What stats say ahead of Premier League matchday 35
Liverpool are unbeaten in their last four Premier League away games against Newcastle (W2 D2) – only once have they gone five league games without defeat at St James’ Park, doing so between September 1961 and May 1969.
Just one of the 53 Premier League meetings between Newcastle and Liverpool have been drawn 0-0. Of all fixtures to have been played at least 40 times in the competition, only Newcastle v Tottenham Hotspur has finished goalless on fewer occasions (0/54).
Liverpool have won eight Premier League games against Newcastle after conceding the first goal, at least double the amount they’ve won versus any other side. Indeed, each of their last three victories over the Magpies have seen them concede the first goal within the opening seven minutes.
Newcastle have won each of their last four Premier League games, keeping three clean sheets in that run. The Magpies haven’t won five consecutive Premier League games since November 2014 under Alan Pardew, a run that included a 1-0 home win against Liverpool.
This is the latest into a season Newcastle are playing a game when starting the day in the top half of the table since their final game of 2017-18 (10th – 3-0 v Chelsea). This despite the Magpies having spent 150 days in the relegation zone this term.
Liverpool have taken 37 points from their last 39 available in the Premier League (W12 D1 L0), keeping 10 clean sheets in that run. The Reds’ only dropped points in these 13 games came in a 2-2 draw at league leaders Manchester City.
Liverpool have scored a league-high 14 headed goals in the Premier League this season. It’s the fourth consecutive campaign they’ve scored 14+ headers, with their 65 in total since the start of 2018-19 at least 18 more than any other side.
Bruno Guimarães has been involved in four goals in his last three Premier League appearances for Newcastle, scoring three and assisting one. Despite only making his debut for the club in February, only Allan Saint-Maximin (5) and Callum Wilson (6) have scored more Premier League goals for Newcastle this season than Guimarães (4).
No player has both scored and assisted in more different Premier League games this season than Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah (6). No Liverpool player has ever scored and assisted in seven different games in a single Premier League campaign.
Aston Villa v Norwich City
Aston Villa have won seven of their last eight Premier League games against Norwich, with the exception being a 2-0 defeat at Carrow Road in December 2015.
Since winning their first Premier League away game against Aston Villa in November 1992 (3-2), Norwich are winless in their last eight top-flight visits to Villa Park (D3 L5).
Aston Villa have won their last four Premier League matches against Norwich City, last winning five in a row against an opponent between October 2005 and April 2010 against rivals Birmingham City.
Aston Villa have lost four of their last seven Premier League games against sides bottom of the table (W2 D1), more than they had in their first 37 such games (W26 D8 L3). However, they did win their last match against the bottom side, beating Norwich 2-0 in the reverse fixture this season.
Aston Villa are winless in their last five Premier League games (D1 L4), last having a longer such run between February and July 2020 (10 games).
The next goal they concede will see Norwich City become the first team to concede 70+ goals in three different Premier League campaigns, with the Canaries previously doing so in 2004-05 (77) and 2019-20 (75).
Norwich have the fewest shots (327), fewest shots on target (97), lowest shot conversion rate (6.7 per cent) and lowest expected goals total (31.5) of all Premier League sides so far this season.
Norwich boss Dean Smith is looking to become the first manager to win against Aston Villa in the Premier League after previously having managed them in the competition – no manager has managed to beat the Villans in eight attempts (D2 L6), with Smith (one game), Martin O’Neill (two) and Ron Atkinson (five) all failing.
Aston Villa’s Emiliano Buendía played for Norwich in the 2019-20 Premier League campaign, ranking fourth for most chances created that season. He could become the sixth player to score a Premier League goal against Norwich having previously played for them in the competition, after Chris Sutton, Efan Ekoku, Ruel Fox, Harry Kane and Nathan Redmond.
Teemu Pukki has been involved in 59 per cent of Norwich’s 22 Premier League goals this season (10 goals, 3 assists), the highest share of any player. However, just 30 per cent of his league goals this term have come away from home (3/10).
