Leicester City vs Watford
King Power Stadium, Leicestershire
Wednesday, 04-12-2019 @10:30pm
Ref: Craig Pawson
Leicester City manager Brendan Rodgers has hinted at making changes to his starting line-up for the first time in seven league matches. Winger Demarai Gray missed Sunday’s win over Everton after showing flu symptoms and he is a doubt to face Watford.
Hayden Mullins will be in temporary charge for Watford following the sacking of Quique Sanchez Flores. Kiko Femenia is a fitness doubt and his absence would further deplete an injury-hit defence. Craig Dawson, Christian Kabasele, Daryl Janmaat, Sebastian Prodl, Tom Cleverley, Danny Welbeck and Daniel Bachmann are all still unavailable.
Leicester have won all five Premier League meetings at home, scoring 10 goals and conceding one. The Foxes have scored in all 18 top-flight matches versus Watford. Watford were 2-1 winners in Brendan Rodgers’ first match in charge of Leicester in March. The Hornets have not won back-to-back league games in this fixture since April 2013 in the Championship.
The Foxes are vying to equal their club record of seven consecutive top-flight victories, set in March 1963. They could win 11 of their opening 15 fixtures of a league campaign for the first time. Leicester are unbeaten at home this season and have lost just one of their last 13 league games at the King Power Stadium (W10, D2). They have the division’s best defensive record, conceding just nine goals. Leicester are also the most clinical side in the top flight, scoring with 16.1% of their attempts on goal. Watford’s conversion rate of 5.2% is the worst in the Premier League. Jamie Vardy has scored in six consecutive league appearances, his best streak since an 11-match Premier League record run in 2015. He has scored in each of his last three league matches against Watford.
Man United vs Tottenham Hotspur
Old Trafford, Manchester
Wednesday, 04-12-2019 @10:30pm
Ref: Paul Tierney
Jose Mourinho will be out to make a statement at Old Trafford as his Spurs side face Man United. Mourinho was fired at United last season and after close to a year, he returned to management a few weeks ago when he was handed a role at Spurs. This will be his first return to Old Trafford since the sacking and how he would love to get one over his former employers.
The away side won both Premier League meetings last season. Tottenham have lost 34 Premier League games against Manchester United, more than they have against any other side. Prior to winning 3-0 last season, Spurs had lost four consecutive league matches at Old Trafford without scoring. United are aiming to win consecutive Premier League matches against Spurs for the first time since 2015.
Manchester United’s current three-match unbeaten league run is their longest of the season (W1, D2). United have gone eight home matches without defeat in all competitions (W4, D4). However, this is still their worst start to a league season since 1988-89. They have picked up just 18 points from their opening 14 matches. They have only kept two clean sheets in their last 25 top-flight games. United have missed four of their six penalties in the league this season. The Premier League record for most missed penalties in a single campaign is five by Tottenham (1994-95) and Liverpool (2011-12). Jesse Lingard was directly involved in six goals in seven league matches in December 2018. He has neither scored nor provided an assist in any of his subsequent 22 league appearances.
Jose Mourinho could become the first Spurs manager to win his opening three top-flight games in charge of the club. Nonetheless, Tottenham have won just one of their seven away matches in this season’s Premier League (D3, L3). They could concede a goal in 10 consecutive league matches for the first time since a run of 17 games from August to December 2010. Spurs are also on a club-record streak of 14 consecutive Premier League away matches without a clean sheet. It’s their worst such run since 1979. Dele Alli has been directly involved in three goals in his last two Premier League games, as many as he had in his final 12 appearances under Mauricio Pochettino. Harry Kane has scored only two goals in 10 Premier League appearances against Manchester United, averaging a goal every 412 minutes – the worst minutes-per-goal ratio of the 28 teams he has scored against in the top flight.
Wolves vs West Ham United
Molineux Stadium,
Wednesday, 04-12-2019 @10:30pm
Ref: Andre Marriner
Wolves are likely to recall defender Romain Saiss, who was banned for Sunday’s game against Sheffield United. Ryan Bennett is again doubtful due to a groin problem, while Morgan Gibbs-White is out with an ongoing back issue.
West Ham are expected to stick with David Martin in goal following his impressive debut at Chelsea. Jack Wilshere and Michail Antonio both face fitness tests but Issa Diop is available after suspension, while Sebastien Haller might be recalled.
Wolves won both meetings last season – they’ve never beaten West Ham in three consecutive league games. West Ham have won just one of their last seven away league games against Wolves (D2, L4).
Chelsea vs Aston Villa
Stamford Bridge, London
Wednesday, 04-11-2019 @10:30pm
Ref: Chris Kavanagh
Chelsea will be eyeing a return to winning ways when they take on Aston Villa on Wednesday. Frank Lampard’s men lost 1-0 to West Ham on Saturday, a result which no one could have seen coming and they will now be desperate to make amends against a side that is fresh from an inspiring 2-2 draw away to Man United on Sunday.
As a coach, Lampard has not had good results against Villa as he lost home and away to them last season when he was still Derby coach in the Championship.
