OptaJoe

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13 - Arsenal scored their first set-piece goal in all competitions (ex. penalties) since May of last season against Crystal Palace, ending a run of 13 games without one. Reminder.

3 & 4 – Aston Villa are the first side to win three successive Premier League games against Manchester City since Liverpool in December 2016 and the first to win four successive home league matches since Spurs in February 2023. Heroes.

2 - On record since 2003-04, Rio Ngumoah is just the fourth player to complete 7+ dribbles in multiple UEFA Champions League games as a teenager (2) along with Lamine Yamal (4), Cristiano Ronaldo (3) and Arjen Robben (2). Exuberance.

2 - Rio Ngumoha (18y 52d) is the third-youngest player to provide multiple assists in a UEFA Champions League game behind Warren Zaïre-Emery v Milan (17y 231d) and Theo Walcott v Hamburger SV (17y 250d). Flying.

03:54 - Georges Mikautadze's opener for Villarreal (03:54) is the second-earliest goal Liverpool have conceded at home in major European competition behind only Elpídio Silva's strike in the 3rd minute for Boavista in the UEFA Champions League in September 2001. Cold.

32 - Since Mikel Arteta became Arsenal manager in December 2019, they have had the joint-most 1-0 wins in the Premier League of any side (32, level with Everton). Stereotype.

23 - Only three sides in Premier League history have scored more goals in their first seven games of a season than Brighton in 2026-27 (23): Arsenal in 2009-10 (24), Man Utd in 2011-12 (24), and Man City in 2019-20 (27). Entertainers.

5 - Brighton have scored 5+ goals in a match against rivals Crystal Palace for just the second time, and first since January 1956 in the Third Division South (5-0). Crushing.

10 - Brighton are the ninth side in Premier League history to score three goals in the first 10 minutes of a match, and first since Newcastle against Tottenham Hotspur in April 2023. Soaring.

51 - Diego Gómez's goal for Brighton was from 51 metres, the furthest range Premier League goal since Wayne Rooney for Everton v West Ham in November 2017 (58m). Incredible.

100 - Unai Emery recorded his 100th win as a Premier League manager, doing so in his 197th game in the competition, only eight managers have done so in fewer games than the Spaniard. Impressive.

9 - Florian Wirtz's nine chances created from open play against Brentford is the most by a player in a Premier League game since Sadio Mané v Burnley in January 2021 (9) and the most by a player in an away game since Samir Nasri v Spurs in August 2011 (10). Progress.

100 – Erling Haaland netted his 100th non-penalty goal in the Premier League, taking just 139 appearances to do so, the fastest of any player in the competition’s history. Centurion.

6 - Aston Villa have scored six goals in a single match in European competition for the very first time. Feast.

21 - Lewis Koumas is the second player aged 21 or younger to both score and assist a goal in a UEFA Champions League match for Liverpool, after Steven Gerrard against Dynamo Kyiv in October 2001 (also 21). Emulating.

24 - Liverpool's starting XI against LASK has an average age of 24 years and 186 days, their third-youngest ever for a UEFA Champions League game, older only than September 2001 v Borussia Dortmund (24y 136d) and December 2020 v Midtjylland (24y 26d). Knocks.

9 - Only Cristiano Ronaldo in April 2018 (11) has enjoyed a longer run of successive games with a goal in the European Cup/UEFA Champions League than Harry Kane's ongoing run of nine. Longevity.

6 - A team have started with six straight wins in just two of the last seven Premier Legue seasons (since 2020-21): Manchester City in 2023-24 and Manchester City in 2026-27. Defiance.

18 - There were 18 fouls in the first half of Liverpool (10) v Manchester City (8) - the most in the first half of a Premier League game at Anfield since Liverpool v Arsenal in November 2021 (also 18). Fiery.

2 - In 1-1 draws with Fulham and Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United are the first side to play back-to-back Premier League games against sides starting the day bottom of the table and fail to win both since West Brom in December 2017. Stumble.

3 - Manchester United have failed to win any of their last three Premier League games against sides that have received a red card (D1 L2). Disadvantage?

35y 117d - Aged 35 years and 117 days, Pascal Groß is the oldest player to provide an assist in three successive Premier League games since Ryan Giggs in February 2012 (38y 68d). Vintage.

02:29 - Only Emile Heskey against Derby County in April 1998 inside the opening two minutes has a player both scored and assisted earlier in a Premier League game than Jordan Henderson against Bournemouth (02:29). Rapid.

28.1% - Since his Premier League debut in February 2022, only James Maddison (9/29 - 31%) has scored a high proportion of their Premier League goals from outside the penalty area than Bruno Guimarães (9/32 - 28.1% - min. 25 goals). Ambitious.

8 - Arsenal (5) and Leeds United (3) recorded eight offsides in total in the first half, the most in the opening 45 minutes of a Premier League game since Manchester United v Aston Villa in April 2023 (also 8). Lines.

35 - Pascal Groß is the first Brighton player ever to be named Premier League Player of the Month. Aged 35 years and 107 days on the final day of the month, he is the competition's oldest recipient since Cristiano Ronaldo in April 2022 (37y 84d). Swansong.

