Predicting the unpredictable – the weekend Premier League fixtures previewed.

Liverpool are the only teams unbeaten in the recent form (6 wins, 4 draws) and scoring in every game. Liverpool, Crystal Palace, Man City and Notts Forest have the best defences by number of clean sheets (4). Leicester and Southampton have no clean sheets.

Introducing the home/away form analysis metrics of the weekend fixtures

 (RAG Codes – Red – bottom third for goals scored/conceded,  Amber– middle third for goals scored/conceded, Green  – top third goals  scored/conceded)

• Notts Forest V Man City – This lunchtime kick off could be a close encounter. Forest are strong at home (64% points from those available) and difficult to score against (amber for goals conceded at home) whilst City have earned 50% of their potential away points. Key stats – on their last 5 games alone, Forest have just 1 win, 1 draw and 3 defeats.
• Brighton V Fulham – Another close encounter predicted. Brighton are good at home (54% from available points) and Fulham good away (56% from available points). In their last ten games both teams have found the net 7 times and in their five games both teams have won 3 and lost 2.
• Crystal Palace V Ipswich – On stats this season both teams are underperforming. Palace have won just 33% from points available at home and Ipswich just 26% from available points away. Recent form shows a different picture for the Eagles having won 6 of their last 9 games (Ipswich just one). Wild card factor – the lost of leading score Mateta could be a big blow for Palace.
• Liverpool V Southampton – Liverpool have earned 82% from available points at home and are difficult to score against at Anfield (amber for goals conceded at home). Contrast Southampton with just 12% of points earned away. Routine home win expected.
• Brentford V Aston Villa – In their last five games the Bees have 3 wins, 1 draw and 1 defeat. Contrast Villa with just 1 win, 3 draws and 2 defeats in their last 6 games. Key stats – the Bees at good at home (earning 57% of all available points) whilst the Villans do not travel well (earning just 36% of away points).
• Wolves V Everton – On form this season these are two underperforming teams. Wolves have won just 26% from points available at home and Everton just 36% from available points away. Recent form is a different picture for Everton with no defeats in 5 (3 wins, 2 draws). Key stats – the Toffees are tough to score against (just 10 in 9 games) whilst Wolves have conceded 16 in the same period. Expecting a close encounter with some goals.  
• Chelsea V Leicester – Chelsea have earned 64% from available points at home whereas Leicester have earned just 21% on their travels. Routine home win expected.
• Tottenham V Bournemouth – Spurs are not great at home (earning just 40% of available points) whilst Bournemouth are decent away (earning 52% of available points). Key stats – Tottenham have scored in 8 and Bournemouth 7 of their last 9 games so expecting a close encounter with some goals.
• West Ham V Newcastle – Recent form suggests the Toons may have one eye on the impending League Cup final. Newcastle have 2 wins and 3 defeats in their last 5 games. The Hammers are marginally better with 2 wins, 1 draw and 2 defeats. Key stats – West Ham are goals lite on recent form (averaging a goal per game) and are amber for goals scored at home but Newcastle have shipped 16 goals in their last 6 games.

Man United V Arsenal – The stats suggest Arsenal have edge with 3 worrying stats for United fans

On historic form, a home win or a draw is this most likely outcome. Arsenal have the superior recent form (16 goals scored to United’s 12) but the Gunners have been scoreless in their last two games. Worrying stat one for United fans as they are amber for goals scored at home meaning they are struggling to find the net at Old Trafford. Worrying stat two for United fans is that Arsenal are amber for goals conceded away meaning that they have a mean defence on their travels. Worrying stat three for United fans – Arsenal have the meanest defence on reason form – just 7 goals conceded in their last 9 nine games