Top ten most saves by a goalkeeper in a single Premier League match

Where does Paulo Gazzaniga’s performance against Liverpool rank in the list of greatest save makers in a single Premier League match?

Tottenham Hotspur‘s poor start to the 2019/20 campaign continued this past weekend when they lost 2-1 to Liverpool at Anfield. It was their 4th league defeat thus far and their 17th since the beginning of last season, whereas the Reds have only lost once over the same period, according to iSportsapi.com.

While the Merseyside outfit are embarking on their best start ever, Spurs are having their worst under manager Mauricio Pochettino, having gained just 12 points from 10 games. The visitors did have the better start though, as Harry Kane opened the scoring inside the first minute. The England striker capitalised on the rebound from Heung-min Son’s long-range effort to give them the lead.

In an effort to restore parity in the scoreline, the hosts peppered the goal with shots, ending the game with 21 in total. The only reason Spurs went in at half-time with their lead and a clean sheet still intact was their goalkeeper.

Paulo Gazzaniga was in exceptional form on Sunday, keeping Liverpool’s deadly trio of Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino and Mo Salah at bay as they chased an equaliser. There were too many saves to pick out just one, as several of them were spectacular. Ultimately he was let down by his defence; firstly Danny Rose, who failed to track Jordan Henderson’s run in the 52nd minute, and then Serge Aurier, who clumsily kicked the back of Mane’s leg.

Without Salah’s penalty with 15 minutes to go, the North London outfit may well have come away with a draw. The Argentine netminder did not look like conceding for much of the game, making an incredible 12 saves. Only nine players have made more saves in a Premier Leaguefixture since Opta began tracking those statistics.

The record currently stands at 14, which was first achieved by Tim Krul when he lined out for Newcastle United against Spurs in 2013, and most recently equalled by David de Gea in 2017. That was in the infamous game between Manchester United and Arsenal, who lost 3-1 despite having 15 shots on target. Then-United boss Jose Mourinho said it was a “world’s best” goalkeeping performance.

Gazzaniga was not quite on that level on Sunday, but he has proved himself to be a more than capable deputy to Hugo Lloris, who is out for the rest of 2019 due to injury. Now if only Spurs could sort the rest of their team out…

Most saves in a single Premier League match, as per iSports API data:

=10. Paulo Gazzaniga – 12 (Liverpool vs Spurs, 27 Oct 2019)

=10. Edwin van der Sar – 12 (Arsenal vs Fulham, 30th Nov 2003)

=4. Vito Mannone – 13 (Sunderland vs Chelsea, 19 Apr 2014)

=4. Lukasz Fabianski – 13 (Spurs vs Swansea, 28 Feb 2016)

=4. Boaz Myhill – 13 (Man City vs West Brom, 21 Mar 2015)

=4. David James – 13 Man City (Spurs vs Man City, 8 Apr 2006)

=4. Mark Crossley – 13 (Newcastle vs Fulham, 7 Nov 2004)

=1. David de Gea – 14 (Arsenal vs Man United, 2 Dec 2017)

=1. Vito Mannone – 14 (Liverpool vs Sunderland, 19 Apr 2014)

=1. Tim Krul – 14 (Spurs vs Newcastle, 10 Nov 2013)

PSG announce new long-term deal for Marco Verratti.

Midfielder Marco Verratti has signed a new contract at Paris Saint-Germain, tying him to the club until 2024.

The popular Italian’s previous deal had been set to expire in two years, as per iSports API data.

But PSG have avoided losing him on a lower fee by tying Verratti down to a new five-year extension.

Still just 26, Verratti has been at the club since 2012, having arrived from hometown club Pescara that year.

He has since made almost 300 appearances for the Parisian club and won every major domestic honour available, according to iSports API.

Footballing siblings who played together for the same Premier League club

Matthew Longstaff made his dream debut for Newcastle United by putting in a top performance and scoring the winning goal against Manchester United – and he did it while playing alongside his older brother, Sean.

The pair are not the first brothers to play on the same team together, and they probably won’t be the last. Given the promising start both youngsters have made to their careers, they could be anchoring the Magpies midfield for years to come.

Only time will tell, and then we can judge the pair up against the very best siblings to have teamed up.

Brothers who played on the same Premier League team together, all data collects from iSports API.



Kolo and Yaya Touré – Man City & Cote d’Ivoire

The Ivorian duo probably have a strong claim to being the most talented brothers to ever play with each other, although one can imagine Danish legends Brian and Michael Laudrup would have a lot to say about that.

The Touré’s played together for three years at Manchester City, where they helped the club capture their first Premier League title in 2012. They were also teammates on the Cote d’Ivoire national team, with whom they won the African Cup of Nations in 2015, but their greatest contribution to football has to be the Yaya Kolo song that City fans used to belt out.



Rafael and Fabio Da Silva – Man United & Brazil

Identical twins are extremely rare in professional football, but the Da Silva brothers were both snapped up by Man United in 2008 when they were just teenagers at Fluminense.

Fabio made a decidedly lesser impact with the Red Devils than his sibling though, making just 22 league appearances (and taking one title winner’s medal) before leaving the club in 2014. Rafael, on the other hand, played 109 times in the top flight for United, winning five major honours along the way as well as playing in the 2011 Uefa Champions League final.

They both have two caps for the Brazil senior national team, although they didn’t overlap with each other, but they did play together in the youth ranks all the way up to U17 level. Both men currently play in France, Fabio for Nantes and Rafael for Lyon.

