Advertisement

Premier League matchday 24: What the stats say

football12 February 2021 09:46
By:|
Share
article image

Leicester City v Liverpool
13 February, 2021

Leicester have lost their last three home Premier League games against Liverpool, their worst ever losing run in the league against the Reds.

Liverpool have won 12 of their last 17 Premier League matches against Leicester (D3 L2), winning six of their last seven against the Foxes.

Leicester haven’t lost four consecutive home top-flight matches against an opponent since a run of five defeats between 1999 and 2003 against Manchester United.

Leicester have lost 16 of their last 20 Premier League games against reigning champions (W2 D2), keeping just one clean sheet in that run. However, they have won two of their last four such games at home (L2), beating Chelsea in 2015-16 and Man City in 2018-19.

Liverpool are looking to win three consecutive away Premier League matches for the first time since winning eight in a row between November 2019 and February 2020.

Leicester have lost five home Premier League games this season, one more than they lost last season (4). Manager Brendan Rodgers has never lost six home league matches in a single season, also losing five in 2009-10 with Reading in the Championship.

Liverpool have lost consecutive league games for the first time under Jürgen Klopp – they’ve not lost three in a row in the Premier League since November 2014 when managed by Brendan Rodgers.

Managers who’ve previously managed Liverpool have lost their last 12 Premier League matches against the Reds by an aggregate score of 39-8. The last former Reds boss to win against them in the Premier League was Roy Hodgson in April 2012 with West Brom.

Leicester’s James Maddison has been involved in six goals in his last six Premier League home games (4 goals, 2 assists), as many as in his previous 31 at the King Power Stadium (3 goals, 3 assists).

Liverpool have failed to win five of their last 10 Premier League games in which Mohamed Salah has scored for them (W5 D3 L2). Before this, they had won 35 consecutive league games in which the Egyptian found the net, and only lost one of the previous 58 such matches.

Crystal Palace v Burnley
13 February, 2021

Since a 0-0 draw in their first Premier League meeting in September 2014, both Crystal Palace and Burnley have won five games each of 10 top-flight meetings.

Burnley are looking to win consecutive away league matches against Crystal Palace for the first time since December 2001 under Stan Ternent.

Since a 3-0 win at West Ham in March 2018, Burnley have lost 11 of their 15 Premier League games in London (W3 D1), conceding 34 goals in the process. However, 33 per cent of their Premier League wins in the capital have come against Crystal Palace (2/6).

Crystal Palace have won two of their last three Premier League home games (L1),as many as they had in their previous 12 at Selhurst Park (D4 L6). The Eagles have kept two clean sheets in this run, more than they had in their previous 12 (1).

Burnley have scored fewer away Premier League goals than any other side this season (5) – the Clarets have netted just two goals in their last nine games on the road, but those goals have come in 1-0 victories at both Arsenal and Liverpool.

Crystal Palace have an expected goals total (xG) of 21.2 in the Premier League this season, the third-lowest in the competition so far. However, the Eagles have scored 27 goals, six more than would be expected based on their quality of chances. Only four clubs are outperforming their xG by more in the Premier League this term.

Burnley had 20 shots against Brighton last time out, more than they’d managed in their four previous Premier League games combined (19). The Clarets also had seven attempts on target in that match, having failed to register a single one in their previous two matches.

Burnley are averaging just 8.9 shots and 2.9 shots on target per game in the Premier League this season, their lowest averages in any of their seven campaigns in the competition.

Crystal Palace (29y 203d) and Burnley (28y 271d) have the oldest average starting XIs in the Premier League this season. Between them, the Eagles (18) and the Clarets (6) have named the 24 oldest starting XIs in the Premier League this season.

Crystal Palace have lost 17 of their last 19 Premier League games in which Wilfried Zaha hasn’t played, with the Eagles failing to score in 15 of those 17 defeats.

Manchester City v Tottenham Hotspur
13 February, 2021

Manchester City have won seven of their last 10 Premier League home matches with Tottenham (D2 L1), though drew 2-2 with them last season at the Etihad.

