Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s 19 carries in opposition to Brighton’s backline on the opening weekend stays probably the most by any Premier League participant this season. Within the 4-0 loss to Tottenham, there have been 17 extra gamers. He ranks among the many prime runners on offense.
You would not discover it even watching the sport on TV – Everton’s forwards are not often within the image. His aspect have conceded seven objectives of their first two video games with none counterattacks, whereas Calvert-Lewin has managed only one shot. That was blocked.
He’s one in every of solely two Premier League middle forwards to begin two video games to this point with out having a shot heading in the right direction. One other is Ipswich’s Liam Delap, who can a minimum of level to the standard of the opponents his aspect face – Liverpool and Manchester Metropolis.
Calvert-Lewin can nonetheless declare their service was worse. Even Delap has extra publicity. When the ball did attain Calvert-LeVine, his scenario barely improved. This story is instructed by the second spectrum with the assistance of monitoring knowledge.
There’s a metric that calculates the variety of passing choices accessible to a participant after they achieve possession of the ball. Calvert-Lewin averaged 0.96 passing choices when he received the ball, and he was one in every of solely 4 gamers to begin two video games averaging lower than a single passing possibility.
No marvel his anticipated go completion charge (which calculates the issue of the go) is barely 57.3%. That is the bottom of any Premier League participant. Apparently, Jordan Pickford ranks third on this metric. Everton’s lengthy passing soccer simply does not work.
Some are shocked that Calvert-Lewin has been linked with a transfer away from Everton, given his poor kind and issues over his health. However analyzing the numbers, it is easy to think about that he may appear like a really totally different participant on a group that may discover his operating recreation.
Odegaard places stress on Arsenal
Martin Odegaard was extra artistic in Arsenal’s aspect than he was in Saturday’s 2-0 win over Aston Villa, however his urgent led to seven possession errors in Arsenal’s favour. He additionally completed 16 occasions in his first recreation in opposition to Wolves.
No participant has helped his group win the ball again by extra pressings this season than Odegaard. In complete, he has been concerned in 133 emergencies. These figures are often related to workhorses slightly than present horses.
After all, the Arsenal captain can be able to dazzling on the ball. He created 88 possibilities within the recreation final season, probably the most of any participant within the Premier League. However Mikel Arteta is aware of his capacity on the ball is simply as necessary to the Gunners.
Pereira’s set piece for Fulham
Surprisingly, Fulham created the second most nook kick possibilities amongst Premier League groups final season, behind solely Liverpool. That is no shock if you have a look at the passing qualities of their midfielder Andreas Pereira.
The Brazilian has as soon as once more been excellent within the first few weeks of the season, creating 9 possibilities from set items. For context, that quantity is greater than double that of different Premier League gamers. It has change into the primary weapon of Marco Silva’s aspect.
Southampton’s passive go
Unusually, the newly promoted aspect have made probably the most passes within the Premier League to this point this season. Russell Martin’s Southampton have scored 1,305 objectives, forward of defending champions Manchester Metropolis.
Nevertheless, whereas Metropolis had six objectives and 6 factors, Southampton had nothing. That is stunning given the context of their two video games to this point. They’ve performed with Newcastle’s 10 gamers for simply over an hour and face Nottingham Forest at house.
It was a deserved defeat at St Mary’s too. The Saints had 65% of the ball, however solely 18% of their photographs. It is price noting that regardless of their dominance of possession, solely three groups – Ipswich, Leicester Metropolis and Everton – have decrease anticipated objectives totals to this point.
Southampton common 683 passes per anticipated aim, way over any group apart from Ipswich City. Already too passive. However do not count on Martin to vary that method. He defined in an unique interview sky sports activities earlier than the brand new season arrives.
“For me, it is loopy and illogical to enter the Premier League after which utterly change it. We nonetheless need to have the intention of desirous to have the ball – we simply need to do higher. I do not suppose we keep up late and look unhealthy as a result of that is not who we’re. .
Whether or not they can keep up and play like that is the query. Martin factors to Forest’s excellence within the closing third, however the statistics counsel it is a query of creativity slightly than ending. There weren’t sufficient threats in these 1,305 passes.