STATS CORNER

STATS PREVIEW - SOUTHAMPTON VS ARSENAL

• Southampton have four players to have played in every league game this season, more than any other team in the league (Lallana Lambert, Rodriguez and Ward-Prowse).
• Arsenal have hit the target with 53% of their shots this season, the best accuracy rate in the Barclays Premier League.
• Southampton have been level at half-time in their last four home matches
• The Gunners have scored more headed goals (9) than any other team in the top division; these goals have come from seven different players.
• 68% of the goals Arsenal have conceded this season have been shipped in the second half of games; the highest proportion in the top flight.
• Southampton have conceded first in their last three matches against top-six teams
• Arsenal have won five and lost none of their last eight Premier League games against Southampton, but have won just one of the last four trips to St Mary’s (W1 D2 L1).
• Since their return to the top flight, Saints have played Arsenal three times and the Gunners have not picked up a single card in those matches.
• Arsenal have had loss/loss results in their last six away defeats
• Jack Wilshere has scored (one) or assisted (three) four of Arsenal’s last five Premier League goals.
• Only one team has managed to score more than one goal against Arsenal in their last 21 Premier League matches (Man City 6-3 Arsenal).
• Southampton have had more goals in the second half in their last three home matches
• Southampton conceded just five goals in their opening 11 Premier League games, but have shipped 20 in the last 11 with that run starting with a 0-2 defeat against Arsenal in November.
• The last time Southampton beat Arsenal was in November 2002, with a James Beattie brace helping them to a 3-2 win at St Mary’s.
• There have been over 2.5 goals scored in 5 of Southampton's last 6 games in the Premier League.
• Southampton have seen under 2.5 goals in their last 3 home matches against Arsenal in all competitions.
• Arsenal have scored at least 2 goals in their last 3 matches in the Premier League.

 

STATS PREVIEW LIVERPOOL VS EVERTON

• Luis Suarez has scored in three of his four Barclays Premier League Merseyside derby appearances.
• Romelu Lukaku has scored four goals in four Barclays Premier League appearances against Liverpool.
• Liverpool have had win/win results in their last 10 home wins
• There have been more red cards in the Merseyside derby than in any other fixture in Barclays Premier League history (20).
• Liverpool have won seven and lost just one of their last 14 Premier League Merseyside derbies.
• Liverpool have scored first in their last three matches against top-six teams
• Everton have won none of the last 13 Premier League visits to Anfield, drawing seven and losing six in that run.
• Daniel Sturridge has scored in 11 of his 14 Premier League appearances this.season. He hasn’t scored more than once in any match.
• Everton have had both teams scoring in their last four away matches
• 64% of the goals Liverpool have scored this season have been netted in the first half; the highest proportion of any team in the Premier League.
• 29% of the goals Liverpool have conceded have been headers; the highest proportion of any team in the top flight this season.
• Liverpool have drawn their last three matches against Everton
• No player has made more clearances than Martin Skrtel this season (222, the same as West Brom’s Jonas Olsson).
• Steven Gerrard has netted seven Premier League goals against Everton (all from open play), only against Aston Villa (12) and Newcastle (8) has he netted more. No player has netted more in meyserside debies.
• There have been over 2.5 goals scored in 11 of Liverpool's last 12 games in the Premier League.
• Liverpool have scored at least 2 goals in their last 8 home matches in the Premier League.
• Liverpool are undefeated in their last 15 home matches against Everton in all competitions.

 

STATS PREVIEW MANCHESTER UNITED VS CARDIFF

• Manchester United have earned 998 points at Old Trafford in Barclays Premier League history, more than any other team has managed on home soil.
• Cardiff City have won none and lost six of their last eight Barclays Premier League away games (W0 D2 L6).
• Man Utd have won their last 10 home matches against bottom-six teams
• 37 points after 22 matches is the fewest Manchester United have mustered in any single Premier League campaign at this stage.
• Cardiff boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer scored 91 goals in 235 Premier League appearances for Manchester United between 1996-97 and 2006-07.
• Man Utd have had Over 2.5 goals in their last five matches against bottom-six teams
• The Red Devils have won two and lost three of their last five Premier League home games.
• Cardiff have the best disciplinary record in the top flight this season with just 27 yellow cards and no dismissals.
• Cardiff have had draw/win results in their last four wins Cardiff’s last victory away at Manchester United came in April 1954 when they ran out 3-2 winners.
• 35% of Cardiff’s goals have been headers; the highest proportion of any team in the Premier League this season.
• Man Utd have had both teams scoring in their last four matches against bottom-six teams
• Danny Welbeck has scored six goals in his last seven Premier League appearances for Manchester United.
• Cardiff City have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last six Premier League games, conceding 16 goals in this run

