Why Alexis loves facing Burnley; Stoke’s good run v Man Utd

Ian Watson
Alexis Sanchez: Four way battle for Chilean

Alexis Sanchez has a good record against Burnley, Stoke will look to go four unbeaten against Manchester United and Diego Costa is poised to reach a century of games for Chelsea.

Opta stats: Premier League matchday 22

Liverpool v Swansea City

Saturday 21 January 2017 (12:30)
Anfield, Liverpool

James Milner: Adapting to new left-back role

  • Liverpool have won five of their last six Premier League games against Swansea, losing only once (1-3 at Liberty Stadium in 2015-16).
  • The Swans have yet to win at Anfield in the Premier League, drawing on their first visit but losing four consecutive games since, shipping 14 goals in the process.
  • James Milner has found the back of the net in each of his last three Premier League appearances against Swansea (two for Liverpool, one for Man City).
  • Milner has never lost a Premier League game in which he’s scored (46 games – W37 D9); he has equalled the record held by Darius Vassell (W36 D10).
  • Jordan Henderson has been directly involved in five goals in his last five PL games against Swansea, scoring three and assisting twice.
  • The Reds are one of two Premier League sides yet to lose on home turf (W7 D2), along with Spurs.
  • Since the start of last season, Swansea have scored nine own goals in the Premier League, at least five more than any other team.
  • Adam Lallana has run 13km in four separate games this season. Indeed, four of the five top distances posted in games this season have come from the Liverpool midfielder.
  • Swansea haven’t won back-to-back away games within the same Premier League season since May 2015.
  • The Reds have trailed for just 180 minutes this season, the league’s lowest figure, while the Swans have been behind for 731 minutes, second only to Sunderland (744).
  • Swansea have conceded three or more goals in 11 of their 21 Premier League fixtures this season. This is more than they have done so in any other previous Premier League campaign.

 

Bournemouth v Watford

Saturday 21 January 2017 (15:00)
Vitality Stadium, Bournemouth

  • Bournemouth have won only one of their last nine league contests with Watford (D5 L3) – 2-0 in January 2015.
  • All three of the Premier League meetings between these sides have ended level (0-0, 1-1 and 2-2); with Watford coming from behind in each score draw.
  • The Hornets haven’t won away at Bournemouth in the league since December 1997 (D2 L1), with Peter Kennedy scoring the only goal against a Bournemouth team featuring Eddie Howe.
  • Bournemouth have dropped more points from leading positions than any other Premier League team this season (15).
  • Watford have used more players than any other Premier League side this season (28).
  • In their last 10 Premier League games, the Cherries have either conceded three goals (seven times) or not conceded at all (three times).
  • The Hornets are winless in their last six Premier League fixtures since beating Everton in December (D2 L4).
  • Watford have scored just twice in their last six Premier League games, fewer than any other team has managed.
  • Just one of Watford’s last six Premier League goals has been scored from open play.
  • Ryan Fraser has won three penalties in the Premier League this season, a joint-high figure (level with Dele Alli and Christian Benteke).
  • Tom Cleverley has scored in just one of his last 24 Premier League appearances, but this came against Bournemouth (for Everton) in April 2016. He also assisted the other goal in a 2-1 win for the Toffees that day.

 

Crystal Palace v Everton

Saturday 21 January 2017 (15:00)
Selhurst Park, London

Ross Barkley: Scores late equaliser

  • The Eagles have lost just one of their last seven Premier League meetings with Everton (W2 D4), with the last three all ending level.
  • However, Everton haven’t lost to Palace at Selhurst Park in the league since October 1994, winning three and drawing two since.
  • Indeed, Crystal Palace haven’t scored a home goal against Everton in any of their last three meetings with them, since Mark Hudson scored in a 1-3 defeat in August 2004.
  • Romelu Lukaku has scored four of Everton’s last five Premier League goals against Crystal Palace.
  • Sam Allardyce won his last Premier League game against Everton (3-0 with Sunderland in May 2016), following a run of seven straight defeats against the Toffees.
  • The Eagles are 15 points worse off after 21 games this season (16) than they were at this point last season (31).
  • Everton have won five of the seven Premier League games Tom Davies has played this season (D1 L1).
  • Sam Allardyce has taken just one point from his opening four games as Crystal Palace boss (D1 L3).
  • Ross Barkley has created more chances than any other English player this season in the Premier League (47) and provided two assists in his last game versus Manchester City.
  • Everton have had 17 different teenagers score for them in Premier League history, a record in the competition. Tom Davies and Ademola Lookman both netted in the Toffee’s last Premier League game vs Manchester City.

