Monday, 9 December 2013

Weekend stats: Suarez as dangerous an attacking threat as Man Utds whole team?

Weekend stats: Suarez as dangerous an attacking threat as Man Utds whole team?

Weekend stats: Suarez as dangerous an attacking threat as Man Utds whole team?

Posted: 08 Dec 2013 03:59 PM PST

Don't forget you can conduct your own analysis of every Premier League match with Stats Zone. Man United 0-1 Newcastle Newcastle have only won two of their last 22 Premier League games against Manchester United (L15 D5) and Yohan Cabaye has scored in both of these victories. Newcastle United have won five of their last six Premier League games (L1). Manchester United made only 93 passes in the attacking third, fewer than any other side this weekend. Analyse this match with Stats Zone Crystal Palace 2-0 Cardiff Marouane Chamakh scored his third Premier League goal of the season with only his fourth shot on target. Cardiff have conceded the first goal of a Premier League game on nine occasions this season – only Fulham (10) have conceded first more often. Palace made the most headed clearances 45 than any other Premier League side this weekend. Barry Bannan created more chances than any other player in the Premier League this weekend. Analyse this match with Stats Zone Liverpool 4-1 West Ham Steven Gerrard has made 6 assists this season; a joint-league-high with Mesut Ozil. Martin Skrtel is the second player to score 2 Premier League own goals this season, after Sunderland's Phil Bardsley. The Reds have scored 14 goals from set pieces this season, the most in the top-flight. Liverpool's total of 225 passes in the attacking third was a league high this weekend. Luis Suarez made 21 touches in the opposition box, only one fewer than Manchester United managed in total against Newcastle. West Ham made 13 blocks this weekend – there were only 65 in total in the Premier League this weekend. Philippe Coutinho received more passes than any other Premier League player this weekend (72). Analyse this match with Stats Zone Southampton 1-1 Man City Manchester City have not won consecutive away Premier League matches since January, despite playing in 16 away matches in the competition since. 58% of City's crosses reached a team-mate, the best rate in the division this weekend. Only 24% of Southampton's passes were in the attacking third, a lower proportion than any other side this weekend. Analyse this match with Stats Zone Stoke 3-2 Chelsea John Obi Mikel collected his first Premier League assist since August 2010, when he made one in a 6-0 hammering of Wigan. Chelsea have conceded 3+ goals in consecutive Premier League games for the first time since October 1999. Chelsea had six shots on target from outside the box, more than any other side this weekend. Stoke had only 11 touches in the opposition box, despite winning the game. Analyse this match with Stats Zone West Brom 0-2 Norwich West Brom managed 12 shots on target in this match; the second highest tally that they have had in a Premier League game since the start of 2006-07 (14 v Wolves in Feb 2012). The Baggies had 14% of the shots on target in the Premier League this weekend (26 of 186). Nathan Redmond has collected an assist in three of his last four Premier League appearances. Norwich were the only side not to have a headed shot this weekend. Analyse this match with Stats Zone Sunderland 1-2 Tottenham Adam Johnson scored his first league goal of the season with his 23rd attempted shot. Sunderland have now scored five own goals this season; at least three more than any other side. The record for most own goals in a single Premier League campaign is eight, set by Leicester City in 2003/04. Sunderland have lost 11 points from winning positions this season, more than any other Premier League team. Sunderland made only four headed clearances all match - Tottenham's Michael Dawson made more on his own (6). Analyse this match with Stats Zone Fulham 2-0 Aston Villa Aston Villa made more passes in the first 30 minutes vs Fulham (105) than they did in 90 minutes in the win at Southampton on Wednesday evening (103). Aaron Hughes has only conceded 54 fouls in 192 Premier League appearances for Fulham, one every three and a half games on average – he didn't concede one vs Villa. Dimitar Berbatov has scored with all eight of the penalties he has taken in the Premier League. Christian Benteke made 10 flick-ons in this game but only two reached a team-mate. John Arne Riise has now had 89 shots for Fulham in the Premier League and has never scored – he had four in this game. Analyse this match with Stats Zone Arsenal 1-1 Everton Mesut Ozil has four goals and six assists in 12 Premier League appearances. Since August 2011, only Juan Mata (27) and David Silva (26) have assisted more Premier League goals than Theo Walcott (21). Arsenal's 44% possession rate is their fourth lowest in a Premier League game at the Emirates Stadium. Arsene Wenger made a triple substitution in the Premier League for the first time since facing Wigan (then managed by current Everton boss Roberto Martinez) in December 2011. Arsenal made 24 interceptions this weekend, more than any other Premier League side - Laurent Koscielny alone made 8. No player was fouled more than Ross Barkley this weekend (5 times). Five things we learned from Arsenal 1-1 Everton Analyse this match with Stats Zone

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Arsenal to face Spurs in FA Cup third round

