Liverpool vs Watford
Anfield Stadium, Liverpool
Saturday, 14-12-2019 @3:30pm
Ref: Andre Marriner
Liverpool are unbeaten in seven league games against Watford, outscoring the Hornets 25-4 (W6, D1). The Reds could become the first side in top-flight history to beat the same team at home by a five-goal margin in four straight seasons – they’ve twice won 5-0 and also recorded a 6-1 win over the past three campaigns. Watford have lost a club record 18 top-flight matches to Liverpool. The Hornets’ sole win in 12 top-flight games at Anfield was by 1-0 in 1999. It was their first Premier League match away to Liverpool.
Liverpool are on a club record top-flight unbeaten run of 33 consecutive matches (W28, D5). The Reds have won 24 of their past 25 league games, drawing the other. They have scored two or more goals in 23 of those 25 fixtures. Liverpool boast the only 100% winning home record in the top four English divisions. The Reds are without a clean sheet in all 12 league and cup matches at Anfield this term, letting in 19 goals. They are guaranteed to be top of the table at Christmas – the last three occasions a team failed to win the title having been top at Christmas were all Liverpool (2008-09, 2013-14 and 2018-19). Mohamed Salah has scored six goals in four league games against Watford. Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino have each scored five goals and provided three assists in their five and six appearances respectively against the Hornets.
Dejan Lovren is unavailable for Liverpool, having sustained a muscle problem against Red Bull Salzburg on Tuesday night. Joel Matip is out for the rest of 2019 with a knee injury, while Fabinho and Nathaniel Clyne are also still missing.
Defender Craig Dawson returns after a head injury for Watford’s first game under Nigel Pearson. The fitness of Roberto Pereyra and Adam Masina will be assessed, while Jose Holebas is sidelined.
Burnley vs Newcastle United
Turf Moor, Burnley
Saturday, 14-12-2019 @6pm
Ref: Tim Robinson
Burnley are hopeful that first-choice strikers Chris Wood and Ashley Barnes will overcome recent injuries to play. Ashley Westwood may feature after three weeks out, but the game is likely to come too soon for Charlie Taylor.
Newcastle United forward Allan Saint-Maximin has been sidelined for a month with a hamstring tear, while Ciaran Clark is also ruled out. Jonjo Shelvey and Miguel Almiron are both doubts with respective calf and hamstring problems.
Burnley’s loss at home to Newcastle last season was a first in six league meetings at Turf Moor (W4, D1). Newcastle triumphed in both Premier League fixtures last season after failing to win any of the first four (D3, L1). The Magpies could win three consecutive top flight-meetings versus Burnley for the first time since a run of five in 1955.
Chelsea vs AFC Bournemouth
Stamford Bridge, London
Saturday, 14-12-2019 @6pm
Ref: Graham Scott
Bournemouth’s 4-0 win at home last season was just a second in nine games against Chelsea in all competitions (W2, L7). The Blues have triumphed in 11 of the 15 meetings overall, with Bournemouth winning four.
Chelsea’s defeat at Everton last weekend was a third in four Premier League games, as many losses as sustained in their previous 20 fixtures. They are one of two clubs, along with Norwich City, not to have earned a Premier League point from a losing position this campaign. Chelsea have lost two of their eight Premier League home games this season, twice as many as in the entirety of 2018-19. The Blues have scored 31 Premier League goals but only 11 have come at Stamford Bridge. Their top three goalscorers in the Premier League this season are all under the age of 23: Tammy Abraham, Christian Pulisic and Mason Mount. Abraham’s 11 Premier League goals this season have all come from open play. Chelsea have attempted 264 shots in the Premier League, the most by any side bar Manchester City. However, they are ranked joint-sixth for shot conversion.
Chelsea are still missing centre-back Fikayo Tomori, who was not considered for Champions League duty on Tuesday because of a hip injury. Antonio Rudiger is set to continue in defence, while Mason Mount could return after being left out in midweek.
