Premier League Opta Facts – February 2nd-3rd

Queens Park Rangers v Norwich City

Norwich have won four and lost none of their last six league meetings with QPR.
Norwich have won just one of their last seven Premier League away games in London (W1 D2 L4); with the only win during this period coming at Spurs in April 2012.
Norwich have won just one of their last 14 Premier League away matches (W1 D6 L7).
The Canaries have kept just one clean sheet in their last 45 Premier League away games.
QPR have drawn each of their last three Premier League games, two of them ending 0-0.
The Hoops are unbeaten in four Premier League games, they have not gone five in a row since March 1995.
Harry Redknapp has been involved in more 0-0 draws than any other manager in Premier League history (61).
QPR have lost just three of the 11 Premier League games that they have played since Harry Redknapp took charge (W2 D6 L3).
QPR have led in only two home games this season, fewer than any other side.
Norwich have led in just three Premier League away games this season, only West Ham have led in fewer (2).
QPR are one of only seven teams in Premier League history to win only two of their opening 24 games. Only Derby in 2007-08 had won fewer (1).

Arsenal v Stoke City

Arsenal have won five and lost just one of their last eight Premier League games against Stoke (D2), with four of those wins coming at the four meetings they have had at Emirates Stadium.
Peter Crouch has scored seven Premier League goals against Arsenal; only against Blackburn (8) has he been more prolific.
Despite the intense rivalry, there have been just six yellow cards shown in total across the four games between Arsenal and Stoke at the Emirates.
The Potters have won just one of their last 21 Premier League away games (W1 D9 L11).
Stoke have conceded 15 goals in their last five Premier League games. They had conceded just 14 in their previous 19 games.
The Emirates has witnessed more goals than any other Premier League stadium this season (50).
Arsenal have made more errors leading directly to a goal than any other team in the Premier League this season (12).
Olivier Giroud has scored five goals in his last three appearances for Arsenal (all competitions).
If only the second half of games counted this season Arsenal would be second (46 points), two points behind Manchester City (48).
Stoke have drawn more games 0-0 than any other Premier League side this season (5).

Everton v Aston Villa

Everton's win at Villa Park earlier this season ended a run of 12 Premier League games against the midlands' side without a win for the Toffees (D8 L4).
Everton have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last 17 league matches against Aston Villa.
Leon Osman has scored more goals against Aston Villa than he has managed against any other Premier League opponent (5).
Gabriel Agbonlahor has scored more goals against Everton than he has against any other Premier League opponent (6).
Eleven of the last 12 Premier League goals that Aston Villa have scored against Everton have been netted in the second half of games.
Aston Villa have won just two of their last 20 Premier League away matches (W2 D8 L10).
Aston Villa have won fewer points after 24 Premier League games in a season than ever before (20).
Everton have lost only one of their last 12 Premier League games, but half (6) of these have ended in a draw.
Leighton Baines has scored with all 10 of his Premier League penalties.
Everton have hit the woodwork 19 times this season, more than any other side.

Newcastle United v Chelsea

Newcastle have won just one of their last 11 Premier League games against Chelsea (W1 D4 L6).
Chelsea have won three and lost none of their last five Premier League trips to St James Park and have conceded just one goal across those five games.
Newcastle have lost five of their last seven Premier League games on home soil (W2 L5).
No player has scored more Premier League goals from outside the box since August 2011 than Yohan Cabaye (5).
Newcastle have played eight different French players in the Premier League this season - more than any other side in the history of the competition.
Chelsea have scored the first goal of the game on more occasions than any other Premier League side this season (16).
Juan Mata has been involved in 18 goals (nine goals, nine assists) in 19 PL starts for Chelsea this season.
Frank Lampard has scored nine goals in 11 starts for Chelsea in the Premier League this season.
Newcastle have scored only once from a corner this season, fewer times than any other side.
Rafa Benitez has taken two points fewer (22) from his 12 Premier League games this season than Roberto Di Matteo did from his (24).

Reading v Sunderland

Sunderland and Reading have met 18 times in all competitions with both sides enjoying seven wins apiece.
Sunderland have won just three of their last 19 Premier League away games (W3 D7 L9), but those three wins have come in the last six road trips (W3 L3).
Sunderland are responsible for three of the nine instances of a team failing to have a shot on target in the Premier League this season, with one of these being their last game against Swansea.
Adam Le Fondre has scored more substitute goals than any other Premier League player this season (6).
Le Fondre's last three Premier League goals have been assisted by Hope Akpan.
Without Le Fondre's goals this season Reading would be 10 points adrift of safety at the bottom of the table.
Reading have scored six goals from indirect free-kick moves this season, more than any other side.
Reading have thrown away 20 points from leading positions this season, only fellow promoted side Southampton have lost more (22).
Each of Reading's last four Premier League games have gone over 2.5 goals.
If the season had started on Boxing Day, Reading would be in sixth place, one point ahead of Sunderland in ninth.

