There’s another GW, it’s GW15, it felt like GW14 was only about 20 minutes ago but it’s the time of the season where the games come thick and fast – so who are we to complain…too much.

| General |

GW15 will see the top 3 away from home, not that is necessarily a disadvantage, given how Manchester City, Chelsea and Liverpool have won 16 matches on the road between all three clubs (from a possible 21 matches).

▪ The matches are well and truely coming thick and fast, meaning there are more demands on managers, teams and players – collectively and individually – as well as mentally and physically.

▪ The wins at home continue to be rather minimal – at the time of writing- just 3 teams won at home in GW14 (Leeds United, Spurs & Manchester United).

| 04/12/21 | 12:30 (UK) | The London Stadium | West Ham United Vs Chelsea |

| The Frank Lampard Derby (Played For Both Clubs & I Couldn’t Think Of A Better Title) |

West Ham United have had a few difficult matches and ultimately bad results in recent matches, on top of being in multiple competitions, and face another tough against leaders Chelsea.

That is not to say that it will be an easy match for Chelsea, in a London derby, but Tuchel’s side have been for most part excellent away from home in 2021/22.

Also, Chelsea have performed well in the early match, for what it’s worth – but regardless of what time their matches have kicked off this season – the current European champions have dropped only point in 1 away from home in 2021/22 (and with just 1 defeat away from home in all competitions).

| Factors/Stats In Favour of the Form Team (Away From Home) |

▪ Chelsea have won 6 of their 7 Premier League away matches (unbeaten away from home in the league in 2021/22.)

▪ James may well be fit and appears to be available for selection (3 goals scored away from home in the league in 2021/22, as well as multiple assists and clean sheets).

▪ A significant amount of Chelsea’s Premier League goals in 2021/22 have been scored by defenders (13).

Chelsea’s system is well suited to wing backs, and with James in contention to start – Alonso (if selected) offers a goal threat with his late runs at the back post, height and set pieces (the Spaniard has 23 goals goals in 159 Premier League appearances as a ‘defender’).

▪ Ziyech scored Chelsea’s winning goal against Watford (1-2) in GW14, and despite just 3 starts in the league in 2021/22 (and having struggled to get much momentum going as a Chelsea player), the former Ajax attacker is supremely talented and offers the 2021/22 Super Cup winners creativity and a threat from distance/with set pieces (if/when he is on them).

▪ Lukaku, despite having only played 29 minutes (2 appearances) since GW8, is available for selection again (and has a decent goal scoring record against West Ham United).

▪ West Ham United have not won any of their previous 3 Premier League matches.

| Factors/Stats In Favour of Moyes’ West Ham |

▪ West Ham United can potentially give Chelsea problems on Chelsea’s left side, with Alonso possibly given the nod at left wing back, and with the pace, skill and direct play of an in form Bowen.

▪ Chelsea midfielders Kovacic and Kante appear to be injured/are doubts.

▪ Despite having conceded the least amount of goals in the league this season, Chelsea (6) have conceded in 3 of their previous 4 Premier League matches.

| 04/12/21 | 15:00 (UK) | St.James’ Park | Newcastle United Vs Burnley |

| Howe Am I Going To Come Up With A New Eddie Pun / Burnley Fresh (?) / Cornet Boost |

Newcastle United and Burnley meet for a second time in all competitions this season – having met in the League Cup earlier on in the season,

▪ Newcastle United have not a Premier League match in 2021/22.

▪ Newcastle United have not kept a clean sheet in the Premier League in 2021/22.

▪ Newcastle United have scored in 5 of their 6 Premier League matches at home in 2021/22.

▪ Newcastle United (11) along with Everton (11), have scored the joint most amount of goals at home of teams that are currently in the bottom half.

| Wilson (And Saint Maximin) At Home / Newcastle Conceding At Home / Burnley’s Outlets On The Counter Attack/Set Piece Threats |

▪ Only Vardy (6), Mané (5) & Bruno Fernandes (5) have scored more goals at home than Wilson (4) in the Premier League in 2021/22.

▪ Wilson and Saint Maximin combined have scored 7 goals at home in 7 Premier League home matches for Newcastle United in 2021/22.

▪ Burnley have only kept 2 clean sheets in the league in 2021/22.

▪ Burnley are ranked 19th for the least amount of possession in the Premier League in 2021/22 – but have scored 9 goals in their previous 5 Premier League matches – and Cornet has scored half of Burnley’s goals scored away from home in 2021/22.

▪ Burnley are unbeaten in 8 of their previous 9 Premier League matches.

