Football News: Premier League Previews 26 August 2018

Watford v Crystal Palace

It's been a great start to the season for Watford, with two wins from two and just one goal conceded. They could be set to win three Premier League matches in a row for the first time since December 2015, and it would also be the first time they've won each of their opening three league matches in a season since 1998-99 when they were promoted from the second tier to the Premier League.
At home, the Hornets have lost only once in their last nine league games, winning five of them and conceding fewer than a goal per game. However, their opponents Crystal Palace are unbeaten in five away league games, winning the last two in succession. They have never gone six Premier League away matches without defeat, so there's a chance to break a record for them here.
Watford have only won one of their six Premier League games against Crystal Palace, and never at home. Indeed, they haven't beaten the Eagles at Vicarage Road in any competition since 2009 in the Championship.
Palace's defeat to Liverpool was their first in eight Premier League games, so they will be hoping it was just a small blip as they look to build upon a strong finish to last season under Roy Hodgson.
Key players:
Troy Deeney - The striker has scored four of Watford's last five goals against Crystal Palace in all competitions, and got a goal and an assist against Burnley last week, so he'll be high on confidence here as he looks to fire his side to another victory in the Premier League.
Jordan Ayew - Whilst he's yet to feature for Crystal Palace since joining the club, Ayew's record against Watford is a good one. Three goals in four league starts against them, including two in two starts at Vicarage Road, Ayew has scored more Premier League goals against the Hornets than any other team. You suspect if he makes his debut here, which he might well do after Palace's defeat to Liverpool last week, he may continue his good record against Watford.

 

 

Fulham v Burnley

This is a game that pits two sides desperate for a win against each other. Fulham are yet to earn a single point yet upon their return to England's top tier, and Burnley are also winless in the league this season, as well as losing 3-1 in their Europa League qualifier against Olympiakos in midweek. The importance of this match for both sides can't be understated.
In all competitions, the Cottagers have only won one of their last eight meetings with Burnley, and a loss here would mean they have suffered back-to-back home defeats in the league for the first time since October 2016.
The Clarets, meanwhile, are winless in seven in the Premier League, and have needed extra-time to earn both of their victories this season in all competitions. They haven't won a competitive match within 90 minutes in any of their last 12 games since a 2-1 win over Leicester in April.
However, Sean Dyche's side have won three of their last six Premier League visits to London, and are unbeaten in their last 10 matches against newly promoted sides in the division, albeit eight of those have been draws!
Key players:
Aleksandar Mitrovic - Having scored his 13th league goal for Fulham against Spurs last week, Mitrovic will be looking to get his first home goal of the season here. He'll be looking to exploit a Burnley defence that has conceded six goals in their last two games, and he is more than capable of doing so.
Chris Wood - Having scored against Olympiakos in midweek, his second goal of the season, Wood will be the man Burnley look to for goals. He has three in four previous games against Fulham in all competitions, and has eight goals in 15 appearances for his side since his return from injury earlier this year.

 

 

Newcastle United v Chelsea

Chelsea return to the ground where they were heavily beaten 3-0 in the final game of last season to end any chance of a Champions League finish. They are winless in their last five Premier League visits to St. James' Park, losing four of those games and conceding at least twice every time.
In all competitions home and away however, that 3-0 win is Newcastle's only triumph over the Blues in six matches, during which time they have lost four and conceded 15 goals.
Their manager, Rafael Benitez, does not enjoy facing Chelsea either. He's lost five of his last seven against them in all competitions, and of sides he has faced 10+ times in the Premier League, he has his worst points per game record against the Blues (1.00), beating them only four times in 14 such meetings.
Indeed, he failed to beat Maurizio Sarri in two encounters in Serie A, with the Italian's Empoli side beating Benitez's Napoli 4-2 and drawing the other game 2-2 in those two games back in 2014-15.
Chelsea have won four of their last five away league games, with the sole defeat in this time being to Newcastle, so they are doing well on their travels, including a 3-0 win over Huddersfield this season, and Sarri will look to improve their performance levels further as the season goes on.
Key players:
Ayoze Perez - With three goals and an assist in his last three league games against Chelsea, Perez has netted more against the Blues than any other team in English league football. He needs to return to the sort of form he showed at the end of last season to give Newcastle a good chance of a result here.
Eden Hazard - The Belgian has looked very impressive coming off the bench for Chelsea in their opening two games, and he will likely make his first start of the new season here against a side against which he has scored more Premier League goals (six) than any other team currently in the division.

 

 

Written by Reid the Red August 26 2018 13:09:11