Martin Tyler's stats: Zlatan Ibrahimovic's scoring record and comebacks from 3-0 down
Thursday 5 January 2017 10:17, UK
How does Zlatan Ibrahimovic's goalscoring record compare to other debut Premier League seasons? How many teams have recovered from three goals down to get a result? Who wins the most points when the top six go head-to-head?
Martin Tyler has the answers - plus, hit the video to see his latest tricky teaser from the Emirates Stadium.
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Martin's Starting Stats
Chelsea's winning run is over and Tottenham (five wins) are now chasing the record along with Manchester United (six). Congratulations to Chelsea for sharing the all-time top-flight record of 13 consecutive wins within one season. They equalled not just Arsenal of 2001/02, but also Sunderland and Preston in 1891/92.
Tottenham are still unbeaten at home this season (P10 W8 D2) and unbeaten in their last 13 home Premier League derbies (W9 D4 F29 A12). It was their sixth clean sheet in that run. Their last defeat in a London derby was Arsenal in April 2014.
Dele Alli's first goal was Tottenham's 50th of the season (all competitions) and they now have 51 goals in 28 games. Chelsea stay on 50 goals from 23 games.
Mauricio Pochettino's 96th Premier League game in charge of Tottenham and his 50th win. His record is W50 D26 L20 Pts176. It was also his 150th Premier League game as a manager following his time at Southampton.
Christian Eriksen has now scored five and assisted four in his last eight Premier League games and Alli has a third consecutive double; seven in his last four. He has now reached 20 Premier League goals and is still only 20 years old.
It was the 50th meeting between the two teams; the first Premier League fixture to be played 50 time. It was only Tottenham's fifth win. Spurs won five, drawn 19 and Chelsea have won the other 26.
Three down and not losing
Arsenal have never come back from three-goals behind before Tuesday night. Has any PL team done it more than once? Craig (London)
MARTIN SAYS: It was a stunning comeback from Arsenal against Bournemouth and perhaps a surprise to discover that was the first time in the Premier League era they've recovered from a three-goal deficit. The last time they did it in a league game was against Sheffield Wednesday in April 1988 when my Sky Sports colleague Alan Smith scored the equaliser and my other Sky Sports colleague Paul Merson scored the first two in the recovery!
Arsenal became the 15th team to achieve the feat in the Premier League on Tuesday night and the first since Crystal Palace helped derail Liverpool's title charge with a famous 3-3 draw at Selhurst Park in May 2014.
As for the kings of the comeback, that's Manchester United, who have recovered from three or more goals down on three separate occasions.
They most recently did so against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in 2012, but also successfully overturned big deficits against Tottenham (5-3 in 2001) and Sheffield Wednesday (3-3 in 1992).
Four other teams have done it more than once; Norwich City (4-4 v Middlesbrough in 2005 and 3-3 v Sheffield Wednesday in 1993); Tottenham (3-3 v West Brom in 2014 and 4-4 v Aston Villa in 2007); West Brom (5-5 v Man Utd in 2013 and 3-3 v Newcastle in 2011); and Wolves (4-4 v Swansea in 2012 and 4-3 v Leicester in 2003).
That Wolves win over Leicester makes them one of only four teams to win a Premier League game after being three-goals behind; the others were Leeds (beat Derby 4-3 in 1997); Wimbledon (beat West Ham 4-3 in 1998) and Manchester United (beat Spurs 5-3 in 2001).
The only side to ever recover from a four-goal deficit was Newcastle, who famously drew 4-4 with Arsenal in February 2011.
Top-six mini-league
Are Chelsea still top of the 'top-six mini-league' after losing to Spurs? (Pat, Southampton)
MARTIN SAYS: No they are not. But they weren't top before Wednesday night's game either.
Liverpool would currently top this hypothetical 'mini top-six league', having taken 11 points from five matches against their title rivals.
Chelsea do very well too, with nine points from six games, while Tottenham would now be third with six points from their six games.
Arsenal and Manchester United have struggled in the big head-to-head showdowns, taking just five points from five games each.
But it's really the ability of Antonio Conte's side to put away the lesser teams that has set them apart this season. They have dropped just two points to the remaining 14 Premier League teams, having drawn at relegation battlers Swansea in September.
Liverpool, meanwhile, have let 12 points slip away, failing to beat Burnley, Southampton, Bournemouth, West Ham and Sunderland.
Best from the back
Where does Leighton Baines rank on the list of all-time Premier League top goalscoring defenders? (Michael1982)
MARTIN SAYS: The Everton man became just the third Premier League defender to reach 30 goals on Monday, when his penalty helped beat Southampton at Goodison Park.
Former Evertonian David Unsworth (38) and Chelsea's John Terry (40) are the only players ahead of him, while Baines' penalty moved him two goals clear of Ian Harte in fourth place.
Could any active Premier League defender overtake Baines in the near future? It looks unlikely.
Chelsea duo Gary Cahill (23) and Branislav Ivanovic (22) are the only other active players in the top 10 and neither is currently close.
Top goalscoring defenders in PL history
- John Terry (40)
- David Unsworth (38)
- Leighton Baines (30)
- Ian Harte (28)
- William Gallas (25)
- Julian Dicks (24)
- Dan Petrescu. Joleon Lescott, Gary Cahill (23)
- Branislav Ivanovic, Sami Hyppia (22)
Zlat's the way to do it
Have any players scored more goals than Zlatan Ibrahimovic in their first Premier League season? Chris (Manchester)
MARTIN SAYS: Zlatan Ibrahimovic's strike against West Ham means he has 13 goals in his first 19 Manchester United appearances.
We asked Opta to tell us which players had scored the most goals in their first 20 Premier League appearances - so we know what he needs to aim for in his next appearance, which will likely be against Liverpool live on Sky Sports on January 14.
The best record after 20 Premier League matches belongs to Kevin Phillips, who managed an incredible 19 goals for Sunderland in 1999/2000.
Andy Cole scored 18 in his first 20 Premier League games for Newcastle, while Diego Costa managed 17 goals from his first 20 top-flight games at Chelsea.
Here's a list of players who Ibrahimovic will be aiming to match or beat in his next game
- Kevin Phillips (19 goals in first 20 PL games)
- Andy Cole (18)
- Diego Costa (17)
- Ruud van Nistelrooy, Anthony Yeboah (15)
- Alan Shearer, Mick Quinn, Sergio Aguero (14)
It will be interesting to see how many Zlatan ends up with. Andrew Cole scored 34 in the 1993/94 campaign - but that was a 42-game season. Phillips managed 30 in 1999/2000, but Ibrahimovic could better Fernando Torres' debut season for Liverpool when the Spaniard hit 24 in the 2007/08 season.
More than 20 goals in debut Premier League season:
- 1993/94: Andy Cole (34)*
- 1999/2000: Kevin Phillips (30)
- 2007/08: Fernando Torres (24)
- 2001/02: Ruud van Nistelrooy (23)
- 2011/12: Sergio Aguero (23)
- 1992/93: Teddy Sheringham (22)*
- 2004/05: Andrew Johnson (21)
*42-game Premier League seasons