Five players Man United should never have let go in the post-Alex Ferguson era

Shola and Sammy Ameobi – Newcastle

Both of the Ameobi brothers came through the academy at Newcastle and spent the majority of their careers at the club. Their time in the senior team overlapped for four years until Shola was transferred to Turkish outfit Gaziantep in 2014.

Sammy is currently playing for Notts Forest, while his elder brother is back on Tyneside as the club’s loan player coordinator, despite never officially retiring. Their brother Tomi is also a professional footballer.

Six of the best players to switch international allegiances



Shaun and Bradley Wright-Phillips – Man City

Both of the Wright-Phillips brothers came through the academy at Man City and spent a brief time together as part of the senior setup. It was Shaun, adopted son of Ian Wright, who had the more successful Premier League career, while Bradley, biological son of the Arsenal legend, has carved out a name for himself in north America.

The former Southampton forward moved to MLS outfit the New York Red Bulls in 2013 and has since won the league’s Golden boot award on two occasions. Shaun reunited with his brother when he made the same transatlantic move in 2015, playing together for two seasons.

The longest unbeaten runs in Premier League history

Andre and Jordan Ayew – Swansea City & Ghana

The Ayew brothers have been in English football since 2015, but have only played together at club level for six months. In January of 2018 Andre rejoined Swansea City, where his brother Jordan was already playing.

The latter had moved to Wales the previous summer from Aston Villa, who had just been relegated, and the Swans suffered the same fate that season. Jordan is now at Crystal Palace, while Andre remains at Swansea in their bid to gain promotion from the Championship. They also play together for the Ghanaian national team.



Gary and Phil Neville – Man United & England

Together they won six Premier League titles, three FA Cups and a Uefa Champions League. There isn’t a pair of brothers alive who have achieved such success together as Gary and Phil Neville did while at Man United, and there probably won’t be ever again.

Phil went off to play for Everton in 2005, while Gary stayed at Old Trafford and won even more silverware. The latter has since become arguably the most well-known football pundit in the country, while the younger brother is currently managing the England women’s national team. They also coached together for a brief time at Valencia, but the less said about that the better.

Christian and Jonathan Benteke – Crystal Palace

And now to finish on an odd one. This fraternal partnership wouldn’t even warrant mentioning if it wasn’t for the strange circumstances surrounding their link-up at Crystal Palace.

Christian Benteke joined Palace from Liverpool in the summer of 2016, and his younger brother arrived at the club not long after. Jonathan had just been released by Belgian side Zulte Waregem, but was somehow deemed good enough for a Premier League team.

The elder Benteke insisted his sibling was there on ability and merit, but Alan Pardew confirmed that he had been recommended by Christian himself.

Jonathan only made one substitute appearance for the Eagles in 2016, coming off the bench for the last six minutes against Middlesbrough – so they didn’t even play together. But we couldn’t leave them out.

For more information, please click iSports API.

Five youngest goal scorers in Champions League history

The opening two gameweeks of the Champions League has already seen four teenage talents make their mark in the goals scored column, with Red Bull Salzburg’s 19-year-old goal machine Erling Braut Haland hitting the headlines for his hat-trick against Genk.

Whilst the quartet, including Manchester City’s Phil Foden, are all impressing at a young age on Europe’s biggest stage, they all remain some way off this list of precociously talented goal scorers.

Here are the five youngest goal scorers in Champions League history, according to iSports API football data.

Martin Klein – 17 years, 240 days

The defender most recently played his football in the Maltese Premier League for Birkirkara FC, following spells at clubs in Hungary and Kazakhstan which probably tells you that his place in this list is probably his career highlight.

Rewind back to the 2001/02 season, and Sparta Prague handed their young defender a chance to play against the likes of eventual winners Real Madrid and Panathanaikos as the Czech side impressively reached the second group stage.

It was against the latter that Klein would write his name into history, scoring in a 2-1 defeat in Greece at just 17 years and 240 days old, as per iSports API. His career would never quite reach those same heights as he enjoyed a nomadic existence, though he did earn a solitary cap for the Czech Republic back in 2009.



Cesc Fabregas – 17 years, 218 days

Plucked from Barcelona’s famed La Masia academy, Cesc Fabregas was promised an easier route to first-team football at Arsenal and the midfielder did not have to wait long for his opportunity under Arsene Wenger.

Handed his debut as a 16-year-old, Fabregas was slowly integrated into the first-team at Highbury and set a whole host of records including becoming their youngest ever player. The Spaniard would make his mark in Europe also, becoming the club’s youngest ever Champions League goalscorer when he found the net in a 5-1 win over Rosenborg in 2004, as per iSports API database.

Despite winning a host of major honours including the Premier League with Chelsea, La Liga with Barcelona and the World Cup with Spain, Fabregas never quite reached the pinnacle in the Champions League, his nearest miss being part of the Arsenal side beaten in the 2006 final.

Bojan Krkic – 17 years, 217 days

Pipping Fabregas by just a single day is former Barcelona forward Bojan, once regarded as the heir to Lionel Messi at the Nou Camp. Whilst those lofty comparisons seem far-fetched in hindsight, the former Stoke forward began his career in impressive fashion.

Having broken Messi’s record as Barcelona’s youngest ever player, Bojan would score an impressive 12 goals in all competitions in his debut season, including his first Champions League goal, as per iSports API data.

That came in a quarter-final at Schalke, Bojan scoring the only goal of the game to give his side a precious first-leg lead. Barcelona’s run would ultimately end with semi-final defeat to eventual winners Manchester United, though Bojan’s place in history was secured.

