| 22/10/21 | 20:00 (UK) | Arsenal Vs Aston Villa |

| Form/Fixture (Recent) History |

Arsenal are unbeaten (6 matches, and unbeaten in 7 of their previous 8 matches) in all competitions since a 5-0 thumping away at 2020/21 Premier League champions and Champions League finalists Manchester City, Arteta’s side go in to Friday’s match against Aston Villa off the back of 4 victories in all competitions since the aforementioned defeat in Manchester, and have Aubameyang looking fresh and in better form.

• Aston Villa have won 4 of their 10 matches in all competitions this season (3 wins in 8 Premier League matches) and are having a up and down season.

• Aston Villa have lost back to back to Premier League matches – Vs Wolves (2-3) Vs Spurs (2-1) after winning back to back Premier League matches against Manchester United (0-1) & Everton (3-0).

• Aston Villa have won their previous 3 matches against Arsenal (1-0, 0-3 & 1-0).

• Aston Villa have won 4 times at the Emirates (at time of writing) – 0-3, 1-3,1-2 & 0-2 in 2020/21, 2013/14, 2010/11 & 2008/09 in respectively.

| Aubameyang in Form & Watkins In Big Games (?) |

• The former Dortmund striker appears to be playing through the middle more and Arsenal arguably (depending on what type of match it is) play better with just one of Aubameyang or Lacazette (scored his first Premier League goal of the season in GW8, 3 goals scored in all competitions in 5 appearances this season) rather than both playing together.

• Aubameyang now has 6 goals (and 1 assist) in 8 matches in all competitions this season (at the time of writing).

Watkins shined in the so called harder matches in 2020/21, albeit with no fans in, but the former Brentford forward scored well in matches against the top 8 (2020/21).

• Watkins scored 3 goals in 2 Premier League matches against Arsenal in 2020/21.

Having scored/assisted in his previous two league matches, and scorer of 3 goals against Arteta’s in 2020/21, Watkins can cause Arsenal problems on the counter attack.

| 23/10/21 | 12:30 (UK) | Chelsea Vs Norwich City |

| Form/Fixture (Recent) History |

• Chelsea have won (6) all but 1 of their matches at home this season (7).

• Chelsea have scored 15 goals in 7 home matches in all competitions this season.

• Chelsea have kept 7 clean sheets in 12 matches in all competitions this season.

• Chelsea are undefeated against Norwich City in the Premier League since 1994.

| Havertz As A (False) 9? |

With the (probable) injuries of Lukaku and Werner, Havertz may well be given the nod to start up front for Chelsea, and especially as he is more or less the only player unavailable for Chelsea that has played as a 9 or false 9 before (for Leverkusen).

The former Bayer Leverkusen player scored Chelsea’s winning goal against Manchester City in the Champions League final in May and was involved in 10 Premier League goals in 2020/21 (4 goals and 6 assists).

The German international has yet to hit top form this season but there may be an opportunity for him to do with injuries to key players.

However, Havertz is fresh, having not played a great amount of minutes in the Premier League this season and after scoring as a substitute in Chelsea’s midweek Champions League 4-0 home win against Malmo.

| 23/10/22 | 15:00 (UK) | Crystal Palace Vs Newcastle United |

| Form/Fixture (Recent) History |

• Crystal Palace are unbeaten in all but 2 Premier League matches (8) this season but have only won 1 Premier League match (at the time of writing).

• Both sides have just one Premier League win between themselves this season.

• Only Liverpool (3-0) & Chelsea (3-0) have beaten Crystal Palace in the Premier league this season.

• Crystal Palace have won three of their previous 5 matches against Newcastle United.

• Newcastle United have not won in 9 matches in all competitions this season.

| Edouard’s / Wilson’s Form |

After tough opening fixtures for Crystal Palace, and kinder ones to come (on paper at least!), Édouard may be the player Palace need for these type of fixtures.

The former Celtic player is a poacher, and interestingly enough played with Benteke away at Arsenal (2-2), scoring his 3rd Premier League goal in 5 matches (3 starts) in 2021/22.

Edouard has scored 3 goals in 5 Premier League appearances (3 starts) from 5 shots on target (call that clinical or efficient, or whatever you want, but some attackers only need one or two chances to score and he may find himself getting a few more goal scoring opportunities from here on in).

For those playing any fantasy football game and with a a spare transfer or two or wanting to look for a differential or wanting to freshen things up a bit (those playing FPL Draft perhaps), Edouard is someone to consider and look out for.

On paper he appeared to play on the left away against Arsenal (2-2), but that did not stop him from getting in to central positions, and has played through the middle for the most part this season.

