What numbers say ahead of Premier League matchday nine

The Premier League returns this weekend after the international break with some exciting matchups, Liverpool face Leicester, Arsenal take on Leeds United, Pep Guardiola and Jose Mourinho renew their rivalry when Man City tackle Tottenham.

21 November, 2020

Newcastle United – Chelsea

Newcastle have lost just one of their last seven Premier League home games against Chelsea (W5 D1), winning this exact fixture last season courtesy of Isaac Hayden’s 90th minute strike.

Chelsea have won five of their last seven Premier League meetings with Newcastle (L2), though the Blues have only managed to keep one clean sheet in this run – a 1-0 win at Stamford Bridge last season.

Newcastle have won two of their last three Premier League home games (L1), as many as they had in their previous 11 at St James’ Park (W2 D4 L5). The Magpies are looking to pick up consecutive home league wins for the first time since December 2019.

Chelsea are unbeaten in six Premier League games (W3 D3), with only Spurs on a longer current such run in the competition (7). The Blues have netted at least three goals in five of those six games, failing to score in the other.

No side has had fewer shots in the Premier League this season than Newcastle (64). However, the Magpies have scored 10 goals, giving them a shot conversion rate of 15.6% - their highest on record in a single top-flight campaign (since 1997-98).

Chelsea have had more 10+ open play passing sequences (157) and more build up attacks (29), than any other side in the Premier League this season.

Chelsea are the highest scorers in the Premier League so far this season with 20 goals. The Blues have also netted a league-high 14 goals in the second half of matches, while Newcastle have scored the highest ratio of their Premier League goals after halftime this season (80% - 8/10).

Chelsea’s Timo Werner has been involved in nine goals in his last seven appearances in all competitions (7 goals, 2 assists), scoring in each of his last four. The last player to score in five consecutive appearances for Chelsea was Didier Drogba in November 2009.

Chelsea’s Timo Werner could become just the fourth different German player to score in three consecutive Premier League matches, after Jürgen Klinsmann (3 runs), Dietmar Hamann (March 1999) and Leroy Sané (October 2017).

In the two Premier League games in which he’s started, Hakim Ziyech has been involved in 57% of Chelsea’s seven Premier League goals, scoring once and providing three assists.

Aston Villa – Brighton and Hove Albion

Aston Villa are unbeaten in their last eight league meetings with Brighton (W4 D4), since a 0-1 defeat in December 1980.

Brighton have never won away against Aston Villa in all competitions, drawing three and losing nine of their 12 games. Indeed, the Seagulls have lost all five of their visits to Villa Park in the top-flight.

Aston Villa have won five of their seven Premier League games so far this season (L2), netting 18 goals in the process. It took the Villans 13 games to score as many Premier League goals last season, while they picked up their fifth win in their 19th game in 2019-20.

Aston Villa have won three Premier League games by a margin of 3+ goals this season, as many as they had in their previous four campaigns in the competition combined (1 in 2013-14, 1 in 2014-15, 0 in 2015-16, 1 in 2019-20). They last won more by such a margin in a single top-flight season back in 2007-08 (6).

Brighton are winless in their last six Premier League matches (D3 L3). However, 12 of the Seagulls’ last 15 Premier League points have been won in away games (80%).

Since their promotion to the Premier League in 2017, Brighton have had more goalless draws than any other side in the competition (12). Meanwhile, in Premier League history Aston Villa have had more games finish 0-0 than any other side (100).

Aston Villa have made the fewest starting XI line-up changes (3) and have used the fewest different players (18) so far in the Premier League this season. Despite this, only Chelsea (11) have had more different goalscorers than the Villans this term (7, excluding own goals).

No team has conceded more fouls than Brighton in the Premier League so far this season (106), while no side has won more than Aston Villa (103). Since the start of last season, Aston Villa’s Jack Grealish has been fouled 196 times in the Premier League, at least 52 more than any other player.