His career would never quite hit the heights projected, though he would win the competition twice, the forward being an unused substitute during Barcelona’s final victories in 2009 and 2011.

Mateo Kovacic – 17 years, 215 days

Fractionally younger than Bojan is current Chelsea midfielder Kovacic, whose precocious talent was recognised by Dinamo Zagreb as they threw him into Champions League action as a teenager.

Having come through an acid test against Real Madrid on his first appearance in the competition, Kovacic would become the second youngest goalscorer in the tournament’s history when he gave Zagreb the lead against French side Lyon.

The game would ultimately end in disappointment and a humbling 7-1 defeat for the Croatian outfit, though it did little to harm the midfielder’s progress as he would go on to become the club’s youngest ever captain, as per iSports API data.

Moves to Inter Milan and Real Madrid followed, before joining Chelsea on a permanent basis this summer following a successful loan spell last season.

Peter Ofori-Quaye – 17 years, 194 days

No doubt a piece of pub quiz trivia known only by the most statistician-like of football fans, Ghanaian forward Ofori-Quaye is the youngest goalscorer in Champions League history after finding the net for Olympiakos in 1997.

That the goal came as a consolation in a 5-1 defeat is bound to matter little to the history-maker, who was regarded as a bright prospect upon his arrival at the Greek side that year. Whilst he would make little impact on Europe throughout the rest of his career, he did win six successive league titles with the club before leaving in 2003.

Spells at six clubs including the likes of OFI Crete and AEL Limassol would follow, whilst he also earned several caps for Ghana and featured at the 2000 Africa Cup of Nations.

The youngest goalscorer in the history of the Champions League, remember the name, Peter Ofori-Quaye.

For more information, please visit reliable football data provider iSports API.

Ranking the six highest appearance makers in Champions League history

The Champions League is undoubtedly the pinnacle of club football, the tournament renowned for playing host to world’s football’s greatest talents.

Only a select few are given the chance to test themselves against Europe’s elite, whilst even fewer manage to lift arguably the most coveted trophy in the game. We’ve decided to look back at and rank some even rarer talents, those who have managed to enjoy careers of longevity at the very highest level.

Here is the Football Faithful’s rankings of the six highest appearance makers in Champions League history, as per iSports API football data.

Lionel Messi – 137 appearances
Comparing between different eras can be difficult, but there can be no arguing that Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi is a candidate for the greatest footballer ever to play the game.

Messi, and great rival Cristiano Ronaldo, have enjoyed lengthy careers that seem to have made the extraordinary become increasingly routine. The Argentine continues to produce mind-boggling numbers of goals, assists and magical moments, with the Champions League amongst his favourite stages.

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner has won the tournament on four occasions, finishing as the competition’s top scorer six times and scoring a barely believable 112 times in just 137 appearances.

The 32-year-old has twice scored in final success, whilst his performance in Barcelona’s dismantling of Manchester United in the 2011 showpiece remains one of the great Champions League individual displays.

Ryan Giggs – 141 appearances

The most decorated player in the history of the English game, Manchester United legend Giggs was a crucial part of an era which saw Sir Alex Ferguson’s side enjoy almost two decades of domestic dominance.

Amongst their 13 Premier League titles came two Champions League trophies, Giggs playing key roles in the club’s successes in both 1999 and 2008.

The first of those trophies would come as part of an unprecedented treble, before Giggs would come off the bench to convert a penalty against Chelsea in the first ever all-English final in Moscow nine years later.

Few have enjoyed careers of such length or success, Giggs becoming one of just a select few British players to have won the trophy on more than one occasion.

Raul – 142 appearances

Only three players have ever made more appearances than Real Madrid legend Raul, and just two have scored more goals than the prolific Spaniard.

A three-times winner of the competition during a glittering career at the Bernabeu, Raul would help the Spanish giants to win the competition three times in just five years between 1998 and 2002, scoring in the latter two final victories over Valencia and Bayer Leverkusen respectively.

The homegrown hero of the Galactico era, Raul would average a goal every other game throughout his Champions League career, later joining German side Schalke before leaving European football in 2012 for Al Sadd.

Xavi – 151 appearances

The greatest Spanish player ever? That might be some accolade, but Xavi is most certainly a contender.

The heartbeat of Barcelona and Spain teams which would revolutionise modern football, Xavi was the creative fulcrum at the centre of the tiki-taka era which would bring a wealth of success to Spanish football.

Having helped end Barcelona’s 14-year wait for European success in 2006, the midfield dictator would add a further three Champions League titles over the next nine seasons to establish himself as one of the great playmakers.

The Barcelona side of 2011 is often lauded as possibly the greatest club football has ever seen, and their La Masia graduate was central to that success.



Cristiano Ronaldo – 164 appearances

Perhaps no player has ever thrived on European football’s biggest stage quite like Cristiano Ronaldo.

The Portuguese star’s desire to be regarded as the greatest ever is no secret, and he seems to acknowledge that delivering in the Champions League is the way to achieve his dream.

So far, he has delivered and then some.

His list of records include being the competition’s greatest ever goalscorer, whilst he also became the first player ever to win the tournament five times since its rebranding and only player to score in three separate Champions League finals.

Next on his list is to match Clarence Seedorf as the only player to win the tournament with three different clubs whilst at Juventus, whilst that would also take his tally to six – a feat only achieved by Francisco Gento in the history of the European Cup.