West Ham United v Swansea City

West Ham have kept just one clean sheet in their last 10 Premier League games at Upton Park.
West Ham have put in more crosses than any other Premier League side this season (556).
Swansea have drawn five of their last seven league games, winning the other two.
Only Norwich and Villa (2) have taken fewer points from their past six games than West Ham (4).
The Hammers have only drawn eight of the 51 Premier League games they've played in February (W22 L21).
15% of Swansea's Premier League games (all-time) have ended goalless, a higher proportion than any other team in the division's history.
West Ham (3) and Swansea (4) have drawn seven games 0-0 between them this season.
The Swans have won four points more (34) this season than they had at this stage last season under Brendan Rodgers (30).
Michu has now gone five Premier League games without a goal.
Andy Carroll has scored only one goal from 27 shots (inc. blocked) in the Premier League this season.

Wigan Athletic v Southampton

This is the first time that Wigan have entertained Southampton at home in any competition.
Wigan have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last 13 Premier League home games and won none of the last five there (D1 L4).
The Saints have thrown away 22 points from leading positions this season, more than any other side.
Other than Manchester United, Wigan are the only Premier League team not to draw a game 0-0 this season.
Only 11 different Southampton players have been shown a yellow card this season, a smaller spread than any other Premier League club.
Southampton mustered 20 shots (inc. blocked) in their match at Manchester United in midweek, the highest total by an away team there this season.
Southampton have made more unsuccessful passes than any other team (2301).
The Saints have lost only two of their last seven Premier League away games (W2 D3 L2), and those defeats were by a single goal at Old Trafford and Anfield.
Franco Di Santo has scored in his last two Premier League away games but has not scored at home since October 6th 2012.
Morgan Schneiderlin has been booked in three of his last five Premier League appearances and has made more tackles than any other player in the division this season (95).

Fulham v Manchester United

Manchester United have won five and lost none of their last six Premier League matches against Fulham.
Wayne Rooney has scored four goals in his last four Premier League appearances against Fulham.
Manchester United have won five and lost none (D2) of their last seven Premier League games away in London.
Dimitar Berbatov has scored in three of the four previous occasions he has played in this fixture, while a Manchester United player.
The Bulgarian scored 48 goals in 108 Premier League games for Manchester United before moving south to Fulham in the summer and was on the scoresheet for the Red Devils the last time Man Utd played at Craven Cottage.
Manchester United have lost just one of their last 11 Premier League away games (W8 D2 L1), but have kept just two clean sheets in that run.
Six of Dimitar Berbatov's eight Premier League goals for Fulham have come before half-time.
Damien Duff has seven assists this season, only three players in the Premier League have more.
United's total of 27 comeback points this season has only been bettered by one team in PL history (Newcastle with 34 in 2001-02)
Fulham have gone 10 games without keeping a clean sheet, while Man Utd have scored in each of their last 12 games, both the longest current runs of their kind in the Premier League.

West Bromwich Albion v Tottenham Hotspur

West Brom have won none of their last six Premier League games against Spurs (W0 D3 L3).
The Baggies have won just one of their last five Premier League games at the Hawthorns (W1 D2 L2).
Tottenham have drawn their last three Premier League games in a row.
Gareth Bale has scored 10 Premier League goals in a single season for the first time.
Eight of Bale's 10 goals this season have come in away games.
WBA have won only two of their last 11 Premier League games (W2 D2 L7).
Tottenham have scored five goals from counter attacks this season, a total that only Arsenal can match.
Spurs have conceded fewer fouls than any other team in the Premier League this season (240).
Lewis Holtby was the 28th player Tottenham have used this season, only Newcastle have used as many players.
Tottenham have got the lowest saves-to-shots ratio in the Premier League this season (61%).

Manchester City v Liverpool

The reverse meeting at Anfield saw four goals scored from just six shots on target in the match.
Manchester City have won two and lost just one of the last eight Premier League meetings with Liverpool (D5).
Man City have won 36 and lost just one of their last 41 Premier League home games and have kept three clean sheets at the Etihad Stadium since losing to Manchester United there in early December.
Luis Suarez now has 17 PL goals this season, only the 10th occasion a Liverpool player has reached this mark in a single PL season.
Steven Gerrard is the only midfielder/forward to play every minute of every Premier League game this season.
Liverpool are the most accurate long passers in the Premier League this season (69%).
Man City have kept six clean sheets in succession (all comps) for the first time since August 1999.
Liverpool have scored in their last 11 Premier League games, only Man Utd (12) are on a longer current run.
Each of Liverpool's last nine Premier League games has gone over 2.5 goals.
Man City are five points and 18 goals worse off than they were at this point last season.

