PL stats: Arsenal’s goal record v Boro, danger for Liverpool

Ian Watson

Ozil and Chadli: Creative threats for Arsenal and WBA

Arsenal have scored 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 goals in Premier League games against Middlesbrough, while Liverpool face the player who’s contributed to most goals this season.

Bournemouth v Tottenham Hotspur

Saturday 22 October 2016 (12:30) Vitality Stadium

o Bournemouth’s only victory over Spurs in any competition came in the 5th round of the FA Cup in February 1957.

o Spurs won both Premier League games against the Cherries last season, scoring eight goals and conceding just once.

o Five of Spurs’ eight goals against Bournemouth in the Premier League have been scored by Harry Kane, including a hat-trick for the England striker in this exact fixture last season.

o The Cherries have won just one of their last nine top-flight games against London sides (D2 L6), and have yet to register a home Premier League win against a side from the capital (D1 L4).

o Bournemouth are looking to win successive games in the Premier League for the first time since March, having beaten Hull 6-1 last weekend.

o Christian Eriksen has had 24 attempts on goal this season in the league, but is yet to find the net (inc blocks).

o If Spurs avoid defeat here, it would be the fourth time in their top-flight history that they’ve remained unbeaten in their first nine fixtures (also 1959/60, 1960/61 and 1990/91).

o After nine games without a goal or an assist, Junior Stanislas has scored three and assisted another two in his last three Premier League games.

o Bournemouth have started nine English players in their last three Premier League games. The last time a side did this in four consecutive Premier League games was Norwich in April 2012.

o This game will see the injured Toby Alderweireld miss a Premier League fixture with Spurs for the first time since the Belgian joined in the summer of 2015 (46 consecutive appearances).

 

Arsenal v Middlesbrough

Saturday 22 October 2016 (15:00) Emirates Stadium

Mesut Ozil: Insists substitution was tactical

o Arsenal have won just one of their last six Premier League fixtures against Middlesbrough, though four of these were draws (L1).

o Middlesbrough’s last league victory away to Arsenal came in April 2001, winning 3-0 thanks to own goals from Edu, Sylvinho and a strike from Hamilton Ricard.

o Since that loss, Arsenal have won six of their last eight home games against Boro in the Premier League (D2).

o The last time these two sides met was in the 2014/15 FA Cup, with Olivier Giroud scoring twice to send Arsenal to the quarter finals. They went on to lift the trophy that year.

o This game is on the same day as Arsene Wenger’s 67th birthday. He has won his two previous Premier League games on his birthday, 1-0 v Man City in 2005 and 4-0 v Reading in 2006.

o The Gunners have scored 1,2,3,4,5,6 and 7 goals in Premier League matches against Middlesbrough – one of four clubs to do so against another in Premier League history (also Chelsea vs Sunderland, Everton vs Sunderland and Man City vs Norwich).

o Mesut Özil has been directly involved in 51 goals in 90 league games for Arsenal (18 goals, 33 assists), the same total he had after 90 La Liga games for Real Madrid (14 goals, 37 assists).

o Middlesbrough’s only Premier League win this season has come against bottom club Sunderland (D3 L4).

o Boro have kept just one clean sheet in their last 19 away Premier League fixtures, away at West Brom.

o Five of Middlesbrough’s seven Premier League goals have come in the first half this season (71%), a league-high proportion.

 

Burnley v Everton

Saturday 22 October 2016 (15:00) Turf Moor

Tom Heaton Burnley

o Burnley have lost three of their four Premier League games against the Toffees, but did win the first clash 1-0 in August 2009 courtesy of Wade Elliott’s winner.

o Everton have won their last three league games against the Clarets – they last won four on the bounce against them between 1968 and 1970.

o Dean Marney has scored three Premier League goals in his career and all three have been against Everton (two for Spurs in January 2005 and one for Hull in November 2009).

o The Toffees are unbeaten in their last 11 away Premier League games against newly promoted sides (W4 D7) since losing 2-1 to Reading in November 2012.

o Burnley have scored in each of their last 18 home league games against Everton – only against Fulham (24) and Aston Villa (35) do they have a longer active run.

o No Everton manager has won more points from their first eight Premier League games in charge than Ronald Koeman (15 – level with Roberto Martinez).

o Tom Heaton has made 39 saves this season in the Premier League, at least eight more than any other keeper. 11 of those came in his last match against Southampton, the most by a keeper in a Premier League game this season.

o Romelu Lukaku has scored six times in his last five Premier League games, this after failing to score in 11.

o Yannick Bolasie has set up Romelu Lukaku three times this season – a joint-league high for one player assisting another.

o The Clarets have scored just nine times in their last 20 Premier League games, failing to score on 13 occasions in that spell.