Iker Casillas – 177 appearances

The youngest goalkeeper ever to feature in the competition at the time of his debut in 1999, Casillas would go on to become the youngest man to ever play in, and win, a final later that season as the Spanish giants were crowned champions just four days after his 19th birthday.

He would win the tournament again two years later, defeating Bayer Leverkusen at Hampden Park, before lifting the trophy for a third time as Real secured La Decima in 2014.

With his glittering Bernabeu career coming to an end he would move to Champions League regulars Porto, where he continued to rack up appearances and extend his record in the twilight years of his illustrious career.

Having suffered a shock heart attack in July 2019, Casillas was handed a role on the coaching staff at Porto as he continued his recovery.

For more information, please visit iSports API.

Cross Kings – Most prolific crossers in the Premier League

Modern football continues to advance and we regularly see the birth of innovative tactics, though one attacking art form that continues to thrive is effective delivery from out wide.

The opening weeks of the new Premier League season has seen some of the division’s leading lights showcase their talents, from lofted arched crosses to driven balls across the famed ‘corridor of uncertainty’.

We’ve decided to delve into the stats as the new campaign begins to take shape, and look at some of the Premier League’s most prolific crossers.

Here are the league’s top five， according to iSports API football data.

Luka Milivojevic – Crystal Palace – 50 crosses

The Crystal Palace captain and set-piece specialist continues to deliver regularly for Roy Hodgson’s side, with the Serbian having fired in 50 crosses in seven Premier League appearances so far this season.

The midfielder has played a key role in Palace’s impressive start to the new campaign, the Eagles currently sitting sixth in the table following their win at West Ham prior to the international break.

Despite his prolific crossing, remarkably, Milivojevic is yet to register a single assist so far.

Kevin De Bruyne – Manchester City – 54 crosses

Unsurprisingly featuring highly in this list is Manchester City’s brilliant Belgian, who continues to provide arguably the best delivery in the division.

De Bruyne has enjoyed a scintillating start to the new season, providing eight assists already and will have one eye on breaking Thierry Henry’s record of 20 in a single Premier League campaign.

Central to De Bruyne’s success has been his superb delivery from wide areas, usually from the inside right position, the 28-year-old having made 54 crosses for the season so far.

James Maddison – Leicester – 55 crosses

Slightly ahead of De Bruyne is Leicester star Maddison, who continues to demonstrate why he regarded as one of the most promising creative talents in the Premier League.

The 22-year-old has shone for Brendan Rodgers’ exciting young side, the Foxes currently sitting in the Champions League places following an impressive start to the season.

Maddison created more chances than any other player in Europe’s top five leagues last season, and could feature highly again in those rankings having fired in 55 crosses and registered two assists over the first eight rounds of fixtures.

Lucas Digne – Everton – 66 crosses

A fan’s favourite at Goodison Park after being crowned as Everton’s Player of the Season last term, the French full-back has continued to perform despite the club’s difficult start to the season.

The former Barcelona left-back provides pinpoint delivery from wide areas, whilst he also shares set-piece duties as chief supplier for Everton’s forward options.

Having provided six assists last season, the 26-year-old is on course to beat that tally already in the opening weeks of the new campaign, having registered two assists and provided 66 crosses for Marco Silva’s side.

Trent Alexander-Arnold – Liverpool – 78 crosses

The Premier League’s cross king in the opening weeks of the new season is Liverpool’s flying full-back, who alongside Andy Robertson on the opposite flank has become key to Jurgen Klopp’s winning machine.

The England international broke the record for most assists in a single season by a defender last term, and should he not surpass that figure this season it will not be for a lack of trying.

The 21-year-old has whipped in 78 crosses for the league leaders so far, comfortably the most in the division, registering two assists already as he looks to once again provide the ammunition for Liverpool’s formidable forward line.

For more information, please click iSports API.

Five longest gaps between title wins in English football history

Liverpool’s perfect start to the new Premier League season has sparked optimism on Merseyside that the club can finally end their long wait for a league title, having last been crowned champions of England almost 30 years ago.

Jurgen Klopp’s side came agonisingly close to ending their title drought last season, missing out to champions Manchester City by just a single point following an enthralling title race.

Many feel this could be the year the club are finally crowned champions again, though should their winless record extend they could join a list of clubs with the unwanted record of the longest gaps between titles wins.

Here are the five longest gaps between title success in English football history, according to iSports API football data.

Burnley – 31 seasons

Perhaps hard to imagine in the current climate of the Premier League, but Burnley have twice been crowned as the best side in England. The Lancashire side’s first triumph came way back in 1921, where a 30-game unbeaten run helped them to finish top of the division.

Their success would not be sustained, however, as Clarets fans would have to wait until 1960 for the club’s next title. Burnley would pip Wolves and Tottenham to the title, earning entry to the European Cup for the first time the following season where they were eliminated by Hamburg in the quarter-finals despite winning the first leg at Turf Moor.

Since then their highest finish has been a runners-up position two seasons later, though the club are one of just a select few to have won each of English football’s four divisions in the ensuing years as they bounced around the footballing pyramid.

Manchester City – 43 seasons

Manchester City fans must continue to count their blessings following Sheikh Mansour’s takeover of the club just over a decade ago, the billionaire’s investment catapulting the club from mediocrity into one of Europe’s finest footballing sides.

City would endure a 31-year gap between their first title in 1937 and second in 1968, a team featuring the likes of Colin Bell and Mike Summerbee pipping rivals Manchester United – who would win the European Cup that year – to the title.

The club would struggle for silverware over the next four decades, before the world of their loyal fanbase was transformed by their new owners. It would take just four years for their takeover to deliver the ultimate success, Sergio Aguero’s iconic late goal on the final day of the season ending the club’s title drought.

