Premier League Weekend Fixture Previews & Analysis – Studying the Form

Man United are the only unbeaten team in their last 6 games. Second top (Man City) and second bottom (Burnley) have both only managed 6 goals (one per game). Defensively  Palace, Sunderland, Burnley, West Ham and Bournemouth have conceded the most number of goals.

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)

• Brighton V Everton – Historically Everton do well in this fixture with three wins in their last four visits to the Amex.  The Seagulls have just 1 win in 6 games (3 draws, 2 defeats) whilst Everton have 2 wins (3 draws, 1 defeat).Key stats- Brighton have scored in all their last 6 games and Everton 5 times over same period. Expecting a close game with goals.
• Leeds United V Arsenal – Leeds home form is crucial to avoiding relegation – earning 73% of all their points at home. Arsenal have a strong away record – earning 42% of their points on their travels.Key stats – Leeds have just 1 defeat in 6 games whilst Arsenal are winless in 3 games. Both teams need the points so expecting a close encounter.
• Wolves V Bournemouth – Wolves home form is shocking, earning just 15% from points available whilst the Cherries away form is not great (24% from points available). Key stats – The Cherries have scored but not kept a clean sheet in their last 6 games. Wolves struggle to score (just 1 in their last 3 games) but improving defensively (just 6 conceded in 6 games). Could be a low scoring game.
• Chelsea V West Ham – The Blues have won the last five visits of the Hammers to “The Bridge”. Both teams on back-to-back wins with Chelsea scoring 10 goals and West Ham 8 in last 6 games.Key stats – The Hammers have no clean sheets and the Blues just 1 in the last 6 games. Expecting some goals.
• Aston Villa V Brentford – Brentford have yet to win in four visits to Villa Park (2 defeats, 2 draws). Key stats – Villa are strong at home – earning 76% of available points whilst Brentford struggle away (earning 27% of available away points). Have to fancy the home team.
• Man United V Fulham – Last season United won this fixture by a narrow 1 nil have lost the previous encounter (2-1). United are on back-to-back wins scoring 10 in 6 games. Fulham tend to score too (8 in 6 games only failing to score in one game). Key stat- both teams have conceded a goal per game (last 6 matches). Could be a close encounter.
• Notts Forest V Crystal Palace – Palace are in poor form with no wins in their last 8 games and are struggling to score – just 3 goals in 6 games. Key stats – Forest are unbeaten in 3 games and Palace on back-to-back defeats. Home team must start favourites
• Tottenham V Man City – Spurs home form is poor (just 27% of points earned from those available) whilst City’s away from is decent (50% earned from points available). Key stats – City are struggling to score – averaging a goal per game but have a mean defense (just 5 conceded in this period). Must favour the away team.
• Sunderland V Burnley – Monday night’s entertainment. Sunderland are strong at home (70% earned from points available) whilst Burnley are weak away (15% earned from points available). Recent form for both teams is similar with 2 defeats each and The Black Cats have 1 win and 3 draws to Burnley’s 4 draws. Key stats – Sunderland have conceded 9 goals and Burnley 10 games.

Liverpool V Newcastle –  This used to be a legendary high scoring classic. Will it be a goal fest again?

On historic form (last 9 seasons) this is an comfortable home win – 88% home win, 13% draw and surprisingly no away wins in 9 encounters. Just 3 clean sheet in those encounters suggesting both teams tend to score.  Key stats – on current form Liverpool are excellent at home (earning 64% of available points) and Newcastle not great away (30% of available points earned).Have to fancy the home team.