Since José Mourinho took over, Spurs have won both of their Premier League meetings with Man City, though both were in matches at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in February and November 2020.

Tottenham are looking to win away against both Manchester clubs in a single top-flight season for the first time since 1959-60, following their 6-1 win at Old Trafford earlier this term. The last side to do so in the Premier League was Liverpool in 2008-09, while the last London side to achieve it was Arsenal in 1990-91.

Since losing 0-2 against Spurs in November, Manchester City have remained unbeaten in their last 14 Premier League matches (W12 D2) and have won the last 10 in a row. The Citizens have shipped just three goals in those 14 games (0.2 per game), having conceded 11 in their first eight this season (1.4 per game).

Spurs have won just one of their last six Premier League away games (D3 L2), having won four in a row before that. However, they’ve not lost consecutive away league games since a run of three in October 2019 under Mauricio Pochettino.

Tottenham haven’t won an away league game against the team starting the day top of the table since their first such match in the Premier League back in November 1992 (2-0 at Blackburn), with Spurs drawing three and losing 21 times since.

After winning just three of his first 17 matches against Pep Guardiola in all competitions, Spurs boss José Mourinho has won four of his last seven (D1 L2). Mourinho is looking to become the first manager to win three away games against Guardiola in all competitions, having won with Real Madrid in 2012 and Man Utd in 2018.

Son Heung-min has scored six goals in his last eight appearances against Man City for Spurs in all competitions – since Pep Guardiola took over at Man City, only Jamie Vardy (9) has scored more goals against City than Son.

Man City midfielder Ilkay Gündogan is the highest scorer in the Premier League so far in 2021 with seven goals in eight games. The German’s previous seven goals in the competition came over a period of 62 games, dating back to 2018.

Phil Foden has scored 11 goals and provided six assists in the Premier League for Man City – only Gabriel Jesus (23 – 16 goals, 7 assists) has been involved in more Premier League goals for the club before turning 21.

Tottenham’s Harry Kane has scored the opening goal in more different Premier League games than any other player this season (6). Spurs have won four and drawn two of those six games.

Brighton and Hove Albion v Aston Villa
13 February, 2021

Brighton and Hove Albion are looking to complete a league double over Aston Villa for the first time in what is their 11th season facing the Villans.

Aston Villa are unbeaten in their last four away league matches against Brighton (W1 D3), since losing 1-0 in December 1980 to a Michael Robinson goal.

Brighton’s last three home Premier League wins have all been in three different years, winning in December 2019, June 2020 and January 2021. The Seagulls haven’t won consecutive home games since November 2019.

Brighton are unbeaten in their last five Premier League games (W3 D2), with only Manchester City on a longer current run without defeat in the competition (14).

Only Tottenham (32 per cent) have conceded a lower proportion of their Premier League goals in the first half than Aston Villa this season (33 per cent - 8/24), while no side has conceded fewer goals in the opening 30 minutes of Premier League games this term than the Villans (3).

Aston Villa have won 11 Premier League games this season, keeping a clean sheet in 10 of those victories. The only victory in which they conceded was their 7-2 triumph against Liverpool in October, with the Villans losing eight and drawing one of their nine games in which they’ve conceded since that win.

Aston Villa’s 11 Premier League wins this season is their most in a single top-flight campaign since 2010-11 (12), while their six away wins is their most in the Premier League since 2009-10 (9).

Aston Villa’s Jack Grealish has been directly involved in five goals in his last five appearances against Brighton in all competitions (4 goals, 1 assist), scoring in his last two at the Amex.

Of all keepers to have played at least 10 Premier League games this season, only Ederson (one every 145 minutes) and Édouard Mendy (114 minutes) have a better minutes-per-goal conceded rate than Brighton’s Robert Sánchez (one every 98 minutes).

Ollie Watkins has scored 10 Premier League goals for Aston Villa this season, the most by an English player in a top-flight campaign for the Villans since Gabriel Agbonlahor in 2009-10 (13).

Southampton v Wolverhampton Wanderers 14 February, 2021

Southampton have won just one of their last nine league matches against Wolves (D4 L4), winning 3-1 at St Mary’s in April 2019.

