Motterman
14 May 2003, 10:08 AM
English Barclaycard Premiership
The Premiership by numbers
0 No team bottom at Christmas has ever survived in the Premiership.
1 Olof Mellberg was the only outfield player to play every minute of every game during the 2002-03 season.
2 Robert Pires and Jermaine Pennant both scored hat-tricks against Southampton in Arsenal's 6-1 win - the first time two players have scored hat-tricks in a Premiership match.
3 Franck Queudrue was the only Premiership player to be sent off three times.
4 goals direct from free kicks by Gianfranco Zola - the most in the Premiership.
5 clean sheets for Spurs, fewer than any other side.
6 The number of penalties awarded to Manchester United by Mike Riley in the four games he refereed at Old Trafford. Riley did not referee a United away match until the last day of the season, but pointed to the spot for a seventh United penalty as the champions beat Everton 2-1.
7 Everton were the Premiership's comeback kings. The Toffees won seven games after falling behind, the most in the Premiership.
8 penalties taken by Ruud van Nistelrooy - the most by a single player in the Premiership. He scored them all.
9 The number of seconds it took Alan Shearer to score against Manchester City in the 2-0 win for Newcastle at St James' Park - the fastest goal of the season.
10 Michael Owen became the 10th player to score 100 Premiership goals.
11 The number of goals Manchester United scored in two games against Newcastle.
12 The number of home games West Ham went before recording their first win at Upton Park of the season.
13 Ivan Campo picked up more yellow cards than any other player.
14 Mark Viduka scored 14 goals in Leeds' last 10 games of the season.
15 Sunderland lost 15 games in a row at the end of the season - a Premiership record.
16 Bobby Robson's Newcastle recorded 16 points against other Premiership teams managed by ex-England managers.
17 Newcastle scored more goals from outside the box than any other team.
18 There were 18 penalties in games involving Fulham - more than any other team.
19 Sunderland finished with the lowest points total in Premiership history.
20 Thierry Henry set up more goals than any other player setting a new Premiership record.
21 Sunderland scored fewer goals than any team in Premiership history.
22 No player was substituted more often than Nolberto Solano.
23 goals for James Beattie, making him the first Southampton player to score more than 20 goals in a season since Matt Le Tissier in 1995.
24 Diego Forlan finally scored his first Premiership goal for Manchester United on his 24th Premiership appearance.
25 Sunderland finished 25 points adrift of safety - the biggest gap between a relegated team and the safety zone in Premiership history.
26 appearances for Kolo Toure - more than Patrick Vieira (24).
27 The average age of a Premiership footballer in season 2002-03.
28 The number of goals Manchester City scored at Maine Road in their final season at the famous old ground.
29 Ruud van Nistelrooy averaged a shot every 29 minutes.
30 Steve Lomas had 30 shots but failed to score - no other player had more shots without finding the back of the net.
31 Manchester United had 31 shots in their 2-1 victory against Sunderland at Old Trafford - the most shots by a team in a single game during the season.
32% of all Ruud Van Nistelrooy's goals came from the penalty spot.
33 points away from home for Manchester United - more than any other side. The team with the best away record has won the Premiership in all but one of the Premiership's 11 seasons.
34 Sunderland used more players than any other team in 2002-03.
35 Spurs have lost 35 of their 83 Premiership games under Glenn Hoddle.
36 Claus Lundekvam of Southampton blocked more shots than any other player.
37 Own goals were scored during the season.
38 West Bromwich Albion had more shots direct from free kicks than any other team.
39% of Bolton's shots were on target - the worst shooting accuracy in the Premiership.
40 Arsenal equalled Manchester United's Premiership record by scoring in their 40th consecutive home game.
41 Manchester City won a total of 41 Premiership games at Maine Road.
42 West Ham recorded the highest points total for a relegated team since the Premiership was reduced to 20 teams in 1995.
43 1-1 draws in the Premiership.
