Football News: Premier League Previews 1 September 2018

Leicester City v Liverpool

The opening game of the final weekend of Premier League action before the first international break of 2018-19 sees Liverpool visit the King Power Stadium, a ground where they have lost three of their last four visits in all competitions.
Despite that, Liverpool did a league double over the Foxes last season, beating them 3-2 in this exact fixture and 2-1 at Anfield.
But the Reds' record against Leicester boss Claude Puel is not a good one. Just one win in five previous meetings against teams managed by the Frenchman - indeed, that win is the only time Liverpool have even scored a goal against him.
His Southampton side also knocked Liverpool out of the EFL Cup semi-final 2-0 on aggregate in Jurgen Klopp's first season in charge of Liverpool, so he is not a manager Klopp has enjoyed facing in his time in England.
Leicester come into this match off the back of two consecutive wins, and they have won two in a row on home soil too. But they face a Liverpool side also in good form, having won all three of their league games this season without conceding a goal.
However, the Reds have generally struggled in early games under Jurgen Klopp. In 12 Saturday 12:30pm kick-offs under the German in the league, Liverpool have won just three times, and only once by a margin of more than one goal - showing they have struggled to make their mark in lunchtime fixtures. They will have to improve upon this - their next two Premier League games are both away from home at 12:30, including this one.
Key players:
Shinji Okazaki - With Jamie Vardy suspended for this match (against a side he has a truly fantastic record against as well), Okazaki's return is a timely one for Leicester. He came on from the bench against Southampton last week, and he could start here for the first time this season. He is, remarkably, the only current Leicester player to have scored in the league against Liverpool aside from Vardy, and his work rate and quality will be key for them to get anything here.
Mohamed Salah - Fresh from his winning goal against Brighton, it's hard not to choose the Egyptian here. He scored three goals in two games against Leicester last season and already has two goals and an assist in the league this season. He almost certainly should have scored more as well, with no player having more shots than him in the Premier League so far this season, so if he finds a more clinical edge, that will be pivotal in a tricky match for Liverpool here.

 

 

 

Brighton and Hove Albion v Fulham

After picking up their first win of the season against Burnley and following it up with a win over Exeter in the Carabao Cup in midweek, Fulham travel to Brighton, a side against whom they have lost five consecutive games in the league, albeit all at Championship level.
In those five matches, Brighton have scored 13 whilst conceding only three, so they have enjoyed recent encounters with the Cottagers.
However, after beating Man Utd, Chris Hughton's side have lost back-to-back games against Liverpool in the league and Southampton in the EFL Cup, and in fact they have now lost five of their last six matches in all competitions either side of that win over the Red Devils.
Should they lose here, it will be the first time that the Seagulls have lost back-to-back home games in all competitions within the same season since January 2016, when they lost three in succession in the Championship, so they have a good record of picking themselves up from defeats at the Amex Stadium, which they will need to do here after their loss to the Saints in midweek.
However, Fulham's away form has been poor of late, losing their last three away games in a row in all competitions, their worst such run under Slavisa Jokanovic and with that combined with their recent torrid run against Brighton, this game will perhaps be tougher for them that it would appear to be on the face of it.
Key players:
Glenn Murray - With three goals in his two previous home league appearances against Fulham, Murray will be a big threat for the Cottagers. He has six goals in his nine home league starts in 2018, including a goal in his last such game against Manchester United, and Brighton will again look to him to provide the finishing touches to their play here.
Aleksandar Mitrovic - How can it not be him? 15 league goals since his Fulham debut is a number no other player in the English leagues can better in that time, and he already has three goals in the Premier League this campaign. A real handful for any defence, he really has found his feet with Fulham.

