It’s election season and Dan Fitch is campaigning on a platform of complete transparency when it comes to Premier League statistics.
- The former Aberdeen boss won 13 Premier League titles as Manchester United manager and made them champions of Europe twice. It’s fair to say though that he had a little bit of a blind spot when.
- Premier League could have eight clubs across Champions League and Europa League next season. If Manchester City or Chelsea win the Champions League this season, or if Manchester United win the.
He was awarded an OBE in 2007 and was voted BBC Sports Personality of the Year in 2009. He has been named in the the Premier League’s team of the decade in 2003, the Professional Football Association’s team of the century in 2007 and now your all-time Premier League XI, thanks to 203,780 votes.
Check out his six surprising Premier League stats below.
1. Bournemouth v Manchester United
Since winning promotion in 2015, Bournemouth have been a reliably fun team and a regular source of income for anyone specialising in Both Teams To Score bets.
So, what’s gone wrong in recent weeks? The Cherries have gone sour. It’s three games without a goal and their last two outings have finished as drab 0-0 draws. They last went four matches without a goal in 2012 and if they fail to find the net against a Manchester United side that have conceded in each of their last five Premier League games, we’ll know they’ve got real problems.
2. Arsenal v Wolves
The Europa League is a draining competition that can see teams involved struggle domestically, but there’s an even bigger reason for Arsenal fans to hate it.
The Europa League stops Arsenal playing at home on a Saturday at 3pm, which is a time and place where the Gunners are curiously consistent. Arsenal haven’t lost a Saturday home match at the traditional kick off time since the first day of the 2013-14 season (P22 W20 D2) and will be looking to extend that run against Wolves.
English Premier League Winning Eleven 2002 Road To The Real World Full
3. Aston Villa v Liverpool
Despite Liverpool’s flying start to the season, Mohamed Salah isn’t quite himself yet. Particularly away from Anfield…
All five of the Egyptian’s Premier League goals this season have been scored at home, with Salah failing to score on the road since May of last season. Can he finally break his away duck against Villa’s often generous defence?
4. Manchester City v Southampton
Kevin De Bruyne was rather strangely credited with Manchester City’s opening goal against Aston Villa last weekend, despite the fact that it was clearly booted into the net by David Silva. It took the Premier League’s Dubious Goal Committee to don their jeweler’s eye-pieces and finally determine that it was Silva’s goal.
Though De Bruyne was robbed of a goal, the decision did at least see him earn another assist. He has nine in ten Premier League games this season and if he can produce another against Southampton, he’ll become the player to have broke into double figures for assists, at the earliest point in a campaign. The record is jointly held by Cesc Fabregas (2014-15) and Mesut Ozil (2015-16), who both took twelve matches to record ten assists.
5. Watford v Chelsea
Chelsea are currently sitting pretty in fourth place in the Premier League, but their defensive record suggests that this can’t last.
Only the three sides currently in the relegation zone have conceded more goals than Chelsea’s 16 this season. Though they should beat the hapless Hornets regardless of their leaky defence, Chelsea need to radically improve if they are to remain as top four contenders.
6. Everton v Tottenham
Despite Tottenham’s dodgy form, Mauricio Pochettino remains broadly supported by the club’s fans. That could change on Sunday, as he hones in on an unwelcome record that’s held by a former Spurs supremo who was anything but popular.
George Graham’s side had a run of 14 Premier League away games without a win between May 2000 and January 2001. Pochettino’s team are currently winless in eleven away days, as they prepare to travel to Everton.