The final unbeaten run in the Premier League ended this weekend with the table now starting to take shape. We will be taking a look at some of the statistical standouts and a number of impressive team performances.
By Sam McGuire, Premier League expert
The streak ends
Heading into the game at Anfield, Manchester City had not lost an away match in the league since the opening day of the 2021/22 campaign. Pep Guardiola’s side were also the only unbeaten team this term and had a 13-point advantage over their hosts.
City had been rampant this season, averaging over three goals per game. Yet the makeshift back four, made up of James Milner, Joe Gomez, Virgil Van Dijk and Andrew Robertson, kept them quiet. The away team finished with an Expected Goals total of just 0.94 and created just one big chance in defeat on Merseyside. By comparison, the Reds racked up an xG haul of 2.04 and had five big chances against the best defensive side in the league coming into this game.
It was a reminder that this Liverpool team is still one of the best in the league and writing them off is premature.
The performance of Champions?
Arsenal eked out a 1-0 win over Leeds United to extend their lead at the summit of the table to four points. By no means was it convincing though.
Mikel Arteta watched his side get out-shot (16-9), lose the big chances metric (3-1) and create chances worth just 0.55 xG. The hosts tripled that xG total, finishing with 1.86, albeit they did have a penalty to boost that particular metric. However, even without it, Leeds had double the xG of the visitors.
On one hand, it is the sort of result that eventual champions have to grind out. They can’t be exceptional in every single game. But this sort of performance needs to be a one-off. Playing like that but picking up all three points just is not sustainable and it will result in more losses than wins.
Mount masterclass
Mason Mount has been in fine form following the appointment of Graham Potter. The versatile midfielder was without a goal or an assist this season under his predecessor, Thomas Tuchel but his double against Villa takes his tally to four goal involvements in his last two matches.
He was a standout performer at Villa Park and his FotMob rating of 9.0 was more than justified. Mount scored twice – one was a finish that a poacher would be proud of and the other was a spectacular free-kick. He also completed all of his dribbles, found a teammate with 100% of his crosses and recovered the ball on six occasions to cap off an all-round, eye-catching performance.
Shaky foundations
Prior to the match against Spurs, Everton had the joint-best defensive record in the Premier League. You wouldn’t have known that watching the game on Saturday night though.
The Toffees allowed the hosts to have 21 shots and three big chances as Antonio Conte’s side finished with an xG total of 2.27 on their way to a 2-0 win. By comparison, Everton had just four shots and created opportunities worth 0.43 xG. There is a balance to be struck but if a team focuses on being defensively solid, they need to be defensively solid as other areas of their game just aren’t up to scratch. If Everton concede, they struggle as they don’t have any attacking patterns of play to rely on. Their eight goals in 10 outings point to that.
Is it time for Frank Lampard to go back to the drawing board?
Delivering in the Premier League
Dominic Solanke scored and assisted as Bournemouth played out a 2-2 draw with Fulham at Craven Cottage.
The 25-year-old landed both of his efforts on target and he recovered the ball on two occasions. He’s a threat and a grafter. Solanke is in impressive form at the minute too. He now has five goal involvements (two goals and three assists) in his last five starts for the Cherries. It cannot be a coincidence that his team are unbeaten in those matches and have taken nine of their 13 points.
(Images from IMAGO)
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