Why Harry Maguire and Manchester United’s defence should be worried ahead of Newcastle clash

The teams that take their chances are the more successful ones. That’s one of the oldest understandings in football.

And it’s why Manchester United may be concerned ahead of their trip to Newcastle on Saturday night, a match you can listen to LIVE on talkSPORT, kick-off 8pm.

Getty - Pool

Man United were utterly humiliated by Tottenham last time out

AFP or licensors

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer could barely watch as Tottenham put Man United to the sword

Man United return to action for the first time since their dismal 6-1 defeat to Tottenham, a result so shocking that former Red Devils star Patrice Evra threatened to quit his job as a Sky Sports pundit live on air.

It’s inevitably led to questions about the players and their misfiring defence, as well as of manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

A response will be expected as they go to Newcastle, who are four points ahead of them in the Premier League, albeit having played a game more.

But ahead of the match at St James’s Park, an incredible stat shows Steve Bruce’s side have actually been the most clinical top flight side so far this season.

Getty Images - Getty

Bruce recruited well in the summer and Newcastle are much more of a threat going forward

Before we fully get into that, below you can see how the Premier League table would look based on the amount of shots on target every side has had, as well as how many goals each side has scored this term.

Premier League table by shots on target

1. Tottenham (31) Goals: 12
2. Liverpool (28) Goals: 11
3. Leeds (26) Goals: 9
4. Chelsea (24) Goals: 10
5. Everton (22) Goals: 12
6. Leicester (20) Goals: 12
7. Southampton (20) Goals: 5
8. West Ham (19) Goals: 8
9. Aston Villa (18) Goals: 11
10. Arsenal (17) Goals: 8
11. Brighton (17) Goals: 8
12. Manchester City (16) Goals: 6
13. Fulham (13) Goals: 3
14. Wolves (12) Goals: 4
15. Burnley (10) Goals: 3
16. West Brom (10) Goals: 5
17. Crystal Palace (9) Goals: 5
18. Manchester United (9) Goals: 5
19. Sheffield United (9) Goals: 1
20. Newcastle (8) Goals: 6

talkSPORT.com has crunched the numbers to see who have been the most clinical teams – and Man United ought to be worried.

Newcastle have registered eight shots on target from their opening four league matches, scoring six of them.

They’re out there on their own at the top of this table having put the ball in the net from 75 per cent of their shots on target.

However, despite all the problems at Old Trafford, Man Untied have been reasonably clinical themselves. They’re fifth in this table having scored 55.5 per cent of their shots on target.

AFP or licensors

Marcus Rashford and Bruno Fernandes have chipped in with two league goals each this season but Man United’s main problems lie in defence

The Premier League's most clinical teams this season

1. Newcastle (Goal rate per shot on target: 75 per cent)
2. Aston Villa (Goal rate per shot on target: 61.1 per cent)
3. Leicester (Goal rate per shot on target: 60 per cent)
4. Crystal Palace (Goal rate per shot on target: 55.5 per cent)
5. Manchester United (Goal rate per shot on target: 55.5 per cent)
6. Everton (Goal rate per shot on target: 54.5 per cent)
7. West Brom (Goal rate per shot on target: 50 per cent)
8. Arsenal (Goal rate per shot on target: 47.1 per cent)
9. Brighton (Goal rate per shot on target: 47.1 per cent)
10. West Ham (Goal rate per shot on target: 42.1 per cent)
11. Chelsea (Goal rate per shot on target: 41.6 per cent)
12. Liverpool (Goal rate per shot on target: 39.3 per cent)
13. Tottenham (Goal rate per shot on target: 38.7 per cent)
14. Manchester City (Goal rate per shot on target: 37.5 per cent)
15. Leeds (Goal rate per shot on target: 34.6 per cent)
16. Wolves (Goal rate per shot on target: 33.3 per cent)
17. Burnley (Goal rate per shot on target: 30 per cent)
18. Southampton (Goal rate per shot on target: 25 per cent)
19. Fulham (Goal rate per shot on target: 23.1 per cent)
20. Sheffield United (Goal rate per shot on target: 11.1 per cent)

Arsenal are the only club in the so-called ‘Big Six’ to join Man United in the top ten of this table. The Gunners have put away 47.1 per cent of their shots on target this season.

Further down you have Chelsea, Liverpool, Tottenham and Manchester City bunched together from 11th-14th.

Southampton, Fulham and Sheffield United would occupy the relegation spots, the Blades bottom of the pile having scored just one Premier League goal this season from 11 shots on target.

But fail to beat Newcastle this weekend and Man United could find themselves in the real relegation zone…

AFP

Another defeat would land Solskjaer in huge trouble

from Football - news, transfers, fixtures, scores, pictures https://ift.tt/2H1RCiJ
via IFTTT

• Share
• Share
• Tweet
• Pin It