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Articles by Ryan Benson
Rashford and Emery could be a perfect match at Villa
Marcus Rashford is the latest addition to Aston Villa's forward line, after parting company with Manchester United. In this article, Ryan Benson of Opta Analyst looks at how the striker's loan move could be beneficial for all parties. There was an air of genuine positivity around Manchester United after the 2022/23 season, with Erik ten Hag’s first campaign in charge yielding a first trophy in six years and a return to the UEFA Champions League.
How Fulham have been transformed from yo-yo club to European hopefuls
Once stuck in a cycle of promotion and relegation, Fulham are now firmly established in the Premier League. It's a moment worth savouring for a club that's come a long way, writes Ryan Benson of Opta Analyst. There aren’t many happier places to be in the Premier League right now than Fulham. A feel-good factor is sweeping through the club this season, inspiring positivity, optimism and even ambition. Supporters are delighted.
Kobbie Mainoo Set the Tone on Day Many Expected Everton to Suffocate Man Utd
Few would have envied Manchester United being the first team to go to Goodison Park since Everton were hit with a 10-point deduction, but Kobbie Mainoo – making his full Premier League debut – produced a performance well beyond his years to steer Erik ten Hag’s men to a commendable victory. Manchester United and youth development are intrinsically linked.
La Liga 2023-24 Season Predictions: November Update
With domestic action about to resume following the international break, we provide an update to our La Liga season predictions with Girona the unlikely leaders after 13 rounds. Title Favourites: Real Madrid Top Four: Real Madrid, Barcelona, Atlético Madrid, Girona Relegation Candidates: Celta Vigo, Granada, Almería Suffice to say, when we asked the Opta supercomputer to predict how La Liga 2023-24 would play out in pre-season, it didn’t chuck out Girona as potential title winners.
The Premier League's All-Time Leading Goalscorers
It’s a record that hasn’t changed hands since December 1993; these are the Premier League’s all-time leading goalscorers… Incredibly, Alan Shearer will have been the Premier League’s all-time leading scorer for 30 years in December. Obviously his 260 goals were stretched over a much greater period than just August 1992-December 1993, but it was then that he got himself out in front and no one has overtaken him since.
Takes Two to Tango: Premier League 2023-24’s Deadliest Duos
Every superhero needs a sidekick; we delved into the numbers to bring you the most fruitful player partnerships in the Premier League this season. It’s all well and good having one superstar player who’s head and shoulders above the rest of the team in terms of ability, but what truly maximises that talent is being on the same wavelength as others.
The Definitive Guide to Dribblers
Have you ever wondered about the data behind dribbling? Of course you have, and now you’re in luck because we’ve delved into the stats from the past 10 seasons to provide you with the definitive guide to dribblers. Dribbling; perhaps the purest form of football artistry and one of the chief identifiers of technical prowess, it’s been the trump card of many of the sport’s all-time greats.
Premier League: 5 Knee-Jerk Reactions to The Weekend's Action
From lauding a couple of Chelsea wingers to suggesting Tottenham’s title tilt is over, we’re back with our latest snap judgements to the Premier League’s weekend action. What a day Sunday turned out to be for a couple of former Manchester City wingers, in Raheem Sterling and Cole Palmer. The latter had been the subject of much of the pre-match build-up following his move to Chelsea, and he went on to score the final goal in a pulsating 4-4 draw.
Bruno Fernandes is the Most Relied-Upon Creator in the Premier League
With Manchester United going through a rough patch, we look at one of the reasons for their struggles: an over-reliance on Bruno Fernandes. We’ll probably never know if Bruno Fernandes’ dramatic late winner away to Fulham last weekend spared Erik ten Hag from getting sacked, but the Portuguese midfielder being the one to save the day fittingly summed up his Manchester United career to date. He almost repeated the feat in the Champions League on Wednesday.
How Anthony Gordon Went From Misfit to Key Player
Anthony Gordon’s start to life at Newcastle was anything but smooth. This season, however, he’s arguably been their best player; so what’s changed? Head down, Anthony Gordon trudged towards the touchline and aggressively slapped the hand of Matt Ritchie as he was replaced, his disappointment obvious. Having already come off the bench during the match, he was suffering the ignominy of being taken off again.
