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Premier League in numbers: Matchday 2 preview

Sports Mole previews this weekend's Premier League fixtures, with the aid of a selection of statistics from each game taking place.

The opening Premier League weekend certainly did not disappoint, providing plenty of goals, talking points and a couple of shock results.

No pressure for the remainder of the season, then, with plenty more drama to come over the next nine months.

The big fixture of matchday two comes from Eastlands, as last term's top two - Manchester City and Chelsea - do battle in an early clash that could potentially decide which way the title goes.

Elsewhere, West Ham United and Leicester City - arguably the two best sides in the curtain-raising fixtures - go head to head at Upton Park in the first of 19 farewell matches at Upton Park.

Manchester United got the weekend underway on Friday night with another slender victory against Aston Villa to maintain their incredible run against the Villans, while at the same time putting just a little pressure on the likes of Arsenal, Man City and Chelsea to keep pace.

Here, Sports Mole takes a look at the second round of fixtures, with a selection of statistics from each game taking place to whet the appetite.


Southampton vs. Everton

Romelu Lukaku in action for Everton on May 9, 2015© Getty Images

Southampton are unbeaten in six home Premier League games against the Toffees (W3 D3), while Everton have failed to score in each of their last three visits to St Mary's.

Three of the last six goals in this fixture have been own goals (Antolin Alcaraz, Seamus Coleman, Romelu Lukaku).

Lukaku has scored just four goals in his last 23 top-flight appearances, but three of these have come away from home.

Roberto Martinez's charges have won just two of their eight Prem games since the start of last season without Leighton Baines (W2 D2 L4), who will miss the next three months of action through injury.


Sunderland vs. Norwich City

Jermain Defoe of Sunderland celebrates scoring his team's second goal with Steven Fletcher (R) during the Barclays Premier League match between Everton and Sunderland at Goodison Park on May 9, 2015© Getty Images

Sunderland have won just one of their previous six Premier League games against Norwich (D2 L3), but the Canaries have scored just once on their last six visits to the Stadium of Light (D2 L4).

Jermain Defoe could make his 400th PL appearance in this game - the 32nd player to reach this landmark and the 23rd Englishman to do so.

Sunderland have picked up seven points in four Premier League home games under Dick Advocaat (W2 D1 L1). They had won seven points in their previous 11 home games before the Dutchman came in.

Norwich have won just one point in their last nine top-flight away matches (D1 L8), and have failed to score in six of their last nine fixtures on the road in the Prem.


Swansea City vs. Newcastle United

Papiss Cisse in action for Newcastle on December 28, 2014© Getty Images

Since being promoted to the top flight, Swansea have collected more points against Newcastle than any other side (17 - W5 D2 L1).

Papiss Cisse has netted four times in four Premier League appearances against the Swans.

Newcastle United used fewer English players on the opening weekend than any other Premier League side (1 - Jack Colback).

The Swans lost their final home game of the 2014-15 season (vs. Man City) – they have not lost back-to-back Prem home games under Garry Monk.


Tottenham Hotspur vs. Stoke City

Charlie Adam celebrates scoring for Stoke City on May 9, 2015© Getty Images

Tottenham lost both of their Premier League games against Stoke last season, having won the previous three. They also had a player sent off in both games (Vlad Chiriches and Kyle Naughton).

Charlie Adam has scored three times and been sent off twice in seven games against Spurs, while the Scotsman has also scored five goals in his last nine league games for Stoke overall.

Spurs ran further than any other team on the opening matchday (117.8km); only Burnley (4414km) ran further than the Lilywhites (4336km) in the 2014-15 campaign.

Harry Kane could make his 50th top-flight appearance in this match and has currently scored 24 goals in 49 PL games. Only 15 players have scored 25+ goals in their first 50 Premier League appearances.


Watford vs. West Bromwich Albion

Miguel Layun (3rd L) of Watford celebrates scoring his team's first goal with his team mates during the Barclays Premier League match between Everton and Watford at Goodison Park on August 8, 201© Getty Images

The Hornets are winless in 14 league games against West Brom (D6 L8, all in second tier), while the Baggies have not lost away to Watford since November 1994, winning four and drawing three of their visits since then.

