Introducing the Away Day Specialists: Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Aston Villa, Portsmouth, Chelsea, Everton & Manchester United
It’s not too difficult to work out which certain Premier League sides are the best to back when playing away from home as the big four usually have the best records in the top flight. However, there were a number of sides outside the Champions League quartet who should be well worth backing this season on Premier 10 and Footy 15. After all, certain teams like Portsmouth and Aston Villa performed extremely well on their travels last season and should do so again in this campaign.
To be a good away side the teams usually have to be strong defensively as well as pose a threat to home sides with their counter-attacking capabilities. This selection of teams does just that:
Arsenal: Gunners Go for Goals on their Travels
The Gunners will always be one of the strongest Premier League sides away from home as they possess both the ability to control the tempo of matches through possession and a cutting edge in attack.
Arsene Wenger’s side may have struggled in the final weeks of the season but still finished as joint top scorers away from home in the Premier League alongside Aston Villa with 37 goals.
Arsenal’s superb early season form faded towards the end of the campaign as 3 wins in their final 7 away games suggests. However, they should start the season as hungry as ever after scoring an impressive 24 goals in the last 10 games on their travels.
They should begin the season a lot stronger defensively than how they ended it as an injury to Bacary Sagna meant that the back four had an unfamiliar look to it with Kolo Toure moved to full-back and Alex Song in the centre. This shift culminated in the Gunners conceding 2 goals in 4 of their last 5 PL away games. Wenger’s side did face the likes of Chelsea and Manchester United in this late run but more worryingly conceded twice to the likes of Bolton and Derby.
Wenger will also take heart from the fact only Chelsea won more than Arsenal’s 10 away League victories as well as the fact no team lost less than the Gunners 3 defeats on the road.
Therefore, keep faith in the Gunners next season for Premier 10 and Footy 15 away matches particularly if they sign a midfield enforcer to replace Mathieu Flamini in the next few weeks.
Liverpool: Hard to Beat on the Road
Liverpool ended the season with a 4 match unbeaten away run and will be aiming to extend that sequence this season. However, 3 wins in their final 10 games (5 draws & 2 defeats) on the road is not overly impressive form to carry into the new season.
The Reds remained as per usual hard to beat on their travels last season though perhaps lacked the cutting edge to turn their 7 draws into wins. This was the joint 3rd highest number of away draws in the Premier League behind both Aston Villa (9) and Tottenham (8). However, this season this may not be the case now the club have signed two attacking full-backs and the enigmatic, penetrative talents of Robbie Keane.
In terms of backing teams not to lose away then Liverpool are as strong as the best in the division as they equalled both Chelsea and Arsenal’s records of just 3 defeats. Benitez has created a Reds team that is difficult to beat though his relatively defensive tactics mean that his side scored less than their three title rivals though only Chelsea (13 goals) conceded less than their 15 goals. Liverpool’s less ambitious approach to away trips is perfectly illustrated by Fernando Torres goal scoring pattern last season. The Spanish hitman scored only 3 of his 24 League goals in 2007/08 away from Anfield.
It’s also worth noting that it is hardly ever worth backing the Reds when playing away at their main title rivals grounds under Benitez. After all, Liverpool have won just 2 points from a possible 36 available away to Chelsea, Man United and Arsenal under the Spaniard’s management. A stat well worth noting for Premier 10 and Footy 15 games this season.
Manchester United: Prolific but Prone to Odd Shock Defeat
Manchester United were a bit hit and miss on their travels last season by their own high standards. After all, they lost more away matches than Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal in 2008/09.
It wasn’t just the number of defeats but rather the clubs they lost to which was surprising. Sir Alex’s side suffered defeat at neighbours Man City as well as West Ham, Bolton and Chelsea. However, apart from the defeat at the Bridge, United had an excellent away record at most top sides. It would seem trips to relatively average teams proved somewhat of a problem last season. After all, only Carlos Tevez goals in the final 2 minutes of encounters saved the Red Devils from defeats at both Blackburn and Tottenham.
United ended the season in relatively patchy form away from home with just 1 win in their last 4 Premier League games. However, they remain a constant goal threat away from home as they scored in their last 12 games on the road (24 goals). In fact, the last time they failed to score in an away game was at Bolton back in November.
Despite the shock defeats United still won 10 away games which was only bettered by Chelsea so be cautious when backing them on Premier 10 and Footy 15 but not too cautious!
Chelsea: The Away Machine Rolls On!
The Blues had the best away record in the Premier League last season after gaining 42 points from a possible 57 available.
They ended the season in superb form on the road after going unbeaten throughout 2008, recording 10 matches unbeaten (8 wins) since a 1-0 defeat at the Emirates in mid-December.
