Sheffield United vs Fulham
Bramell Lane, Sheffield
Sunday, 18-10-2020 @2pm
Ref: Andre Marriner
The home side has won both previous Premier League meetings between Sheffield United and Fulham, which came in the 2006-07 season. Fulham won 5-4 away and 3-0 at home in the most recent matches between the sides, in the 2017-18 Championship. Fulham’s Ryan Sessegnon and Leon Clarke of Sheffield United scored hat-tricks in the game at Bramall Lane.
Sheffield United’s record signing Rhian Brewster is expected to make his debut. John Egan’s availability is being investigated after he came into close contact with a Republic of Ireland team-mate who tested positive for Covid-19. John Fleck, Oli Burke and David McGoldrick are all doubts after getting injured on international duty.
Fulham’s new recruit Joachim Andersen has damaged ankle ligaments during training and faces several weeks out. Mario Lemina is fit but Kenny Tete and Harrison Reed remain sidelined.
Sheffield United could lose eight league games in a row for the first time in their history. They have begun a top-flight season with four straight defeats for the first time since 1966. The Blades have only once lost their opening five league fixtures in a season, when in the second tier in 1995-96. Manager Chris Wilder has lost seven consecutive league matches as a manager for the first time since a run of 10 consecutive defeats with Halifax Town between February and April 2004. United scored their first Premier League goal of the season in their most recent match, with David McGoldrick finding the net against Arsenal in a 2-1 defeat.
Fulham have never started a season with five successive league defeats. They could lose their opening three away fixtures in a Premier League season for the second time, after 2008-09. Fulham’s solitary victory in their past 23 Premier League away games was by 1-0 at Bournemouth in April 2019 (D2, L20). Scott Parker has lost 11 of his 14 Premier League matches as a head coach. Parker scored a 90th-minute winner in West Ham’s 1-0 victory versus Chris Wilder’s Oxford United at Upton Park in the League Cup second round in August 2010.
Crystal Palace vs Brighton and Hove Albion
Selhurst Park, London
Sunday, 18-10-2020 @4pm
Ref: Scot Attwell
Crystal Palace are without Wayne Hennessey and James McCarthy, who were both injured on international duty. Michy Batshuayi returns after being ineligible to face Chelsea, while Gary Cahill, Patrick van Aanholt, Jeffrey Schlupp and James Tomkins could play.
Brighton pair Tariq Lamptey and Davy Propper are back in training after respective hamstring and Achilles problems and will be assessed. Aaron Connolly is another fitness doubt due to wrist and neck injuries. Alireza Jahanbakhsh is unlikely to feature because of a thigh problem but Swiss forward Andi Zeqiri, who joined the club earlier this month, is under consideration.
Crystal Palace have won just two of their 10 top-flight matches against Brighton (D3, L5). Palace are looking to secure back-to-back league wins over the Seagulls for the first time since September 2011. This will be the seventh Premier League meeting, with both sides recording two wins.
Crystal Palace won their opening two league games but have since suffered two defeats by an aggregate score of 1-6. They have lost nine of their past 12 leagues matches and kept only one clean sheet during that period. The Eagles failed to win any of their six league fixtures on a Sunday last season (D3, L3). Since the start of last season, Palace have failed to score a first-half goal in an unrivalled 30 league matches. Their average possession of 31% is the lowest in this season’s Premier League. They have conceded penalties in back-to-back league fixtures. Palace have the oldest average starting XI in the Premier League this term (29 years and 89 days), while Brighton have the youngest (24 years and 326 days). If selected, Cheikhou Kouyate will become only the second Senegalese player to reach 200 Premier League appearances. El Hadji Diouf was the first.
Brighton have lost three of their opening four league matches this season. The Seagulls have conceded at least three goals in each of their six league defeats since June’s restart. Defeat at Everton last time out ended their eight-match unbeaten away streak (W3, D5). Brighton have kept just one clean sheet in their past 16 league games in London. Graham Potter’s side have hit the woodwork on a league-high five occasions, with Leandro Trossard responsible for four of those attempts. Neal Maupay has scored four goals in his last three league matches, as many as in his previous 22 fixtures. Maupay has contributed to six goals in his last five league appearances, scoring four and setting up two.
