Man City’s poor run continues: Stats and stories you might have missed from Saturday’s 3pms
There were only three games in Saturday’s 3pm kick-off slot for the Premier League. But there were 11 goals across the matches.
Saturday got off to the delayed start with the Merseyside Derby between Everton and Liverpool at Goodison Park postponed due to the weather.
It meant that a five-game matchday was cut to four. And three of those were at 3pm. Manchester City were hoping to close the gap on Liverpool when they travelled to Selhurst Park to take on Crystal Palace.
Elsewhere, Brentford hosted Newcastle United while Aston Villa took on relegation-battling Southampton.
Here are the biggest stats and stories you might have missed.
Man City’s disastrous run continues
Oh dear. It seems Man City’s midweek win over Nottingham Forest was a bit of a false dawn. The Citizens ended their losing Premier League streak in midweek, and fans hoped that would be it. Now was the chance for them to return to winning ways.
But Man City had to come from behind twice to take a point from Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park. Pep Guardiola’s side have won more points from losing positions than any other side in the Premier League this season. But a draw will still feel like points dropped.
Defence has been Man City’s biggest problem of late, and the switch from Ederson to Stefan Ortega hasn’t made much difference. Man City have now conceded at least two goals in four consecutive Premier League away games for the first time since 2011.
Then, Man City drew 2-2 with Birmingham City before losing 2-1 to Manchester United, 2-0 to Chelsea and 3-0 to Liverpool. This time around they’ve suffered 2-1 defeats to Bournemouth and Brighton, and a 2-0 loss to Liverpool before drawing 2-2 with Palace.
Mixed emotions for Rico Lewis
Rico Lewis was the point-saver for Man City, scoring their second equaliser. We shouldn’t have been surprised.
The youngster loves playing against Crystal Palace. And he loves scoring against them. All three of Lewis’ Premier League goals have come against Palace, scoring home and away against them last season.
But Lewis then put his team at risk of losing. Lewis was sent off for two yellow cards late on, though some may feel he was unlucky with the second.
Nonetheless, Lewis is just the second player to score and be sent off in a Premier League game for Man City under Pep Guardiola, after Raheem Sterling against Bournemouth in 2017.
Home comforts for Mbeumo and Wissa
Bryan Mbeumo hadn’t scored five Premier League games, a poor run considering his start to the season. But that’s because three of those matches were away from home.
The Cameroon international has scored nine goals in the Premier League this season, with eight coming at home. No player in the Premier League has scored more home goals than Mbeumo this season.
He’s joined on eight by teammate Yoane Wissa, who scored Brentford’s second in their 4-2 win over Newcastle. The Congolese striker has been fantastic this season, particularly at home.
Like Mbeumo, Wissa has only scored one goal away from home in the league this season. But he has scored in every home game he’s played in, missing two due to injury. Wissa, meanwhile, has scored or assisted in all but one of his home league appearances.
Most Premier League goals scored at the Gtech Community Stadium for Brentford:
◎ 19 – Ivan Toney
◉ 19 – Yoane WissaWissa has now scored in each of his last seven PL home games. 👀 pic.twitter.com/o2BEVnsU2Y
— Squawka (@Squawka) December 7, 2024
BetMGM sign-up offer: Get £40 in bonuses when you bet £10
Not signed up to BetMGM yet? Here's how eligible readers* can take advantage of their welcome offer:
- Open an account at BetMGM using this link.
- Select the Sports Welcome Offer.
- Get the offer from the ‘My Offers’ page.
- Deposit and place a £10 bet at odds of 1/1 (2.0) or greater.
- When it settles, unlock £40 in bonuses
New customers only. 7 days to place qualifying bet of £10+ at 1/1 (2.0) to receive 4 x £10 Free Bets: 1 x £10 Acca, 1 x £10 Horse Racing, 1 x £10 Football, 1 x £10 Bet Builder. 7 day expiry. Exclusions apply. Stake not returned. 18+. T&Cs apply.
Gtech Community Stadium is the place to be
Brentford love playing at home. If the Premier League was just played at home, they’d win the league.
The Bees have taken 22 points from a possible 24 at home in the league this season, more than any other team. On the road, it’s the complete opposite. They’ve only won one point from a possible 21 away from home. It’s the biggest difference between home and away results in the Premier League this season.
And they’ve been treating their home fans. Brentford have scored 26 goals at the Gtech Community Stadium in the Premier League this season, more than any other side. They’ve also conceded 14 goals, the fourth-most of any home side in the Premier League.
The 40 goals scored at the Gtech Community Stadium is 11 more than any other Stadium, ahead of Molineux on 29.
Jhon Duran: Super starter?
Jhon Duran has made a name for himself as a super sub. While he has been useful, the Colombian will have no doubt been annoyed that he had to rely on substitute appearances.
Against Southampton on Saturday, Duran was given his first Premier League start of the season and just the fourth in his career. In his three starts last season, Duran scored one goal, netting an equaliser in their eventual 4-1 defeat to Man City.
This season, Duran is one for one when it comes to goals in Premier League starts. The Colombian opened the scoring for Aston Villa against Southampton, capitalising on some uncertain defending. Across all competitions, Duran has scored on all four of his starts.
Southampton hit double figures
Southampton are league leaders this season. But not in the way they’d want to be.
Russell Martin’s men have been their own worst enemies this season, with the second-worst defence in the Premier League. Saints have conceded 31 goals, and 10 have been of their own doing.
Southampton are the first side to hit double figures for errors leading to goal in the Premier League this season. In fact, they’re the first in Europe’s top five leagues.
Taylor Harwood-Bellis was the man to make the error against Villa, his second leading to a goal this season. He’s one of three players with two errors leading to goals, joining Flynn Downes and Alex McCarthy.
Southampton have already matched the most errors leading to goals for last season in the Premier League, with Brentford making 10.
