Perched high above the pitch, Seamus Brady will have a bird’s-eye view of Aston Villa’s opening game of the new Premier League season and what he sees could just change everything.

The statistical breakdown:

We played like Christmas turkeys…

On a day when Steven Gerrard made a vociferous defence of his manager — and one wag on the Kop dressed up as Jesus to hold up a placard saying "Brendan: I’ve got your back" — a late equaliser against Arsenal has given Liverpool, and their coach, a chance to save their season over Christmas.

In a new European Cup world where three of five second placed teams advance rather than two from six, a bonus point in Clermont is no small thing.

Joe Schmidt’s Ireland played safe, smart rugby in dispatching South Africa on Saturday and made a mockery of their underdog status with the bookmakers.

STATISTICAL BREAKDOWN

THE STATISTICAL BREAKDOWN

Seven tries scored, one conceded. A convincing Ireland win over an Italian side who are better than their Six Nations record this season suggest.

Three games, 12 tries. And none conceded by Ireland.

All eyes will be on Thomond Park this evening when Leinster face Munster in the blue riband event of Irish rugby. But with referee Romain Poite in the middle is it likely to be a contest of 15 against 15 for the full 80 minutes?

Perhaps Moneyball and Billy Beane’s Oakland A’s are to blame, but pro sport’s fascination with statistics is underlined by the franchises taking notes at a special stat conference in Boston

Arsene Wenger needs only one piece of advice going into transfer deadline day judging by his team’s Jekyll and Hyde performance against Liverpool: forget about David Villa and concentrate on signing a centre-back instead of a centre-forward.

Unlike four years ago, Spain haven’t exactly started this tournament in exhilarating fashion.

Breast man

GERMANY playmaker Mesut Ozil and Spain striker David Villa are the surprise omissions from Opta’s team of the World Cup so far.

THEY never pretended to be the best side in the world even when winning Grand Slams but they must surely rank as one of the bravest.

MICHAEL CHOPRA dedicated his comeback goals to his baby son after coming off the bench to fire Sunderland to a 2-0 victory over derby rivals Middlesbrough.

FAMILIAR territory for Arsenal at Ewood Park on Saturday, coasting to their third impressive victory in the north-west inside a week, and familiar territory also for Blackburn midfielder Robbie Savage.

STUART PEARCE admitted he was forced to make a hasty U-turn when Edwin van der Sar dashed Manchester City’s hopes of ending their 31-year Old Trafford hoodoo.