Burnley vs Wolves
Turf Moor, Burnley
Wednesday, 15-07-2020 @8pm
Ref: Mike Dean
Burnley won this fixture 2-0 at Turf Moor last season, but that is their only top-flight home victory against Wolves since 1963 (D4, L5). Sean Dyche’s first match as Burnley manager was a 2-0 home win versus Wolves in the Championship in November 2012. Ben Mee started that game, while fellow defender Kevin Long was on the bench.
Burnley could name the same side which began the 1-1 draw with Liverpool. The Clarets remain without injured quartet Jack Cork, Ben Mee, Matthew Lowton and Ashley Barnes.
Head coach Nuno Espirito Santo says Wolves have “some issues” ahead of this game, with one of those the fitness of Pedro Neto, who was forced off against Everton with “strong cramp”. If not fully fit, Neto may be replaced by Adama Traore or Diogo Jota, both of whom began on the bench on Sunday.
Last month’s defeat at Manchester City is Burnley’s only loss in 13 league games (W7, D5). The Clarets are unbeaten in six league matches at Turf Moor since losing against Aston Villa on New Year’s Day (W3, D3). A 15th league victory of the season would be Burnley’s highest total in a Premier League campaign. Burnley have recorded 14 clean sheets in the top flight this term, a total bettered only by Liverpool and Manchester City’s 15. Jay Rodriguez has scored in back-to-back Premier League games and has been directly involved in 80% of his side’s goals since the restart, netting three times and registering one assist.
This will be Wolves’ 55th game in all competitions this season, yet they have used just 20 players in Premier League games, fewer than any other side.. They have conceded just 18 league goals away from home this season, the second-lowest figure in the top flight behind Liverpool, with 14. A win would give Wolves 58 points, their highest total in a Premier League campaign, bettering last year’s tally of 57 points. Raul Jimenez has 25 goals in all competitions this season, including 16 in the Premier League – the last Wolves player to net 17 in a top-flight season was John Richards in 1975-76. This match could see Conor Coady complete 90 minutes in a 74th consecutive Premier League game, which would be the longest sequence by an outfield player since a similar run by Cesar Azpilicueta in 2017.
Man City vs AFC Bournemouth
Etihad Stadium, Manchester
Wednesday, 15-07-2020 @8pm
Ref: Lee Mason
City’s only confirmed absentee for the visit of Bournemouth will see Sergio Aguero miss out after undergoing surgery last month.
Bournemouth have defensive injury problems ahead of Wednesday’s match. Key centre-back Nathan Ake suffered a groin problem against Leicester, while Adam Smith, Simon Francis and Chris Mepham are also out. Howe says there is an outside chance Netherlands international Ake could feature again this season, while brushing off talk the 25-year-old may have played his final game for the club amid repeated transfer speculation.
Man City have won all nine of their Premier League games against Bournemouth by an aggregate score of 28-4. It’s the best 100 per cent record one opponent has against another in English top-flight history. Bournemouth have lost all nine of their Premier League meetings with Man City – in English top-flight history, only one side has lost each of their first 10 games against an opponent (Wigan against Manchester United). Bournemouth have conceded 28 goals against Manchester City in their nine Premier League meetings – only Nottingham Forest versus Blackburn (29 conceded) have shipped more in their first nine Premier League games against a specific opponent.
Manchester City have won their previous two Premier League matches by a 5-0 scoreline – on only three occasions in English top-flight history has a side won three consecutive games by a 5+ goal margin, most recently the Citizens back in September 2017 (also Chelsea in August 2010 and Aston Villa in April 1899). Manchester City have won their last five home Premier League games without conceding a goal – they last won six such home matches in a row in the top-flight in March 1902. Bournemouth have won just one of their last 14 away Premier League games (D1 L12), losing the last eight in a row. The Cherries haven’t lost nine in a row on the road in the Premier League since February 2019.
Newcastle United vs Tottenham Hotspur
St. James Park, Newcastle upon Tyne
Wednesday, 15-07-2020 @8pm
Ref: Davide Coote
Newcastle are looking to record their first Premier League double over Spurs in four years, following their 1-0 away win in August. Tottenham have won four of the past five Premier League meetings at St James’ Park, having only managed three victories in the first 19. Spurs can secure three consecutive away wins against Newcastle in all competitions for the first time since January 1975.