The club have continued to go from strength to strength, adding a further three Premier League trophies to their growing cabinet, and look unlikely to suffer such lean years ever again.

Chelsea – 49 seasons

Another club for whom a takeover would change their history forever, Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich bankrolled Chelsea’s ascent to the top of the English game.

Arriving with the club on the verge of bankruptcy in 2003, Abramovich would help transform Chelsea into contenders with a series of star signings.

Prior to his arrival Chelsea had been crowned champions just once, the first major trophy of the club’s existence coming with title success in 1955.

That would all change just two years after Abramovich’s arrival, as Jose Mourinho would inspire the club to title success in 2005.

Having waited 49 seasons for title success, Mourinho would deliver a second successive championship the following season as a new era of success began at Stamford Bridge.

Aston Villa – 59 seasons

One of the grand old clubs of English football and founding members of The Football League, Aston Villa would enjoy much success in the early years of the competition, winning the title six times between the league’s formation in 1888 and 1910.

From there, however, the Midlands side would struggle to challenge, a series of runners-up positions following their triumph being mixed with relegation to the second and third tier.

Having established themselves back in the top flight the club’s long wait would finally end in 1981, some 59 seasons and 71 years since their last league title. Peter Withe’s goals would inspire the club to glory, and the forward would be the hero once more with the winning goal as Villa secured European Cup success the following season.

Their 1981 title triumph remains the last time the club were crowned champions.

Blackburn Rovers – 71 seasons

Another side who would enjoy early success in The Football League, winning titles in 1912 and 1914 shortly before the beginning of the first World War.

It would be a long, long wait for the Lancashire side to return to the top of English football, but like Chelsea and Manchester City after them, Blackburn would thrive following significant investment during the Premier League era.

Jack Walker’s chequebook would allow Kenny Dalglish to build a side capable of challenging English football’s elite, and a side propelled by the prolific Alan Shearer would pip Manchester United to the title in 1995.

The title race would famously go to the final day, Blackburn loss at Liverpool almost proving costly, though Manchester United’s failure to win at West Ham finally ended Rovers’ 71 season wait for title success.

For more information, please click iSports API.

Top six teams with the fewest defeats in a single Premier League campaign

Only six clubs in the 27 year history of the Premier League have lost three games or fewer in a single season.

Of course, the best way to win titles is by winning as many games as possible. Or, more pertinently, by not losing them. Every great team manages to stave off defeat for as long as possible, creating an aura of invincibility that appears impenetrable from the outside.

The Reds have done a good job so far in building up that aura this season, but they will have to keep it going for as long as they can if they are to join the immortals and win their first league title in three decades.

Top six teams with the fewest defeats in a Premier League season, as per iSports API data:

6. Manchester United – 3 – 1998/99 and 1999/00

Man United truly peaked between 1998 and 2000, losing just six league games over two seasons. Alex Ferguson’s charges won five out of eight major trophies available, including the first treble in English football.

5. Leicester City – 3 (2015/16)

The fairytale season to end all fairytale seasons, Leicester City‘s unlikely title triumph was aided by their unwillingness to lose matches. They got a lot of luck along the way, but they were simply unstoppable with Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez taking apart opposition teams.

Ironically, two of their three defeats in that campaign came against Arsenal – who finished second in the table.

4. Manchester City – 2 – 2017/18

Manchester City broke just about every Premier League record going when they won their first title under Pep Guardiola, including the most goals scored and highest points total of any team in a single campaign.

Their only league defeats came in a thrilling 4-3 contest with Liverpoolat Anfield and a 3-2 turnover against Man United at home, despite leading by two goals at half-time.

3. Chelsea – 1 – 2004/05

Jose Mourinho transformed Chelsea from a good team to an unstoppable juggernaut in 2004/05, taking the Blues to their first league title in 49 years. Their only loss came in October against Man City thanks to a Nicolas Anelka penalty.

2. Liverpool – 1 – 2018/19

The only team to reach 90+ points in a season without winning the league; only the third team in the last decade to top the table at Christmas and not win the league (the other two? Also Liverpool); and the only team in this list to lose three or fewer games and, well, you know the drill.

Last season the Reds were just one game away from emulating the Invincibles and going a whole campaign undefeated, but that one defeat was the most crucial of all: it came against eventual winners Man City. Surely one of these days they’ll overcome their unwanted records?



1. Arsenal – 0 – 2003/04

For 115 years, Preston North End were the only English team to ever go an entire league campaign without suffering defeat. They now share that mantle with Arsene Wenger’s 2003/04 Arsenal side, who won the title at a canter.

The Gunners’ undefeated streak stretched to 49 games, but they were denied the half century by rivals Man United in the now infamous Battle of the Buffet, in which Cesc Fabregas planted a pizza on Alex Ferguson.

For more information, please click iSports API.

Top tacklers in the Premier League so far this season

Pep Guardiola, undoubtedly one of the best and most innovative coaches of his generation, once said he does not coach his players the art of tackling, whilst former Liverpool star Xabi Alonso stated he does not believe ‘tackling to be a quality’

Christ, even Paulo Maldini, one of world football’s all-time great defenders says he had made a mistake if he was forced to tackle, so someone should tell this lot they’re doing the game all wrong.

We’re joking, of course, and if like us you believe a good old-fashioned tackle to be a fundamental part of the beautiful game, then these ball-winning machines are right up your street.

Here are the top tacklers in the Premier League so far this season, according to iSports API data.