 

Middlesbrough v West Ham United

Saturday 21 January 2017 (15:00)
Riverside Stadium, Middlesbrough

  • Boro are winless in their last eight league meetings with West Ham (D3 L5), including two games in the Championship in 2011-12.
  • West Ham have only won one of their 11 Premier League trips to the Riverside Stadium (D2 L8), winning 2-1 in December 2007.
  • Middlesbrough have never failed to score in any of their 11 Premier League home games against West Ham.
  • In fact, Middlesbrough are the only side West Ham have visited at least 10 times without keeping a clean sheet in the Premier League.
  • Boro haven’t scored more than once in a league meeting with West Ham since April 2006 (2-0), netting just six goals in their last nine against them.
  • Middlesbrough have failed to score in nine Premier League games this season, a joint-league high with Hull.
  • Michail Antonio has been directly involved in more Premier League goals than any other West Ham player this season – 11 (8 goals, 3 assists).
  • Boro are the only Premier League team that has neither scored nor conceded in 2017. They have never had three goalless draws in a row in the top-flight.
  • The Hammers have won four of their last six Premier League games, as many as they had in their previous 18 matches.
  • Sofiane Feghouli scored his first league goal for West Ham last time out against Palace, but hasn’t ever scored in consecutive league games for any of his teams in the top five European leagues.
  • Dimitri Payet has created more goalscoring chances than any other player in the Premier League this season (74) and 51 more than any other West Ham player (Lanzini – 23).

 

Stoke City v Manchester United

Saturday 21 January 2017 (15:00), Stoke

Zlatan Ibrahimovic: Takes centre stage

  • Stoke are unbeaten in their last three home league games against Man Utd (W2 D1), after a run of five without a win against them (D1 L4).
  • The Red Devils haven’t gone four league games without a win at Stoke since a run of six in April 1964.
  • Manchester United have only failed to score in one of their last 21 league games against Stoke, though it was in this exact fixture last season (0-2).
  • Jose Mourinho has lost two of his three Premier League visits
  • (W1), his joint-highest loss percentage at any Premier League ground (67%, level with the Riverside Stadium).
  • Mark Hughes’ next Premier League win at Stoke will be his 50th – only at Blackburn has he won more Premier League games as a manager (58).
  • Manchester United are unbeaten in their last 12 Premier League fixtures (W7 D5), their best league run since March 2013 (18 without defeat).
  • Peter Crouch is one goal away from his 100th in the Premier League, though only two of his 99 have come against Manchester United (2 in 23 games).
  • Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s 14 league goals have won Manchester United 11 points this season; no player has won more for this side (level with Diego Costa).
  • Only Ruud van Nistelrooy and Dwight Yorke (15 each) scored more goals in their first 20 Premier League games for United than the Swedish striker has managed (14).
  • Charlie Adam has provided three assists in his last two Premier League games, as many as he had in his previous 71 matches.

 

West Bromwich Albion v Sunderland

Saturday 21 January 2017 (15:00)
The Hawthorns, West Bromwich

Jermain Defoe: In demand

  • West Brom are unbeaten in their last five Premier League meetings with Sunderland, though four of these have ended level (W1).
  • Sunderland’s last Premier League win at the Hawthorns came in January 2006, drawing one and losing six of their seven visits there since.
  • David Moyes will be the ninth different Sunderland manager to take charge of a Premier League game at the Hawthorns; in what will be just the Black Cats’ 10th such visit there.
  • West Brom’s last three home goals against Sunderland have all been scored by Saido Berahino.
  • Only Watford (29y 326d) have named an older starting line-up on average than the Baggies this season (29y 265d).
  • Sunderland have had just four different goalscorers this season (Jermain Defoe, Victor Anichebe, Patrick van Aanholt and Fabio Borini). Every other Premier League side has had at least double that.
  • West Brom have scored 11 headed goals this season, the joint-most in the division with Arsenal, while Sunderland are the only team yet to score one.
  • Only Sergio Aguero (28) and Harry Kane (27) have scored more Premier League goals than Jermain Defoe since the start of 2016 (23).
  • These two sides have the lowest possession figures on average in the Premier League this season (Sunderland 38.4%, West Brom 36.4%).
  • The Black Cats haven’t been outside the relegation zone since September (133 days in bottom three as of this game date).

 

Manchester City v Tottenham Hotspur

Saturday 21 January 2017 (17:30)
Etihad Stadium, Manchester

  • Manchester City have won five of their last six home Premier League games against Tottenham, though they did lose this fixture last season (1-2 in February).
  • Only Chelsea (7) have won more Premier League games away at the Etihad than Tottenham (6, level with Arsenal and Man Utd).
  • Spurs have won their last three Premier League games against Man City – they last won four in a row against them in May 2010.
  • Indeed, prior to that run of three straight defeats, the Citizens had won eight of the last nine against Spurs in the Premier League (L1), scoring 28 goals in the process.
  • After a run which saw them score 26 goals in seven Premier League games against Tottenham, Man City have scored just three in their last four against the north London side.
  • Christian Eriksen has scored on both of his previous visits to the Etihad Stadium in the Premier League.
  • Pep Guardiola has lost five league games this season – he’s never lost more in a single campaign as a manager.
  • Tottenham have won their last six league games in a row – they’ve not won seven consecutively since May 1967.
  • The only player to record more Premier League assists this season than Christian Eriksen (8) is Kevin de Bruyne (9).
  • The last 10 Premier League goals scored by Tottenham players have been netted by Harry Kane or Dele Alli (five each).
  • Hugo Lloris has conceded 11 goals in three Premier League appearances at the Etihad Stadium.
  • Manchester City have conceded 12 goals more than Spurs in the Premier League this season (26 v 14), despite allowing their opponents fewer shots (175 v 191).