Aston Villa’s Jack Grealish has scored in each of his last four appearances against Brighton in all competitions, netting in all three meetings last season. He’s scored more goals against the Seagulls than he has any other opponent in his senior career (4).

Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins has scored six goals in his last five Premier League appearances, with Jack Grealish providing the assist for half of those goals.

Tottenham Hotspur – Manchester City

Tottenham won this exact fixture 2-0 last season, ending a run of six Premier League games without a win against Manchester City (D2 L4).

Only against Chelsea (26) have Manchester City lost more Premier League games than they have v Tottenham (24).

Tottenham have won both of their meetings with Man City at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in all competitions, last winning three home games in a row against the Citizens between 2005-2009 (a run of 6).

Tottenham have only lost two of their 20 Premier League games against Man City when above them in the table (W15 D3), though this is the first such meeting since January 2017 (2-2).

Following their opening weekend defeat against Everton, Tottenham are now on the longest current unbeaten run in the Premier League (7 – W5 D2). Spurs are looking to win four consecutive league games for the first time since February 2019 under Mauricio Pochettino.

Manchester City have scored 10 goals in their seven Premier League games this season, their fewest at this stage of a season since 2010-11 (9) and 17 fewer than they had after seven games last season. Indeed, the Citizens have scored exactly once in each of their last five Premier League games, having netted 16 in their previous five.

This will be the 24th meeting in all competitions between Spurs boss José Mourinho and Man City’s Pep Guardiola – Mourinho’s 10 defeats in these games is more than he’s suffered against any other manager, while Guardiola has only beaten Manuel Pellegrini more often (12).

Tottenham’s Harry Kane has been involved in 23 goals in just 14 games in all competitions this season (13 goals, 10 assists), at least eight more than any other Premier League player. Indeed, the next highest player on the list is teammate Son Heung-min (10 goals, 5 assists).

Man City’s Gabriel Jesus has been involved in 11 goals in his last 11 games in all competitions (8 goals, 3 assists). The Brazilian has scored in each of his last three appearances for Man City, last scoring in four in a row in April 2018.

Only against Newcastle (15) has Man City’s Sergio Agüero scored more Premier League goals than he has against Spurs (11). However, the Argentine has scored just once in his last nine against Tottenham, having scored 10 in his first seven against them.

Manchester United – West Bromwich Albion

Manchester United haven’t lost consecutive league matches against West Brom since December 1980, with the Baggies winning their last Premier League encounter with Man Utd 1-0 in April 2018.

West Brom have won three of their last five away league games against Man Utd (D1 L1), including their last such visit in April 2018 (1-0). The Baggies had won just one of their last 31 league visits to face Man Utd prior to this run.

Man Utd have failed to score in three of their last four home league games against West Brom, as many as in their previous 53 such matches against them. Indeed, the Red Devils have failed to score in their last two against West Brom at home, last going three in a row without scoring at Old Trafford v an opponent against Arsenal in September 1982.

Manchester United are winless in their four Premier League home games so far this season (D1 L3), while they’re winless in their last six at home overall in the competition (D3 L3). They last failed to win any of their first five at home in a league season back in 1972-73, while they last had a longer overall winless home run in March 1978 (7 games).

Manchester United have conceded more home goals than any other side in the Premier League this season (10). Meanwhile, the Red Devils have lost three home league games already, only losing more in two Premier League campaigns (7 in 2013-14, 6 in 2001-02).

West Brom are winless in their eight Premier League games so far this season (D3 L5), failing to score in four of their last five. Only in 1985-86 have the Baggies failed to win any of their first nine league games from the start of a campaign.

No side has gained more points from losing positions than Manchester United in the Premier League this season (9), with the Red Devils coming back to win three of their five games in which they’ve trailed. Indeed, Man Utd have only opened the scoring once in the Premier League this season, going on to lose that game 1-6 against Tottenham.