This will be the first time Watford and West Brom have met in a top-flight fixture since December 1985.

Miguel Layun failed to score in any of his 17 competitive appearances for Watford last season when they were a Championship club, but netted in his first ever PL appearance last weekend.

Rickie Lambert has scored five goals in his last two appearances against Watford, including a hat-trick versus the Hornets at Vicarage Road back in February 2012 - making him one of only two players to have scored a league treble against the Londoners since the start of 2007-08.


West Ham United vs. Leicester City

Adrian in action for West Ham on January 1, 2014© Getty Images

West Ham have won seven of their previous eight home Premier League games against Leicester City, losing the other in August 2000.

The Foxes lost all six of their Premier League games last season in London, and have gone 20 Prem games without a victory in the capital (D3 L17).

Both City and the Hammers are looking to win their opening two games of a Prem season for the first time since 1997-98.

No Premier League player is currently on a longer run of starts for one side than West Ham goalkeeper Adrian (57 consecutive PL starts).


Crystal Palace vs. Arsenal

Arsenal's German midfielder Mesut Ozil celebrates after scoring their second goal during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium in London on April 4, 2015© Getty Images

Palace have been beaten in each of their last five Premier League encounters with the Gunners.

Arsenal's victories last season in this fixture both came by a 2-1 scoreline, with a goal in the 45th minute both times.

Mesut Ozil has averaged 3.5 chances created-per-game in the Premier League in 2015; a higher ratio than any other player.

Wilfried Zaha embarked on more dribbles than any other player on matchday one of the 2015-16 Premier League season (10), while new teammate Bakary Sako beat his opponent with more dribbles than any other player in the Championship last season (116).


Manchester City vs. Chelsea

Head coach Jose Mourinho of Chelsea looks on during the FA Community Shield match between Chelsea and Arsenal at Wembley Stadium on August 2, 2015© Getty Images

Two-time Prem champs City have won only two of their last nine against Chelsea in the top flight (D3 L4).

Chelsea have not lost any of their last 28 Premier League games in the month of August (W23 D5). The last time that they lost a league game in this month was back in 2006; 2-1 away at Middlesbrough.

Jose Mourinho has won seven and lost just two of the 12 meetings as a coach with Manuel Pellegrini (D3).

The Citizens completed 693 passes in their last game, 212 more than any other team on the opening matchday of the season, with both David Silva and Fernandinho (90 each) completing more passes than any other player.


Liverpool vs. Bournemouth

Goalkeeper Simon Mignolet of Liverpool gives instructions during the Barclays Premier League match between Hull City and Liverpool at KC Stadium on December 1, 2013© Getty Images

Liverpool have never lost against Bournemouth in six previous cup fixtures (W4 D2), with this their first ever league meeting.

The Reds only attempted four shots (excl. blocked) in their first game against Stoke - fewer than any other side last weekend.

Simon Mignolet has kept more clean sheets than any other Premier League goalkeeper in 2015 (10).

Liverpool launched 28 long balls on the opening matchday, which is 12 more than they averaged per game in 2014/15 (16), but only Man City (693) and Arsenal (481) completed more passes than Bournemouth (464) last time out.


All stats courtesy of Opta.

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Manchester United's Dutch midfielder Memphis Depay (2nd R) celebrates with Manchester United's English striker Wayne Rooney (R) after United take the lead due to an own goal from Tottenham Hotspur's English defender Kyle Walker (L) during the English Prem
Read Next:
Premier League in numbers: Week 1
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rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Arsenal28204470244664
2Liverpool28197265263964
3Manchester CityMan City28196363283563
4Aston Villa29175760421856
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs28165759421753
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd28152113939047
7West Ham UnitedWest Ham2912894650-444
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2811985044642
9Wolverhampton WanderersWolves28125114244-241
10Newcastle UnitedNewcastle281241259481140
11Chelsea27116104745239
12Fulham29115134344-138
13Bournemouth2898114152-1135
14Crystal Palace2878133348-1529
15Brentford2975174154-1326
16Everton2887132939-1025
17Luton TownLuton2957174260-1822
18Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest2967163551-1621
19Burnley2945202963-3417
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd2835202474-5014


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