Manchester City are top by one over Manchester United, and Arsenal third, but the table sums up Liverpool’s desperate season, with Stoke City bottom and Aston Villa high climbers.
We are all familiar with how the Premier League table works, three points for a win, and goal difference the separator.
But how would it look if goals scored from open play – no set pieces or penalties – was the only factor?
Wonder no further, for here it is…
1) Manchester City – 56 goals
2) Manchester United – 55
3) Arsenal – 49
4) Tottenham – 43
5) Newcastle – 36
6) Chelsea – 36
7) Aston Villa – 28
8) Sunderland – 27
9) Fulham – 27
10) Norwich – 27
11) Everton – 25
12) QPR – 25
13) Swansea -25
14) Wolves – 21
15) West Brom – 21
16) Blackburn – 19
17) Bolton – 19
18) Liverpool – 19
19) Wigan – 17
20) Stoke – 11
Our analysis: While the top three is no surprise, and City and United only separated by one goal, further down the table the statistics are quite revealing. Liverpool currently sit in eighth position in the Premier League, but by this formula, they would be fighting off relegation. For a side which was once freescoring, netting four goals past Real Madrid in 2009, they have seriously struggled for goals this season. They have had, as Kenny Dalglish calls it, ‘terrible luck’ in front of goal, hitting the woodwork on many occasions, but over a whole season there is clearly no luck involved, just poor finishing. How they could do with a Nikica Jelavic to put the chances away.
Aston Villa have struggled for goals from set pieces, but when it comes to scoring from open play, they are one of the more productive teams in the league, the seventh best in fact, belying their league position of 15th. By the same token, already relegated Wolves would be clear of the drop, scoring only six less, the 14th highest.
Taking their place would be Stoke City, who have scored a paltry 11 goals from open play. Stoke have been trying to battle off their reputation as a side reliant on set-pieces, with wingers Jermaine Pennant and Matty Etherington creating chances from each wing. It has failed to be effective in terms of attacking football, according to these figures, with 11 goals a poor return and the worst in the league. It demonstrates that they are wholly reliant on set pieces when it comes to scoring the goals which have taken them to 14th in the league.
Swansea have gained lots of plaudits for their attacking, passing football, but when it comes to scoring goals from open play, they are hardly the most efficient, sitting in the bottom of the league. Adding a goalscoring striker in addition to Danny Graham up front will a major priority for Brendan Rodgers in the summer as he looks to build on a promising season.
What does the table tell you?
image: © Ronnie Macdonald
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