 

 

 

Chelsea v Bournemouth

Despite Chelsea having won four of their six Premier League games against Bournemouth, the Cherries have actually won on two of their three visits to Stamford Bridge in the competition.
With both sides going into this game unbeaten in the Premier League this season, this has the makings of a very entertaining match.
Bournemouth are making the habit of being the comeback kings. They recovered more points from losing positions last season than any other team in the division, and yet again this season they are already top of that regard, having come from behind to beat West Ham and then draw with Everton last week, having been 2-0 down in the latter.
Indeed, Bournemouth are unbeaten in six games in all competitions, winning five of those; that's their best run since December 2015 in their first Premier League season, and they haven't gone longer without defeat since May 2015 when they were a Championship side.
But they face a Chelsea team who have won all three of their games in 2018-19 under new coach Maurizio Sarri, and since Bournemouth beat them 3-0 at Stamford Bridge in January last season, they have lost just one of their last nine games there in all competitions.
But Bournemouth's ability to come back from seemingly beaten positions so often means they will be a real threat to Chelsea for the whole 90 minutes; they just don't know when they're beaten.
Sooner or later, they'd probably be better off earning their points by going ahead and staying there - coming from behind every week is not the most reliable of methods for long-term success - but in the meantime, they are a threat to any team in current form.
Key players:
Eden Hazard - With five goals in his last five league games against Bournemouth and a goal and two assists already under his belt this season, Hazard is still the main man at Chelsea, and if he can carry on his form, Bournemouth will find him hard to stop.
Callum Wilson - Three goals and an assist in his last four league games, as well as a goal and an assist in Bournemouth's last visit to Stamford Bridge, Wilson will once again be the man Eddie Howe looks to for goals today.

 

 

 

Crystal Palace v Southampton

After an impressive opening day win over Fulham, Crystal Palace have now lost back-to-back Premier League games, and although they face a Southampton side without a league win this season, they will be desperate to return to winning ways at Selhurst Park.
Southampton did earn their first win of the season in the Carabao Cup in midweek away at Brighton, and will be aiming to build from that here against a side whom they have only lost against three times in 18 previous Premier League meetings. In fact, of sides currently in the Premier League, Southampton have their best win percentage against the Eagles in the competition (61%).
This will be Roy Hodsgon and Mark Hughes' seventh Premier League clash as managers, and Hodgson is undefeated in the previous six, winning both of the last two in a row.
Indeed, of managers that Mark Hughes has met at least five times in the Premier League, only against former Chelsea boss Antonio Conte does he have a poorer points per game ratio than he does against Hodgson.
And it's not just Hodgson he struggles against. In six away top-flight trips to Selhurst Park, Hughes has won none and lost four. It is not a happy hunting ground for him, and he won't find it easy to change his fortunes here against a side in need of a return to form themselves.
Key players:
Christian Benteke - With five goals and an assist in his last seven league games against the Saints, Palace will need Benteke to return to scoring form to help them pick up points here. Just three league goals since the start of last season is a poor return from a once fairly feared Premier League striker, and if Palace are to aim higher up the table than last season, goals from him could be the catalyst.
Nathan Redmond - The winger enjoys facing Palace. Only against Watford has he scored more league goals than he has against the Eagles, and if he can feed the likes of Charlie Austin and Danny Ings, Southampton will see an upturn in goal scoring form.

 

 

 

Everton v Huddersfield

Two teams who have had rather different starts to the season - Huddersfield can't buy a goal right now, with their only one so far in four games in all competitions this season coming from Jon Gorenc Stankovic in a 6-1 drubbing to the defending champions Manchester City. By contrast, Everton have managed to remain unbeaten despite having a man sent off in two of their league games so far.
Huddersfield have fired in just three shots on target in their opening three league games, the fewest of any team in the division. It is little wonder they are struggling for goals, and with them also only keeping one clean sheet in their last six games in all competitions, that's a recipe for disaster.
Everton, meanwhile, have lost only one of their last nine league games, and are unbeaten in four at Goodison Park. They haven't gone longer without defeat there in the Premier League since April 2017, and their only two defeats there in the league in 2018 have come at the hands of the two Manchester clubs, United and City.
Whilst it could be said that red cards have cost them four points already, they are still unbeaten, and despite letting a 2-goal lead slip last week against Bournemouth, that shows they have spirit and resilience under Silva that they perhaps lacked last season.
Key players:
Cenk Tosun - With Richarlison suspended, now would be the perfect time for Tosun to score his first league goal of the season. He has two assists to his name from the opening three league games, but he hasn't scored in the competition since he did so against Huddersfield in April last season. Marco Silva's side will look to him to get off and running to help fill the void left by Richarlison's needless red card last week.
Steve Mounie - With Huddersfield in desperate need of goals, Mounie has to be the man to step up. He has had a hand in five of the Terriers' last 10 league goals, scoring three and assisting two, and will be vital for them if they are to avoid relegation again this season - he must be the man to provide some finishing product in an attack that has netted just 29 goals in 41 Premier League games.

