| General |

Here is another imperfect stream of consciousness preview, with a view to coming matches over Christmas, hopefully it gives you an overview or a gist of trends, form, fixtures, teams, players (some possible differentials) etc.

▪ 3 different teams were top throughout GW15 (Chelsea, Liverpool & Manchester City).

▪ 6 GWs from December 10th 2021 to Jan 3rd 2022.

| 10/12/21 | 20:00 (UK) | Brentford Community Stadium| Brentford Vs Watford |

Brentford face a hectic schedule in the coming weeks, (currently with numerous injuries), with 3 competitions (Premier League, League Cup & The FA Cup) on the horizon, but Frank’s side have responded fairly well to the home defeat to Norwich City (1-2) in GW11.

| Brentford In Exciting Matches / Brentford Without Toney (?), Raya, Ajer, Zanka & Canós (Suspended) / Watford’s Goals Scored/Conceded |

▪ Brentford are unbeaten in 3 of their previous 4 Premier League matches.

▪ Brentford have won 7 matches in all competitions (18 matches) in 2021/22.

▪ 4 of their next 6 opponents in league matches are currently 9th or lower (4 at home).

The injuries are a concern for Brentford and their results have been a bit up and down (understandable for a newly promoted club) – have having only won 2 of their 7 Premier League home matches this season – but yet having taken points off Arsenal, Liverpool and Everton (2 of the top 8 in 2021/22 – whilst pushing Chelsea very close – but Brentford have 4 home matches coming up in the league will give them a chance to improve that home form.

| A Bit General (But It Relates To Brentford Vs Watford I Assure You!) |

Improving bad home or away from can be tricky, and arguably these sort of stats continue that way throughout out the season but Brentford are creating decent chances.

An example of this, on both sides of the spectrum – are Wolves and Arsenal – Wolves lost their 3 Premier League home matches before winning their next 3 matches at Molineux (prior to their defeat to Liverpool).

Arsenal have only won 2 of their 8 Premier League away matches in 2021/22, having conceded 2 goals or more in 5 of those said matches, but had gone 3 away matches unbeaten (2 wins) in between those defeats.

| Factors/Stats/(Possible Advantages) In Favour Of Brentford |

▪ Brentford have scored in every Premier League match since GW9.

▪ Home crowd/atmosphere.

▪ Foster & Sarr are likely to be unavailable for this fixture.

▪ Top sides or traditionally big clubs have lost, dropped points or have struggled to get 3 points there.

▪ Watford have only won 2 matches in 7 Premier League away matches in 2021/22.

| Factors/Stats In Favour Of Watford(Possible Advantages) |

Ranieri, a former Premier League winning manager with Leicester City, has seemingly given Watford a boost since becoming their manager.

▪ Watford have scored in 5 of their 7 Premier League matches since GW9 (including a 2-5 win away at Everton).

▪ Watford 13 goals scored in their previous 7 Premier League matches.

▪ 16 of Watford’s 20 goals scored in the Premier League have been scored through Dennis (6), King (5) and Sarr (5).

▪ At the time of writing, 11 of Watford’s 20 Premier League goals scored in 2021/22 by Dennis (6 & 6 assists, FPL/fantasy football assists may be included) and King (5 and 3 assists/FPL/fantasy football assists may be included) – if you are trying to choose one in FPL (try tossing a coin!) / if you have them both in FPL/Sky FF/Draft/Other fantasy football games – then that might be quite exciting.

▪ Watford have reasonable fixtures coming up, with their next 4 being against teams that are currently 8th or lower in the table.

| 11/12/21 | 12:30 (UK) | The Etihad Stadium | Manchester City Vs Wolves |

| Manchester City’s Current Premier League Winning Run / Bernardo Silva / Manchester City In All Competitions / Manchester City’s Difficulties ‘Opening The Tin’ At Home / Wolves’s Mainly Impressive Away Form / Other |

▪ Manchester City, new leaders of the Premier League, have won 5 consecutive Premier League matches since losing home to Crystal Palace (0-2) in GW10.

▪ Bernardo Silva (7), Manchester City’s top scorer in the Premier League in 2021/22, has scored 5 goals in his previous 5 Premier League matches (scored in 4 of them).

