Premier League Matchday 34 rundown

Matchday 34 of the Premier League saw no change at the top, although Manchester City put in a display showing why they're number one. Burnley gave more life to their survival hopes, and Newcastle's win now has them incredibly in the top 10.

The Premier League season is starting to rundown, but the fights around the league are only getting stronger.

Manchester City and Liverpool both know they need to be perfect if they want any chance of beating the other, the race for fourth has taken many twists and turns, and the relegation battle is getting hotter and hotter.

Matchday 34 provided some good contests and produced even better results. City kept their grip on the top spot, but Liverpool put on a display that was just as good for them as it was terrible for Everton.

By drawing 0-0 with Brentford, Tottenham surrendered fourth place, with Arsenal now assuming the position after their solid victory over another rival in the fight, Manchester United.

There were other results that have had implications on the various fights around the league, but that can be better explained by giving a rundown of how Matchday 34 went this weekend.

 

The Premier League season is starting to rundown, but the fights around the league are only getting stronger.

Manchester City and Liverpool both know they need to be perfect if they want any chance of beating the other, the race for fourth has taken many twists and turns, and the relegation battle is getting hotter and hotter.

Matchday 34 provided some good contests and produced even better results. City kept their grip on the top spot, but Liverpool put on a display that was just as good for them as it was terrible for Everton.

By drawing 0-0 with Brentford, Tottenham surrendered fourth place, with Arsenal now assuming the position after their solid victory over another rival in the fight, Manchester United.

There were other results that have had implications on the various fights around the league, but that can be better explained by giving a rundown of how Matchday 34 went this weekend.

 

21 Goals

A good total of 21 goals for the weekend. Not the strongest weekend but also not the weakest.

The highest scoring game of the weekend was the Manchester City vs Watford matchup, which saw six goals in total, five for City in particular.

The weekend average for goals per game was 2.33, which is a rate matched or bettered by five of the games played.

 

23 xG

A disappointing result by xG standards, as the weekend underachieves by its expected goal rate by a difference of exactly two goals.

It is actually a bit surprising that the weekend underachieved, as only two teams didn't matchup to their xG rate. 

Chelsea were expected 2.8 goals and only scored once, and Manchester United were in similar vein, scoring just once from a 2.1 xG.

In contrast, seven teams overachieved by their xG. So it is a wonder how collectively they ended up in the negative.

 

Possession: Liverpool, 83%

Liverpool came away with a positive result in the Merseyside derby, beating Everton 2-0 and keeping the pressure on Manchester City.

While it didn't seem like a completely straight-forward game for Liverpool having watched it play out, the stats show an incredibly one-sided affair.

83% possession is unheard of. Any time a team is in the 70s it's a big deal, but 83 is ludicrous. Everton barely had the ball.

The Reds also held Everton to 55% pass accuracy, with only 193 attempts and 106 making their intended target. Liverpool, with all their possession, had an 86% pass accuracy, making 723 of 838 passes.

 

Saves: 80%, Fraser Forster (Southampton)

Fraser Forster is in incredible form right now, and he kept up his strong performances this weekend.

He conceded two goals but only let in one shot, as the second goal for Brighton was a Mohammed Salisu own goal. 

Four saves from five shots on target is a good showing for the Englishman, and he is making a bid right now to be one of the keepers going to Qatar as part of the England squad later in the year for the World Cup.

Southampton's form has been very shaky as of late. An embarrassing 6-0 loss to Chelsea at home was followed by a victory over Arsenal, which in turn was then succeeded by another loss, this time to Burnley. Now a draw Brighton, it is a point for the Saints but they have got to figure out some kind of form as soon as possible.

 

Best team performance: Manchester City

Manchester City put in a performance fit for the potential champions of the league.

The Citizens ran riot on Watford, scoring five goals while only allowing one. They held 73% possession, and with it managed 88% pass accuracy on 635 made passes from 720 attempts. They also held Watford to 73%, making 195 passes from 267 attempts.

20 shots in total with seven hitting the target gave them a 35% shot accuracy rate. Watford's was higher, at 40%, but on two of five shots.

A good showing overall from City keeps them at the top and makes an example of why they are there.

 

Best player performance: Gabriel Jesus (4 goals, 1 assist)

Within Man City's impressive performance was one standout, and really not the one you'd expect. Gabriel Jesus exploded for what is surely his best performance in the City shirt, scoring four of their five goals and assisting the other to Rodri.

Jesus had five shots in total, with three of them hitting the target (one of his goals was a penalty, which doesn't count towards a shot or shot on target on fbref).

He had eight shot creating actions, five goal creating actions, and held a solid 86% pass completion rate, making 37 of his 43 passes as well as five progressive passes.

 

Surprise result: Burnley 1-0 Wolves

Burnley pulled off another result to keep their hopes of survival alive. This victory comes in as the surprise result as it was against one of the strongest defensive teams in the league in Wolves.

Burnley's goal went somewhat off the run of play, based off of what the stats are showing. Starting with possession, Wolves held the advantage with 64%.

Passing went their way, too. 516 passes made from 625 attempted for 83% pass accuracy. Burnley's rate was 265 from 352 for 75% pass accuracy.

It was the shooting that went slightly Burnley's way, though. Five shots on target from 13 shots (38%) compared to Wolves' four and 10 (40%). The percentage goes Wolves' way but Burnley had more attempted and on target, and ultimately in the end it made the difference.

Both keepers made four saves, but of course Jose Sa from Wolves didn't save all five shots and thus Burnley took the three points.