 

Hull City v Stoke City

Saturday 22 October 2016 (15:00) KC Stadium

Joe Allen

o Hull City have won just one of their previous eight Premier League games against Stoke (D3 L4).

o Stoke have conceded just once in their last five Premier League games against the Tigers.

o These sides have already met in the League Cup this season with Marcus Henriksen scoring a 90th minute winner for Hull in a 2-1 win.

o The last four Premier League games between these two have seen just four goals scored.

o Mark Hughes has never lost a Premier League game against Hull as a manager, winning three and drawing four (two wins and two draws as Stoke manager).

o Hull have lost their last four Premier League games, conceding 17 times in the process (4.25 per game). They last lost more successively in the top-flight in March 2010 (5).

o Stoke’s victory over Sunderland ended their winless run this season (D3 L4). They last won back-to-back games in the Premier League in March (three in a row).

o Joe Allen has scored in three consecutive Premier League games for the first time in his career. No Stoke player has scored in four Premier League games in a row.

o Hull have faced at least 30 more shots (inc blocks) than any other Premier League side this season (184 in total).

o Mike Phelan and Mark Hughes played in 13 Premier League games together for Man Utd, with the last of these coming in November 1993. They both started the European Cup Winners’ Cup Final in 1991 in which Hughes scored twice.

 

Leicester City v Crystal Palace

Saturday 22 October 2016 (15:00) King Power Stadium

Jamie Vardy: Lengthy goal drought

o Leicester won both meetings against Crystal Palace last season in the Premier League by a 1-0 scoreline. Jamie Vardy scored the winner in October 2015 while Riyad Mahrez’s goal in March 2016 was enough for victory.

o Prior to last season, Palace had won four of their previous six Premier League games against the Foxes (D1 L1).

o Christian Benteke scored the only goal of the game for Liverpool in December 2015 against Leicester, in what proved to be one of three league defeats for Claudio Ranieri’s side last season.

o Palace have won two of their last three league games against the reigning Premier League champions, winning 2-1 v Man City in April 2015 and 2-1 v Chelsea in August 2015.

o The Foxes are unbeaten in their last 19 home Premier League games (W12 D7), the longest unbeaten run on home soil in the top-flight since Chelsea’s 21 game streak which ended in August 2015.

o No Premier League side has finished inside the top four having taken eight points from their first eight games as Leicester have done this season.

o If the Foxes lose here, it will be the lowest total from a defending champion since Leeds United in 1974/75 (also 8 – assuming 3pts for a win).

o Jason Puncheon has created 10 chances for Christian Benteke this season, more than any player has for a teammate, with the favour being returned just once.

o Andros Townsend has had more shots from outside the box than any other player this season in the Premier League (22).

o Jamie Vardy has scored just twice this season in the league – he had found the net seven times in his opening eight games in 2015/16.

 

Swansea City v Watford

Saturday 22 October 2016 (15:00) Liberty Stadium

Jose Holebas Watford

o Both Swansea and Watford picked up a home win each in this fixture last season. Odion Ighalo’s goal secured the Hornets victory in September 2015, while Ashley Williams’ header saw the Swans collect three points in January 2016.

o Watford have won only once in their previous six league games against Swansea (D2 L3).

o Swansea last failed to score in a home league game against Watford in March 1923.

o This is Swansea’s 100th Premier League home game. They’ve won 37, drawn 32 and lost 30 of the previous 99.

o The Swans are without a win in five Premier League home games (D2 L3), their worst top-flight winless streak at the Liberty Stadium since December 2015 (7 games).

o Watford’s four shots (including blocked shots) against Middlesbrough were the fewest by a winning side in an away Premier League game this season.

o Swansea have lost their last four Premier League games – they’ve never lost five consecutively in the Premier League.

o The Hornets have had seven different goalscorers this season, having had just eight players find the net throughout the entirety of last season in the Premier League.

o In Bob Bradley’s first game in charge, Swansea mustered six shots on target, their most in a Premier League games since the opening day of the season (nine v Burnley).

o Jose Holebas is the only defender to score from outside the box this season, with both of his goals coming from outside the area.

 

West Ham United v Sunderland

Saturday 22 October 2016 (15:00) London Stadium

Jermain Defoe: Club have 'gone backwards'

o West Ham United are unbeaten in six Premier League fixtures against Sunderland (W3 D3).

o Sunderland have won just one of their last 11 away Premier League games against the Hammers, losing eight times (D2). This is their first game at the London Stadium.

o Jermain Defoe made 74 Premier League appearances for West Ham United between 2001 and 2003. He’s scored six times in the Premier League against his former club since leaving.

o West Ham boss Slaven Bilic scored one of his two Premier League goals against Sunderland for the Hammers in December 1996.

o The Hammers have kept more home clean sheets against Sunderland than against any other Premier League opposition (9) and haven’t conceded in any of their last three.

o David Moyes is unbeaten in his last 12 Premier League meetings against West Ham (W8 D4), not losing since April 2007 when manager of Everton (0-1 at Upton Park).

o Sunderland are only the second team in top-flight history to fail to win any of their opening eight league games in consecutive seasons (after Bury in 1905-06).

o These two sides have used the most players this season in the Premier League, with Sunderland fielding 26 different players to West Ham’s 24.

o West Ham are looking to record back-to-back wins for the first time since the end of April.

o No team has conceded more times in the opening 15 minutes of the first half than Sunderland this season (3), while West Ham have conceded the most in the opening 15 minutes of the second half (4).

