Premier League Matchweek 26: What the stats say

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Manchester City v West Ham United
27 February, 2021

Manchester City are unbeaten in their last 10 Premier League meetings with West Ham (W8 D2) since a 1-2 home loss in September 2015.

West Ham are looking to avoid defeat in both league meetings with Man City in a Premier League campaign for the first time since 2015-16 (W1 D1). However, the Hammers have lost 10 of their last 11 league visits to the Etihad (W1).

Since losing 2-5 against Leicester in September, Man City have conceded just three goals in 15 home games in all competitions (W13 D2). The Citizens have won their last six Premier League home games without conceding, with Chelsea the last team to have a longer such run in the competition (9 between April – November 2010).

Only Man City (33) have won more Premier League points so far in 2021 than West Ham (22). The Hammers have won seven of their nine league games in this calendar year – they didn’t reach their seventh win until their 23rd match in 2020.

West Ham have won just two of their 23 Premier League away games against the league leaders (D3 L18), with both of those victories coming in Manchester (v Man Utd in May 2007 and Man City in September 2015).

Manchester City are looking to record the sixth ever run of 14 consecutive top-flight victories. This had happened just once across the first 118 seasons of English top-flight football (by Arsenal in 2002), with the last four such runs occurring over the past four campaigns (2x Liverpool, 2x Man City).

Man City’s Raheem Sterling has been involved in 14 goals in 15 Premier League appearances against West Ham (eight goals, six assists), more than he has versus any other opponent in the competition.

In his first four seasons with Man City, 71 per cent of Raheem Sterling’s Premier League goals came at the Etihad Stadium (34/48). In the last two campaigns, just 31 per cent of his league goals have come in home games (9/29).

Jesse Lingard has scored three goals in four Premier League appearances for West Ham, as many as he did in his final 36 for Manchester United. However, no side has he faced more without ever scoring or assisting a Premier League goal than he has Man City (9 games).

Michail Antonio has scored 42 Premier League goals for West Ham, making him their third top scorer in the competition behind Paolo Di Canio (47) and Mark Noble (46). He’s looking to become the first West Ham player to score home and away against Man City in a league season since Iain Dowie in 1995-96.

West Bromwich Albion v Brighton and Hove Albion
27 February, 2021

West Brom have never lost in 10 previous home league meetings with Brighton (W6 D4). It’s the most they’ve faced an opponent at home in the Football League without ever suffering defeat.

Brighton have only won one of their 11 top-flight meetings with West Brom (D6 L4), winning 3-1 in September 2017.

West Brom are winless in their last seven Premier League games (D3 L4), and also their last seven Premier League home games (D2 L5). The Baggies have conceded a league-high 55 Premier League goals so far this season.

West Brom are averaging just 7.8 shots per game in the Premier League this season, the lowest rate on record in a single campaign in the competition (since 1997-98).

Brighton have lost just one of their last six away league games (W2 D3), with that defeat coming at league leaders Manchester City.

All four of Brighton’s games against teams starting the day in the relegation zone this season have ended in a draw, with three of those finishing goalless.

Brighton’s first eight away league games this season saw 24 goals scored, at an average of three per game (F11 A13). The Seagulls’ last four on the road have seen just five goals scored, just over one per game (F3 A2).

Only Manchester City (54) and Chelsea (72) have faced fewer shots on target in the Premier League this season than Brighton (81). However, the Seagulls have shipped 32 goals, meaning 40 per cent of their shots on target faced have ended in goals.

Against no side has West Brom manager Sam Allardyce faced more often without losing in English league football than he has Brighton (9 – W6 D3). The Seagulls are also one of just two sides Allardyce has beaten in each of the top four tiers of English football, along with Cardiff.

After netting four goals in his first four league appearances this season, Brighton striker Neal Maupay has netted just three in his subsequent 19 Premier League games. However, 71 per cent of his league goals this season have come away from home (5/7).