Crystal Palace need goals, Benteke (in recent seasons), Zaha and Ayew offer some goals but are not profilic, therefore Édouard offers Viera a fresh goal scoring option.

Newcastle United, now without Bruce and with new ownership (under much scrutiny), have conceded 19 goals in 8 Premier League matches (currently the most in the league) but at the other end of the pitch, Wilson’s return to fitness is a boost for Newcastle United, along with the exciting Saint-Maximin (5 goal involvements this season – at the time of writing).

• Wilson scored in GW8 on his return from injury – against Spurs (2-3) – his 3rd goal in 4 Premier League appearances this season.

Wilson’s 3 goals thus far have come from 5 shots on target, mainly from in and around the 6 yard box.

The former Bournemouth striker scored his 15th goal for Newcastle United (32 appearances) and 56th Premier League goal in the Premier League (156 appearances).

| 23/10/21 | 15:00 (UK) | Everton Vs Watford |

Watford, with just 2 wins in 8 Premier League matches this season, face Everton at Goodison Park.

• Everton lost their first match at home in the Premier Leaue this season in GW8 but have won 3 of their 4 Premier League matches at home this campaign (by two goals) – Vs Norwich City (2-0), Vs Burnley (3-1) & Southampton (3-1).

• Townsend and Gray have scored 6 Premier League goals between them since joining the club this season.

• Sarr may be a struggling Watford’s best hope (his skill and pace on the counter attack is useful and makes space for other players), and with fixtures getting harder for Ranieri’s side, Sarr has scored 4 goals in 8 Premier League matches for Watford – and as a wide forward for a newly promoted club – is a very reasonable return thus far.

| 23/10/21 | 15:00 (UK) | Leeds United Vs Wolves |

Leeds United have won just 1 Premier League match (at the time of writing – 21/10/21), and 3 in all competitions this season, 2 victories in the League Cup may be of some solace in a very difficult campaign thus far for Bielsa’s side.

But in their second consecutive season in the Premier League, they are in the bottom 4 for goals conceded, but the return of Llorente is a boost (1 goal conceded in 2 matches since his return to fitness).

With Bamford unlikely to feature in GW9, and struggling to recapture his form from 2020/21 (1 goal scored in the Premier League in 2021/22), Leeds face another tough match against an in form Wolves side.

Wolves travel to Elland Road off the back of 4 Premier League wins in 2021/22, and a dramatic 2-3 victory away against Aston Villa, as well as those 4 league wins coming since GW4 (5 matches).

• Hwang and Jimenez, who have played along side one another at times this season, have been involved in 6 Premier League goals (goals/assists) since GW4.

• Wolves have Podence fresh and back available again.

| 23/10/21 | 15:00 (UK) | Southampton Vs Burnley |

• Southampton have kept 3 clean sheets in their previous 5 Premier League matches.

• Broja scored his first Premier League goal in GW8, in Southampton’s first Premier League victory of the season – against Leeds United (1-0), and may be option for Southampton to try to offer them more goals.

• With Ings (Southampton’s top scorer in 2020/21), having moved on to Aston Villa in the summer, A.Armstrong, Adams (2 assists) and Broja have just 2 Premier League goals between them to their name (at the time of writing), and with Southampton being one of the lowest scoring teams in the Premier League in 2021/22.

• Southampton have better fixtures now, and if selected and if he can improve his shooting accuracy, Adam Armstrong (21 shots in the Premier League this season) may be able to add to his debut goal that he scored at Goodison Park in GW1 (his namesake, Stuart Armstrong returned to action in GW8 and may offer Southampton’s attack a boost when at full match sharpness.

• Redmond (can play up front and appeared to have done so in in a front two in GW8), Walcott, Elyounousi & Djenmpo also offer Southampton options in wide areas (when selected).

• Burnley have yet to win Premier League match this season (8 matches) – their only 2 victories in 10 matches in all competitions came in the League Cup, including a 4-1 home win against Rochdale.

• Burnley have won 2 of their previous 4 matches away against Southampton.

| 23/10/21 | 17:30 (UK) | Brighton Vs Manchester City |

• Brighton (4th, before GW9 commences) are unbeaten in 7 of their 8 Premier League matches in 2021/22.

• Manchester City (3rd, before GW9 commences) are also unbeaten in 7 of their 8 Premier League matches.

• At the time of writing (21/10/21), Brighton are one of the most efficient teams in the Premier League and to their credit, having picked up 4 clean sheets, only been beaten once and having scored 8 goals to be in 4th position after 8 Premier League matches in 2021/22.

