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Premier League Matchday 8 Preview
2017-10-13 22:33:00
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Matchday 6 table


Saturday 14th October 2017

Liverpool v Manchester United - K.O. 12:30 . Live on Sky

Team news
Forward Sadio Mane will miss the visit of Manchester United after being ruled out for six weeks with a hamstring problem sustained on international duty.

Philippe Coutinho is likely to be pushed forward to replace him with Emre Can coming back into midfield.

Midfielder Adam Lallana continued his recovery from a thigh strain in Qatar this week as he edges closer a comeback.

Manchester United midfielder Marouane Fellaini looks set to miss out on the big lunchtime clash.

The Belgium midfielder suffered a knee injury on international duty and joins fellow midfielders Michael Carrick and Paul Pogba on the sidelines.

Marcos Rojo and Zlatan Ibrahimovic continue to recover from serious knee ligament injuries, but Jose Mourinho indicated that Phil Jones and Romelu Lukaku are available.

Liverpool (from): Mignolet, Alexander-Arnold, Lovren, Matip, Moreno, Henderson, Can, Wijnaldum, Salah, Firmino, Coutinho, Karius, Gomez, Klavan, Grujic, Milner, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Sturridge, Solanke.

Manchester United (from): De Gea, Romero, Pereira, Valencia, Darmian, Tuanzebe, Lindelof, Bailly, Jones, Smalling, Blind, Shaw, Young, Matic, Herrera, McTominay, Mata, Lingard, Mkhitaryan, Lukaku, Rashford, Martial.

Opta Statistics
Liverpool are winless in six Premier League games against Manchester United (D2 L4), their worst run since an eight-match winless run against the Red Devils between 2004 and 2008.

Manchester United have won three of their last five Premier League visits to Anfield (W3 D1 L1) and have kept clean sheets in their last two games there.

Liverpool have won just one of their last eight matches against Manchester United in all competitions (W1 D3 L4) – winning 2-0 in the Europa League in 2015-16.

Manchester United have kept 17 clean sheets in the Premier League in 2017, three more than any other side. Jose Mourinho’s side have recorded a shutout in eight of their last nine league games, shipping just two goals in the process (vs Stoke).

Jurgen Klopp has lost just one of his seven competitive meetings with Jose Mourinho as a manager (W3 D3 L1).

Since Jose Mourinho took charge of Manchester United ahead of 2016-17; these two clubs have won the exact same number of points in the Premier League (88). Liverpool have scored 16 more goals (91 v 75) but have conceded 23 more (54 v 31).

Jose Mourinho won eight of his first 10 Premier League meetings with Liverpool (D1 L1) between October 2004 and November 2014 but since then he has failed to win any of his four games against them (D3 L1).

Liverpool currently have 12 points from seven games this season. If they lose this game, they will have the same number of points as they did from eight games in 2015-16 (12), which saw Brendan Rodgers sacked from his position as Liverpool manager.

If Manchester United win this game, it’ll be their best ever points tally after eight games of a Premier League season (22), following 20-point hauls in both 2011-12 and 1999-00.

Romelu Lukaku became the second player to score seven goals in his first seven Premier League appearances for Man Utd after Andrew Cole. No player has scored eight goals in their first eight Premier League appearances for the club.

Lukaku scored four goals in his first four Premier League games versus Liverpool, but has since netted just once in his last seven. Indeed, he has failed to land a shot on target in five of those seven games.

Marcus Rashford has been directly involved in nine goals in his last 10 competitive games for Man Utd (five goals, four assists) after having a hand in just two goals in his previous 10 apps (one goal, one assist).

Burnley v West Ham United - K. O. 15:00

Team news
Burnley remain without Jonathan Walters, Nahki Wells and Dean Marney for West Ham's visit to Turf Moor.

Marney, out since January with knee ligament damage, and recent arrival Wells (foot) are being phased into the Under-23 set-up to continue rehabilitation but are still some way from fitness.

Walters is several weeks away with a knee problem, leaving Chris Wood, Ashley Barnes and Sam Vokes to contest the attacking roles.