Arsenal vs Sevilla Prediction
After successive defeats, Mikel Arteta hopes his team can bounce back in the Champions League. Look ahead with our Arsenal vs Sevilla prediction and preview. The odds are very much in Arsenal’s favour here, with Mikel Arteta’s side winning 66.2% of simulations ahead of the match. Sevilla haven’t won any of their last eight away Champions League matches since a 2-1 win at Old Trafford in 2018. Arsenal could secure their passage to the knockouts on Wednesday, but only if they win and Lens beat PSV.
The Youngest Scorers in Champions League History
With Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal setting sights on a European record, we look at the youngest scorers in Champions League history. The UEFA Champions League is the playground of the elite and the greats, so that only makes it even more satisfying when a young talent bursts on to the scene at the highest level. The record for the youngest scorer ever in the Champions League belonged to one player for 22 years from October 1997 until December 2019, when Ansu Fati wrote his name in the history books.
The Grim Numbers That Suggest Ten Hag is Running Out of Time
Manchester United were humbled again on Wednesday, this time by Newcastle United. Erik ten Hag now appears closer than ever to losing his job. Erik ten Hag was defiant as he faced the media on Wednesday night, referring to himself as a “fighter” and insisting he was “confident” he could turn Manchester United’s fortunes around.
Premier League Review: Matchday 10
The Data Day Premier League Review: Matchday 10 00:00 / 00:52:56 Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify Some spooky goings-on meant our Premier League Review Matchday 10 got slightly delayed, but our breakdown of the Manchester derby is well worth the wait. Ryan Benson joined Graham Bell to dissect the Old Trafford clash and compare the impact Erling Haaland and Rasmus Højlund are having on their respect sides.
Pep Guardiola’s Brilliant Record Against Man Utd: The Numbers
Ahead of Sunday’s Manchester derby, we look at the numbers behind Pep Guardiola’s excellent record against Manchester United. Manchester United may have won three games in a row, but they were almost as unconvincing as victories could possibly be, merely papering over their many cracks.
Barcelona vs Real Madrid Prediction: El Clásico Preview
La Liga’s big two have the opportunity to make a statement as they tussle in El Clásico on Saturday. Look ahead with our Barcelona vs Real Madrid prediction and preview. Real Madrid travel to the unfamiliar confines of Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys to take on familiar foes in Saturday afternoon’s El Clásico, with the top spot in La Liga on the line. Barcelona sit one point behind Real Madrid in Spain’s top flight and are unbeaten in 10 games this season with seven wins and three draws.
McSauce of Confusion: Why Scott McTominay Divides Opinion
Erik ten Hag has been accused of underutilising Scott McTominay at Manchester United this season, but the situation is a little more complicated than him just being out of favour. Scott McTominay may be a completely inoffensive footballer, but throughout his Manchester United career he’s been a fairly divisive topic of discussion. He was handed his full Premier League debut as a 20-year-old in May 2017 by José Mourinho, starting in a 2-0 win over Crystal Palace.
Premier League 2023-24 Relegation Predictions: October Update
We asked the Opta supercomputer to predict how the Premier League pan out in 2023-24 prior to the season and then in September; with eight rounds of games done, we’ve another update on those predictions. Favourites to Finish Bottom: Sheffield United Favourites for Relegation: Sheffield United, Luton Town, Bournemouth Ahead of the 2023-24 Premier League season, we got the Opta supercomputer to simulate the campaign 10,000 times to see what it believed might occur.
The 10 Best La Liga 2023-24 Facts You Might Not Know
With the second international break of the season bringing a pause to the action, we at Opta Analyst decided it was a good time to delve into the stats and facts behind the opening two months of the campaign in La Liga. From record-breaking starts to clubs already playing catch-up, and young stars taking the league by storm to an old-timer going back to where it all began; read on for the facts that tell the story of the season so far. 1.
Serhou Guirassy is Eclipsing Bundesliga Greats and Harry Kane
It’s taken Serhou Guirassy a long time to really find his feet in top-level football, but now he’s breaking records most weeks. This is his modern-day Cinderella story. Bayern Munich’s signing of Harry Kane from Tottenham was supposed to be what elevated the club back to their dominant best. Although they did just about win the Bundesliga title last season, there was an overriding sense they’d failed to replace Robert Lewandowski.