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Premier League Opta Facts – January 29-30th

Aston Villa v Newcastle United

Aston Villa have enjoyed just one win in their last five Premier League meetings with Newcastle (D2 L2), netting a total of four goals in this period while shipping 10.
At Villa Park, the Villans are unbeaten in their last five top tier clashes with the Magpies, winning four, drawing one and keeping three clean sheets in the process.
The one and only time that a Paul Lambert side hosted Alan Pardew's team in the Premier League came last season, when Norwich won 4-2 at Carrow Road.
Villa Park has witnessed fewer goals than any other Premier League stadium this season (24).
On average, Mike Dean has handed out a card for every 5.9 fouls in the Premier League this season; the most frequent of any referee.
Newcastle have won just three of their 18 Premier League matches since Alan Pardew signed a new 8-year contract (W3 D4 L11).
Villa have scored just five goals in their last seven meetings with Newcastle in the Premier League, with each of these arriving in the first half.
Aston Villa have won fewer points after 23 Premier League games in a season than ever before (20). They have also scored fewer goals (19) and conceded more often (44) than in any previous PL campaign at this stage.
This is also Newcastle's worst ever points tally after 23 games of a Premier League season (21).
Only two players (Gomis (25) and Aubameyang (24)) have scored more goals in Ligue 1 since the start of last season than Yoan Gouffran (22).

Queens Park Rangers v Manchester City

QPR have lost each of their last four Premier League clashes with Man City, shipping three goals in each of the last three defeats and two in the loss before that.
In the two sides' five Premier League meetings at Loftus Road, the Hoops have only managed one win, 1-0 in August 1995, losing two and drawing two.
No side has scored more goals than Man City in the final 15 minutes of Premier League games this season (11) and these goals have contributed towards a league-high 12 points.
Phil Dowd has awarded a league-high eight penalties in the Premier League this season.
Only Chelsea (8) have won more penalties in the Premier League this term than Man City (6).
QPR have scored the highest proportion of goals from outside the area in the Premier League this season (39%; 7 of 18).
Man City have conceded the highest proportion of goals from outside the area in the Premier League this season (26%; 5 of 19).
Adel Taarabt has either scored (2) or assisted (2) four of QPR's last five Premier League goals.
Eden Dzeko has scored one goal in each of his three Premier League matches against QPR.
QPR are the 13th side in Premier League history to have won 15 points or fewer after 23 games of a season. Of those 13, only three have avoided relegation (West Brom in 2004-05, Fulham in 2007-08 and Wigan in 2011/12).
Should QPR suffer defeat in this match, it'll be their 100th loss in the Premier League.

Stoke City v Wigan Athletic

Stoke have now gone seven Premier League games against Wigan without winning (5D 2L), with that run coinciding with Roberto Martinez taking charge at the DW Stadium.
The Latics are unbeaten on their last three league visits to the Britannia Stadium (W1 D2), only losing (with Steve Bruce in charge) back in May 2009, 2-0.
The last three clahses between these two sides have produced four penalty goals, with Irish striker Jonathan Walters bagging two of those spot-kicks.
No side has conceded the first goal of the game on more occasions than Wigan Athletic this season in the Premier League (15).
No referee has a higher cards per game average in the Premier League this season than Mark Jones (4.1 a game).
No side has committed more fouls in the Premier League this season than Stoke City (301).
Ali Al-Habsi has made more errors leading to opposition goals than any other Premier League player this season (5).
Stoke have lost three successive games in the Premier League. The last time that they lost four in a row was in February 2012.
Wigan have won fewer points from their last 10 Premier League games than any other side (5).
Stoke have conceded 13 goals in their last four Premier League games. They had conceded the exact same amount in their previous 18 games.