 

Southampton v Leicester City

Sunday 22 January 2017 (12:00)
St. Mary’s Stadium, Southampton

Jamie Vardy: Ends goalscoring drought

  • Saints have won just one of their last seven league meetings with Leicester (D2 L4), including two defeats in the Championship in 2011-12.
  • However, Leicester have never won a Premier League game at St Mary’s (D3 L1), last beating Southampton away in the competition 2-1 at the Dell in April 2000.
  • Southampton’s next home defeat will be their 100th in the Premier League.
  • Jamie Vardy scored both of Leicester’s goals in this fixture last season, as the Foxes came from 2-0 down to earn a point.
  • Southampton have lost their last four Premier League games, something they last did in December 2014. They’ve not lost five in the same top-flight season since 1998/99.
  • The only reigning top-flight champion to have fewer points after 21 games than Leicester City have currently are Ipswich Town 1962/63 (18, assuming three for a win).
  • Southampton have the lowest shot conversion rate of any Premier League side this season (6.1%).
  • The Foxes are still waiting for the first away league win since April 2016 (D5 L7).
  • Saints last failed to score in three successive Premier League matches in February 2015.
  • Claudio Ranieri’s side have led in just five Premier League games this season, totalling 308 minutes.

 

Arsenal v Burnley

Sunday 22 January 2017 (14:15)
Emirates Stadium, London

Olivier Giroud: Rescues dramatic point

  • Arsenal have won six of their last seven meetings with Burnley in all competitions (D1), since a 0-2 loss in the League Cup in December 2008.
  • Burnley have lost their last five visits to Arsenal in all competitions, since a 1-0 league win in September 1974.
  • Alexis Sanchez has scored three and assisted another in his two previous games against Burnley at the Emirates Stadium (all competitions).
  • The Gunners have scored exactly three goals in both of their previous Premier League home games against Burnley, with five of strikes coming after half-time.
  • Olivier Giroud has scored in each of his last four Premier League games for the Gunners, his best run since April 2015 (six matches).
  • In fact, Giroud has scored in each of his last nine starts for Arsenal in all competitions, scoring 11 goals in total.
  • The Clarets have had 13 different goalscorers this season, a joint-league high with Manchester City, yet only three of those players have scored away goals (Ben Mee, Ashley Barnes and Sam Vokes all have one away goal each).
  • Only one of Burnley’s 26 points this season has been secured away from Turf Moor. They have the worst away record in the Premier League this season (D1 L8).
  • However, the Clarets are only seven points off their entire total from their last Premier League campaign in 2014/15 (33).
  • Only Raheem Sterling (156) has had more touches in the opposition box this season than Alexis Sanchez (155). Burnley’s top player in this regard is Sam Vokes (57).

 

Chelsea v Hull City

Sunday 22 January 2017 (16:30)
Stamford Bridge, London

  • Chelsea are unbeaten in their nine Premier League meetings with Hull (W7 D2), keeping six clean sheets in the process.
  • Hull’s only previous Premier League goal at Stamford Bridge was in August 2009, Stephen Hunt giving the Tigers the lead before eventually losing 1-2.
  • Hull’s last league win against Chelsea came in the old second division, winning 3-0 at Boothferry Park in October 1988.
  • Diego Costa has scored in all three of his previous Premier League appearances against Hull, assisting twice.
  • Costa has currently played 99 times in all competitions for Chelsea, scoring 51 goals and assisting 17 more (68 goal involvements).
  • Eden Hazard has scored three and assisted another in his last four Premier League games against Hull.
  • Pedro has been directly involved in more Premier League goals this season (10, 5 goals, 5 assists) than the whole of last season (9 – 7 goals, 2 assists).
  • Hull have conceded 10 penalties this season – only one side in Premier League history has conceded more in a campaign (Blackburn in 2006/07, 11).
  • Eden Hazard needs one more goal to reach double figures in the Premier League this season, something he’s done twice before (14 goals in 2013/14 and 2014/15).
  • The Tigers have kept just one clean sheet this season in the Premier League, back in August against Swansea.
  • Abel Hernandez netted a brace in his last Premier League game vs Bournemouth, as many goals as in his previous 30 Premier League appearances.