Premier League Matchweek 34: What the stats say

Southampton v Leicester City

April 30, 2021

Southampton have lost their last three Premier League home games against Leicester by an aggregate score of 15-2. Their 9-0 defeat in this fixture last season is the biggest home defeat by any side in English top-flight history.

Leicester won the reverse fixture 2-0 in January, but haven’t done the double over Southampton in the Premier League since the 1999-00 campaign.

Southampton have lost twice to Leicester already this season, 0-2 in the league and 0-1 in the FA Cup. The last time they lost three times to the same opponent in a season was against Chelsea in 2017-18, while the last time they did so without scoring was against Derby in 1997-98.

Southampton have taken just 10 points from their 16 Premier League games so far in 2021 (W3 D1 L12), fewer than any other side this calendar year. Saints have lost 12 of their last 15 league games (W2 D1), a run which began with defeat against Leicester.

Southampton have conceded 11 goals in their last six home league games (0 clean sheets), accounting for 55% of their total goals conceded at St Mary’s so far this season. They had kept six clean sheets in their first nine home league games this term.

Southampton have dropped more points from winning positions than any other Premier League side this season (21). At home they’ve dropped a league-high 14 points, failing to win almost as many games when scoring first as they’ve won (W5 D1 L4).

Leicester’s defeat at West Ham ended a run of 10 away league games without defeat (W6 D4). The Foxes haven’t lost consecutive Premier League games on the road since their final two such games of 2019-20.

Leicester’s Ayoze Pérez has scored more Premier League goals against Southampton than he has against any other side in the competition (7). This includes two hat-tricks against Saints, including one in Leicester’s 9-0 win in this fixture last term.

Leicester’s Jamie Vardy has scored five goals in five Premier League appearances against Southampton at St Mary’s Stadium, including a hat-trick in this fixture last season. Despite averaging a goal-per-game at the ground, he’s failed to score in more games there (3) than score (2).

Southampton’s Theo Walcott has scored five goals in his 10 Premier League appearances against Leicester, only netting more against Tottenham and West Ham in the competition (6 each). His five goals against the Foxes have come at three different stadiums – 2x Emirates, 2x Goodison Park and 1x King Power Stadium.

Crystal Palace v Manchester City

May 1, 2021

Crystal Palace have lost 13 of their last 17 Premier League meetings with Man City (W2 D2), failing to score on 10 occasions in that run.

Manchester City are unbeaten in their last five Premier League away games against Crystal Palace (W4 D1), since a 2-1 defeat in April 2015.

Crystal Palace have won just two of their 23 Premier League games against sides at the top of the table (D4 L17), with both of those victories coming against Chelsea (March 2014 and April 2017). The Eagles lost their last such game 7-0 at home to Liverpool in December.

Only Newcastle (27) and West Bromwich Albion (33) have conceded more home goals than Crystal Palace in the Premier League this season (25). Meanwhile, Manchester City have scored more away goals than any other side this term (32).

Manchester City have won each of their last 10 Premier League away games by an aggregate score of 26-4. Victory here will equal the all-time English top-flight record for consecutive away wins, currently held by Chelsea (April-December 2008) and Man City themselves (May-December 2017).

Man City have conceded the first goal in each of their last two Premier League games, more than they had in their previous 23 in the competition (1). They last conceded first in three consecutive league games back in November 2019, coming back to win two of those (L1).

Crystal Palace have lost back-to-back league games for the sixth time this season. They last lost more consecutively in June/July 2020 (a run of 7).

Man City’s Raheem Sterling has been involved in seven goals in his last seven starts against Crystal Palace in the Premier League (6 goals, 1 assist).

Crystal Palace’s Wilfried Zaha has scored 10 Premier League goals this season, his joint-best return in a single league campaign in his career. He’s just the second player to reach double figures in two separate Premier League campaigns for the Eagles, after Luka Milivojevic.

Man City striker Gabriel Jesus has scored 49 goals in 126 Premier League appearances, and could become just the second Brazilian to reach 50 in the competition after Roberto Firmino.

