Burnely vs Sheffield United
Tuff Moor, Burnley
Sunday, 05-07-2020 @2pm
Ref: Peter Bankes
Sheffield United can complete a top-flight double against Burnley for the first time since 1967-68. They would also become the first Yorkshire club to do the double against Lancashire opposition in the Premier League since Leeds defeated Blackburn twice in 2003-04. The Blades’ last win at Turf Moor was in April 2008. James Beattie and Billy Sharp scored for the visitors, with Andrew Cole netting a late consolation for the home team.
Johann Berg Gudmundsson may feature for Burnley, while Jay Rodriguez, Jack Cork and Robbie Brady will also be assessed. Matt Lowton and Ashley Barnes remain sidelined, while this game could come too soon for Chris Wood, who is back in training.
Sheffield United are without injured trio John Lundstram, John Fleck and Luke Freeman. The Blades will monitor Jack O’Connell, who has missed the past five games with a knee problem.
The Clarets could win three consecutive Premier League games for the first time since a similar sequence in March and April last year. Burnley have kept 13 clean sheets in the top flight this season – it is their highest tally in a Premier League campaign, and bettered only by Liverpool in 2019-20. Sean Dyche’s side are unbeaten in their past five Premier League home matches (W3, D2). A Clarets win would see them equal their club record for most wins in a Premier League season (14 in 2017-18). Burnley have used 62 substitutes this season, the fewest in the division – including just four of a possible 15 since the competition restarted in June. Just 9% of the goals Burnley have conceded in the Premier League this season have come from set-piece situations (four out of 45, excluding penalties). It’s the lowest ratio in the division.
Sheffield United have lost successive away games, as many defeats as they suffered in their first 14 on the road in the Premier League this season. Blades’ substitutes have scored seven Premier League goals this season, a joint-league high with Manchester City. They registered five shots on target in Thursday’s win against Tottenham, compared to just three in total in their previous three top-flight matches.
Newcastle United vs West Ham United
St. James Park, Newcastle upon Tyne
Sunday, 05-07-2020 @4:15pm
Ref: Craig Pawson
Sean Longstaff, Jamaal Lascelles and Joelinton are all doubts for Newastle, while Florian Lejeuene could miss the remainder of the season. Head coach Steve Bruce says it is “inevitable” he will make changes for his side’s fifth game in the space of 15 days.
West Ham will assess Mark Noble, Arthur Masuaku and Sebastien Haller, all of whom are nearing returns. Felipe Anderson is doubtful with a slight muscle problem.
Newcastle can complete a league double against West Ham for the second time in three seasons. None of the past 10 meetings have ended in draws, with the Magpies winning six times to West Ham’s four.
Newcastle are unbeaten in five Premier League games (W3 D2), their best run since going undefeated in their final six matches of the 2015-16 season. The Magpies scored twice in the opening 30 minutes against Bournemouth, ending a run of nine consecutive league games without a first-half goal. Newcastle have had 17 different goalscorers in the Premier League this season, more than any other side prior to the latest round of fixtures. Steve Bruce’s team averaged just 0.9 goals per Premier League game before the season was suspended, but since the restart they are averaging 2.7 goals per match. Bruce has won just two of 18 managerial encounters with David Moyes (D6, L10), with his most recent victory coming with Wigan against Everton in 2008.
West Ham are vying to win back-to-back league matches for the first time since August. The Hammers have failed to keep a clean sheet in their past 12 top-flight games, with their only Premier League shut-out since David Moyes was reappointed coming in his first match, a 4-0 win against Bournemouth on 1 January. They have lost 22 points from winning positions this season, a league-high prior to the weekend’s fixtures. Jarrod Bowen has been directly involved in 26 goals in 34 league starts for Hull City and West Ham this season, scoring 17 goals and assisting nine. Michail Antonio has had a hand in four of West Ham’s last five Premier League goals, scoring two and setting up two more.
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
Anfield Stadium, Liverpool
Sunday, 05-07-2020 @6:30pm
Ref: Paul Tierney
Liverpool have earned four successive Premier League wins against Aston Villa, by an aggregate score of 13-3. However, the Reds have won only three of the past nine league meetings at Anfield (D3, L3). This fixture has produced 20 away wins, the most in Premier League history (14 for Liverpool, six for Aston Villa).