Southampton v Crystal Palace
Southampton have won 56 per cent of their 25 Premier League games against Crystal Palace (W14 D7 L4) – of all sides they’ve faced at least 10 times in the competition, only against Swansea (58 per cent) do they have a higher win rate.
Crystal Palace have won just one of their 12 Premier League away games against Southampton (D3 L8), winning 2-1 in January 2018. The Eagles have never kept an away clean sheet against Saints in the competition.
Crystal Palace have opened the scoring in five of their last six Premier League games against Southampton, losing 2-0 in the other. However, the Eagles have gone on to win just one of those five (D3 L1).
Southampton have conceded 19 goals in their last eight Premier League games, conceding at least twice on six occasions in that run (W1 D2 L5). Saints’ only win and clean sheet in this time was a 1-0 home victory against Arsenal.
Crystal Palace have failed to score in seven different Premier League away games this season, with only three teams failing in more. However, the Eagles have lost just one of their nine league games when scoring on the road this term (W3 D5).
Crystal Palace have drawn 14 Premier League games this season, with no side having more (Brighton also 14). Only in 1992-93 (16) have the Eagles drawn more in a single Premier League campaign.
Crystal Palace striker Christian Benteke has scored six goals in 13 Premier League appearances against Southampton – only against Chelsea and Sunderland (7 each) has he netted more. The Belgian is without a goal in his last 11 Premier League games, though only three of those were starts.
Southampton’s James Ward-Prowse is enjoying his best ever scoring season in the Premier League, with nine goals so far this term. However, just one of those nine goals has come at St Mary’s Stadium.
Southampton’s James Ward-Prowse has scored more goals from outside the box than any other player in the Premier League this season (5), with only Matt Le Tissier ever netting more in a single season for Saints (7 in 1993-94, 8 in 1994-95). Four of these goals have been from direct free-kicks, with only David Beckham in 2000-01 and Laurent Robert in 2001-02 (both 5) netting more in a single Premier League campaign.
Crystal Palace have won 50 per cent of their games in all competitions with Jean-Philippe Mateta starting this season (8/16), compared to just 17 per cent when the Frenchman doesn’t start (4/23).
Watford v Burnley
After winning their first Premier League home game against Burnley in February 2017, Watford are winless in their last three against the Clarets at Vicarage Road (D1 L2).
Burnley have won five of their nine Premier League games against Watford (56 per cent). Of sides they’ve faced at least five times in the competition, only against Bournemouth (75 per cent) and Hull (67 per cent) do they have a better win rate.
Watford have failed to score in their last four league games against Burnley; they last failed to score in five in a row against an opponent v Reading (2004-2006), while the last team Burnley registered five consecutive clean sheets against was Charlton (2013-2016).
This is both Watford and Burnley’s 300th Premier League match, with Wolverhampton Wanderers also reaching that milestone today. It’s just the second time two sides are meeting in their 300th game in the competition, after Everton 2-2 Tottenham Hotspur in January 2000.
Watford have lost each of their last 10 Premier League home games – no side in top-flight history has ever lost 11 consecutive home league games before.
Watford have conceded in each of their last 21 Premier League home games. The last team to have a longer run without a home top-flight clean sheet were Queens Park Rangers (22 games between August 1968 and August 1973).
Burnley have won their last two Premier League games, last winning three in a row in April 2019. This is their first league game when starting the day outside the relegation zone since August, and a 2-0 loss to Liverpool in their second match of the season.
21 per cent of Burnley’s Premier League goals this season have come in the opening 15 minutes of games (6/29), the highest share in the division. However, the Clarets have scored a league-low 7 per cent of their goals in the final 15 minutes this term (2/29).
Burnley are unbeaten in their three Premier League games under Michael Jackson so far (W2 D1). The last manager to remain unbeaten in their first four league games in charge of the Clarets was Owen Coyle in 2007, while no manager has ever stayed unbeaten in their first four top-flight games with Burnley.
Burnley’s Dwight McNeil has had more shots (42) and more shots on target (12) without scoring than any other player in the Premier League this season. The last player to have more attempts on target without finding the net in a single season was Jesús Navas in 2014-15 (17).