Bournemouth’s injury crisis continues, with Callum Wilson and Nathan Ake among eight senior players ruled out. Joshua King is in contention, and Harry Wilson returns after being ineligible to face parent club Liverpool. David Brooks will not be available until March following a second ankle operation
Leicester City vs Norwich City
King Power Stadium, Leicester
Saturday, 14-12-2019 @6pm
Ref: Andy Madley
Leicester City have no fresh injury concerns as they seek to equal the club record of 10 successive wins in all competitions. Winger Demarai Gray was an unused substitute against Aston Villa last weekend on his return after illness.
Norwich defender Grant Hanley is back in training as he nears a comeback from the groin and hernia injuries that have kept him out since August. Swiss pair Josip Drmic and Timm Klose are continuing their rehabilitation.
Leicester have won the past three Premier League meetings, latterly by a 1-0 scoreline at the King Power Stadium in February 2016. However, Norwich have won three of their five most recent away league games against Leicester, all in the Championship.
Leicester have established a club record of eight consecutive top-flight victories, scoring at least twice in each. They can now equal their longest winning streak in all competitions – 10 in a row, set between December 1962 and March 1963. The club’s longest run of league victories is nine in a row from December 2013 to February 2014 in the Championship. Brendan Rodgers’ side would become only the seventh club to win nine successive Premier League fixtures. The Foxes could go nine games unbeaten at home from the start of a top-flight season for the first time since 1962. They have lost just one of their past 14 league matches at the King Power Stadium (W11, D2). Leicester have the division’s best defensive record, conceding just 10 goals. Jamie Vardy has scored in eight consecutive Premier League appearances, his best streak since a record 11-match run in 2015. He has a shot conversion rate this season of 39%, netting from 16 of his 41 attempts on goal. Kelechi Iheanacho is one short of 100 Premier League appearances. He has scored in all four of his competitive appearances for Leicester this season. James Maddison scored 16 goals in 53 appearances for Norwich before joining Leicester in 2018.
Sheffield United vs Aston Villa
Bramall Lane, Sheffield
Saturday, 14-12-2019 @6pm
Ref: Peter Bankes
Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder has a fully-fit squad for the visit of fellow promoted side Aston Villa. John Lundstram, George Baldock and John Fleck are all one booking from triggering an automatic suspension.
Villa defender Tyrone Mings will miss out because of the hamstring injury he suffered against Leicester last Sunday, but the club are hopeful he will be available before the end of the year. Matt Targett has overcome a minor injury but Keinan Davis is not yet fit.
Sheffield United’s only victory in the past 11 league meetings was by 4-1 in the corresponding fixture last season. Aston Villa have won five of their six Premier League games against Sheffield United, drawing the other. They haven’t met in the top flight since the 2006-07 season.
Southampton vs West Ham
St. Mary’s Stadium, Yorkshire
Saturday, 14-12-2019 @8:30pm
Ref: Martin Atkinson
West Ham have won 16 Premier League games versus Southampton, more than against any other side. Saints have lost four of the past five top-flight encounters – having been beaten in just three of the previous 12 (W5, D4). The Hammers have not opened the scoring in 15 Premier League visits to Southampton since a 1-1 draw at The Dell in March 1995.
Southampton midfielder Stuart Armstrong should come back into contention after recovering from a hamstring injury. Yan Valery is again unavailable following a virus, while Sofiane Boufal, who is still being troubled by a toe problem, will be monitored.
West Ham remain without Manuel Lanzini, Lukasz Fabianski and Jack Wilshere. Aaron Cresswell was forced off against Arsenal and Andriy Yarmolenko missed that game with a back problem, but both have since trained and may feature.
The other upcoming Premier League games
Sunday, 15-12-2019
-Man United vs Everton @5pm
-Wolves vs Tottenham @5pm
-Arsenal vs Man City @7:30pm
Monday, 16-12-2019
-Crystal Palace vs Brighton @10:45pm
