Chelsea vs Crystal Palace
Stamford Bridge, London
Saturday, 09-11-2019 @3:30pm
Ref: Mike Dean
What a start to his Chelsea managerial career Frank Lampard is experiencing. After his 4-0 humiliation against Man United on his debut, Chelsea look to be going from strength to strength and will be gunning for a sixth straight league victory against a Palace side that will be taking on a current top five side for a fourth game running.
Crystal Palace come into the game having only won two of their 17 top-flight away fixtures against Chelsea, both by 2-1 scorelines in August 2015 and April 2017 (D5, L10). Since returning to the Premier League in 2013-14, Crystal Palace have won four of the 12 meetings – double their amount of victories from 22 previous top-flight encounters.
Chelsea can win six consecutive Premier League games for the first time since the end of their most recent title-winning season in May 2017. However, Chelsea have triumphed in just one of their five fixtures this season against teams in the top half of the table (D2, L2). Their only defeat in 10 matches in all competitions came against Manchester United in the Carabao Cup on 30 October (W8, D1). The Blues have scored seven goals in five league matches at Stamford Bridge this season, compared to 18 goals in six away fixtures. Chelsea won all five Premier League London derbies at Stamford Bridge in 2018-19, by an aggregate score of 12-3. Tammy Abraham’s nine goals is bettered only by Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy’s 10 in the Premier League this season.
Fit-again Chelsea midfielder N’Golo Kante was an unused substitute in midweek and could make his first appearance for a month on Saturday. Mason Mount might be fit after an ankle problem but Ross Barkley is out with a similar injury and Jorginho serves a ban for accumulating five bookings.
Crystal Palace forward Andros Townsend has recovered from the muscular injury he sustained at Arsenal. Gary Cahill and Cheikhou Kouyate are in contention following head injuries.
Burnley vs West Ham United
Turf Moor, Burnley
Saturday, 09-11-2019 @6pm
Ref: Kevin Friend
Burnley are likely to be boosted by the return of forward Chris Wood after two games out with a hamstring injury. Danny Drinkwater is back in training following an ankle problem but fellow midfielder Johann Berg Gudmundsson remains sidelined.
West Ham midfielder Jack Wilshere will be assessed to see if he is fit enough to return after a groin injury. The Hammers are still without long-term injury trio Lukasz Fabianski, Michail Antonio and Winston Reid.
West Ham have only won four times in 28 top-flight away matches against Burnley (D9, L15).
Newcastle United vs Bournemouth
St. James Park, Newcastle upon Tyne
Saturday, 09-11-2019 @6pm
Ref: Martin Atkinson
Bournemouth lost at St James’ Park for the first time in the Premier League last season, having won on their two previous visits. The two clubs are level on two wins apiece in six Premier League meetings overall (D2).
Newcastle United have no new injury concerns, with Florian Lejeune nearing a return following seven months out. Fabian Schar is back in training but not yet fit, while Matt Ritchie remains out and Sean Longstaff serves the second game of a three-match ban.
Bournemouth midfielder Jefferson Lerma is suspended for one match after accumulating a fifth booking of the season last weekend. David Brooks and Andrew Surman are still sidelined through injury.
Southampton vs Everton
St. Mary’s Stadium, Southampton
Saturday, 09-11-2019 @6pm
Ref: Paul Tierney
Southampton full-back Cedric Soares is back in contention following six weeks out with a calf injury. Fit-again winger Moussa Djenepo could make just a second league start of the campaign, but defender Ryan Bertrand is suspended.
Everton manager Marco Silva believes Andre Gomes could feature again this season despite sustaining a fractured dislocation of the ankle last weekend. Fellow midfielder Fabian Delph is a major doubt with a hamstring injury.
Southampton have won 11 Premier League home games against Everton – only against Newcastle (12) have they won more matches at St Mary’s. Everton have lost on five of their past six Premier League visits to Southampton, winning the other 3-0 in August 2015. There have been only four away victories in the 40 Premier League meetings.
Tottenham Hotspur vs Sheffield United
Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London
Saturday, 09-11-2019 @6pm
Ref: Graham Scott
Tottenham are unbeaten in four home meetings in all competitions since a 1-0 defeat at White Hart Lane in November 1991 (W3, D1). The home side in this fixture has never lost in the six previous Premier League fixtures, and always scored at least twice. Sheffield United have won only four of their 35 top-flight away games against Spurs (D7, L24).
Tottenham have won only six of their past 23 Premier League fixtures (D6, L11). They are winless in four league games (D2, L2). Spurs have only conceded more than once in one of their 15 home league matches in 2019. However, Mauricio Pochettino’s side have kept a solitary Premier League clean sheet this season, a joint-low with Norwich. They have dropped 10 league points from winning positions, second only to Aston Villa’s 11. Dele Alli has scored two goals in his last three league appearances, as many as his previous 15. He has scored in 39 Premier League games without losing.
Tottenham have striker Son Heung-min available after his red card against Everton last weekend was rescinded. Jan Vertonghen and Erik Lamela are both still out with hamstring injuries, while Giovani Lo Celso may have to wait for his first Premier League start.
Sheffield United are assessing minor injuries to several players but manager Chris Wilder declined to mention names. Forward Callum Robinson is among those pushing for a recall. He has started all five of United’s away league games.
Leicester City vs Arsenal
King Power Stadium, Leicestershire
Saturday, 09-11-2019 @8:30pm
Ref: Chris Kavanagh
Leicester are vying to beat Arsenal in three consecutive top-flight home matches for the first time. The Gunners have lost two of the past three league meetings – more than they had in the previous 30 (W20, D9, L1).
The Foxes have won eight of their past 11 league matches at home, losing only once. Three points on Saturday would give them a club record-equalling fifth successive Premier League home victory. Leicester have earned seven wins in nine league games, scoring at least twice in each victory. They have won 12 Premier League fixtures under Brendan Rodgers, a record bettered only by Liverpool and Manchester City since his first game in charge in March. Leicester have the joint-best defensive record this season, level with Sheffield United. Jamie Vardy has scored eight goals in his eight league starts against Arsenal. His tally of 19 Premier League goals in 21 games since Rodgers’ arrival is five more than anyone else during that period.
Arsenal’s tally of 17 points is their joint lowest after 11 matches for seven years. They have won only four of their last 18 Premier League away matches (D5, L9). The Gunners have gone 11 away league games without a win against teams starting the day in the top three since beating Manchester City at the Etihad in January 2015 (D3, L8). Arsenal have kept just two clean sheets in 24 away league fixtures. This will be Unai Emery’s 50th Premier League match in charge of Arsenal (W25, D12, L12). None of his previous 49 have ended goalless. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is yet to score a Premier League away goal on a Saturday in seven appearances.
Unai Emery says Granit Xhaka is not ready to return to the Arsenal side for Saturday’s game against Leicester. Xhaka has not played since an angry confrontation with home fans during the draw with Crystal Palace at Emirates Stadium on 27 October. The incident led to him being stripped of the Arsenal captaincy. Fellow midfielder Dani Ceballos will also be absent for Emery’s 50th Premier League match in charge. The 23-year-old injured his left hamstring during Wednesday’s Europa League tie against Vitoria.
Leicester City manager Brendan Rodgers has a near fully-fit squad at his disposal for Saturday’s game. The only absentee is Matty James, who has begun light training as he steps up his comeback from Achilles surgery.
Upcoming fixtures
Sunday, 10-11-2019
-Man United vs Brighton @5pm
-Wolves vs Aston Villa @5pm
-Liverpool vs Man City @7:30pm