That defeat at Arsenal was Chelsea’s only defeat in the last 15 away games (12 wins) and this record is unsurprising as the Blues are a mean defensive side with the ability to get a goal just when they need it.
Chelsea’s record last season was basically built on their water-tight defence as they conceded just 13 goals on their travels all season and 4 of those came at White Hart Lane in March. In fact, that was the only occasion that the Blues have conceded more than a single goal in an away match in their last 15 encounters on the road.
Big Phil Scolari inherits a side that ended the season with 5 clean-sheets in its last 6 away matches. He certainly will want to maintain the defensive stability that saw them keep 11 clean-sheets in 19 away games last season. If any team is worth backing to get a result on Premier 10 and Footy 15, then it’s Chelsea.
Aston Villa: The Villans Counter-Attacking Cutting Edge
Aston Villa were one of the surprise packages of the Premier League last season despite a serious lack of numbers amongst their playing staff. It was no surprise then that the players seemed to run out of steam towards the end of the campaign.
In a relatively short time in charge at the club, Martin O’Neill has built an exciting, well disciplined, counter-attacking side that is made for playing away from home. The main reason for this is the athleticism and pace of the young team he has put together.
They may have only won 6 games away all season but if Premier 10 or Footy 15 players are looking to back an away team not to lose, then look no further than O’Neill’s Villa side.
The Villans have lost just 4 of their last 24 away League games stretching back to February 2007. This includes 9 wins and 11 draws. Three of those defeats came in the last 7 away trips of the season, so fatigue may have been a factor.
One of Villa’s main strengths away from home is their ability to score. After all they were joint top scorers on their travels with Arsenal. This is due in no short measure to the combination of pace and power they possess up front with Gabriel Agbonlahor, Ashley Young and John Carew performing heroics last season. If you add in the Villans aerial strength from set-pieces then it’s no wonder they do so well.
Villa finished the season with two 2-2 away draws at Everton and West Ham which perfectly illustrates the Villans last campaign as they drew more games on the road (9) than any other team. A stat well worth noting for Premier 10 and Footy 15 players.
Everton: Toffees Rarely Come Unstuck at the Back
The Toffees enjoyed their best season away from home for 21 years last campaign. This was since they last won the League in 1986-87 when they won 10 away games.
Just like Villa, Everton faded towards the end of the season as fatigue and injuries took their toll on their relatively small squad. This is perfectly illustrated by the fact that they failed to win any of their last 4 away games. Prior to this, the Toffees had actually won 4 of their previous 5 matches on the road.
David Moyes team’s success was built on a strong defensive unit which conceded just 16 goals. A record only bettered by Chelsea (13), United and Liverpool (15). The Toffees only conceded more than 1 away goal in 1 of their last 14 games and that came in a 2-1 defeat at Man Utd in December. Even in that match, only an 88th minute penalty from Cristiano Ronaldo secured the points for the eventual champions.
However, Everton needed to be strong to gain the 28 points they won away as they scored fewer goals than any other side in the top 8. It will be difficult to expect them to be as strong next season with no new arrivals and the imminent departure of Andrew Johnson to Fulham. Premier 10 and Footy 15 players should definitely be aware than unless some signings arrive soon the Toffees may well not be the force they were.
Portsmouth: Pompey Win, Lose but Rarely Draw
Portsmouth’s superb away form last season ended with 2 defeats at Man City and Boro as their cup exploits got the better of them. In fact, they ended the season with 4 defeats in their last 5 games (1 win).
Pompey actually won 28 of their 57 points away from home last season as only Chelsea (42), Arsenal (36), Man Utd (35) and Liverpool (34) won more points on the road.
Harry Redknapp’s side won a total of 9 Premier League away games with only Chelsea (13), Man United and Arsenal (10) winning more.
The South Coast club recorded a run of 6 consecutive PL away games between September 23rd and December 8th. This was their best ever top division run away from home. It also equalled the club record of 6 consecutive League away wins, set between Apr-Aug 1980 in Div 4/Div 3.
For Premier 10 and Footy 15 players it is well worth noting that Pompey’s only PL away draw last season was 2-2 on the opening day at Derby. No team in the top division drew as few. Therefore it’s well worth either backing them to win away or lose as they rarely take a point.
Last season was a massive improvement on the 16 PL away points they won in 2006/07 (3 wins, 7 draws). They may well improve further with the exciting acquisition of Peter Crouch and the January signing of Jermain Defoe giving them even more firepower to go with a solid, experienced and quick defensive unit.
Read Part 1: Introducing the Home Bankers
Tags: Arsenal, Aston Villa, Chelsea, Everton, Hull, Liverpool, Man City, Manchester United, Newcastle, Premier League, Stoke, Sunderland, Tottenham, West Brom, West Ham, Wigan
