The Premier League's hectic Christmas schedule is behind us, meaning the players have been able to benefit from a little extra rest and preparation time. With that in mind, the latest batch of fixtures promises to be particularly intriguing, as coaches and managers feel more able to name their strongest starting line-ups after several weeks of constant rotation. And there are some potentially thrilling encounters to look forward to, with Tottenham hosting Everton, runaway leader Manchester City going to Liverpool and struggling pair Newcastle United and Swansea City facing each other. Using Opta data, we preview alll the action...
Chelsea boasts an impressive Premier League record against Leciester, winning nine of the last 11 meetings between the clubs. The Foxes' 2-1 win in December 2015 – a result that preceded Jose Mourinho's second departure from Stamford Bridge – stands as its only victory during this period.
Crystal Palace has won only once in its past six league encounters with Burnley, losing four and failing to score in four of those games. All eyes will be on Wilfried Zaha and James Tarkowski. No player has won more Premier League penalties this season than the Palace winger (three), with no one conceding more than Tarkowski (two).
West Ham won the reverse fixture 2-0 in September, although it has never completed a league double over Huddersfield in 15 previous attempts. Marko Arnautovic has scored in his last two Premier League away games – Diafra Sakho was the last of five Hammers players to score in three or more matches on the road consecutively in October 2014.
Swansea's win at Watford in its last Premier League away game ended a run of seven straight defeats on the road. It does boast three wins in five attempts at St James' Park, however, and has not triumphed more often at any other opposition ground in the competition.
Look out for a goal-fest at Vicarage Road. There have been 34 scored in the last eight meetings between the sides, with 19 for Watford and 15 for Southampton. Nathan Redmond has four goals and one assist in five Premier League games against the Hornets.
West Brom has never lost a home league matches against Brighton (W5 D4) in a run that spans 1979 to 1993. However, it is now winless in 20 Premier League matches – only the fourth side in the history of the competition to go so long without collecting three points.
With five wins and as many draws, Tottenham is unbeaten in its last 10 Premier League games against Everton, which last won away to Spurs in November 2008. The change of surroundings might do little to encourage the Toffees, which has lost each of its past three visits to Wembley 2-1. Harry Kane has scored a brace in each of his last two league appearances versus Everton.
Bournemouth has lost five and drawn one of its six games in all competitions against Arsenal, with the draw coming after it let a 3-0 lead slip in this fixture last season. Only Chelsea (13) has scored more headed goals than Arsenal (nine) this season, while no side has conceded more than Bournemouth (nine).
Manchester City has to go back to May 2003 to find its last win at Anfield, 2-1 thanks to a Nicolas Anelka brace. It has lost 10 and drawn four since then. It was a different story at the Etihad Stadium in September, where Pep Guardiola's leader won 5-0. It has not done the league double against Liverpool since 1936-37, when City finished the season as champion.
Manchester United has won 25 of a possible 27 points against Stoke City at Old Trafford in the Premier League, with last season's 1-1 draw its only blemish. Jesse Lingard has scored 11 and assisted five in all competitions for Jose Mourinho's side this season, averaging a goal involvement every 88 minutes.
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