West Brom are one of three sides yet to concede in the opening 15 minutes of their Premier League games so far this season (along with Arsenal and Aston Villa), while only Fulham (5) have conceded more in this timeframe than Manchester United (4).

Of the 47 players to score at least 10 Premier League goals for Manchester United, Bruno Fernandes has scored the lowest ratio of them in home games, with just three of his 13 strikes coming at Old Trafford (23%).

Man Utd’s Bruno Fernandes is one of just two players to have both had 20+ shots (20) and created 20+ chances (20) in the Premier League this season, along with Mohamed Salah (34 shots, 21 chances created).

22 November, 2020

Fulham – Everton

Fulham won their last Premier League meeting with Everton (2-0 in April 2019), ending a run of 10 league games without a win against the Toffees (D2 L8). It was Scott Parker’s first victory as a manager in the competition.

Everton have only failed to score in one of their last nine Premier League meetings with Fulham, though it was their last such match against them in April 2019 (0-2).

Of all Premier League fixtures to have been played on more than 10 occasions, Fulham v Everton has seen the highest percentage of home wins, with 23 of the 28 meetings between the two being won by the home side (82%).

Everton have won their last two Premier League games in London, as many as they had in their previous 26 such games (W2 D11 L13). They last won three league games in a row in the capital back in April 1987.

After conceding 10 goals in their first three Premier League games this season, Fulham have now shipped just five in their last five in the competition, picking up their first victory of the campaign in that run (2-0 v West Brom).

Everton have lost their last three Premier League matches, as many as they had in their previous 14. The Toffees last lost four in a row in October 2019 under Marco Silva.

Fulham are the only side yet to score in the opening 15 minutes of their Premier League games so far this season, while the Cottagers have also shipped the most in this timeframe (5).

Everton have conceded at least twice in each of their last five Premier League games – they last conceded 2+ goals in six consecutive league games back in October 2008.

Everton’s Gylfi Sigurdsson has had a hand in five goals in his five Premier League appearances against Fulham (4 goals, 1 assist), with two of his five braces in the competition coming against the Cottagers (March 2012 with Swansea, September 2018 with Everton).

Since he joined the club in 2018, Everton are winless in all eight Premier League games in which Richarlison has played no part (D4 L4), losing all three since his sending off against Liverpool earlier this season.

Sheffield United – West Ham United

Sheffield United have won all three of their home Premier League games against West Ham, their best such 100% record in the competition.

In all competitions, West Ham are winless in their last three away games against Sheffield United (D1 L2), since a 2-1 win in the Championship in September 2004. West Ham haven’t won a top-flight match at Bramall Lane since April 1968.

London sides are winless in their last 11 Premier League visits to face Sheffield United at Bramall Lane (D1 L10), since Chelsea won 2-0 in October 2006. Indeed, the Blades’ only point so far this season was at home against London side Fulham.

West Ham are unbeaten in their last 11 Premier League games against sides starting the day bottom, winning their last four in a row by an aggregate score of 13-4. Their last such defeat was back in April 2015 at Leicester.

Sheffield United have become just the fifth team in Premier League history to pick up just one point in their first eight games of a season, though two of the previous four have survived the drop (Southampton in 1998-99 and Sunderland in 2013-14). Only in 1990-91 have the Blades ever failed to win any of their first nine games in a league season.

Sheffield United haven’t kept a clean sheet in any of their last 11 Premier League games, conceding 20 goals in the process. Their previous 20 goals conceded in the competition came over a period of 21 matches.

Sheffield United have dropped a league-high six points from winning positions so far in the Premier League this season, throwing away leads to lose against both Liverpool and Chelsea.

West Ham have lost just one of their last six Premier League games (W3 D2), despite playing five of last season’s top seven finishing clubs in that run. Indeed, their only defeat was at reigning champions Liverpool.

Sheffield United have the biggest negative difference between expected goals (7.7) and goals scored (4) in the Premier League this season, scoring roughly four goals fewer than would normally be expected based on the quality of their chances.