 

 

 

West Ham United v Wolverhampton Wanderers

It's not been a good start to the season for the Hammers. The only side without a point in the Premier League, and they struggled their way to a victory over a ten-man League One side AFC Wimbledon having been 1-0 down in the Carabao Cup.
They have a defence which is leaking goals right now - conceding an average of three per game in the league so far under Pellegrini, and they have struggled for goals too, with only Marko Arnautovic scoring for them in their opening three matches.
But they have been boosted by the fact that he is likely to be fit for this match having been an injury doubt. And a win here will mean they have won back-to-back matches in all competitions for the first time since January. A loss however would be only the second time in their history that they have lost their opening four games to a league season in the top four tiers of English football, having previously done so in 2010-11.
They face a Wolves side who, whilst also without a league win this season, earned a creditable draw against the defending champions last week and followed it up by beating Sheffield Wednesday in the EFL Cup.
But they generally don't like visiting the Hammers; one win in their last nine away games against them in all competitions, and they have lost both of their last two away league games. They haven't lost three in a row since March 2016, so they will be desperately hoping to avoid that here.
Key players:
Marko Arnautovic - Him being fit for this game will be so key for Pellegrini's side. Involved in 18 goals in his last 21 league games for the club, including a goal in each of his last two this season, he is the man they will look to provide some end product to their play to win them some points.
Ruben Neves - Top of all Wolves players for passes completed, touches and shots, as well as being joint-top for interceptions, Neves will yet again be pivotal for them here. They will look to build all their play through the Portuguese midfielder, and no wonder with his quality.

 

 

 

Manchester City v Newcastle United

Newcastle are not on an ideal run of form going into what many would agree is the toughest Premier League game of the season for any side away at Man City.
Just one win in their last nine games in all competitions, including none in four matches this season, this is not the sort of game you go into expecting to end a run of form like that.
Indeed, their manager Rafael Benitez has struggled against the Citizens in recent encounters; having lost only one of his first nine games against them back when he was in charge at Liverpool, he has managed no wins in his most recent nine in English football, losing four of the last five.
And that's not all. Newcastle are without a win in their last 21 top flight meetings with Man City. Twenty one. That's City's best such run against a team in the top tier, and Newcastle's worst. And in games played in Manchester, they are winless in 15 in the Premier League. A rotten run that few would predict to end here, despite City dropping points for the first time this season last week away at Wolves.
This is a Man City team that have lost just once in their last 32 league games at the Etihad, scoring 91 goals in that run. Newcastle will do very well to get anything here.
Key players:
Sergio Aguero - Who else other than the man who has scored 14 league goals for Man City against Newcastle - a Premier League record for goals against a single club for another club no less. Newcastle fear playing him and no wonder.
Martin Dubravka - The Newcastle goalkeeper is going to be a busy man here, like most visiting 'keepers are at the Etihad. Since his Newcastle debut, only Loris Karius and Ederson have kept more Premier League clean sheets than the Slovakian, and whilst he won't be betting his house on getting one here, he has the quality to keep sides at bay and give Newcastle a chance here.

Written by Reid the Red September 01 2018 10:47:11