Watford vs Tottenham
Vicarage Road, London
Saturday, 18-01-2019 @3:30pm
Ref: Michael Oliver
Watford’s only victory in their 13 Premier League matches against Tottenham was by 2-1 in this fixture last season. That is their only win over Spurs in 17 attempts in all competitions dating back to 1994. However, Spurs have won on only two of their past nine away league visits to Watford (D4, L3).
Tottenham have won once in five Premier League games and could lose three in a row for the first time since November 2012. Their total of two Premier League clean sheets this season is the joint worst record of any team, along with Norwich. Spurs and Aston Villa are the only sides yet to keep an away clean sheet in the top flight this season. Spurs have conceded in 18 successive away league games, their longest such run in the top flight since April 1977. Tottenham have won only one of their past seven league matches without Harry Kane. They scored just four goals from 89 shot attempts in those seven fixtures. Jose Mourinho was the last manager to win away from home against a Nigel Pearson side in the Premier League, doing so in April 2015 with Chelsea at Leicester.
Watford have Ignacio Pussetto available for selection following the winger’s arrival from Udinese. Christian Kabasele is back after a ban, while Will Hughes and Kiko Femenia are close to a return from injury.
Tottenham head coach Jose Mourinho is likely to recall Toby Alderweireld, who was rested for the FA Cup replay against Middlesbrough. New signing Gedson Fernandes could play, while club captain Hugo Lloris is back in training and nearing a return.
Arsenal vs Sheffield United
Emirates Stadium, London
Saturday, 18-01-2019 @6pm
Ref: Mike Dean
Sheffield United are winless in 16 away matches against Arsenal in all competitions since earning a 1-0 top-flight victory in August 1971 (D4, L12). The most recent Premier League meeting between the sides at the Emirates Stadium ended in a 3-0 win for the Gunners in September 2006. Sheffield United are vying for their first league double over Arsenal since the 1946-47 season. The Blades could become the first newly-promoted team in 27 years to complete a league double over Arsenal.
Arsenal earned a first home league victory in seven attempts at the expense of Manchester United on New Year’s Day. The Gunners have only won two of their past 14 league games (D7, L5). Arsenal’s tally of 28 points is their joint-lowest after 22 games of a Premier League season, along with 1994-95. They have won just one of 11 matches against other clubs currently in the top half of the table (D5, L5). Arsenal have failed to win five Premier League matches when leading at half-time this season; they have never done so in six matches in a single season in the division. However, they are unbeaten in 21 Premier League fixtures to kick-off at at 3pm on a Saturday since losing at West Brom in November 2015 (W18, D3).
Arsenal captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang begins a three-match suspension on Saturday. Sead Kolasinac and Lucas Torreira have been unable to train properly because of minor injuries and they will both be assessed.
Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder has reported no fresh fitness concerns ahead of the match. Reserve goalkeepers Michael Verrips and Simon Moore could be available after injuries.
Man City vs Crystal Palace
Etihad Stadium, Manchester
Saturday, 18-01-2019 @6pm
Ref: Graham Scott
Manchester City have no new reported injury problems ahead of the visit of Crystal Palace. Aymeric Laporte is back in full training but unlikely to play, while Leroy Sane is a long-term absentee.
Injury-hit Crystal Palace are without Luka Milivojevic, who is serving the second of a three-match suspension. Defender Joel Ward is available after a knee injury but midfielder Max Meyer is out with an ankle injury suffered in last weekend’s draw at Arsenal.
City have won seven of the past nine Premier League meetings. Those seven wins have produced an aggregate score of 22-2 in City’s favour. However, Palace’s 3-2 win at the Etihad Stadium in December 2018 was the only Premier League defeat that City suffered at home last season.
City could win four consecutive league games for the first time this season. They have won nine of their past 10 matches in all competitions, scoring 32 goals. Pep Guardiola’s side are aiming for a fourth straight home league victory. Sergio Aguero is one short of 250 goals for Manchester City in all competitions. Riyad Mahrez is the only Premier League player to both score and assist 20 goals since the start of last season in all competitions (21 goals, 23 assists). Kevin De Bruyne’s 15 assists in all competitions this season is five more than any other Premier League player. De Bruyne has had a hand in eight goals in his last eight Premier League appearances against Crystal Palace for Manchester City, with two goals and six assists.
Brighton vs Aston Villa
American Express Community Stadium
Saturday, 18-01-2019 @6pm
Ref: Andy Madly
Brighton’s Aaron Mooy has recovered from the knee problem that caused him to miss last week’s defeat at Everton. Shane Duffy, Adam Webster and Alireza Jahanbakhsh have overcome minor issues.
