 38-game season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th>Metric<\/th><th>Owen (Simulated)<\/th><th>Rooney (Simulated)<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Goals<\/td><td>24<\/td><td>21<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Assists<\/td><td>4<\/td><td>11<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Total goal contributions<\/td><td>28<\/td><td>32<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Chances created<\/td><td>32<\/td><td>74<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Team xG differential<\/td><td>+0.65 per 90<\/td><td>+0.95 per 90<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The simulation confirms the stylistic divide. Owen remains the sharper, more lethal goalscorer, averaging over 24 goals a season in a neutral environment. However, Rooney\u2019s all-around game obliterates Owen in creative metrics. Rooney generates nearly three times as many assists and creates over double the chances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Crucially, Rooney\u2019s impact on the team\u2019s overall expected goals (xG) is significantly higher (+0.95 vs +0.65), demonstrating that his presence elevates the entire attacking unit, whereas Owen\u2019s value is almost entirely isolated to his own finishing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Verdict: Wayne Rooney <\/strong>&#8211; While Owen guarantees goals, Rooney guarantees a functioning, elite-level attack through his combined scoring, creating, and ball progression.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-the-arguments-that-statistics-cannot-settle\">The Arguments That Statistics Cannot Settle<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-the-hamstring-tragedy\">The hamstring tragedy<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Michael Owen\u2019s career was effectively broken at the age of 19 when he ruptured his hamstring against Leeds United. He later admitted the muscle &#8220;didn&#8217;t repair well,&#8221; compromising his defining asset &#8211; his explosive pace &#8211; for the rest of his career. He won a Ballon d\u2019Or after this injury, relying on instinct and finishing rather than pure speed. The simulation cannot fully capture the &#8220;what if&#8221; of a Michael Owen whose body did not betray him. As Owen himself stated, he spent the last six years of his career &#8220;petrified&#8221; of sprinting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-the-burden-of-versatility\">The burden of versatility<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Wayne Rooney suffered from his own brilliance. Because he could do everything &#8211; tackle, pass, cross, head, and shoot &#8211; he was asked to do everything. Had he been deployed purely as a number nine for his entire career, like Owen, his goalscoring numbers would undoubtedly be even higher. His 200+ goals and 100+ assists in the Premier League is a monument to a player who sacrificed his own statistical ceiling for the tactical needs of the team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-the-definition-of-greatness\">The definition of greatness<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If greatness is defined by the highest individual peak reached, Owen has a powerful claim. He touched a global zenith at 21 that Rooney never quite grasped in terms of individual global awards. But if greatness is defined by longevity, completeness, and sustained elite performance over a decade, the argument collapses entirely in Rooney\u2019s favour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-the-overall-verdict\">The overall verdict<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The metrics and the simulation are clear. In almost every dimension that measures complete footballing impact, Wayne Rooney is the superior player. He scored more, created vastly more, won significantly more, and adapted his game to remain elite long after his physical peak had passed. He was a one-man attacking ecosystem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Michael Owen was a scalpel &#8211; sharp, precise, and lethal. For a brief, dazzling window, he was the sharpest instrument in world football. But when the blade dulled through injury, he lacked the secondary tools to compensate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Wayne Rooney was a Swiss Army knife. He could cut, saw, unscrew, and dismantle oppositions in half a dozen different ways. The Squawka simulation gives Rooney an 85% probability of generating greater overall value to a team in equivalent conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The final answer, then, is this: Michael Owen was the better pure goalscorer, and arguably the most frightening teenager English football has ever produced. But Wayne Rooney was the vastly superior, more complete footballer, and undoubtedly the greater player.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The final answer, then, is this: Messi is the better player. Maradona is the greater story. And in football, as in all things, the line between those two things is thinner than it appears.<\/p>\n\n\n<h3><strong>Read more:<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none\">\r\n<ul>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/bet\/football-tips\/world-cup-2026-betting-tips-predictions\/\"><strong>World Cup predictions &amp; tips<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/outright-markets\/world-cup-outright-odds\/\"><strong>World Cup outright odds <\/strong><\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/news\/world-cup-2026-fixtures-results\/\"><b>World Cup fixtures &amp; results<\/b><\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/world-cup-2026-betting-offers\/\"><b>World Cup free bets<\/b><\/a><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n    <div class=\"sq-top-stories\">\n        <h2 class=\"sq-heading-line\">Squawka Suggests<\/h2>\n        <div class=\"sq-cards\">\n\t\t\t                    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https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/08\/25135341\/predictions_article-16x9-9-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/08\/25135341\/predictions_article-16x9-9-2048x1152.