Declan Rice – West Ham – 30 tackles

The West Ham youngster has emerged as one of the most promising talents in the Premier League, establishing himself in Gareth Southgate’s England squad after his switch of allegiance from the Republic of Ireland.

His impressive performances have seen him linked with a move to some of the division’s biggest sides, and the statistics show just why he is so highly-rated in the holding midfield role. The 20-year-old has been prolific in his ball-winning during West Ham’s impressive start to the new campaign, making 30 tackles in his eight appearances so far.

Aaron Wan-Bissaka – Manchester United – 31 tackles

Nicknamed ‘The Spider’ by teammates due to the range of his long legs as he dives into challenges, the full-backs prolific tackling ability has won him admirers throughout the Premier League.

Having made his name at Crystal Palace, Wan-Bissaka’s tackling and difficulty to beat one-against-one saw him join Manchester United in a £50m deal this summer, where he has continued to make challenges at an impressive rate.

The 21-year-old has made 31 tackles in just six appearances, a rate of more than five per game, establishing himself as a fixture at right-back and earning a first call-up to the senior England team.

Oriol Romeu – Southampton – 33 tackles

The Southampton midfielder continues to act as an enforcer down on the South Coast, marshalling in front of Ralph Hasenhuttl’s defensive set-up and breaking down play.

Romeu has started in each of the club’s opening eight fixtures of the new season, making 33 tackles in the process.

Many have tipped Southampton for a season of struggle and the club have won just twice so far, and they will need Romeu to continue to shut-down opposition attacks as regularly as possible if they’re to avoid the drop.

Wilfried Ndidi – Leicester – 35 tackles

The most prolific tackler in each of the past two seasons, speak to any Leicester fan and they will tell you that the Nigerian international is amongst the finest holding midfield players in the division.

Whilst the likes of N’golo Kante and Fabinho may grab more headlines, Ndidi’s statistical numbers are incomparable when it comes to breaking up the play.

The 22-year-old is strong and athletic, whilst his reading of the game allows him to provide a platform for Leicester’s exciting attacking talents to flourish.

Bigger clubs have been linked, though the Foxes will do their utmost to retain him.

Ricardo Pereira – Leicester – 35 tackles

Alongside Leicester teammate Ndidi at the top of the charts is flying full-back Pereira, who has been one of the stand-out players in the early weeks of the new season.

The Portuguese international is quickly being recognised amongst the best right-backs in the Premier League and has played a key role in the impressive early season form of Brendan Rodgers’ side.

Having scored twice already his attacking threat has been well documented in recent weeks, though his joint-leading 35 tackles prove he is equally adept defensively.

*All data collects from iSports API.

Five highest scorers in Euro qualifying history

Cristiano Ronaldo’s one-man assault to claim every goalscoring record ever invented continued this week, the Portuguese superstar scoring the 700th goal of his magnificent career during Portugal’s Euro 2020 qualifier with Ukraine.

It was the latest landmark in Ronaldo’s extraordinary legacy and continued his prolific record in European Championship qualifying, but where does he rank amongst all-time greatest goalscorers in qualification history?

The five highest scorers in Euro qualifying history，according to iSports API football data:

Zlatan Ibrahimovic – 19 goals

The Swedish superstar is still going strong at the age of 38 in MLS, though the former Manchester United man called time on his international career as arguably his country’s greatest ever player back in 2016.

Comfortably Sweden’s all-time great goalscorer following a 15-year international career that delivered 62 goals in 166 caps, Ibrahimovic fired 19 goals during Euro qualifying as Sweden qualified for four successive finals between 2004 and 2016.

One of the greatest forwards of his generation, 11 of Ibrahimovic’s qualifying goals would come as Sweden reached the 2016 finals, though after a disappointing group stage exit he would retire from international duty at the conclusion of the tournament.

Hakan Sukur – 19 goals

Known as the ‘Bull of Bosporus’, Sukur broke several goalscoring records in a career which spanned more than two decades, including becoming the greatest goalscorer in the history of the Turkish national team during a memorable international career.

Sukur would net seven times as Turkey qualified for the 1996 championships in England, though failed to replicate that form at the finals as his side were eliminated without scoring a single goal.

Capped 112 times, Sukur would score 51 international goals, including a huge 19 in Euro qualifying. His goals would help Turkey once again reach the finals in 2000, where they were eliminated in the quarter-finals by Portugal.

Jon Dahl Tomasson – 19 goals

The Danish forward couldn’t buy a goal during a disappointing Premier League spell at Newcastle, though Tomasson was a different proposition in the red shirt of his national team.

He would fire six goals as Denmark qualified for the finals in 2000, while another haul of five saw them once again qualify for Euro 2004, where he was named in the team of the tournament.

A deep-lying forward, Tomasson’s best personal haul would be in qualifying for Euro 2008, though Denmark failed to reach the finals despite his eight strikes.

The former AC Milan striker would remarkably never go more than two qualifiers without finding the net, retiring from international duty in 2010 as his country’s joint all-time record goalscorer with 52 goals.

Robbie Keane – 23 goals

The talisman for the Irish for virtually the entirety of his international career, Keane would prove prolific at international level scoring 62 times for the Boys in Green.

The joint-fifth highest European international goalscorer of all-time, Keane is also the second most prolific player in the history of Euro qualifying.

