There are 10 more Premier League games to squeeze into the schedule before Christmas as Arsenal look to top the table come Santa’s big day for the third time in the last four seasons.
Elsewhere, Erling Haaland is on the cusp of eclipsing Cristiano Ronaldo in the all-time Premier League scoring charts, Wolves seek to avoid yet another unwanted record, while assist-king Bruno Fernando can enter the history books.
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Toon hat-trick
- Newcastle can win three consecutive games against Chelsea across all competitions for the first time since 1913-14.
League Cup holders Newcastle bounced back from derby disappointment by seeing off Fulham in midweek to book their place in the Carabao Cup semi-finals. Attention now turns back to the league as the Magpies host Chelsea at St James’ Park, aiming to record three straight wins in this fixture across all competitions for the first time in over 100 years.
This matchup has long favoured the home side, with 37 of the 60 Premier League meetings won by the hosts; more than any other fixture in the competition’s history.
Chelsea, meanwhile, face an unwanted slice of history: failure to score on Saturday would mark their first run of consecutive scoreless league games against Newcastle since February 1933.
Not so perfect 10 for Wolves
- Wolves are hoping to avoid becoming only the fourth club to lose 10+ consecutive Premier League games in the same season.
Winless Wolves’ torrid losing streak was extended to nine games following a cruel last-gasp defeat at leaders Arsenal last weekend, which is their longest losing league run ever.
Next up, it’s Brentford at Molineux in a game which the hosts will hope to avoid becoming only the fourth Premier League club to lose 10 straight games in the same season, following Norwich City in 2019-20 (10), Aston Villa in 2015-16 (11), and Sunderland in 2002-03 (15).
Haaland on Ronaldo’s heels
- Erling Haaland needs one goal to match Cristiano Ronaldo’s Premier League tally, and two to surpass him.
West Ham have long been a favourable opponent for both Manchester City and Erling Haaland.
City are unbeaten in their last 19 Premier League meetings with the Hammers, winning 16 of those encounters, while Haaland has bagged nine league goals in six games against them, including five across both meetings last season. It’s a tally bettered only by his 10-goal return in fixtures against Wolves.
Another strike this weekend would take Haaland into double figures against West Ham, making him the ninth player to score 10 or more goals against the club and just the third non-Englishman to achieve the feat, after Mo Salah and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink.
It would also see the Norwegian draw level with Cristiano Ronaldo on 103 goals in the all-time Premier League scoring charts.
Sunderland sizzling
- If Sunderland win they will have the most points from a promoted side after 17 Premier League games since Ipswich Town in 2000-01.
Sunderland’s remarkable seasons each reached new heights last weekend, when they beat rivals Newcastle 1-0 to move into 8th in the table and within 2 points of the top 4.
A win away to Brighton this weekend would enhance their tally to 29 points after 17 games, which would be the most of any promoted team at this stage in a Premier League season since Ipswich Town (30) in 2000-01.
Clarets in crisis
- Burnley could equal their longest ever losing league run.
Burnley are in danger of being cut adrift with Wolves in the relegation scrap following a seven game losing streak, which leaves the club six points from safety after 16 games.
If the Clarets lose on the south coast at Bournemouth, it will be only the fourth time in their history that they’ve lost eight straight league games, and the first time in the top-flight since 1895.
Hugo’s back-to-back-to-back braces
- Hugo Ekitike could become only the second ever Liverpool player to score 2+ goals in three consecutive Premier League games.
Hugo Ekitike is in scorching hot form, having bagged a brace in each of his last two league games against Leeds and Brighton.
The Frenchman could now become only the second ever Liverpool player to score 2+ goals in three consecutive Premier League games after Luis Suarez (four games) in 2013-14, with the Uruguayan netting four goals against Norwich, followed by braces against West Ham, Tottenham, and Cardiff.
Leeds’ lethal Lewin
- Dominic Calvert-Lewin can become only the fourth Leeds player to score in five straight Premier League games.
Speaking of players enjoying hot streaks, Dominic Calvert-Lewin has been on the scoresheet in each of his last four games against Man City, Chelsea, Liverpool, and Brentford.
Should the Englishman score at home to Crystal Palace, he’ll become only the fourth Leeds player to score in five consecutive Premier League games after Mark Viduka, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, and Rod Wallace.
Arsenal’s away day ace
- Leandro Trossard is looking to score or assist for the fifth consecutive Premier League away game.
Leandro Trossard has been a constant threat on the road for Arsenal, contributing to nine goals in his last nine away Premier League appearances, including a goal involvement in each of his last four matches away from the Emirates.
Trossard also has a knack for breaching the Everton backline, having scored both of Arsenal’s away goals in this fixture over the past two seasons. A goal on Sunday could see the Belgian become the first Arsenal player to score in three consecutive away games against the Toffees since Ian Wright (1995-1997).
Fantastic Fernandes
- Bruno Fernandes can become the first player in history to assist in six consecutive Premier League away games.
While Manchester United continue to suffer from a bout of inconsistency, their ever-reliable skipper Bruno Fernandes is enjoying a prolonged period of form in front of goal, with 10 goal involvements in his last nine games.
Fernandes has the chance to make history away to Aston Villa on Sunday by becoming the first player ever to register an assist in six consecutive Premier League away games. He has already set up goals in his last five road trips against Liverpool, Nottingham Forest, Tottenham, Crystal Palace (2), Wolves, and Aston Villa.
Cottage cracks
- Fulham could lose three consecutive Premier League home games for just the second time since they were promoted in 2022.
The final Premier League game before Christmas comes at Craven Cottage on Monday night when Fulham host Nottingham Forest.
The Cottagers have lost thier last two games in front of their own fans – 5-4 against Man City and 2-1 against Crystal Palace – and could lose three home league games on the spin for only the second time since they returned to the top-flight in 2022.