With Newcastle United having conceded 17 goals in 7 home league, matches, and Burnley not being renouned for playing a big possession game (but can play a bit more than they sometimes get credit for) – coupled with pace in wide and forward areas – they may well feel like they can cause a Newcastle side (with Clark suspended incidentally) problems.

▪ Burnley are ranked 4th for most crosses per game in the Premier Leaghe in 2021/22.

▪ Burnley are typically a threat on set pieces, with Tarkowski and Mee already having been involved with goals/assists this season.

▪ Newcastle United have conceded the most amount of penalties (5) in Premier League matches in 2021/22.

▪ Burnley have scored 2 goals or more in 3 of their previous 5 Premier Leaghe matches.

▪ 3 of Burnley’s next 5 Premier League matches are at home.

▪ 4 of Burnley’s next 5 Premier League matches are against the current bottom half sides (away against Newcastle United, Watford at home, Aston Villa away and Everton at home).

| 04/12/21 | 15:00 (UK) | St.Marys Stadium | Southampton Vs Brighton |

▪ Southampton are unbeaten in 6 of their 7 home Premier League matches.

▪ Brighton are unbeaten in 11 of their 14 Premier League matches.

▪ Only 6 players have had more shots than Trossard in the Premier League in 2021/22.

▪ Brighton have not won in 9 Premier League matches.

▪ Both sides have scored 1 goal or less in 4 of their previous 5 Premier League matches.

| 04/12/21 | 15:00 (UK) | Molineux | Wolves Vs Liverpool |

| Liverpool’s Away Day Joys / Salah On Fire Away From Home / Jota The Slotter Returns (To Molixuex) |

▪ Liverpool have created 57 big chances in 14 Premier League matches on 2020/21 (the most amount in the league for that particular category).

▪ Liverpool have scored 2 goals or more in every single away match in all competitions this season.

▪ No defender has got more clean sheets, asssist/goals (very high for chances created) combined than Trent this season.

▪ Salah has scored more goals away from home in the Premier League as a player in 2021/22 than more than half of the teams in the league.

▪ Salah has scored/assisted in every Premier League away match in 2021/22.

▪ Jota has scored in 4 of Liverpool’s 7 Premier League away matches in 2021/22 and scored away against former club this calender year (0-1).

▪ No player has had more shots than Salah in the Premier League in 2021/22.

| 04/12/21 | 17:30 (UK) | Watford Vs Manchester City |

| Watford Condeding At Home / Manchester City’s Joy Of Playing Against Watford / Manchester City’s Away Form |

▪ Watford have conceded in every Premier League home match in 2021/22.

▪ Watford carry a direct, tricky and pacey threat under Ranieri, having scored well in most of their matches under the Italian, with Dennis (6 goals & 6 assists) and King (5 goals & 3 assists) performing well.

▪ Manchester City are unbeaten away from home since GW1.

▪ Manchester City have scored 2 goals or more in 4 of their 7 Premier League matches in 2021/22.

▪ Bernardo Silva scored in GW14 – against Aston Villa (1-2) – and is currently Manchester City’s Premier League top scorer in 2021/22 with 5 goals.

| 05/12/21 | 14:00 (UK) | Elland Road | Leeds United Vs Brentford |

▪ Leeds United won their 3rd Premier League match of the season in GW14.

▪ Leeds United kept their 3rd clean sheet in the Premier League in 2021/22.

▪ Brentford unbeaten in 5 of their 7 Premier League away matches (9 points) in 2021/22 (only 7 teams have picked up more points away from home this the newly promoted club).

| Raphinha At Home / Bamford & Ayling Return (?) / Brentford Away |

▪ 4 of Raphinha’s 6 Premier League goals scored in 2021/22 have cake at home, the Brazilian is 5th for most dribbles this season, and is Leeds’ main influence (set pieces).

▪ Ayling and Bamford are closer to returning, both may be involved but are lacking match fitness.

| 05/12/21 | 14:00 (UK) | Manchester United Vs Crystal Palace |

| Manchester United Back To Winning Ways (?) / Bruno Fernandes (At Home ) / Palace More Expansive But Also More Open Away From Home (?) |

▪ Manchester United won their first match at home in the Premier League since September (GW4) – Vs Arsenal (3-2) in GW14.

Manchester United do have some so called easier matches coming up (on paper, at the time of writing, there are still defensive issues in the team), and with Rangnick at the helm, there will be a demand for more intensity (and a need for time to coach new pressing methods) to go with the attacking talent.

▪ Bruno Fernandes & Ronaldo (2) both scored at home in a league match – Vs Arsenal (3-2) in GW14 – for the first time since scoring against Newcastle United (4-1) in GW4.