Despite the regularity of his cart-wheeling celebration in qualifiers, Keane would reach just two finals, in 2012 and 2016 where a place in the last 16 was their best finish. His 23 goals would prove the benchmark, until it was surpassed by one man in September 2019…



Cristiano Ronaldo – 27 goals

Who else? One of the game’s all-time greats continues to set new records and landmarks, surpassing Keane to become the greatest goalscorer in European Championship qualifiers in September 2019. He achieved the feat in typical Ronaldo fashion, hitting four goals in a thrashing of Lithuania.

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner further extended his record by scoring in October’s qualifiers with Luxembourg and Ukraine, the latter being the 700th goal of his illustrious career.

Portugal’s all-time record goalscorer now has 95 goals in 162 caps for his national side, whilst he is quickly closing in on Iranian Ali Daei’s record of 106 goals as the greatest goalscorer in the history of international football.

The 20 finalists for the 2019 Golden Boy award have been revealed

The 20 finalists for the best U21 player of the year have now been announced.

The Golden Boy trophy is dished out annually by Italian outlet Tuttosport and was last year won by Matthijs De Ligt.



The 20-year-old Dutchman is in the running for the award again this year and the winner will be announced on 16 December.

In the meantime, here are the 20 finalists …

1) Matthijs DE LIGT, (Juventus, The Netherlands)

2) Alphonso Boyle DAVIES, (Bayern Munich, Canada)

3) Gianluigi DONNARUMMA, (Milan, Italy)

4) Ansu FATI, (Barcelona, ​​Spain)

5) Philip Walter FODEN, (Manchester City, England)

6) Mattéo Olié GUENDOUZI, (Arsenal, France)

7) Erling Braut HÅLAND, (Salzburg, Norway)

8) Kai HAVERTZ, (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany)

9) JOÃO FÉLIX , (Atlético de Madrid, Portugal)

10) Dejan JOVELJIC (Eintracht Frankfurt, Serbia)

11) Moise Kean (Everton, Italy)

12) KANG-IN LEE (Valencia, South Korea)

13) Andrij LUNIN (Valladolid, Ukraine)

14) Donyell MALEN (PSV Eindhoven, The Netherlands)

15) Mason MOUNT (Chelsea, England)

16) Rodrygo Goes (Real Madrid, Brazil)

17) Jadon SANCHO (Borussia Dortmund, England)

18) Ferrán Torres (Valencia, Spain)

19) VINICIUS Jr. (Real Madrid, Brazil)

20) Nicolò ZANIOLO (Rome, Italy)

Cristiano Ronaldo makes history with 700th career goal

Cristiano Ronaldo is officially the sixth highest scorer in football history after netting his 700th goal against Ukraine on Monday.

His second-half penalty saw him reach the milestone, with Gerd Müller (701) and Ferenc Puskás (709) in more than catchable distance.



Here is an official breakdown of where Ronaldo’s goals were scored, according to iSports API:

450 – Real Madrid
118 – Manchester United
95 – Portugal
32 – Juventus
7 – Sporting CP

The 34-year-old will also be hunting down former Iran striker Ali Daei, who currently holds the international goalscoring record on 109 goals.

What an achievement.

The longest serving player at Premier League Big 6 club

Some surprise names and some surprise tenures! Here are the longest serving players for each Premier League club right now.

Players currently out on loan not included, data according to iSports API.

Arsenal: Emiliano Martinez



The Argentine goalkeeper, currently on international duty for the first time in eight years, has never been closer to the number one slot at Arsenal.

Having made his debut for the club way back in 2012, Martinez has since gone on six different loan spells. Now, at 27, he’s the Gunners’ cup keeper for the season.

Chelsea: Cesar Azpilicueta


Mister Reliable himself. Azpilicueta is a rare long-serving player at Stamford Bridge.

The club captain has won two Premier League titles and two Europa League titles since his arrival from Marseille in 2012.

Liverpool: Jordan Henderson


Signed in the summer of 2011 when Kenny Dalglish was in charge of the club, Henderson came with a big price tag and lofty expectations.

The midfielder has gone on to replace Steven Gerrard as captain and lifted the Champions League trophy in June – not bad!

Manchester City: David Silva


An absolute magician with four Premier League titles to his name.

Now in his final season with the club, Silva is a bonafide legend not just for Manchester City but in Premier League football.

Manchester United: Phil Jones



Yep, Phil Jones, who joined from Blackburn in 2011 and has a contract at Old Trafford until 2023.

Doesn’t that just sum up the malaise at Manchester United?

Tottenham: Danny Rose

Signed by Martin Jol in 2007 – yes, 2007! – Rose had to wait a while to make his mark at Spurs.

He made it, though, and did so in style, scoring a screamer against Arsenal on his debut in 2010. The left-back has been a regular under Mauricio Pochettino.

For more details, please visit iSportsAPI.com

Miralem Pjanić has been Europe's best player so far this season

There hasn’t been a better player in Europe this season than Miralem Pjanić.

That’s according to the well-respected football data provider iSports API, who have crunched the numbers and reveal just who has been performing the best across the continent’s top five leagues.

Pjanić comes out on top, just ahead of Inter’s Stefano Sensi and Atalanta forward Papu Gómez.

The Juventus playmaker has played nine times in all competitions so far for Maurizio Sarri’s men, scoring twice and assisting a further two more,as per iSports API data.

There’s no Premier League representation on the list, but there is a place for two Real Madrid players and two more from Paris Saint-Germain.

Olivier Giroud must seize his chance with France given his limited minutes at Chelsea

When Olivier Giroud arrived on Monday to the France national team's headquarters at Clairefontaine, an hour south of Paris, it wouldn't be surprising if he took a deep breath of fresh air.

