Welcome to The DebriefSki Sports column in which Adam Bathe uses a mix of data and opinion to reflect on some of the key storylines from recent Premier League games. this week:
- Zirkzy key to turnaround for Man Utd
- Anderson and his Modric-like numbers
- Kamari and Villa’s long-term record
Zirkzee turnaround for Man Utd
Use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
FREE TO WATCH: Crystal Palace v Manchester United highlights
It’s too early to call it a turning point, but credit goes to Joshua Zirkzee for his contribution to Manchester United a come-from-behind win away to Crystal Palace on Sunday. Faith in the much-maligned striker had long since faded before this performance.
After failing to capitalize on his chance at home to Everton on Monday night, Zirkzy struggled for 45 minutes at Selhurst Park as well. Indeed, it looked like the contrast between him and Jean-Philippe Mateta would be one of the obvious reasons for Palace’s success.
Instead, Zirkzy scored a smart equalizer from a tight angle and then won a header which led to United being awarded a free-kick from which Mason Mount was able to score the winner. His contributions ultimately earned praise from head coach Ruben Amorim.
Joshua Zirkzy’s touch map for Manchester United vs Crystal Palace
“It wasn’t just the goals, even the runs behind. In the first half he struggled in the duels. He won some duels in the second half and we improved a lot because of the quality of Josh in the second half and that’s important for him to understand that it’s not just the goals.”
Statistics support the claim. Zirkzee won twice as many duels in the air – like the one that led to the second goal – in the last half hour of the game than in the first hour. “We played better because Josh played better in the second half,” Amorim said.
His passing success jumped from 57 percent to 77 percent. His confidence boosted by his first Premier League goal in nearly a year, Zirkzee actually finished the match with six successful clearances, the most of any player at the weekend in the Premier League.
It didn’t quite match his own record in the competition of seven against Everton last season but, for context, it’s seven years, and back to Romelu Lukaku’s Old Trafford days, since another United striker recorded so many successful breaks in a game.
It may seem like an odd little statistic, but Zirkzee was third in Serie A for such assists in his final season with Bologna. They are not just a feature of his game, but being a player United can turn down is crucial to Amorim’s plan working.
Zirkzee had to show more physical strength to make it happen and, belatedly, he did. It has been 18 months since the Dutchman signed for the club and he remembers a conversation with Willem Weiss, his former coach at Anderlecht, who hinted at this much-needed growth.
“It can sometimes be a problem for players,” says Veijs Ski Sports. “They believe it’s only about skill and scoring goals and playing beautiful football, but professional football demands other things from players. Against Palace, Zirkzy showed those qualities.
Anderson’s Modric-like numbers
Use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
FREE TO WATCH: Nottingham Forest v Brighton highlights
This column usually singles out three individual performances that have contributed to their team’s positive results, but Elliott Anderson’s efforts warrant scrutiny. Nottingham Forest were won 2-0 at home to Brighton but his stats were noteworthy.
Anderson created six chances in the game and completed six dribbles. No other Premier League footballer managed the feat at any point over the weekend. The only player to achieve both figures in the same game so far this season is Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka in October.
Unlike Saka, Anderson’s 13 rebounds were also a Premier League record in a game in which the midfielder had 107 touches. This exceptional combination of ability to win the ball, run with it and create is becoming rare even at the elite level of the game.
Elliott Anderson’s performance for Nottingham Forest against Brighton in numbers
Perhaps the context will make it clear. The last central midfielder to create so many chances in a Premier League game and also hit these numbers, not to mention intercepting and making a number of passes, was Luka Modric in 2011.
Fourteen years have passed since that appearance for Tottenham against Blackpool. Another similarity is that Spurs failed to win that day either. Despite this, Anderson’s numbers show why the in-demand England international is seen as someone who can do it all.
Kamara example of Villa’s shooting
Use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Highlights from the Premier League match between Aston Villa and Wolves
As for those midfielders who can do it all, Aston Villa needed a wonderful strike from their man Boubacar Kamara to win bottom club Wolves at Villa Park on Sunday. That came with his weaker left foot outside the box.
The goal was the ninth that Villa scored outside the penalty area. That’s not only more than any Premier League team this season, but more than Villa have scored inside box and more than the wolves scored a goal in total. That is surely unsustainable.
Nine of Aston Villa’s goals this season have been scored from outside the penalty area
Don’t try telling that to Unai Emery. One journalist tried to make a joke in the press conference afterwards, playfully suggesting to Emery that the Villa boss might try to tell us that Kamara scores goals like that every day in training. He remained typically indifferent.
Emery spoke of how his players “practice a lot in every training session and shoot like that” and pointed out that with Wolves “defending so low”, the ability to score from that range was essential. “We respond as a team tactically,” he explained.
Expected goals figures tell us that Villa have to find other ways. But Kamara showed again that he is what his team needs. “That’s what it took to beat us today,” Wolves boss Rob Edwards said. “A world-class finish from a brilliant footballer.”