▪ Ronaldo (4 league goals at home) & Bruno Fernandes (5 league goals scored at home) at times have struggled this season, and it can be argued that Manchester United need players like Sancho, Greenwood & Rashford (skill, pace & more of an outlet to create space) to be more involved more consistently to help the team, but 11 league goals have been scored between the Portuguese duo this season.

▪ Manchester United have conceded in every Premier League home match in 2021/22.

▪ Crystal Palace have conceded 14 goals away from home in 7 away league matches in 2021/22.

▪ Bruno Fernandes and Gallagher are 3rd and 5th for most big chances created this season.

▪ Crystal Palace have scored 9 goals in 7 Premier League away matches – having scored 2 away against Manchester City and Arsenal.

| 05/12/21 | 14:00 (UK) | The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium | Spurs Vs Norwich City |

▪ Spurs have won 5 of their 7 Premier League home matches in 2021/22.

▪ Spurs have Spurs kept their second clean sheet under Conte – Vs Brentford (2-0) in GW14.

▪ Reguilón has scored/assindsted in his previous two consecutive matches, is a direct, energetic and pacey threat as a left wing back under Conte (Alonso previously did well under the Italian coach) and is one of the highest performing ‘defenders’ this season in terms of clean sheets assists/goals combined overall this season.

No team has conceded more goals away from home in the Premier League than Norwich City in 2021/22.

| 05/12/21 | 16:30 (UK) | Villa Park | Aston Villa Vs Leicester City |

| Villa 2 Wins Out of 3 / Leicester Sharp In Attack & Vulnerable At The Back / Gerrard Vs Rodgers |

Gerrard has began his tenure at Aston Villa with 2 wins out of 3 in the Premier League – Vs Brighton (2-0) & Crystal Palace (1-2) – whilst ending their unbeaten records in the Premier League at away/home.

Their defeat at home against Manchester City (1-2) was far from disgraceful, with most teams falling to defeat to the 2020/21 Premier League champions, and the former Liverpool multiple trophy winner’s side are showing more intensity, fight and energy since his arrival as manager.

Gerrard finished his playing career with Liverpool under Rodgers in 2015, and faces his former manager in GW15, as well as continuing their respectful rivalry as managers (at Rangers & Celtic).

This fixture will see the following:-

▪ Two midlands clubs go face to face

▪ Two former SPL managers in charge (Gerrard & Rodgers)

| On The Pitch |

This match sees two attacking sides face off, at the absolute very least in terms of goals scored this season – both sides have scored 19 and 22 respectively.

▪ Aston Villa are joint highest scorers (19) of teams currently in the bottom half – along with Crystal Palace (19) and Watford (19).

▪ Leicester City have conceded in 13 of their 14 Premier League matches in 2021/22.

▪ Leicester City have scored in all of their away matches in the Premier League matches in 2021/22.

| 06/12/12 | 20:00 (UK) | Goodison Park | Everton Vs Arsenal |

| Everton Have The Blues / Benitez Under Pressure / Arsenal’s Struggles Away / Everton Vs Arsenal Fixture History / Goals For/Against |

| (Partly) Trivial Fixture Stats |

▪ Arsenal have not won at Goodison Park in the Premier League since 2017 (2-5).

▪ Everton conceded 4 goals at home to Liverpool for the first time in Premier League history.

▪ Arsenal have scored 4 goals or more 4 times at Goodison Park in the Premier League since 2004.

| General Form For Both Sides |

▪ Everton have not won any of their previous 8 Premier League matches.

▪ Everton have not won a Premier League match since beating Norwich City (2-0) in GW6.

| Other Factors/Stats |

A considerable amount of Everton fans do not feel a connection to Benitez (former Liverpool manager), and despite having (had) multiple Champions League winning managers at the helm (Benitez & Ancelotti) – and having spent plenty in recent transfer markets that have mainly flattered to deceive – Everton have struggled to consistently finish in the top 6.

Everton are without Mina (not featured since GW7), have only recently got Doucouré playing again and badly miss their top scorer (in 2020/21) Calvert-Lewin.

Richarlison back, and the Brazilian along with Townsend and Gray do offer some sort of direct threat (Róndon too, if/when selected) but absolutely are lacking an in form focal point in the number 9 position.

▪ Only the current top 3 have kept more clean sheets than Arteta’s side in the league this season (largely down to Ramsdale’s 42 saves) and Arsenal have conceded 7 goals in their previous 2 away league matches – Vs Liverpool (4-0) & Manchester United (3-2) – having conceded 2 goals or more in a Premier League away match for the 4th time this season