James Collins is West Ham's only absentee.

He suffered an ankle injury in last month's 0-0 draw at West Brom, and though he will soon be available, Saturday's fixture comes too early.

With Pedro Obiang and Edimilson Fernandes again in full training, manager Slaven Bilic's only concern surrounds whether Javier Hernandez is sufficiently fresh to start following his return on Thursday from international duty with Mexico.

Burnley (from): Pope, Lindegaard, Lowton, Long, Mee, Taylor, Ward, Tarkowski, Bardsley, Defour, Brady, Ulvestad, Hendrick, Cork, Westwood, Arfield, Gudmundsson, Vokes, Barnes, Wood.

West Ham (from): Hart, Adrian, Byram, Zabaleta, Cresswell, Masuaku, Fonte, Reid, Obiang, Rice, Fernandes, Antonio, Noble, Lanzini, Kouyate, Ogbonna, Arnautovic, Ayew, Carroll, Hernandez, Sakho.

Opta Statistics
Burnley have lost five of their previous six Premier League encounters with West Ham United, winning the other clash at Turf Moor in February 2010 (2-1).

West Ham have won their last four Premier League matches against Burnley, they’ve only won five consecutive games versus a single opponent once in Premier League history (vs Blackburn between October 2006 and August 2008).

The Clarets are currently enjoying their longest ever unbeaten run in the Premier League (W2 D3 L0); they last went six top-flight games without defeat back in February 1975 (a seven-game streak).

West Ham will be looking to win consecutive Premier League games without conceding for the first time since December 2016, when they secured 1-0 victories over Burnley and Hull City.

Burnley have played the highest percentage of passes long in the Premier League in both 2017-18 (23.6%) and in 2016-17 (25.3%).

Burnley (32) have afforded their opponents more shots from corner situations than any other Premier League side this season. In contrast, West Ham have seen their opponents record a league-low eight attempts from corners.

West Ham United have netted 36 goals in all competitions in 2017, as many as Tottenham’s Harry Kane has managed by himself.

Sean Dyche has made just five changes to Burnley’s starting XI in the Premier League this season, fewer than any other team. In contrast, Slaven Bilic has made 16 changes for West Ham, with only Liverpool (24) making more.

Burnley have also used fewer players in 2017-18 so far than any other side in the Premier League (17).

Robbie Brady has scored three goals in five Premier League games versus West Ham, more than against any other side in the competition.

Crystal Palace v Chelsea - K. O. 15:00

Team news
Wilfried Zaha is expected to return for Crystal Palace when they host Chelsea having recovered his fitness following a knee injury.

The forward's availability is particularly crucial given the absence of Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Christian Benteke.

Loftus-Cheek is ineligible against his parent club, and Benteke also has a knee injury.

Goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey faces a late fitness test having hurt his calf while on international duty with Wales.

Chelsea are missing N'Golo Kante, Alvaro Morata and Danny Drinkwater.

Kante (hamstring) and Drinkwater (calf) could be out for the next three weeks, but Morata (hamstring) should return for Wednesday's Champions League match against Roma.

Boss Antonio Conte is considering giving starts to youngsters Kyle Scott and Ethan Ampadu.

Crystal Palace (from): Hennessey, Speroni, Ward, Kelly, Tomkins, Fosu-Mensah, Dann, Sakho, Riedewald, Delaney, Schlupp, Souare, Van Aanholt, Ladapo, Townsend, Cabaye, Mutch, McArthur, Milivojevic, Puncheon, Sako, Lee, Kaikai, Zaha.

Chelsea (from): Courtois, Caballero, Rudiger, Alonso, Fabregas, Hazard, Pedro, Bakayoko, Moses, Kenedy, Musonda, Zappacosta, Willian, Batshuayi, Cahill, Christensen, Azpilicueta, Clarke-Salter, Scott, Ampadu, Eduardo.

Opta Statistics
Crystal Palace have won only one of their previous eight Premier League matches against Chelsea at Selhurst Park (W1 D1 L6), winning 1-0 in March 2014 under Tony Pulis.

