Opta Analyst @optaanalyst.optajoe.com · 29/09/2026New players 🤝 underperformance In the Premier League this season, the teams who have more new players have started off worse than the teams who have favoured continuity. 361
Opta Analyst @optaanalyst.optajoe.com · 25/09/2026Jürgen Klopp is back in the dugout, and we saw some of his influence in Germany's 1-1 draw with the Netherlands on Thursday. @davidsegar.bsky.social looks at Klopp's first game back in management since May 2024. theanalyst.com/articles/jur...theanalyst.comWhat Did We Learn From Jürgen Klopp’s First Game Back in Management? | Opta AnalystAfter over two years out of management, Jürgen Klopp returned to the touchline on Thursday as Germany boss. How did it go? 091
Opta Analyst @optaanalyst.optajoe.com · 25/09/2026We decided the international break was a good time to see how the new anti-timewasting rules are working in the Premier League. Pretty well, it seems... ⏱️👇 🔗 theanalyst.com/articles/pre...theanalyst.comMore Football, Less Timewasting: The New Premier League Rules on Throw-Ins and Goal-Kicks Are Working | Opta AnalystNew laws were brought in this summer to try and speed up restarts in Premier League games. Have they worked so far? 010
Opta Analyst @optaanalyst.optajoe.com · 24/09/2026Everyone's favourite page just got better. Our Power Rankings now include: 📈 Highest risers & fallers ⚖️ Team comparison 🌍 16,000 men's and women's teams ranked 🔗Go explore: theanalyst.com/articles/who... 051
Opta Analyst @optaanalyst.optajoe.com · 24/09/2026Spain and La Liga have long been standard bearers when it comes to pathways for youth players. Evidence suggests their position is only improving relative to the other top leagues. 1110
Opta Analyst @optaanalyst.optajoe.com · 23/09/2026The biggest differences between actual and expected Premier League position: Man Utd: 12th ▶️ 4th Tottenham: 20th ▶️ 12th Sunderland: 14th ▶️ 8th Newcastle: 9th ▶️ 20th The expected points table after MD5: 1140
Opta Analyst @optaanalyst.optajoe.com · 22/09/2026The form of Liverpool's Florian Wirtz is causing quite a debate, with @23carra.bsky.social questioning if he'll ever live up to the hype in the Premier League. @davidsegar.bsky.social has had his say too, armed with Opta data. Are criticisms of Wirtz fair? 🤔 #LFC theanalyst.com/articles/flo...theanalyst.comThe Florian Wirtz Debate: Were Jamie Carragher’s Criticisms Harsh or Fair? | Opta AnalystFlorian Wirtz has not had the impact expected at Liverpool. Does the Germany international deserve the criticism he's getting though? 0113
Opta Analyst @optaanalyst.optajoe.com · 22/09/2026Man Utd according to Opta's Expected Points table: ◉ Actual position: 12th ◉ Expected position: 4th They lead the Premier League for shots (113) and opposition-box touches (182), but have converted just 7.1% of their attempts. Do they deserve to be higher? 4203
Opta Analyst @optaanalyst.optajoe.com · 21/09/2026🔃 Liverpool have their new Van Dijk 😱 Arsenal's weaknesses have been revealed 🐈⬛ Brobbey is up there with the PL's best We're back with our weekly column of knee-jerk reactions to the weekend's action. theanalyst.com/articles/pre...theanalyst.comFive Knee-Jerk Reactions to Premier League 2026-27 Matchday 5 | Opta AnalystIn our weekly column, we bring a dose of five knee-jerk reactions to the weekend’s Premier League action. 081
Opta Analyst @optaanalyst.optajoe.com · 21/09/2026Five games in, who are favourites for the Premier League title? 🏆 Arsenal: 43.7% 🔵 Man City: 39.8% 🔴 Liverpool: 5.7% 🔵 Brighton: 4.2% Arsenal remain the Opta supercomputer's favourites, but City have closed the gap dramatically after winning all five. See the latest Premier League predictions 👇 251
Opta Analyst @optaanalyst.optajoe.com · 19/09/2026𝐅𝐓: 𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐡𝐚𝐦 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝟎-𝟏 𝐂𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐲 Coventry get their first Premier League goal, win and points for 25 years. A bad day at the office for Forest, who haven't scored at home since the final day of last season. 050