▪ Manchester City have now conceded in 3 consecutive Premier League matches and in 4 consecutive matches in all competitions.

▪ Manchester City were beaten away from home by Leipzig (2-1) in midweek, albeit having already won their Champions League group and having rested several players.

▪ Cancelo (almost as much as a midfielder as a full back) ranks high for creativity, passes and attacking returns in all competitions this season but he and and Walker/Zinchenko (whoever is selected) may well be tested in wide areas (and central) against a Wolves side that has given City problems in recent seasons defensively.

▪ Manchester City are one of several teams to be involved in 3 competitions from now until January 14th.

▪ 5 of Manchester City’s next 6 league matches see them face teams midtable or lower.

▪ Manchester City dropped points at home against bottom half teams this season – Vs Crystal Palace (0-2) Southampton (0-0).

▪ Wolves are unbeaten in 5 of their previous 6 Premier League matches away from home.

| 11/12/21 | 15:00 (UK) | The Emirates Stadium | Arsenal Vs Southampton |

| Arsenal’s Mainly Impressive Home Form / Southampton’s Goals Conceded Away From Home |

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

▪ 4 of Arsenal’s next 6 Premier League matches are at home.

▪ 5 of Arsenal’s next 6 league opponents are against teams that are 8th or lower.

▪ Arsenal are currently still in the League Cup and are not playing in Europe this season.

▪ Southampton have conceded 14 goals away from home in the Premier League in 2021/22.

| 11/12/21 | 15:00 (UK) | Stamford Bridge | Chelsea Vs Leeds United |

| Chelsea At Home / Chelsea’s Midfield Problems / Leeds United In General |

▪ Chelsea have won 9 matches at home in all competitions (12 matches) in 2021/22.

▪ All 6 of Chelsea’s next 6 league opponents are currently 8th or lower.

▪ Chelsea have struggled recently, in general, and a bit at home (having been so impressive at home for the most part prior to GW11).

▪ Leeds United have conceded in all of their 7 Premier League away matches in 2021/22.

▪ Meslier has had to make 46 saves in the Premier League in 2021/22.

▪ Chelsea have conceded in 3 of their 4 Premier League matches.

▪ Chelsea are likely to be without Kante and Kocacic in GW16.

▪ Mount (quite possibly playing as a bit of 10/an actual 10/depending on what formation Chelsea play, or one of two sometimes or from deep if Chelsea opt to play a wide forward or two) – has scored/assisted in recent matches and offers creativity and a threat by making runs from deep and occasionally taking set pieces. [ Tuchel may opt to play 3-4-1-2 a bit more, with Werner having scored twice midweek, as usual it depends on what the manager goes for. ]

▪ Lukaku made his first start since being injured midweek at Zenit and scored, he may be what Chelsea need right now, with kinder fixtures (on paper!).

▪ Raphinha is 5th for most shots in the Premier League in 2021/22 – he has tougher matches coming up but is high for dribbles and is on set pieces and faces some defenders/full backs that are not in great form soon.

| 11/12/21 | 15:00 (UK) | Anfield | Liverpool Vs Aston Villa |

| Liverpool’s (Home) Form / Liverpool’s Rhythm (After Beating The Blues) / Gerrard Back At Anfield / Villa’s Away Form This Season (Mostly Pre Gerrard |

▪ Liverpool have won 7 of their 10 matches (in all competitions) at Anfield in 2021/21.

▪ Liverpool have won 4 of their 7 Premier League matches (unbeaten) in 2021/22.

▪ Salah has scored/assisted in every GW since GW3.

▪ Only Vardy has scored more goals than Mané at home in the Premier League in 2021/22.

▪ No defender has more clean sheets/assists/goals combined than Trent in the Premier League in 2021/22, and he is also 2nd for most big chances created (1st for defenders) and scored Liverpool’s winning goal against Aston Villa (2-1) this calendar year.

▪ Villa are high up for most goals conceded this season but have conceded 1 goal or less in 3 of their 4 wins under Gerrard.

| 11/12/21 | 17:30 (UK) | Carrow Road | Norwich City Vs Manchester United |

▪ Norwich City are unbeaten in 4 of their previous 5 Premier League matches.