Manchester United’s Latest Comeback Wins
Scott McTominay inspired an astonishing turnaround for Manchester United against Brentford on Saturday, but where does it rank among the club’s latest comeback wins in the Premier League? Manchester United have cultivated a reputation for late winners and dramatic comebacks over the years; arguably the most famous win in the club’s history saw them score two at the death to beat Bayern Munich 2-1 in the 1998-99 UEFA Champions League final.
Most Premier League Games by Managers
As Roy Hodgson approaches a special landmark this weekend, we chart the managers to have taken charge of the most games in Premier League history. Unsurprisingly, there are some familiar names in there. It is difficult to put into context just how extraordinary Arsène Wenger’s Premier League record of 828 matches in charge is.
Pedro Neto Destined for The Top After Stunning Resurgence
Pedro Neto lost nearly 15 months of his career to injury. After a fine start to the 2023-24 season, the Portugal international appears to be back on track. Phil Foden and Nathan Aké probably thought they had enough between them to deal with the danger, and they were also in the relative safety of the Wolverhampton Wanderers half. But what Pedro Neto did next highlighted how he is one of the standout players of the 2023-24 Premier League season to date.
Are Aston Villa Realistic Champions League Hopefuls?
Only Manchester City have won more Premier League points in 2023 than Aston Villa, but Unai Emery’s past casts a little doubt over their top-four hopes. Unai Emery became a comedy figure at Arsenal. The butt of all jokes towards the end of his relatively short tenure, the fall guy at a club trying to work out what it wanted to be at the start of a new era.
Premier League Review: Matchday 7
The Data Day Premier League Review: Matchday 7 00:00 / 00:42:35 Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify Just to be clear, in our Premier League Review: Matchday 7 on “The Data Day”, there will be very limited talk about VAR. But we do take a closer look at the number of red cards that have been handed out in the competition so far, and why it is having an impact on the table.
Fulham vs Chelsea: Prediction and Preview
Two west London rivals face off on Monday with Chelsea hoping to kick-start their season. We look ahead to the game at Craven Cottage with our Fulham vs Chelsea prediction and preview. Chelsea are slight favourites for Monday’s west London derby, with the Opta supercomputer assigning them a 39.7% chance of beating Fulham. Chelsea have failed to score in their last three Premier League games despite attempting 45 shots in those matches.
Tottenham vs Liverpool: Stats
After battling to a draw in the north London derby last weeked, Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham face another tricky test as they host Liverpool. Our Opta match centre below delivers you all the Tottenham vs Liverpool stats for Saturday’s clash at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as the game unfolds. The match centre includes team and player stats, expected goals data, passing networks, an Opta chalkboard and more. It gives you everything you need to do your own analysis during and after the game. Enjoy this?
Fulham vs Chelsea: Prediction and Preview
Two west London rivals face off on Monday with Chelsea hoping to kick-start their season. We look ahead to the game at Craven Cottage with our Fulham vs Chelsea prediction and preview. Chelsea are slight favourites for Monday’s west London derby, with the Opta supercomputer assigning them a 39.7% chance of beating Fulham. Chelsea have failed to score in their last three Premier League games despite attempting 45 shots in those matches.
Tottenham vs Liverpool: Prediction and Preview
Can Ange Postecoglou continue his unbeaten start to life in the Premier League? Will Jürgen Klopp’s team get a statement win? Look ahead to Saturday’s match with our Tottenham vs. Liverpool prediction and preview. Liverpool are favourites to win this game, with the Opta supercomputer predicting a 43.9% likelihood of victory. If Tottenham avoid defeat, Ange Postecoglou will be only the second Spurs manager in the Premier League era to go unbeaten in his first seven games.
Seven Under-the-Radar Stars Lighting Up the Top Five Leagues
With the top five leagues in full swing, we look at a handful of players who’ve perhaps gone under the radar in the past but are enjoying fine starts to the 2023-24 campaign. The arrival of Harry Kane in the Bundesliga has probably led to there being more eyes on the league this season; even if you’re not a regular follower of Germany’s top flight, you’ve likely heard about the England captain’s start.
Ten Hag Survived Brutal Period but Real Test Starts Now
After beating Burnley, Manchester United enter a pivotal few weeks. If Erik ten Hag cannot improve their fortunes, Manchester City will be waiting to bring down the axe. Relief washed over the faces of Manchester United players on Saturday evening as they ground out a 1-0 win over Burnley at Turf Moor. The full-time celebrations were more defiant than jubilant, a reflection of how uncomfortable the past few weeks have been. Make no mistake, there’s been little joy in United games this season.