Opta Analyst @optaanalyst.optajoe.com · 19/09/2026𝐅𝐓: 𝐑𝐨𝐦𝐚 𝟐-𝟐 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 Inter produce a brilliant fightback to rescue a point at Stadio Olimpico in a top-of-the-table thriller. Lautaro Martínez scored both goals to cancel out Manu Koné's first-half brace, keeping the two sides locked on points. 161
Opta Analyst @optaanalyst.optajoe.com · 19/09/2026Coventry City's first Premier League goal for 25 years. But most importantly...🚨A FIRST GOALKEEPER ASSIST OF THE SEASON🚨 2455
Opta Analyst @optaanalyst.optajoe.com · 19/09/2026𝐇𝐓: 𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐡𝐚𝐦 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝟎-𝟎 𝐂𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐲 Lots of huffing puffing, but no goals yet. Since their return to the Premier League 2022, Forest have only had more first-half shots without scoring on one occasion (16 vs Wolves in February). 000
Opta Analyst @optaanalyst.optajoe.com · 19/09/2026Martínez ➡️ Thuram ➡️ Martínez ➡️ Thuram ➡️ GOAL Less than a minute into the second half and Inter have a goal back - and a very well-worked one at that! 030
Opta Analyst @optaanalyst.optajoe.com · 19/09/2026𝐇𝐓: 𝐑𝐨𝐦𝐚 𝟐-𝟎 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 Roma are heading three points clear at the summit of Serie A. Manu Koné has them firmly in control of this top-of-the-table clash at Stadio Olimpico. The Frenchman scored both goals. 030
Opta Analyst @optaanalyst.optajoe.com · 19/09/2026𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐨𝐧 𝟑-𝟎 𝐀𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐥 Arsenal suffer their biggest Premier League defeat since May 2023, which was also against Brighton and Hove Albion (3-0 at Emirates Stadium). Brighton's exceptional start to the season continues. They move up to third in the table. 1131
Opta Analyst @optaanalyst.optajoe.com · 19/09/2026Chema Andrés' first Premier League goal has Arsenal trailing by three goals in a league game for the first time since May 2023 (a 3-0 defeat to Brighton...). 011
Opta Analyst @optaanalyst.optajoe.com · 19/09/2026Charalampos Kostoulas' record (all comps) at Brighton: 2026-27: 6 goal involvements | 519 mins 2025-26: 3 goal involvements | 532 mins A brilliant start to the season for the 19-year-old Greek forward. 031
Opta Analyst @optaanalyst.optajoe.com · 19/09/2026Make that three goals conceded from outside the box... 170
Opta Analyst @optaanalyst.optajoe.com · 19/09/2026Arsenal have now conceded two goals in the Premier League this season. Both were from outside the box. 160
Opta Analyst @optaanalyst.optajoe.com · 19/09/2026Harvey Barnes provided two assists in the first seven minutes against Hull. It's the earliest into a Premier League game a Newcastle player has recorded multiple assists. 040
Opta Analyst @optaanalyst.optajoe.com · 19/09/2026𝐅𝐓: 𝐓𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐡𝐚𝐦 𝟐-𝟑 𝐀𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐧 𝐕𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐚 Spurs finally score, but Aston Villa hold on for their first win of the season despite a late wobble. Tottenham will spend the upcoming international break in the relegation zone. 1111
Opta Analyst @optaanalyst.optajoe.com · 19/09/2026Perhaps the real story... Tottenham's first Premier League goal since May. 160
Opta Analyst @optaanalyst.optajoe.com · 19/09/2026Since the start of last season, Aston Villa have scored four more goals from outside the box (16) in the Premier League than any other side. 021
Opta Analyst @optaanalyst.optajoe.com · 19/09/2026¡𝐵𝑢𝑒𝑛𝑑𝑖𝑎! ... but not for Tottenham. Pick. That. Out. 1120
