Southampton vs Burnley
St. Mary’s Stadium, Hampshire
Saturday, 15-02-2020 @3:30pm
Ref: Simon Hooper
Southampton are winless in their past six Premier League meetings with Burnley (D3, L3), failing to score in four of them. Burnley could win both league games against Southampton for the first time since 1947 in the second tier. There have been only two away victories in 21 top-flight meetings.
Southampton have lost two of their last three Premier League games, as many as in their previous 10. They have earned just 11 points at home, the worst record in the division. It is Saints’ lowest points tally after 12 top-flight home games since recording 10 in 1992. Southampton’s nine Premier League wins already matches their total number of victories from last season. Danny Ings has 14 league goals, his best return since scoring 21 for Burnley in the Championship in 2013-14.
Burnley have won three of their past six away league games, following eight winless fixtures on the road. They could equal their longest Premier League unbeaten run of the season – four matches from September to October. Sean Dyche’s side have been leading at half-time in just four Premier League games this season. No team has been ahead in fewer games at the interval. The Clarets average 223 successful passes per game, their worst completion rate as a Premier League team. They could equal the club Premier League record of three successive clean sheets. Burnley’s record of nine Premier League clean sheets is bettered only by Liverpool’s 11. They managed eight clean sheets in total last season. Only 30% of their attempts on goal have been on target, making them the most inaccurate Premier League team along with Watford. Ashley Barnes has scored a career-best five goals versus Southampton.
Southampton have a fully-fit squad available, with on-loan Tottenham defender Kyle Walker-Peters in line to make his debut. Midfielder James Ward-Prowse is set to feature despite being strtchered off during the FA Cup defeat at Tottenham.
Burnley could be missing Matt Lowton and Charlie Taylor, with both defenders due to be assessed for injuries. Forward Ashley Barnes and Johann Berg Gudmundsson remain out but new signing Josh Brownhill is in the squad.
Norwich City vs Liverpool
Carrow Road, Nolfork
Saturday, 15-02-2020 @8:30pm
Ref: Scot Attwell
Norwich City have no new injury concerns and welcome back defender Ben Godfrey from suspension. Long-term absentee Timm Klose hopes to return before the end of the season as he continues to recover from a serious knee injury.
Midfielder James Milner is set to be available for Liverpool following seven games out with a thigh problem. Forward Sadio Mane is also in contention following a similar injury but Xherdan Shaqiri remains out.
Norwich are winless in 13 top-flight games against Liverpool, losing 11. Liverpool have won six successive Premier League away meetings, scoring at least twice in each match and 20 goals in total. This fixture averages four goals per game, the highest of any Premier League fixture to have been played at least 10 times.
Norwich’s win against Bournemouth on 18 January was a first in the league at home since September (D3, L5). They have sustained 11 defeats in their last 12 Premier League games against the team in first place, only beating Manchester United in November 2012. The Canaries have lost more than 14 of their opening 25 fixtures of a league campaign for the first time since 1947-48 in the third tier south. Norwich kept a clean sheet in two of their last three Premier League fixtures, after managing only two in their opening 22 matches. They are the only club not to have won a Premier League point from a losing position this season.
Victory in this match would mean Liverpool have the best record after 26 matches in the history of the top five European leagues. Liverpool are 42 top-flight matches unbeaten, putting them level with Nottingham Forest on the all-time list (1977-78) and just seven matches behind Arsenal’s record of 49 games (2003-04). The Reds have earned 100 points from the last 102 available to them in the Premier League, winning 33 of their last 34 matches. Their 73 points from 25 matches this season is a top-flight record. They have equalled Manchester City’s Premier League record of 20 successive home wins, including all 13 this season. Their current tally of 73 points would have been enough to finish third in the Premier League last season. Liverpool have won 15 consecutive Premier League matches versus promoted opposition, by an aggregate score of 40-5 since a 1-1 draw at Newcastle in October 2017. Only two of Mo Salah’s 14 Premier League goals this season have been scored away from home.
The upcoming Premier League fixtures
Sunday, 16-02-2020
-Aston Villa vs Tottenham @5pm
-Arsenal vs Newcastle United @7:30pm
Monday, 17-02-2020
-Chelsea vs Man United @11pm
Friday’s result
-Wolves 0-0 Leicester City
