| 21/08/21 |12:30 (UK) | Anfield | Liverpool Vs Burnley |

Liverpool go in to their first home match of the season off the back of a handsome 0-3 win away at Norwich City in GW1.

Liverpool look sharp and will play in front of a full Anfield crowd again, with an opportunity to go top of the Premier League.

▪ Liverpool have won 9 of their previous 11 Premier League matches (2021/22 & 2020/21).

▪ Liverpool have won 3 of their previous 5 matches against Burnley by 2 goals or more (0-3, 0-3 & 4-2).

▪ Liverpool have won all but 4 (10 wins) of their 14 matches in the Premier League against Burnley.

▪ Liverpool had 19 shots on goal and 8 on target in GW1 against Norwich City (3 goals). [Researched with the use of Live Score. ]

| The Full Backs |

Trent and Kostas were bright in GW1, both on set pieces, and off the back off an clean sheet in the opening game.

The afforementioned full backs got forward a lot and were well really involved in GW1.

Both can offer Liverpool extra cutting edge, and with the return of Van Dijk and 4 fit first team centre backs (including Van Dijk), it can allow them more freedom in attack.

• Fabinho may not play in the fixture due to personal/family reasons but the Brazilian being able to play in midfield, and Henderson and Thiago – getting closer to full fitness – is also a boost to Liverpool defensively and in attack.

• Burnley, 17th in the Premier League in 2020/22, were defeated at home by Brighton (1-2) in GW1.

▪ Burnley have won of 2 their 14 Premier League matches against Liverpool.

• Burnley became the first team to beat Burnley at Anfield in the Premier League (January 2021) since Crystal Palace did so in 2017.

| 21/08/21 | 15:00 (UK) | Villa Park |Aston Villa Vs Newcastle United |

• Both sides were defeated in GW1, away at Watford (3-2) and at home against West Ham United (2-4) respectively, and wait their first point(s) of the 2021/22 Premier League season.

▪ Aston Villa and Newcastle United have meet 48 times in the Premier League (10 wins for Aston Villa, 22 wins for Newcastle United and 16 draws for Newcastle United).

• Danny Ings scored on his competitive debut for Aston Villa – against Watford (3-2) – and now has scored for 4 different Premier League clubs (Aston Villa, Southampton, Liverpool & Burnley).

• Wilson scored his 54th Premier League his career – against West Ham United (2-4) – for Newcastle United in GW1.

| 21/08/21 | 15:00 (UK) | Selhurst Park| Crystal Palace Vs Brentford |

• Crystal Palace won just 6 matches at home in the Premier League in the 2020/21 season.

Will Fans Back At Selhurst Park Help Viera’s Side?

There were 7 home wins in GW1 and just 3 away wins, therefore Palace will hope their home crowd will improve their home form, and with their main threat Zaha coming off the back of his highest goal scoring season in the Premier League (11 goals).

▪ Brentford will play their first away match in the Premier League away at Crystal Palace.

• Crystal Palace conceded 13 goals from set pieces in 2020/21.

• Brentford scored 12 goals from set pieces in 2020/21 (albeit in a The Championship, a very competitive league but a league below the Premier League).

| 21/08/21| 15:00 (UK) | Elland Road | Leeds United Vs Everton |

▪ Leeds United and Everton will meet for a 27th time in the Premier League (both clubs have won 8 matches each – at the time of writing).

• Both victories for either side in 2020/21 – came for the away side (0-1 to Leeds United and 1-2 to Everton).

• Everton have Calvert-Lewin available again, having started and scored at home against Southampton (3-1) in GW1 – as well as being Everton’s top scorer in 2020/21 with 21 goals (in all competitions) – he netted in the fixture at Ellan Road in 2020/21.

| 21/08/21|15:00 (UK) | Etihad | Manchester City Vs Norwich City |

▪ Manchester City will meet for the 19th time in Premier League history.

▪ Manchester City have won 9 of their 18 matches against Norwich City in the Premier League.

▪ There have been 6 draws between Manchester City and Norwich City in the Premier League.

• The previous meeting in the Premier League at the Etihad between both clubs saw Manchester City win 5-0 in GW38 in the 2018/19 season.

▪ Norwich City have beaten Manchester City just three times in 18 Premier League matches.

• Norwich City won at the Etihad in May 2013 (GW38) and beat Manchester City at home (3-2) in September 2019.

|21/08/21| 15:00 (UK)| Amex | Brighton Vs Watford |

• Both sides go in to the fixture off the back of a victory in their opening match (respectively), from a pyschology point of view, this may give either side a boost and free them up a bit.