• Manchester City have won 3 of their 4 Premier League matches at The Amex (0-5, 1-4, 0-2 in 2019/20, 2018/19 & 2017/18 respectively but Brighton did beat Guardiola’s side this calendar year (3-2).

| 24/10/21 | 14:00 (UK) | Brentford Vs Leicester City |

| 3 At The Back Vs 3 At The Back (?) |

• Brentford are unbeaten in all but 2 of 10 matches in all competitions this season (unbeaten in 8 out of 10 matches to clarify), and have only been beaten (narrowly) by teams that are currently in the top 4 – Vs Brighton (0-1) and Chelsea (0-1).

• 2 of Brentford’s 3 Premier League victories (8 matches played) have came away from home.

• 3 of Brentford’s 4 Premier League home matches (and matches that they did not win) have came against 3 of the current top 4 – Chelsea (0-1), Liverpool (3-3) & Brighton (0-1).

• Brentford have one of the best defences this season in terms of goals conceded (5th) and have not conceded many shots on target but have conceded 5 goals in their previous 3 Premier League matches.

• Vardy has scored/assisted in all but one of his away matches in the Premier League this season, having scored 3 goals from 4 shots on target (and 1 assist) on the road.

• Leicester City played a 3 at the back formation (or 5 at the back, off the ball) against Manchester United (4-2) for the first time this season, and quite possibly because now they have enough centre backs fit again to play that with with Evans back fit again.

• Leicester City go in to the fixture with back to back victories in all competitions – Vs Spartak Moscow (3-4) and Manchester United (4-2).

• Vardy, Premier League 2019/20 Golden Boot winner and 2021/22 joint top scorer (with Salah, if assists are not taken into consideration), was rested in midweek and is likely to be fresh for the match away at Brentford.

| 24/10/21 | 14:00 (UK) | West Ham United Vs Spurs |

• West Ham United have lost two consecutive Premier League home matches – Vs Brentford (1-2) & Manchester United (2-1).

• West Ham United beat Genk (3-0) on 21/10/21 to win their 8th match (12 matches) of the season (in all competitions).

• Antonio appeared to be rested for West Ham United’s third Europa League victory of the season and is fresh his sides’ 9th Premier League fixture of the season.

• Bowen (a set piece taker) has scored/assisted in 3 consecutive matches in all competitions.

• Spurs were beaten 1-0 by Vitisse in the UEFA Conference League on 21/10/21.

• Kane appeared to be rested and is likely to be fresh for GW9.

• Spurs have won 3 of their previous 5 Premier League matches against West Ham United.

• Kane scored his first Premier League goal of the season (and got an assist) in GW8 – against Newcastle United (2-3).

• Kane has scored (4) or assisted (1) in 3 of his previous 4 matches against West Ham United.

| 24/10/21 | 16:30 (UK) | Manchester United Vs Liverpool |

| Form/Fixture (Recent) History |

• Manchester United have failed to win any of their previous 3 Premier League matches.

• Manchester United have conceded in 11 of their 12 matches in all competitions this season.

• Manchester United beat Atalanta 3-2 on 20/10/21, recording a second consecutive Champions League home win.

• Manchester United have scored 10 goals in 4 home matches in the Premier League this season (15 goals scored at home in 7 home matches in all competitions).

• Liverpool have won 3 of their 4 Premier League away matches this season.

• Liverpool won their previous Premier League meeting at Old Trafford (2-4) in 2020/21.

• Liverpool are unbeaten in 4 of their previous 5 Premier League matches at Old Trafford.

• Liverpool are unbeaten in their previous 6 Premier League matches (3 wins) against Manchester United (home/away).

• Liverpool are unbeaten in 12 matches all competitions this season (in the Premier League, Champions League & The League Cup).

• Liverpool scored 3 goals or more away from home in GW8 – Vs Watford (0-5) – for the 6th time (in all competitions) this season.

• Salah, 12 goals scored for Liverpool in 12 appearances this season in all competitions (at the time of writing), and he has scored 3 goals in his previous 2 matches at Old Trafford (in all competitions).

| Firmino/Jota |

Firmino and Jota are likely to be challenging each other for a starting place for the fixture.

• Firmino has scored 6 goals away from home in 2 starts this season and scored 3 important goals away from home later on in 2020/21 – including a brace at Old Trafford (2-4) and netting at Burnley (0-3), whilst Jota could offer a fresh and pacey option (as a starter or as an impact substitute) – the Portuguese international has scored some significant goals away from home at Brentford (3-3), Norwich City (0-3), Manchester United (2-4), Wolves (0-1) & Arsenal (0-3) this calendar year.