Opta Analyst @optaanalyst.optajoe.com · 19/09/2026*gulp* A few minutes after Tottenham had an equaliser disallowed, Nicolas Jackson makes it 2-0 to Aston Villa. A goal and an assist now for Johan Manzambi on his first Premier League start - he's been a big plus 🇨🇭 090
Opta Analyst @optaanalyst.optajoe.com · 19/09/2026𝐇𝐓: 𝐓𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐡𝐚𝐦 𝟎-𝟏 𝐀𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐧 𝐕𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐚 Spurs' 4 shots on target in the first half was double what they had in their previous two league games combined (2)... but still no goal. They last won a game in which they trailed at HT (all comps) in November 2024. 040
Opta Analyst @optaanalyst.optajoe.com · 19/09/2026First Premier League start. First Premier League goal. Johan Manzambi could hardly miss. 381
Opta Analyst @optaanalyst.optajoe.com · 19/09/2026Tottenham have reached 4.0 xG this season. The wait for a first goal goes on... 190
Opta Analyst @optaanalyst.optajoe.com · 18/09/2026Brighton have recorded the greatest proportion of pressures in the opposition's box (14.2%) of all Premier League clubs this season. 241
Opta Analyst @optaanalyst.optajoe.com · 18/09/2026Who will win the UEFA Women’s Champions League in 2026-27? Here's how the Opta supercomputer sees this season playing out: 143
Opta Analyst @optaanalyst.optajoe.com · 17/09/2026Gian Piero Gasperini has Roma motoring. After an impressive third-place finish last season, can they challenge Inter for the Scudetto this season? @davidsegar.bsky.social has taken a look at the rise of the Giallorossi. theanalyst.com/articles/rom...theanalyst.comRoma Renaissance? Gian Piero Gasperini Has Giallorossi Believing They Can End 26-Year Scudetto Wait | Opta AnalystWith four wins from four in Serie A, Roma are leading the way in the early stages of the season. Can they really challenge for the Scudetto? 051
Opta Analyst @optaanalyst.optajoe.com · 17/09/2026Barcelona have scored 33 goals in just seven games across all competitions so far this season. That’s 4.71 goals per game, comfortably ahead of every other team in Europe’s top five leagues. Top scorers: Barcelona — 33 Freiburg — 22 Ajax — 22 Benfica — 21 Brighton — 20 181
Opta Analyst @optaanalyst.optajoe.com · 17/09/2026Barcelona beat Racing Santander 7-2 last night. They created 6.74 expected goals - the most on record by a team in La Liga 🤯🤯🤯 360
Opta Analyst @optaanalyst.optajoe.com · 16/09/2026Tottenham are only the 12th team in PL history to give 20+ starts in their first four games to players who didn’t play for them the season before. The previous 11 had mixed success, and very few enjoyed long-term growth. 260
Opta Analyst @optaanalyst.optajoe.com · 16/09/2026Premier League, chances created from open play 👀 11 – Martin Ødegaard 11 – Pascal Groß 10 – James McAtee 9 – Morgan Rogers 9 – Marcus Rashford 📊 070
Opta Analyst @optaanalyst.optajoe.com · 15/09/2026Barcelona have scored 26 goals in six games in all competitions this season. At that rate, if they played the same number of games as last season (57), they will score 247 goals in total. @davidsegar.bsky.social looks at Barça's remarkable potency. theanalyst.com/articles/bar...theanalyst.comWho Needs Julián Alvarez? Barcelona Cannot Stop Scoring Goals | Opta AnalystBarcelona have scored lots of goals since Hansi Flick arrived in 2024, and despite missing out on a new striker in the summer, that has continued. 172
Opta Analyst @optaanalyst.optajoe.com · 15/09/2026What defensive shapes do teams play against? Liverpool have faced a low block more often than any other PL team this season: 093
Opta Analyst @optaanalyst.optajoe.com · 14/09/2026Only two teams have ever taken more points in their first four Premier League matches following promotion than Hull City have this season. 121
