| General (Partly Trivial) Premier League Stats |

GW12 will see Conte, Gerrard, Howe (virtually) and Smith manage their new clubs (Spurs, Aston Villa, Newcastle United and Norwich City respectively) at home in the Premier League for the first time.

Smith faces Southampton as a manager for a second consecutive GW.

The previous 4 GWs has brought about 4 home wins or less (4 in GW11, 2 in GW 10, 3 in GW9 and 3 in GW8).

| 20/11/21 | 12:30 (UK) | Leicester City Vs Chelsea |

| Leicester Up And Down / Chelsea Currently Leading The Way |

Leicester City won back to back league matches for the first time this season with wins against Brentford (1-2) & Manchester United (4-2), and have failed to win 3 home league matches this season, which maybe is a reflection of their season thus far (from a results point of view).

▪ Leicester City have not kept a clean sheet in a league match since beating Wolves (1-0) in GW1.

Leicester are currently fighting on 3 fronts, as they are currently in 3 competitions in the form of the Premier League, the Europa League and the League Cup, that may well have had an effect on their performances and results.

Leicester have only won 2 matches at home in 6 Premier League matches this season (at the time of writing), and can be an inconsistent side but Leicester have shown they can do it in the big matches in recent campaigns – having beaten Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United at home in recent seasons.

However, despite failing to score at home to score against Arsenal (0-2) in their previous match at home, Leicester City scored 6 goals in their previous 2 league matches at home – Vs Manchester United (3-2) and Burnley (2-2) – prior to that.

▪ Leicester City have had 24 shots on target in their previous 3 Premier League matches at home.

▪ Chelsea have won 4 of their 5 Premier League matches away from home this season.

▪ At the time of writing, Chelsea are currently unbeaten away from home in the Premier League in this season.

| Chelsea Conceding Chances / Edouard Mendy On Top Form |

Chelsea’s goals conceded record in the Premier League this season is very impressive (4 goals conceded), but that is in part thanks to the fantastic form of their Senegalise international goalkeeper (Mendy), who has made 28 saves in 11 Premier League matches in 2021/22.

| James & Chelsea’s Options |

▪ James, having scored/assisted 7 goals in the Premier League this season, as well as having been part of 3 clean sheets in league matches this campaign, curiously enough he is Chelsea’s top scorer in the Premier League with 4 goals this season.

▪ Chilwell & Lukaku (injured/a doubt, previously played a league match in GW8) are on 3 goals scored each.

| Chilwell Returns (To The King Power) |

Chilwell is likely to face his former club, and with 3 league goals since coming back in the team (in the league) in GW7, has been part of a Chelsea side that have only conceded 3 goals in their previous 5 Premier League matches.

| 20/11/21 | 15:00 (UK) | Aston Villa Vs Brighton |

| Gerrard Back In The Premier League…As A Manager & Brighton’s Current Unbeaten Away Record (And Possession Stats)|

Gerrard won the SPL title with Rangers as a manager and now after leaving the Scotish Premier League, faces a new challenge in the form of managing in the English Premier League – as Aston Villa manager.

Gerrard, a former Champions League winner as a player, previously played in the Premier League in 2015 but will now face a challenge of getting an out of form Aston Villa side cohesive again.

Gerrard may opt to play a 4-3-3 (or something that resembles a 4-3-3), and how he sets up the side from defensive, midfield and attacking point of view is going to interesting, but he does have talented options at his disposal.

From back to front, Gerrard has Argentina’s number 1 in Martinez – resilient, strong and pacey options at the back with the likes of Konsa and Mings, a well respected defensive midfielder in Luiz and a Scottish international with McGinn – and his intensity in midfield and with the likes of Buendia, Bailey and Watkins/Ings (when fit) in attack.

Aston Villa do have some kinder fixtures coming up (on paper) and will see that as an opportunity to get truely get their season up and running.

Brighton are currently unbeaten away from home in the Premier League this season and have not been beaten in 90 minutes away from home in any competition in 2021/22 (at the time of writing).

Brighton are impressing many with aesthetically pleasing football, but it is not just pretty on the eye, it can also be effective.

In terms of attacking options – Belgium international – Trossard is 5th for most shots in the Premier League in 2021/22.

Brighton, unbeaten in all but 2 Premier League matches this campaign, and have had more of the possession in 8 of their 11 matches, with only Manchester CityLiverpool and Leicester City being the sides that have had more possession than Potter’s side.

This may make for an interesting match in GW12, with Aston Villa being the home side and Gerrard likes his teams to play progressive, aggressive and front foot football but with pacey attackers at his disposal, he may see his players being able to counter attack at home or be effective in transition against Brighton or in some other matches.