Wolverhampton Wanderers – Brighton and Hove Albion
Wolves have won their last two league games against Brighton, as many as they had in their previous 16 against them. They’re looking to complete the league double over the Seagulls for the first time.
Brighton won each of their first six away league games against Wolves between 1979 and 1991. However, since then the Seagulls have won just one of their 11 league visits to Molineux (D7 L3), winning 2-0 in April 2017.
22 of Wolves’ Premier League games this season have been settled by a margin of just one goal (W11 L11) – only three teams have ever had more in a 38-game campaign; Everton in 2002-03 (23), Fulham in 2005-06 (24) and Sheffield United in 2020-21 (24).
Wolves are on the longest current run of Premier League games without a draw, with none of their 15 games in 2022 so far ending level (W8 L7).
Brighton have earned seven points from their last four Premier League games (W2 D1 L1), as many as they had in their previous 11 (W1 D4 L6).
With 18 goals scored and 16 conceded for Wolves at home this season, no ground has seen fewer Premier League goals than Molineux (34). However, half of these strikes have come in the last five games at the stadium (17/34).
Only Watford (8) have had fewer different goalscorers in the Premier League than Brighton this season (9, excluding own goals).
No player has been booked more often in the Premier League this season than Brighton’s Yves Bissouma, who has been yellow carded 10 times in just 22 appearances. He’s the first ever Brighton player to be booked 10 times in a single Premier League campaign.
Wolves’ Jonny has scored in each of his last two Premier League home games – the only Wolves player to score in three in a row at Molineux is Henri Camara, who did four between April and May 2004.
Raúl Jiménez is Wolves’ top scorer in the Premier League this season with six goals – no side has a lower scoring top scorer in the competition this term than Wolves.
Leeds United v Manchester City
Leeds have lost just two of their last nine home league games against Man City (W6 D1), doing so in consecutive meetings in December 1995 (0-1) and September 2000 (1-2).
Man City are looking to complete their first league double over Leeds since 1981-82, a season that saw the Whites relegated from the top-flight.
Man City won the reverse fixture 7-0 against Leeds – there are three occasions of the Citizens scoring 10+ goals against an opponent within a single Premier League season; Watford in 2019-20 (12), Norwich in 2011-12 (11) and Tottenham in 2013-14 (11).
Leeds are winless in their last six home league games against reigning top-flight champions (D2 L4), since beating Arsenal 1-0 in May 1999 and effectively costing the Gunners the title that season.
Leeds have conceded at least once in each of their last nine Premier League home games, since a 1-0 win over Crystal Palace in November. Only Watford (21) are on a longer run without a home clean sheet among current Premier League sides.
Leeds are looking to keep three consecutive Premier League clean sheets for the first time since August 2002, the third game of which back then was a 3-0 home win against Manchester City.
After a run of seven defeats and one draw in eight Premier League games, Leeds are now unbeaten in their last five. They last went six without defeat in April 2021, a run which included a victory over Manchester City.
Manchester City remain unbeaten away from home in the Premier League since a 1-0 loss at Tottenham on the opening weekend (W12 D3 since). The Citizens have kept a clean sheet in each of their last four on the road – they’ve never gone five consecutive away league games without conceding before.
Man City’s Kevin De Bruyne has been involved in eight goals in his last six Premier League appearances, scoring four and assisting four, while teammate Riyad Mahrez has been involved in 12 goals in his last nine starts in the competition (8 goals, 4 assists).
Gabriel Jesus’ four goals and one assist against Watford last time out saw the Man City forward overtake Philippe Coutinho into second place (behind only Roberto Firmino) as the Brazilian with the most Premier League goal involvements (86 – 57 goals, 29 assists). He’s been involved in 15 goals in 17 Premier League starts this season (7 goals, 8 assists).
Everton v Chelsea
Everton have won each of their last three Premier League home games against Chelsea, last winning four consecutively against them at Goodison Park between 1970 and 1973.