• Brighton won just 4 home matches in 2020/21, but will be boosted like many teams by having a home crowd.

Brighton (2 wins) and Watford (1 win) have meet 6 times in the Premier League (3 draws).

Brighton had one of highest levels of xG in the Premier League in 2020/21, Potter’s side do not struggle to create chances but need to be more clinical.

• Maupay was on the scoresheet in Brighton’s win at Burnley (1-2) and was Brighton’s top scorer in the league with 8 goals.

• Brighton conceded 10 goals from set pieces in 2020/21.

• Watford looked quick on the break/in transition against Aston Villa, with the threat of Sarr (scored in GW1) and co, they may cause a threat on the counter attack with plenty of pace and skill.

| 22/08/22 |14:00 (UK)| St.Marys | Southampton Vs Manchester United |

▪ Manchester United are unbeaten against Southampton in the Premier League since 2016 – 10 matches.

▪ Manchester United have scored 2 goals or against Southampton in 5 of their previous 6 matches in the Premier League.

| Is Fernandes More Effective Without Cavani ? |

• Fernandes overall performs well away from home but his hat-trick, first for Manchester United in the Premier League, shows he performs well home or away – and especially when he has space and pace ahead of him (to create or advance in to goal scoring positions). [ As well as being a set piece taker. ]

▪ Southampton have not beaten Manchester United in the Premier League in January 2016.

• Southampton scored 15 goals from set pieces in 2020/21.

• Manchester United conceded 14 goals from set pieces in 2020/21.

| 22/08/21 | 14:00 (UK) | Molineux | Wolves Vs Spurs |

| Nuno Returns |

Nuno’s second Premier League match as Spurs manager will against the club he previously managed (Wolves) on Sunday.

• Spurs looked really well drilled in their home victory against 2020/21 champions Manchester City, and will be looking to build on such a big win.

| Will Spurs have to get more on the front foot or counter with speed again? |

Both sides have fast front 3s, so this may a battle of the counter attack, Wolves had 17 shots on goal away at Leicester City (1-0), and Spurs countered well at home against Manchester City (1-0).

| 21:40 | 16:30 (UK) | Emirates |Arsenal Vs Chelsea |

▪ Arsenal and Chelsea will meet in the Premier League for a 59th time.

▪ Arsenal have been victorious 22 times and Chelsea have won 19 matches between the two clubs (17 draws).

• Chelsea, UEFA Champions League winners in 2020/21, started the season with a 3-0 home win against Crystal Palace.

▪ Arsenal are unbeaten in three Premier League matches against Chelsea and are unbeaten in 4 of their previous 5 matches against said opponent.

▪ Arsenal’s (3-0) win against Chelsea in September 2016 was their first against Chelsea in the Premier League since October 2011 (3-5). {Arsenal went 9 Premier League matches without beating Chelsea in the Premier League prior to beating Chelsea 3-0 in 2016}.

▪ Arsenal also beat Chelsea in the 2019/20 FA Cup final.

▪ Arsenal have beaten Chelsea 4 times in the Premier League since September 2016 – 10 matches.

• Chelsea have beaten Arsenal 3 times in the Premier League since September 2016.

• Chelsea beat Arsenal in the 2018/19 Europea League final (1-4).

| Will Lukaku Make His ‘Debut’? And How Will Arsenal Line Up (Formation Wise)?|

Lukaku is available for selection, having resigned for Chelsea for a record fee (£97.5m), the former Inter striker has the attributes to give Arsenal’s defence concerns.

However, is is possible that Arsenal may play 3 at the back to try to combat his or other threats threats such as Pulisic, Mount, Havertz or Werner (or possibly Ziyech, the Moroccan is edging closer to fitness). [ Arsenal appeared to play 4-2-3-1 in Arsenal’s defeat at Brentford but Arteta has sometimes played a 3 at the back formation against top 4/6 sides. ]

• Arteta, despite receiving criticism and being under pressure, he has a reasonable record in big matches – and recorded two victories against Chelsea in the Premier League in 2020/21.

| 23/08/21 | 20:00 (UK) | London Stadium | West Ham United Vs Leicester City |

▪ 6th meets 5th (2020/21)

▪ Both clubs have meet one another 28 times in Premier League history.

▪ West Ham United have won 3 of their 5 Premier League matches (2021/22 & 2020/21).

• West Ham United won 10 of their 19 home matches in 2020/21 (unbeaten in 4 out of 19).

• Leicester City were unbeaten in 16 of their 19 away matches in 2020/21 (and won 11 matches on the road).

• West Ham United scored 16 goals from set pieces in 2020/21.

• Leicester City conceded 12 goals from set pieces in 2020/21.