Sunderland v Swansea City

Sunderland remain unbeaten in their three Premier League meetings with Swansea, winning one (2-0) and drawing two (0-0 and 2-2).
On their 12 visits to Sunderland in all competitions, the Swans have only ever enjoyed one victory, 1-0 in February 1982 in the old Division One.
Ki Sung-Yueng (22) has attempted the most shots (excl. blocked) without scoring a goal in the Premier League this season.
If matches ended at half-time this season, Sunderland would be 4th in the Premier League table, while if only the second half of PL games counted, Swansea would be 5th.
Steven Fletcher has scored the first goal of the game more often than any other Premier League player this season (6).
Only seven of Steven Fletcher's 22 Premier League goals since the start of last season have been scored in home matches (32%).
Fletcher has scored three goals in his previous two Premier League appearances against Swansea, but both of these games have been away. He netted two of these in his Sunderland debut back in September.
Sunderland have won five of their last eight Premier League games (W5 L3), this after winning just four of their previous 29 (W4 D13 L12).
The Swans have suffered only two defeats in their last 14 Premier League matches (W5 D7 L2).
Michu has scored just one goal in his last eight hours and 31 minutes of Premier League football (511 mins). Before this run, he had averaged a goal every 115 mins.

Arsenal v Liverpool

Arsenal have lost only one of their last 11 Premier League meetings with Liverpool, but six of these games have also ended in a draw (W4 D6 L1).
The Reds have won just eight points in their last 12 Premier League away games at Arsenal (W1 D5 L6).
No side has won more Premier League away games at Arsenal than Liverpool (6, alongside Manchester United).
Liverpool have averaged the highest possession in the Premier League so far this season (59.4%).
Of players to have attempted at least 30 shots (excl. blocked) in the Premier League this season, Theo Walcott (31.3%) has the best shot conversion rate.
Lukas Podolski tops the Premier League assist charts with nine this season following three in his last appearance against West Ham; the first player to assist three in a single PL game since Steven Pienaar in April 2012.
The Emirates has witnessed more goals than any other Premier League stadium this season (46).
Luis Suárez has created more goalscoring chances from open play than any other player in the top five European leagues this season (61).
Santi Cazorla has made 15 through balls in the Premier League this season, no other player has made more than eight.
There have been seven goals scored in the 90th minute or later in the last eight Premier League meetings between Arsenal and Liverpool.

Everton v West Bromwich Albion

Just one of their previous 13 Premier League meetings between these two sides have ended as a draw, with Everton winning seven and West Brom securing five wins.
Victor Anichebe has scored in two of his last three Premier League games against West Brom, despite playing a combined 69 minutes over those three matches.
Everton have lost only 9% of games that they have conceded the first goal of the game in this season (one of 11); the best such record in the Premier League.
West Brom have attempted 61% of their shots in the second half of Premier League games this season; a higher proportion than any other side.
Romelu Lukaku has scored seven goals and assisted one in his nine Premier League starts for West Brom.
Despite picking up just one point from their last four Premier League games, this is still West Brom's highest points tally after 23 games in a PL season (34).
Everton have drawn a joint-league high 11 games in the Premier League this season. Only three sides (Everton in 2010-11, Birmingham in 2010-11 and Ipswich in 1992-93 - all 12) have drawn more of their first 23 games in a PL season.
Only Manchester City (2) have lost fewer games than Everton (3) this season.
West Brom have lost four of their last five (W1) away games in the Premier League.
Everton have used fewer players than any other Premier League side this season (22).

Norwich City v Tottenham Hotspur

Norwich have won four points (W1 D1) in their last two Premier League games against Tottenham, this after winning just five in their nine previous PL meetings with them (W1 D2 L6).
However, at Carrow Road, Norwich have lost four and drawn one of their five Premier League games against Tottenham Hotspur, netting just one goal in the process.
Only once in PL history have Tottenham had more points than their 41 after 23 games this season (49 points last season).
Tottenham Hotspur have used a league-high 27 players already this season in the Premier League.
Norwich have collected just one point from their last six Premier League games (L5 D1), fewer than any other side over this period.
Spurs have won seven and lost just one of their last 11 Premier League matches (W7 D3 L1).
Gareth Bale has already netted nine Premier League goals this season, equalling his highest tally in a single season (9 in 2011-12). Seven of these nine have come in away games.
No English player has scored more goals in the Premier League this season than Jermain Defoe (10), although the striker has scored just one goal in his last 11 hours and 49 minutes of PL football.
Only Norwich (14) have used more English players in the Premier League this season than Spurs (13).
Andre Villas-Boas has won 52.2% of his Premier League games for Tottenham (12 of 23); a higher win percentage than any other Spurs manager in the Premier League.