44 Sunderland's goal difference of minus 44 was comfortably the worst in the Premiership.
45 The number of points Manchester United took from a possible 51 between December 28th and May 4th when they won the title. Arsenal took just 30 points from a possible 48 in the same period.
46 Southampton conceded 46 goals - the fewest they have ever conceded in a Premiership season.
47 David Beckham delivered more successful corners than any other player.
48 The average number of minutes Wayne Rooney spent on the pitch per Premiership appearance.
49% of Wayne Rooney's shots hit the target.
50% 13 of the 26 players to appear for Manchester United in the Premiership during 2002-03 came through the club's youth ranks.
51 Sunderland and West Brom lost a combined total of 51 games.
52% Birmingham's Aliou Cisse was booked in 52% of the games he played in.
53% James Beattie scored 53% of all Southampton's Premiership goals.
54% of Arsenal's shots were on target - the best shooting accuracy in the Premiership.
55 Arsenal scored in 55 consecutive games between May 5th 2001 and November 30th 2002 - an English league record.
56% of all yellow cards were shown to away teams.
57 goals conceded by Leeds United.
58 England internationals played in the 2002-03 Premiership.
59% of all free-kicks went high or wide of the target.
60 There were 60 different nationalities represented in the 2002-03 Premiership.
61 shots for Wayne Rooney.
62 goals conceded by Spurs' Kasey Keller. More than any other individual goalkeeper.
63 The number of Premiership games Liverpool had gone unbeaten after taking the lead before Manchester City came from behind to win at Anfield.
64 There were 64 goals scored in or after the 90th minute during the 2002-03 season.
65 Sunderland and West Brom both conceded 65 goals. The joint most in the Premiership.
66% Charlton's pass completion rate was the lowest in the Premiership.
67 Highbury saw 67 goals this season - more goals than at any other ground.
68% Manchester United won 68% of all Premiership games in which David Beckham played.
69 score draws in the season.
70 fouls in two games between Aston Villa and Birmingham.
71 Birmingham picked up more yellow cards than any other team.
72% The average pass completion rate of a Premiership player. The average pass completion rate in Serie A is 76%; in La Liga it's 74%.
73 West Ham made fewer substitutions than any other Premiership team.
74 minutes - the average length of time spent on pitch by a Premiership player during a match in 2002-03.
75 red cards in the Premiership - four of these were rescinded.
76 different players conceded a penalty in the 2002-03 Premiership.
77 Arsenal have not had a goalless draw for 77 Premiership games.
78% of all Aston Villa's points were earned at home - making them the team most reliant on their home form.
79 Robbie Savage won 79 tackles during the season.
80% Brad Friedel saved a greater percentage of opposition shots than any other regular goalkeeper.
81 games finished 1-0, making it the most common scoreline in the 2002-03 Premiership.
82 shots on target for Thierry Henry, the most in the Premiership.
83 points for champions Manchester United.
84% of all Premiership goals were scored from inside the area.
85 Arsenal scored more goals than they have ever managed in the Premiership. Their tally of 85 was the third-highest total since the Premiership was formed.
86 The Premiership's youngest goalscorer, Leeds' James Milner, was born in 1986.
87% of all Arsenal's goals were scored by overseas players.
88 shots on target from inside the area by Sunderland - the fewest by a team in the Premiership.
89% Roy Keane completed a higher percentage of passes than any other regular Premiership player.
90 Alan Smith conceded more fouls than any other player in the Premiership.
91 Chelsea fired in more shots from outside the box than any other team.
92 Penalties awarded in 2002-03.
93 Arsenal have lost 93 games in Premiership history.
94% of Premiership games featured at least one goal.
95 minutes and two seconds - the time of Craig Short's equaliser in the 1-1 draw between Bolton and Blackburn at the Reebok Stadium - the latest goal of the season.
96 The number of goals scored by defenders in the 2002-03 Premiership.
97 There were 97 goals in matches involving Everton in 2002-03.
98% Brad Friedel successfully held 98% of all crosses he claimed.
99 Joe Cole won 99 tackles during the campaign.
100% All of Ruud Van Nistelrooy's goals came from inside the penalty area.