Newcastle have several fitness concerns for the visit of Tottenham, with Jamaal Lascelles set to miss out because of injury after being substituted in the defeat against Watford. Isaac Hayden and Sean Longstaff are both major doubts.
Tottenham are still without Eric Dier, who serves the third match of a four-game ban for confronting a fan during the FA Cup tie against Norwich City. Dele Alli is expected to miss a fourth game with a hamstring injury.
Newcastle are unbeaten in six home league matches and have only lost three of their 17 top-flight fixtures at St James’ Park this season (W6, D8). The last time the Magpies lost no more than three home games in a Premier League campaign was in 2011-12. However, they could sustain three successive Premier League losses for the first time since 1 January. They have scored only one first-half goal in their past 10 Premier League home games. Newcastle have scored 36% of their league goals via set-pieces. Only Bournemouth, with 47%, have scored a higher proportion. Dwight Gayle has three goals in five Premier League appearances, having failed to score in his 12 previous matches. Miguel Almiron has scored one goal and assisted another in his past three Premier League home games, matching his total tally from the first 19 league matches at St James’ Park.
Spurs have lost just once in six games since the restart (W3, D2). They have earned an unsurpassed four Premier League wins after conceding the first goal this season. Nonetheless, Tottenham are guaranteed their lowest final points tally in a season since 2008-09. Jose Mourinho has managed seven fixtures at St James’ Park without a victory, his longest winless away run at any Premier League ground. Mourinho’s four defeats at Newcastle are also his highest number of losses at one Premier League stadium. Harry Kane is one short of 200 club goals in all competitions: 183 for Spurs, nine for Millwall, five for Leyton Orient and two for Leicester City.
Arsenal vs Liverpool
Emirates Stadium, London
Wednesday, 15-07-2020 @10:15pm
Ref: Paul Tierney
Arsenal are still missing forward Eddie Nketiah, who serves the second match of a three-game suspension following his red card against Leicester City. Mesut Ozil’s back will be assessed, while Bernd Leno, Gabriel Martinelli, Pablo Mari and Calum Chambers are set to miss the remainder of the season.
Liverpool will select from the same squad that drew with Burnley. James Milner remains out and Joel Matip and Jordan Henderson will both miss the rest of 2019-20 because of injury.
Arsenal are winless in nine Premier League meetings with Liverpool since a 4-1 victory at the Emirates in April 2015 (D4, L5). The Gunners have conceded 90 goals against Liverpool in the Premier League, a club record against a single opponent.
Arsenal’s defeat against Tottenham ended a four-match unbeaten run (W3, D1). The Gunners can win a maximum of 59 points this season, which would be their lowest-ever total for a 38-match campaign. They have won just one match this season against established top-six teams (D3, L5). Arsenal have dropped a league-high 15 points from winning positions since Mikel Arteta’s first game in charge in December. Alexandre Lacazette has scored two goals in his last three league appearances, equalling his tally from the previous 14 games.
Liverpool need to win their remaining three games to surpass Manchester City’s record of 100 Premier League points. They can set a new club top-flight record by securing a 31st win of the season against Arsenal. Since the restart, Liverpool have gone winless in three of their six Premier League matches (D2, L1). The Reds had only failed to win two of their previous 38 games in the competition. The Reds have won their last five Premier League games in London, including all four this season. Liverpool last won 100% of their top-flight games in the capital in a single season in 1933, when Arsenal and Chelsea were the only London sides in the division. Jurgen Klopp is unbeaten in his eight Premier League games against Arsenal (W5, D3), with Liverpool scoring 26 goals in those games. He’s only faced Everton (9) more often without defeat in the competition, while only against Watford (27) has his side scored more goals.
Premier League upcoming fixtures
Thursday, 16-07-2020
-Everton vs Aston Villa @8pm
-Leicester City vs Sheffield United @8pm
-Crystal Palace vs Man United @10:15pm
-Southampton vs Brighton and Hove Albion @10:15pm
Friday, 17-07-2020
-West Ham United vs Watford @10pm
Monday’s result
-Man United 2-2 Southampton
Tuesday’s result
-Chelsea 1-0 Norwich City
