| 06/12/21 | 20:00 (UK) | Goodison Park | Everton 2–1 Arsenal |

| Gray Scores The Winner On The Day (Well Night, You Might Say) & Arsenal Home And Away Are Night And Day |

Gray had a bit of a Rooney moment, in the sense of scoring a last minute winner in a 2-1 victory for Everton at home against Arsenal, with quick feet to cut in on his favoured right foot before scoring from distance (in off the * post *).

▪ Everton their first league match since beating Norwich City (2-0) in GW6 (September).

| Richarlison Sharp Through The Middle |

Richarlison scored his 3rd Premier League goal of the season, albeit against an Arsenal defence that conceded 2 or more goals in 4 of their 7 Premier League away matches before 8 pm yesterday (Monday night).

But nevertheless, you can only beat what is put in front of you, to use a bit of a cliche.

The Brazilian looked very sharp playing through the middle, and Everton argubly looked more mobile and threatening, without Rondon (target man).

The former Watford attacker put in the ball in the back of the net 3 times, with 2 being narrowly chalked off for offside (VAR), but his performance is encouraging for his side (with Calvert-Lewin still ruled out).

Ramsdale made 5 saves, it took a bit of a while for Everton to open the tin to use a Spanish phrase (to break down a team), but Everton scored twice with about 20 minutes to go (helped by a intense atmosphere) to win the match.

It is only 1 win for Everton, and many Everton fans are far from delighted with Benitez, but it will be a relief for all connected to the club – with some difficult matches coming up.

| 05/12/21 | 16:30 (UK) | Aston Villa 2–1 Leicester City |

| Gerrard Makes It 3 Wins Out Of 4 / Leicester Concede 2 Or More Again |

• Aston Villa have now won 3 of their previous 4 Premier League matches.

• Leicester City concede 2 or more in a league match once again.

• Cash looks bright, gets well forward, and is a threat.

• Vardy is rested but comes on in the second half.

| 05/12/21 | 16:30 (UK) | The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium | Spurs 3-0 Norwich City |

| Son Is The One For Spurs & Norwich City Taste Defeat |

▪ Spurs win their 5th Premier League match in 2021/22.

▪ Spurs win back to back home matches.

▪ By virtue of the fact their match away at Burnley was called off, Spurs’ previous 3 matches in the league have all been at home – with 3 wins (albeit rather winnable, with all due respect to their opponents ) – Vs Norwich City (3-0), Brentford (2-0) & Leeds United (2-1)

▪ Son scores his 4th goal at home in the Premier League this season.

▪ Son has scored/assisted in 5 of Spurs’ 8 Premier League matches at The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

▪ Spurs keep a second consecutive clean sheet in the Premier League at home.

▪ Spurs keep their 3rd clean sheet in 4 Premier League matches (GW15, GW13 & GW11).

▪ Norwich City lose for the first time under Dean Smith, as well as for the first time in the league since being beat at Leeds United (1-2) in GW10 (October 31st).

▪ Norwich City are defeated away from home in a Premier League match for the first time since losing to Chelsea (7-0) in GW9 (October 23rd).

| 05/12/21 | 14:00 (UK) | Old Trafford | Manchester United 1-0 Crystal Palace |

| United Quitely Im-press & Back To Back Away Defeats For Palace |

Manchester United their first match under Rangnick (officially), the German arrived at the club in recent weeks, but saw his side perform much better (in terms of pressing and conceding less chances), and a first clean sheet at home since April.

▪ Manchester United win their 7th league match of the season.

▪ Manchester United win a second consecutive home match at Old Trafford.

▪ Manchester United keep their first clean sheet at home in the Premier League in 2021/22 (previously conceded in 7 consecutive home league matches).

▪ Manchester United keep their 3rd clean sheet in the Premier League and 4th overall in all competitions in 2021/22.

▪ Manchester United keep their first clean sheet at home in a league match for the first time since beating West Ham United (1-0) in March this calender year.

▪ Said clean sheet is Manchester United’s first at home in any competition since beating Granada (2-0).

United appear to be playing 4-2-2-2, that is seemingly flexible but helps United press a lot better (and gets players closer to Ronaldo).

The match itself and heat maps suggest that on the ball there is room for interchanging, attackers (Ronaldo, Rashford, Bruno Fernandes & Sancho) to pop up in different areas and with Rashford (midfielder in FPL/fantasy football) playing up (but also going wide at times) front with Ronaldo.

| 05/12/21 | 14:00 (UK) | Elland Road | Leeds United 2–2 Brentford |

| Bamford’s Return Gets Leeds Another Point / Brentford Concede 2 Or More Again / Brentford’s Mainly Positive Response Since GW11 |

▪ Bamford scores his 2nd league goal of the season (6th appearance, mostly starts) to get Leeds a point.