Chelsea (421) have won more points in Premier League London derbies than any other side in the competition’s history (P232 W119 D64 L49).

Crystal Palace are currently on the second longest run in minutes without scoring from the start of the season in Football League history (630 minutes) . only Halifax Town in the fourth tier in 1990-91 (730 minutes) had a longer wait to score.

The last top-flight team to lose their opening eight matches of a season were Manchester United in 1930-31, who went on to lose their first 12.

Crystal Palace could become the first team in Football League history to lose nine consecutive games without scoring – on only three other occasions have a team lost eight games in a row without scoring and only once in the top-flight (Sunderland between November 1976 and January 1977).

Chelsea have failed to score in two of their last three Premier League matches under Antonio Conte, as many as in their previous 36. The Blues only failed to score in three of their 38 PL games last season and have already drawn a blank in two of their seven so far this term.

Crystal Palace have an xG total of 8.14 in the Premier League this season, meaning that, based on historic data, the average side would be expected to have scored eight goals from the chances they have been presented. In comparison, Chelsea have scored 12 goals despite having an xG total of just 6. 81.

Antonio Conte could become the first Chelsea manager to record two separate winning runs of 6+ Premier League away games (also December 2016), with the Blues winning their last five on the road in the PL.

Roy Hodgson has never lost his first four Premier League games in charge of a team (lost first three with Fulham). Hodgson could become only the second permanent manager to lose his first four Premier League games in charge of a side without scoring a single goal after his predecessor Frank De Boer. Prior to this season, no permanent Premier League manager had lost their first four without scoring at a club.

Cesc Fabregas (49 goals) could become just the third Spanish player to net 50 goals in the Premier League after Diego Costa (52) and Fernando Torres (85). Fabregas could be the first Spanish midfielder to reach this milestone.

Manchester City v Stoke City - K. O. 15:00

Team news
Sergio Aguero could be in contention for Manchester City's Premier League clash with Stoke at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday.

The Argentina striker has recovered well after breaking a rib in a road accident a fortnight ago and, after returning to light training this week, could have a chance of featuring.

Captain Vincent Kompany is still out with a calf injury but City have no fresh injuries following the international break.

Left-back Benjamin Mendy (knee) is a long-term casualty.

Stoke will be without midfielder Joe Allen.

The Welshman suffered concussion after taking a blow to the head while on international duty this week and will be missing along with defensive duo Ryan Shawcross (back) and Bruno Martins Indi (groin).

Jese Rodriguez, who missed the win over Southampton before the international break due to compassionate reasons, will return to the squad but Stephen Ireland is continuing his rehabilitation from the broken leg he suffered in May 2016.

Manchester City (from): Ederson, Bravo, Walker, Danilo, Stones, Otamendi, Mangala, Delph, Toure, Gundogan, Fernandinho, De Bruyne, D Silva, B Silva, Sterling, Sane, Foden, Diaz, Aguero, Jesus.

Stoke (from): Butland, Grant, Zouma, Wimmer, Johnson, Pieters, Souttar, Diouf, Tymon, Fletcher, Adam, Afellay, Jese, Shaqiri, Choupo-Moting, Sobhi, Berahino, Crouch.

Opta Statistics
Manchester City have kept a shutout in eight of their nine Premier League home matches against Stoke (W7 D1 L1) – only against Aston Villa (9) have they kept more clean sheets on home soil.

Stoke City have either kept a clean sheet (3) or conceded exactly four goals (3) in each of their last six Premier League games against Manchester City (W2 D1 L3).

The Citizens are currently unbeaten in their last 19 home games in all competitions (W13 D6 L0), their longest run without defeat since January 2012 (30 games).

Manchester City have won their last two home games in the Premier League each by a 5-0 scoreline – the only other Premier League side to record three consecutive home wins each by a five or more goal margin were Chelsea in 2010 under Carlo Ancelotti.

Manchester City currently have a goal difference of +20 after seven games – only one team in Premier League history has bettered this after seven games; Chelsea in 2010-11 (+21).

Manchester City have allowed their opponents just 45 shots in seven games this season, with only 25 of these coming from open play – both league-lows.