Alternatively, if Villa do start well, intensely and get a foothold in the match, Buendia and full backs Cash and Targett are needed to try to break down their opposition.

| Sánchez Suspended |

Sánchez will not be able to appear for Brighton in GW12, after being the first goalkeeper to be sent off in the Premier League since Ederson was sent off against Wolves in December 2019, and therefore Brighton will have to play a Premier League match without the Spaniard in the Premier League for the first time this season.

Despite being 7th in the Premier League, having only lost 2 Premier League matches and being unbeaten away from home in the Premier League this season (at the time of writing), Brighton have actually only won 1 of their previous 7 league matches – as well having had conceded 7 goals in their previous 3 league matches – albeit having faced 2 of the top 4 in said matches – Vs Liverpool (2-2) & Manchester City (1-4).

Brighton are generally a well organised side under Potter, that play attractive football and deserve a lot of credit for being in the top half of the table instead of the bottom half (finished bottom half in 2020/21) in their 5th (consecutive) Premier League season, but Brighton now are perhaps on a bit of a dip and have conceded 25 shots on targets in their previous 6 Premier League.

| Ings Returns (?) / Watkins Quietly Improving (?) / Team Balance/Ings/Watkins Dynamic (?)|

Ings appears to be fit once again (and reunited with Gerrard, having known him during his time at Liverpool), meaning Gerrard now has to figure out how to get the best out of him and/or Watkins whilst still setting up a side that is balanced.

▪ Watkins has looked bright in recent weeks and scored twice in his previous 6 Premier League appearances.

Watkin’s skill and pace is often a concern for opposition sides, and is usually a player that is well involved in matches, who puts teams on the back foot and can arrive well at the back post.

Watkins has not had a great start to the season but he has shown he can deliver in the so called easier matches and the so called harder matches, and having scored/assisted 23 goals (14 goals & 9 assists) in the Premier League in 2020/21.

| 20/11/21 | 15:00 (UK) | Burnley Vs Crystal Palace |

| Burnley’s (Slight) Improvement In Attack (?) & Palace’s Impressive Results/Form|

Cornet appears to be playing up front with Wood, and the former Lyon player has been one of the highest scoring players in the Premier League since GW6 with 4 goals scored, and his skill and pace may be allowing Burnley to have a different dynamic in attack.

Burnley are unbeaten in 3 Premier League matches, having won their first league match of the season and first at home for the first time since beating Aston Villa (3-2) in January this year, and have scored 2 goals or more in 3 of ther previous 6 Premier League matches.

▪ Burnley have had 13 shots on target in their previous 3 Premier League matches.

Strangely enough, and contrary to their perception by many, Burnley had have argubly had more problems defensively than in attack, having only kept 1 clean sheet in the Premier League and having conceded 17 goals in 11 league matches in 2021/22.

Crystal Palace go in to GW12 with two consecutive league wins, unbeaten since being unbeaten in the league since GW7, and with players in particularly decent form such as Gallagher & Zaha (4 goals scored in the league this season, Edouard with 3 and Benteke with 2).

Viera’s Crystal Palace are impressing many, and rightly so, and they have been rather efficient in terms of points gained this season – the former Arsenal midfielder’s team have picked up 15 points (currently 10th) by scoring 2 goals or less in all but 1 of their Premier League matches this season.

Palace have not had a huge amount of shots on target this season relatively speaking, or at least compared to the rest of the league, but have players that are tricky and quick – that can attack in a exciting and direct way.

| 20/11/21 | 15:00 (UK) | Newcastle United Vs Brentford |

| Howe Newcastle Can Attack Well Under Eddie, Newcastle Conceding At Home & Brentford’s Dip In Results & Goals For/Against Since GW6 |

Howe’s arrival at Newcastle United will give Newcastle a boost from an attacking point of view (perhaps less so from a defensive point of view), and that is likely to be useful for their best attackers in Wilson and Saint-Maximin, and possibly even for Frasier.

Newcastle have scored enough goals in matches this season to have won matches (second most goals conceded), and arguably have scored a reasonable amount of goals this season, but Bruce’s style of play was not the most free flowing and therefore Howe brings an identity for the players to buy in to.

Despite the hugely scrutinised investment off the pitch, problems remain on it for Newcastle, being the only side in the Premier League yet to win a match (in any competition). But on a more positive note for Newcastle fans, they have three winnable (but absolutely not a given) home matches (on paper at least) coming up (Vs Brentford, and Norwich & Burnley) and with a new forward thinking manager at the helm to get the crowd roaring.

Both sides have had their first choice goalkeepers missing through injury – Dubravka & Raya – and both sides have both conceded in their previous 6 Premier League matches.

