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| Romelu Lukaku has scored eight Premier League goals this season, but just one in his past six games |
Romelu Lukaku's
struggles in front of goal continued at the weekend.
The Manchester
United striker has lost his way after a superb start at Old Trafford, but are
fewer chances falling his way lately? Is there a lack of effort?
Elsewhere,
Manchester City keeps breaking records as
their winning run continues.
BBC Sport takes a
look at some of the statistics from the latest action in the Premier League.
Lukaku losing his way... or is he?
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Lukaku's
13 Premier League games this season
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First
seven games
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Past
six games
|
|
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Goals
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7
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1
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|
Expected
goals per game
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0.93
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0.33
|
|
Shots
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31
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16
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Shots
on target
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15
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7
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Touches
(average)
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35
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34.5
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Touches
in opposition box (average)
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6
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4
|
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Big
chances
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12
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3
|
Manchester
United's £75m signing of Romelu Lukaku from Everton was the biggest outlay by
an English club in the summer, and the Belgian was charged with leading the
line at Old Trafford.
His
Red Devils career started in blistering fashion with seven goals in his first
six league games, which included five victories and a draw.
But
the goals have since dried up, with Lukaku scoring just once - against
Newcastle - in his past six league appearances.
And
the stats show the number of shots he has attempted in that period (16) has
dropped dramatically from his opening seven games (31).
The
24-year-old has also had fewer touches in the box on average (four) than when
he was scoring regularly (six).
The
largest drop, though, is in the number of 'big chances' - described by
statisticians Opta as "clear-cut opportunities our analysts would expect
players to score".
Lukaku
has had just three in his past six games, compared to 12 in his first seven. In
the defeats by Huddersfield and Chelsea, the draw with Liverpool and the win
over Tottenham, he did not have any.
His
'expected goals' have fallen too.
In
the first seven games, he would have been expected to score 6.5 goals, or 0.93
per game, based on the quality of chances he had. In the past six, he would
have been expected to score 1.95 goals - just 0.33 per game.
So
are his team-mates at least as culpable as he is?
His
barren run coincided with midfielder Paul Pogba's absence through injury, while
playmaker Henrikh Mkhitaryan's form
dipped - he has created three chances in his past five
appearances having provided five in United's opening three matches.
Lukaku
cannot be faulted for his effort either. In Saturday's 1-0 win over Brighton, he ran
9.74km - further than in any other match this season.
Source : BBC
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