Brighton and Hove Albion v Leeds United

May 1, 2021

Brighton have won seven of their last eight league games against Leeds, with the exception being a 2-0 loss at Elland Road in March 2017.

Leeds have lost each of their last four away league games against Brighton by an aggregate score of 9-0 – they’ve never lost five consecutive away games without scoring against an opponent in their league history.

Leeds United have played more matches at Brighton's AMEX Stadium without winning than any other stadium in their entire history (6 – D2 L4). Since going 2-0 ahead in the first half of their first game there in 2011 (going on to draw 3-3), Leeds haven't been ahead for a single minute in any of their subsequent five visits.

Brighton have drawn more Premier League games than any other side this season (13), with only the current bottom three (5 each) winning fewer games than the Seagulls this term (7).

Brighton have kept a clean sheet in five of their last seven Premier League home games, losing both matches in which they conceded in that run (W2 D3). In fact, Brighton have failed to win any of their 10 home league games this season in which they’ve conceded at least once (D4 L6).

Leeds are unbeaten in their last six Premier League games (W3 D3), last having a longer run without defeat in the top-flight between May and November 2001 (13).

Brighton have the biggest negative difference between goals scored (33) and expected goals (46.9) in the Premier League this season, scoring roughly 14 fewer goals than their xG suggests. The Seagulls have failed to score in their last three league games, despite having 51 shots and an xG value of 3.7 in these matches.

Brighton’s Neal Maupay has scored four goals in his five league games against Leeds United, including the winner for the Seagulls in the reverse fixture at Elland Road this season.

Danny Welbeck has scored four Premier League goals in 20 games for Brighton this season, more than he had across his previous two league campaigns combined (3 goals in 26 games). Welbeck last scored more in a top-flight campaign in 2017-18 (5).

Following their goalless draw against Manchester United last time out, Leeds’ Illan Meslier became the youngest goalkeeper in Premier League history to record 10 clean sheets (21y 54d), overtaking Joe Hart’s record from 2008 (21y 134d).

Chelsea v Fulham

May 1, 2021

Chelsea are unbeaten in their last 18 home games against Fulham in all competitions (W10 D8) since a 0-2 second tier defeat in October 1979.

Fulham have won just one of their 29 Premier League matches against Chelsea (D10 L18), winning 1-0 in March 2006 at Craven Cottage.

Of the 374 top-flight fixtures to have been played at least 50 times, Fulham have the lowest win rate against an opponent, managing just three wins in their 51 such meetings with Chelsea (6%).

Fulham are winless in their last 23 Premier League London derby matches (D5 L18) since beating West Ham 2-1 in January 2014. However, the Cottagers have avoided defeat in their last three such fixtures on the road, drawing at Tottenham, Crystal Palace and Arsenal this term.

In Premier League London derbies this season, Chelsea have won the most games (6), the most points (19), scored the most goals (15), and conceded the fewest (4). 75% of their four goals conceded were against Arsenal, with the Gunners the only side to beat them in a derby match this term.

Chelsea have lost just one of their 14 Premier League games under Thomas Tuchel (W8 D5), having lost five of their last eight under Frank Lampard this season (W2 D1). However, the Blues have won just 43% of their seven home league games under the German so far (W3 D3 L1).

Away from home, Fulham have dropped more points from winning positions than any other side in the Premier League this season (13). The Cottagers have opened the scoring in six of their last seven away league games (the other finishing 0-0), but have gone on to win just two of those six matches (D3 L1).

64% of Fulham’s Premier League goals this season have come away from home (16/25). Only Manchester City in 2006-07 (65.5%) have scored a higher share of their goals on the road in a single Premier League campaign (19/29).

No player has scored more Premier League goals for Chelsea this season than Timo Werner (6). His winning goal against West Ham last time out was his first in eight league games, while he’s only scored in consecutive league games for the Blues once (in November).

