The Premier League returns with Matchweek 31 kicking off tonight as Manchester United take on Bournemouth under the lights. With Manchester City and Arsenal not involved in league action due to their cup final commitments, the focus shifts to a packed weekend featuring several pivotal fixtures.
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Liverpool travel to Brighton in a clash that could shake up the race for European places, while Chelsea visit Everton as both sides look to strengthen their push up the table. There’s also pressure at the bottom, with Fulham v Burnley and Leeds v Brentford carrying major implications in the relegation battle.
But the headline encounter comes on Sunday with the Tyne Wear Derby, as Newcastle and Sunderland collide in one of English football’s fiercest rivalries.
Catch every moment live on SuperSport.
Bournemouth v Manchester United
Bournemouth are unbeaten in their last five Premier League games against Manchester United (W2 D3),
scoring more goals in these five (13) than they did in their first 12 against the Red Devils in the division
(10).
Manchester United have lost just two of their eight away Premier League games against Bournemouth
(W4 D2). Their last two visits to the Vitality Stadium have seen them come from behind to draw.
Bournemouth have won three of their four Friday night games in the Premier League, with the exception being a 4-2 loss at Liverpool in the opening game this season.
Manchester United have won just one of their five away Friday night games in the Premier League (D2 L2), beating Aston Villa 1-0 in August 2015.
Bournemouth have drawn each of their last four Premier League games, three of which have been
goalless. The last side to draw five consecutive matches in the competition were Fulham in December 2020/January 2021.
Since Michael Carrick took charge of Manchester United in January, the Red Devils have won more
Premier League games (7) and more Premier League points (22) than any other side.
Bournemouth are looking to keep three consecutive clean sheets in the Premier League for the first time
since November 2019, when they had two goalless draws followed by a 1-0 win against Manchester
United. Overall they’ve kept nine clean sheets this season, only keeping more in the top-flight in 2016-17 and 2018-19 (10).
Man Utd’s Bruno Fernandes has been involved in eight goals in his eight Premier League games against Bournemouth (4 goals, 4 assists), though only two of these (2 goals, 0 assists) have come at the Vitality Stadium.
Each of Casemiro’s last five Premier League goals this season has been assisted by Bruno Fernandes.
Only Marcus Rashford has been set up by the same player more in a single campaign for Manchester United in the competition (6 by Fernandes in 2022-23).
Man Utd’s Bruno Fernandes has created 6+ chances in each of his last three Premier League games, the first player to do so since Trent Alexander-Arnold in December 2023. No player on record (from 2003-04) has created six or more chances in four successive appearances in the competition.
Brighton and Hove Albion v Liverpool
Brighton have won two of their last three home league games against Liverpool (D1), beating them 3-2 in this exact fixture last season. They’d only won one of their first 13 against the Reds (D6 L6).
Following their 2-0 win at Anfield in December, Liverpool are looking to complete the league double over Brighton for the first time since 2019-20.
Liverpool have won 2-0 (Premier League) and 3-0 (FA Cup) against Brighton this season. They last won
three games without conceding in a season against an opponent in 2021-22 (vs Arsenal), while Brighton last lost three without scoring in 2006-07 (vs Bristol City).
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After a run of just one win in 13 Premier League games from the start of December (D6 L6), Brighton have now won three of their last four (L1).
Liverpool have conceded eight goals in the 90th minute (including stoppage time) in the Premier League this season, with only Leeds shipping more (9). All eight of these goals against the Reds have resulted in them drawing (3) or losing (5) the match.
Brighton are one of just three sides to have conceded more goals in the first half of games (19) than they have in the second half (17) in the Premier League this season along with Burnley and Tottenham Hotspur.
Indeed, only league leaders Arsenal (14) have conceded fewer goals after halftime than the
Seagulls.
Liverpool have lost nine of their 30 Premier League games this season (30 per cent), their highest loss rate in a single campaign since 2014-15 (32 per cent - 12/38). They last lost 10 games in a season in 2015-16 (10).
Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah is both the top scorer (10) and top assister (7) against Brighton in the
Premier League. He is one of only three players to be outright top for both goals and assists against a particular opponent in the competition, along with Alan Shearer (Nottingham Forest – 10 goals, 7 assists)
and Les Ferdinand (Wimbledon – 9 goals, 6 assists).
Only Jérémy Doku (63) has had more successful dribbles in the Premier League this season than
Brighton’s Yankuba Minteh (54).
No player has scored more goals from outside the box than Liverpool’s Dominik Szoboszlai this season (4). All four of his strikes have been from direct free-kicks, with only David Beckham (2000-01) andLaurent Robert (2001-02) netting more in a single campaign (both 5).
Fulham – Burnley
Following their 3-2 win in December, Fulham are looking to complete the league double over Burnley for the first time since 1950-51.
Burnley have won three of their last four away league games against Fulham (L1), winning their last two visits by the same 2-0 scoreline.
Fulham have lost just one of their last 14 Premier League games against promoted sides (W8 D5), going down 1-0 at Leeds in January.
Fulham have lost 1-0 against West Ham and drawn 0-0 with Nottingham Forest in their last two Premier League games. They last went three without a goal in December 2023, a run which included a 2-0 home defeat to Burnley.
Burnley have won just one of their last 21 Premier League games (D7 L13), though four of their 10 points in this run have come away against London sides (3-2 v Crystal Palace, 1-1 v Chelsea).
Burnley have kept just one clean sheet in their last 41 Premier League away games, conceding in each of their last 25 since a 2-0 win at Fulham in December 2023.
Fulham have the oldest average starting XI age in the Premier League this season (28y 236d), while Burnley rank fourth for this (27y 181d). Despite it being the fourth oldest this season, it’s the Clarets’
second youngest across a full Premier League campaign (24y 248d in 2023-24 the youngest).
Of all opponents he’s faced 10+ times in the Premier League, Burnley’s Kyle Walker has a higher win rate
against Fulham than any other side (90 per cent - 9/10). His first ever goal in the competition also came against
the Cottagers, back in February 2011 with Aston Villa.
Harry Wilson is Fulham’s top scorer in the Premier League this season with nine goals. He could be just
the second British player to reach double figures for the Cottagers in a single campaign, after Andrew
Cole in 2004-05 (12).
Harry Wilson has been involved in 15 Premier League goals for Fulham this season (9 goals, 6 assists).
The last Welsh player with more in a single campaign was Aaron Ramsey in 2013-14 (18).
Everton v Chelsea
Everton have lost just one of their last eight Premier League home games against Chelsea (W5 D2), goingdown 1-0 in August 2022.
Following their 2-0 win in December, Chelsea are looking to complete the league double over Everton for the first time since 2016-17.
Everton have failed to score in 12 of their last 19 Premier League games against Chelsea, including each of the last four in a row. Overall they’ve drawn a blank in 28 Premier League meetings with the Blues, only doing so more against Manchester United (29).
Following their 2-0 win against Burnley at the start of the month, Everton are looking to win consecutive Premier League games at the Hill Dickinson Stadium for the first time. This is the latest into a Premier League campaign they’ve not won consecutive home games since 2014-15 (April).
Chelsea have lost two of their last three Premier League games (W1), as many as they had in their
previous 13 (W5 D6). Having kept a clean sheet in their first league game under Liam Rosenior (2-0 v
Brentford), the Blues have now conceded in each of their last eight.
Chelsea have made 96 changes to their starting XI in the Premier League this season, the most of any side and already more than they did in the whole of last season (95). Meanwhile, only Crystal Palace (48)
and Nottingham Forest (46) have made fewer changes than Everton (50), with the Toffees also using fewer different players than any other side (22).
Chelsea have a non-penalty xG of 52.8 in the Premier League this season, the highest of any side.
However, netting 46 non-penalty goals, only Crystal Palace (14) and Nottingham Forest (6.9) have
underperformed their xG more than the Blues (6.8).
Chelsea’s João Pedro has been involved in eight goals in his last eight appearances away from home in
all competitions (7 goals, 1 assist). His 11 away goals in total in all competitions this season is the most
\by a Chelsea player in a campaign since 2019-20 (Tammy Abraham, 12).
