What happens when a Premier League weekend happens without Arsenal, Manchester United or Manchester City playing a game? Not a lot it turns out, as the Premier League was a bit boring this weekend. Chelsea won because they're Chelsea, West Brom won because Pulis and Sunderland lost because Sunderland.
Using the Opta and Squakwa stat bases, we've found our five favourite Premier League stats from the weekends games:
This was the 2nd time the reigning Premier League champions have been in the relegation zone the following season.
There's a bad defence of your title and then there is what's happening Leicester this year. Blame Ranieri, blame the players, blame whoever you want.
Man United were the last ones to end up in the bottom three - but that was in August of 2007. Obviously United didn't go down that season - they won the League and the Champions League. But February is a lot different to August, and Leicester are both managerless and rudderless. Maybe they'll win the Champions League too though.
Only Ryan Giggs has provided more Premier League assists than Cesc Fabregas
Fabregas got his 102nd assist during his 300th game on Saturday as Chelsea maintained their grip on the top of the table.
If he hadn't spent those three years in Spain with Barcelona, there's a high chance he'd have passed Giggs record (162 assists). The fact that he's under 30 and still able to ping a pass to anywhere suggests that he will get there sooner rather than later.
Even before Liverpool, Jamie Vardy's chance conversion rate was higher this season than it was last
Yes, even prior to his brace last night, Vardy's conversion rates were actually higher this season. Vardy was scoring 24 per cent of all of his chances, and 44 per cent of big chances, compared to 22 per cent and 42 per cent respectively last season.
As such, it might be suggested that he was far from the root of Claudio Ranieri's problems. Mind you, he didn't solve them either. This stat comes via the Leicester Mercury.
No manager has had more wins after their first 26 Premier League games than Antonio Conte (20)
This seems ominous.
We're not saying that he'll reach the levels of Arsene Wenger or Alex Ferguson, but Conte's got Chelsea playing some irresistible football at the moment. They're strolling towards the title. Not a bad start.
Gareth McAuley has now scored more league goals (6) this season than: Jamie Vardy (5), Anthony Martial (3) and Daniel Sturridge (2)
Well, they call him Big for a reason!
Six goals is a pretty big tally for a defender at this stage of the season, unless they're on set pieces (aka, the Roberto Carlos/Denis Irwin role) and McAuley will pop up now and again with a key goal. Yesterday, it was the winner as the Baggies came from behind against Bournemouth.
It earned him a place in our team of the week too.