Wolves are looking to record consecutive away league wins against Southampton for the first time since winning three in a row between 1969-70 and 1971-72.

Southampton have dropped seven points from winning positions in their last three Premier League games against Wolves (D2 L1) – since the start of last season, no side has dropped more points against an opponent in the top-flight.

Southampton have lost their last five Premier League games, as many as they had in their previous 26 (W13 D8). Saints have never lost six consecutive league games in their history.

Wolves haven’t opened the scoring in any of their last 13 Premier League games (W2 D4 L7). Only three clubs have ever had a longer run of Premier League games without netting the first goal – Manchester City in 1995 (16), Coventry in 1996 (14) and West Ham in 1997 (14).

Southampton are the only team to play a Premier League match on Valentine’s Day but not receive a card, with no Saints player receiving a yellow or red card in their 4-2 win over Liverpool in February 1994. All other 15 teams to feature in a Premier League game on that day have had at least one card.

Five of Wolves’ seven Premier League victories this season have come against London sides (Arsenal x2, Chelsea, Crystal Palace and Fulham). The other two have been against Yorkshire clubs (Leeds and Sheffield United), picking up just four points from 12 games against sides from outside these areas (W0 D4 L8).

Including penalties, Wolves are the only Premier League team to have scored more goals from set-piece situations (12) than from open play (11) this season. However, only West Ham (4) and Arsenal (4) have conceded fewer goals from set pieces than Southampton (6).

Takumi Minamino scored 30 minutes into his Premier League debut for Southampton against Newcastle last time out, having netted just one league goal in 531 minutes with Liverpool. The last player to score in each of their first two Premier League games for Southampton was Manolo Gabbiadini in February 2017.

Southampton’s James Ward-Prowse scored his fourth direct free-kick goal in the Premier League this season against Newcastle last time out – only David Beckham in 2000-01 and Laurent Robert in 2001-02 have ever scored five in a single campaign in the competition.

West Bromwich Albion v Manchester United
14 February, 2021

West Bromwich Albion have lost nine of their 12 home Premier League matches against Manchester United (W1 D2), shipping at least two goals in 11 of those 12 games and 31 in total.

Manchester United are looking to record a Premier League double over West Brom for the first time since the 2011-12 season under Sir Alex Ferguson.

Manchester United scored in each of their first 17 Premier League games against West Brom, netting 43 goals at an average of 2.5 per game. In their last eight against the Baggies, they have scored just seven goals, an average of 0.9 per game, and failed to score in four of those games.

West Brom have conceded the most Premier League goals this season (54), while Manchester United have scored the most (49). A goal for Man Utd will see them reach 50 in the Premier League in 24 or fewer games for the first time since 2012-13 under Alex Ferguson (20 games).

Manchester United are currently unbeaten in 18 Premier League away games (W13 D5), their longest such run on the road in top-flight history. There have been six longer runs by four different teams in the top-flight, most recently a 21-game run for Liverpool between January 2019-February 2020.

Under Ole Gunnar Solskjær, Manchester United have lost more Premier League games against sides in the relegation zone (W10 D2 L4) than they have against sides in the top four (W5 D5 L2). The Red Devils lost their last such game against Sheffield United, but haven’t lost consecutive top-flight matches against sides in the drop zone since 1992 (vs West Ham in April and Wimbledon in October).

West Brom manager Sam Allardyce won two of his first three Premier League matches against Man Utd, both at Old Trafford in 2001-02 and 2002-03 with Bolton. Since then, he has won just one of 22 matches against the Red Devils (D5 L16), winning 2-1 with Sunderland in February 2016.

Man Utd striker Edinson Cavani is looking to score in three consecutive league games for the first time since January 2019 with Paris Saint-Germain. The Uruguayan’s first three Premier League goals came as a substitute, while his last three have been as a starter.

75 per cent of Marcus Rashford’s Premier League goals for Man Utd this season have come away from home (6/8). He’s never netted more in a single campaign on the road than the six he has this season.