James Garner has made a combined 138 tackles (89) and interceptions (49) in the Premier League this
season, more than any other player. He also leads all Everton players for chances created (43) and
successful passes (1 213), while only Jack Grealish (6) has more assists (5).
With a hat-trick at Wolves and a goal at Aston Villa, Chelsea’s Cole Palmer has scored more goals in his
last two league games outside of London (4) than he had in his previous 24 (3).
Leeds United v Brentford
Leeds have lost just one of their last 16 home league games against Brentford (W7 D8) and are unbeaten
in seven since a 1-0 loss in February 2015.
Four of the last six league games between Brentford and Leeds have been drawn, with both sides winning
once each in that run.
Brentford have lost just one of their last 13 Premier League games against newly promoted opponents
(W11 D1), a 1-2 defeat at Sunderland in August 2025.
Leeds are winless in their last five Premier League games (D3 L2), failing to score in each of their last
three. They last had a longer run without a goal in February/March 2022 (4 games).
Leeds have lost 1-0 in their last two Premier League home games against Manchester City and
Sunderland. They last lost three in a row at Elland Road in March 2022 (4), while they last did so without
scoring in September 1997.
Across the last three seasons, Brentford have dropped more points from winning positions than any other
Premier League side (69), drawing 2-2 from 2-0 ahead against bottom side Wolves last time out.
Brentford lost seven of their first eight away Premier League games this season (W1), with only Wolves
(1) picking up fewer points on the road than the Bees in this time (3). Brentford have now won five of their
last seven on the road (D1 L1), with only Arsenal (18) picking up more away points than the Bees in this
run (16).
Excluding penalties, Leeds have scored a higher share of their Premier League goals from set pieces this
season than any other side (35.1 per cent - 13/37). However, only Everton and Wolves (6 each) have conceded
fewer goals from set pieces (excl. pens) this term than Brentford (7).
No player has created more chances from set plays in the Premier League this season than Leeds
United’s Anton Stach (27, level with Bruno Fernandes).
Brentford’s Igor Thiago has netted 19 Premier League goals this season and he could be the third Bees
player to score 20 in a season, along with Ivan Toney in 2022-23 and Bryan Mbeumo in 2024-25 – should
Thiago score, the Bees would have the most different players score 20+ goals in a season since they
joined the league in 2021-22.
Newcastle United v Sunderland
Newcastle are winless in their last five home league games against Sunderland (D2 L3), with this their
first such meeting at St James’ Park since a 1-1 draw in March 2016.
Sunderland are unbeaten in their last 10 league games against Newcastle (W7 D3), winning seven of the
last eight. It’s the joint-longest run either side has had without defeat in the history of the fixture
(Newcastle also 10 between 1985 and 1997).
Newcastle have scored just one goal in their last six league games against Sunderland, while their last
league clean sheet against the Black Cats was in August 2011 with Tim Krul in goal.
The reverse fixture between Newcastle and Sunderland in December had a combined xG of 0.54
(Sunderland 0.30, Newcastle 0.24), the second-lowest on record (from 2012-13) in a Premier League
game, ahead of only Bournemouth v Burnley in December 2019 (0.30). The 11 shots in that game (5
Sunderland, 6 Newcastle) were also the lowest of any Premier League match since the start of 2023-24.
Newcastle have won both of their Premier League games in March, beating Manchester United 2-1 and
Chelsea 1-0. They last had a 100 per cent winning month in the league (minimum 3 games) in November 2018
(3/3).
Sunderland won 1-0 at Leeds in their last Premier League away game. They last won consecutively on the
road in May 2014, while they last did so without conceding in October 1999.
Only Brighton (8 – W3 D5) have avoided defeat in more different Premier League games when conceding
the first goal this season than Sunderland (7 – W4 D3). Meanwhile, the Black Cats are also one of three
teams not to lose when scoring first this term (W6 D4) along with Manchester United (W12 D6) and
Nottingham Forest (W5 D2).