Stoke have lost 15 of their last 16 away top-flight matches (D1) against teams who’ve started that day in top spot – their last away win against a side top of the league came in April 1972 against Manchester City under Tony Waddington.

Only one goalkeeper has conceded fewer goals in his first seven Premier League starts than Ederson (2) – Petr Cech, who conceded once.

Peter Crouch (aged 36 years & 243 days when he netted vs Southampton) is the oldest English striker to score in a Premier League game since Kevin Phillips (37 years & 250 days) for Birmingham versus Bolton in April 2011.

Raheem Sterling has scored five goals in his last five Premier League appearances. The England winger has scored his five goals from just seven shots on target in the Premier League in 2017-18.

Swansea City v Huddersfield Town - K. O. 15:00

Team news
Renato Sanches is set to miss Swansea's Premier League home game against Huddersfield after picking up a thigh strain on international duty with Portugal.

Swansea will also make a late decision on Wilfried Bony who has been troubled by a nerve problem in his calf which has caused him to experience tightness in his hamstring.

But there is better news on Nathan Dyer (Achilles) and Ki Sung-yueng (knee) who are available for the first time this season.

Danny Williams is expected to return to Huddersfield's squad.

Midfielder Williams has recovered from a foot injury and could start, with head coach David Wagner to decide whether to rest Australia international Aaron Mooy.

Club record signing Steve Mounie is back in training after missing three league games due to an inflamed heel and may be involved.

Collin Quaner (calf), Kasey Palmer (hamstring) and Michael Hefele (Achilles) are still out.

Swansea (from): Fabianski, Naughton, Fernandez, Mawson, Olsson, Britton, Clucas, Carroll, Fer, Ayew, Abraham, Nordfeldt, Rangel, Van der Hoorn, Mesa, Sanches, Bony, Fulton, Narsingh, Routledge, Dyer, McBurnie.

Huddersfield (from): Lossl, Lowe, Malone, Schindler, Jorgensen, Smith, Hogg, Williams, Mooy, Billing, Van La Parra, Ince, Kachunga, Depoitre, Mounie, Green, Sabiri, Cranie, Hadergjonaj.

Opta Statistics
This is the first top-flight meeting between Swansea City and Huddersfield Town, with the two sides having met in each of the other top three tiers of English football. It will be the 92nd fixture in English league football to span the top four tiers, with Swansea having previously faced Watford and Wolves in all four divisions and Huddersfield facing Portsmouth in all four.

Huddersfield have won their last two away league games against Swansea, although this is the first match since November 2007 – they’ve never won three consecutive away matches in Swansea.

The Terriers have failed to score in nine of their last 14 matches in all competitions, including in each of the last three. They last went four competitive games without a goal back in August 2004.

Swansea have attempted the fewest shots in the Premier League this season (46) and have also registered just 30 shots in open play, a league-low.

Swansea have also fired in just 11 shots on target so far this season, the fewest in the Premier League. There have been three players land more shots on target in the top-flight this season than the Swans have managed (Harry Kane 16, Romelu Lukaku 15, Mohamed Salah 14).

The Swans have won just once in their last six Premier League games against newly-promoted sides, failing to score in four of those games (W1 D1 L4).

Since David Wagner took charge of his first game as Huddersfield boss in November 2015, no manager has lost more matches in the top four tiers of English football by four or more goals than the American (5, level with Mark Hughes).

Jordan Ayew has had a hand in more Premier League goals for Swansea in 2017 than any other player currently at the club (two goals, three assists). Prior to their departures, Gylfi Sigurdsson (12) and Fernando Llorente (10) led the Swans for goal involvements in 2017.

Only Southampton’s Nathan Redmond (23) has had more shots without scoring in the Premier League this season than Huddersfield’s Tom Ince (20).

David de Gea (6) is the only Premier League goalkeeper to have kept more clean sheets this season than Huddersfield’s Jonas Lössl (4) – level with Petr Cech, Hugo Lloris and Ederson.