Fulham v West Ham United

Fulham have won just two of their previous 17 Premier League matches against West Ham (W2 D5 L10), with one of those victories being in their first ever PL meeting.
Only Arsenal (7) have won more often away at Fulham in the Premier League than West Ham United (6).
The Whites have failed to find the net in four of their previous eight Premier League home games against West Ham, netting only six goals in total.
Fulham have a lower win percentage than any other club in Premier League London derbies (19.4%) and have won just two points from a possible 15 in PL London derbies this season.
Only Arsenal (50.8%) and Chelsea (49.2%) have a better win percentage in Premier League London derbies than West Ham United (31.6%).
Carlton Cole has scored in each of his last five Premier League starts against Fulham, netting six goals in total, however, he also scored an own goal in this run. These six goals mean that he's scored more often against Fulham than any other side in the Premier League.
West Ham have conceded fewer headed goals than any other Premier League side this season (1).
The Hammers have played a higher proportion of their passes in the attacking third of the pitch than any other side in the Premier League this season (39.2%).
No goalkeeper has been forced into making more saves than Jussi Jääskeläinen (91).
Dimitar Berbatov netted five goals in his first seven Premier League appearances for Fulham (goal every 117 mins), but has scored only two in his subsequent 12 PL games (goal every 540 mins).
Mark Noble has created more goalscoring chances without having assisted a goal (32) than any other player in the Premier League this season.

Manchester United v Southampton

The Red Devils have dropped just two points in 13 Premier League home games against Southampton (W12 D1).
Manchester United have scored in 25 of their 27 previous Premier League games against Southampton and have scored at least twice in eight of their last nine PL games versus them.
Robin van Persie has scored four goals in three Premier League appearances against Southampton, including a hat-trick in Manchester United's 3-2 win at St Marys earlier this season.
Morgan Schneiderlin has made more tackles than any other player in the Premier League this season (90) and only Sandro (80) has made more interceptions than the Frenchman (72).
Paul Scholes has been given six cautions in the Premier League this season, despite playing only 682 minutes; meaning he has been given a yellow card every 114 mins on average.
Wayne Rooney has scored five goals in his last five Premier League appearances and has three goals in his last three PL games against Southampton.
Manchester United have currently won 299 home games in the Premier League; more than any other side.
Manchester United have seen 16 different players score a Premier League goal for them this season; more than any other side.
The Red Devils have won 29 of a possible 33 points from their last 11 Premier League games (W9 D2).
Southampton have lost none of their last six Premier League matches, but five of these have ended in a draw (W1 D5).

Reading v Chelsea

Reading have won just one point in their previous five Premier League meetings with Chelsea (D1 L4).
Reading have lost a league-high 20 points from leading positions this season, with three of these points coming in the reverse fixture, as Reading led 2-1 until the 69th minute and eventually lost 4-2 at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea have scored the first goal of the game on more occasions than any other Premier League side this season (15).
Reading have won only one of their eight Premier League games (13%) that they have scored the first goal of the game in this season.
Despite refereeing only 11 matches in the Premier League this season, Mark Halsey has awarded six penalties. Only Phil Dowd (8) has given more.
Chelsea have won a league-high eight penalty kicks this season in the Premier League.
Five different players have taken these eight penalties for Chelsea, Frank Lampard (4), Eden Hazard, Oscar and Fernando Torres score theirs, while Lucas Piazon was the only one to miss.
Adam Le Fondre has scored with four of his last five shots (excl. blocked) in the Premier League.
This will be Rafael Benitez's 12th Premier League game in charge of Chelsea and he's won 21 points so far. Roberto Di Matteo won 24 points in his 12 PL games in charge of the Blues this term.
Reading have won nine points from their last four Premier League games (W3 L1). They had collected just 10 in their previous 19 PL matches this term.

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23.01. 2012. Premier League Opta Facts - Arsenal v West Ham

Arsenal have won eight and lost none of the last 10 matches in all competitions against West Ham.
The Hammers have failed to score in seven of the last nine Premier League games against the Gunners.
West Ham were the last visiting team to win a Premier League game at Highbury and the first to win at the Emirates.
Arsenal have scored in the 41st and 77th minutes in each of their last two matches against West Ham.
There have been four penalties in the last five Premier League meetings between Arsenal and West Ham.
Sam Allardyce has led a team to eight Premier League games away to Arsenal, and although he has never won (W0 D3 L5), his teams have only failed to score in one of those eight visits.
Only Liverpool and Man Utd (six each) have won away at Arsenal more often in the Premier League era than West Ham (4).
Arsenal have lost consecutive games in the Premier League for the first time since last January when they lost all three of their games in the month.
Theo Walcott has been involved in five of Arsenal's last six Premier League goals (three goals, two assists) and has scored 11 in his last 15 appearances for Arsenal (in all competitions).
West Ham have won just one of their last seven games in the Premier League (W1 D2 L4), while away from home, they've collected just one point in their last five trips (D1 L4).