Only Aston Villa (19) have won more points from losing positions than Sunderland (16) in the Premier
League this season, while only West Ham (20) have dropped more points from winning positions than
Newcastle (19).
Following their 1-0 loss in the reverse fixture, Eddie Howe could become the first ever Newcastle manager
to lose both of his first two league games against Sunderland. Meanwhile, Régis Le Bris could be only the
second Sunderland manager to win both of his first two league Tyne-Wear derbies in charge, after Gus
Poyet in 2013-14.
Newcastle’s Anthony Gordon has scored in back-to-back Premier League games, and could score in three
consecutive appearances for the very first time, with his next match his 175th in the top-flight.
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Aston Villa v West Ham United
Aston Villa are looking to complete the league double over West Ham for the first time since 2010-11, the
last time the Hammers were relegated from the top-flight.
West Ham are winless in their last six Premier League games against Aston Villa, alternating between a
draw (3) and defeat (3) each time.
Though they’re unbeaten in six Premier League games overall against West Ham, Aston Villa have won
just one of their last seven against them at Villa Park (D3 L3).
Aston Villa have lost three consecutive Premier League games, as many as their previous 17 beforehand
(W11 D3). The Villans last suffered four consecutive league defeats in April 2022 (a run which included a
1-2 defeat to West Ham), while Unai Emery has never done so in his entire managerial league career.
West Ham have earned 15 points from their last nine Premier League games (W4 D3 L2), one more than
they had in their first 21 this season (W3 D5 L13).
No side has scored fewer Premier League goals so far in 2026 than Aston Villa (10). The Villans were the
joint-5th highest scorers between August and December this term with 30.
Despite using a league-high 32 different players in the Premier League this season, no team has had
fewer different goalscorers than West Ham this term (10).
All eight of Morgan Rogers’ Premier League goals this season have either put Aston Villa ahead (5) or
drawn them level (3) in the match, the highest 100 per cent such record in the competition this term.
Jarrod Bowen has been involved in seven goals in his last eight Premier League games (2 goals, 5
assists), providing an assist in each of his last three. The only West Ham player to assist a goal in four
consecutive appearances is Vladimír Coufal in October 2023.
West Ham’s Callum Wilson has scored four goals from 16 shots away from home in the Premier League
this season (25 per cent conversion), averaging a goal every 125 minutes on the road. At home, he’s scored one
goal from 16 shots (6.3 per cent conversion), averaging a goal every 501 minutes.
Tottenham Hotspur v Nottingham Forest
Spurs have lost their last three Premier League games against Nottingham Forest, having won six in a
row against them before that.
Only at Southampton (5) do Nottingham Forest have more away wins in the Premier League than they do
at Tottenham (4), winning this exact fixture 2-1 last season.
Tottenham Hotspur remain winless in 12 Premier League games (D5 L7); in their top-flight history, only
from April to November 1912 (13) and from December 1934 to April 1935 (16) have they ever gone longer
without winning.
Tottenham are the only side without a Premier League win so far in 2026, drawing five and losing seven of
their 12 games. Only three sides have had longer runs without a win from the start of a calendar year, all
of whom were relegated (Sunderland, 17 in 2002-03; Derby, 18 in 2007-08; Middlesbrough, 14 in 2016-17).
Nottingham Forest are winless in seven Premier League games (D4 L3), while only bottom side Wolves
(15) have failed to score more in different games than Forest this term (14).
Though only West Ham (32) have used more different players than Nottingham Forest (31) in the Premier
League this season, the Tricky Trees have made fewer starting XI changes than any other side (46).
Tottenham have conceded more goals from outside the box than any other Premier League side this
season, with their 11 against their most in a campaign since 2007-08 (18).
Nottingham Forest boss Vítor Pereira is unbeaten in his three Premier League games against Tottenham
(W1 D2), with one of his two points while in charge of Wolves this season coming away at Spurs.
Despite starting fewer than half of their games (14/30), Richarlison has scored more than twice as many
goals as any other Spurs player in the Premier League this season (9).
Elliot Anderson has made more successful passes than any other midfielder in the Premier League this
season (1 679), while he also leads all Nottingham Forest players for chances created (45).