A cracking weekend of Premier League football is previewed. Huge games at the top and bottom

Man City and Bournemouth the only unbeaten teams on recent form. Tottenham have no wins over this period whilst Burnley and Forest have just one win in this period.

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)

• Brentford V Fulham – Historic form is evenly split (1 win, 1 draw, 1 defeat). Recent form key stats – Brentford are strong at home earning 56% of available points and Fulham underperforming on their travels (just 31% earned from points available).  The Bees have earned 52% points from recent form compared to 37% from Fulham but being a local derby adds unpredictability to the match.
• Leeds V Wolves – Big game at the bottom of the table. Key stats – both teams are in similar recent form, Leeds with 37% and Wolves 33% from available points. Leeds are strong at home (48% from available points) and Wolves weak away (just 10% from available points).
• Newcastle V Bournemouth – Surprising historic stat is that Newcastle have not won the last 3 of these fixtures (1 away win, 2 draws). Key stats – The Cherries are unbeaten in 8 games (6 draws) earning 56% whilst the Toons are suffering, earning just 33% from available points.
• Tottenham V Brighton – Massive home game for Spurs – Historic stats favour the home team (8 home wins, 2 defeats) but the last encounter was an away win. Current form key stats –  Spurs are on a terrible run (just 7% from available points) against Brighton in good form (59% from available points). Spurs have only score 1 goal per game in 8 matches whilst Brighton have conceded just 6 goals over the same period. Must win game for the home team against a tough opponent.
• Chelsea V Man United – Huge match in the battle for the Champions League places. Historic form favours the Blues – 2 home wins and 3 draws in the last five fixtures. Current form key stats – Chelsea have earned only 41% from available points against United with 63% over the same period and their home team have 3 consecutive defeats.
• Aston Villa V Sunderland – Villa’s recent poor form (33% from available points) may be impacted by their success in Europe. The Villans have a big European game this week so their league form could suffer. Sunderland are not great travelers with only 35% earned from points available but have won their last 2 games.
• Notts Forest V Burnley – Super important match for Forest to avoid relegation on the back of a European midweek game. Current form key stats – Forest have earned just 30% from available points which is better than Burnley with just 19% from available points.
• Crystal Palace V West Ham – Another Monday night London derby. Current form recent key stats – both teams are in decent recent form (58% earned for Palace and 44% for West Ham). The Hammers moved out of the relegation places last week so will keen to consolidate that position by at least a point from this game. Could be a close one.

Man City V Arsenal – Is this the game to decide the title?

On historic recent form City start favourites with no away wins for the visitors in this fixture.  Key recent stats – Both teams are in good recent form (75% and 74% from available points respectively) whilst City are excellent at home (80% earned from available home points) with Arsenal have earned an impressive 67% of available away points. Expecting a closely fought cracking match and the Gooners would take a draw for sure.

Everton V Liverpool – The first Merseyside derby at the new stadium

On historic recent form a draw is the most likely outcome (6 in the last 9 encounters). It is no surprise that this is not a high scoring game, averaging under 2 goals per match  .  Key stats – both teams are in decent recent form. Everton have 4 wins, 2 draws and 3 defeats earning 52% of available points whilst Liverpool have 5 wins,  1 draws and 3 defeats earning 59% from points available. Everton are not great at home (46% earned from available home points) with Liverpool similar on away form (earning 44% of their travels. available away points). Expecting a close encounter.