So here we go.

Let’s see where this article takes us then.

I have a rough idea.

To find some pointers read along here.

I write off the top of my head, to get flow, then I check some things, if I don’t know.

Write, keep writing, let it flow like a stream.

In football things aren’t always what they might seem.

But I’ll keep writing.

And continue with this theme.

They’re are teams and players that are looking to shine.

If they all don’t do well, don’t come to me and whine.

If they do well (or a reasonable amount), the points will count.

Remember, it’s football, it’s a funny old game.

Win, lose or draw, enjoy Christmas, and don’t seek blame.

the numbers are a rough guide, for you to keep your pride.

| 6 Teams To Do Well (?)|

| Brighton |

It may seem strange to include a team that has not won a league match since beating Leicester City (2-1) in September, but every game(week) is different in football and especially in the Premier League, but Potter’s side do have it in them to perform well in matches at home under the lights.

Brentford have conceded in all but 1 Premier League match since they have had their first choice goalkeeper out (Raya), that is no slight on Fernandez, but naturally the absence of a team’s first choice goalkeeper is not helpful for any team.

However, Brentford’s away record in the league this season is not bad at all, but Frank’s side played on Wednesday (22/12/21) and have conceded in every away league match since around GW4 (probably) – turns out they have conceded in every away match since about GW6 – well it was around then anyway!

| Manchester City |

Manchester City go into GW19 off the back off 8 consecutive Premier League victories (I had to check that again).

• Manchester City have not conceded in their previous 3 consecutive Premier League matches.

• Only conceded 3 goals at home in the Premier League in 2021/22.

▪ Face a Leicester City side that has conceded in every Premier League away match in the Premier League in 2021/22, conceded 14 goals in their previous 6 Premier League matches and face two matches (as things stand) against the top 2 in a very short space of time after having an intense League Cup quarter final at Anfield on Wednesday.

Cancelo became Manchester City’s 16th different goal scorer in the Premier League this season, therefore, showing the many different areas goals and assists can come from on their side.

To be completely honest, and as much as I appreciate the fine details in football (and underlying numbers), I can barely only just about begin to try and tell you who will start, score or assist for Guardiola’s side.

Well, I’ll try.

Rodri (only joking, in ‘real’ football terms, a key player – watch him score another streamer now I said all that).

Bernardo Silva (City’s top scorer in the league in 2021/22), the Portuguese international’s role may be a bit deeper now, but it’s Guardiola so I don’t know.

De Bruyne is back (scored a brace at home against Leeds in GW17, I think it was GW17 anyway, GWs every 5 minutes – you know how it is). Anyway, he is really good at football to be fair, and is looking pretty central to things. Capable of scoring big.

Gündogan (what a season he had in 2020/21, is an option, likes making runs from deep)/Sterling (made the 100 Premier League goals club and is quitely in decent form – scored again in GW18)/Jesus (seemingly played as a 9 in GW 18 but mostly played wide this season, is on reasonable numbers for goals/assists combined this season)/Foden(got his first goal in GW17 – since GW9, needs to get back in Guardiola’s good books but may start) Grealish (a gifted runner with the ball, also needs to get back in Guardiola’s good books but… may start)/(who else, think I mentioned everyone).

They face a Leicester City side that has conceded in 15 of their 17 Premier League matches.

[ Caveat ]

Leicester City can offer a threat on the break with the likes of Vardy, Maddison and Barnes/Daka (possibly, 3 from 4 of those are in contention to start, having started at 3 of said names started in a close to full strength line up at Anfield on Wednesday).

• Leicester City have done particularly well against Manchester City in recent Premier League seasons but their defence is conceding so many goals (14 in their previous 6 league matches).

| Spurs |

• 6 wins out of 9 in the Premier League at home.

• Son and Kane are looking sharp. 

• Despite what they say, Palace concede away.

• Crystal Palace have conceded in every away match apart from 1 in the Premier League in 2021/22.

| Arsenal |

Arsenal face a Norwich City that has conceded in most matches in the Premier League in 2021/22, and against a goalkeeper (Krul) that has made the 2nd most amount of saves in the league this season, and almost by definition that means that Norwich City are conceding too many shots on target.

• Norwich City have conceded in the vast majority of their home matches in the league this season.

• Arsenal have scored in every Premier League match since GW13.

• Arsenal’s 3 away league victories have came against 2 of the * bottom 5 * (Burnley & Leeds United).

| West Ham United (Yes And No) |

▪ West Ham United have had a slight dip in form recently but are 5th in the Premier League and through to the knock out rounds of the Europa League, and do have decent fixtures coming up (pandemic permitting) and face a Southampton side that has conceded * 14 * goals in their previous 6 league matches.

