Form Guide: City, Liverpool, Chelsea aiming to extend unbeaten runs

Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea will be looking to make it 10 games unbeaten at the start of the Premier League season this weekend.

Published : Oct 25, 2018 18:24 IST

Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool is unbeaten in its opening nine Premier League matches.
Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool is unbeaten in its opening nine Premier League matches.
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Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool is unbeaten in its opening nine Premier League matches.

The Premier League still boasts three teams who have yet to taste defeat so far this season.

Pep Guardiola's Manchester City faces a stern test at fifth-placed Tottenham, while Liverpool has the decidedly more routine looking visit of Cardiff City to look forward to.

Chelsea, meanwhile, travels to Burnley after Ross Barkley's late intervention prevented the Blues from falling to a first defeat of the campaign to Manchester United last time out.

WATFORD V HUDDERSFIELD TOWN

After a run of four games without a win, Watford got firmly back on track by beating Wolves last time out. Only in the 1982-83 season [17] have the Hornets won more points after the first nine games of a top-flight season than this campaign's 16.

READ | Guardiola: It will not be possible to train another team in England

They will back themselves to add to that tally against struggling Huddersfield, who have yet to win this season. David Wagner's beleaguered side have now failed to score in 55.3 per cent of their Premier League games – the highest share in the competition's history.

BRIGHTON AND HOVE ALBION V WOLVES

Despite defeat against Watford last time out, Wolves' haul of 15 points from its nine Premier League games this season is the best total by a newly promoted team at this stage of a campaign since West Brom in 2010-11, which also amassed 15 points.

It will have its work cut out adding to that tally at the Amex Stadium, where Brighton has won 70.6 per cent of their Premier League points since winning promotion – the third highest share in the competition's history.

FULHAM V BOURNEMOUTH

Bournemouth's in-form forwards will be licking their lips at the prospect of facing Fulham this weekend.

The Cottagers have conceded six more goals than any other Premier League team this season [25] after affording their opponents 61 shots on target – more than any other side.

Callum Wilson, in particular, will be relishing the opportunity to test the host's backline – he has been directly involved in more goals this season than any other English player [three goals, four assists].

LIVERPOOL V CARDIFF CITY

Liverpool will fancy its chances of extending its unbeaten start in the Premier League to 10 games against a Cardiff City side which has not defeated it since December 1959.

Neil Warnock's team scored as many goals in its 4-2 victory over Fulham last weekend as it did in its previous eight games this season but will come up against a formidable goalkeeper in Alisson.

The Brazilian is aiming to become the second Liverpool keeper in Premier League history to keep seven clean sheets in his first 10 starts for the club after Pepe Reina.

READ | Liverpool felt wrath of 'emotional' Klopp, says Shaqiri

SOUTHAMPTON V NEWCASTLE UNITED

Newcastle United travels to the south coast looking to kick-start its torrid season, which has seen it fail to win in its opening nine games.

Things are not much better for Southampton, which has failed to score in four consecutive Premier League games for the first time since October 2004.

If that is to change against Rafael Benitez's side, it will likely come courtesy of Danny Ings – the on-loan Liverpool man has scored 50 per cent of his side's six goals this season.

LEICESTER CITY V WEST HAM UNITED

Leicester will need James Maddison's influence to come to the fore once again if it is to avoid a third consecutive defeat.

Maddison has created more goalscoring chances in the Premier League this season [18] than any other player, providing two assists in the process.

West Ham, meanwhile, should be wary if it takes the lead at the King Power Stadium – the Hammers have lost more points from winning positions than any other Premier League team this season [six].

BURNLEY V CHELSEA

Maurizio Sarri has adapted seamlessly into life in England and could become the first Chelsea manager to remain unbeaten in his first 10 Premier League matches in charge against Burnley.

Central to its hopes against Sean Dyche's side will be the mercurial Eden Hazard, who has averaged a goal or assist every 66.7 minutes so far this season – his best ratio in the competition since he joined the Blues in 2012.

CRYSTAL PALACE V ARSENAL

Arsenal made it 10 consecutive wins across all competitions against Leicester City on Monday and will have high hopes of extending that run against struggling Crystal Palace.

Roy Hodgson's side is hoping to avoid becoming the seventh team in Football League history to both fail to win and score in any of its first five home league games to a season.

Looking to prolong its misery will be Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, whose double against the Foxes means he has the Premier League's best ever minutes-to-goals ratio, averaging a strike every 104.6 minutes.

MANCHESTER UNITED V EVERTON

The history books show that Manchester United could not wish for a more favourable opponent as it tries to chase down the league's pacesetters.

READ | Manchester United didn't play - David Luiz blasts Mourinho tactics

Jose Mourinho's side has scored more goals [98] and won more games [35] versus the Toffees in the Premier League than against any other opponent.

If Everton is going to take anything away from Old Trafford it will need Brazilian forward Richarlison to improve on his record against the 'big six' – he has yet to score in 13 games against them since his arrival in England.

TOTTENHAM V MANCHESTER CITY

Tottenham could leapfrog Manchester City in the Premier League table with a win at Wembley but will need to reverse recent history if it is to shock Pep Guardiola's side.

Mauricio Pochettino’s men have lost 10 of their last 15 league games against City, while only Arsenal has won fewer points against the Premier League’s 'big six' since the Argentine took over in 2014.

City, meanwhile, will hope Sergio Aguero takes his shooting boots to the capital – the talismanic striker has not scored in his last five appearances against Spurs.

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