 

MATCH FACTS

West Ham 4-1-4-1: Jaaskelainan 5; Taylor 4, Johnson 5, Tomkins 5, Rat 5; Diarra 5; Diame 6, Nolan 5, Morrison 6, J.Cole 4 (Downing 47, 5); Carroll 5 (C.Cole HT, 6)


Subs: Adrian, Chambers, Jarvis, Collison, Noble


Bookings: Diarra.


Manager: Sam Allardyce 6



Manchester City 4-4-2: Pantilimon 6; Boyata 6, Lescott 6, Nastasic 6, Clichy 6; Navas 7 (Kolarov 78), Garcia 6 (Rodwell 63, 6), Fernandinho 6, Lopes 7; Negredo 8, Aguero 7 (Jovetic 65, 6)


Subs: Hart, Zabaleta, Demichelis, Dzeko


Bookings: Aguero, Clichy


Manager: Manuel Pellegrini 7


Goals: Negredo 3, 59. Aguero 24


Man of the match: Alvaro Negredo


Referee: Chris Foy 6


Attendance: 14,390

REAL'S WANTED LIST RECORDS

• Wayne Rooney: Games: 25 Goals: 11

• Radamel Falcao: Games: 17 Goals: 9

• Sergio Aguero: Games: 23 Goals: 22  

TRANSFER HIGHLIGHTS

- United prepare record £40M bid to land Mata

- Newcastle deny £12m deal in place for Cabella

- Spurs interested in cheap Berbatov deal

- Pulis desperate for new blood at Palace

- PSG set for £21m raid on Cabaye

TOP 10 TEAMS IN EUROPE WITH HOME GROWN PLAYERS

Here are the 10 teams currently playing in Europe with the highest percentage of 15 to 21-year-old's
who have been at their club for three or more seasons - data courtesy of Football Observatory.

10. Arsenal - 32.3%

The Gunners were once a club derided for relying on foreign talent, but have brought through the likes of Kieran Gibbs, Aaron Ramsey and Jack
Wilshere in recent times to great effect.

9. SC Freiburg - 34.6%

Ever since the German national team failed at Euro 2000 much emphasis has been placed on Bundesliga sides to develop home grown talent.

8. Celta Vigo - 38.5%

There are only five first team players owned by the Spanish club who weren't born in Spain, a policy used throughout La Liga which has greatly
benefited the national side.

7. Stade Rennes - 40%

It's now over to Ligue 1 and a side who heavily rely upon French players from African descent, with stars such as Jean-Ahmed Kana-Biyik greatly impressing.

6. Sochaux - 42.3%

Staying in France, which is likely to be pleasing to the national team which has failed to impress in recent international tournaments, and it's a side that can boast breakout starlets such as Sebastien Corchia.

5. Montpellier - 48%

The French dominance continues with the 2012 champions, who although are struggling this term have produced the likes of Remy Cabella from their academy.

4. Olympique Lyon - 53.8%

These former greats come in at fourth spot, with a squad brimming with French talent but currently struggling to compete with the league's rich boys
AS Monaco and Paris Saint-Germain.

3. Real Sociedad - 57.7%

Last season's finish of fourth in the Spanish top tier and another successful campaign so far this
time round shows developing youngsters such as Inigo Martinez and Antoine Griezmann is a good tactic.

2. Athletic Bilbao - 60.9%

Athletic Club have a policy of only being allowed to field players who were developed in the Greater Basque region and with the side currently
fifth in the table, it seems to be working.

1. Barcelona - 64%

If there was ever a template to promote
developing players from within then it's the dominant Catalans, with the majority of their squad came through the youth system - including Andres Iniesta, Xavi and Lionel Messi.

fanatix