Tottenham Hotspur v AFC Bournemouth - K. O. 15:00

Team news
Mousa Dembele is struggling to be fit in time for Tottenham's game at home to Bournemouth on Saturday.

Dembele is more likely to return next week as he nears recovery from an ankle problem while Victor Wanyama is still out with a knee injury.

Danny Rose and Erik Lamela are back in training following knee and hip injuries respectively but both are still a few weeks away from full fitness.

Bournemouth will be without Brad Smith at Wembley after the defender suffered a hip muscle problem on international duty with Australia.

Scotland midfielder Ryan Fraser has picked up a hamstring injury, as did Norway forward Josh King, but neither are expected to be long-term absentees.

Defender Tyrone Mings has been out with a back problem, while forward Callum Wilson continues to step up his rehabilitation following a serious knee injury.

Tottenham (from): Lloris, Vorm, Gazzaniga, Davies, Walker-Peters, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Sanchez, Foyth, Trippier, Aurier, Dier, Sissoko, Dembele, Georgiou, Oakley-Boothe, Eriksen, Alli, Son, Llorente, Kane.

Bournemouth (from): Begovic, Ake, Francis, A Smith, Daniels, L Cook, Stanislas, Pugh, Surman, Afobe, Defoe, Boruc, S Cook, Boruc, Gosling, Mousset, Arter, Ibe.

Opta Statistics
Tottenham have yet to lose to Bournemouth in league competition, winning three and drawing one of their four Premier League meetings to date, while netting 12 goals in the process (six by Harry Kane).

Bournemouth’s only competitive victory over Tottenham came in an FA Cup clash in 1956-57, with the Cherries progressing from their fifth round match (3-1).

Bournemouth’s only previous trip to Wembley was in April 1998 in the Football League Trophy final against Grimsby – they lost 2-1 in extra-time, with Eddie Howe playing the full 120 minutes for the Cherries.

Spurs have failed to win their opening three home league games of the season for the first time since 2008-09 (they failed to win their first four at home in 2008-09).

If Spurs fail to win this match then they'll become the first team in Football League history to win each of their opening four away games in a league season but fail to win any of their opening four home matches.

Since they were promoted to the top-flight in 2015, Bournemouth (42) have dropped more points from winning positions than any other Premier League team.

Harry Kane has had 22 shots (with seven on target) in home Premier League games this season without finding the net. In comparison. Kane has also had 22 shots with nine on target and found the net six times away from home.

Kane’s last 13 Premier League goals have all come away from home, a joint-record Premier League run of consecutive scoring without scoring in a home game along with Ryan Giggs, who scored 13 goals in a row away from home between May 2001 . February 2003, before ending his run in April 2003 against Liverpool at Old Trafford.

The only other player to score as many as six Premier League goals in his first four away games of a season but score none in his first four at home was Alan Shearer in 1993-94.

Harry Kane has scored 36 competitive goals in 2017 from 147 shots, compared to Bournemouth netting 36 times from 371 shots overall.

No defender has provided more Premier League assists than Kieran Trippier (8) since August 2016, with six of those eight assists resulting in Harry Kane goals.

Jermain Defoe has averaged a goal every 798 minutes versus Tottenham in the Premier League, his worst ratio against all the 36 sides that he’s scored against in the competition.

Watford v Arsenal K. O. 17:30 . Live on BT

Team news
Watford manager Marco Silva will take a late decision on the fitness of Andre Carrillo for the visit of Arsenal.

Carrillo, the winger on a season-long loan from Benfica, played for Peru in their 1-1 World Cup qualifier against Colombia on Wednesday night.

Forward Isaac Success has been ruled out for up to eight weeks with a knee injury, while Sebastian Prodl (thigh) is a doubt and Younes Kaboul (hamstring) remains sidelined.

Arsene Wenger will assess Alexis Sanchez's physical and mental condition before selecting his team.

Sanchez only arrived back in London on Thursday after missing out on World Cup qualification with Chile but Mesut Ozil and Danny Welbeck are available, having overcome knee and groin injuries respectively.