Leeds United v Aston Villa
27 February, 2021

Leeds are looking to complete their first league double over Aston Villa since the 1975-76 campaign, following their 3-0 win at Villa Park earlier this season.

Aston Villa have won just two of their last 17 away league games against Leeds (D9 L6), with those victories coming in January and December 2000.

Leeds are looking to win consecutive league games against Aston Villa for the first time since April/August 1995. In the Premier League, the Whites have lost just one of their last eight meetings with the Villans (0-2 in February 2004).

Only Manchester United (17), Liverpool (14) and Newcastle (14) have won more Premier League away games in Yorkshire than Aston Villa (13). However, the Villans have failed to score in their last three top-flight visits to the county since beating Hull 2-0 in April 2010.

Leeds have lost five of their eight Premier League games played on Saturdays this season (W2 D1), while Aston Villa are unbeaten in their last six Saturday league games (W5 D1), keeping a clean sheet each time.

All three of Aston Villa’s Premier League games against promoted sides this season have finished 3-0, with the Villans beating Fulham and West Brom and losing to Leeds. Aston Villa are looking to win away against all three promoted teams in a single Premier League season for the first time.

When conceding at least once, Aston Villa have won just one of their last 22 Premier League games (D4 L17), losing nine of their last 10 since beating Liverpool 7-2 in October.

Leeds’ Patrick Bamford has scored five goals in his three starts in all competitions against Aston Villa, including the first Premier League hat-trick of his career in the reverse fixture earlier this season.

Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins has faced Leeds United more often than any other opponent without scoring in his English league career, drawing a blank in each of his seven appearances against the Whites.

Aston Villa keeper Emiliano Martínez has a save percentage of 77.4 per cent in the Premier League this season, the highest on record in a single top-flight campaign for the Villans (since 2003-04, min. 10 games). The Argentine has also kept 12 clean sheets this term, with Brad Friedel the last Villa goalkeeper to keep more than 12 in a top-flight season (15 in 2009-10).

Newcastle United v Wolverhampton Wanderers
27 February, 2021

Since a 4-1 victory in April 2011, Newcastle are winless in their last four home league games against Wolves (D2 L2).

Of all the Premier League fixtures to have been played at least 10 times, Newcastle v Wolves has seen the highest percentage of games finish in a draw (73 per cent - 8/11). Each of the last four league meetings between the sides has finished 1-1.

Both teams have scored in all 11 Premier League meetings between Newcastle and Wolves, making it the most played fixture in the competition in which neither side has kept a clean sheet.

Newcastle have had a player sent off in each of their last three home league games against Wolves – Vurnon Anita in September 2016, DeAndre Yedlin in December 2018 and Sean Longstaff in October 2019.

Newcastle have lost eight of their last 10 Premier League games, winning the other two. Indeed, the Magpies have lost more league games in 2021 than any other Premier League side (8).

Wolves have won three of their last four Premier League games (D1), as many as they had in their previous 16 beforehand (D5 L8). They’re looking to win three consecutive Premier League games for the first time since June 2020.

Newcastle have conceded exactly twice in each of their last four Premier League home games – they’ve not shipped 2+ goals in five consecutive league games at St. James’ Park since September 1991 in the second tier.

Each of Newcastle’s last five Premier League goals have come in the first half – just four of their first 21 Premier League strikes this season had come before half-time prior to this.

Wolves have conceded the first goal in 16 Premier League games this season, with only the bottom two sides West Brom (17) and Sheffield United (19) doing so in more. However, only Manchester United (22) have won more points from losing positions in the division this term than Wolves (12).

Wolves’ Leander Dendoncker has had more shots without scoring than any other player in the Premier League this season, with the Belgian failing to find the net with any of his 26 attempts so far this term.

Crystal Palace v Fulham
28 February, 2021

Crystal Palace have won each of their last three Premier League games against Fulham; only versus Burnley (January 2018 to November 2019), Leicester (December 2017 to February 2019) and Stoke (March 2015 to September 2016) have they ever won four consecutive meetings in the competition.