▪ Norwich City have won won 2 of their previous 5 Premier League matches.

▪ Manchester United have conceded in 12 of their 15 Premier League matches in 2021/22.

▪ Manchester United have conceded in 18 of their 22 matches in all competitions in 2021/22.

▪ Pukki has scored 3 goals in 7 Premier League home matches in 2021/22.

▪ Manchester United’s next 6 opponents are currently 9th or lower in the table.

▪ Ronaldo is 3rd in the Premier League for most shots in 2021/22 (6 goals, 2 assists, 8 goal involvements).

| 12/12/21 | 14:00 (UK) | The Amex Stadium | Brighton Vs Spurs (Postponed)|

| 12/12/21 | 14:00 (UK) | Turf Moor | Burnley Vs West Ham United |

| Burnley At Turf Moor / West Ham United’s Defensive/Injury Problems (?) |

Despite being 18th, Burnley are actually unbeaten in 7 of their previous 9 Premier League matches, but a lack of clean sheets and wins are what are lacking for Dyche’s side 15 GWs in.

The injury to Cornet (Burnley’s top scorer in the league in 2021/22) is a huge blow, although he may not be out for too long, but with games coming thick and fast (there is the first mention of that line/cliche) this month (especially).

However, Burnley are unbeaten at home in the league since GW5, and may see an opportunity at home to a West Ham United (just 3 clean sheets kept in the Premier League in 2021/22) side that has key defenders currently injured.

Wood, 3 goals scored at home in the league this season, has the attributes to cause West Ham United problems, for a Burnley side that has only lost 2 matches at home in the Premier League in 2021/22.

| West Ham United Unpredictability (?) / Away From Home / Fresh & Attacking Options |

West Ham United, are undoubtedly having another impressive season under Moyes, and are managing the Europa League campaign really well, but have struggled for points away from home recently.

What makes that even more curious is the fact West Ham United have only lost 2 matches away from home in the league in 2021/22, but those are the fine lines that are in football (in a very competitive league).

Despite his struggles his score recently, Antonio is high for shots this season, and is already in double figures for scored/assisted in 2021/22, whilst Bowen and Fornals have impressed recently.

| 12/12/21 | 14:00 (UK) | The King Power Stadium | Leicester City Vs Newcastle United |

| Leicester’s Defensive’s Struggles Vs Newcastle’s Defensive Struggles (They Both Have Goals In Them Though) |

▪ Both sides have conceded in at least 4 matches since GW11.

On a brighter note for Howe, and despite being in the bottom 3 for most goals conceded (and the actual bottom 3) in the Premier League in 2021/22, Newcastle United have conceded less goals in recent matches and got their first clean sheet of the season in GW15 but will likely see their defence tested against a Leicester City side that have scored in 12 of their 15 league matches (and are one of the highest scoring teams, outside of the top 3 especially).

| OUT of the Europa League But With Attacking Players IN Form – Barnes-storming (?) / Newcastle’s Attacking Options |

▪ Vardy as one of the league’s top scorer, Maddison and Barnes are looking bright (subject to minutes), with Leicester seemingly opting for more of a 4-2-3-1 sort of formation in recent weeks.

▪ Wilson has scored well under Howe again, Saint Maximin looks very bright, and the pair look like Newcastle’s most threatening players.

| 12/12/21 | 16:30 (UK) | Selhurst Park | Crystal Palace Vs Everton |

| Palace At Home / Everton Away |

▪ Palace are unbeaten in 6 of their 7 Premier League home matches in 2021/22.

Everton beat Arsenal (2-1) in GW15 and are looking to be more consistent, having won 3 of their first 4 Premier League matches this season, but are without an away win in the league since beating Brighton (0-2) in GW3 – but picked up respectful draws at Leeds (2-2) and Manchester United (1-1).

Home or away, Richarlison looked very bright against Arsenal, looks to give Everton more of a threat through the middle (Everton’s fixtures are not quite as bad as being made out, with 2 of their next 3 against bottom half teams).