The Premiership by numbers
0 No team bottom at Christmas has ever survived in the Premiership.
1 Olof Mellberg was the only outfield player to play every minute of every game during the 2002-03 season.
2 Robert Pires and Jermaine Pennant both scored hat-tricks against Southampton in Arsenal's 6-1 win - the first time two players have scored hat-tricks in a Premiership match.
3 Franck Queudrue was the only Premiership player to be sent off three times.
4 goals direct from free kicks by Gianfranco Zola - the most in the Premiership.
5 clean sheets for Spurs, fewer than any other side.
6 The number of penalties awarded to Manchester United by Mike Riley in the four games he refereed at Old Trafford. Riley did not referee a United away match until the last day of the season, but pointed to the spot for a seventh United penalty as the champions beat Everton 2-1.
7 Everton were the Premiership's comeback kings. The Toffees won seven games after falling behind, the most in the Premiership.
8 penalties taken by Ruud van Nistelrooy - the most by a single player in the Premiership. He scored them all.
9 The number of seconds it took Alan Shearer to score against Manchester City in the 2-0 win for Newcastle at St James' Park - the fastest goal of the season.
10 Michael Owen became the 10th player to score 100 Premiership goals.
11 The number of goals Manchester United scored in two games against Newcastle.
12 The number of home games West Ham went before recording their first win at Upton Park of the season.
13 Ivan Campo picked up more yellow cards than any other player.
14 Mark Viduka scored 14 goals in Leeds' last 10 games of the season.
15 Sunderland lost 15 games in a row at the end of the season - a Premiership record.
16 Bobby Robson's Newcastle recorded 16 points against other Premiership teams managed by ex-England managers.
17 Newcastle scored more goals from outside the box than any other team.
18 There were 18 penalties in games involving Fulham - more than any other team.
19 Sunderland finished with the lowest points total in Premiership history.
20 Thierry Henry set up more goals than any other player setting a new Premiership record.
21 Sunderland scored fewer goals than any team in Premiership history.
22 No player was substituted more often than Nolberto Solano.
23 goals for James Beattie, making him the first Southampton player to score more than 20 goals in a season since Matt Le Tissier in 1995.
24 Diego Forlan finally scored his first Premiership goal for Manchester United on his 24th Premiership appearance.
25 Sunderland finished 25 points adrift of safety - the biggest gap between a relegated team and the safety zone in Premiership history.
26 appearances for Kolo Toure - more than Patrick Vieira (24).
27 The average age of a Premiership footballer in season 2002-03.
28 The number of goals Manchester City scored at Maine Road in their final season at the famous old ground.
29 Ruud van Nistelrooy averaged a shot every 29 minutes.
30 Steve Lomas had 30 shots but failed to score - no other player had more shots without finding the back of the net.
31 Manchester United had 31 shots in their 2-1 victory against Sunderland at Old Trafford - the most shots by a team in a single game during the season.
32% of all Ruud Van Nistelrooy's goals came from the penalty spot.
33 points away from home for Manchester United - more than any other side. The team with the best away record has won the Premiership in all but one of the Premiership's 11 seasons.
34 Sunderland used more players than any other team in 2002-03.
35 Spurs have lost 35 of their 83 Premiership games under Glenn Hoddle.
36 Claus Lundekvam of Southampton blocked more shots than any other player.
37 Own goals were scored during the season.
38 West Bromwich Albion had more shots direct from free kicks than any other team.
39% of Bolton's shots were on target - the worst shooting accuracy in the Premiership.
40 Arsenal equalled Manchester United's Premiership record by scoring in their 40th consecutive home game.
41 Manchester City won a total of 41 Premiership games at Maine Road.
42 West Ham recorded the highest points total for a relegated team since the Premiership was reduced to 20 teams in 1995.
43 1-1 draws in the Premiership.
44 Sunderland's goal difference of minus 44 was comfortably the worst in the Premiership.
45 The number of points Manchester United took from a possible 51 between December 28th and May 4th when they won the title. Arsenal took just 30 points from a possible 48 in the same period.
