Premier League spotlight: Grealish running the show

Jason Hamburger
October 13, 2020

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Data-led news and insight from sports leagues around the world. Powered by @GeniusSports.

🏈 @joshratt spotlights @NIU_Football’s game with @BallStateFB as yet another in a big month for the reigning champs.

➕ 𝙥𝙡𝙪𝙨 which teams have been flying the @MACSports flag so far this season?

#MACtion | #TheHardWay | #WeFly
https://thegeniusplaybook.com/state-of-the-mac-as-conference-play-starts-in-full/

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The Playbook @genius_playbook ·

🌪️ Marc Cucurella has made the most overlapping runs of any #CFC player so far this season. He’s combined with Sterling (7), Mount (6) and Havertz (6) regularly in his attacking runs.

🤕 He misses the game against #CPFC with illness. A boost for Palace?

#CRYCHE

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The Playbook @genius_playbook ·

A tough start for De Zerbi’s new-look #BHAFC, but he’ll have a plan.

These are #LFC’s most-pressed players, and the rate at which they lose the ball within 5 seconds:

🔻 Núñez (66%)
🔻 Salah (55.47%)
🔻 Milner (51.16%)
🔻 Díaz (44.31%)
🔻 Elliot (44.23%)

#LIVBHA

The Playbook @genius_playbook

☑️ On course for an xG of 54.11 in 22/23
☑️ 5% conversion rate against (lowest)
☑️ March & Trossard high performers

#Brighton’s metrics have been of the highest quality this season. But they also show De Zerbi where he can improve.

#BHAFC | #LIVBHA
https://thegeniusplaybook.com/what-will-the-roberto-de-zerbi-era-look-like-for-brighton/

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The Playbook @genius_playbook ·

𝙒𝙝𝙤 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙝𝙪𝙧𝙩 @SpursOfficial?

These five players are the #Gunners most successful dribblers:

🔺 Saka: 32 (20 take-ons)
🔺 Martinelli: 24 (12 take-ons)
🔺 Jesus: 12 (9 take-ons)
🔺 Ødegaard: 7 (2 take-ons)
🔺 Zinchenko: 7 (8 take-ons)

#ARSTOT | #AFC

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The Playbook @genius_playbook ·

🔴⚪️

League leaders #AFC face undefeated #Spurs in 3rd, in a North London Derby that will be a stern test for both of these teams.

A 𝙝𝙪𝙜𝙚 game to restart the @premierleague. Here’s how they match-up. ⬇️

#NorthLondonDerby | #ARSTOT

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Villa’s start

Aston Villa have started their season with intent. Other than Everton, Dean Smith’s side are the only other unbeaten side in the Premier League. Villa have won all three league matches this season, and lie second in the table.

Villa hammered Liverpool 7-2 to make their best start to a season since 1962. They only stayed up on the final day by a point last season with Jack Grealish’s second-half strike at the London Stadium proving to be decisive.

Captain Jack

Grealish, the Villa captain, has shown so far this season this how important he is for Villa and why they’ve given him a new five-year contract. He became the first player in Premier League history to be involved in five goals against Liverpool, scoring two and assisting three.

Grealish has created 10 chances in three league games so far this season – ranked fifth in the list despite playing a game fewer than most. Despite Villa’s struggles last season, the playmaker is only behind Kevin De Bruyne and Thomas Muller for chances created from open play in Europe’s top five leagues since 2019/20.

Signings

The Premier League club appointed a new director of football last summer after last season’s transfers didn’t have the desired effect.

Goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, full back Matty Cash, Ross Barkley and forwards Ollie Watkins and Bertrand Traore came in to bolster the side, and so far, they have made a positive contribution to Villa’s start.

𝟮𝟲𝟬 minutes played
𝟭𝟴𝟱 touches
𝟳𝟳 passes completed
𝟭𝟰 clearances
𝟵 tackles won
𝟳 interceptions
𝟰 key passes@MattyCash622 is looking right at home in the Premier League. 🤩 pic.twitter.com/hJyEJf6xYo

— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) October 6, 2020

Martinez made a penalty save on his debut in a 1-0 win against Sheffield United, Barkley scored on his debut against Liverpool and Cash has been key in Villa keeping two clean sheets in their first three games.

Watkins joined from Championship side Brentford as a record-signing and without a league goal in his first two starts, he scored a first half hat-trick against the champions. He became the 10^th player to score a Premier League hat-trick against Liverpool, and the first since Dimitar Berbatov in September 2010.