▪ Bamford and Ayling (both got minutes, their first league appearances since GW5, and were involved in the late equaliser to get Bielsa’s side a draw).

▪ Leeds have only won 3 league matches (15 matches played), and facing the top 3 in 3 of their next 4 league matches but are unbeaten in 6 of their previous 7 Premier League matches and boosted by their returns (in more ways than one) of Bamford and Ayling.

▪ Raphinha scores/assists in a 5th league match at home (8 matches played) in 2021/22.

▪ Brentford continue to be dynamic away from home, unbeaten in 6 of their 8 Premier League away matches in 2021/22, unbeaten in 3 matches (out of 4) since a disappointing defeat to Norwich City (6 goals scored in 3 of their previous 4 Premier League matches for Frank’s side).

| 04/12/21 | 17:30 (UK) | Vicorage Road | Watford 1–3 Manchester City |

| Watford Score Again / Manchester City Beat Watford Yet Again |

▪ Manchester City beat Watford (for a change!), Ranieri tastes defeat against said club for the first time, and Bernardo Silva scores 2 goals from 2 shots on target to go on 7 goals scored in the Premier League in 2021/22.

▪ Sterling scored against Watford once again – in his 4th consecutive Premier League start – his 99th Premier League goal (as well as managing 3 shots on target against Watford).

▪ Watford to continue to concede in every Premier League match in 2021/22, and conceded 13 shots on target, albeit against Guardiola’ Manchester City – that is unbeaten in the league away from home since GW1.

▪ At the time of writing, Watford have now scored 8 goals in their previous 4 Premier League matches, a very reasonable return – how they face 3 of the top 4 in that run (although in a funny sort of way, that can sometimes allow them more space on the break, but hopefully you take my point!).

▪ Manchester City concede in a second away league consecutive match, and do tend to struggle against teams with fast, tricky and skillful attackers (especially front 3s).

| 04/12/21 | 15:00 (UK) | Molineux | Wolves 0-1 Liverpool |

| Wolves Tough To Beat & Origi Scores Yet Another Big Goal For Liverpool |

▪ Liverpool win a 4th consecutive Premier League match, continue their run of scoring in every Premier League match in 2021/22 and carry on their run of beating Wolves in every league match since their return to the Premier League.

▪ Salah continues his run of scoring or assisting in every GW/round since GW3 (August).

▪ Salah scores/assists in an 8th consecutive Premier League away match – the Egyptian king provided the vital assist and has scored more goals away from home as a player than a considerable amount of teams have away from home in the league have as a teams.

| 04/12/21 | 15:00 (UK) | St.Marys | Southampton 1–1 Brighton |

Southampton continue to be tough to beat at St.Marys, but struggle to score (many) again – and Brighton do so too but away from home (just 1 defeat away from home for Potter’s sidez).

▪ Brighton are unbeaten in 12 of their 15 Premier League matches, continue to play aesthetically pleasing football but are still without a league victory since beating Leicester City in GW5.

| 04/12/21 | 15:00 (UK) | St.James’ Park | Newcastle United 1-0 Burnley |

| A GW of Firsts For Newcastle United / Howe Gets His First Win / Wilson |

▪ A first league win of the season for Newcastle United.

▪ A first win in all competitions.

▪ A first clean sheet in the Premier League in 2021/22.

Wilson shows his quality once again, scoring his 5th goal at home in the league this season, with only Mané, Bruno Fernandes & Vardy having scored * as many * or more at home in the Premier League in 2022/22. [ He can score away from home too. ]

| 04/12/21 | 12:30 (UK) | The London Stadium | West Ham United 3–2 Chelsea |

| West Ham Tough To Beat / Another Top 3 Side / Chelsea On The Ropes A Bit (?) |

▪ Moyes’ West Ham beat a top 3 side at home for the second time this season – having beaten Chelsea (3-2) & Liverpool (3-2) – by the same score.

▪ West Ham have failed to beat mid table ish/bottom half sides such as Crystal Palace and Brighton at home – not that they have been easy to play by any means for the most part – but they have won close to half of their away matches (unbeaten in 5 of their 7) in the Premier League in 2021/22.

▪ Chelsea (missing currently Chilwell, Kante & Kovacic to name a few) have conceded in 3 of previous 4 Premier League matches.

▪ Chelsea have dropped points in 3 of their previous 5 Premier League matches