Liverpool’s 2-0 win over Manchester City at Anfield on the weekend extended their lead at the top of the Premier League to nine points. The Reds deserved their victory, having taken 18 shots and accumulated 3.3 expected goals (xG), while City were left frustrated by their fourth consecutive league defeat. The result was a clear reflection of Liverpool’s dominance and clinical finishing, as they continued their strong start to the season under Jurgen Klopp.
But how did other teams fare this weekend? Using Opta data, we take a deeper look at the performances of other teams, comparing actual results with underlying metrics to evaluate who were the lucky winners and unlucky losers.
Manchester United 4-0 Everton
Everton, under new manager Ruben Amorim, faced a tough challenge at Old Trafford, where they were defeated 4-0 by Manchester United. Despite starting the match with some promising moments, Sean Dyche’s side struggled to create meaningful chances and were punished by United’s clinical finishing. United’s first two goals came from a deflection and a mistake by Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite, who was linked with a move to United in the summer.
United scored four goals from just 1.0 expected goals (xG), highlighting their efficiency in front of goal. The Red Devils had only 11 shots in the match—just three more than Everton—but managed to convert four of those into goals, with Marcus Rashford and Joshua Zirkzee both scoring twice. In contrast, Everton’s attack was limp, with the Toffees registering just 13 touches in United’s box and creating very few chances, despite their early positivity.
Newcastle 1-1 Crystal Palace
Newcastle were frustrated in their 1-1 draw against Crystal Palace at St James’ Park. Although they managed to take the lead through an own goal by Marc Guehi, the Magpies were unable to press home their advantage. Palace responded with a late equalizer from Daniel Munoz, who connected with Guehi’s cross to score.
Despite manager Eddie Howe claiming control of the match, Newcastle struggled to create clear-cut opportunities. They registered just one shot throughout the entire game, and none of those were on target. Their performance in front of goal was lackluster, and while they dominated possession, they were unable to break down a well-organized Palace defense. The result was a frustrating one for the Magpies, who had hoped to build on recent strong performances but fell short in terms of attacking efficiency.
Brighton 1-1 Southampton
Brighton played out a 1-1 draw with Southampton in Friday’s south coast derby, but the Seagulls will feel disappointed not to have secured all three points. Roberto De Zerbi’s men dominated the game, taking 22 shots—the most of any team in the Premier League this weekend—and generating a league-high 44 touches in Southampton’s box. Despite this attacking dominance, Brighton struggled to convert their chances.
Kaoru Mitoma gave Brighton the lead in the first half, but they failed to capitalize on their opportunities to extend that advantage. With an expected goals (xG) value of 1.7, Brighton created more than enough chances to win, yet they were unable to add to their tally. Southampton, on the other hand, proved resilient and equalized through a goal from Che Adams, taking full advantage of Brighton’s inability to finish their chances. While Brighton’s attacking play was strong, their inability to convert made this a frustrating result for De Zerbi’s side.
Conclusion
Liverpool’s dominant win over Manchester City was the standout performance of the weekend, while other teams experienced a mix of fortune and misfortune. Manchester United made the most of limited chances in their 4-0 victory over Everton, while Newcastle were left frustrated with their attacking woes in a 1-1 draw against Crystal Palace. Brighton will feel unlucky after creating plenty of opportunities but only managing a draw against Southampton.
By looking beyond the scorelines and considering the underlying metrics, we can see that some teams were more fortunate with their results, while others were left with disappointing outcomes despite strong performances. As the Premier League season progresses, these underlying numbers will continue to shape the narrative of the campaign.