Fulham have never previously lost four consecutive league meetings with Crystal Palace; they last avoided defeat to the Eagles in the Premier League in May 2014 (1-1), and last beat them in the competition in October 2013 (4-1).

Only against Wimbledon have Crystal Palace ever won four or more consecutive top-flight London derby meetings, beating them five times in a row from September 1989 to August 1991 under Steve Coppell.

Crystal Palace won their last Premier League match against Brighton 2-1 – the Eagles had just three shots in the match while facing 25 in return, managed just two touches in the opposition box and had just 25.5 per cent possession.

Fulham are unbeaten in their last six Premier League away matches, although five have ended level (W1). They have never gone seven such matches unbeaten in the competition.

Fulham have won two of their last three Premier League games (D1), as many as they had in their previous 24 in the competition (D9 L13). However, the Cottagers remain winless in their last 20 Premier League London derby matches (D3 L17).

No team has conceded more goals from outside the box than Crystal Palace in the Premier League this season (9). Indeed, it’s more than double the amount they shipped from outside the box last term (4), with only four sides conceding fewer such goals in 2019-20.

Crystal Palace striker Christian Benteke scored his fourth Premier League goal of the season last time out against Brighton, more than he had in his previous two campaigns in the competition combined (3). It was also his fourth 90th-minute winning strike in the Premier League, with no player scoring more in the competition’s history.

Jean-Philippe Mateta became the 12th different player to score for Crystal Palace in the Premier League this season against Brighton last time out. The Eagles last had more different goalscorers in a single league campaign in 2015-16 (14).

All three of Ivan Cavaleiro’s Premier League goals for Fulham this season have come away from home, making him the Cottagers’ top scorer in away games so far this term. His three goals have either been the winning goal (1) or an equalising goal (2), earning Fulham four points in total.

Leicester City v Arsenal
28 February, 2021

Leicester City have won four of their last six Premier League matches against Arsenal (D1 L1), one more than in their previous 36 top-flight league matches against the Gunners (D10 L23).

Arsenal have lost their last three away Premier League matches against Leicester, receiving more red cards (2) than goals scored (1) in these three games.

Leicester have lost once to Arsenal at the King Power this season, losing 0-2 in the League Cup. The only team to beat the Foxes twice at the King Power in a season is Chelsea, who did so in both 2016-17 and 2017-18.

Arsenal have won just 14.3 per cent of their Premier League matches at the King Power Stadium (1/7) – among stadiums at which they’ve played at least five Premier League games, only at Hillsborough (12.5 per cent) and Old Trafford (13.8 per cent) do they have a lower win ratio in the competition.

Three different teams have already done the Premier League double over Arsenal this season (Aston Villa, Man City, Wolves), the most in a single campaign against the Gunners since 1994-95 (4 – Leeds, Liverpool, Newcastle and QPR).

Leicester City have won six of their seven Premier League games immediately following a European fixture this season (L1), while Arsenal have lost six of their seven such games (W1).

Arsenal have lost consecutive away league games five times under Mikel Arteta (including a current run), last losing three in a row in February 2019. On each of the four previous occasions, the Gunners have lost back-to-back away games under the Spaniard, they’ve won their next such match.

Only Wayne Rooney (12) has scored more Premier League goals against Arsenal than Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy, who has scored 11 goals in 12 appearances against the Gunners.

Both James Maddison (8) and Harvey Barnes (9) are enjoying their best goalscoring season for Leicester in the Premier League. Between them, they’ve been involved in 19 of Leicester’s last 26 Premier League goals.

Arsenal captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has scored 38 goals in 50 Premier League games played on Sundays, 14 more than he has on all other days of the week combined in the competition (24 in 56).

Tottenham Hotspur v Burnley
28 February, 2021

Spurs have won five of their six home Premier League games against Burnley (D1), netting 16 goals and conceding just three in those games.

