Monday 5 December 2016 20:12, UK
There were yet more interesting stats and facts thrown up from the last round of Premier League fixtures.
This week Martin Tyler's stats and facts column takes a look the last time Manchester United failed to register a shot on target at Old Trafford, the highest assist-making defenders in Premier League history, who has the worst away record ever in the Premier League and more…
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Martin’s starting stats
Southampton enjoyed their first win in 27 years in the league at Old Trafford on Super Sunday. It was 27 years ago, almost to the day (January 16 instead of January 11), when they last won 2-0 through two Colin Clarke goals. They won only two points from 15 games at Old Trafford in the Premier League in the 3-3 draw in September 1999 and the 1-1 last October. The other 13 games were lost.
Southampton had lost 22 of the previous 31 meetings, home and away. Sunday’s result equalled the scoreline of their famous FA Cup win of 1976 and six of their last eight Premier League wins away from home have been 1-0. The other two were both 3-1 at Crystal Palace and West Ham.
Chris Smalling played in his 100th Premier League game and Nathaniel Clyne made his 200th career league appearance. Jose Fonte, who was voted man of the match by our panel, has now won at Old Trafford twice in the same season. He made his international debut for Portugal at Old Trafford in November and they beat Argentina 1-0. Not many people can say that!
United had won their last five at home and missed out on the chance for a ninth league victory – which was the total they got in the whole of last season. Southampton moved up to 39 points and at the final whistle, the chant from their delighted fans was ‘we are staying up’.
In the last five games, United have taken only six points where as Southampton have taken 13. Tadic scored despite being dropped. He has now scored back-to-back in big games having also scored against Arsenal.
Shot-shy United
When was the last time Manchester United failed to make a shot on target at Old Trafford? Alix
MARTIN SAYS: Southampton did a fine job in shutting out Manchester United on Sunday and as was reported after the game, the stats show that the home team did not have a single shot on target.
However, this is not the first time that has happened in the Premier League. Arsenal were the last team to frustrate United on their own turf, and refused to allow a single effort on goal in May 2009. However, the result that day was enough to secure United their 11th Premier League crown, and a 0-0 draw meant that the title race would not go to the final day.
Opta have only been keeping records on this since the start of the 2003/04 season, but these are the only two occasions in period where Manchester United have failed to record a shot on target in a home Premier League game.
Sanchez gets involved
I saw that Alexis Sanchez has been involved (scored or assisted) in 19 goals this season for Arsenal so far. Has any other player ever got that many in his first 20 games? Peter Hill (Arsenal fan)
MARTIN SAYS: Alexis Sanchez has scored 12 goals this season and assisted a further seven. With the help of Opta, I can tell you that his 19-goal involvement after 20 games ranks THIRD in the Premier League’s all-time records.
As you can see below, strikers reliant on their goalscoring prowess dominate the top 10, with some very recognisable names from yesteryear making an appearance.
Top of the list is Andy Cole, who was directly involved in 22 goals in his first 20 games in the Premier League (which came in the 1993/94 season). However 18 of those were goals he scored himself.
The only other player to have been directly involved in more goals than Sanchez after 20 games was Kevin Phillips, who had scored 19 and assisted two in the 1999/00 season.
Players with the most goals+assists in their first 20 Premier League games
Andrew Cole (18 goals + 4 assists = 22)
Kevin Phillips (19 goals + 2 assists = 21)
Alexis Sánchez (12 goals + 7 assists = 19)
Eric Cantona (10 goals + 9 assists = 19)
Sergio Agüero (14 goals + 4 assists = 18)
Alan Shearer (14 goals + 4 assists = 18)
Mick Quinn (14 goals + 3 assists = 17)
Mark Stein (13 goals + 4 assists = 17)
Ruud Van Nistelrooy (15 goals + 2 assists = 17)
Tony Yeboah (15 goals + 2 assists = 17)
I am now looking forward to seeing Sanchez take on Manchester City on Sunday.
Baines boost
After returning from the Everton v Manchester City game on Saturday, I see Leighton Baines has become the highest assist-making defender in the Premier League? Who are the other top assisters from the back? And also the best top goalscoring defenders? Lou
MARTIN SAYS: With the help of Opta, you can see below that Leighton Baines was tied with former England full-back Graeme Le Saux before the weekend, but now Baines has moved on to an incredible 45 assists, and with the others in the top five retired, he is likely to extend that lead.
Defenders with most assists in Premier League history
Leighton Baines (45)
Graeme Le Saux (44)
Ian Harte (36)
Andy Hinchcliffe (36)
Gary Neville (35)
Another Everton favourite David Unsworth is the most prolific goalscoring defender in Premier League history, with his penalty-taking expertise largely to thank for heading the group. John Terry is the top goalscoring defender from open play, with Baines looking like he will break into the top three due to the fact he is just two goals behind Leeds United’s free-kick specialist Ian Harte.
Defenders with most goals in Premier League history
David Unsworth (38)
John Terry (37)
Ian Harte (28)
Leighton Baines (26)
William Gallas (25)
Goals and assists combined
Leighton Baines (71)
Ian Harte (64)
Graeme Le Saux (56)
Dan Petrescu (56)
David Unsworth (56)
Away day blues
As a QPR fan, our away form is not going down well. Who has the worst away record ever in the Premier League? James Lewis
MARTIN SAYS: It is not looking good for Harry Redknapp’s side so far, who have managed to pick up zero points from 10 away Premier League games, but the unwanted record of the lowest away points total should not be difficult to better.
That particular honour goes to Derby County who went the entire 2007/08 season without a single win away from Pride Park. In fact, they only mustered one victory all season, and were relegated with a measly 11 points.
In that season they won only three points away from home (W0 D3 L16) – so QPR just need to pick up four points to avoid that unwanted record.
Stevie G
I was very surprised to see Steven Gerrard taken off at half-time at the weekend, and couldn’t think of another time I’d seen it. Has this happened before? Craig (Liverpool fan)
MARTIN SAYS: We are all going to have to get used to a Liverpool team without Steven Gerrard in it! However, in terms of being replaced early on, the sight of the former England captain being taken off before the interval is a rare occurrence.
Gerrard was taken off after 39 minutes against Manchester United on September 20, 2004 - his most recent half-time or earlier substitution in the Premier League and the last time he was substituted at half-time was October 20, 2001, away at Leicester.
In fact, with the help of Opta, you can see below that since the start of the 2012/13 season, Gerrard has played many more minutes than any other Liverpool player, despite his advancing years.
Steven Gerrard (7736)
Martin Skrtel (6921)
Glen Johnson (6603)
Jordan Henderson (6380)
Luis Suarez (5919)
Raheem Sterling (5681)
Simon Mignolet (5114)
Lucas Leiva (4634)
Philippe Coutinho (4578)
Daniel Agger (4520)
