Leicester City vs Chelsea
King Power Stadium, Leicestershire
Saturday, 01-02-2020 @3:30pm
Ref: Lee Mason
Leicester City are unbeaten in their past four Premier League games against Chelsea (W1, D3), their best run since a five-match streak between April 1999 and February 2001. However, Chelsea have won five of their last seven Premier League away matches against Leicester. Their only defeat came in December 2015 – it proved to be the final game of Jose Mourinho’s second spell in charge. The Blues have won six matches at the King Power Stadium in all competitions, more than any other visiting team. The home team were winless in the six most recent league meetings (D3, L3).
The Blues have won one of their last four league fixtures, and four of their last 12. Chelsea claimed 15 points from a possible 18 in their first six away league games this season, scoring 18 goals, but in their subsequent six matches on the road they have managed just seven points and scored seven goals. Frank Lampard’s side have conceded 11 goals in the final 15 minutes of Premier League games this season, a joint-league high alongside Aston Villa and Everton. They have lost eight times in the league this season, as often as they did in the whole of 2018-19.
Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers has reported no new fitness concerns. Top scorer Jamie Vardy is available, having featured as a substitute in midweek despite a recent glute problem, but Wes Morgan and Nampalys Mendy remain out.
Chelsea striker Tammy Abraham is doubtful with an ankle injury and faces a late fitness test. Midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek and winger Christian Pulisic are still sidelined.
AFC Bournemouth vs Aston Villa
Vitality Stadium, Dorset
Saturday, 01-02-2020 @6pm
Ref: Anthony Taylor
Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe expects Jefferson Lerma and Diego Rico to face Aston Villa despite niggling injuries. The game is likely to come too soon for Junior Stanislas, Jack Stacey and Joshua King, with the latter attracting interest from Manchester United.
Aston Villa goalkeeper Pepe Reina has overcome the calf strain that caused him to miss Tuesday’s dramatic Carabao Cup semi-final win over Leicester. There could be a Premier League debut for £8.5m forward Mbwana Samatta.
Aston Villa won 1-0 at the Vitality Stadium in the first top-flight fixture between the sides in August 2015. They have lost the two subsequent encounters, both at home. This could become the first Premier League fixture in which the away team wins the first four meetings since West Ham versus Wigan in April 2007.
Crystal Palace vs Sheffield United
Selhurst Park, London
Saturday, 01-02-2020 @6pm
Ref: Anthony Madley
Crystal Palace are boosted by the return of Patrick van Aanholt, Andros Townsend and Christian Benteke after lengthy injury absences. Cenk Tosun is out with a hamstring strain, while Mamadou Sakho and Jeffrey Schlupp are still sidelined.
Sheffield United could hand a debut to midfielder Sander Berge following his arrival in a club record deal. David McGoldrick is the Blades’ sole fitness doubt, with the forward nursing an ankle injury.
Sheffield United are winless in four league away fixtures against the Eagles, and failed to score in each of the last three. Three of the four most recent meetings have ended in a 1-0 win for the home team.
Liverpool vs Southampton
Anfield Stadium, Liverpool
Saturday, 01-02-2020 @5pm
Ref: Kevin Friend
Liverpool are looking for a sixth consecutive league win against Southampton. However, Saints have managed to win on two of their past seven visits to Anfield – once in the league and once in the League Cup. Southampton failed to score in their last three Premier League matches at Anfield.
Liverpool have won 19 successive Premier League home games – including all 12 this season. They could equal Manchester City’s Premier League record of 20, set between March 2011 and March 2012. Their 70 points from 24 matches this season is a top-flight record. They are the first club in Europe’s top five leagues to win more than 22 of their opening 24 fixtures of a league campaign. In all top-flight divisions around the world, only Surinam’s Robin Hood and Ukraine’s Shakhtar Donetsk are currently on a longer unbeaten league run than Liverpool’s 41 games. Liverpool have earned 10 points more at home in 2019-20 than any other Premier League team. Mohamed Salah has scored five goals in as many league appearances against Southampton. Ten of Salah’s 12 Premier League goals this season were scored in home fixtures.
Liverpool forward Sadio Mane is set to miss the visit of his previous club Southampton because of a muscle tear. But fellow former Saint Adam Lallana has overcome a virus, and Divock Origi is also fit again but James Milner and Xherdan Shaqiri will miss out.
