Chelsea threaten Man Utd's Premier League goals record: about the 93

Chelsea’s third seven-goal haul of the season against Stoke yesterday took the club within shooting distance of Man Utd’s Premier League record for number of goals scored in a season.

Man Utd scored 97 Premier League goals in the 99/00 season, winning the league by a staggering 18 points. Whilst it hadn’t hit the same heights as the previous season, this was still one of the great Utd attacking sides. Andy Cole and Dwight Yorke scored 39 goals between them. At the other end of the pitch however, they conceded 45 goals. Chelsea meanwhile finished 5th and won the FA Cup.

Chelsea, having now scored 93 goals this season, are just four goals away from equalling that record with just two games remaining. Equalling or surpassing the record is far from a certainty, but it is possible: on average this season Chelsea have scored over 2.5 goals a game.

This season, Chelsea have scored four goals or more in a Premier League game no less than eight times, and have ratcheted up seven goals three times and five goals twice. 

Critics will say that most of Chelsea’s goals have been scored against lower table opposition. I would argue that any high-scoring side has historically scored more goals against weaker opposition than against their closest rivals, and that the argument is at least a little simplistic. Look at the teams Chelsea have scored against this season however, and the stats tell a different story…

In total, 43% of all Chelsea’s goals so far have been scored against teams currently in the top half. Furthermore, Chelsea have scored nearly as many goals against the three other sides currently in Champions League qualification spots (12%) as against those in relegation positions (15%). 22% of all Chelsea goals have been scored against teams in European qualifying places, while 19% have been scored in derbies. The table opposite (click to enlarge) shows where goals against which team’s Chelsea’s goals have been scored.

And who’s scored all these goals? Drogba, with 25 league goals to his name, has accounted for 27% of them, and Lampard, Chelsea’s second highest top scorer, 22%. Chelsea’s four top scorers – Drogba, Lampard, Anelka and Malouda have scored 66 (71%) between them.

Together Lampard and Drogba have created a third of Chelsea’s league goals. Just 9% of the 93 have come from the penalty spot, and marginally more Chelsea goals have been scored in the second half of games (56%).

Regardless of whether Chelsea reach 97 – and the debate about the quality of the league that will inevitably follow the end of the season - the sheer number of goals scored has been unprecedented for Chelsea who, in recent memory, have typically lagged behind in the goal difference stakes.

Ancelotti has claimed Chelsea now have a new ‘identity’. I’m not absolutely sure I’m ready to believe him, or that Chelsea are suddenly playing like Brazil. But the final goals tally will certainly be impressive.

Comments

[Capleton]

No doubt there has been a much greater effort to rack up a big score when the opposition has thrown in the towel than in previous seasons - everyone has been aware that the title could be decided on GD.

In the past, I sometimes felt that when we were 4 or 5 nil up, a sort of unofficial "mercy rule" came into effect with a perceptible (and perhaps, understandable) slackening of the pace after the game had effectively been won.

One example I remember well was against Coventry when we were 6-0 up with over 30 minutes to play. I was hoping to see some sort of record set but, instead, we failed to add to the tally and the game became a training session.

[Aious]

When you read this, you get excited as we should.

But it also makes you shake your head at how we lost or drew several matches. It really does.

It wouldn't shock me if the Reds beat us nor would it shock me if we won by 5

[KarmaCW]

Great articles, thank you for sharing!

[Jimmisav]

“The thinking fan's Chelsea blog.” Isn’t that an oxymoron? Can you get a thinking Chelsea fan?

[chelsfan]

jimmisav - we haven't heard that one before... next you'll suggest we won't understand what an oxymoron is. as if fans of other clubs are all mensa members...

anyway, i genuinely think Ancelotti has changed Chelsea. scoring goals is just one part of it - whilst we've had off games we've also played some scintillating passing football at times. An Arsenal we're not, but it's moved in the right direction.