Everton vs Liverpool
Goodison Park, Liverpool
Saturday, 17-10-2020 @2:30pm
Ref: Michael Oliver
The Merseyside derby will kick start Premier League action on Saturday as the division’s in-form side Everton host a wounded Liverpool outfit who were humiliated 7-2 away to Aston Villa in the last round.
Liverpool are on a club record run of 22 unbeaten matches in all competitions versus Everton (W11, D11). Everton are winless in the 19 Premier League meetings since their 2-0 home victory in October 2010 (D11, L8). Seven of the past eight league derbies at Goodison Park have ended in draws. Liverpool won the other match. The last three derbies hosted by Everton have finished goalless. Everton are without a home league goal against their Merseyside neighbours in six hours and 45 minutes.
Everton pair Yerry Mina and Lucas Digne are expected to recover in time from minor injuries sustained while on international duty. Seamus Coleman, Allan and Andre Gomes all returned to training this week and are under consideration.
Liverpool remain without goalkeeper Alisson so Adrian will again deputise. Sadio Mane and Thiago Alcantara are set to return after self-isolating because of positive coronavirus tests, while Joel Matip is back in training.
This is the first Merseyside league derby with Everton starting top of the table since September 1989. Everton are looking to win their opening five league games for the first time since 1938-39. They beat reigning top-flight champions Arsenal in their fifth match that season. The Toffees have won their opening seven games in all competitions for the first time since 1894-95. Everton could win five league matches in a row for the first time since a run of seven from March to April 2014. A league-high 13 goals have been scored in just two games at Goodison Park this term. They have scored in 11 of their past 12 home league games – June’s goalless draw with Liverpool was the exception. Dominic Calvert-Lewin has scored nine goals in six appearances for Everton in all competitions this season. No player in Europe’s elite five divisions has scored more. Calvert-Lewin could become the first Everton player to score in his opening five league games since Tommy Lawton in 1938-39. James Rodriguez has contributed to six goals in his five games in all competitions. He has three goals and three assists. Teams managed by Carlo Ancelotti have kept a clean sheet in five of their six competitive home matches against Liverpool (W4, D1, L1).
Liverpool have lost four of their past eight away league games, as many as in their previous 46 away fixtures. The Reds could suffer consecutive league defeats for the first time since September 2015. Liverpool’s four league losses in 2020 are as many as they suffered in 2018 and 2019 combined. The last time the Reds had conceded 11 goals after four fixtures was back in 1937-38. Liverpool have conceded 23 goals since June’s Premier League resumption. Only Crystal Palace (25) and Brighton (24) have let in more over this period. Jurgen Klopp’s side have conceded a league-high seven first-half goals. Their past six league matches have produced 34 goals. Mohamed Salah has scored 99 goals in 158 games for Liverpool in all competitions and is looking to become the 17th player to reach a century of goals for the club. Adrian has made five errors directly leading to opposition goals in his 21 matches for Liverpool in all competitions. Klopp is unbeaten in his 11 Merseyside derbies as Liverpool manager in all competitions (W7, D4).
Chelsea vs Southampton
Stamford Birdge, London
Saturday, 17-10-2020 @5pm
Ref: Peter Bankes
Chelsea’s Ben Chilwell is fit despite withdrawing from England duty, but Edouard Mendy misses out after injuring his thigh in training with Senegal. Thiago Silva will be rested, while Christian Pulisic and Hakim Ziyech could both feature, with the latter in contention for the first time.
Theo Walcott could play his first game for Southampton since 2006 after rejoining the club on loan. Another new signing, Ibrahima Diallo, is available for his debut. Moussa Djenepo and Mohammed Salisu are both ruled out, while Stuart Armstrong will not be considered, although he is back in training after a period of self-isolation following a positive coronavirus test.
Chelsea lost 2-0 at home to Southampton last season but have won seven of the past nine league meetings (D1, L1). Southampton could record back-to-back away league wins against the Blues for the first time since 1985.
Chelsea have not conceded a Premier League home goal against a side from outside the established top six since losing 2-0 to Southampton last December. The Blues have won seven of their past eight league games at Stamford Bridge, scoring 18 goals in total and conceding just four. They could keep a clean sheet in consecutive top-flight matches for the first time under Frank Lampard. Olivier Giroud has scored seven league goals against Southampton, with each of the last four coming as a substitute – the only player to have scored five Premier League goals against a particular opponent from the bench is Julian Joachim versus Derby.
Southampton can claim three consecutive league victories for the first time since winning their final four games of the 2015-16 season under Ronald Koeman. They could also record three successive top-flight clean sheets, a feat they last achieved between September and October 2016. Saints have collected 20 points away from home in 2020 – only Liverpool have fared better. Danny Ings has scored 13 Premier League goals in 2020, a tally exceeded only by Mohamed Salah.