4 - Only Rachel Williams (6) has scored more goals in their first four WSL appearances than Océane Hurtré (4), with both doing so for Birmingham City Women. Flying. #OptaOnWSL

10 - Since her WSL debut in September 2022, only Khadija Shaw (31) has scored more headed goals in the competition than Elisabeth Terland (10). Bonce. #OptaOnWSL

🍒 - Alex Scott ranks in the top three of Premier League players this season for: 🥇 High Turnovers (11) 🥇 Fouls Won (17) 🥇 Ground Duels Won (30) 🥇 Take-Ons with Foul Won (4) 🥈 Off-Ball Support Runs (44) 🥉 Possession Won (36) Impressive.

1 - Liverpool's Florian Wirtz is the only player to rank in the top 10 in the Premier League this season for each of: High-intensity pressures in opp half (181 - =7th) Runs ahead of the ball (34 - =1st) Defensive line-breaking passes (16 - 8th) Perceptions.

3/5/10 - Against Manchester City on MD5, Brian Brobbey became the first player to score 3+ goals, win 5+ fouls and win 10+ duels in a Premier League game since Christian Benteke for Aston Villa against Sunderland in April 2013. Unplayable.

5 - With five points, this is Manchester United's joint-lowest tally after five games of a Premier League season, also picking up five in 2014-15. Sluggish.

2007 - Today against Manchester City, Brian Brobbey was the first player to score a hat-trick but end on the losing side in a Premier League match since Roque Santa Cruz for Blackburn Rovers against Wigan Athletic in December 2007. Valiant.

4 - Brian Brobbey is just the fourth player in Premier League history to score a hat-trick against the side starting the day top of the table, after Robbie Fowler v Aston Villa in November 1998, Dirk Kuyt v Man Utd in March 2011, and Romelu Lukaku v Man Utd in May 2013. Unstoppable.

2 - Derek McInnes is only the second Rangers manager to win both of his first two Old Firm derbies against Celtic in charge of the club in all competitions, after Graeme Souness in 1986. Bragging.

20.6% - Among goalkeepers that have conceded 100+ goals in the Premier League, only Hans Segers (22% - 36/164) has conceded a higher proportion from outside the penalty area than David Raya (20.6% - 33/160). Range.

300 - Aged 27 years and 249 days, Declan Rice is the third-youngest player to start 300 Premier League games after Gareth Barry (26y 323d) and Frank Lampard (27y 209d). Sparta.

50 - Tottenham Hotspur have lost 50 of their 141 Premier League games at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, as many defeats as Arsenal have suffered in 382 top-flight matches at the Emirates Stadium. Gap.

1+1 - Johan Manzambi is the second player to both score and assist on their first Premier League start for Aston Villa after Kevin Phillips against Bolton Wanderers in August 2005. Impression.

2010 - Tonight, Mahdi Nicoll-Jazuli became the first player born in 2010 to play in the Premier League, while he was also the first 16-year-old to play for Chelsea in the competition. Sweet.

2.71 - Brentford have played seven Premier League games on a Friday and won six of them (D1). Their points-per-game average of 2.71 on Fridays is the best of any side to play 3+ matches on a specific day of the week in the competition’s history. Favourite.

6 - Chelsea’s Xabi Alonso is only the sixth manager to see his side concede 2+ goals in each of his first five games as a Premier League manager, after Mick McCarthy, Sammy Lee, Terry Connor, Slavisa Jokanovic, and Scott Parker. Problems.

35 & 36 - 35-year-old Danny Welbeck and 36-year-old Jordan Henderson are the oldest English players to start a Premier League game for Chelsea since a 36-year-old John Terry in May 2017 against Sunderland. Multiverse.

4-0 - Crystal Palace's 4-0 victory over Lech Poznań is the biggest by a side in their first game of the UEFA Cup/UEFA Europa League since RZ Pellets WAC beat Borussia Mönchengladbach 4-0 in September 2019. Seamless.

35y 141d - Bournemouth's Adam Smith (35y 141d) is the oldest English outfielder to make their debut in major European competition since Reginald Pickett for Ipswich Town against Milan in November 1962 (35y 317d). Perseverance.

13 - Since he joined Liverpool ahead of the 2023-24 season, no player has scored more goals from outside the box for Premier League clubs in all competitions than Dominik Szoboszlai (13). Marksman.

121 - There was just 121 seconds between David Raya's penalty save from Enzo Le Fée (55:40) and Bruno Guimarães' goal for Arsenal (57:41). Margins.

8 - Morgan Gibbs-White has either scored or assisted in each of his last eight Premier League away games (6G, 4A); only Erling Haaland (September 2023), Robin van Persie (May 2011), and Andrew Cole (December 1993) have enjoyed longer runs in the competition (all 9). Tourist.

5 - Morgan Rogers is the fifth different player to score or assist in each of Chelsea's first four games of a Premier League season, after Didier Drogba (2010-11), Cesc Fàbregas (2014-15), Diego Costa (2014-15 & 2016-17), and Eden Hazard (2018-19). Famous.

8 - Players wearing shirt #8 have scored more Premier League goals this season than any other (11), ahead of #9 (10). Box-to-box.