Former Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina is poised to make his first Premier League appearance since May 2013 after joining Aston Villa on loan. Matt Targett and Bjorn Engels should be fit to return but Jonathan Kodjia is in talks about a move elsewhere and will not be involved.
Brighton have gone nine league and cup games without beating Aston Villa since a 1-0 top-flight home win in December 1980 (D3, L6). Villa have already beaten Brighton twice this season: 3-1 in the League Cup at the Amex Stadium and 2-1 at Villa Park in the Premier League. This is their first top-flight meeting on the south coast since a goalless draw at the Goldstone Ground in March 1983.
Norwich City vs Bournemouth
Carrow Road, Nolfork
Saturday, 18-01-2019 @6pm
Ref: Paul Tierney
Norwich’s Teemu Pukki is back after a thigh injury, while captain Ben Godfrey returns after missing the last five league games with a knee problem. Josip Drmic is fit after a hamstring injury and new signings Lukas Rupp and Ondrej Duda could also feature.
Injury-hit Bournemouth remain without Joshua King and Jack Stacey, who are sidelined with hamstring injuries. Goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale could be fit, having missed the defeat by Watford because of a minor hamstring problem.
Norwich have won only two of the past 14 league meetings (D6, L6). The teams drew 0-0 in the reverse fixture in October, one of only two clean sheets that Norwich have kept this season.
Southampton vs Wolves
St. Mary’s Stadium, Hampshire
Saturday, 18-01-2019 @6pm
Ref: Darren England
Injury-hit Wolves will be without Ruben Vinagre, who suffered a hamstring injury in the midweek FA Cup defeat. This has led to left-sided player Ryan Giles being recalled from loan at Shrewsbury, and the teenager is likely to be on the bench.
Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl has no fresh injury worries. The only absentee is full-back Yan Valery, who has been suffering from a virus but is expected to rejoin training at the end of the month.
Southampton have won both times they have previously hosted Wolves in the Premier League. Wolves have lost their past five top-flight visits to Southampton, a run stretching back to 1980.
West Ham United vs Everton
London Stadium, London
Saturday, 18-01-2019 @6pm
Ref: Andre Marriner
West Ham United goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski is facing several weeks out following a recurrence of the hip injury that previously sidelined him for three months. New signing Darren Randolph is set to deputise but Felipe Anderson, Michail Antonio and Arthur Masuaku are doubts.
Everton forward Richarlison twisted his knee in training and will miss his first match of the season. Gylfi Sigurdsson is also injured but Yerry Mina is available. Long-term absentees Andre Gomes and Jean-Philippe Gbamin have returned to training.
West Ham have won just three of the past 23 Premier League meetings, keeping one clean sheet (D6, L14). Everton have earned seven victories in the last 11 trips to West Ham, with their only defeat coming on the final day of the 2017-18 season. West Ham’s 63 top-flight defeats in this fixture is a club record against one opponent.
Newcastle United vs Chelsea
St. James Park, Newcastle Upon Tyne
Saturday, 18-01-2019 @8:30pm
Ref: Chris Kavanagh
Newcastle United have taken just four points from their last eight Premier League games against Chelsea, losing the last three. Chelsea can win four consecutive top-flight meetings for the first time since 1958. Chelsea’s 25 victories in this Premier League fixture is bettered only by their 29 wins against Tottenham.
The triumph against Burnley was a third win in five Premier League matches for Chelsea (D1, L1). The Blues have claimed 22 points away from home in the Premier League, compared to 17 points at Stamford Bridge. Twenty five of their 39 league goals have come on the road. However, Chelsea have kept just one away clean sheet, conceding 19 goals in their 11 games. An eighth defeat of the season in this match would equal Chelsea’s total league losses from 2018-19. Tammy Abraham is the only player in the Premier League’s top 10 goalscorers to have scored all 13 goals from open play.
Newcastle United’s injury crisis is beginning to ease, with forward Allan Saint-Maximin returning after a month out with a hamstring injury. Seven players are still sidelined and Andy Carroll is a doubt, but Joelinton and Fabian Schar are available.
Chelsea have no new fitness concerns, although N’Golo Kante continues to be assessed for a hamstring problem. Marcos Alonso could be in contention following a thigh injury but Christian Pulisic remains out.
Upcoming fixtures – Sunday, 19-01-2020
-Burnley vs Leicester City @5pm
-Liverpool vs Man United @7:30pm
