EPL

Premier League MD7: Lucky winners and unlucky losers

By Sports Desk October 07, 2024

There were plenty of thrills and spills across the board in the Premier League as matchday seven ran its course.

Manchester City and Arsenal both had to come from behind to beat Fulham and Southampton respectively at home, while there were eight goals scored as Brentford overcame Wolves 5-3, with six of those strikes coming in the first half in west London.

Liverpool kept themselves ahead at the summit thanks to a 1-0 win at Crystal Palace, while Manchester United stopped the rot by holding Aston Villa, albeit they have now tallied up their lowest points total after seven games of any Premier League season.

Leicester City, meanwhile, grabbed their first win of the campaign, while Anthony Gordon endured a miserable return to Goodison Park with Newcastle United. In the final fixture of the weekend, Brighton stunned Tottenham, forging a second-half comeback to win 3-2 at the Amex Stadium.

So, after all that, who were the unlucky, and lucky, teams based on the underlying metrics?

Lucky winners: Leicester City

Leicester finally got their first top-flight win of the season on the board, as they edged out Bournemouth 1-0 thanks to Facundo Buonanotte's excellent run and finish.

But, it's fair to say it was something of a smash-and-grab for Steve Cooper's team at the King Power Stadium. Leicester had just six shots, with only two of those hitting the target, and they tallied up just 0.79 expected goals (xG).

 

On the other hand, Bournemouth had 19 attempts, creating five big chances (a tally bettered only by Brentford's eight and West Ham's nine this week) and accumulating 2.16 xG.

Bournemouth only have themselves to blame for wasteful finishing – they got just two of their efforts on target – but the Cherries can still consider themselves unfortunate.

Unlucky losers: Newcastle

Determined to impress against his former club, Gordon fluffed his lines when his big moment arrived as Newcastle drew 0-0 with Everton on Saturday.

With James Tarkowski having conceded a penalty by recklessly pulling the shirt of Sandro Tonali, Gordon stepped up to the spot, but Jordan Pickford guessed the right way.

While Everton wanted a penalty of their own in the second half, the Toffees were largely second-best and that is backed up by the metrics. Even discounting Gordon's spot-kick, Newcastle finished with 1.26 xG and 14 shots. The hosts accumulated 0.67 xG and had eight attempts.

Lucky winners: Man City

It's not often that the champions are given a run for their money at home, but Fulham did just that.

 

Indeed, Fulham finished with 2.6 xG at the Etihad Stadium, the fourth-highest total across the league this weekend, while they created five big chances.

Pep Guardiola has said he is not concerned by Man City's unusually open defence, but he will want to see better from his team in that regard after the international break.

Going forward, City benefited from three excellent finishes - two from Mateo Kovacic and one from Jeremy Doku. Their 1.57 xG came from 20 shots, though they created only one big chance.

Related items

  • Molynes United pick up first points of season with 4-0 win over Chapelton Maroons; Portmore United, Warehouse also secure victories Molynes United pick up first points of season with 4-0 win over Chapelton Maroons; Portmore United, Warehouse also secure victories

    Molynes United, Portmore United and Waterhouse all picked up wins in the latest round of the Wray & Nephew Jamaica Premier League on Sunday.

    Molynes picked up their first points of the season with a dominant 4-0 win over Chapelton Maroons at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex.

    Honors were even until six minutes before halftime when Jevaughn Brown gave Molynes United the lead.

    The scoring was completed in the second half by Mickel Graham (53’, 71’) and Taraj Andrews (86’) as the Kingston-based club secured their first points of the young season.

    Elsewhere, a 37th minute strike from Junior Grizelle and a second half stoppage time goal from Shacquwell Henry gave Portmore United a 2-0 win over Vere Phoenix United at Ferdie Neita Park.

    In the day’s other games, Atapharoy Bygrave scored just before halftime for Waterhouse in a 1-0 win over Tivoli Gardens at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex while Humble Lion and Harbour View played out a 1-1 draw at the Effortville Community Centre.

    Oquassa Chong gave Harbour View the lead in the 25th minute before Andre Clennon equalized for Humble Lion in the 67th.

    On Monday, defending champions Cavalier SC will take on Dunbeholden at Sabina Park while a double-header at the Montego Bay Sports Complex will see Mount Pleasant facing Racing United before Montego Bay United battles Arnett Gardens.

  • Slot's trust is reason for Liverpool form, says Gravenberch Slot's trust is reason for Liverpool form, says Gravenberch

    Ryan Gravenberch has impressed with his performances for Liverpool so far this season, and he says it is a result of the trust shown to him by Arne Slot.

    The midfielder joined Liverpool from Bayern Munich last September and made 26 Premier League appearances under Jurgen Klopp, but only started 12 of those games.

    Gravenberch has played in all but one of the Reds' games in all competitions so far this season, only missing their EFL Cup win over West Ham, and has become an integral part of Slot's set-up in the deeper-lying midfield role.

    The Dutchman has won possession 42 times, more than anyone in the team, and has also won the most duels (41) and made the second-most interceptions (12), only behind Virgil van Dijk (17).

    Liverpool sit top of the Premier League going into the international break, with Slot making the best start of any Liverpool manager in the club's history, and Gravenberch credited the manager for his uptick in form.

    "The coach gives me confidence and sets me up," Gravenberch told ESPN. "I just do my own thing. The things I did at Ajax, I do now.

    "I discuss all kinds of things with him. It's mainly about football. We talked last season as well. I have a good bond with him, and I'm very happy he's here.

    "We think in the same way. He likes football and building up from the back. That suits me super well too.

    "I'm at a top club now, at Liverpool. I played a lot more last season than in the season before. That was my goal. This season my goal is to play even more than last season and I'm on my way."

  • Barcelona and Spain forward Torres suffers hamstring injury Barcelona and Spain forward Torres suffers hamstring injury

    Barcelona and Spain forward Ferran Torres has suffered a hamstring injury and will be out of action for an indefinite period, the Catalan giants said on Monday.

    The 24-year-old will miss Spain's Nations League matches against Denmark on Saturday and Serbia next Tuesday, having damaged the biceps femoris muscle in his right thigh.

    Spanish media reports said Torres could be out for six to eight weeks after he sustained the injury in Barca's 3-0 win at Alaves on Sunday, limping off after just five minutes.

    "Tests carried out on Ferran Torres confirm that he has an injury to the biceps femoris muscle in his right thigh. His return to training will be dependent on his recovery," Barcelona, LaLiga leaders with eight wins from nine games this term, said.

    The Blaugrana are navigating an injury crisis, with Dani Olmo, Gavi, Fermin Lopez, Andreas Christensen, Ronald Araujo and goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen among the players sidelined.

    "Ferran's injury is worrying. We don't have many options in attack," Barca boss Hansi Flick said on Sunday.

    Torres has made 10 appearances for Barcelona in all competitions this season, scoring once and registering two assists.

© 2024 SportsMaxTV All Rights Reserved.