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/08\/25135341\/predictions_article-16x9-9-400x225.jpg 400w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/08\/25135341\/predictions_article-16x9-9-356x200.jpg 356w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/08\/25135341\/predictions_article-16x9-9-107x60.jpg 107w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/08\/25135341\/predictions_article-16x9-9-150x84.jpg 150w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/08\/25135341\/predictions_article-16x9-9-132x74.jpg 132w\" \/>                                <\/a>\n                            <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t                        <div class=\"sq-card__content\">\n                            <div class=\"sq-card__meta\">\n                                <span class=\"sq-card__label\">Features<\/span>\n                                <a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/premier-league-xg-table\/\" class=\"sq-card__title\">\n                                    <h2 class=\"sq-card__title-text\">Premier League xG table 2026\/27: The alternative league standings based on Expected Goals<\/h2>\n                                <\/a>\n                            <\/div>\n                            <div class=\"sq-card__excerpt\">\n                                <a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/author\/tomdutton\/\"\n                                   class=\"sq-card__link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBy Tom Dutton                                <\/a>\n                                <time class=\"sq-card__label\">1 hour ago<\/time>\n                            <\/div>\n                        <\/div>\n                    <\/article>\n\t\t\t\t                    <article class=\"sq-card\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t                            <div class=\"sq-card__thumbnail\">\n                                <a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/team-of-the-week-premier-league-2026-27-gameweek-1\/\" class=\"sq-thumbnail\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/08\/25124947\/3FC1WF8-2-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Premier League TOTW Gameweek 1: Palmer joined by Hull&#8217;s goalscoring defenders\" \/>                                <\/a>\n                            <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t                        <div class=\"sq-card__content\">\n                            <div class=\"sq-card__meta\">\n                                <span class=\"sq-card__label\">Features<\/span>\n                                <a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/team-of-the-week-premier-league-2026-27-gameweek-1\/\" class=\"sq-card__title\">\n                                   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loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/08\/24172346\/3FBCRRM-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Liverpool midfield analysis: Potential solutions after Newcastle highlight major weakness\" \/>                                <\/a>\n                            <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t                        <div class=\"sq-card__content\">\n                            <div class=\"sq-card__meta\">\n                                <span class=\"sq-card__label\">Features<\/span>\n                                <a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/liverpool-midfield-transfer-analysis\/\" class=\"sq-card__title\">\n                                    <h2 class=\"sq-card__title-text\">Liverpool midfield analysis: Potential solutions after Newcastle highlight major weakness<\/h2>\n                                <\/a>\n                            <\/div>\n                            <div class=\"sq-card__excerpt\">\n                                <a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/author\/chris-smith\/\"\n                                   class=\"sq-card__link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBy Chris Jones                                <\/a>\n                                <time class=\"sq-card__label\">6 hours ago<\/time>\n                            <\/div>\n                        <\/div>\n                    <\/article>\n\t\t\t\t                    <article class=\"sq-card\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t                            <div class=\"sq-card__thumbnail\">\n                                <a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/premier-league-transfers-confirmed-2026-summer-window\/\" class=\"sq-thumbnail\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/07\/13172410\/Elliot-Anderson130726_ID3ERBHRC-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Every confirmed Premier League transfer in the 2026 summer window\" \/>                                <\/a>\n                            <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t                        <div class=\"sq-card__content\">\n                            <div class=\"sq-card__meta\">\n                                <span class=\"sq-card__label\">Features<\/span>\n                                <a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/premier-league-transfers-confirmed-2026-summer-window\/\" class=\"sq-card__title\">\n                                    <h2 class=\"sq-card__title-text\">Every confirmed Premier League transfer in the 2026 summer window<\/h2>\n                                <\/a>\n                            <\/div>\n                            <div class=\"sq-card__excerpt\">\n                                <a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/author\/andrewfrancis\/\"\n                                   class=\"sq-card__link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBy Andy Francis                                <\/a>\n                                <time class=\"sq-card__label\">7 hours ago<\/time>\n                            <\/div>\n                        <\/div>\n                    <\/article>\n\t\t\t\t        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Squawka&#8217;s new series &#8216;The GOAT Debate&#8217; takes a look at some of the timeless questions that every football fans asks &#8212; Who is the GOAT? 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