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Premier League Opta Facts 28th - 30th April

Everton v Fulham
Everton have won all 10 Premier League home games against Fulham and the last 18 in a row in the English league.
The Toffees have won six and lost just one of the last eight games in all competitions against Fulham.
Everton have already beaten Fulham at Goodison Park this season, 2-1 in the FA Cup 4th Round.
Everton's last three home wins over Fulham in all competitions have been by a 2-1 scoreline.
Nikica Jelavic has scored six goals in his six Premier League starts for Everton.
Everton have scored more goals in their last five Premier League games (14) than they had managed in the previous 17 matches (13).
71% of the goals Everton have scored have been netted in the second half of games, a league high.
Pavel Pogrebnyak has scored six goals from six shots on target in the Premier League.
Clint Dempsey has scored six goals in his last eight Premier League appearances.
Everton have won five of their last six Premier League home games, keeping five clean sheets and conceding just one goal in that run.

Norwich City v Liverpool
These two sides mustered 16 shots on target between them in the reverse fixture which ended as a 1-1 draw.
Only Wolves (6) have picked up fewer points than Liverpool (12) in 2012.
Liverpool have only won three of their last 15 Premier League matches, losing nine in that run.
Norwich have won just two of their last 10 Premier League games and have gone 11 without a shutout.
Liverpool have won their last two visits to Carrow Road by a 2-1 scoreline.
The Reds have converted just nine per cent of shots into goals, a lower proportion than any other side in the top flight.
Liverpool have no hit the woodwork on 30 occasions this season, more than any other team, while only Bolton (6) have the struck the uprights fewer times than Norwich (7).
Norwich have scored the joint-most headed goals in the Premier League (15).
The Canaries have conceded just 18% of their goals from set pieces, the lowest proportion in the Premier League.
Liverpool have allowed their opponents just 120 shots on target, fewer than any other team this season.


Stoke City v Arsenal
Arsenal have recovered more points from losing positions than any other team in the top flight this season (19).
The Potters have scored the highest percentage of goals from set pieces in the Premier League (63%), while the Gunners have netted the lowest proportion (13%).
Four of the last five meetings between Stoke and Arsenal in all competitions have ended with a 3-1 scoreline.
Stoke have won three of their last four home matches in all competitions against Arsenal .
Peter Crouch has scored six Premier League goals against Arsenal; he's only netted more against Blackburn (8) in the competition.
After receiving a red card in his first league appearance against Stoke, Robin van Persie has scored five goals in the three subsequent Premier League outings against the Potters.
There were four goals from just five shots on target in the reverse meeting at the Emirates Stadium.
38% of the goals Stoke have scored have been netted from headers, the highest proportion in the Premier League.
Arsenal have conceded just five headed goals, the joint-fewest in the top flight.
Robin van Persie has fired in 63 shots on target from inside the penalty area, two more than the entire Stoke team.

Sunderland v Bolton Wanderers
Sunderland have won five successive Premier League meetings with Bolton Wanderers.
On the two previous occasions that Owen Coyle has managed Bolton at the Stadium of Light in the Premier League, his side have failed to score.
Sunderland are on a run of five games without a win in the Premier League, having drawn four and lost one.
Bolton Wanderers have kept just one clean sheet in their last 23 Premier League games.
Just one of Bolton's last 30 Premier League away games has ended in a draw and none of their last 22.
In their last seven Premier League away games, Bolton have failed to score in five (losing all five) and scored in two (winning both of them).
Sunderland have failed to score in their last 405 minutes of Premier League football.
Bolton have drawn just three games in the Premier League this season. The Premier League record for fewest draws in a single season is currently held by Chelsea (3) in 1997/98.
No player has picked up more cards than Lee Cattermole in the Premier League this season (10; 9 yellows, 1 red).
Bolton have the lowest passing accuracy in the middle third of the pitch in the Premier League this season (78%).

Swansea City v Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolverhampton Wanderers have dropped the joint-most points from winning positions of any team in the Premier League (20).
Swansea have committed just 297 fouls this season, fewer than any other Premier League side.
Wolves have allowed their opponents 247 shots on target against them, at least 51 more than any other team.
Wolves have won six and lost just one of their last nine games in all competitions against Swansea.
Swansea have won just one of their last six Premier League matches.
Wolves have won none of their last 11 Premier League games, losing nine in that run.
Terry Connor's side have failed to score in their last three league outings.
Only Arsenal (19) have recouped more points from losing positions than Wolves (14) and the Midlanders came back from 2-0 down to get a point in the reverse fixture against Swansea.
Ashley Williams has blocked more shots than any other player in the top flight (36).
Wolves are the only team in the Premier League without a goal in the opening 15 minutes of a Premier League game.