Shkodran Mustafi suffered a thigh strain over the international break and is set to be out for four to six weeks while Laurent Koscielny (Achilles) and Sead Kolasinac (hip) will be given late fitness tests.

Calum Chambers (hip), Francis Coquelin (hamstring) and Santi Cazorla (ankle) are all out.

Watford (from): Gomes, Holebas, Kabasele, Britos, Mariappa, Femenia, Carrillo, Richarlison, Cleverley, Doucoure, Capoue, Gray, Karnezis, Deeney, Wague, Pereyra, Janmaat, Watson.

Arsenal (from): Cech, Ospina, Macey, Koscielny, Mertesacker, Holding, Monreal, Kolasinac, Bellerin, Debuchy, Elneny, Xhaka, Maitland-Niles, Ramsey, Wilshire, Ozil, Walcott, Sanchez, Welbeck, Lacazette, Giroud, Akpom.

Opta Statistics
In their last meeting, back in January at the Emirates, Watford earned their first league win against Arsenal since April 1988 and ended a run of seven straight league defeats against them.

Arsene Wenger has won eight of his 10 matches versus Watford in all competitions as Arsenal manager (L2).

Watford have failed to keep a clean sheet in each of their last 10 matches against Arsenal in all competitions – they last kept a shutout vs the Gunners in April 1988 (1-0) when Tony Coton was in between the sticks for the Hornets.

Arsenal haven’t failed to score in their opening four away league games of a season since 1936-37 – the last time the Gunners failed to score in four consecutive away league games in the same season was in December 1992 under George Graham.

Watford have made their best-ever start to a Premier League season after seven games (12 points). Indeed, the Hornets have only won more points at this stage of a top-flight season once before, back in 1982-83 under Graham Taylor (15 points).

Since the start of the 2015-16 campaign, Arsenal have scored more headed goals in the Premier League than any other side (34), with Olivier Giroud netting 14 of them (41%).

Watford are winless in their opening three home league games this season (D2 L1) – they’ve only failed to win their first four home games in six previous seasons, most recently in 2011-12 in the Championship.

Petr Cech has kept four consecutive clean sheets in the Premier League for the first time since February 2015. The Czech glovesman last enjoyed a longer run of top-flight shut-outs between April and August 2010 (six in total).

Troy Deeney is without a goal in his last 13 league games, his longest goal-drought ever in the Premier League and his worst in league football since October 2011 (32 in total).

Alexis Sanchez has scored three and assisted three in his four Premier League games against Watford. However, Sanchez has failed to score in his last five Premier League appearances; his longest goal-drought in the competition since a goalless run of 11 games between October 2015 and March 2016.


Sunday 15th October 2017

Brighton and Hove Albion v Everton K. O. 13:30

Team news
Holland midfielder Davy Propper is fit for Brighton's home game against Everton after a hip injury.

Sam Baldock (calf) and Beram Kayal (broken leg) are still unavailable, although both are due to play for the under-23s on Monday to step up their comebacks.

Striker Tomer Hemed is suspended and midfielder Steve Sidwell has a back injury.

Everton boss Ronald Koeman has a decision to make in defence.

Phil Jagielka is fit again after missing nearly a month with a hamstring problem and could replace Ashley Williams, whose shaky form continued with a crucial mistake for Wales on Monday.

James McCarthy will make his return from a knee injury for the Under-23s on Tuesday while Seamus Coleman, Ramiro Funes Mori, Ross Barkley, Aaron Lennon and Yannick Bolasie are also sidelined.

Brighton (from): Krul, Maenpaa, Ryan, Schelotto, Hunemeier, Bruno, Dunk, Duffy, Goldson, Rosenior, Suttner, Bong, Ahannach, Brown, Hutchinson, March, Stephens, Skalak, Propper, Knockaert, Izquierdo, Gross, Murphy, Murray.

Everton (from): Pickford, Stekelenburg, Williams, Keane, Jagielka, Holgate, Martina, Kenny, Baines, Schneiderlin, Gueye, Besic, Klaassen, Sigurdsson, Rooney, Davies, Vlasic, Lookman, Mirallas, Sandro, Calvert-Lewin, Niasse.