Southampton midfielder Stuart Armstrong is sidelined with the hip injury he suffered in the FA Cup draw with Spurs. Jannik Vestergaard is fit after concussion but new signing Kyle Walker-Peters will not make his Saints debut. Manager Ralph Hasenhuttl says he wants to give the on-loan Spurs player more time to settle into the squad.
Newcastle United vs Norwich City
St. James Park, Newcastle upon
Saturday, 01-02-2020 @6pm
Ref: Martin Atkinson
Newcastle could give debuts to their new loan signings, with left-back Danny Rose definitely set to be involved. The Magpies are still missing several players, including top scorer Jonjo Shelvey, who faces another few weeks out with a hamstring injury.
Norwich’s Todd Cantwell is fit after sustaining a hamstring problem in the last league game. Emi Buendia and Ibrahim Amadou are also available after respective thigh and knee injuries.
Newcastle have won seven of their past eight home league games against Norwich. However, Norwich are looking to complete the league double over Newcastle for the first time in the 28 seasons in which they’ve met. The last five league meetings have produced 28 goals. Fifteen of those goals came in the two most recent encounters at St James’ Park, with Newcastle winning 6-2 in the Premier League in October 2015 and 4-3 in the Championship the following year.
Watford vs Everton
Vicarage Road, London
Saturday, 01-02-2020 @5pm
Ref: Craig Pawson
Everton are looking to beat the Hornets for the third time this season, having already recorded wins in the reverse league fixture and in the League Cup. Watford have won just five of the previous 25 top-flight meetings (D4, L16). All five of the Hornets’ victories came at Vicarage Road, including in each of the last three attempts. The Toffees have not won at Vicarage Road since a 3-0 victory in February 2007.
Watford are boosted by Danny Welbeck’s return after more than three months out with a hamstring injury. Will Hughes is also available but the game comes too soon for Ismaila Sarr, Kiko Femenia and Tom Cleverley.
Everton can call upon ex-Watford forward Richarlison, who has recovered from the knee injury that ruled him out of the last two matches. Alex Iwobi and Gylfi Sigurdsson are also available but Jean-Philippe Gbamin remains on the sidelines.
West Ham United vs Brighton
London Stadium, London
Saturday, 01-02-2020 @6pm
Ref: Michael Oliver
West Ham have never beaten Brighton in the Premier League, drawing twice and losing three times. The last two league meetings have ended in a draw, including 1-1 in the reverse fixture in August. The Hammers have won just one of their past four home games against Brighton in the league – but that was a 6-0 victory in the Championship in April 2012.
New West Ham signing Tomas Soucek is likely to be involved in the game against fellow strugglers Brighton. Michail Antonio’s thigh problem, which caused him to miss the midweek defeat by Liverpool, is being assessed.
Brighton & Hove Albion defender Shane Duffy is out with a shin injury but he should be fit for their next match. Dan Burn, Jose Izquierdo and Leon Balogun remain sidelined with respective shoulder, knee and thigh injuries.
Man United vs Wolves
Old Trafford, Manchester
Saturday, 01-02-2020 @8:30pm
Ref: Paul Tierney
Manchester United midfielder Nemanja Matic serves a one-game ban, while Paul Pogba, Marcus Rashford, Scott McTominay and Axel Tuanzebe remain injured. New signing Bruno Fernandes, who has joined from Sporting Lisbon for an initial £46.6m, is fully fit and could make his debut.
Daniel Podence may be involved for Wolves following the winger’s £16.6m move from Olympiakos. Wing-back Ruben Vinagre remains sidelined by a hamstring problem. Forward Diogo Jota has fully recovered from a calf injury, while fit-again defender Willy Boly, who was on the bench against Liverpool, is ready to start if called upon.
United’s last home defeat by Wolves was a 1-0 top-flight loss in 1980, when Mel Eves scored the only goal. They have won nine of the subsequent 11 meetings, and not trailed for a single minute.
Manchester United have lost just two of 11 league games this season against teams in the top half of the table prior to the latest round of fixtures, compared to six defeats in 13 matches versus clubs in the bottom half. They could lose three successive Premier League games without scoring for just the second time – it also happened between April and May 2015. The Reds have won 11 and lost 12 of their 32 league matches since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer became permanent manager, both scoring and conceding 43 goals.Manchester United’s record of 34 points after 24 games is their worst total at this stage of a season since 1989-90, when they had 25 points.
Sunday’s fixtures
-Burnley vs Arsenal @5pm
-Tottenham vs Man City @7:30pm