Liverpool have no fresh injury concerns ahead of Sunday’s home game against Aston Villa. Manager Jurgen Klopp says he will field his strongest available side for the remainder of the season.
Villa left-back Matt Targett will miss at least the next two games because of a hamstring injury. Fit-again pair Frederic Guilbert and Danny Drinkwater are hoping to play for the first time since the Premier League’s resumption.
The new league champions are unbeaten in 56 home league games, winning the last 23 in a row. The Reds need five wins from their final six league matches to break the English top-flight points record of 100, set by Manchester City in 2017-18. Another five league victories would give Liverpool 33 for the season, eclipsing City’s record of 32. Liverpool’s only defeat against a side in the relegation zone in their past 24 league matches at Anfield came against Swansea City in January 2017 (W17, D6). It’s five losses in nine league and cup games for Jurgen Klopp’s side. They had only lost five of their previous 76 fixtures. Liverpool could lose consecutive league matches for the first time since August to September 2015. Mo Salah has scored 49 Premier League home goals in 59 appearances for Liverpool and Chelsea combined. Only Alan Shearer (47 games) has taken fewer than 60 appearances to reach 50 home goals in the division. Roberto Firmino has failed to score in any of his last 17 league games at Anfield since a 2-1 win versus Tottenham in March 2019.
Dean Smith’s side are enduring the longest current winless run in the division, with two draws and six defeats in eight games. Villa’s only two victories in their past 34 top-flight away fixtures came against Norwich in October and Burnley in January (D6, L26). They have only managed two points from 15 Premier League away fixtures against the side starting the day top of the table since beating Leeds 2-1 in January 2000. The Villans are on a club Premier League record run of 23 consecutive away fixtures without a clean sheet. They are winless in all 15 league fixtures this season against the teams who begin this matchround in the top nine of the table (D2, L13). Jack Grealish has gone nine league appearances without a goal and only contributed one assist in those matches.
Southampton vs Man City
St. Mary’s Stadium, Hampshire
Sunday, 05-07-2020 @9pm
Ref: Andre Marriner
Southampton have no new injury concerns, although Sofiane Boufal is set to miss a third match because of a thigh injury sustained in training. Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg is a major doubt as he continues to struggle with an ankle issue sustained against Arsenal.
Manchester City are likely to rotate their squad after Thursday’s win against Liverpool, with Riyad Mahrez and Bernardo Silva in contention. Sergio Aguero is City’s only injury absentee.
Southampton could lose seven successive Premier League matches against Manchester City for the first time. City have won 10 of the past 12 Premier League meetings, including the last six by an aggregate score of 17-4.
Southampton could register an 11th home defeat of a single campaign for the first time in all 92 seasons of their league history. They have conceded a league-high 33 goals at home this season. Southampton have 40 points after 32 matches, already surpassing their total in 2017-18 (36) and 2018-19 (39). Saints are the only Premier League club yet to draw a match in 2020. Danny Ings has scored the opening goal in eight Premier League matches this season, more than any other player.
Manchester City’s 4-0 victory against Liverpool was their 25th Premier League win by at least four goals under Pep Guardiola – seven more than any other club in that time. However, City trail Liverpool by 20 points, a margin bigger than any final gap between first and second in top-flight history. City have dropped 30 points in this campaign compared to 30 in total from 2017-18 and 2018-19 combined. They could lose three consecutive away league games for the first time since April 2015 under Manuel Pellegrini. Guardiola has never lost three consecutive away league matches in his managerial career. Kevin De Bruyne has been directly involved in more Premier League goals than any other player this season, scoring 11 and assisting 17. De Bruyne has created more chances (432) and set up more goals (62) than any other player since his City debut in 2015. He has registered 17 Premier League assists this season, just one shy of his best tally of 18 in 2016-17. Phil Foden has scored six goals and provided eight assists in his last 17 appearances in all competitions, despite making only 10 starts. Since the beginning of the 2015-16 season, only Wilfried Zaha (15) has won more Premier League penalties than Raheem Sterling’s 14.
The upcoming Premier League game
Monday, 06-07-2020
-Tottenham vs Everton @10pm
Results – Saturday, 04-07-2020
-Norwich City 0-1 Brighton
-Leicester City 2-0 Crystal Palace
-Man United 5-2 Bournemouth
-Wolves 0-2 Arsenal
-Chelsea 3-0 Watford