West Ham’s Aaron Cresswell has created more chances from set play than any other player in the Premier League this season, with four of West Ham’s 14 goals this term coming from a corner/free-kick situation.

Leeds United – Arsenal

Leeds are winless in their last seven meetings with Arsenal in all competitions (D1 L6) since a 3-2 win at Highbury in May 2003.

Since a 0-1 loss in November 2000, Arsenal are unbeaten in their last five away games against Leeds in all competitions (W4 D1), winning the last four in a row by an aggregate score of 15-4.

Arsenal have won nine of their last 11 Premier League games in Yorkshire (L2), though they did lose their last visit to the county against Sheffield United in October 2019 (0-1).

Coming into this weekend’s games, no side has conceded more Premier League goals than Leeds this season (17), with the Whites losing their last two league games by a 1-4 scoreline.

Leeds have lost their last two Premier League games – they’ve not lost three league games in a row under Marcelo Bielsa, last doing so in November 2017 under Thomas Christiansen.

Arsenal have lost three of their last four Premier League games (W1), as many as in their previous 12 (W8 D1 L3). The Gunners have failed to score in each of those three defeats, and haven’t found the net from open play in their last six hours and 26 minutes of Premier League action.

Arsenal are the only side yet to concede a single goal from a set-piece situation in the Premier League this season, while coming into this weekend’s games no side have conceded more such goals than Leeds United (8, including penalties).

Only Liverpool (68) have had more high turnovers than Leeds in the Premier League this season (37), highlighting the Whites’ high pressing game under Marcelo Bielsa. However, just five of these have resulted in a shot, the fifth lowest ratio in the competition this term (13.5%).

Patrick Bamford has scored seven goals in his eight Premier League games for Leeds United, with only Mark Viduka (9) netting more in their first eight such games for the club. However, just one of Bamford’s seven strikes has come at Elland Road.

Arsenal’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has had just four shots across his last four Premier League games, with the only effort on target being his successful penalty against Manchester United. The Gunners captain is averaging just 1.3 shots per 90 in the Premier League this season, compared to 2.7 last term.

Liverpool – Leicester City

Liverpool are unbeaten in their last nine home Premier League games against Leicester (W7 D2), having lost three in a row against them at Anfield between 1997-2000.

Leicester have won just two of their last 16 Premier League meetings with Liverpool (D3 L11), and are without a win in six against them since a 3-1 victory at the King Power Stadium in February 2017.

Liverpool are unbeaten in their last 63 Premier League home games, their joint-longest such run without defeat at home in the top-flight. Their previous run between February 1978-December 1980 was eventually ended with defeat to Leicester.

Liverpool have kept just one clean sheet in their last 13 Premier League games (2-0 at Chelsea), conceding in each of their last six at home in the competition. Indeed, only promoted sides Leeds and West Brom (17 each) have conceded more goals than the reigning champions so far this term (16).

Leicester have won six of their eight Premier League games this season (L2), as many as they had in their final 22 games last season (W6 D6 L10).

Liverpool have conceded first in each of their last three home Premier League games, but have come back to win each time – no side has ever done this in four consecutive Premier League home games before.

Liverpool have conceded more first-half goals than any other Premier League side this season (11), while no side have shipped fewer after halftime than the Reds (5).

Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers has lost both of his Premier League games against former side Liverpool since leaving the club in 2015. Indeed, managers to have previously taken charge of Liverpool in the Premier League have won just four of their 29 matches against them after leaving (D6 L19) – Graeme Souness with Newcastle in March 2005, Gérard Houllier with Aston Villa in May 2011 and Roy Hodgson with West Brom in April 2011 and April 2012.

Liverpool forward Diogo Jota has scored in all three of his Premier League home games for the Reds so far – no player in the club’s history has scored in each of their first four top-flight home games.

Leicester striker Jamie Vardy has already netted eight goals in his seven Premier League appearances this season. Vardy has also scored seven goals in 11 Premier League games against Liverpool, with only Andy Cole (11) and Thierry Henry (8) netting more against the Reds in the competition.

