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Premier League in numbers: Matchday 6 preview

:Headline: Premier League in numbers: Matchday 6 preview: ID:247075: from db_amp
Sports Mole previews the sixth round of fixtures in the 2015-16 Premier League season with the help of some statistics.

The sixth round of fixtures in the 2015-16 Premier League campaign will get underway this lunchtime, with champions Chelsea kicking the action off against Arsenal at Stamford Bridge.

Jose Mourinho's side's third defeat of the season has been one of the main talking points over the last week.

Three of the four sides that were in Champions League action in midweek will be heading into their matches following defeats, with Manchester City, Manchester United and Arsenal all suffering losses in Europe.

There are also three matches taking place tomorrow, with the London derby between Crystal Palace and Tottenham Hotspur, Norwich City's visit to Liverpool and the meetings between Southampton and Man Utd all scheduled for Sunday.

Here, Sports Mole takes a look at some of the statistics surrounding each game.



Chelsea vs. Arsenal

Arsene Wenger secured his first win against a side managed by Jose Mourinho when these two sides last met during this season's Community Shield. It took the Frenchman 14 matches to break his duck against the Chelsea boss.

Following their 3-1 defeat to Everton last time out, Chelsea have the worst defence in the league so far this season, having let in 12 goals in their first five matches of the campaign.

The home side have scored in all but one of their league outings this season, failing to find the back of the net in their 3-0 defeat to Manchester City.

Starting Theo Walcott, who scored in their defeat to Dinamo Zagreb during the week, could be crucial for the visitors, as the England international has 11 goals from his last 11 starts in the league.




Aston Villa vs. West Bromwich Albion

Two sides that have won one of their first five fixtures in the league go head to head at Villa Park this afternoon, with Aston Villa hosting West Bromwich Albion in a Midlands derby.

In the last 10 meetings between these two sides, there have been 10 red cards, with three for Villa and two for the Baggies, including the last match between the two teams in last season's FA Cup, when both sides finished a player short.

West Brom have scored just three goals so far this season; only Newcastle United have fewer, while Villa have hit the target twice as often.

The visitors have been stronger at the back though, keeping clean sheets in three of their league outings so far, while Villa have kept their opponents out just once.




Bournemouth vs. Sunderland

This fixture pits two bosses at the opposite ends of their careers against each other, with the oldest manager in the Premier League, 67-year-old Dick Advocaat, taking his side to Eddie Howe's Bournemouth.

Sunderland are one of just three sides in the top flight not to have won so far this season, having lost three of their opening five fixtures. The Black Cats have lost four league matches and picked up four draws since last winning in the top flight in May, when they beat Everton 2-0.

The Cherries have lost just once in their last three outings. Both teams have had defensive struggles at the start of the season, with Sunderland conceding 11 goals to Bournemouth's nine. Neither have kept a clean sheet yet this season.

Bournemouth have not scored in their last two matches against this weekend's opponents, although their last meeting was in March 1990. In their three previous trips to Bournemouth, Sunderland have secured 1-0 victories.




Newcastle United vs. Watford

Newcastle United will be one of four teams hoping to avoid a third straight loss in the Premier League this weekend following their 2-0 defeat to West Ham earlier this week.

The Magpies will be optimistic of securing their first win of the league season though, having won nine of their last 16 meetings with the Hornets, losing just one in that time.

The visitors have an impressive record at the back so far this season though, keeping clean sheets in three of their last four matches, while Odion Ighalo, who has scored 18 goals in 23 appearances in 2015, boasts the best goal-scoring record of the year in the top four tiers.

Newcastle have had just 61 touches in the opposition box in the first five matches, fewer than all their Premier League rivals. With no goals in their most recent four games, Newcastle are on their longest goal drought since December 1988.




Stoke City vs. Leicester City

This will be just the third meeting between these two sides in the Premier League. Both times they have faced each other before, the away side has secured a 1-0 win.

Riyad Mahrez has made a strong start to the season for Leicester, and could be crucial for the Foxes this afternoon. He has been involved in eight goals in his last eight appearances for the team, scoring six and picking up two assists.

The winger will have to beat Jack Butland if he is to extend that record. The England goalkeeper has made 27 saves in his first five matches - more than any other keeper in the division.