Man Utd’s Bruno Fernandes averages a goal or assist once every 84 minutes in the Premier League, the best ratio of the 1 685 players with at least five goal involvements in the competition’s history.

Arsenal v Leeds United
14 February, 2021

In all competitions, Arsenal are unbeaten in their last eight games against Leeds United (W6 D2) since a 3-2 defeat in May 2003 in the Premier League, a result which won Manchester United the title at the Gunners’ expense.

This will be Leeds’ fourth visit to the Emirates to face Arsenal, with the previous three all coming in the FA Cup in 2011 (1-1 draw), 2012 (0-1 defeat) and 2020 (0-1 defeat).

Leeds have failed to score in both games against Arsenal under Marcelo Bielsa (D1 L1) – the Gunners are the only team in his entire managerial career that Bielsa has faced more than once without seeing his side score, with 16 different Leeds players attempting a shot without success (43 in total).

Only the bottom four sides coming into this weekend have failed to score in more Premier League games than Arsenal this season (9). The Gunners last failed to find the net in more different league games back in the 2005-06 campaign (11).

Leeds are winless in their last 12 away league matches in London (D2 L10), their longest run without a win in London since a 19-game stretch between 1933 and 1938. They have lost their three Premier League games in London this season by an aggregate score of 10-2.

Arsenal are unbeaten in their last 27 home league games against promoted sides (W23 D4) since losing against both West Bromwich Albion and Newcastle in the 2010-11 campaign.

Since their goalless draw with Arsenal in November, none of Leeds’ last 13 Premier League games have ended level (W7 L6). The Whites are also looking to secure three consecutive Premier League away wins for the first time since August 2002.

Leeds manager Marcelo Bielsa has won just 18 per cent of his Premier League games against non-English managers (2/11), compared to 73% of his Premier League games against English managers (8/11). Of all managers to have taken charge of 10+ games against each, Bielsa has the biggest difference in win rates between the two.

Bukayo Saka has created more chances (26) and won more fouls (42) than any other Arsenal player in the Premier League this season, while only Alexandre Lacazette has scored (8) and been involved in (10) more goals for the Gunners than the teenager (5 goals, 2 assists).

Leeds striker Patrick Bamford has been involved in five goals in his last three Premier League games (2 goals, 3 assists). Eight of his 12 Premier League goals this season have been away from home (67 per cent), with only Jamie Vardy netting a higher ratio on the road (82 per cent, min. 10 goals).

Everton v Fulham
14 February, 2021

Everton have won all 14 of their home Premier League matches against Fulham, the best 100 per cent winning record of any team versus an opponent on home soil in Premier League history.

The home team has won 23 of the 29 Premier League meetings between Everton and Fulham, although the Toffees won 3-2 at Craven Cottage earlier this season.

Since March 1961, Everton have won 22 consecutive home top-flight matches against Fulham – the longest ever home winning run for a team against an opponent in top-flight history, six longer than any other (Aston Villa v Sheffield United, 16 between 1903-1921).

Fulham have never won an away league match against Everton in 27 attempts (D4 L23) – in Football League history, the only two teams to play more away games against an opponent without winning are Fulham themselves versus Arsenal and Grimsby Town against Blackburn (both 28 without a win).

Everton are winless in three Premier League home games (D1 L2), last going four without a win at Goodison Park in January 2019. Manager Carlo Ancelotti hasn’t gone four home league games without a win since a run of nine between May-December 2007 with AC Milan.

Fulham are on the longest current winless run in the Premier League, failing to win any of their last 12 in the competition. However, eight of those games have finished level (L4), including each of their last four away from home.

Fulham have lost 30 of their last 34 Premier League games against the six ever-present sides in the competition (W1 D3), though their one win in that run did come against Everton in April 2019 (2-0).

No side has had fewer different goalscorers than Fulham in the Premier League this season (7, excluding own goals). The Cottagers also had the fewest scorers in their last top-flight campaign in 2018-19 (10).

Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s Premier League goals have been worth more points than any other players’ in the competition this season, with his 13 goals earning the Toffees 14 points so far.