West Bromwich Albion v Aston Villa
Aston Villa have dropped the joint-most points from winning positions of any team in the Premier League this season (20).
Villa have won just two Premier League games in 2012, only Wolves (1) have won fewer.
The Baggies have won just two of their 11 Premier League meetings with Aston Villa, but these two victories have come in their two most recent games against them.
Roy Hodgson has won seven and lost just two of his 10 Premier League matches against Aston Villa.
Villa have won only one of their last 13 Premier League games, and are winless in their last seven in a row.
West Brom have won, and kept a clean sheet, in three of their last four Premier League games.
46% of the goals that Aston Villa have conceded this season in the PL have come via set-piece situations; a league-high.
Villa completed just 56% of their passes in their midweek Premier League defeat to Bolton; their worst success rate in a PL game since December 2008.
Aston Villa still need to pick up six points from their remaining three games to avoid collecting their lowest tally of points in a PL season.
A win in this game would see West Brom reach the 48-point mark in a Premier League season for the first time.

Wigan Athletic v Newcastle United
Nine of the 11 Premier League meetings between these two sides have produced a winner, with only two games ending in a draw.
Wigan have won four of their five Premier League home games against Newcastle, but their last home league meeting with the Magpies ended in a 0-1 defeat.
The Latics have won four of their last six Premier League matches.
Only Newcastle United (18) and Manchester United (13) have picked up more points than Wigan (12) in their last six Premier League games.
No side have won fewer home games than Wigan (3) in the Premier League this season.
Papiss Demba Cisse has has equalled Mick Quinn's record of most goals in his opening 10 PL appearances (11).
Yohan Cabaye has either scored or assisted six of Newcastle's last seven goals (two goals, four assists).
With six wins in a row, Newcastle are just one short of their Premier League record of seven consecutive victories.
Should Newcastle keep one more clean sheet between now and the end of the season, they'll equal their best tally in a single PL season (15).

Chelsea v Queen Park Rangers
Chelsea have lost only two of their nine Premier League games against QPR, but one of those came earlier this season (0-1).
The Blues have won and kept a clean sheet in three of their four Premier League home matches against QPR, drawing the other.
Chelsea have currently won 399 games in the history of the Premier League.
Chelsea have won none of their seven London derbies in the Premier League this season, drawing five and losing two.
In contrast, QPR have won three of their seven London derbies in the PL this term (losing four) but all three of these wins have come at home.
QPR have won just 11 points on the road in the Premier League this season; a league-low.
Chelsea have lost only one game under Roberto Di Matteo this season (W10, D4) in all competitions.
QPR have alternated between away defeats and home wins in their last eight Premier League games; should this run continue, the Hoops would lose this match.
47% of the goals that Chelsea have conceded in the Premier League this season have come following the 75th minute; a league-high proportion.
QPR have been given eight red cards in the Premier League this season; one away from the Premier League record set by Sunderland in 2009/10 (9).

Tottenham Hotspur v Blackburn Rovers
Spurs have won five successive Premier League matches against Blackburn Rovers.
Tottenham have won just one of their last nine Premier League matches.
Harry Redknapp's side have picked up just four points in their last four home games in the Premier League; this after dropping only four in their previous 12.
Blackburn have lost three successive away games in the Premier League.
Rovers have conceded an average of 2.4 goals a game away from home this season in the Premier League.
Blackburn Rovers have conceded a league-high 16 headed goals this season.
Paul Robinson has saved just 56% of the shots that he has faced this season in the PL; a league-low.
Since the start of February, Gareth Bale has made 10 appearances and played 877 minutes in the Premier League, but has managed only one assist and has scored no goals.
Yakubu has equalled his best-ever Premier League goal tally in a single season (16), but has netted in only two of his last 10 PL apps.
No side have failed to score more penalties in the Premier League this season than Blackburn (4).

Manchester City v Manchester United
Manchester City scored six goals from just seven shots on target against United in their 6-1 victory at Old Trafford earlier this season.
There have been six red cards in Premier League Manchester derbies, five of them going to United.
Manchester United have lost only one of their last five Premier League trips to the Etihad Stadium & they also defeated Man City there earlier this season in the FA Cup (3-2).
No team in Premier League history has won a return leg after having lost by five goals or more at home in the reverse fixture.
Carlos Tévez has scored or assisted a Man City goal every 55 minutes this season in the PL, only Thierry Henry can boast a better ratio.
Sergio Aguero and Carlos Tevez have been on the pitch together for 304 minutes this season in the Premier League. In that time, Aguero has scored seven goals and Tevez has netted four.
In Man City's last three Premier League games, Sergio Aguero has scored five goals and Carlos Tevez has scored four goals.
Wayne Rooney has scored 13 goals in his last 11 Premier League appearances.
Manchester City have won 77 of a possible 81 points in their last 27 Premier League home games.