Opta Analyst @optaanalyst.optajoe.com · 14/09/2026Who is going to win the Europa League this season? 🤖 The Opta supercomputer has given its verdict... theanalyst.com/articles/eur...theanalyst.comEuropa League Predictions 2026-27: The Opta Supercomputer Projections | Opta AnalystAhead of the start of the league phase of the 2026-27 Europa League, the Opta supercomputer has run 10,000 simulations of the season. 051
Opta Analyst @optaanalyst.optajoe.com · 14/09/2026Coventry and Tottenham are yet to score in the Premier League after four games, and Aston Villa have started slowly, again. Never fear, though, we are here to find the data to give fans optimism that their season can still be saved. 👇 theanalyst.com/articles/pre...theanalyst.comThe Premier League’s Worst Starts, and Why Coventry, Villa and Spurs Shouldn’t Panic Yet | Opta AnalystWhat does a bad start really mean, and can teams learn anything from the slowest starts in Premier League history? 041
Opta Analyst @optaanalyst.optajoe.com · 14/09/2026❌ Carrick is not the man for the job 🔵 City can give us a title race 🐯 Hull can challenge for Europe We're back with our weekly dose of knee-jerk reactions to round up the weekend's Premier League action. theanalyst.com/articles/pre...theanalyst.comSix Knee-Jerk Reactions to Premier League Matchday 4 | Opta AnalystWe’re back for our weekly review of the Premier League’s action with a bunch of hastily made conclusions from MD4. 160
Opta Analyst @optaanalyst.optajoe.com · 14/09/2026Not a single home team has won yet on Matchday 4 of the Premier League. How rare is that? When did it last happen? And is home advantage disappearing? All that and more 👇 theanalyst.com/articles/pre...theanalyst.comNo Home Wins? 26-Year Premier League Wait Could End on Monday Night | Opta AnalystCould Matchday 4 become just the fourth Premier League matchday without a home win? Newcastle's trip to Leeds could provide the answer. 000
Opta Analyst @optaanalyst.optajoe.com · 13/09/2026𝐌𝐚𝐧 𝐔𝐭𝐝 𝟎-𝟏 𝐌𝐚𝐧 𝐂𝐢𝐭𝐲 Just one goal but plenty of controversy as Man City win at Old Trafford despite being down to 10 men for three quarters of the game. Erling Haaland scored the only goal, his ninth in Premier League Manchester derbies, the most of any player. 161
Opta Analyst @optaanalyst.optajoe.com · 13/09/2026No goals at half-time in the Manchester derby, but one very big talking point. Phil Foden became only the second Man City player to be sent off against Man Utd in the Premier League (after Bernardo Corradi in 2006), after he reacted to a kick from Bruno Fernandes. #MUNMCI 130
Reposted by Opta AnalystOpta Analyst @optaanalyst.optajoe.com · 11/09/2026In 2022, Elversberg were playing in a regional league in the fourth tier of German football. On Sunday, they host Bayern Munich, and go into the game ahead of the Bundesliga champions in their first season in the top tier. ✍️ @davidsegar.bsky.social theanalyst.com/articles/elv...theanalyst.comWho Are Elversberg? From the Regional Leagues to Leading Bayern Munich | Opta AnalystAfter a remarkable climb, Elversberg have started their debut Bundesliga season with two wins and now look forward to hosting Bayern Munich on Sunday. 192
Reposted by Opta AnalystOpta Analyst @optaanalyst.optajoe.com · 11/09/2026Fernandes v Cherki is just one of six subplots that could be decisive in the derby. The others? 👇 theanalyst.com/articles/man...theanalyst.comMan Utd vs Man City: Six Subplots That Could Decide the Manchester Derby | Opta AnalystAhead of Sunday's Manchester derby at Old Trafford in the Premier League, we identify six elements that could be decisive. 001
Opta Analyst @optaanalyst.optajoe.com · 13/09/2026𝐂𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝟎-𝟓 𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐨𝐧 Brighton thrash 10-man Coventry, who are still awaiting their first point and goal back in the Premier League. The Seagulls have scored 13 goals in their first four PL matches, their most at this stage of a of top-flight season. 020