This past weekend, the Premier League made a grand return, 9am news bringing a fresh wave of excitement and drama. The champions, Liverpool, kicked off the Arne Slot era with a solid victory over Ipswich Town, while Manchester City began their title defense with a decisive 2-0 win against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
In the latest news, Fabian Hurzeler, the new Brighton manager, enjoyed a promising start, but Julen Lopetegui faced tough times at West Ham. Arsenal secured a strong win over Wolves, and Manchester United lagged behind Fulham late in the game.
So, who emerged as the lucky winners and unlucky losers based on the latest statistics from the weekend’s matches?
Lucky Winners: Aston Villa
Aston Villa edged past West Ham with a 2-1 victory, thanks to Jhon Duran’s precise finish. Despite conceding a penalty and having only a slim defensive advantage over Ipswich (2.65 xGA vs. Villa’s 2.46), Villa managed to secure the win. They faced 14 shots from West Ham and registered 2.03 xG from 15 attempts of their own. Given the circumstances, a draw might have been a fair outcome.
Lucky Winners: Newcastle United
Newcastle United experienced a dramatic match at St James’ Park, overcoming Fabian Schar’s red card to defeat Southampton 1-0. Despite creating only 0.25 xG from three shots, Joelinton’s goal secured the victory. Southampton, despite dominating possession and creating 1.77 xG, were left to rue their missed opportunities.
Unlucky Losers: Southampton
Southampton, despite their strong performance, fell short against Newcastle. Russell Martin’s side enjoyed 77.8% possession, made 649 passes, and had 19 shots but only four on target. Their inability to convert chances into goals makes them the unlucky losers of the weekend.
Unlucky Losers: Chelsea
Chelsea, under Enzo Maresca, suffered a 2-0 defeat to Manchester City. Despite limiting City to 0.77 xG and having 1.01 xG from their own efforts, Chelsea’s missed opportunities, including an offside call on Nicolas Jackson, left them without a point.
Stay tuned for more updates and in-depth analysis on the latest news, and don’t miss Ogasabi’s 9am news for the freshest Premier League insights.