 

Liverpool v West Bromwich Albion

Saturday 22 October 2016 (17:30) Anfield

Nacer Chadli

o Liverpool are unbeaten in six Premier League games against the Baggies, but four of these games have ended all square (W2).

o West Brom’s Premier League wins at Anfield came in April 2012 and February 2013, drawing once and losing seven otherwise.

o Daniel Sturridge has scored in both of his Premier League appearances against the Baggies for Liverpool, though hasn’t played them since February 2014.

o Tony Pulis is unbeaten in his last eight Premier League games against Liverpool, although six have been draws (W2), including each of the last four.

o The Baggies have registered just one win in their last 10 Premier League away games (D6 L3).

o No other Premier League midfielder has had a hand in more goals than Nacer Chadli this season (6 – four goals, two assists).

o Liverpool are unbeaten in six league games for the first time since October 2015 (also six in total). They last enjoyed a longer top-flight unbeaten streak in March 2015 (13 in total).

o The Baggies have won just two away league games in 2016, though one of those was on Merseyside v Everton (D7 L5).

o No team has picked up more points from losing positions in the top-flight this season than Liverpool (6, level with Everton).

o The Reds have failed to score in just two of their 18 Premier League home games under Jurgen Klopp, with both of those games coming against Manchester United.

o Liverpool are now unbeaten in 11 home Premier League games (W6 D5), their longest run since a sequence of 14 in April 2014.

 

Manchester City v Southampton

Sunday 23 October 2016 (13:30) Etihad Stadium

David Silva: Happy with progress under Guardiola

o Manchester City had won four in a row in the Premier League against Southampton before their 4-2 loss to the Saints in May.

o Southampton have lost their last five league visits to the Etihad, last beating City on their own patch in April 2004. Paul Sturrock’s side won 3-1 thanks to James Beattie and two from Kevin Phillips.

o Kelechi Iheanacho scored twice in City’s 4-2 loss to Southampton in May, his most recent brace for the club.

o Shane Long has scored four Premier League goals against Manchester City, only against Aston Villa does he have more (6).

o Saints have kept two just clean sheets in their last 10 Premier League away games, however those shutouts have come on their last two away trips; they last kept three consecutive away clean sheets in the top-flight back in February.

o Pep Guardiola hasn’t gone three games without a league win since the end of the 2014/15 season (three losses with Bayern after they had won the league).

o Dusan Tadic has created 28 chances in the Premier League this season, more than any other player, yet hasn’t provided an assist for a teammate yet.

o David Silva has provided more Premier League assists than any other player in the competition since his debut (59).

o Southampton have collected 51 points in 2016, two more than Manchester City have in the calendar year (49).

o Sergio Aguero hasn’t gone three Premier League games without a goal since December 2015. Overall Recent Form

 

Chelsea v Manchester United

Sunday 23 October 2016 (16:00) Stamford Bridge

David Luiz Chelsea

o Chelsea have not lost any of their last seven league games against Manchester United (W3 D4). They’ve never gone eight without defeat against United in their league history.

o Manchester United have lost more Premier League fixtures against Chelsea than any other side (16).

o Of those 16 Chelsea wins against Manchester United, five were recorded by Jose Mourinho, more than any other boss for the Blues.

o Jose Mourinho lost just one league game at Stamford Bridge between 2004/05 and 2014/15 (W76 D21). He then lost four of his final eight games there in 2015/16 (W3 D1).

o The only time in his career Mourinho has managed an opposition side at Stamford Bridge was with Inter Milan in March 2010, knocking out Chelsea in the Champions League.

o David Luiz has twice scored against Manchester United in the Premier League but his only own goal is against the Red Devils.

o Wayne Rooney has gone six Premier League games without scoring against Chelsea, this after converting two penalties against them in February 2012.

o Manchester United have won just one of their last eight Premier League trips to London (W1 D3 L4).

o Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored against Chelsea in both of his appearances against them last season in the Champions League.

o After scoring with four of his first 15 shots in the Premier League, Ibrahimovic has failed to find the net with any of his last 26 in the competition.

o Diego Costa has scored seven times in his opening eight league games this season. Only two Chelsea players have scored more goals in their first eight matches of a campaign – Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink in 2001/02 (8) and Diego Costa himself in 2014/15 (9).

o This season, Jose Mourinho has registered his lowest points total (14) after his first eight league games with a new club since his stint with Uniao de Leiria (10 points).

o Since his debut in August 2012, Eden Hazard has scored more Premier League goals than any other midfielder in the competition (44).