Chelsea keeper Édouard Mendy has kept 15 clean sheets in his 27 Premier League games this season, with only Ederson keeping more (17). Of all keepers to have started at least 25 games in Premier League history, Mendy is the only one to keep a clean sheet in more than half of them (56%).

Everton v Aston Villa

May 1, 2021

Everton failed to win either Premier League game against Aston Villa last season (D1 L1), the first time that had happened since 2011-12. Everton last went three games without a win against the Villans between 2006 and 2012 (12 without a win).

This will be the 205th top-flight meeting between Aston Villa and Everton, the most played fixture in England’s top division. Everton have won 76 of these meetings to the Villans’ 74 (54 draws).

Aston Villa have won more games (19) and scored more goals (71) in the Premier League against Everton than they have vs any other side in the competition.

This is the latest first meeting between two sides in an English top-flight season since 1987-88, when Luton and Nottingham Forest’s first game against each other was on May 13th.

Everton have won just one of their last nine home league games (D3 L5), with that victory coming against Southampton in March (1-0).

Everton have lost seven Premier League home games this season – the Toffees have only lost more at Goodison Park in a 38-game season in the competition in 1996-97 and 2015-16 (8, both times).

Aston Villa lost just four of their first 14 Premier League games this season, finishing 2020 in fifth place in the table. Since the turn of the year, the Villans have lost nine times in 18 matches, with only Sheffield United and Southampton losing more in 2021 (12 each).

Aston Villa have opened the scoring in each of their last three Premier League games but have failed to win any of them (D1 L2). In the first 14 games in which they scored first this season, the Villans only failed to win twice (W12 D1 L1).

12 of Everton’s 44 Premier League goals this season have been headers, the highest ratio in the division (27.3%). Meanwhile, Aston Villa have conceded the highest share of headed goals so far this season (24.3% - 9/37).

No keeper has kept more away clean sheets in the Premier League this season than Aston Villa’s Emiliano Martínez (8). Only four keepers have ever kept more clean sheets on the road in their first season with a club in the competition – Shaka Hislop with West Ham in 1998-99 (9), Petr Cech with Chelsea in 2004-05 (11), Ederson with Man City in 2017-18 (9) and Liverpool’s Alisson in 2018-19 (9).

Newcastle United v Arsenal

May 2, 2021

Newcastle have lost 15 of their last 16 league games against Arsenal, winning the other 2-1 in April 2018.

After losing their first three Premier League away games against Newcastle, Arsenal have suffered defeat in just three of their subsequent 22 visits to St James’ Park (W11 D8).

Arsenal have won their last six meetings with Newcastle in all competitions, keeping a clean sheet in their last five. Only against Barnsley (between 1952-1998) and Blackburn (between 2003-2005) have they won six consecutive matches without conceding.

Newcastle have kept just one clean sheet in their last 20 Premier League home games, doing so in a 0-0 draw with Liverpool in December. The Magpies have both scored and conceded in their last eight home league games, and are unbeaten in their last five at St James’ Park (W2 D3).

Newcastle have lost just one of their last eight Premier League games (W2 D5), having lost eight of their 10 league matches prior to this run (W2).

Arsenal are unbeaten in their last four Premier League away games (W2 D2), scoring three goals in each of their last two (3-3 v West Ham, 3-0 v Sheffield United). The Gunners haven’t scored at least three times in three consecutive away league games since October 2015.

No side has conceded more own goals in the Premier League than Arsenal this season (4), with the Gunners losing their last league match courtesy of a Bernd Leno own goal. Only in 2011-12 (5) have the Gunners suffered more own goals in a Premier League season.

Arsenal striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has scored in his last four appearances against Newcastle in all competitions. The last Arsenal player to score in five in a row against an opponent was Olivier Giroud against Aston Villa (6 between 2013-2016).

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has scored in both of Arsenal’s meetings with Newcastle in all competitions this season – the last Arsenal player to score in three games against an opponent in the same season was Alexis Sánchez versus Hull in 2014-15.

