Manchester City’s trip to Liverpool headlines Premier League gameweek 25 this weekend as Pep Guardiola’s men go in search of a statement win away to the defending champions.
Anything other than three points could see the Cityzens lose further ground on the frontrunners, Arsenal, who face Sunderland at the Emirates. Meanwhile, there are two huge games at the other end of the table as Burnley host West Ham, and Leeds lock horns with Nottingham Forest.
Here are the best of the potential stats for this weekend’s top-flight action.
Stats you might see
White night owls
- Leeds will look to continue their flawless Premier League night-match record at Elland Road this season, chasing a fifth win in as many games.
Leeds and Nottingham Forest face off in a big game at Elland Road on Friday night, with the teams both locked on 26 points, six points ahead of West Ham in 18th.
Leeds boast a strong home record against Forest, having won the last three Premier League meetings at Elland Road (1996, 1999 and 2023) and they’ve scored in all 25 of their top-flight home games against the Tricky Trees.
The hosts will also be aiming to extend an impressive run in night-time Premier League fixtures at Elland Road, having won all matches there which have kicked-off at 7.30pm or later this season, most recently a 4-1 victory over Crystal Palace.
Bruno chasing Becks & co
- An assist from Bruno Fernandes would see him record the highest Premier League assist tally by a Manchester United player since Antonio Valencia’s 13 in the 2011–12 season.
Bruno Fernandes has been outstanding this season, registering a joint personal-best tally of 12 Premier League assists, which is five more than any other player in the top-flight so far this term.
The United captain, who provided two assists against Fulham, will now have his sights set on David Beckham’s club record of 15 assists in a single Premier League campaign from 1999-00. He needs just one more assist to draw level with Antonio Valencia’s 2011-12 total, while two more would match Nani’s 14 from the 2010-11 season.
Fernandes will fancy his chances of adding to that tally this weekend when United host a struggling Tottenham side without a win in six matches. Victory would see United secure four consecutive league wins for the first time in two years.
Mikel’s corner kings
- Arsenal could level – or even surpass – the Premier League record for most corners in a single season.
Set-piece kings Arsenal have, unsurprisingly, scored the most goals from corners in the Premier League this season, with 14 of their 46 goals coming via these means.
The Gunners are now within touching distance of the all-time single season record of most corner goals, which is currently 16 and jointly held by their 2023-24 side, West Brom in 2016-17, and the Oldham outfit from 1992-93.
READ: Can Arsenal win the Quadruple?
An Arsenal win or draw against Sunderland this weekend would also set a new record for the most consecutive home games unbeaten against promoted sides (currently 43). History is on their side with the North Londoners unbeaten in their last 18 home league games against the Black Cats dating back to 1983.
Pedro powering Rosenior’s bright start
- Joao Pedro could become only the second player ever to score in each of a new manager’s first four Premier League games.
Cup defeats to Arsenal aside, new Chelsea boss Liam Rosenior has made a bright start to his tenure. When he takes the Blues to rock-bottom Wolves on Saturday, Rosenior will be aiming to become just the second English manager in Premier League history to win his first four matches in charge, after Craig Shakespeare’s run of five straight victories with Leicester City.
Joao Pedro has also been in excellent form, scoring five goals in his last eight Premier League appearances. The striker has found the back of the net in each of Rosenior’s first three league games so far, and could now become only the second player in Premier League history to score in a manager’s first four matches, emulating Southampton’s Matt Le Tissier under Alan Ball in 1994.
Villa seek south coast solace
- Aston Villa are looking to complete their first ever league double over Bournemouth.
Aston Villa’s title challenge has stumbled, with three defeats in their last six game, matching the number of defeats they suffered in their first 18 matches.
The Midlands side will be eager to bounce back this weekend at Bournemouth, and can draw confidence from their 4-0 demolition of the Cherries at Villa Park earlier this season.
A victory on Saturday would mark the first time Villa have completed a league double over Bournemouth at the eighth attempt.
Early goals on the Turf Moor menu
- West Ham will look to extend their Premier League-high of eight goals scored in the opening 15 minutes, against a Burnley side that have conceded more (8) goals than any other club in that period.
Turf Moor hosts a crucial six-pointer on Saturday afternoon as Burnley (19th) clash with West Ham (18th). The Clarets are winless in 15 matches, sitting five points behind the Hammers and 11 points from safety. West Ham, meanwhile, will be targeting a third win in four games as they look to edge closer to safety.
Early fireworks could be on the cards if recent trends are anything to go by. West Ham have scored more goals than any other Premier League side in the opening 15 minutes this season (8), finding the back of the net in that period in each of their last four matches.
In stark contrast, Burnley have conceded the most goals in the first 15 minutes (also 8), including in their most recent outing: a 3-0 defeat at Sunderland. That said, West Ham’s defence is far from watertight early on, having conceded the second-most goals (7) in the same timeframe.
Craven’ home comforts
- If Fulham beat Everton, this fixture will extend the Premier League record of the highest percentage of home wins.
Everton vs Fulham boasts the highest percentage of home wins of any Premier League fixture played 30 or more times, with 65% of meetings ending in a home victory (24 wins from 37).
Fulham will be hoping that trend continues on Saturday at Craven Cottage, where they have already claimed seven top-flight home wins this season – a tally bettered only by the current top three.
Bees bid to end 92-year wait
- Brentford could claim their first win away to Newcastle since 1934.
Brentford have accrued 16 points from their last eight Premier League games, second only to leaders Arsenal (17) in that period. The Bees conjured an impressive 1-0 victory away at Aston Villa last weekend and will now set their sights on a first away win over Newcastle since 1934. If they do win, it would also secure the club their first league double over the Magpies since that same 1934-35 season.
Newcastle supporters have reason to be anxious. Eddie Howe’s side have lost their last two league matches and were then convincingly beaten by Manchester City in the Carabao Cup semi-finals.
Milner’s milestone
- James Milner could equal Gareth Barry’s Premier League record of 653 appearances if he plays for Brighton against Crystal Palace.
Two sides in need of a lift meet in the M23 derby at the Amex on Sunday afternoon. Since the start of December, only Wolves (6 points) and Burnley (5) have picked up fewer Premier League points than Brighton and Crystal Palace, who have both collected just nine during this run.
James Milner has played a limited role in Brighton’s campaign so far, starting only twice and making 12 appearances from the bench. However, his brief cameo in last weekend’s 1-1 draw at Everton means that the 40-year-old is now just one appearance away from equalling Gareth Barry’s Premier League record of 653 games.
City chase rare double
By the time Manchester City travel to Merseyside on Sunday, they could find themselves nine points behind leaders Arsenal, that’s if the Gunners beat Sunderland the day before.
History offers little encouragement for Pep Guardiola’s side at Anfield, where Man City have managed just one league win in their last 22 visits, albeit that victory came when Liverpool were last the reigning champions (2020-21).
Should City secure a statement three points, it would mark their first league double over Liverpool since the 1936-37 season.
Meanwhile, if Erling Haaland gets on the scoresheet at Anfield for the first time in the Premier League, it would mean he’s scored at every Premier League ground he’s played in, apart from Sunderland’s Stadium of Light.