Chelsea have kept a clean sheet in seven of their last 11 Premier League meetings with Everton. Overall, they’ve kept 23 shutouts against the Toffees in the competition, only recording more against Tottenham (27) and Newcastle (26).
Chelsea have the highest win rate in games played on the first day of a month in Premier League history, winning 30 of their 50 such games (60 per cent). On May 1st specifically, Chelsea have won all four of their Premier League games.
This is the first time Everton are playing a Premier League game when starting the day in the relegation zone since December 2019 – a 3-1 home win against Chelsea. This is their latest such game (in terms of games played) since April 1999, and a 2-0 win against Coventry (match 33), while it’s the latest in terms of date since the final day of the 1997-98 campaign (1-1 v Coventry).
Everton have earned seven points from their last three home games (W2 D1), as many as they had in their previous 10 at Goodison Park (W2 D1 L7). The Toffees have scored just three goals in this current run, netting a 90th minute winner against Newcastle and a 90th minute equaliser against Leicester City.
Everton have played the most Premier League games on Sundays without winning this season (9 – D1 L8), while Chelsea have played the most on the day without losing so far this term (9 – W6 D3).
Everton are averaging 3.5 shots on target per game in the Premier League this season, while facing on average 4.8 shots on target. Since 2003-04, only in 2017-18 (3.2) have they averaged fewer shots on target, while only in 2003-04 have they faced more (5).
Everton boss Frank Lampard will be the 10th former Chelsea manager to take charge of a Premier League match against the Blues – only one of the previous nine has won their first such match (D1 L7), with Claudio Ranieri winning 2-1 with Leicester in December 2015.
Mason Mount scored Chelsea’s goal in their 1-1 draw with Everton in the reverse fixture. The last player to score home and away for the Blues against the Toffees in a single Premier League campaign was Pedro (2016-17), while the last Englishman to do so was Frank Lampard in 2005-06.
Everton’s Dele Alli has scored five goals in eight Premier League appearances against Chelsea – against no side has he scored more. However, he’s yet to start a league game for the Toffees, with all eight of his appearances coming as a substitute (218 minutes).
Tottenham Hotspur v Leicester City
Tottenham have won seven of their last 10 Premier League games against Leicester (L3), as many as they had in their previous 21 against them in the competition (D5 L9).
Leicester won this exact fixture 2-0 last season, last winning consecutive away league games against Spurs in October 1999.
Since their return to the Premier League in 2014, Leicester have conceded more league goals against Tottenham than they have versus any other side (36). Tottenham’s 36 goals against Leicester is also the most they have scored against an opponent in that time.
Leicester were leading until 94:51 against Tottenham in the reverse fixture this season, before Steven Bergwijn’s two goals secured the win for Spurs. It’s the latest a team has been losing a Premier League game before going on to win in the competition’s history.
Tottenham have lost five Premier League home games this season, having lost six at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last term. Their 11 defeats over these two campaigns is as many as they’d lost at home in their previous four seasons combined, while they last lost six home games in consecutive seasons back in 2002-03/2003-04.
Leicester have won just one of their last 11 Premier League away games (D4 L6), with that victory coming at Burnley in March. That 2-0 win was also the Foxes’ only away clean sheet in their last 23 league games on the road.
After scoring in both halves in seven consecutive Premier League games (between 4-0 wins at both Leeds and Aston Villa), Tottenham have failed to even register a shot on target in their last two full matches. Since Opta has detailed shot data (2003-04), no side has ever failed to have a shot on target in three consecutive Premier League games.
Leicester have dropped 19 points from winning positions in the Premier League this season, only losing more in 1999-00 (21), 2003-04 (28) and 2017-18 (20).
Tottenham striker Harry Kane has scored 18 goals in 17 appearances against Leicester in all competitions, more than he’s scored against any other opponent in his career. 16 of those goals have come in the Premier League, with only Alan Shearer netting more against a single opponent in the competition (20 v Leeds United).