▪ Dubravka appears to available for selection again.

As well as not having had their best goalkeepers out from a purely sporting point of view, it may have been affecting their continuity and communication in defence, and that is something that has affected numerous sides in recent seasons.

Newcastle’s matches at St.James’ Park have had 20 goals in 6 Premier League matches.

▪ At the time of writing, Brentford have won more matches away from home (2) than at home (1) in the Premier League this season.

▪ 3 of Toney’s 4 goal involvements this season have came away from home.

| 20/11/21 | 15:00 (UK) | Norwich City Vs Southampton |

| Smith At The Helm & Southampton’s Mini Unbeaten Run |

▪ Norwich City won their first Premier League match of the season in GW/Round 11 – Vs Brentford (1-2).

▪ Norwich City are unbeaten in 3 of their 5 Premier League matches.

▪ Norwich City have conceded in 9 of their 11 league matches in 2021/22.

▪ Southampton won back to back Premier League matches – Vs Aston Villa (1-0) & Watford (1-0).

▪ Southampton are unbeaten in 4 Premier League matches.

| 20/11/21 | 15:00 (UK) | Watford Vs Manchester United |

▪ Watford have not won a league match at home since beating Aston Villa (3-2) in GW1.

▪ Watford were victorious against Manchester United (2-0) in the previous Premier League meeting between the two clubs in 2019/20.

▪ Watford have conceded in every (home) match in the Premier League this season.

▪ Manchester United have conceded 19 shots on target in their previous 3 Premier League matches.

▪ Manchester United have conceded in 14 of their 16 matches in all competitions this season.

▪ Manchester United have scored in every away match in the Premier League match this season.

▪ Ronaldo has scored 9 goals in 12 matches (in all competitions) since returning to Manchester United.

| 20/11/21 | 15:00 (UK) | Wolves Vs West Ham United |

▪ Ogbonna is unlikely to feature for West Ham United in GW12.

▪ West Ham United are unbeaten away from in all competitions in 2021/22.

▪ West Ham United have won all but 1 of their away matches in the Premier League this season.

▪ West Ham United are second highest scoring team away from home in the Premier League.

| 20/11/21 | 17:30 (UK) | Liverpool Vs Arsenal |

| Liverpool (At Home) Against Arsenal |

▪ Liverpool have scored 3 goals or more at home against Arsenal in their previous 6 Premier League matches.

▪ Liverpool are unbeaten at home against Arsenal in the Premier League since 2012.

| Arsenal’s Current Unbeaten Run / Away Form / Chances Conceded |

▪ Arsenal are unbeaten in all competitions since GW4.

• Arsenal conceded 8 shots on target in their previous away league match.

▪ 4 of Arsenal’s league wins this season have came at the Emirates.

| Salah’s Concistency, Salah (At Home) This Calender Year & Salah (At Home) against Arsenal Overall |

▪ Salah has had 44 shots in the Premier League (most of any other player in the league) in 2021/22.

▪ Salah has scored or assisted in but 1 of his Premier League matches this season.

▪ Salah has scored in 3 of his 5 Premier League home matches this season.

▪ Salah has scored or assisted in every Premier League since GW3 match this season.

▪ Salah has scored in 4 of his 7 matches at Anfield this season.

▪ Salah, at the time of writing, has scored 15 goals in 15 appearances in all competitions this season.

▪ Salah has scored or assisted at least 2 goals in his previous 3 matches at home against Arsenal.

| An Underrated Mané (?) |

Mané recently joined the Premier League 100 goals club, a remarkable achievement from a wide forward and a former Premier League and UEFA Champions League winner in 2019/20 and 2018/19 respectively, and it could be that the Senegalise international is not quite being noticed as much recently.

2 of Mané’s goals at home in the Premier League this season have came from him making a run from left to central/towards the right, to score beautifully past Manchester City (2-2) & Burnley (2-0) respectively.

▪ Mané has had the 2nd most amount of shots in the Premier League this season.

Mané has scored 4 goals at home in 6 Premier League appearances at Anfield this season (at the time of writing).

Mané has seemingly appeared to at times find him self in more central positions recently (home and away), and the heat maps back that up, his effort saved by Fabianski in GW11 is an example of this.

| Jota The Slotter Against The Top 6/’Big’ 6/The Actual Top 7 |

▪ Jota scored 3 goals in 2 Premier League matches against Arsenal in 2020/21.

