Manchester City has a poor recent record against Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League, but has never been in a richer vein of form. Mauricio Pochettino's men are in search of a third consecutive league win and will need to be at their very best to prevent City extending its winning streak to 16 matches. We preview this clash at the Etihad Stadium, along with all the rest of the action in matchweek 18, with the help of Opta's data.
Claude Puel has reinvigorated Leicester City and the 4-1 win over his old club Southampton means only Manchester City (21) and Burnley (18) have claimed more points than The Foxes (17) since he took over on October 29. After making the worst start to a top-flight season of any team in history, Crystal Palace has picked up 10 points from its last six games and will be hoping to extend its unbeaten run to seven Premier League matches.
After losing 3-1 to Manchester United last time out at the Emirates, defeat against Newcastle United would mark Arsenal's first back-to-back home defeats in the same Premier League season since November 2010. Newcastle would be happy to pick up a point, having claimed just one in the last eight Premier League games - the worst points tally of any top flight team during that period. The omens do not look promising, though, with Arsenal having won each of its last nine games against the Magpies, scoring 22 goals.
Brighton and Hove Albion must get a result against Burnley to avoid losing a fourth consecutive league game for the first time since December 2011. Burnley is one of the Premier League's form teams, having won six of its last eight matches - as many victories as it claimed in its previous 26 top-flight outings.
Chelsea has only lost one of its last nine Premier League matches, but the 1-0 reverse at West Ham United is still fresh in the memory of Antonio Conte's side. Southampton has picked up just 18 points from its first 17 league games this season - its lowest tally in five years - and will hope Charlie Austin can continue his good form after he scored eight goals in his last 12 Premier League starts.
Stoke City manager Mark Hughes felt his side was hard done by in its 1-0 defeat against Burnley in midweek but he must rally his troops to improve after the worst start to a Premier League season in which the Potters have picked up just 16 points from 17 games. Away form is a problem for David Moyes' West Ham United side, which has won only one of its last 16 Premier League away games and none of the last nine.
Watford is without a win in its last four Premier League outings but will be hopeful of a positive result against newly-promoted Huddersfield Town - the Hornets unbeaten in the last seven Premier League games against newly-promoted sides at Vicarage Road. Huddersfield manager David Wagner has watched his side go into freefall in recent weeks and the away form is a major concern. The Terriers have lost the last five Premier League away games by two or more goals, failling to score any in the process.
Manchester City has lost three and drawn one of its last four Premier League games against Tottenham Hotspur, but Pep Guardiola's men are Europe's form team having won a record-breaking 15 league games in a row. Spurs loves playing away at City, having won there more times (10) than at any other club in the Premier League, and Mauricio Pochettino's men will be determined to prove they can win at the big clubs having lost at Arsenal and Manchester United already this season.
West Brom manager Alan Pardew is still waiting to see his new team score in the Premier League, having drawn two and lost one of his first three games in charge without finding the net. Manchester United returned to winning ways against Bournemouth in midweek, but Jose Mourinho's side is still smarting from its 2-1 defeat to Manchester City in the derby in its previous game. United will be keen to keen to rack up its sixth Premier League win in seven games to keep the pressure on Pep Guardiola's side.
Without a win in five Premier League games, Bournemouth is desperate for a victory at home against Liverpool like the one it achieved last season, beating the Merseyside club 4-3 and securing its first and only win over the Reds. Liverpool was at the end of disappointing draws against Everton and West Bromwich Albion in its last two fixtures, and manager Jurgen Klopp will hope his side can return to the kind of form that saw it beat Brighton and Hove Albion 5-1 away on December 2.
Everton manager Sam Allardyce has yet to lose a game since taking charge at Goodison Park and his side could make it four wins from five Premier League games by beating struggling Swansea City. Away form is a major concern for Paul Clement's side, which has lost 18 away games in the Premier League since the start of the 2016-17 season - more than any other club in the division.
COMMents
Comments
SHARE