Stoke boast the Premier League's record scorer of headed goals, Peter Crouch, who has nodded the ball in 47 times. Leicester have been prolific in the air this season though, finding the back of the net with four of their five headed attempts so far.




Swansea City vs. Everton

Roberto Martinez returns to his old club knowing that Everton have come away with a win in three of their four previous visits to the Liberty Stadium in the Premier League.

Although the Spaniard is still looking for his first win over Swansea City, the Welsh side have won just one of the previous 23 matches against Everton, losing 15.

Garry Monk's side struggle in September. In 15 previous fixtures in the second month of the season, Swansea have won three times, while slipping to nine losses.

Bafetimbi Gomis will be hoping to help the hosts end the September woes, as he will be looking for his 10th goal in 12 appearances for the team.




Manchester City vs. West Ham United

League leaders Manchester City boast the only 100% record in the top flight, having won all five of their matches so far without conceding a goal. If West Ham fail to score in the opening 34 minutes, it will be 10 hours since Manuel Pellegrini's side have conceded in the top flight.

The home side will have to contend with West Ham's summer signing Dimitri Payet. The Frenchman has scored three goals in the league for Slaven Bilic's side this season, and has four goals and seven assists in his has 13 league appearances, including for Marseille last season.

Man City's winning run continues their strong finish to last season. They have won their last 11 league outings, including their most recent seven home fixtures. Goals tend to come easy at the Etihad, as they have netted at least twice in their last nine matches at their home ground.

The Hammers have not scored in their last three visits to the Etihad in all competitions, but they have scored at least two goals in their last three matches in the Premier League.




Tottenham Hotspur vs. Crystal Palace

Crystal Palace will be hoping to improve their form in London derbies, having won only three of their last 19 matches against their local rivals. Their most recent match against another side from the capital ended with a win though, as they beat Chelsea 2-1.

Tottenham have been making slow starts to their recent matches though, failing to score in the first half of their last 10 league outings. However, just one of their last seven fixtures has ended in defeat.

Harry Kane was the home side's top scorer last season, but the England international has not been on the scoresheet this season. He has two goals from his last 13 appearances, having netted 17 in the 15 before that run.

Since Alan Pardew's appointment in January, the Eagles have been clinical from set pieces, scoring 16 times, which is the highest in the league.




Liverpool vs. Norwich City

Liverpool and Norwich City have been involved in some high-scoring fixtures in recent years, with their most recent four meetings seeing at least five goals scored.

Now-Barcelona forward Luis Suarez has helped that run though, scoring nine goals in four games against the Canaries before his move to the La Liga side last summer.

James Milner joined Liverpool over the summer, and has covered more ground than any other player in the Premier League so far this season, running 62km.

The home side have lost their last two matches in the league. Their only three-game losing run under Brendan Rodgers came last November, while Norwich will be looking for back-to-back wins in the top flight for the first time since May 2013.




Manchester United vs. Southampton

Ronald Koeman will be hoping that his side can maintain their strong home form, with just one loss in their last seven matches at St Mary's, including five wins.

Man Utd struggle defensively against the Saints, failing to keep a clean sheet in their last seven meetings with the team. When Southampton concede first though, they typically going on to lose, coming from behind only once in 16 attempts.

This will be the fifth meeting between Koeman and fellow Dutchman Louis van Gaal, with the two managers having also met in the Eredivisie. All of their previous matches have resulted in away wins.

United have not played their best football away from home under Van Gaal, winning seven of their 21 matches away from Old Trafford under their current manager. Southampton have been on a difficult run though, winning only two of their most recent 11 league matches.




All stats courtesy of Opta
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Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool17133140172342
2Chelsea18105338211735
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest1810442419534
4Arsenal1796234161833
5Newcastle UnitedNewcastle188553021929
6Bournemouth188552721629
7Manchester CityMan City188463026428
8Fulham187742623328
9Aston Villa188462629-328
10Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton176742726125
11Tottenham HotspurSpurs1872939261323
12Brentford177283232023
13West Ham UnitedWest Ham186572330-723
14Manchester UnitedMan Utd186482124-322
15Everton173861522-717
16Crystal Palace183871826-817
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1843112940-1115
18Leicester CityLeicester1835102240-1814
19Ipswich TownIpswich172691632-1612
20Southampton1813141137-266
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