Thread by @BigManBakar

The Review: GW 5 - A thread

Greetings all, welcome to the latest edition of The Review. Presented below is an overview of my statistical analysis of the Premier League action in GW 5: #FPL

1) No forward has had as many big chances come his way as Chelsea’s Tammy Abraham over the past two gameweeks. The Chelsea forward has 5 big chances to his credit during this spell, which is more than double the amount any notable forward has managed to record – barring...

...the exception of Aguero and Wilson. Hence, it comes as no surprise that Abraham has the highest/best xGi (expected goal involvement) out of all forwards to have started the previous two games as well...

...With a budget-friendly price tag and favorable fixtures after Liverpool to follow, Abraham could represent great value for money.

2) This is starting to become a regular feature in my articles but at the cost of repeating myself, no player in the entire game has created as many chances as Trent Alexander Arnold has over the past 2 gameweeks. Trent created 7 chances in the Newcastle game alone...

...and was extremely unlucky not to come out of that fixture with FPL points to his credit given that he managed to record 2 big chances too. His fellow full back Robertson managed an assist to his credit, but one could argue that even he...

...was hard done by given that he recorded an astronomical 61 touches in the final third and had a big chance to score from. This now takes Robertson top for all players for touches in the final third over the season.

3) 28 more forwards have recorded more shots inside the box than Harry Kane over the past 4 gameweeks. The England forward has attempted just 3 shots inside the box over this period, and that includes a penalty...

...With the exception of the assist he recorded, he was once again uninvolved in the game against Palace - so much so that even Sheffield United’s keeper Dean Henderson managed to record an xG (expected goals scored ratio) which was double that of Kane’s!

4) No team has conceded fewer big chances than Liverpool have over the past two gameweeks, as can be seen in the xGc (expected goals conceded) data over this period where Liverpool are ranked top. For all the defensive frailties witnessed in the first few games, it finally...

...looks like Klopp has sorted the defence out. However, it’s worth mentioning that Liverpool faced Newcastle and Burnley over this period - attacks that are hardly inspiring, and with tougher fixtures on the horizon it will be interesting to see how the defence copes...

...Man United recorded a clean sheet this weekend too, which was just their second of the season. That’s a bit surprising when you look at it purely from a statistical point of view...

...United’s defensive numbers over the season have been very impressive as they sit best for xGc and have conceded the least amount of big chances too.

5) 1 penalty area touch, 1 shot inside the box and no chances created - those stats over the past 2 gameweeks do not make good reading for Burnley’s Ashley Barnes. The Burnley forward was top for big chances and second for shots inside the box after the first 3 gameweeks...

...but his numbers have dipped off late. It’s worth noting that Barnes’ average position has been behind Wood and McNeil in each of the past 2 gameweeks where has he has been uninvolved -contrary to being the most advanced man if not at par with Wood over the first 3 gameweeks...

...Having said that, the fixtures are as good as they get now so Barnes’ numbers in those will be worth keeping an eye on.

6) 15 penalty area touches, 8 chances created (including 1 big chance created), 3 shots inside the box – those are the stats recorded by Gerard Deulofeu in Quique Sanchez’s first game in charge against Arsenal. He was the most advanced Watford player on the pitch as well and...

... with better fixtures to follow from GW 8 onwards, he could be worth keeping on the radar particularly if he keeps on producing such eye-catching stats. On the flip side of the coin, Arsenal continue to struggle defensively - Watford recorded an xG (expected goals ratio)...

...of nearly 3 in this one game alone, which is evident in the xGc (expected goals conceded) table over the past 2 gameweeks where Arsenal are ranked worst.

7)Che Adams is the only player in the league who has accumulated at least one big chance in each of the 5 GW's this season yet has come out with 0 attacking returns to his name.Such level of underperformance is unheard of-surely it’s a matter of time before he breaks this streak!

8) The game that statistically caught my eye the most this weekend was the Norwich-Man City game. It didn’t just stand out purely because of the result, but because chances were aplenty for either side with both sets of attackers racking up their stats. Aguero...

...accumulated 3 big chances while Sterling recorded 15 penalty area touches, 4 chances created (including 2 big chances created), 4 shots inside the box (including 1 big chance) and was particularly unlucky not to come out of the game without any attacking returns to his name...

... despite posting such numbers. Meanwhile, De Bruyne created 3 chances in just 30 minutes and looks set to continue his scintillating form in the weeks to come. However, the bigger story here was Norwich.Their attacking assets continue to impress regardless of the opposition...

... they are up against. Pukki and Cantwell have accumulated 2 big chances each over the past 2 games while Buendia is now ranked 3rd for chances created for midfielders over the season...

...Hence I believe that the likes of Cantwell and Buendia can be decent, cut-price Mount replacements should the Chelsea man be ruled out long term.

Data and numbers taken from @UnderstatXG and @FFScout. Lastly, I’d like to take the opportunity of thanking all the readers of my content, thank you very much for your feedback and for taking the time out to read!