Opta Statistics
This will be the first competitive meeting between Brighton and Everton since April 1983 in the top-flight. The Toffees won that game at Brighton 2-1, courtesy of a brace from Kevin Sheedy.

Brighton have picked up just one win from their eight league meetings with Everton (W1 D3 L4). The Seagulls won 3-1 in February 1982, with goals from Tony Grealish, Gerry Ryan and Steve Foster securing the points that day.

Everton have lost just one of their last 19 Premier League games against newly-promoted teams (W10 D8 L1), with that solitary defeat coming at the hands of Burnley in October 2016.

The Toffees have scored just six goals in their last 12 matches in the Premier League, failing to score on seven occasions.

Everton have had just 17 shots on target in their first seven Premier League games this season – only two more than Romelu Lukaku has had for Manchester United on his own this season (15).

Ronald Koeman has won just 18.2% of his Premier League away games in charge of Everton (P22 W4 D7 L11), compared to winning 36.8% on the road while at Southampton (P38 W14 D8 L16).

Chris Hughton has lost just one of his five previous games against Everton as a manager (W2 D2 L1), although that defeat came last time out while in charge at Norwich in January 2014.

Pascal Gross has covered 82.1km so far this season, the third highest total in the Premier League behind Burnley’s Jack Cork (85.1km) and Watford’s Abdoulaye Doucouré (83.4km).

Gross has also been involved in four of Brighton’s five Premier League goals this season (two goals, two assists) and has created 15 goalscoring chances so far; eight more than any other Brighton player.

Since the start of last season, Everton’s Idrissa Gueye has made more tackles (161) than any other player in the Premier League.

Southampton v Newcastle United K.O. 16:00 . Live on Sky

Team news
Forward Shane Long will be available for Southampton in their Premier League clash against Newcastle at St Mary's.

Long was absent from the Republic of Ireland's World Cup qualifier against Wales with a hip injury, but is available for Mauricio Pellegrino when his side entertain the Magpies.

Pellegrino also revealed there were no fresh injury concerns following the international break for the visit of Rafael Benitez's side on Sunday.

Newcastle midfielder Jonjo Shelvey is available despite breaking a finger as he intervened in a training ground bust-up.

Shelvey was hurt as he stepped in between skipper Jamaal Lascelles and Mohamed Diame as tempers flared during the international break, but will play, if selected, wearing a special cast.

Manager Rafael Benitez otherwise had no fresh injuries with only defender Paul Dummett (hamstring) and Massadio Haidara (knee) still missing.

Southampton (from): Forster, McCarthy, Stephens, Bertrand, Targett, McQueen, Soares, Pied, Yoshida, Hoedt, Van Dijk, Bednarek, Davis, Hojbjerg, Tadic, Romeu, Redmond, Ward-Prowse, Lemina, Long, Boufal, Austin, Gabbiadini.

Newcastle (from): Elliot, Darlow, Woodman, Yedlin, Manquillo, Mbemba, Gamez, Lascelles, Clark, Lejeune, Hayden, Merino, Shelvey, Saivet, Ritchie, Atsu, Murphy, Aarons, Diame, Perez, Gayle, Joselu, Mitrovic.

Opta Statistics
Southampton have won more Premier League games in total (15) and at home (12) against Newcastle than they have against any other side in the competition.

Newcastle have failed to keep an away clean sheet against Southampton in the top-flight in each of their last 26 games, since a 0-0 draw in February 1969.

Newcastle have won just once in 16 Premier League away games versus Saints (W1 D3 L12).

The Magpies have won just five points from their last 42 available on the road in the Premier League (W1 D2 L11), with that win coming at Swansea last month.

Newcastle have conceded just 10 goals in their last 13 Premier League games and never more than twice in a match. The last time they shipped three goals in a Premier League game was their last visit to St Mary’s – a 1-3 loss in April 2016.

Saints have failed to score in eight of their last nine home Premier League matches, with the exception being a 3-2 win against West Ham in August.