He was back in familiar territory, a place he knows so well and feels at home.

He was also welcoming a break from his daily routine at Chelsea, which has been rough so far this season. Last weekend, he was not in the Blues' matchday squad in their win at Southampton. Chelsea manager Frank Lampard only wanted one striker on the bench with Tammy Abraham in the starting lineup, going with Michy Batshuayi and leaving Giroud back in London.

That's not to say that Giroud is unhappy at Chelsea. He likes the club, the fans and the vibe in the dressing room, but he also wants to play. He needs to play. And so far, he has not played enough: only three games in the Premier League (one start) for a total of a mere 101 minutes, according to iSports API football data. Add that to his 17 minutes in Champions League group stage play so far, and you get the picture.

France striker Olivier Giroud is struggling for time at Chelsea. If Giroud is to factor for France at the 2020 Euros, he'll need more game time at the club, and as you'd expect, he is ready to fight for it. He had a discussion with Lampard recently, who assured him that he was counting on Giroud and that he would have his chance.

When Giroud did play earlier in the season, he made the most of it. He started and scored in the UEFA Super Cup loss against Liverpool in August. He also had convincing performances in the first 45 minutes against Leicester before being subbed off. He was also solid off the bench against Norwich. Now he's waiting for another opportunity to impress his club manager.

A few days ago, he celebrated his 33rd birthday, and as he is getting older, he is also getting wiser. He doesn't want to panic yet, there is no need for it. But ahead of France's upcoming Euro qualifying matches against Iceland and Turkey, manager Didier Deschamps has expressed his concern over Giroud's situation.

"I am worried. I don't take away what Olivier has achieved with us. His recent performances were very good. He is the third-best scorer with the national team. But I wish his situation would change. Above his efficiency, it is also about his rhythm. He already had times before where he was not playing much. But at the moment, it is not enough, fitness-wise. He cannot be at his best," Deschamps said on Monday.

But Deschamps knows Giroud inside-out. He knows he can rely on him and that he will not give up.

It is reminiscent of what happened at the start of the 2017-18 campaign when Giroud was still at Arsenal. Behind Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, he was third choice and he had to leave in January. He went across town in search for more playing time to ensure his spot on the 2018 World Cup squad.

The move worked well for him and for Les Bleus. Even though he didn't score in Russia, Giroud featured in seven matches as France secured their second World Cup trophy.

Could the same happen in January 2020? It is a possibility, but there is still a long way to go before the transfer window opens anew. For now, Giroud wants to show Lampard that he deserves to play more, that he can score goals for Chelsea and bring something different to the team. All of Giroud's career has been defined by such adversity and the need to prove people wrong. This is nothing new to him. It is just a new chapter and he's used to it.

On Friday in Reykjavik, Giroud will start up front alongside Barcelona's Antoine Griezmann. As per iSports API football data, it will be his 94th cap for Les Bleus and he will be looking for his 36th international goal. It will do him a lot of good to play a big part of the game. There is also a very strong chance that he will then start again against Turkey next week at the Stade de France. Starting two games in a row has been so rare this season that it would be great for him to shine at this point in time.

The international break can be tiring for some players, but for Giroud, it represents a breath of fresh air. Hopefully, it'll give him a lot more confidence and momentum before going back to the grind at Chelsea and fighting for his place.

All football data collected from iSports API.

Do You Know What is The longest unbeaten runs in Premier League history?

Liverpool’s current run of form is up there with the longest unbeaten runs in the Premier League era.

Following their late winner against Leicester City on Saturday, Liverpool continued their club-record unbeaten streak under Jurgen Klopp. Goals from Sadio Mane and 95th minute penalty from James Milner at Anfield stretched the run to 25 games, not only the Reds’ longest run without defeat in the Premier League era, but also the sixth-longest of any top-flight club in that period.

The Merseyside outfit are quickly catching up on records set by some of the greatest English teams of all-time, and if they were to climb further up the list it would cement their place among the best teams we’ve seen in recent history. The kicker here is that every team on this list won the league in the same campaign they embarked on their unbeaten streaks – except for Liverpool.

Is this the season they change that particular unwanted statistic?

The 3 longest unbeaten runs in the Premier League era, according to iSports API.

3. Man City – 30, Streak: April 8, 2017 – January 2, 2018

The side that everyone thought would emulate the Invincibles lost for the first time 22 matches into the 2017/18 campaign. The 4-3 defeat to Liverpool did nothing to derail their title charge however, as they enjoyed a procession on their way to becoming the first team to reach 100 Premier League points in a single season.

The result did reveal some chinks in the seemingly flawless Man City armour and foreshadowed the challenge the Reds would pose to Pep Guardiola’s team in the coming years.

2. Chelsea – 40, Streak: 16 October 2004 – 6 November 2005

1. Arsenal – 49, Streak: 7 May 2003 – 24 October 2004

And way out in front, it’s none other than The Invincibles, who became just the second team in the history of English football to go an entire league season undefeated, Preston North End in 1888/89 being the other.

Arsenal‘s run went beyond just a season though, refusing to lose for a whopping 49 games. Arsene Wenger’s side were stopped just short of the half-century however, by none other than their arch-nemesis, Man United.

That 2004 fixture was the scene of the infamous Battle of the Buffet, in which Alex Ferguson was splattered with a slice of pizza by Cesc Fabregas. The defeat had deeper repercussions for the Gunners though, who could never quite reach the same heights thereafter.

All football data collected from iSports API. For more information, please visit iSportsAPI.com