Tyler’s stats: Manchester’s finest

Who are the greatest Manchester derby performers? How could Zlatan Ibrahimovic make history? Martin Tyler knows…

Don’t forget to have a go at this week’s teaser from White Hart Lane…

How to send your questions to Martin:

1: Email your posers to skysportsclub@bskyb.com

2. Tweet @SkyFootball using the hashtag #TylersTeasers

Martin’s Starting Stats

Before I focus on the Manchester derby, here are some reflections on England’s win in Slovakia. It looked like they would be held to a draw, but it ended up being England’s 13th qualifying win in a row for since a 0-0 draw away to Ukraine in September 2013 thanks to Adam Lallana’s stoppage-time winner.

England are, in fact, unbeaten in their last 30 qualifiers since a 1-0 defeat away to Ukraine in October 2009.

It was Slovakia’s second home defeat in their last 14 matches – the other was against Belarus when they had already qualified for Euro 2016.

England have scored in 14 of their last 15 competitive games. The only time they have failed to score in that time was against Slovakia at Euro 2016. They are unbeaten in their last 14 away games (excluding neutral venues). The last defeat was a 4-2 loss to Ibrahimovic’s Sweden in November 2012.

Sam Allardyce continued the run of managers who won their first game in charge of England. It’s now nine in a row since Bobby Robson drew 2-2 away to Denmark in 1982. Some of them may wish they had the fortune of World-Cup-winning Sir Alf Ramsey who lost his first game to France!

Swede sensation

Would Zlatan be the first Swede to score in the Manchester derby? Mat

MARTIN SAYS: Yes he would. Thanks to our friends at Opta, I can tell you that players from 21 different nationalities have scored in Premier League Manchester derbies – and that list does not include any players from Sweden.

In fact, according to our records only one Swede has ever played in a Manchester derby before – and that is Andreas Isaksson, who made his debut for City in place of the injured Nicky Weaver in a 3-1 defeat at Old Trafford in December 2006. He also played in the return match in May 2007.

Only three Swedes have represented Manchester United in the Premier League – Jesper Blomqvist, Henrik Larsson and Bojan Djordjic (who was born in Belgrade, but played for Sweden at youth level) – and none of those played in a derby match.

So Ibrahimovic could become the first Swede to play outfield in a …

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