Rafael Benitez has failed to collect a single point in his three previous Premier League visits to St. Mary’s . all with different teams. He lost there with Liverpool in January 2005, Chelsea in March 2013 and Newcastle in April 2016.

Newcastle have averaged the youngest starting line-up in the Premier League this season (25 years, 211 days). Indeed, five of the 10 youngest starting XI’s this term have been named by Rafael Benitez.

Since the start of last season, Charlie Austin is Southampton’s top scorer at home in the Premier League despite playing just 12 times (five goals).

Shane Long scored in both games the last times these sides met in 2015-16. He’s scored two goals and assisted a further two in his last three Premier League games against the Magpies.

Monday 16th October 2017

Leicester City v West Bromwich Albion K.O. 20:00 . Live on Sky

Team news
Jamie Vardy and Wilfred Ndidi will be fit when Leicester resume their Premier League campaign against West Brom at the King Power Stadium on Monday night.

Vardy was left out of the England squad due to an ongoing hip problem but the striker has recovered during the international break while a suspected hamstring injury sustained by Ndidi while playing for Nigeria turned out to be just cramp.

Defender Ben Chilwell (knee) was withdrawn from the England Under-21 squad as a precaution but he is also fit.

Robert Huth (ankle) and Matty James (Achilles) remain unavailable.

Nacer Chadli, James Morrison and Hal Robson-Kanu are all doubts for West Brom.

Midfielders Chadli and Morrison have back and calf complaints respectively while Robson-Kanu has a strain which could see him miss Monday's game at the King Power Stadium.

Oliver Burke will be assessed after playing for Scotland Under-21s while Salomon Rondon will return from South America after international duty with Venezuela to link up with the squad on Saturday.

Leicester (from): Schmeichel, Jakupovic, Hamer, Simpson, Fuchs, Morgan, Chilwell, Maguire, Dragovic, Wasilewski, Benalouane, Iborra, Ndidi, Amartey, Gray, Albrighton, Mahrez, Musa, Vardy, Ulloa, Slimani, Okazaki, Iheanacho.

West Brom (from): Foster, Myhill, Nyom, Evans, Dawson, McAuley, Yuning, Hegazi, Gibbs, Brunt, Yacob, Morrison, Livermore, Field, Phillips, McClean, Barry, Rondon, Rodriguez, Chadli, Burke, Robson-Kanu, Krychowiak.

Opta Statistics
These sides have met on just six previous occasions in the Premier League, with Leicester winning three and West Brom winning two. Leicester have never beaten West Brom on home soil in the Premier League, losing two and drawing one.

The Baggies are unbeaten in each of their last seven away league games against Leicester City (W5 D2 L0), their longest ever run without defeat in Leicester.

Leicester have won just five points from seven games so far this season, their joint-lowest return at this stage of a Premier League campaign alongside 1994-95, 2001-02 and 2003-04 – they were relegated at the end of each of those seasons.

Leicester have won four of their last five Premier League home games on a Monday (L1), while West Brom have enjoyed just one victory from their previous 11 top-flight Monday games away from home (W1 D4 L6).

Leicester have won just once in their last 10 Premier League matches under Craig Shakespeare (W1 D3 L6), this after winning seven of the first 10 under his stewardship.

Tony Pulis has seen his sides score 316 goals in 317 Premier League games as a manager; no manager has a lower goals-per-game average in the competition (minimum 150 games).

Under Tony Pulis, West Bromwich Albion have scored more set-piece goals (excl. penalties) than any other side in the Premier League (46).

Jamie Vardy has scored in three of his last five Premier League games versus West Brom, although all three goals have been at The Hawthorns.

Since Tony Pulis took over as WBA boss on January 1st 2015, Salomon Rondon has scored 18 Premier League goals – seven more than any other player for the club in that period. However, Rondon hasn’t scored in consecutive league appearances since September 2016.

In Leicester’s title-winning campaign, Riyad Mahrez had a hand in 28 goals in 37 league appearances (17 goals, 11 assists). Since the start of last season, the Algerian winger has been involved in just 11 goals in 43 games (six goals, five assists).











 Sporting Life
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