Newcastle’s Callum Wilson scored in each of his first three Premier League appearances against Arsenal, but has since failed to find the net in his five meetings with the Gunners in all competitions.

Manchester United v Liverpool

May 2, 2021

Manchester United have lost just one of their last 15 home games against Liverpool in all competitions (W10 D4), and are unbeaten in their last eight since a 0-3 loss in March 2014.

Liverpool haven’t lost consecutive games against Man Utd in all competitions since a run of four between 2014/2016, with the Reds losing 3-2 at Old Trafford in the FA Cup in January.

Manchester United have avoided defeat in both meetings with Liverpool in all competitions this season (W1 D1) – the last time they faced Liverpool as many as three times in a season without losing any was in 1998-99 (W2 D1), with this the eighth campaign they’ve met more than twice since then.

In the Premier League, Manchester United have won just one of their last nine meetings with Liverpool (D6 L2), and are winless in five against the Reds (D3 L2). They last had a longer winless run against Liverpool in the top-flight between December 1989 and October 1992 (7 games).

Manchester United have drawn seven league games 0-0 this season – only in 1980-81 (8) have they been involved in more goalless draws in a single league campaign. The Red Devils have the most goalless draws of any side in the Premier League this season.

Manchester United have won 28 points from losing positions in the Premier League this season, with only Newcastle in 2001-02 (34) and Man Utd themselves in 2012-13 (29) earning more in a single campaign. Meanwhile, Liverpool have dropped 15 points from winning positions this term, their most in a season since 2016-17 (18).

Liverpool have won five of their last seven away league games (D1 L1), more than they had in their previous 15 on the road (W4 D6 L5).

Liverpool boss Jürgen Klopp has managed away at Man Utd without ever winning more times than any other opponent in his managerial career (6 – D4 L2).

Marcus Rashford has been involved in five goals in his last four games in all competitions for Man Utd against Liverpool at Old Trafford, scoring four and assisting one.

Mohamed Salah scored twice in Liverpool’s 2-3 defeat at Manchester United in the FA Cup this season. The only Liverpool player to score away against Man Utd in two different games in a season was 100 years ago – Harry Chambers in 1920-21.

Tottenham Hotspur v Sheffield United

May 2, 2021

Tottenham are looking to complete their first league double over Sheffield United since the 1975-76 campaign, following their 3-1 win at Bramall Lane earlier this season.

Sheffield United are winless in all four of their Premier League away games against Spurs (D2 L2), with their last away league win against them coming in November 1991 (1-0).

Sheffield United have won just one of their last 25 Premier League games in London (D8 L16), beating Crystal Palace 1-0 in February 2020. The Blades have lost all five of their league games in the capital this season by an aggregate score of 12-2.

Tottenham Hotspur have scored at least once in each of their last 10 Premier League games (W5 D2 L3), the longest current run in the competition.

Sheffield United beat Brighton 1-0 last time out in their first game since having relegation confirmed. The Blades last won back-to-back league games in July 2020.

No team has conceded more second half goals in the Premier League this season than Sheffield United (32), while Tottenham have conceded the highest share of their Premier League goals after half-time this term (63% - 24/38).

Tottenham won their first Premier League game under Ryan Mason, 2-1 against Southampton. Both of their last two managers (Mauricio Pochettino and José Mourinho) won their first two Premier League games in charge, while Glenn Hoddle in 2001 is the only other Spurs manager to do so in the competition.

Harry Kane has been involved in 34 goals in 30 Premier League games for Tottenham this season (21 goals, 13 assists), only registering more goal involvements in a single campaign in 2016-17 (36 – 29G 7A). The England striker has been involved in nine goals in his last six league games (7 goals, 2 assists), netting three braces in that run.

David McGoldrick has scored 39% of Sheffield United’s Premier League goals this season (7/18), the highest ratio in the division. Tottenham’s Harry Kane is second in that regard this term with 38% (21/56).

