The Premier League races into gameweek 23 this weekend, which is headlined by Arsenal’s clash at home to Manchester United.
Elsewhere, an out-of-sorts Manchester City go hunting for their first win in five top-flight games when they take on a rejuvenated Wolves at the Etihad, a Liverpool side unbeaten in 13 matches in all competitions travel down to the south coast to draw swords with Bournemouth, while Newcastle take on Aston Villa at St James’ Park.
Stats you might see
Nu-no clean sheets
- West Ham are at risk of conceding in an 18th consecutive Premier League match under Nuno Espirito Santo.
West Ham claimed a vital 2-1 victory away to Tottenham last week to end their rotten run of 10 games without a win. The Hammers will now take on a Sunderland side they’ve only lost to once in their last 12 Premier League home games.
Defensive fragility remains a major concern for the Iron, who are yet to keep a single clean sheet in any of their 17 Premier League matches under Nuno Espirito Santo. Only three managers in the Premier League era have endured longer waits for a first clean sheet at a club: Brian Laws with Burnley in 2009-10 (18 games), Paul Lambert with Norwich in 2011-12 (21), and Ruud van Nistelrooy with Leicester City last season (21).
Foden eyes century
- Phil Foden could become only the fifth Manchester City player to register 100+ Premier League goal involvements.
Phil Foden will be eager to rediscover his sparkle after going six league games without a goal or assist. Saturday’s home meeting with rock-bottom Wolves could well present an ideal opportunity to bring this barren patch to an end.
Should the England international register two goal involvements at the Etihad, he would become just the fifth Manchester City player to reach 100+ Premier League goal contributions – currently on 68 goals and 30 assists – joining Kevin De Bruyne (174), Erling Haaland (125 and counting), Raheem Sterling (125) and Sergio Agüero (103).
However, City are out of form right now, having failed to win any of their last four league matches. If they don’t beat Wolves it will mark their longest stretch without a win since 2009, when Mark Hughes oversaw a seven-game drought.
Harry’s hot streak
- Harry Wilson could become only the second player to score 5+ goals and provide 5+ assists in the Premier League this season.
Harry Wilson’s superb form in front of goal for Fulham has been one of the storylines of the season, particularly for many happy FPL managers.
The Welshman has scored seven goals and four assists, with nine of those contributions coming in his last 10 matches. He’s now only one assist away from becoming just the second player this season – after Bruno Fernandes – to register 5+ goals and 5+ assists in the Premier League.
Turf Moor test
- Burnley could equal their longest-ever top-flight run without a win, dating back to 1970.
Burnley may have earned creditable draws against Manchester United and Liverpool in their last two games, but they are now without a Premier League win in 13 matches (D4 L9), stretching back to before Halloween.
A failure to beat Tottenham would see Burnley equal their longest-ever top-flight winless streak of 14 games, which was previously set between August and October 1970.
Tottenham, meanwhile, will be looking to avoid losing consecutive league matches against teams in the bottom three for the first time since March 1997.
Salah‘s goal/assist milestone
- Mo Salah could become only the third player to score and assist in 50 league games in Europe’s top five leagues since Opta records began in 2006/07.
Mo Salah returned to help Liverpool claim a 3-0 win away to Marseille in the Champions League and will now be hopeful of a first Premier League start since 22nd November.
The Egyptian has an outstanding record against Bournemouth, scoring 12 goals and providing two assists in 12 league appearances, registering at least one goal involvement in each of the last four meetings.
Should Salah both score and assist on Saturday, he would become just the third player to achieve that feat in 50 league matches across Europe’s top five leagues since Opta records began in 2006/07, after only Lionel Messi (102) and Cristiano Ronaldo (65).
Magpies’ midfield maestro
- Bruno Guimaraes could become just the third midfielder to score 30+ Premier League goals for Newcastle after Nobby Solano (37) and Rob Lee (34).
Bruno Guimaraes has been a key figure for Newcastle this season, netting eight goals, including three in his last four outings.
If he finds the net against Aston Villa at St James’ Park on Sunday, he would become only the third Newcastle midfielder to score 30+ Premier League goals after Nobby Solano (37) and Rob Lee (34).
The Brazilian has already contributed to nine Premier League goals at home this season (7 goals, 2 assists). The last Magpies central midfielder to be involved in more goals in a single campaign was Georginio Wijnaldum in 2015-16 (11 goals and 2 assists).
Blues boss bids to go back-to-back
- Liam Rosenior could become the first English manager to win his first two Premier League matches since Steven Gerrard in 2021.
Liam Rosenior has claimed three wins from four games in four different competitions since taking charge of Chelsea, including a 2-0 win against Brentford in the Premier League.
If Rosenior guides the Blues to victory away to struggling Crystal Palace on Sunday, he will become the first English manager to win his first two Premier League matches since Steven Gerrard with Aston Villa in 2021.
London’s calling for the Tricky Trees
- Nottingham Forest could win back-to-back Premier League away games in London for the first time since 1997.
Nottingham Forest will be looking to build on their dramatic last-minute victory over relegation rivals West Ham in their last visit to London.
The Tricky Trees now face a tough task in attempting to overcome Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium, but if they do claim a surprise win, it will be the first time that they have won back-to-back Premier League away games in the capital since 1997, when they beat West Ham and Tottenham.
Perfect 5 for Arsenal
- Arsenal could become the first club to win five straight league home games against Manchester United since West Brom between 1976 and 1980.
Arsenal will be bidding to become the first club to win five straight home league games against Manchester United since West Brom between 1976 and 1980.
The Gunners, who won 1-0 at Old Trafford in August, could beat United home and away without conceding for the first time since the 1901-02 season.
If United fail to win, it will be the first time in their history that they’ve gone seven straight matches without beating Arsenal.
The Blue wall
- Everton could keep their eighth clean sheet since the start of November, more than any other Premier League club in that time.
Jordan Pickford has recorded nine clean sheets so far this season, second only to Arsenal’s David Raya. Seven of those shutouts have come in Everton’s last 12 top-flight games.
If Everton keep another clean sheet at home to Leeds on Monday, they will boast more clean sheets (8) than any Premier League club since the start of November.
