Numbers – Ole Gunnar Solskjaer tastes first defeat, Lionel Messi scores in 800th game

Steve Nicol breaks down Manchester United’s first Premier League loss under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, a 2-0 defeat at Arsenal.

Craig Burley and Alejandro Moreno were in full agreement that Raheem Sterling’s first goal against Watford should never have been allowed to stand.

Steve Nicol examines what is behind Mohamed Salah’s recent struggles and what he and Jurgen Klopp can do to sort the issues out.

Despite another routine win for Barcelona in La Liga, questions remain over Philippe Coutinho who underwhelmed again for the Spanish giants.

Luuk De Jong scored his 21st league goal of the season as PSV Eindhoven remain in control of top spot in the Dutch Eredivisie.

While Liverpool kept pace with Manchester City, Arsenal beat Manchester United to keep the top four race alive. In La Liga, Barcelona continued their dominance, while Kareem Benzema helped Real Madrid get back to winning ways after their humiliating Champions League defeat. Elsewhere, Juventus remained unbeaten in the league, while Bayern Munich scored six against Wolfsburg to leapfrog Dortmund to the top of the Bundesliga. Here are the best numbers from the weekend’s action.


0

Juventus are still the only unbeaten team in league play this season among Europe’s Top 5 leagues (24-0-3, W-L-D). They beat Udinese 4-1 on Friday and lead Serie A by 18 points with 11 games to go.

1

Manchester United suffered their first league loss of the season under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (10-1-2) against Arsenal on Sunday. This also ended Man United’s club record run of nine successive away victories in all competitions.

Also, 15: Arsenal’s 2-0 win takes them to 15 home league matches without defeat (W13, D2), including winning the last 9.

800

Lionel Messi scored in his 800th career game for club and country in Barcelona’s 3-1 win over Rayo Vallecano on Sunday. He previously scored in his 100th, 300th, 400th, 600th and 700th career games.

Messi, who also assisted the first goal, still leads the top five European leagues in goals (26) and assists (12).

10

Wolves now have 10 points (2-3-4/W-L-D) against the Big 6 clubs this season (MAN, MNC, LIV, CHE, ASN, TOT), the most by any team outside the Big 6. They conceded late to share a point against Chelsea in a 1-1 draw on Sunday.

Also, 12: Raúl Jiménez scored his 12th Premier League goal of the season in Wolves’ 1-1 draw on Sunday. He is now one shy of tying Javier Hernández for the most in a single season by a Mexican player.

The 12 goals by Jimenez also equals the Wolves’ Premier League record in a single campaign (Steven Fletcher).

19

Krzysztof Piatek is now tied with Cristiano Ronaldo as Serie A’s second-best scorer. His winner in AC Milan’s 2-1 win over Chievo Verona on Saturday was his 19th of the season.

23

Raheem Sterling’s hat-trick in the 3-1 win against Watford was the 23rd by a Manchester City player in the Premier League. They are now tied with Tottenham for the 5th-most by a club.

Also, 32: Sterling has now scored 32 Premier League goals over the last two seasons after scoring just 31 in his previous six seasons combined.

24

Eden Hazard has been directly involved in 24 Premier League goals this season (13 goals, 11 assists), a new career high (had 23 in 2014-15). Hazard scored in the 92nd minute to save a point for Chelsea against Wolves on Sunday.

36

Liverpool are now unbeaten in last 36 home Premier League games (26-0-10). Only Chelsea (86) and Man City (37) have longer unbeaten home streaks in PL.

Also, 73: Liverpool have now tied for the most points in 30 top-flight games in the club’s history. The last time it happened was in the 1987-88 season when they won the title.

100

Jamie Vardy scored his 100th goal for Leicester City in all competitions, as Leicester beat Fulham 3-1 on Saturday. He becomes the first player to achieve the feat for the Foxes since Gary Lineker.

125

Harry Kane’s 125th career Premier League goal ties him with Nicolas Anelka for 15th-most all-time, one shy of tying Robbie Keane for 14th. Kane scored in Spurs’ 2-1 defeat at Southampton. 

196

Robert Lewandowski’s brace in Bayern Munich’s 6-0 beating of Wolfsburg made him Bundesliga’s all-time leading foreign goal scorer, passing Claudio Pizarro (196 goals).

(Statistics courtesy ESPN Stats & Information)

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