Sheffield United keeper Aaron Ramsdale has failed to keep a clean sheet in any of his last 26 away starts in the Premier League. If he fails to do so in this match, it will be the outright longest such run by a goalkeeper in the competition’s history (currently level with Russell Hoult between 2003-2005).

West Bromwich Albion v Wolverhampton Wanderers

May 3, 2021

West Brom have won their last three league games against Wolves, last winning more consecutively against their Midlands rivals between 1929-1932 (6).

Wolves are winless in their last nine away league games against West Brom (D4 L5) since a 4-2 win in September 1996. Wolves have netted just three goals in those nine games, failing to score on six occasions.

West Brom have won two of their last four Premier League home games, as many as they had in their previous 19 at the Hawthorns in the top-flight.

In their first five Premier League home games under Sam Allardyce, West Brom conceded 19 goals at an average of 3.8 per game. Since then, they’ve conceded just twice in their subsequent five home league games (0.4 per game) and are looking to keep three consecutive home clean sheets in the top-flight for the first time since March 2015.

Wolves remain the only team not to lose when scoring the first goal in Premier League games this season (W8 D1). However, only West Brom and relegated Sheffield United (both 8) have opened the scoring in fewer games than Wolves (9).

Wolves are looking to keep three consecutive away clean sheets in the top-flight for the first time since March 1960. However, only Sheffield United (7) have scored fewer away goals than Wolves (14) in the Premier League this season.

No side has scored fewer goals in the opening 15 minutes of Premier League games this season than Wolves (3). Two of Wolves’ three goals in this period came in their first game of the season at Sheffield United.

West Brom have used a league-high 30 different players in the Premier League this season. However, just 33% of these have found the net (10), with only Sheffield United having fewer different scorers than the Baggies this term (8).

West Brom manager Sam Allardyce has faced Wolves without losing more often than any other side in the Premier League (6 – W4 D2).

West Brom’s Matheus Pereira has been involved in six goals in his last four Premier League games (4 goals, 2 assists). The Brazilian also scored twice in the Baggies’ 3-2 win against Wolves in the reverse fixture.

Burnley v West Ham United

May 3, 2021

Having won just one of their first seven Premier League games against West Ham (D1 L5), Burnley have won four of their last six against the Hammers (L2), though they did lose the reverse fixture at the London Stadium earlier this season.

West Ham are winless in three Premier League away games against Burnley (D1 L2), last winning at Turf Moor in May 2017 under Slaven Bilic (2-1).

Burnley won 4-0 against Wolves in their last league game, netting 4+ goals in a single Premier League match for the first time since September 2018 (4-0 vs Bournemouth). The Clarets have managed back-to-back league wins just once this season, doing so vs Liverpool and Aston Villa in January.

Burnley are winless in their last seven Premier League home games (D5 L2), their longest run without a top-flight victory at Turf Moor since a run of eight between December 1970 and March 1971.

West Ham have lost consecutive league games for the first time since their opening two of the season. They last lost three in a row in June 2020.

Coming into this weekend’s games, only Manchester City (30) have scored in more different Premier League matches than West Ham this season (27). Meanwhile, West Ham have both scored and conceded in 19 Premier League games this term, a joint-high with Manchester United and Newcastle United.

Burnley striker Chris Wood has scored more Premier League goals against West Ham than he has versus any other side in the competition (6 goals in 7 games), netting in all three of his appearances against the Hammers at Turf Moor in the competition.

Following his hat-trick against Wolves last time out, Chris Wood became Burnley’s outright highest goalscorer in the Premier League with 44 goals. He also became the first Burnley player to reach double figures for goals in four consecutive top-flight campaigns since Andy Lochhead’s run of six between 1962-63 and 1967-68.

63% of Burnley midfielder Dwight McNeil's Premier League assists have been for Chris Wood goals (10/16); of all players with at least 15 assists in the competition, McNeil has the highest percentage for one teammate.

Jesse Lingard’s nine Premier League goals this season have been worth 10 points to West Ham, more than any other player since his first appearance for them in February.