Tottenham Hotspur vs West Ham United
London Stadium, London
Sunday, 18-10-2020 @6:30pm
Ref: Paul Tierney
Tottenham could win three consecutive Premier League games against West Ham for the first time since a run of five between March 2008 and December 2009. Spurs have won four of the past five meetings in all competitions.
Gareth Bale will probably make his first Tottenham appearance since 2013 on Sunday. Fellow new signing Carlos Vinicius will be on the bench, but Eric Dier is a fitness doubt and Giovani Lo Celso and Japhet Tanganga miss out.
West Ham have manager David Moyes back in the dugout and defender Issa Diop available again, with both of them having recovered from Covid-19. Ryan Fredericks and Arthur Masuaku are expected to be fit and involved.
Tottenham are on a seven-match unbeaten run in all competitions, winning five and drawing two. They have scored 13 goals in their past two matches in all competitions. Harry Kane has scored six goals in his six Premier League home appearances against West Ham. Kane has been involved in nine league goals this season (three goals, six assists) and eight goals in 12 matches for club and country since the start of September. Jose Mourinho has never lost a game against David Moyes, winning nine and drawing five of their 14 meetings in all competitions.
West Ham could win three consecutive Premier League games without conceding for the first time since February 2014. They have scored seven unanswered goals in their previous two league matches. The Hammers have lost 104 London derby matches in the Premier League, more than any other side. Michail Antonio has scored four goals in his seven Premier League appearances against Tottenham. Antonio has scored 10 goals in his last 11 league games. Mark Noble is one goal shy of equalling Paolo Di Canio as West Ham’s leading Premier League scorer on 47.
Leicester City vs Aston Villa
King Power Stadium, Leicestershire
Sunday, 18-10-2020 @9:15pm
Ref: Jonathan Moss
Leicester’s £31.8m signing Wesley Fofana is in contention to make his debut, with Caglar Soyuncu ruled out because of a muscle strain. Jonny Evans and Jamie Vardy are doubts due to respective abdominal and calf issues but James Maddison is available.
Aston Villa head coach Dean Smith is likely to name the same starting XI that dismantled Liverpool 7-2 before the international break. Keinan Davis has been nursing a minor calf injury but is expected to be fit.
Leicester are on a five-match unbeaten league run in this fixture, winning four of them. Aston Villa’s solitary victory in their past 15 top-flight away games against Leicester was by 5-0 in January 2004. Villa’s only win in the six most recent meetings in all competitions came courtesy of Trezeguet’s 93rd-minute goal in the Carabao Cup semi-final second leg at Villa Park in January this year.
The Foxes could win four of their opening five matches in a top-flight season for the first time. They have scored 12 goals so far and last registered more after five matches of a top-flight campaign in 1963-64. Leicester have conceded two goals or more in six of their past eight Premier League matches, keeping a clean sheet in the other two. Brendan Rodgers has lost consecutive home games in all competitions for the first time since a run of three defeats in October 2012 when he was Liverpool manager. Jamie Vardy has scored five goals in his four most recent Premier League appearances against Aston Villa, including a brace home and away last season. Jonny Evans is one shy of 300 Premier League appearances.
Aston Villa are vying to start a season with four successive league wins for the first time since 1930. They haven’t won four Premier League fixtures in a row since December 2009. Dean Smith’s side are on a seven-match unbeaten league run (W5, D2). It’s their longest in the top flight since a 10-game streak ended in October 2011. Villa have scored 10 goals in their past two league games, as many as in the previous 14. Jack Grealish has been involved in seven goals in his last four Premier League appearances, including five against Liverpool last time out. He can score in three consecutive league appearances for the first time in his career.
Monday’s fixtures
-West Bromwich Albion vs Burnley @7:30pm
-Leeds United vs Wolves @10pm
Saturday’s results
-Everton 2-2 Liverpool
-Chelsea 3-3 Southampton
-Man City 1-0 Arsenal
-Newcastle United 1-4 Man United