46 Southampton conceded 46 goals - the fewest they have ever conceded in a Premiership season.
47 David Beckham delivered more successful corners than any other player.
48 The average number of minutes Wayne Rooney spent on the pitch per Premiership appearance.
49% of Wayne Rooney's shots hit the target.
50% 13 of the 26 players to appear for Manchester United in the Premiership during 2002-03 came through the club's youth ranks.
51 Sunderland and West Brom lost a combined total of 51 games.
52% Birmingham's Aliou Cisse was booked in 52% of the games he played in.
53% James Beattie scored 53% of all Southampton's Premiership goals.
54% of Arsenal's shots were on target - the best shooting accuracy in the Premiership.
55 Arsenal scored in 55 consecutive games between May 5th 2001 and November 30th 2002 - an English league record.
56% of all yellow cards were shown to away teams.
57 goals conceded by Leeds United.
58 England internationals played in the 2002-03 Premiership.
59% of all free-kicks went high or wide of the target.
60 There were 60 different nationalities represented in the 2002-03 Premiership.
61 shots for Wayne Rooney.
62 goals conceded by Spurs' Kasey Keller. More than any other individual goalkeeper.
63 The number of Premiership games Liverpool had gone unbeaten after taking the lead before Manchester City came from behind to win at Anfield.
64 There were 64 goals scored in or after the 90th minute during the 2002-03 season.
65 Sunderland and West Brom both conceded 65 goals. The joint most in the Premiership.
66% Charlton's pass completion rate was the lowest in the Premiership.
67 Highbury saw 67 goals this season - more goals than at any other ground.
68% Manchester United won 68% of all Premiership games in which David Beckham played.
69 score draws in the season.
70 fouls in two games between Aston Villa and Birmingham.
71 Birmingham picked up more yellow cards than any other team.
72% The average pass completion rate of a Premiership player. The average pass completion rate in Serie A is 76%; in La Liga it's 74%.
73 West Ham made fewer substitutions than any other Premiership team.
74 minutes - the average length of time spent on pitch by a Premiership player during a match in 2002-03.
75 red cards in the Premiership - four of these were rescinded.
76 different players conceded a penalty in the 2002-03 Premiership.
77 Arsenal have not had a goalless draw for 77 Premiership games.
78% of all Aston Villa's points were earned at home - making them the team most reliant on their home form.
79 Robbie Savage won 79 tackles during the season.
80% Brad Friedel saved a greater percentage of opposition shots than any other regular goalkeeper.
81 games finished 1-0, making it the most common scoreline in the 2002-03 Premiership.
82 shots on target for Thierry Henry, the most in the Premiership.
83 points for champions Manchester United.
84% of all Premiership goals were scored from inside the area.
85 Arsenal scored more goals than they have ever managed in the Premiership. Their tally of 85 was the third-highest total since the Premiership was formed.
86 The Premiership's youngest goalscorer, Leeds' James Milner, was born in 1986.
87% of all Arsenal's goals were scored by overseas players.
88 shots on target from inside the area by Sunderland - the fewest by a team in the Premiership.
89% Roy Keane completed a higher percentage of passes than any other regular Premiership player.
90 Alan Smith conceded more fouls than any other player in the Premiership.
91 Chelsea fired in more shots from outside the box than any other team.
92 Penalties awarded in 2002-03.
93 Arsenal have lost 93 games in Premiership history.
94% of Premiership games featured at least one goal.
95 minutes and two seconds - the time of Craig Short's equaliser in the 1-1 draw between Bolton and Blackburn at the Reebok Stadium - the latest goal of the season.
96 The number of goals scored by defenders in the 2002-03 Premiership.
97 There were 97 goals in matches involving Everton in 2002-03.
98% Brad Friedel successfully held 98% of all crosses he claimed.
99 Joe Cole won 99 tackles during the campaign.
100% All of Ruud Van Nistelrooy's goals came from inside the penalty area.