The Best Starts to a Premier League Season
With Manchester City five from five, we look at how many more consecutive wins they need to break the record for the best start to a Premier League season. Here we go again. We may only be five matches into the 2023-24 Premier League season, but there’ll undoubtedly be people casting a concerned eye towards Manchester City, pondering who – if anyone – can stop them. Five games played, five wins.
Chelsea vs Aston Villa: Prediction and Preview
Mauricio Pochettino’s men are back at Stamford Bridge on Sunday but face another tricky test. Look ahead with our Chelsea vs Aston Villa prediction and preview. Aston Villa have 54.7% likelihood of leaving Stamford Bridge with at least a point, according to the Opta supercomputer. Of the clubs to be in the Premier League throughout 2023, no team has fewer wins than Chelsea; only Manchester City have more than Villa. Chelsea have not lost back-to-back league games against Villa since 1933.
Real Madrid vs Union Berlin: Prediction and Preview
UEFA Champions League debuts don’t come more glamorous than a trip to the Santiago Bernabéu; look ahead to Wednesday’s intriguing duel with our Real Madrid vs Union Berlin prediction and preview. Union Berlin will be playing their first game ever in the Champions League when they go to Madrid in Group C. Carlo Ancelotti’s side are competing in the competition for the 27th season in a row and this will be their 305th match, extending their own record.
Do Chelsea Have Reasons for Optimism?
Chelsea have won just one of their first five games this season. On the surface, much looks bleak, but in reality there are some causes for optimism. Stamford Bridge has seen several new eras begin over the last 16 months or so, but as with the other false dawns that followed Todd Boehly’s acquisition of the club in 2022, this latest episode is taking a little longer than many expected to yield excitement for fans.
The Evolution of the Ball-Playing Goalkeeper
No longer is the goalkeeper just the 11th player; they’re now a defacto 11th outfielder. It may always look like the same sport to the naked eye, but football is constantly evolving. No, we don’t mean the shape of the ball, or the goal for that matter. Tactical trends come and go as coaches and managers seek the marginal gains that can transform a poor team into a good one, or a great team into the best. One of the most significant shifts this century has related to goalkeepers.
Manchester City vs Newcastle Stats: Premier League 2023-24
Use the Opta chalkboard to find the key Manchester City vs Newcastle stats during tonight’s Premier League match at the Etihad Stadium. On this page, you’ll find the Opta match centre for the game, which includes team and player stats, a passing network, an Opta chalkboard and more. Everything you need to do your own analysis on tonight’s Manchester City vs Newcastle United Premier League match at the Etihad Stadium.
Tottenham vs Manchester United Stats: Premier League 2023-24
Use the Opta chalkboard to find the key Tottenham vs Manchester United stats during tonight’s Premier League match in north London. On this page, you’ll find the Opta match centre for the game, which includes team and player stats, a passing network, an Opta chalkboard and more. Everything you need to do your own analysis on today’s Tottenham vs Manchester United Premier League match at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
West Ham vs Chelsea: Prediction and Preview
Chelsea showed signs of promise against Liverpool, but can they get their first win of the season at West Ham? Look ahead to the game with our West Ham vs Chelsea prediction and preview. The Opta supercomputer makes Chelsea favourites here, but only just, with a 36.6% win probability. David Moyes has never beaten Mauricio Pochettino in the Premier League. West Ham have lost more Premier League London derbies than any other team.
La Liga's Back and Bellingham's Brilliant
La Pausa La Liga's Back and Bellingham's Brilliant 00:00 / 00:50:28 La Liga’s back with gameweek 1 in the books, so there’s no better time to bring you our first “La Pausa” podcast of the 2023-24 season. As much as there is to talk about domestically, we were joined by special guest Ryan Benson of Opta Analyst to focus on Sevilla as they prepare to face Manchester City in the European Super Cup final. We also touch upon their strange squad-building, or lack thereof, this summer.
