Before attention switches to the upcoming international break, we’ve collated the weekend’s Premier League stats to chew – and stew – on from gameweek 31, including the bonus addition of the Carabao Cup final.
Stats you might have missed
Unlucky 13 for Spurs
- Tottenham have gone 13 league games without a win for the first time in 91 years (1934-35).
Tottenham hit a new nadir after they fell to a shocking 3-0 defeat at home to Nottingham Forest, who jumped two points above them in the table. Spurs remain a point above the relegation zone with seven games remaining.
The defeat stretches Tottenham’s shocking winless start to 2026, having now gone without a win in 13 league games for the first time in a staggering 91 years. Only three clubs have ever endured poorer starts to a year in Premier League history: Derby County (18 points in 2008), Sunderland (17 points in 2003), and Middlesbrough (14 points in 2017).
Iraola United’s devil
- Andoni Iraola has still never lost to Manchester United as either a manager (W2 D4) or a player (W2).
Bournemouth and Manchester United played out an entertaining 2-2 draw on the south coast as the Cherries extended their unbeaten streak to 11 games, while United skipper Bruno Fernandes became the first player to create 100+ chances in Europe’s top five leagues this season.
Bournemouth have now drawn a league high 15 games this season – three more than any other game – with each of their last five games ending all-square.
Meanwhile, Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola has remarkably still never lost in eight games to Man United as either a manager (W2 D4) or a player (W2).
Chelsea’s line-up lottery
- Chelsea have made the most changes (99) to their starting 11 of any club in the Premier League this season.
Everton secured back-to-back Premier League wins at the Hill Dickinson Stadium for the first time after they swept aside Chelsea 3-0. In the process, Beto became the first Toffees player to score two goals in a Premier League game at the stadium.
As for Chelsea, they have lost four games in a row in all competitions, failing to score in three successive games for the first time since September 2023. No side has made more changes to their starting 11 this season than the Blues (99), while their poor form has seen boss Liam Rosenior installed as the joint 5/2 favourite to be the next manager sacked, with bookmakers even reopening the next Chelsea manager odds.
Black Cats prowling
- Sunderland set a new record of 11 straight unbeaten league games in the Tyne-Wear derby.
Sunderland completed a superb double over rivals Newcastle after Brian Brobbey scored a dramatic 90th minute winner to give his side a 2-1 victory at St James’ Park. As a result, the Black Cats are now unbeaten in their last 11 Tyne-Wear league derbies, which is a new record in this fixture.
Sunderland named their second-youngest starting 11 for a Premier League away game against Newcastle (24y 325d) and Chemsdine Talbi (20 years and 317 days) become the youngest player to score for Sunderland against Newcastle in the Premier League.
The ecstasy in the away end was in stark contrast to the devastation of the hosts, whose boss Eddie Howe became the first ever Newcastle manager to lose both of his first two league games against Sunderland.
Welbeck for the World Cup?
- Danny Welbeck has scored more Premier League goals (12) than any other English player this season.
Danny Welbeck missed out on England’s squad for March’s international break, then instantly showed Thomas Tuchel why he could be an outside option for the World Cup after he bagged a brace in Brighton’s 2-1 win at home to Liverpool.
Welbeck is showing that age (35) is just a number with 12 goals so far this season, which puts him fifth in the Golden Boot race, ahead of all of his fellow countrymen. He’s also now one goal off equalling Glenn Murray’s club record tally of 13 goals in a Premier League campaign.
As for Liverpool, they have lost 10 games in a Premier League season for the first time since the 2015/16 campaign and have lost more league games in 2025/26 (10) than in the 2023/24 and 2024/25 seasons combined (8).
Villa hit double century
- Aston Villa became the eighth different club to keep 200+ home clean sheets in the Premier League.
Aston Villa ended a rotten run of three straight league defeats with a convincing 2-0 win at home to West Ham, which reenergised their hopes of a top-4 finish in a weekend that saw defeats for Liverpool and Chelsea, and a draw for Man United.
The added bonus of a clean sheet saw Villa become the eighth different club to keep 200+ shutouts in the Premier League.
Jimenez spot-on
- Raul Jimenez has the best 100% penalty record in Premier League history (14 taken, 14 scored).
Raul Jimenez came off the bench to score a late penalty to give Fulham a 3-1 win at home to Burnley, as the striker extended his 100% penalty record in the Premier League to 14 goals from 14 penalties, which is the best record of its kind in the competition’s history.
The goal also saw Jimenez equal Aleksandar Mitrovic’s tally of 28 Premier League goals for Fulham, a number he’ll fancy his chances of surpassing when the Cottagers return to action in three week’s time.
Meanwhile, Jimenez’s teammate Harry Wilson become only the second British player to score 10+ goals for the Cottagers in a single Premier League campaign, after Andy Cole in 2004-05.
Brentford’s road to points
- Only Arsenal have recorded more Premier League away points than Brentford since 4th December 2025.
Leeds and Brentford shared the points in a goalless draw at Elland Road. While the Bees missed the chance to seriously strengthen their push for a Champions League spot, they claimed another valuable point away from home.
Since 4th December, Keith Andrews’ troops have won five and drawn one of their eight matches on the road, with only Arsenal collecting more points in that time – the Gunners have played a game more – while no side has accrued more away wins during this period.
While Brentford striker Igor Thiago was unable to add to his impressive goal tally, he did win 12 aerial duels during the game, which is the joint most by a Bees player in a Premier League match since their promotion.
Bonus: Pep makes history (again)
A second-half brace from Man City’s young star Nico O’Reilly gave Manchester City a 2-0 win over Arsenal in the Carabao Cup final. No Premier League defender has scored more goals across all competitions this season than the recently turned 21-year-old who has eight goals to his name.
The win saw Pep Guardiola become the first manager to lift five League Cups, surpassing the tallies or Alex Ferguson, Jose Mourinho, and Brian Clough (all on four).
Arsenal, meanwhile, have now lost their last four League Cup finals and have been runners-up a record seven times in the competition.
Mikel Arteta’s decision to play Kepa over David Raya has been heavily scrutinised, but Guardiola got his own keeper decision spot on, as James Trafford – who made a stunning three part save in the first-half – became the youngest English goalkeeper to keep a clean sheet in an EFL Cup final in 48 years (23 years and 163 days old).
The only, very minor, blip was Erling Haaland once again going goalless in a final (ninth) for Man City, while he’s still never scored for the club at Wembley (six games). His goalscoring has notably dried up of late, scoring five in his last 20 games for club and country post-Christmas, compared to 38 in 28 pre-Christmas.