▪ Jota has scored against the vast majority of the ‘big 6’ (Chelsea, Manchester City, Manchester United, Arsenal & Spurs) / the current top 7 (Brighton) / top 7 from 2020/21 (Leicester City).

| Origi/Minamino (Fitness Permiting) To Get Minutes In The Christmas Fixtures (?)|

Origi has been thrown in from time to time under Klopp, and with Firmino out injured for quite possibly for the rest of the year or most of it, Origi is pushing for more minutes having scored and assisted fairly well in all competitons this season.

Origi, is not the most prolific striker it is fair to say but he is a cult hero at Liverpool, and as a player who has scored in a Champions League semi final and final, he clearly has ability deliver when it matters most.

Origi has a decent goals per minute ratio for Liverpool, considering he hasn’t always started a great amount of matches, but the Belgium international has scored well against the likes of Southampton, Everton & Newcastle United (3 of Liverpool’s up and coming opponents).

It is not to necessarily say that Origi is first choice, having only made 2 Premier League appearances in 2021/22 – as Salah, Jota and Mane are clearly the more established choices in attack – but Origi started in Liverpool’s 3-2 home win against AC Milan (1 assist) and has scored well in the League Cup this campaign and he may see more opportunities to play soon (in any competition) given the sheer amount of fixtures coming up in all competitions for Liverpool (currently in all 4 competitions in 2021/22).

Minimino has scored well in the League Cup this season, and like Origi, has saw very little game time in the Premier League up to this point this season, but he may be used a bit more with the hectic schedule coming up.

| The F Factor (?) / Getting Midfielders Back To Fitness|

Fabinho has only made 1 appearance in the Premier League since GW7, the Brazilian made 5 concesutive Premier League appearances (90 minutes) from GW4 to GW7, and that coupled with the likes of Thiago, Milner etc playing more regularly again will boost Liverpool from a defensive point of view.

| Kostas Ready To Fill In Again (?) |

With Robertson being a doubt and the sheer amount of matches coming up, Kostas may come back in to the team, having picked up 3 clean sheets in the Premier League this season (the same amount as Robertson).

Kostas has impressed this campaign, having very much played his part Liverpool getting 6 clean sheets in all competitions when he has featured, and seemingly is trusted to take corners for Klopp’s side.

Kostas looks solid defensively and bright going forward, and his previous appearance for Liverpool came in a 2-0 home win against Atlético Madrid.

On that note, of games coming thick and fast – it is possible that the likes of Kostas, Minamino and Origi may be used in Liverpool’s remaining two Champions League group matches – given how Liverpool have already mathematically qualified for the knock-out rounds of the competition

| 21/11/21 | 14:00 (UK) | Manchester City Vs Everton |

▪ Manchester City are unbeaten at home in the Premier League against Everton since 2010.

▪ At the time of writing, after 11 Premier League matches, Manchester City’s joint top scorers in the league are Foden and Bernardo Silva (3).

▪ Cancelo has assisted 5 goals in his previous 2 matches in all competitions.

| 21/11/21 | 16:00 (UK) | Spurs Vs Leeds United |

| A Team Lacking Shots On Target Vs A Team Quietly Conceding Less Goals |

Spurs have not scored in their previous 3 Premier League matches, having not had a single shot on target in their previous 2 Premier League matches and have not won a league match since beating Newcadtle United (2-3) in GW8.

But with Conte as their new manager, and a couple of matches under his belt, Spurs will hope to take advantage of playing at home, having won 3 of their 5 Premier League matches at home this season.

Conte needs time to get Spurs gelling and by doing so with his likely 3 at the back system (possibly 3-4-2-1 or 3-5-2), but despite Spurs’ poor recent form, he has taken over a side that has beaten Manchester City (1-0) this season.

Reguilón (4 clean sheets and 2 assists) may feature as a left wing back and possibly link up with Son (in a two behind Kane, in a front 3 of sorts or sorts or in a two with Kane), and this may be particularly successful against a Leeds United side without their best right/right wing back Ayling.

Kane, despite the fact that no player currently playing in the Premier League has scored more goals than him and being the 7th highest goal scorer in Premier League history, has had 0 shots on target in his previous 2 Premier League matches, has had 0 or 1 shots on target in 5 of his previous 6 Premier League matches but he did have 7 shots on target in 4 Premier matches prior to those matches in GW10 & GW11 (4 against Aston Villa).

▪ Leeds United have conceded in all but 1 of their Premier League matches this season.

Leeds United have one of the worst defences in terms of goals conceded in the Premier League this season but have conceded 1 goal or less in their previous 5 Premier League matches (4 matches against the current bottom half).

In terms of just purely clean sheets or goals conceded (obviously that does not necessarily mean that they do not concede numerous chances) Leeds United are a curious team, having got 12 clean sheets in their first season back in the Premier League since 2004 but having only gotten 1 clean sheet in the league this season.