Man City vs Arsenal
Etihad Stadium, Manchester
Saturday, 17-10-2020 @7:30pm
Ref: Chris Kavanagh
Manchester City are unbeaten in nine Premier League meetings against Arsenal – scoring at least twice in each of them – since a 1-2 defeat in December 2015 (W7, D2). Arsenal could lose seven league matches in a row against the same opponent for the first time since doing so versus Ipswich between 1974 and 1977. The Gunners’ solitary victory in their past nine away league games against City came in January 2015. However, Arsenal won the most recent competitive meeting, with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scoring both goals in an FA Cup semi-final tie in July.
Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne will miss Saturday’s game because of the unspecified injury he sustained on international duty this week. Raheem Sterling is fit, while Sergio Aguero might feature for the first time since requiring knee surgery in June.
Arsenal’s £45m deadline day signing Thomas Partey could make his debut. Kieran Tierney has been self-isolating after Scotland team-mate Stuart Armstrong tested positive for Covid-19 but he has yest to be ruled out.
Manchester City’s tally of four points is their lowest after three games of a season since 2010-11. They have only twice lost both of their opening two home fixtures in a season: 1930-31 and 1953-54. City could lose consecutive Premier League home matches for the first time since February 2016 under Manuel Pellegrini. Pep Guardiola’s side will start the day in the bottom half of the table for the third time in four games this season, as many as in their previous 375 Premier League matches. They haven’t gone three league matches without a win since a run of four in April 2017. Manchester City have earned 25 points from their past 10 home league games against other established top-six teams, only losing to Manchester United in December 2019. Kevin De Bruyne has been involved in seven goals in his last eight league starts against Arsenal, scoring five and setting up two. Raheem Sterling has scored an unrivalled 34 goals among Premier League players in all competitions since the start of last season.
The Gunners have won eight of their past 12 Premier League games, one more than they had in their previous 28 attempts. Arsenal’s tally of 25 points from those 12 fixtures is the joint highest in the division, along with Liverpool. They could win four of their opening five league matches in a season for the first time since 2013-14. Nonetheless, Arsenal have failed to beat another established top-six team in 28 Premier League away fixtures since a 2-0 victory over Manchester City in January 2015 (D10, L18). Only West Brom and Burnley have attempted fewer shots than Arsenal’s 29 in the Premier League this season, but only Leicester can better the Gunners’ 28% conversion rate. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has played 450 Premier League minutes without scoring against Manchester City, his worst record against any side in England. He missed a penalty in this fixture in March 2018 but did score both goals in Arsenal’s FA Cup semi-final win against City last season. Alexandre Lacazette could score in four consecutive league appearances for Arsenal for the first time.
Newcastle United vs Man United
St. James’ Park, Newcastle upon Tyne
Saturday, 17-10-2020 @10pm
Ref: Craig Pawson
Newcastle’s Jamal Lewis is fit despite missing Northern Ireland’s last game. Matty Longstaff, Ciaran Clark and Paul Dummett are nearing returns and will play for the Under-23s on Monday, but a setback for Martin Dubravka means he is unlikely to return until December.
Manchester United are without the suspended Anthony Martial, while Harry Maguire is doubtful after suffering a minor injury on England duty. Edinson Cavani is in quarantine after his move to England and is unavailable. Fellow deadline-day signing Alex Telles is in contention for his debut, while Donny van de Beek could start his first Premier League game since joining from Ajax.
Newcastle have won two of their past three Premier League home games against Manchester United, compared to just one victory in their previous 13 attempts (D3, L9). The Reds could lose back-to-back league matches at St James’ Park for the first time since 1987.
The Magpies can claim back-to-back home league wins for the first time since beating Southampton and Crystal Palace in December 2019. Victory would give them 10 points from their opening five games, which would be the club’s best start to a top-flight season since 2001. Steve Bruce has won only one of 24 league and cup matches against Manchester United as a manager, though that victory came in this fixture last season. Callum Wilson has scored four goals in his four Premier League games for Newcastle, one more than he managed in his final 28 top-flight appearances for Bournemouth. Karl Darlow has made 20 Premier League saves this season, more than any other player prior to the latest round of fixtures.
Manchester United have conceded 11 league goals, their highest figure at this stage of a season for 90 years. They could lose three of their opening four league games for the first time since 1986. The Red Devils have won five successive Premier League away matches, scoring at least twice in each victory. They have never earned six top-flight away victories in a row while scoring more than once in each fixture. United have conceded from a penalty in each of their first three league matches – the only side to do so in each of their opening four Premier League games were Wimbledon in 1999.
Sunday’s Premier League fixtures
-Sheffield United vs Fulham @2pm
-Crystal Palace vs Brighton and Hove Albion @4pm
-Tottenham Hotspur vs West Ham United @6:30pm
-Leicester City vs Aston Villa @9:15pm
Monday’s fixtures
-West Bromwich Albion vs Burnley @7:30pm
-Leeds United vs Wolves @10pm
