Every football enthusiast’s favourite time of the year kicks off with the first of four Gameweeks spanning a fortnight. In the wake of Jose Mourinho’s decampment, all eyes will be on Chelsea’s reaction when Sunderland make the trip to Stamford Bridge.
The Blues were beaten in five of their previous seven league ties, but it is impossible to predict how they’ll respond to their manager’s dismissal. Certainly, it can hardly get much worse at Stamford Bridge, given that they rank joint-second for home defeats (four). As for the Black Cats, they’ve conceded just four goals in as many outings, claiming two clean sheets in the process. Nonetheless, no team has conceded more away goals (21) than the Wearsiders.
Everton’s home clash against Leicester City pits together two sides that are flying on the attacking front, ranking joint-top for goals (nine) over the last four Gameweeks. The Foxes – who’ve scored in every league tie this term – will be encouraged by the fact that the Toffees have conceded the sixth-most shots inside the box (140) over the course of the campaign.
Both Southampton and Tottenham Hotspur will be determined to atone for recent defeats when they meet at St Mary’s Stadium. The former are winless in four outings and recorded just two shut-outs in their last 11 fixtures. That will be music to the ears of a Spurs attack that places second for shots on target (54) in road match-ups and charted top for shots on target (27) over the last four Gameweeks.
Shifting our crosshairs onto the remaining trio of three o’clock kick-offs, Manchester United play host to a Norwich City outfit that ranks bottom for clean sheets (one) this season. Stoke City go in pursuit of their eighth clean sheet in 10 outings when Crystal Palace – who are unbeaten in three matches – arrive at the Britannia Stadium. Finally, West Bromwich Albion embark on a home tie against a Bournemouth unit that ranks second for attempts (97) across the last four Gameweeks.