Posted: 08 Dec 2013 09:31 AM PST

Arsene Wenger's side have not met Tottenham in the competition since the 2001 semi-final - a game they won 2-1 at Old Trafford to edge 3-2 ahead in FA Cup meetings between the sides. January's match at the Emirates Stadium will be one of five all-Premier League ties. Manchester United face Swansea City, West Brom have been drawn against Crystal Palace, Newcastle United entertain Cardiff City and Fulham travel to Norwich City. Holders Wigan Athletic will begin their defence at home to League One side MK Dons, while beaten 2013 finalists Manchester City head to Ewood Park to face Blackburn Rovers. Seven-time winners Liverpool could face Oldham Athletic for the third successive year if Lee Johnson's side can overcome non-league Mansfield Town in a second-round replay. Oldham knocked Brendan Rodgers' side out of the competition at the fourth-round stage last season, with Liverpool winning 5-1 in January 2012 at Anfield. Elsewhere, Chelsea travel to in-form Championship side Derby County, while Southampton face Burnley, the leaders in England's second tier, at St Mary's Stadium. The three non-league sides definitely in round three - Kidderminster Harriers, Grimsby Town and Macclesfield Town - have respective home draws against Peterborough United, Huddersfield Town and Sheffield Wednesday, while Wrexham could face Charlton Athletic if they get past Oxford United. All ties are set to take place on the weekend commencing January 4. FA Cup third round draw in full: Barnsley v Hartlepool or Coventry City; Yeovil Town v Leyton Orient; Liverpool v Oldham Athletic or Mansfield Town; Nottingham Forest v West Ham United; Bristol City v Watford; Southend United v Millwall; Middlesbrough v Hull City; West Brom v Crystal Palace; Kidderminster v Peterborough United; Doncaster Rovers v Stevenage; Stoke City v Leicester City; Southampton v Burnley; Newcastle United v Cardiff City; Rochdale v Leeds United; Wigan Athletic v MK Dons; Charlton Athletic v Wrexham or Oxford United; Manchester United v Swansea City; Port Vale v Plymouth Argyle; Norwich City v Fulham; Aston Villa v Sheffield United; Macclesfield Town v Sheffield Wednesday; Sunderland v Carlisle United; Bolton Wanderers v Blackpool; Blackburn Rovers v Manchester City; Everton v QPR; Brighton and Hove Albion v Reading; Arsenal v Tottenham; Birmingham City v Bristol Rovers or Crawley Town; Grimsby Town v Huddersfield Town; Ipswich Town v Preston North End; Derby County v Chelsea; Bournemouth v Fleetwood Town or Burton Albion.

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UEFA Champions League: Man United v Shakhtar

Posted: 08 Dec 2013 06:56 AM PST

United are well off the pace in the race for the Premier League title after suffering back-to-back 1-0 defeats against Everton and Newcastle United at Old Trafford. Shakhtar will be looking to consign them to another home loss when they visit the English champions for the first time as the Ukrainian's strive to secure their place in the last 16 of Europe's premier club competition. United have already qualified courtesy of their ruthless 5-0 demolition of Bayer Leverkusen last month, but second-placed Shakhtar need to match or better Leverkusen's result at Real Sociedad in order to progress. Moyes has come in for criticism due to United's disappointing domestic form, but they are unbeaten in Europe and only need a point to finish top of the group. The former Everton manager is determined to finish off the job and secure a morale-boosting win, which would ensure they have triumphed in all three group games at Old Trafford for the first time in six years. "It's important we give ourselves every chance of progressing even further in the Champions League by finishing top," Moyes said. "It won't make it easier but it will give us a little bit of an advantage by having the second game (in the last 16) at home. "We will do everything we can to be top and, as well as that, we're unbeaten in the group and want to stay unbeaten if we can make that happen." Striker Wayne Rooney will be available after serving a one-match ban, but midfielder Michael Carrick (Achilles) is definitely out and Moyes hinted that he will make changes to his starting line-up. "We have qualified, so it gives me a chance to have a look at that," he said. Mircea Lucescu's Shakhtar side come into the game on the back of four consecutive wins in all competitions. A 4-0 hammering of Real Sociedad last time out in the Champions League lifted them above Leverkusen and they can take heart from the fact that they drew 1-1 with United in October. Lucescu has no injury concerns to contend with for the crunch clash at Old Trafford and in Brazilian Luiz Adriano, he has an in-form striker who has scored in each of his last three games.

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Debrief: Theatre of screams, Barkley to Brazil... and can everyone just relax?

