Chelsea In The Mire
Chelsea, beaten 2-0 by Real Madrid in the Champions League, have now gone four games without scoring a goal – their worst sequence since 1993. They last won a game seven matches ago. Brighton (52 goals this EPL season) are up next at Stamford Bridge and won the reverse fixture 4-1.
Lunchtime Shenanigans – Beware!
The Saturday lunchtime kick-off this weekend is at Villa Park where Aston Villa play Newcastle. This early (12.30pm) kick-off often springs an upset result, while some teams develop trends. Last week I reminded you that Liverpool are zero from six such kick-offs this season, while Man United had won three from three and were at home to Everton, United duly won 2-0 but were as big as 6/10 for the win. Villa have played two early kick-offs this season, winning one and losing one. But they have shared nine goals in those games, so expect a few goals in this one too.
72/1 Away Side Bomb? Unlikely!
There have never been more than six away wins in any 10-game round of matches this EPL season, highlighting how difficult it is to win away from home. The season averages out at between three and Four away wins out of every 10 games. The away teams this round are Newcastle (vs Villa), Palace (vs Southampton), Fulham (vs Everton), Bournemouth (vs Tottenham), Brentford (vs Wolves), Brighton (vs Chelsea), Leicester (vs Man City), Arsenal (vs West Ham), Man United (vs Forest) and Liverpool (vs Leeds). Six teams – Newcastle, Palace, Brighton, Arsenal, Man United and Liverpool – are all favourites to win away (72/1 atc).
Tottenham haven’t kept a clean sheet for their last five games. They’re due one – and they host 15th-place Bournemouth this weekend.
United To Concede?
Man United have kept two clean sheets in a row, the longest current streak. Three times earlier in the season they had two successive, before conceding. They’re likely to concede in at least one of their next 2 games, away to Forest and home to Brighton.
Do-Or-Die For Leicester
Leicester have not kept a clean sheet for all 12 matches since they returned from the World Cup break. They have now signed defensive legend John Terry as an assistant coach. They’ve got Man City away next, but they will be fully focused on their following three games, which are against Wolves, Leeds and Everton. Those games will decide their fate. What odds at least two clean sheets?
1-0, 1-0, 1-0, 1-0
There have been 56 1-0 scorelines in the EPL this season, the most common result by as many as 13 matches. There have also been 43 2-1s, 39 2-0s, 31 1-1 draws and 21 0-0 draws.