• Southampton have conceded * 19 * goals away from home in the Premier League in 2021/22.

| Manchester United |

| 5 Most Threating Players (?) |

| Cancelo  |

▪ 10 clean sheets in the Premier League 2021/22.

• 2nd highest defender for clean sheets, assists and goals combined in the Premier League in 2021/22.

▪ 2nd most assists (6) of any defender in the Premier League this season.

• 3rd for most passes & 10th for most shots in the Premier League in 2021/22.

• Returned in 2 of his 3 previous Premier Leeague matches.

| De Bruyne |

The Belgium international has two back to back 90 minutes under his belt.

• Seemingly playing very centrally.

• 7 goal attempts in his previous home match (2 goals).

• 5th for key passes per game (SofaScore).

| Son |

• Appeared to be playing up front in a front 2 with Kane.

• 2 goal attempts (2 big chances) Vs Liverpool (2-2) in GW18.

• Set piece taker

• Faces a Crystal Palace side that has conceded in 7 of their 8 Premier League away matches in 2021/22.

| Kane |

• Scored in GW18, off the mark at home, and looks fresh after a break (played a huge amount of matches this calender year for club and international football and looks sharper with Spurs having had matches postponed prior to GW18).

• Now 11th for most shots in the Premier League in 2021/22 (an considerable increase in recent GWS).

• Is set to face Crystal Palace, Southampton & Watford in his next 3 matches (pandemic permitting).

| Ronaldo |

• 12 goals scored for Manchester United (thought he’d scored 14, apologies)since returning to the club (I think anyway, sounds about right, 12 it is – at the time writing).

• 2nd for shots on target per game (Sofa Score).

• Faces a Newcastle United side that has conceded the most amount of goals at home (21) in the Premier League in 2021/22.

| (6/7, Maybe 8, Yes, Really) Possible Differentials – For Any Team |

| Tierney |

The Scottish international is in decent form, having gotten a couple of assists in recent GWs and is getting in to advanced positions.

• 4 returns in 2 of his previous 3 Premier League matches (2 double figure hauls).

• 3 shots on target in his previous 2 Premier League matches.

• Faces a Norwich City side that has failed to score in 3 of their previous 5 Premier League matches and that has not scored in 11 of their 17 Premier League matches this season (something like that anyway.)

| Martinelli |

▪ Looking sharp, playing on the left and cutting in and has scored 3 goals in his previous 2 Premier League matches.

▪ 2 goals against Leeds United (1-4) in GW18.

| Lacazette |

▪ 3 consecutive Premier League returns in his previous 3 starts, appears to be the focal point, and faces Norwich in GW18.

| Davies |

▪ 5 concesutive starts and 90s minutes under Conte, part of Spurs side (a full back playing as centre back in a back 3) and conceding less goals and looking more compact.

| Trossard (And/Or Maupay Against His Former Club) |

Given that, and I think it’s fair to say, Brighton don’t score a huge amount of goals – on no part to their beautiful and intelligent build up play – but the Belgium international (Trossard) has plenty of ability to cause Brentford problems.

Also, Brighton have some decent matches coming up (as things stand) and may have a Double GW coming up.

• Trossard is joint 7th* for most shots in the Premier League in 2021/22.

▪ Brentford appear to have key defenders out/or are doubts.

• Brentford have conceded in 10 of their previous 11 Premier League matches.

| Bowen |

• 8 goals attempts in his previous 3 Premier League matches, scored midweek in the League Cup, and is in double figures for goals/assists in all competitions in 2021/22.

• Set piece taker, offers West Ham a direct threat, with plenty of pace and tricky – can arrive well at the back post or cut in on his stronger left foot.

▪ Joint 7th for most shots in the Premier League in 2021/22.

| Broja |

9th in SofaScore’s goal frequency table and faces a West Ham United side that has key defenders injured or a doubt.

• West Ham United have conceded in most of their Premier League home matches in 2021/22.

• West Ham United have conceded in 7 of their 8 matches at home in the Premier League in 2021/22.

| Some Extra Bits |

In some ways I’m amazed any games are on, but the ones that are, I get the sense they will be entertaining and exciting (they will all 0-0s now that I said that then), but jokes aside – let’s embrace how bizarre football can be.

Hopefully this article was interesting or insightful from a general football or performance point of view, if not, from a fantasy football preview, well it’s anyway, it was worth try, and it’s something new.

These teams and players are playing well, will they score or assist, who is to tell.

In my experience, not every game, player’s performance or result goes how we think it might, but that’s the beauty of football right.

They are in form, or may be being overlooked and these are ones who impress me or can do better than most.

Don’t forget, you need some luck, and sometimes it helps not to give a f***.

If some of these games don’t go quite how I thought they might, I will say, that’s football and it’s a funny old game.

For ones that do, I hope they do well for you.

[ Other content/tables can found At ‘Home’ on ZONERISM. ]