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Premier League Fixture Difficulty, Maidstone Madness, and FA Cup Questions

Premier League Fixture Difficulty, Maidstone Madness, and FA Cup Questions

Everton Target Johan Bakayoko Could Depart Before Deadline

Stat, Viz, Quiz is the weekly Opta Analyst soccer e-newsletter. Our newest version consists of numbers on the FA Cup and the Premier League.


After having Premier League soccer right here, there, and all over the place in December, January has been a relative drought of English top-flight motion.

With FA Cup, EFL Cup and the winter break, there have been simply 12 Premier League video games in January to date, however don’t fear; loads extra are on the way in which.

Tuesday noticed the beginning of a midweek set of fixtures because the title race and relegation battle proceed, and we’re going to see who has the toughest and best upcoming run of video games over the subsequent few weeks.

The magic of the FA Cup was effectively and actually on present on the weekend as plucky Manchester United overcame the irresistible power of Newport County… oh sorry, we imply Maidstone United managed to beat Ipswich Town. The achievement was unimaginable, the stats had been much more so, and we’ll check out a few of them proper now.

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STAT Maidstone Magic

On your 2024 bingo card we wager you didn’t have ‘Ed Sheeran’s weekend is ruined by former Wolves left-back George Elokobi’.

That’s what occurred on Saturday although as Elokobi’s Maidstone United remarkably beat Ipswich 2-1 at Portman Road to advance to the fifth spherical of the FA Cup.

An unimaginable achievement from the National League South (sixth tier) facet, particularly to beat Kieran McKenna’s in-form Ipswich on their dwelling turf, one thing solely beforehand achieved this season by Leeds United and Fulham.

Unsurprisingly, the Championship outfit dominated when it comes to probabilities. Their 38 photographs produced only one aim, although, whereas Maidstone’s two photographs got here with a 100% conversion fee.

Ipswich v Maidstone stats

Only one sport in English soccer has matched that chasm in distinction for photographs this season, which was Sheppey United internet hosting Walsall within the first spherical of the FA Cup. The League Two facet had 39 photographs to simply three from their Isthmian League opponents, although did run out 4-1 winners.

In reality, there isn’t any sport in English soccer on report the place a crew that has taken at the very least 36 extra photographs than their opponent has misplaced, although Plymouth Argyle had been overwhelmed 3-2 by Dagenham and Redbridge in League Two in April 2016 regardless of having had 30 extra makes an attempt at aim (36-6).

Liverpool needed to depend on penalties to beat Carlisle United in September 2015 within the League Cup after a 1-1 draw regardless of having 52 extra photographs than their opponents (58-6), although that included half-hour of extra-time.

In the Premier League in January 2014, Chelsea had been compelled to accept a 0-0 draw towards West Ham regardless of having 39 photographs towards their London rivals, who themselves managed only one effort all sport.

Maidstone’s achievement will go down in historical past, and although they weren’t rewarded with a fifth-round tie towards Premier League opposition, will most likely fancy their probabilities of repeating their feat towards both Sheffield Wednesday or Coventry City.

We’ll hold an eye fixed out for that, in addition to Sheeran’s new album, titled: ‘Jammy Jammy Maidstone’.


VIZ Now is the Winter of Our Discontent… on the Fixture List

Premier League Fixture Difficulty
Viz by Jonny Whitmore

We’re a couple of video games into the second half of the season and the Premier League is shaping up properly.

Liverpool and Manchester City are threatening to make it one other traditional race for the title, whereas Arsenal, Aston Villa and Tottenham will nonetheless maintain out hope of muscling their means in.

The relegation struggle can be hotting up, with the three promoted sides nonetheless making up the underside trio, however Luton specifically are near dragging Everton, Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace into the darkish locations of the Premier League.

Who is likeliest to rack up the factors over the subsequent few weeks, then? We’ve seemed on the fixture problem for every crew primarily based on the inserting of their upcoming opponents within the Opta Power Rankings.

Brentford have Ivan Toney again, which is simply as effectively seeing as they’ve the hardest run of video games arising. They face Man City, Spurs and Liverpool within the subsequent 5 video games. In reality, due to their re-arranged sport from December, they really face City twice.

Burnley could discover it troublesome to enhance their survival hopes as in addition they play City and Liverpool in addition to Arsenal, whereas Everton might get dragged into the relegation zone given they’ve the fourth-toughest run arising.

Man City and Liverpool are amongst these with a simpler-looking fixture record, although Jürgen Klopp’s males will now not be internet hosting Luton on the ultimate weekend of February on account of their participation within the EFL Cup remaining.

The supposed ‘easiest’ run of video games belongs to Brighton, who face 4 of the underside six of their subsequent 5.

Championship fixture difficulty

In the Championship, new Swansea boss Luke Williams has his work reduce out with the toughest run of video games arising, whereas backside facet Rotherham might want to drastically enhance their performances to not be left even additional adrift.

Ipswich might be able to console themselves after their shock FA Cup loss with a run of video games seen because the third-easiest in England’s second tier, whereas Blackburn apparently have the best.


QUIZ Fourth-Round Facts

Things aside from Maidstone’s win occurred within the FA Cup fourth spherical, with sufficient ammo for us to tease your mind for an additional week. Answers on the backside of the web page.

1. Nathan Aké ended Manchester City’s aim drought on the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, scoring of their sixth match on the floor towards Spurs. How many photographs throughout all video games did it take City to attain that aim? A) 62, B) 82, or C) 102?

2. Leicester City’s Jamie Vardy scored his first FA Cup aim since March 2018 when he headed in towards Birmingham on Saturday. Who was his final strike within the competitors towards?

3. Since the beginning of final season, Dan Burn is only one of three Newcastle United gamers to attain within the Premier League, UEFA Champions League, EFL Cup and now FA Cup, together with which two teammates?

4. Liverpool’s 5-2 win over Norwich on Sunday made it six wins of their final seven FA Cup video games at Anfield (D1). Who was the final crew to beat them on their very own floor within the competitors?

5. Antony grabbed a aim and help in Man Utd’s 4-2 win at Newport. It was his twenty third look of the marketing campaign and the Brazilian’s first aim for the membership in 32 appearances since netting towards who again in April 2023?


Ask Opta

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 one of the best one.


What Are We as much as at Opta Analyst?

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Quiz Answers

1. C) 102

2. Chelsea

3. Alexander Isak and Sean Longstaff

4. West Brom in January 2018 (3-2)

5. Nottingham Forest


Before you go…

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