Chelsea’s leading goalscorer Tammy Abraham is still feeling pain in his hip and is a doubt to face Villa, who he excelled with on loan last season. Ross Barkley will definitely miss the game because of illness.
Aston Villa right-back Frederic Guilbert serves a one-match suspension for accumulating five yellow cards. Anwar El Ghazi jarred his knee against Manchester United and has been ruled out, but Jota will be involved for the first time since hernia surgery.
Chelsea could win five consecutive home league games against Aston Villa for the first time. Their last four victories at Stamford Bridge came by an aggregate score of 15-1, including 8-0 in December 2012 when Frank Lampard scored the fourth goal. Villa have lost eight of the past nine meetings home and away, with the exception being a 1-0 triumph at Villa Park in March 2014.
The Blues, beaten at home by West Ham on Saturday, have not lost consecutive Premier League games at Stamford Bridge since November 2011. They are in danger of suffering three league defeats in a row for the first time in four years. Chelsea’s solitary loss in 55 Premier League home fixtures against promoted sides came against Bournemouth in December 2015. However, the Blues could go three games without a win against promoted opposition at Stamford Bridge for the first time since August 1991. They have lost all four league matches in which they’ve fallen behind this season. Only nine of Chelsea’s 28 Premier League goals under Frank Lampard have been scored at home. Lampard lost all three of his meetings as a manager against Aston Villa last season, with his Derby side beaten 3-0 at home, 4-0 away and then 2-1 in the Championship play-off final at Wembley. Tammy Abraham scored 26 goals in 40 appearances on loan at Aston Villa last season. Olivier Giroud has netted in each of his last six appearances against Villa, scoring eight goals – all for Arsenal.
Southampton vs Norwich City
St. Mary’s Stadium, Hampshire
Wednesday, 04-12-2019 @10:30pm
Ref: Kevin Friend
Southampton have lost just one of their past 13 home games against Norwich in all competitions (W8, D4), winning the last three in a row. Norwich won the most recent Premier League meeting, in January 2016. They haven’t won consecutive top-flight matches against Saints since 1992.
Southampton midfielder Soufiane Boufal aggravated a toe injury against Watford but he could again be named among the substitutes. Stuart Armstrong remains sidelined with a hamstring injury, but Jannik Vestergaard is fully fit after illness.
Norwich midfielder Alex Tettey should be available after missing Sunday’s draw with Arsenal for personal reasons. But Grant Hanley and Josip Drmic are still battling respective groin and thigh injuries.
Liverpool vs Everton
Anfield Stadium, Liverpool
Wednesday, 04-12-2019 @11:15pm
Ref: Mike Dean
Liverpool are rightly the leaders of the standings as they have been the most outstanding team since day one. They have been grinding out results in the past month or so and their is fear that they may soon succumb to the pressure. However, that has not happened yet and with City winning on Tuesday, they are expected to come out all guns blazing when they host Everton in the Merseyside derby. Derbies are always complicated and with Everton struggling currently, the situation is not helped a single bit as no one knows which sort of Toffees will turn up at Anfield.
Liverpool are unbeaten in the last 17 league meetings (W7, D10). It’s their longest unbeaten run against a single opponent in the Premier League. The Reds have not lost a midweek league game to Everton since 1985 (W4, D5). Everton’s most recent league victory at Anfield came in September 1999 (D9, L10). The Toffees have scored just four goals in the last 11 Premier League Merseyside derbies. There have been a Premier League-high 21 red cards in Merseyside derbies. Everton have received 14 of them.
Liverpool have equalled the best record after 14 matches of a top-flight season: W13, D1. Both Tottenham (1960-61) and Manchester City (2017-18) won their 15th game and went on to claim the title. They are unbeaten in 31 league games, matching their longest run without defeat in the top flight. The Reds are on a club Premier League record streak of 47 successive home matches unbeaten (W37, D10), winning their last 14. Jurgen Klopp’s side are without a clean sheet since 28 September – a run of 12 games in all competitions. Klopp has won 99 of his 158 Premier League games. He could become the second fastest manager to reach 100 wins in the competition, after Jose Mourinho (142 games). Virgil van Dijk has scored seven Premier League goals since the start of last season, the most by a defender. If selected, Mohamed Salah will become only the second Egyptian to make 100 Premier League appearances, emulating Ahmed Elmohamady.
Liverpool are without suspended goalkeeper Alisson following his red card at the weekend, so understudy Adrian will again deputise. Joel Matip continues to be troubled by a knee injury and remains out, along with Fabinho and Nathaniel Clyne.
Everton forward Theo Walcott has overcome the illness that forced him to miss Sunday’s defeat at Leicester. Seamus Coleman remains a major doubt because of a rib injury, while Fabian Delph is unlikely to be fit and so is long term absentee-Andre Gomes.
Thursday, 04-12-2019
-Sheffield United vs Newcastle United @10:30pm
-Arsenal vs Brighton @11:15pm
Tuesday’s results
-Crystal Palace 1-0 AFC Bournemouth
-Burnley 1-4 Man City