Burnley are looking for their first away top-flight win against Spurs since October 1974, winning 3-2 under Jimmy Adamson. They’ve lost six of their seven such visits since (D1).

Tottenham have lost five of their last six Premier League games (W1), more than they had in their previous 28 in the competition (W14 D10 L4).

Tottenham’s 10 Premier League victories this season have come against opponents with an average position of 15th in the table on the day of the game. Only West Brom (17th) and Crystal Palace (16th) have beaten lower-placed teams on average this term.

Burnley have won four of their last six Premier League games in London (L2), more than they had in their previous 35 in the top-flight (W3 D4 L28). The Clarets have won at Arsenal and Crystal Palace so far this season – only in two top-flight campaigns have they won more in the capital (4 in 1960-61, 3 in 1974-75).

No team has failed to score in more different Premier League games than Burnley this season (13), while only three teams have kept more clean sheets than the Clarets (9). Indeed, Burnley’s Premier League games have seen just 48 goals scored this term, fewer than any other side (F18 A30).

Since beating Arsenal 2-0 in December, Spurs have taken just 12 points from 13 Premier League games (W3 D3 L7). Only Newcastle, Sheffield United and West Bromwich Albion have taken fewer in that time.

Tottenham boss José Mourinho has managed more league games without losing against Burnley than any other club in his entire managerial career (P10 W6 D4).

Spurs striker Harry Kane has been directly involved in 10 goals in nine Premier League appearances against Burnley (7 goals, 3 assists) – only Riyad Mahrez (8) has scored more Premier League goals against Burnley than Kane (7).

Having netted eight goals in his first six Premier League games this season, Spurs’ Son Heung-min has added just five more in his subsequent 18 appearances. Son and teammate Harry Kane have created the most chances for each other in the Premier League this season (36), though half of these came in their first six games (18 in first six, 18 in last 16).

Chelsea v Manchester United
28 February, 2021

Chelsea were beaten 2-0 at Stamford Bridge by Manchester United last season in the Premier League – they haven’t lost consecutive home games against the Red Devils since October 1995.

In all competitions, Manchester United have won their last three away games against Chelsea, winning in the FA Cup in February 2019, League Cup in October 2019 and Premier League in February 2020. They have never won four in a row away against Chelsea.

Chelsea haven’t lost four consecutive home games in all competitions against an opponent since a run of four against Watford between 1981 and 1986.

Chelsea have failed to score in three consecutive Premier League games against Man Utd, attempting 41 shots without success across these games. The last time they failed to score in four consecutive top-flight matches against an opponent was in April 1960 against Bolton Wanderers.

Chelsea have kept a clean sheet in each of their three Premier League home games under manager Thomas Tuchel, with the Blues last keeping four in a row in January 2018. The only manager to not concede a single goal in their first four home Premier League games in charge is Brendan Rodgers in October 2011.

Manchester United are unbeaten in 19 Premier League away games (W13 D6), a run that began with a 2-0 win at Chelsea in February 2020. This is the Red Devils’ longest unbeaten away run in their top-flight history – their previous longest of 17 between December 1998-September 1999 ended with a 0-5 defeat at Stamford Bridge (Oct 1999).

The away team has won all four of the previous managerial matches between Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel and Man Utd’s Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, all between Man Utd and PSG in the Champions League. Solskjaer could become only the second manager to win three away games against Tuchel in all competitions, after Jürgen Klopp (4).

Man Utd’s Marcus Rashford has been involved in seven goals in all competitions against Chelsea (five goals, two assists) – against no side has he been involved in more in his career.

Chelsea’s Mason Mount has scored two goals in his last three Premier League games, as many as in his previous 21 in the competition. However, all four of his league goals this season have come away from home.

Bruno Fernandes provided his 10th Premier League assist of the season against Newcastle last time out, becoming only the fourth different Man Utd player to reach double figures for both goals and assists in a single Premier League campaign, after Eric Cantona (3 times), Dwight Yorke (1998-99) and Wayne Rooney (5 times).

