A dozen teams duke it out across Saturday’s three o’clock kick-offs, with Leicester’s home tie against Arsenal perhaps topping the bill as an goal-strewn end-to-end encounter.
The Gunners are statistically the most wasteful team in the league this term (4.1% shot-conversion rate), netting just five goals despite a league-high tally of attempts (121), shots inside the box (83) and big chances (18). The Foxes, meanwhile, are joint-top with regards to goals scored (13) and boast the second best conversion rate (16.5%). The fact that Leicester are yet to register a clean sheet bodes well for Arsenal’s attacking prospects, though.
A form attack meets an out-of-form defence as Manchester United square up to Sunderland at Old Trafford. The Red Devils scored six goals in their last two outings and have conceded just one goal on home turf this campaign. As for the Black Cats, they’ve shipped more goals (13) than any outfit and rank second for shots conceded inside the box (64). Furthermore, no team has conceded more goals (eight) on their travels than the Wearsiders.
West Ham’s home head-to-head against Norwich City is a tricky one to call. The Hammers rank joint-top for goals scored (13) but are also at the summit for goals conceded at home (six). It’s a similar story for the Canaries, who place in the top five for goals scored (nine) and goals conceded on the road (five). Only Stoke (18) have conceded more big chances in away ties than Alex Neil’s charges, which increases the likelihood that the Irons can perpetuate their rich vein of form in the final third.
Elsewhere in the early-afternoon schedule, Liverpool go in search of their first win in five matches as they invite Aston Villa to Anfield. At the other end of the country, Southampton enjoy a home tie against a Swansea outfit that’s drawn back-to-back blanks. Finally, a winless Stoke City side welcome Bournemouth to the Britannia Stadium.
