Stat, Viz, Quiz is the weekly Opta Analyst soccer publication. Our newest version consists of numbers on Arsenal, Mohamed Salah, and people most fouled.

We’re again from the ultimate worldwide break of the season, which implies the beginning of the house straight as we head to what guarantees to be a dramatic climax to 2023-24.

As you’ll have seen on Sky Sports’ Super Sunday or the BBC’s Match of the Day on the weekend, our fabled Opta supercomputer has made Liverpool the brand new favourites for the Premier League title. The Reds beat Brighton on Sunday earlier than Manchester City and Arsenal performed out a goalless draw.

We’ll take a more in-depth have a look at the achievement of the Gunners to close out the reigning champions, whereas we’ll even be investigating Mohamed Salah’s afternoon towards the Seagulls.

If you will have any extra room after a feast of soccer and Easter eggs over the weekend, we even have a quiz for you in addition to an Ask Opta query about gamers who maintain getting kicked.

If you haven’t carried out so already, you may subscribe under and obtain Stat, Viz, Quiz direct to your inbox each Tuesday.

STAT – Arsenal: Potent City Stoppers

It was the massive recreation of the weekend; a lot in order that we even previewed it in final week’s SVQ. Manchester City versus Arsenal. The irresistible pressure versus the immovable object. An absolute chess match.

Of course, the issue with one thing being like a chess match is that whereas it may be plenty of enjoyable to play if somebody tells you what the horsey one does, it’s not precisely probably the most thrilling spectator occasion.

And so it proved on the Etihad Stadium.

The 0-0 draw between City and Arsenal might have been music to Liverpool’s ears, however it was hardly probably the most invigorating of experiences for the impartial. It was, although, undoubtedly a formidable achievement from Mikel Arteta’s males to maintain the conflict so eventless.

The centre-back pairing of William Saliba and Gabriel have been excellent, though the previous can have been relieved to see Erling Haaland uncharacteristically malfunction after the France worldwide misplaced the Norwegian striker on the again submit from a late nook.

Was it simply a kind of days for either side, or one thing extra deliberate? Well, it was solely the third time this season within the Premier League {that a} recreation has featured simply three pictures on course or fewer. All three of these video games have concerned Arsenal, and one of many different two was the reverse of this fixture on the Emirates Stadium.

It ended a run of 47 consecutive dwelling league video games for Man City by which they’d discovered the online at the very least as soon as. The final time had been a 2-0 loss to Crystal Palace in October 2021.

Arsenal additionally grew to become simply the fourth facet to close out a Pep Guardiola facet in two league matches in the identical season, after Borussia Mönchengladbach in 2014-15, Manchester United in 2020-21, and Palace in 2021-22.

It should even be famous that City saved Arsenal at bay impressively too. The Gunners tried simply six pictures within the recreation, their lowest tally in a single Premier League fixture since November 2021, after they had 5 towards Liverpool at Anfield.

Perhaps it shouldn’t have been a shock. Both comfortably have the bottom anticipated objectives towards (xGA) within the Premier League this season. City’s 28.47 xGA is nearly seven higher than fellow title rivals Liverpool, however Arsenal’s is even additional forward of City’s. Their 20.75 xGA is why so many nonetheless imagine they will leapfrog Jürgen Klopp’s males and declare their first Premier League since 2003-04.

After all, defences win titles.

VIZ – Salah’s Shooting Gallery

If defences win titles, then Mohamed Salah clearly believes the very best type of defence is as a lot attacking as humanly potential.

Liverpool’s high goalscorer was decided to attain towards Brighton on Sunday, trying 12 pictures in whole at Anfield.

Eventually, it labored. Salah scored the successful aim in a 2-1 victory that despatched Liverpool high of the desk, ending off a pleasant transfer with a sometimes emphatic end in entrance of the Kop.

Up to that time it had been a irritating afternoon for the Egyptian, although. Liverpool fell behind to an early Danny Welbeck aim, earlier than Luis Díaz equalised following Salah’s header again into the field after a nook.

His 12 pictures have been Salah’s most in a single recreation within the Premier League, on his 254th look within the competitors for each Chelsea and Liverpool. Overall, it was probably the most pictures tried by a participant in a Premier League match since Zlatan Ibrahimovic in October 2016 for Manchester United vs Burnley (12).