Seven of James Rodríguez’s eight Premier League goal involvements for Everton this season have come in home games (4 goals, 3 assists), with his strike against Manchester United last time out his only one to come away from Goodison Park.

West Ham United v Sheffield United
15 February, 2021

West Ham United are looking to complete a league double over Sheffield United in the top-flight for the first time since the 1967-68 season under Ron Greenwood.

Sheffield United have won one of their last 12 away games against West Ham in all competitions (D6 L5), a 2-0 win in the Championship in January 2005.

Coming into this weekend’s fixtures, only Manchester City (24) have won more Premier League points than West Ham so far in 2021 (16), with the Hammers winning five of their seven league games so far this calendar year (D1 L1).

After a 20-game winless run in the Premier League, Sheffield United have now won three of their last six in the competition. The Blades have alternated between victory and defeat in those six games, losing against Chelsea last time out.

Sheffield United have won just 7.7 per cent of their Premier League games in London (P26 W2 D8 L16) – among teams to play more than 10 times in the capital, only Derby County (2.6 per cent, P38 W1) have a lower win percentage than the Blades.

Excluding their loss at Newcastle on the opening day of the 2020-21 season, each of West Ham’s last 15 Premier League defeats have been against sides in the top half of the table. Since losing 1-2 at 12th place Crystal Palace in December 2019, the Hammers are unbeaten in their last 19 league games against sides in the bottom 10 (W11 D8).

West Ham have scored 12 goals from corners and indirect free-kick situations in the Premier League this season, more than any other side. Meanwhile, no side has conceded more goals from such situations than Sheffield United (10, level with Leeds).

West Ham already have as many points after 23 Premier League games this season as they had in the whole of 2019-20 (39). Indeed, the last time the Hammers had this many points at this stage of a top-flight campaign was in 1985-86 (45) when they ended up finishing third.

West Ham manager David Moyes has a 100 per cent win ratio in home games against Sheffield United in all competitions, winning all six of his previous games against the Blades. However, he hasn’t faced them at home since a 3-1 League Cup win for Everton in August 2011.

Since their return to the Premier League last season, Billy Sharp’s six league goals have been worth 10 points to the Blades. In their Premier League history, only Brian Deane’s goals have been more valuable to the Yorkshire side (11).

Chelsea v Newcastle United
15 February, 2021

Chelsea have only lost one of their 25 home Premier League games against Newcastle United (W18 D6), a 2-0 defeat in May 2012.

Newcastle have lost their last seven away league games against Chelsea, scoring just three goals and conceding 18.

Chelsea are looking to win eight consecutive home top-flight matches against an opponent for the first time since winning nine in a row against West Brom between 1984 and 2013.

Newcastle have won two away Premier League games in London this season, beating West Ham and Crystal Palace. The Magpies haven’t won three in a season in the capital since the 2013-14 campaign, beating Spurs, West Ham and Crystal Palace.

Chelsea have won their last three Premier League matches, as many as they had in their previous 11 (W3 D3 L5). The Blues have conceded just one goal in their four league games under Thomas Tuchel, while they’ve faced on average just five shots per game under the German, compared to 10.1 under Frank Lampard in the league this term.

Newcastle have won two of their last three Premier League games (L1), as many as they had in their previous 13 in the competition (D2 L9). The Magpies are looking to win consecutive away league games for the first time since July 2020.

Newcastle have lost 14 of their last 18 Premier League matches played on a Monday (W2 D2), failing to score in 13 of those matches, including each of the last four.

Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel has never previously managed a top-flight match on a Monday – his last match in any competition on this day was in August 2016, leading Borussia Dortmund to a 3-0 win in the first round of the DFB-Pokal against SV Eintracht Trier 05.

Only against Aston Villa (9) has Chelsea striker Olivier Giroud scored more Premier League goals than he has versus Newcastle (8). However, those eight goals against the Magpies all came in his first six appearances against them, with the Frenchman failing to score in his last seven.

Miguel Almirón has scored three goals in his last four Premier League games for Newcastle, as many as in his previous 32 in the competition. However, all four of his strikes this season have come in home games.

Advertisement