in

The best Premier League stats of the week: Bruno makes history, creative Leeds’ goal problems

The standout statistics from gameweek 10 of the Premier League, featuring Bruno Fernandes continuing his frightening away form, why Leeds United’s creativity isn’t leading to goals, and more. 

Man United break away day records

Someday we will write a statistics column without having to mention Bruno Fernandes – but today is not that.

The Portuguese playmaker equalled a Manchester United record on Sunday by scoring in an away Premier League match for the fifth consecutive time, something only three players had done for the club; Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Robin van Persie, and Ruud van Nistelrooy, who did so twice.

Fernandes’ goal and assist took him to 14 goal involvements (ten goals, four assists) in ten away league games for the Red Devils, the most of any player in Premier League history in his first ten appearances away from home.

That has been the driving force behind United’s incredible away form in recent months. For the first time in the club’s history they have won eight away games in a row, and they are also the first side in Premier League history to win four consecutive away games despite trailing in each.

As for the hosts, the match told a story about Southampton‘s season so far. The Saints were leading by two goals at half-time, but lost anyway. It follows a trend in which they’ve conceded just four goals in the first-half of Premier League matches this season, the second best record in the league, but conceded 12 in the second-half (19th) of games.

On the plus side for the south coast outfit, James Ward-Prowse scored his ninth Premier League direct free-kick goal. That puts him joint-ninth on the list of all-time goal scorers from direct free-kicks, alongside Nobby Solano, Frank Lampard and Jamie Redknapp.

Oasis, the Pope and Sheffield United: Seven things you probably didn’t know about Diego Maradona

The team of a million shots but few goals

Leeds United earned a massive win over Everton at the weekend, beating the Toffees 1-0 at Goodison Park for their first away victory over the club since 1990.

The performance highlighted the insane degree to which Marcelo Bielsa’s side are creating chances, with the Whites taking 23 shots for 2.71 expected goals (xG). Incredibly, 17 of those attempts came from inside the opposition box.

And yet, they only scored one goal. In fact, this is becoming something of a trend for the newly promoted side.

In the previous game against Arsenal they took 25 shots, 15 of which were in the box, and came out with 1.72xG compared with the Gunners’ 0.89xG from just nine shots. The tie finished in a scoreless draw, but Leeds should have battered them.

Leeds have taken a monstrous 153 shots so far this season, leaving them sandwiched between Liverpool and Manchester City with the second-most of any team. They have the joint-most shots in the box (108) alongside Liverpool, and are fifth in the league for both big chances (23) and expected goals (15.70xG).

But they are bang in the middle of the table for goals scored, having found the net 15 times. Why have they failed to convert their brilliant chances into more goals?

Although the squad in general could do with chipping in a bit more, it’s difficult to look past Patrick Bamford, who has been famously inconsistent over the years. He came firing out of the blocks this season, scoring a goal in each of the first three games. He has only scored in two of the following seven league matches, although that included a hat-trick against Aston Villa.

Bamford’s seven goals are a good return for a striker coming up from the Championship, but he has missed a lot of good chances lately. He leads the league for shots (40) and shots in the box (36), and is second for shots on target (17) and big chances (12), but is finding it difficult to add to his tally right now.

In other words, his teammates are laying it up on a platter and he’s making a dog’s dinner of it.

How an Italian cult hero became the Premier League’s youngest ever manager

Random Numbers:

Despite starting only six of Chelsea’s ten Premier League matches, Edouard Mendy now has more clean sheets (five) than any other goalkeeper this season.

Crystal Palace have won just two of their last 17 Premier League games without Wilfried Zaha (losing 15).

– Fulham’s two Premier League wins this season have both come on a Monday. In fact, the Cottagers have won five of their past seven top-flight games on a Monday.

– Aston Villa playmaker Jack Grealish has been directly involved in 10 goals in the Premier League this season (five goals, five assists), a haul only Spurs pair Harry Kane (16) and Son Heung-Min (11) can better.

– Sheffield United are just the third side in English top-flight history to earn as few as one point after 10 league games, after Man United (0 in 1930-31) and West Brom (1 in 1985-86).

Read: FA Cup Third Round Draw in full, as 8th tier Marine FC to host PL leaders Spurs

See Also: Remembering Gary Speed: A unique and gifted everyman

Subscribe to the podcast:

Apple | Spotify | Stitcher | Soundcloud Google

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments