OptaJoe
@optajoe.com
1 - The official BlueSky page for Stats Perform’s English football coverage, brought to you by OptaJoe. Illuminating.
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OptaJoe
@optajoe.com
· Nov 28
1 - Here's a starter pack containing all the Opta Accounts you can now enjoy on BlueSky. Collection.
go.bsky.app/3S8WF93
go.bsky.app/3S8WF93
5 - Arsenal have won their first five matches in a UEFA Champions League season for the first time since 2005-06, the season in which they reached their only final in the competition. They are the only side with a 100% record in the Champions League this season. Marching.
November 26, 2025 at 10:16 PM
5 - Arsenal have won their first five matches in a UEFA Champions League season for the first time since 2005-06, the season in which they reached their only final in the competition. They are the only side with a 100% record in the Champions League this season. Marching.
9 - Liverpool have lost nine of their last 12 games across all competitions, their most defeats over a 12-game spell since November 1953 to January 1954 (also 9). Dire.
November 26, 2025 at 10:12 PM
9 - Liverpool have lost nine of their last 12 games across all competitions, their most defeats over a 12-game spell since November 1953 to January 1954 (also 9). Dire.
3 - Liverpool have lost three consecutive games in all competitions by a margin of 3+ goals for the first time since December 1953. Alarming.
November 26, 2025 at 10:09 PM
3 - Liverpool have lost three consecutive games in all competitions by a margin of 3+ goals for the first time since December 1953. Alarming.
3 - Liverpool have conceded 3+ goals in three consecutive games in all competitions for the first time since September 1992. Porous.
November 26, 2025 at 9:43 PM
3 - Liverpool have conceded 3+ goals in three consecutive games in all competitions for the first time since September 1992. Porous.
3 - Estêvão (18y 215d) is the third teenager to score in each of his first three UEFA Champions League starts after Kylian Mbappé (18y 113d) and Erling Haaland (19y 107d). Flourishing.
November 25, 2025 at 9:21 PM
3 - Estêvão (18y 215d) is the third teenager to score in each of his first three UEFA Champions League starts after Kylian Mbappé (18y 113d) and Erling Haaland (19y 107d). Flourishing.
0.07 & 0.1 - Tottenham Hotspur are responsible for the two lowest xG totals in a Premier League game this season, against Arsenal (0.07) and Chelsea (0.1). Concern.
November 23, 2025 at 6:55 PM
0.07 & 0.1 - Tottenham Hotspur are responsible for the two lowest xG totals in a Premier League game this season, against Arsenal (0.07) and Chelsea (0.1). Concern.
9 - Only Brighton and Hove Albion (10) have gained more points from losing positions in the Premier League this season than Aston Villa (9), winning three of their last four games when conceding first, one more than their prior 17 matches (D6 L9). Comeback.
November 23, 2025 at 4:18 PM
9 - Only Brighton and Hove Albion (10) have gained more points from losing positions in the Premier League this season than Aston Villa (9), winning three of their last four games when conceding first, one more than their prior 17 matches (D6 L9). Comeback.
4 - Liverpool are just the fourth side to start a season as defending champions in the Premier League with 6+ defeats in their first 12 games, after Blackburn Rovers in 1995-96 (6), Chelsea in 2015-16 (7), and Leicester City in 2016-17 (6). Crumbling.
November 22, 2025 at 5:09 PM
4 - Liverpool are just the fourth side to start a season as defending champions in the Premier League with 6+ defeats in their first 12 games, after Blackburn Rovers in 1995-96 (6), Chelsea in 2015-16 (7), and Leicester City in 2016-17 (6). Crumbling.
1965 - Liverpool have lost back-to-back league games by a margin of 3+ goals for the first time since April 1965 under Bill Shankly. Malfunction.
November 22, 2025 at 5:06 PM
1965 - Liverpool have lost back-to-back league games by a margin of 3+ goals for the first time since April 1965 under Bill Shankly. Malfunction.
4 - Players to score 10+ Premier League goals under a manager with the same first name as him:
19 - David Hirst under David Pleat
11 - John Wark under John Lyall
10 - David Unsworth under David Moyes
🆕10 - Enzo Fernández under Enzo Maresca
Namesakes.
19 - David Hirst under David Pleat
11 - John Wark under John Lyall
10 - David Unsworth under David Moyes
🆕10 - Enzo Fernández under Enzo Maresca
Namesakes.
November 22, 2025 at 2:38 PM
4 - Players to score 10+ Premier League goals under a manager with the same first name as him:
19 - David Hirst under David Pleat
11 - John Wark under John Lyall
10 - David Unsworth under David Moyes
🆕10 - Enzo Fernández under Enzo Maresca
Namesakes.
19 - David Hirst under David Pleat
11 - John Wark under John Lyall
10 - David Unsworth under David Moyes
🆕10 - Enzo Fernández under Enzo Maresca
Namesakes.
8 - Chelsea have won each of their last eight Premier League games kicking off at 12:30 on a Saturday, with only Manchester City enjoying a longer run of successive victories in this specific kick-off slot in the competition (9 from May 2021-Oct 2022). Weetabix.
November 22, 2025 at 2:34 PM
8 - Chelsea have won each of their last eight Premier League games kicking off at 12:30 on a Saturday, with only Manchester City enjoying a longer run of successive victories in this specific kick-off slot in the competition (9 from May 2021-Oct 2022). Weetabix.
5 - Tonight is just the fifth time ever that two Arsenal players have scored in the same match for England (Saka and Eze), and first since November 2021 against San Marino (Saka and Smith Rowe). Gunners.
November 13, 2025 at 9:41 PM
5 - Tonight is just the fifth time ever that two Arsenal players have scored in the same match for England (Saka and Eze), and first since November 2021 against San Marino (Saka and Smith Rowe). Gunners.
226 - In his 226th senior international appearance for Portugal, Cristiano Ronaldo has been red carded for the very first time. Mist.
November 13, 2025 at 9:13 PM
226 - In his 226th senior international appearance for Portugal, Cristiano Ronaldo has been red carded for the very first time. Mist.
2019 - Jérémy Doku today is the first player to score, win 10+ duels (11), complete 7+ dribbles (7), create 3+ chances (3) and have 3+ shots on target (3) in a single Premier League game since Eden Hazard for Chelsea v West Ham in April 2019. Outstanding.
November 9, 2025 at 6:12 PM
2019 - Jérémy Doku today is the first player to score, win 10+ duels (11), complete 7+ dribbles (7), create 3+ chances (3) and have 3+ shots on target (3) in a single Premier League game since Eden Hazard for Chelsea v West Ham in April 2019. Outstanding.
14 - Erling Haaland has 14 goals in 11 Premier League games this season - the second-most any player has scored in their team's first 11 games of a season in the competition, behind only Haaland himself in 2022-23 (17). Unstoppable.
November 9, 2025 at 5:06 PM
14 - Erling Haaland has 14 goals in 11 Premier League games this season - the second-most any player has scored in their team's first 11 games of a season in the competition, behind only Haaland himself in 2022-23 (17). Unstoppable.
6 - Since the start of 2023-24, no goalkeeper has saved more penalties in Europe's big-five leagues than Giorgi Mamardashvili (6). Saviour.
November 9, 2025 at 4:50 PM
6 - Since the start of 2023-24, no goalkeeper has saved more penalties in Europe's big-five leagues than Giorgi Mamardashvili (6). Saviour.
9 - Since the start of last season, Brentford have scored nine Premier League goals from throw-in situations, at least double that of any other side (Crystal Palace on 4). Launch.
November 9, 2025 at 4:26 PM
9 - Since the start of last season, Brentford have scored nine Premier League goals from throw-in situations, at least double that of any other side (Crystal Palace on 4). Launch.
5 - Each of Aston Villa's last five Premier League goals have been scored from outside the box, just the fourth time a side has had 5+ successive goals come from range in the competition, and first since Tottenham Hotspur in April/May 2011. Marksmen.
November 9, 2025 at 2:48 PM
5 - Each of Aston Villa's last five Premier League goals have been scored from outside the box, just the fourth time a side has had 5+ successive goals come from range in the competition, and first since Tottenham Hotspur in April/May 2011. Marksmen.
1,000 - Today sees Pep Guardiola oversee his 1,000th competitive match as a manager, winning 715 of his 999 so far in charge of Barcelona B, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, and Manchester City. Icon.
November 9, 2025 at 12:21 PM
1,000 - Today sees Pep Guardiola oversee his 1,000th competitive match as a manager, winning 715 of his 999 so far in charge of Barcelona B, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, and Manchester City. Icon.
17 - Since the start of 2020-21, Bristol City's Scott Twine has scored 17 direct free-kick goals in the Football League, at least six more than any other player across England's top four tiers. Pinpoint.
November 8, 2025 at 10:03 AM
17 - Since the start of 2020-21, Bristol City's Scott Twine has scored 17 direct free-kick goals in the Football League, at least six more than any other player across England's top four tiers. Pinpoint.
3 - With three wins from three, nine points, and a goal difference of +5, Manchester United topped the Premier League table for October 2025, with Ruben Amorim the first Red Devils boss to win the competition's manager of the month award since Erik ten Hag in November 2023. Tide.
November 7, 2025 at 12:20 PM
3 - With three wins from three, nine points, and a goal difference of +5, Manchester United topped the Premier League table for October 2025, with Ruben Amorim the first Red Devils boss to win the competition's manager of the month award since Erik ten Hag in November 2023. Tide.
1 - Florian Wirtz is either the top or joint-top ranked player in the UEFA Champions League this season in each of these open play categories:
Chances created (16 - joint-1st)
Expected assists (2.1 - 1st)
Big chances created (4 - joint-1st)
Undeniable.
Chances created (16 - joint-1st)
Expected assists (2.1 - 1st)
Big chances created (4 - joint-1st)
Undeniable.
November 6, 2025 at 2:51 PM
1 - Florian Wirtz is either the top or joint-top ranked player in the UEFA Champions League this season in each of these open play categories:
Chances created (16 - joint-1st)
Expected assists (2.1 - 1st)
Big chances created (4 - joint-1st)
Undeniable.
Chances created (16 - joint-1st)
Expected assists (2.1 - 1st)
Big chances created (4 - joint-1st)
Undeniable.
2 - Phil Foden is only the second player to score two goals from outside the box in a single UEFA Champions League match played on Bonfire Night, after Alessandro Del Piero for Juventus v Real Madrid in 2008. Rocket.
November 5, 2025 at 9:26 PM
2 - Phil Foden is only the second player to score two goals from outside the box in a single UEFA Champions League match played on Bonfire Night, after Alessandro Del Piero for Juventus v Real Madrid in 2008. Rocket.
10 - Since the start of 2023-24, Phil Foden has scored 10 goals from outside the box for Manchester City in all competitions, the most of any player for Premier League clubs in this time. Marksman.
November 5, 2025 at 8:34 PM
10 - Since the start of 2023-24, Phil Foden has scored 10 goals from outside the box for Manchester City in all competitions, the most of any player for Premier League clubs in this time. Marksman.
25 - Since his debut for Newcastle United in January 2022, Kieran Trippier is just the third defender to reach 25 assists as a Premier League player in all competitions after Trent Alexander-Arnold (33) and Andy Robertson (25). Delivery.
November 5, 2025 at 8:26 PM
25 - Since his debut for Newcastle United in January 2022, Kieran Trippier is just the third defender to reach 25 assists as a Premier League player in all competitions after Trent Alexander-Arnold (33) and Andy Robertson (25). Delivery.