Manchester City vs Sevilla: 2023 UEFA Super Cup Preview and Prediction
Manchester City and Sevilla will tussle for the first European trophy of the season at the Karaiskakis Stadium in Piraeus on Wednesday. Look ahead to the contest with our UEFA Super Cup preview and prediction. UEFA Champions League winners Man City are huge favourites to get their fourth piece of silverware this year, with the Opta supercomputer giving them a 68.8% probability of success. Erling Haaland has scored twice in each of his three previous meetings with Sevilla.
Sofyan Amrabat Is So Much More Than Your Average ‘Destroyer'
Sofyan Amrabat impressed with his all-action style at the 2022 World Cup, but don’t be fooled; if he joins Manchester United, he’ll offer much more than destructive qualities. Ralf Rangnick’s five-a-half-month spell as Manchester United interim manager was largely miserable.
Burnley vs Manchester City Stats: Premier League 2023-24 Original
Manchester City opened the 2023-24 Premier League season with a comfortable 3-0 win at Burnley, with Erling Haaland scoring twice to reach 100 goals in the top five leagues. We look back at the key stats. Here we go again. The 2022-23 season unequivocally belonged to Manchester City and Erling Haaland as the Norwegian sharpshooter led his team to their first UEFA Champions League title as part of a stunning treble that also included Premier League and FA Cup success.
Arsenal vs Nottingham Forest: Premier League Preview and Prediction
After running out of steam in the 2022-23 Premier League title race, Mikel Arteta’s side get going again on Saturday. Look ahead to the game with our Arsenal vs Nottingham Forest prediction and preview. Arsenal vs Nottingham Forest: The Quick Hits The Opta supercomputer gives Arsenal a 66.8% probability of emerging victorious over Forest, who are unsurprisingly major underdogs here.
New Premier League Law Changes and the Potential Impact
Changes have been made to the laws of the game ahead of the 2023-24 Premier League season starting; here, we look at the most significant and the data behind them. The new Premier League season is almost upon us, so strap yourselves in for a raft of exciting rule changes that promise to revolutionise the beautiful game as we know it. Triangle goals, orange cards, set-piece multi-ball, eradication of offsides in stoppage time, legal handball quotas… Or not.
Leader, Progressor, Power: Why Chelsea Went for Axel Disasi
Axel Disasi had been linked with several Premier League clubs before Chelsea made their move. Following confirmation of his transfer, we look at what he’ll bring to Stamford Bridge. Monaco probably didn’t expect to lose two first-choice centre-backs to Chelsea in the same year, but since the 2022 takeover of Todd Boehly and his Clearlake consortium, it seems few clubs are safe from the Premier League club’s financial might.
Man Utd 2023-24 Preview: Five Key Questions
Erik ten Hag made strides in terms of building something of a team identity and getting the best out of key players last season at Manchester United, ending a six-year trophy drought and getting them back into the UEFA Champions League in the process. But the Premier League stands still for no man. Ahead of 2023-24, we look at five burning questions around Man Utd as they look to build on Ten Hag’s promising debut campaign. Will We See More Signs of Ten Hag’s ‘Philosophy’?
Moussa Diaby Deal a Show of Aston Villa's Ambition
Moussa Diaby has been a transfer gossip regular in recent years, but Aston Villa may not be where most expected him to end up… Moussa Diaby’s instincts have generally been spot-on in terms of career moves to date. Not afraid to leave his comfort zone, the French winger has often displayed a tendency to look at the bigger picture.
The Earliest Premier League Sackings
Thomas Tuchel left Chelsea just 33 days into 2022-23, but who are the managers who’ve left their jobs the earliest in a Premier League season? Excitement, optimism and the sense anything’s possible; the start of a new football season is an exhilarating and magical time… Until your team’s 3-0 down inside 15 minutes on the opening day of the campaign. Suddenly the following June can’t come quickly enough.
Spain vs Zambia: 2023 Women’s World Cup Preview and Prediction | The Analyst
Soccer Jul 25, 2023 Look ahead to this 2023 Women’s World Cup Group C match at Eden Park, Auckland with our Spain vs Zambia preview and prediction. Spain vs Zambia Stats: Quick Hits The Opta supercomputer expects this to be a very one-sided affair, with Spain given a 93.1% win probability to Zambia’s 3%. Zambia were beaten 5-0 by Japan in their tournament opener, while Spain beat Costa Rica 3-0. Spain managed a whopping 46 shots last time out; Zambia didn’t tally any.
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