23 November, 2020

Burnley – Crystal Palace

Burnley won their last Premier League meeting with Crystal Palace (1-0 in June), ending a run of four straight league defeats against the Eagles.

Crystal Palace have won three and lost two of their five Premier League away games against Burnley, winning the last two. Turf Moor is one of just three away grounds Crystal Palace have visited at least five times in the Premier League where they’ve won more games than they’ve lost (also Bet365 Stadium and Vitality Stadium).

Burnley are winless in their seven Premier League games so far this season (D2 L5), losing all three at Turf Moor. They’ve not failed to win any of their opening eight games to a league campaign since 2014-15, while they’ve never lost their first four at Turf Moor in a season before.

Crystal Palace have won four of their eight Premier League games so far this season (D1 L3), as many as they had in their final 19 of 2019-20 (W4 D5 L10). The Eagles have netted 3+ goals in two of their eight league games this term, having failed to do so once last season.

Burnley have scored fewer goals (3) and had fewer shots on target (19) than any other Premier League side this season, while they’re the only side yet to find the net at home so far in 2020-21.

Burnley have played 20% of their Premier League passes long this season, the highest ratio in the division. The Clarets have also had fewer open play sequences of 10+ passes than any other side so far this term (34).

Crystal Palace have scored eight first-half goals in the Premier League this season, the second highest figure with only three teams netting more (Liverpool, Southampton and Spurs, 10). In the whole of last season, the Eagles scored just 10 times before halftime in the Premier League.

Despite their low position in the table, Burnley have the second lowest expected goals against figure in the Premier League this season (7.5), behind only Chelsea (7.4). This means the Clarets have conceded around five goals more than would be expected based on the quality of chances they’ve faced (12 goals conceded).

No player has made more drives into the box (taking the ball into the opponent’s area following a successful take-on) than Crystal Palace’s Wilfried Zaha this season (4). Zaha has also created the joint-most chances following a successful take-on in the competition this season (3).

Crystal Palace’s Wilfried Zaha has seven goal involvements in his eight Premier League games this season (5 goals, 2 assists), as many as he managed in 38 games in the competition last season (4 goals, 3 assists).

Wolverhampton Wanderers – Southampton

Wolves have lost just one of their last eight league meetings with Southampton (W4 D3), going down 1-3 at St Mary’s in April 2019.

Southampton haven’t won any of their last four away league games against Wolves (D2 L2), since a 6-0 win at Molineux in the Championship in March 2007.

Wolves are yet to score more than twice in a Premier League match so far this season, with bottom two sides Burnley and Sheffield United the only other sides yet to do so.

Wolves have kept more Premier League clean sheets than any other side so far in 2020 (13). However, they’ve only won two of their 13 games in which they’ve conceded this calendar year (D3 L8), winning none of their five at home (D2 L3).

Southampton are looking to win four consecutive Premier League games for the first time since May 2016. Indeed, only Tottenham (7) are on a longer current unbeaten run in the top-flight than Saints (6).

Only Burnley’s Premier League games have seen fewer goals (15) than Wolves’ so far this season (17), with Wolves having scored eight and conceded nine in their eight games.

No side has scored more first-half goals in the Premier League this season than Southampton, with Saints’ 10 goals before halftime more than opponents Wolves in total so far this term (8).

Since their promotion to the Premier League in 2018, only Mohamed Salah (17) has scored more winning goals in the competition than Wolves’ Raúl Jiménez (14).

Southampton’s Theo Walcott made his senior club debut as a 16-year-old against Wolves back in August 2005. He’s waiting for his first Saints goal since November 2005 (vs Luton), but has assisted two goals in his three Premier League games since returning to the club.

Southampton’s Che Adams has scored three goals in his last four Premier League games, just one fewer than he’d netted in his first 34 appearances in the competition (4).