This is Tottenham manager Antonio Conte’s 100th Premier League game in charge; he’s the fourth manager to reach the milestone this season, with each of the previous three managers losing (Ralph Hasenhüttl, Graham Potter and Dean Smith). However, each of the previous three Italian managers to take charge of as many have all won their 100th game (Claudio Ranieri, Roberto Mancini and Carlo Ancelotti).
West Ham v Arsenal
West Ham have lost more Premier League games against Arsenal (33) than they have versus any other side in the competition.
Arsenal have lost just one of their last 13 Premier League away games against West Ham (W8 D4), going down 1-0 in January 2019. Overall, at no side have Arsenal won more Premier League away games than their 13 victories at the Hammers.
Since completing the league double over Arsenal in the 2006-07 campaign, West Ham have won just two of their last 27 Premier League games against the Gunners (D5 L20).
West Ham are unbeaten in their last six Premier League home games (W4 D2), with the Hammers last having a longer such run between September 2015 and April 2016 (15 games at Upton Park). They’ve also scored in their last 18 home league games, since a 1-0 loss against Everton in May 2021.
Arsenal have won more Premier League games in May than any other side (50), while the Gunners also have the best win rate in May in the competition (59 per cent – 50/85).
West Ham have lost four of their last seven Premier League games (W2 D1), as many as they had in their previous 14. However, the Hammers haven’t lost consecutive matches in this run of seven, going down 1-0 at Chelsea last time out.
After a run of three straight defeats in the Premier League, Arsenal have won their last two, 4-2 at Chelsea and 3-1 at home to Manchester United. The Gunners haven’t won three consecutive league games while scoring at least three goals each time since April 2018 under Arsène Wenger.
Arsenal striker Alexandre Lacazette has been involved in six goals in his last seven Premier League appearances against West Ham (5 goals, 1 assist). Only against Southampton (7) has he been involved in more league goals for the Gunners.
Craig Dawson’s red card against Chelsea last time out was West Ham’s 28th Premier League red card in London derbies, more than any other side. Indeed, four of the Hammers’ last six red cards have been against London sides.
Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka has scored a penalty in his last two games, the youngest player ever to score a penalty in consecutive Premier League appearances. The only Arsenal player to score a penalty in three consecutive Premier League appearances is Ian Wright in March 1994.
Manchester United v Brentford
Man Utd are hosting Brentford for the first time in any competition since a 2-1 League Cup win in September 1975, and for the first time in the league since a 4-1 win in December 1946.
Brentford are winless in their last six meetings with Manchester United in all competitions (D1 L5) since a 2-0 FA Cup win in February 1938.
Since Derby County beat Manchester United 3-2 in April 1997, each of the last 20 visiting sides have lost their first ever Premier League game at Old Trafford.
Manchester United have won just one of their last seven Premier League games on Mondays (D4 L2), while at Old Trafford the Red Devils are winless on Mondays since January 2018 (D2 L2 since).
Brentford are unbeaten in their last 12 league games played on a Monday (W5 D7), with these coming between April 2014 (2-2 v MK Dons in League One) and October 2019 (3-1 at QPR in the Championship).
Brentford have won 16 Premier League points since the start of March (W5 D1 L1), with a maximum of three sides winning more in that time coming into this weekend’s games. The Bees’ previous 16 points had come over a period of 22 games.
After keeping a clean sheet in two of their first three Premier League away games, Brentford have conceded in each of their last 14 on the road. No side is on a longer run without an away clean sheet in the competition than the Bees.
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Man Utd’s Cristiano Ronaldo has been involved in 24 goals in his last 18 Premier League games against promoted sides (18 goals, 6 assists), netting a hat-trick in a 3-2 win against Norwich in his last such game. He’s failed to either score or assist a goal in just two of those 18 games, with one of those being in the reverse fixture against Brentford.
Since his first Premier League start for the club in March, no player has created more chances for Brentford than Christian Eriksen (13), while the Bees are unbeaten in all six games in which the Dane has started (W5 D1).
Ivan Toney’s goals have been worth nine points to Brentford in the Premier League this season – coming into this weekend’s games, only Cristiano Ronaldo’s strikes have been more valuable to his side.