Sheffield United v Liverpool
28 February, 2021

Sheffield United lost 1-0 to Liverpool at Bramall Lane last season, last losing consecutive home top-flight meetings with the Reds back in September 1921.

Liverpool have won their last four Premier League games against Sheffield United, though those wins have been spread over the 2006-07, 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons.

Sheffield United have lost their last seven Premier League matches against the reigning champions – their last win against the reigning top-flight champion was against Leeds in April 1993.

Sheffield United have lost 20 of their 25 Premier League games this season (W3 D2) – it’s the fewest amount of games a team has taken to reach 20 defeats in a single campaign in English top-flight history.

Liverpool have lost six of their last nine Premier League games (W2 D1), as many as they had in their previous 100 in the competition (W75 D19). The Reds have lost four consecutive Premier League games, last losing five in a row in the top-flight in August/September 1953.

Liverpool have conceded 34 goals in their 25 Premier League games this season, one more than they did in the whole of their 2019-20 title-winning season.

All four of Liverpool’s Premier League away wins this season have been in London, with the Reds picking up just four points from their seven away games outside the capital (W0 D4 L3).

Liverpool have conceded eight penalties in the Premier League this season, as many as in their three previous campaigns combined. Indeed, in no other Premier League season have the Reds faced more spot kicks (also 8 in 2010-11).

Sheffield United have scored fewer Premier League goals than any other side this season (15), with 35-year-old Billy Sharp (3) and 33-year-old David McGoldrick (5) accounting for over half of those.

Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah has scored 16 goals in his last 17 away games in all competitions, as many as he had netted in his previous 51 on the road for the Reds.

Everton v Southampton
1 March, 2021

Everton are unbeaten in their last 15 home Premier League games against Southampton (W10 D5), since losing 0-2 under Howard Kendall in the 1997-98 campaign.

Among Premier League fixtures played at least 25 times, only Everton vs Leeds United (11.5 per cent) has a lower away win percentage than Everton vs Southampton (11.6 per cent), with the away side winning just five of the 43 meetings between the sides in the competition.

Following their 2-0 victory against Everton back in October, Southampton are looking to secure their first league double over the Toffees since 1997-98.

Southampton have won their last two Premier League Monday games, winning 2-1 at Brighton and 1-0 against Liverpool this season. They last won three consecutive top-flight Monday games in April 1992, with the second game in that run being a 1-0 victory against Liverpool.

Everton have lost their last three Premier League home games, last losing more consecutively at home in the top-flight between April – September 1958 (7). Meanwhile, boss Carlo Ancelotti has never lost four consecutive home league games in his managerial career.

Everton have played more Premier League games on the first day of the month than any other side (60). Their record in these games is W17 D14 L29, at least seven more defeats than any other side. Indeed, they’ve lost both such games this season (Newcastle in November, West Ham in January).

No side has scored more headed goals in the Premier League than Everton this season (10), with Dominic Calvert-Lewin netting more with his head than any other player this term (5).

Southampton striker Danny Ings has been directly involved in seven goals in his nine Premier League starts against Everton (5 goals, 2 assists). Ings has scored in five Premier League games versus Everton without ending on the winning side (D2 L3), with only Alan Shearer vs Liverpool (7) and Teddy Sheringham vs Chelsea (6) doing so more often against a side without winning in Premier League history.

Richarlison is looking to score in three consecutive Premier League games for Everton for the first time since December 2019. The Brazilian scored the first – and ultimately, winning – goal against Liverpool last time out.

Everton’s Gylfi Sigurdsson has been involved in six Premier League goals in 23 appearances this season (4 goals, 2 assists), one more than in 35 games last season (two goals, three assists). Only against Chelsea (6) has Sigurdsson scored more Premier League goals than he has vs Southampton (5).