Of his 12 pictures vs Brighton, 4 have been on course they usually amassed 1.5 xG general.

In whole, Salah has tried 82 pictures within the Premier League this season (together with blocks), with 39 on course. Only Erling Haaland (44) and Ollie Watkins (40) have hit the goal extra usually, whereas his shot conversion fee of 19.5% is best than every of Haaland (19.0%), Watkins (18.0%) and Dominic Solanke (18.4%).

Between Salah and fellow Liverpool attacker Darwin Núñez, the Reds have loads of firepower and their quantity of pictures is unlikely to die down any time quickly. Núñez has tried 88 pictures himself, additionally hitting the goal with 39, so Liverpool’s opponents can anticipate to be saved busy between now and the top of the season.

Whether it takes one shot or 12, supply Salah the possibility to attain a successful aim and he certainly gained’t thoughts how lengthy it takes.

QUIZ – Palmer Proficient, Solanke Strikes, and Brighton Beaten

The Premier League’s return introduced extra objectives, extra drama, and extra ammo for the very best footy quiz on the planet… most likely. Here’s your 5 mind teasers for this week. Answers within the normal place on the backside.

1. Chelsea’s Cole Palmer grew to become the primary Chelsea participant to attain in 5 consecutive Premier League dwelling video games for the Blues since who in December 2014?

2. Which participant who discovered the online on the weekend within the Premier League has now recorded probably the most headed objectives within the competitors this season with 5?

3. Bournemouth’s Dominic Solanke has scored 16 Premier League objectives this season, the joint-most ever scored for the Cherries throughout a single season within the competitors alongside who in 2016-17?

4. Manchester United have confronted 20+ pictures in 11 totally different Premier League matches this time period. Who are the one crew to face as many extra usually?

5. Since the beginning of December, Brighton (6) have misplaced the second-most away video games within the Premier League. Indeed, the Seagulls have gained simply 5 factors on the highway on this interval (W1 D2 L6). Who are the one crew to have misplaced extra away video games on this time?

Ask Opta

This week’s query involves us through electronic mail from Paul Heighton, who asks: “Can you tell me who is the most fouled player for each Premier League team this season?”

Do you will have a stat-based query you’d like Opta to reply in a future version of SVQ? Email us at editors@theanalyst.com or message us on X @OptaAnalyst with #AskOpta and we’ll decide the very best one.

Answer:

We can certainly, Paul. Here you go:

• Arsenal – Bukayo Saka (52)
• Aston Villa – John McGinn (52)
• Bournemouth – Dominic Solanke (32)
• Brentford – Yoane Wissa (43)
• Brighton – João Pedro (43)
• Burnley – Josh Cullen (38)
• Chelsea – Conor Gallagher (38)
• Crystal Palace – Jordan Ayew (83)
• Everton – Amadou Onana (40)
• Fulham – João Palhinha (50)
• Liverpool – Alexis Mac Allister (38)
• Luton – Chiedozie Ogbene/Tahith Chong (47)
• Manchester City – Phil Foden (47)
• Manchester United – Alejandro Garnacho (44)
• Newcastle – Bruno Guimarães (83)
• Nottingham Forest – Morgan Gibbs-White (46)
• Sheffield United – James McAtee (26)
• Tottenham – James Maddison (55)
• West Ham – Mohammed Kudus (56)
• Wolves – Matheus Cunha/Rayan Aït-Nouri (37)

What Are We as much as at Opta Analyst?

Here’s a number of the newest data-driven choices you could find on our web site:

 Manchester City 0-0 Arsenal Stats: Stalemate on the Etihad Leaves the Title Race Wide Open

 Liverpool 2-1 Brighton Stats: Mo Salah Haunts Brighton Again as Hosts Go Top

 Who Will Win the Premier League in 2023-24?

 How Pep Guardiola Expertly Manages Manchester City’s Surprisingly Shallow Squad

 Championship Predictions: Ipswich Rise to the Top as Leicester and Leeds Drop Points

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Both video games are powered by the Opta Player Ratings, a measure that takes into consideration over 100 totally different metrics to offer an correct efficiency rating (out of 100) for each participant in a single match.

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Quiz Answers

1. Eden Hazard

2. Chris Wood

3. Josh King

4. Sheffield United (12)

5. Brentford (8)

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