SM
Arsenal vs. Newcastle: 4 hrs 15 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews

An analysis of Marcus Rashford's improved form under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

:Headline: An analysis of Marcus Rashford's improved form under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer: ID:347492: from db_amp
Rashford has five goals under Solskjaer and had only three under Jose Mourinho.

Marcus Rashford's prolific form under new boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer continued with a goal in Manchester United's win over Brighton on Saturday.

Interim manager Solskjaer said Rashford is "playing the best football in his career" and "can be absolutely top class" after watching him score his fifth goal in six league games.

Here, Press Association Sport looks at Rashford's improvement using his scoring record and additional data from analytics company StatsBomb.

Goals and assists

Rashford, left, is embraced by team-mates after his winner against Tottenham (Mike Egerton/PA)

Rashford quickly set the tone for Solskjaer's reign with a third-minute opener against Cardiff in the first game after the change of manager.

He was kept at bay by Huddersfield next time out but has scored in every game since, giving him five goals under Solskjaer compared to three this season with Mourinho in charge.

Rashford's assist for Paul Pogba's first goal in the 4-1 win over Bournemouth was his only one since Solskjaer took charge, compared to five this season under Mourinho.

Scoring chances

Looking at advanced data from StatsBomb, Rashford's increased effectiveness under Solskjaer becomes clear.

The 21-year-old has taken more shots, 26, in 502 minutes of football under his new manager than his 19 in 846 minutes under Mourinho.

That represents a shot every 19.3 minutes under Solskjaer compared to one every 45 minutes under Mourinho, and the quality of his chances has also improved in line with his switch to a more central position.

(PA/StatsBomb graphic)

Using expected goals (xG), a method which seeks to calculate the chances of scoring from a given shot based on the striker's position on the field, the type of attempt and the defenders in his way, we can measure the returns on Rashford's opportunities.

His two shots per match under Mourinho were worth an average of 0.20xG per 90 minutes, equivalent to a goal every five games or roughly two in the 846 minutes he played prior to Mourinho's exit.

He over-performed that expectation by scoring three times and has continued to do so, with his 4.7 shots per game under Solskjaer worth an average of 0.54xG per 90, or three in the 502 minutes he has played – Rashford, of course, has five.

amp_article__347492 : Database Data restored...  : 
last updated article - 2019-01-21 17:28:17:
html db last update - 2019-01-21 17:28:17 :

ex - 7200 : read : read cache amp html
Share this article now:
Recommended Next on SM
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool19144147192846
2Arsenal20117239182140
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest20124429191040
4Chelsea20106439241536
5Newcastle UnitedNewcastle20105534221235
6Manchester CityMan City2010463627934
7Bournemouth209653023733
8Aston Villa209563032-232
9Fulham207943027330
10Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2061043029128
11Brentford208393835327
12Tottenham HotspurSpurs20731042301224
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd206592328-523
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham206592439-1523
15Crystal Palace204972128-721
16Everton193881525-1017
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves2044123145-1416
18Ipswich TownIpswich2037102035-1516
19Leicester CityLeicester2035122344-2114
20Southampton2013161244-326
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.



. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .