Oh, the Premier League – the gift that just keeps on giving.Indeed, it’s shaping up to be a classic campaign in the English top flight and last weekend certainly took the division closer to that aim, with 36 goals and three red cards spread across nine games – the other being Middlesbrough and Hull City’s Monday Night Football clash this evening.The action started with a full-blooded affair between Manchester City and Chelsea, which saw the Blues take a 3-1 lead in the second half after going a goal down in the first, before a horror tackle from Sergio Aguero disintegrated the match into a round of fisticuffs.The 3pms, meanwhile, also delivered,Âwith Tottenham, West Brom and Crystal Palace scoring eleven times between them, and the goal-mouth action trickled into Arsenal’s 5-1 win over West Ham at the London Stadium.Sunday, on the other hand, was the day of the comeback kings. Everton claimed a last-minute point against Manchester United, whilst Bournemouth returned from 2-0 and 3-1 down to record a stunning win against title chasers Liverpool.With goals, bookings and controversy aplenty, some incredible statistics came out of the weekend’s enthralling Premier League action.ÂAided by our stats-mad mates, we’ve taken a look at some of the most surprising.
Fergie-time in reverse
Manchester United were once famed for their ability to turn defeats into draws and draws into wins in the dying embers of Premier League matches under Sir Alex Ferguson. Indeed, Fergie-time nearly always produced a late equaliser or winner for the Scot’s side, but the Red Devils are now finding the shoe is on the other foot.
They’ve lost the most points from goalsÂin the last ten minutes of any Premier League side this season, a worrying seven, including the two dropped on Sunday as a late Leighton Baines penalty earned Everton a draw at Goodison Park.
King Costa
Diego Costa was the catalyst behind Chelsea’s comeback at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday, scoring the first in a 3-1 win and providing the assist as Willian put the Blues into the lead with just 20 minutes remaining.
The Spaniard retained his position as the top flight’s leading goalscorer but is now also the most potent strikerÂthroughout the Blues’ Premier League history, with the best goals-to-minutes ratio of any Chelsea player to net ten or more for the west London club.
Hurri-Kane comin’ through
Diego Costa may be dominating the Premier League’s scoring charts this season but Tottenham talisman Harry Kane certainly isn’t too far behind. The 23-year-old has been nothing short of sensational since forcing his way into the Spurs starting XI in 2014/15 and here’s the stat to prove it – 50 goals in his last 70 Premier League outings for the north Londoners. That includes an impressive brace in a 5-0 demolition of Swansea City on Saturday.
Defoe in December
Jermain Defoe recently etched his name in the Premier League history books by reaching 150 goals in the top flight, putting him in an exclusive club of just eight players. Well, a strike against Leicester City on Saturday has seen the Sunderland star join another elite group, with only three players throughout Premier League history scoring more goals than him in December. There are five more league fixtures to go until the end of the month, but Defoe may struggle to overcome the gap between himself (24) and third-place Wayne Rooney (31).
Long-range Assists
More on Chelsea’s fantastic performance at the Etihad Stadium. It may not quite be Pep Guardiola’s cup of tea but the Blues’ direct style of play made the difference on Saturday, with the assists for all three of their goals coming from their own half.
That includes sensational ranging balls from Cesc Fabregas and Marcos Alonso, as well as a driven pass from Diego Costa that gave Willian practically a whole half of space to run into.
Fallible Fellaini
Marouane Fellaini will certainly be in the Old Trafford doghouse this morning after playing an instrumental role in his former club Everton stealing a late draw against Manchester United.
Jose Mourinho brought on the Belgian to sure things up at the back but just moments after entering the fray from the bench, he gave away an obvious penalty – which Leighton Baines swiftly converted.
The stats suggest United are far better off when the lanky midfielder isn’t involved.
Calamity Karius
Loris Karius didn’t enjoy the best of weekends, hardly putting up much resistance as Bournemouth staged an incredible last-gasp comeback against Liverpool. In fact, he even fumbled the ball into the path of Nathan Ake for Bournemouth’s late winner.
The stats suggest the German’s shot-stopping isn’t up to much either, conceding four goals from the last seven shots on target he’s faced in the Premier League. Suddenly, Simon Mignolet doesn’t look quite so bad.
Luckless Leicester
We always knew Leicester would struggle to even come close to their performances last season but the Foxes will be disappointed to discover they’re currently the owners of the worst title defence in Premier League history after 14 games.
Accordingly, they’ve already trailed for more minutes in the top flight this season than the entirety of 2015/16. Worrying stuff for Claudio Ranieri’s boys, who are now just two points above the relegation zone.
Sensational Sanchez
Alexis Sanchez heaped on even more misery for West Ham on Saturday as Arsenal claimed an emphatic 5-1 win at the London Stadium. The Chile international’s three goals, not to mention his assist for the opener, played a key role and was in fact Arsenal’s third-fastest hat-trick in Premier League history.
Impressive stuff, but you might be more surprised to discoverÂSanchez is beaten to top spot by Gunners icon Ian Wright and infamous failed prodigy Jermaine Pennant.
Wilshere breaks his Liverpool hoodoo
Jack Wilshere was a part of the Bournemouth side who completed that stunning comeback over Liverpool at the Vitality Stadium. But rather incredibly, that was the England international’s first-ever win over the Reds, failing to find victory in his four Arsenal appearances against them. In that time, the midfielder has found just one assist, whilst failing to get on the scoresheet.
