Strike stars Dominate in record spree

THE crazyc Premier League goal-fest goa this season is on target targ to smash records. AAston Villa hitting Liverpool for seven in a nine-goal game becbecame the highest scoring fixfixture of the campaign so far. With Spurs also knocking Manchester United for six last titime out, the total goals scscored this season reached 144 14 – an average of 3.79 per 90 minutes.

The mostm goals ever scored in a 38 game PrePremier League season is 1,072 in 2018-19. That’s an average of 2.82 perp game.

The finifinishing power of table-topping Everton ststriker Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Tottenham’sTotte Heung-Min Son (both on six goals),goa plus Jamie Vardy and Mo Salah (alreadyalr on five each) has contributcontributed to the unprecedented total. After 38 3 games there is yet to be a goalless draw. And 35 have had a winner, wwith only West Brom v Chelsea (3-3), Spurs v Newcastle (1-1) anand Leeds v Manchester City (1-1) ending in draws.

If the definition of a thriller is a gamgame with goals, then 11 of the 38 games have had five goals or more, and only have had onone or two.

If this defenders’ nightmare cocontinues, there will be 1,440 ggoals by the end of the ccampaign, 400 more than last season! “Sloppy” defending, as Roy Keane would say. Managers are pondering the reason for the goal glut. A packed schedule, tiredness, lack of preparation time and the generous handball rule producing penalty-kicks have all been cited.

Equally, with no fans in the ground, has that had an effect on teams and the ways the games are played? It could work both ways. With a full Villa Park against Liverpool, Dean Smith’s side might have scored even more.

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