Posted: 08 Dec 2013 06:50 AM PST

This season is going to throw up surprises... just roll with it So Chelsea lost. And so did Manchester United. Arsenal drew at home. Manchester City didn't win away again. And isn't this all brilliant? We knew it might be the most open Premier League race to date, but 15 games into the new season and we're still none the wiser where the title will be heading this season. Arsenal and Liverpool might be in charge of the top two spots after impressive starts, but you still won't find many people who believe either will be lifting silverware come May. But then who will? Chelsea continue to follow up gung-ho goal fests with shoddy defensive displays, Manuel Pellegrini's City are still faltering on their travels and city rivals United... well, the less said the better (but we'll say some stuff below anyway). Tottenham aren't thereyet either. Everton, Newcastle and Southampton, though, have taken giant leaps in the right direction. Mid-table also-rans can be as awful as they can be brilliant. Not even Crystal Palace look hopelessly doomed anymore. So let's all just relax (even you, United fans), be grateful we're not a league ruled by two sides and enjoy what could be the most entertaining season in Premier League history. There's a helluva lot of football still to be played. ... but the fear factor has gone at Old Trafford "Our retention of the ball, particularly in the first half, must be better," mused Newcastle manager Alan Pardew ahead of his side's trip to Manchester United. "We can't turn the ball to United like that. I hope we'll play a lot better." His advice certainly got through. Even amid United's current plight, few teams go to Old Trafford and control possession like Newcastle did on Saturday. Quite how the Magpies transformed a 3-0 reverse at Swansea into a super victory at the champions' home in the space of three days is anybody's guess, but credit must go to Pardew for the way in which he set his side up. Newcastle's patient approach paid off. By the final whistle they'd notched 63 more passes than David Moyes' side with 52% possession, forcing the hosts into 12 more clearances, winning the aerial duel battle 19 to 13 and restricing United to just eight of 21 successful take-ons. Cutting off a Moyes side out wide is always the aim - and that's just what Pardew's men did, particularly down the right where Mathieu Debuchy completed 5 of 6 tackles and Mike Williamson 3 of 4. With Davide Santon and Fabricio Coloccini registering similar success rates, the likes of Adnan Januzaj were left frustrated in their attempts to provide for the visibly riled Robin van Persie. If United had missed chances this latest defeat could have been forgiven in some ways, but that just wasn't the case. They were outpassed, outclassed and when fans reflect they may well think of what might have been with Michael Carrick on the pitch. Not since the 2001/02 campaign had United lost consecutive home games, and even then Chelsea were one of those sides to inflict defeat. This just doesn't happen. Ross Barkley... England... plane Get him on it, Roy. But who are we kidding? The watching Three Lions chief will have seen enough to make his own mind up on this one after the youngster's terrific display at the Emirates. As Everton dominated the first half an hour in north London it was Barkley who ran the show for the Toffees, completing a game-high number of attacking-third passes in the first half and capping the lot with one particular moment of brilliance, a drop of the shoulder to bamboozle both Santi Cazorla and Mesut Ozil in one go. We all know England won't win the World Cup with a typically safe squad. Hodgson needs game-changers, players who can really make things happen, and Barkley is certainly capable of doing just that. Sure, he shouldn't be expected to sustain his exceptional promise over an entire major tournament but his inclusion is a must if England are serious about taking the next generation to a new level. "I've never seen an English player with his mentality," glowed manager Roberto Martinez after Sunday's 1-1 draw. Make your own minds up, but this writer is sold on the idea. What have they done with Fulham? Getting out with the old and in with the new might just have done the trick at Craven Cottage. Forget that Fulham finally ditched Martin Jol over a month too late and have looked like nailed-on relegation fodder for the entire campaign - on Sunday they finally showed while they'll probably 'do a Fulham' and stumble their way to safety once again. Against Aston Villa, Rene Meulensteen's troops were excellent from start to finish, restricting the visitors to speculative counter-attacks and looking thoroughly comfortable throughout. In truth, midway through the second half it was all a little embarrassing. Even Dimitar Berbatov looked interested again for the second game running and everything. Perhaps the Bulgarian's agent should declare his man's unhappiness every week. Scott Parker "put a shift in" like "we all know he can" (to use the former England man's expansive post-match vocabulary), Steve Sidwell popped up with his third goal of the campaign and forgotten man Ashkan Dejagah was the game's most creative player. It was no coincidence that the Cottagers were so tight without maverick duo Bryan Ruiz and Adel Taarabt (though Villa were really bad). More of the same, at home in particular, will almost certainly keep them afloat and heaven forbid... make them interesting again. ALSO ONLINE Five things we learned from Arsenal 1-1 Everton

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Moyes confident in his Man United squad

Posted: 08 Dec 2013 01:55 AM PST

After losing to Everton on Wednesday, Moyes' side were unable to find a way past Newcastle United, although the visitors had a slice of luck when Vurnon Anita's handball on the goal line was not noticed by referee Andre Marriner. Yohan Cabaye's 61st-minute strike sealed a 1-0 win for Alan Pardew's side, and sent Moyes' men to their fifth defeat of the season – the most games they have lost at this stage of the season in 12 years. United dropped to ninth in the Premier League table after the defeat - 12 points behind leaders Arsenal, who face Everton on Sunday. However, Moyes remains defiant and believes his side can turn their fortunes around and still compete for the title. "(I'm confident because of) the players and because I'm working with the champions," he said. "(They are) the same players that won the Premier League. "We're needing something to go for us to give us a bit of confidence. We could have done with a goal just to get us in front and I thought the goal was really unfortunate. "His (Anita's) hand definitely stops the ball going in the net so you can decide whether that's a penalty or not. "If we'd come out on top in both games (against Everton and Newcastle) I don't think anyone could have said much about it but we've not and because we're Manchester United we have to do better. "We have to play better, pass it better, make more chances and take our opportunities when they come."

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