WHAT A PREMIER LEAGUE SEASON!!! With the conclusion to the Barclays Premier League, here are some stats to back up the argument that it was one of the most exciting ever. All-time firsts The 2013/14 campaign set records and featured a number of first at various levels. This is the first Barclays Premier League season to feature two teams scoring more than 100 goals (Man City - 102, Liverpool - 101). Chelsea (103) in 2009/10 are the only other Barclays Premier League team to reach a century in a single season. Man CIty won the title after spending 14 days at the top of the division, the shortest the champions have been so far in the competitions history. This is the first season in the Barclays Premier League where the bottom team at Christmas stayed up (Sunderland) and the team at the top did not win the title (Liverpool). Crystal Palace avoided being relegated for the first time in the Barclays Premier League, having suffered relegation in each of their previous four campaigns. Luis Suarez scored 10 times in December, becoming the first Barclays Premier League player to reach double figures in a single month. This was the first time a reigning Barclays Premier League champion finished outside the top six since Blackburn Rovers (from champions in 1994/95 to seventh in 1995/96). Daniel Sturridge became the first Liverpool player to score in eight consecutive Barclays Premier League matches. Jose Mourinho lost his first home league match as Chelsea manager this season, in his 78th Barclays Premier League match at Stamford Bridge (1-2 v Sunderland in April). Ryan Giggs failed to score in a Barclays Premier League season for the first time. Martin Skrtel set a Barclays Premier League record by scoring four own goals in a single season. Liverpools total of 59 first-half goals is a Barclays Premier League record. It was also more than 14 clubs managed in total. Second bests When not breaking records, the 2013/14 season produced some matched milestones and several near misses in the attempt to set new precedents. Sunderland became only the second Barclays Premier League team to be bottom at Christmas and avoid relegation, after West Bromwich Albion in 2004/05. Luis Suarez (31) is the second player to reach 30 goals in a single Barclays Premier League season without netting a penalty (also Andy Cole in 1993/94 with 34 goals). Suarez equalled the record of 31 goals in a 38-match Barclays Premier League season, held by Alan Shearer and Cristiano Ronaldo (in 1995/96 and 2007/08 respectively). Yaya Toure became only the second central midfielder to score 20+ goals in a single Barclays Premier League season (after Frank Lampard in 2009/10). All nine of Samuel Etoos Barclays Premier League goals came at home. In the competitions history, only one other player has scored as many goals without netting one away (Clive Wilson – nine). The Barclays Premier League lead changed 25 times this season. Last season it changed four times. The record is 29 in 2001/02. Petr Cech passed 150 clean sheets in the Barclays Premier League. He has 158 to his name, with only David James having kept more (169). Steven Gerrard ended the season with 10 goals from penalties. Only one player in Barclays Premier League history (Andrew Johnson with 11 in 2004-05) has scored more in a single season. Season bests/worsts A look at the invididual and team marks that were set over the course of the season. Liverpool made fewer substitutions than any other team (89). Chelsea made the most (113). For the first time in the Barclays Premier League, one team (Liverpool) provided the two outright top scorers in an English top-flight season (Suarez 31 and Sturridge 21). Liverpool hit the woodwork 27 times, more than any other side. Liverpool took 12 penalties, five more than any other team. Sunderland and Liverpool both conceded a BPL-high six own goals. Cardiff scored only 18 goals from open play; fewer than any other side. Man City scored 13 goals from corners, more than any other side. Liverpool scored more goals from counter-attacks than any other side (nine). Daniel Sturridges goals won Liverpool 20 points this season, more than any other player in the Barclays Premier League. Man City were the least fouled team in the Barclays Premier League this season (341 times). Sunderland won the most (454). Olivier Giroud scored the opening goal of a Barclays Premier League match more often than any other player this season (eight matches). The quickest goal of the season was scored by three players after 13 seconds: Asmir Begovic, Jesus Navas and Jay Rodriguez. The latest goal scored in the Barclays Premier League this season was Sam Gallaghers for Southampton v Norwich City in March (96min 34sec). The youngest goalscorer in the Barclays Premier League this season was Arsenals Serge Gnabry; aged 18 years and 76 days at Swansea in September. Frank Lampard was the oldest player to score a Barclays Premier League goal this season (35 years 289 days) v Stoke in April. Jay Rodriguez attempted 10 shots at goal for Southampton v Newcastle in March; the most by a single player in a Barclays Premier League match this season. Cheick Tiote completed 121 passes for Newcastle versus Crystal Palace in March, the most by a player in a single Barclays Premier League appearance in 2013/14. There were six instances of a player completing 100 or more passes in a Barclays Premier League match this season, three of which were by Yaya Toure. Lewis Holtby made 12 tackles for Fulham against Everton in March; the most by a single player in a Barclays Premier League match in 2013/14 and the most by a player since December 2012.
Posted on: Wed, 14 May 2014 18:22:24 +0000
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