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Aston Villa v Bolton Opta Facts - April 24st

There have already been two meetings between these Aston Villa and Bolton this season (one in the Carling Cup), with the away side victorious in each case.
Five of Villa’s last six goals against Bolton have come before half-time.
The Villans have gone three hours and 58 minutes without a Premier League goal.
Bolton have mustered just one goal in their last three league games.
Bolton have won five Premier League away games this season, only one fewer than Chelsea.
Only Wigan (15) have scored fewer home goals than Villa (18) this season.
46% of the goals Villa have conceded have been from set-plays, more than any other Premier League side this season.
Bolton have hit the woodwork fewer than any other Premier League side this season (six times).
Aston Villa are one of three Premier League teams yet to squander a penalty kick this season (along with Everton and Norwich).
Villa have played 10 Premier League home games on a Tuesday and have failed to score in seven of them, winning only twice.

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Premier League Opta Facts - April 14th - 16th

Norwich City v Manchester City
Manchester City came from 2-0 down to win 3-2 in their last visit to Carrow Road, the game made famous by Delia Smith's half-time on-pitch speech. This was the last time the Citizens came from two down to win a PL match.
Man City have scored a total of 12 goals in their last four league encounters with the Canaries.
The Citizens are unbeaten in their last five meetings with Norwich in all competitions, winning four.
The Canaries have kept just two clean sheets so far this season: only one team (West Brom last season) has ever had fewer after 33 PL games.
Norwich have only lost one of their last seven at home in the PL (W2 D4).
Man City have won just two of their last 10 league matches on the road (D3 L5).
Roberto Mancini's men's last eight Premier League games away from home have produced just eight goals in total, with neither side scoring more than once in a match in this run.
Only four of Sergio Aguero's 19 league goals this season have come away from home.
Carlos Tevez has not scored in consecutive Premier League appearances since February 2011.
City are the top scoring team in the Premier League this season with 79 goals and only three sides in Premier League history have scored more after 33 games.

Sunderland v Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolves have won their last four meetings with Sunderland; three of which have been by a one goal margin.
Sunderland are the only team that Wolves have beaten more than twice (four times) since their return to the Premier League in 2009.
Both sides have scored in each of the last 11 meetings between Wanderers and the Black Cats.
Steven Fletcher has scored three goals in his last two meetings with Sunderland and hasn't scored more than three against any opponent in the Premier League.
Sunderland have won six of their nine PL games at home under Martin O'Neill, losing just one (1-2 vs Arsenal).
Terry Connor is one of just four managers to take one point or fewer in his first eight PL games at a club, after P Jewell (Derby), A Ball (Man City), M McCarthy (Sunderland).
Wolves have won only one of their last 16 league games on the road (D5 L10).
Five of Wolves' last six league goals on the road have been scored (two) or assisted (three) by Kevin Doyle.
Just one of Sunderland's last 18 league goals has come from a set piece: Bendtner's penalty vs Newcastle.
Wolves have conceded at least two goals in their last nine league games.

Swansea City v Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn have won their last three meetings with Swansea.
Yakubu became the first Blackburn player to hit four goals in a Premier League match when his side won 4-2 at home to the Swans earlier this season.
This is Blackburn's lowest-ever points total after 33 Premier League games (28): they had 32 in 1998/99.
After losing just one of their first 12, Swansea have lost three of their last four at the Liberty Stadium in the Premier League.
Blackburn have lost four Premier League games in a row for the first time since December 2008 under Paul Ince.
Rovers have only won four of 26 PL matches on the road under Steve Kean (D8 L14).
Gylfi Sigurddson is yet to score at the Liberty Stadium for Swansea, though has scored six on the road.
Eight of Blackburn's last 10 league goals on the road have come from set pieces.
Swansea have lost four games in a row in a single season for the first time since they were in the fourth tier (2003/04).
Only WBA (4) and Wolves (0) have taken fewer points over the past six games than Swansea (6).

West Bromwich Albion v Queens Park Rangers
The last three meetings between West Brom and QPR at the Hawthorns have produced 16 goals in total.
The Hoops have scored on seven of their last eight visits to the Hawthorns, but have won only one (D3 L4).
Mark Hughes has won none of his four Premier League meetings with Roy Hodgson as a manager (D3 L1).
The Baggies have won three of their last four PL games at home, having won just two of their previous 12 at the Hawthorns this season.
QPR have taken just two points from the last 30 available on the road in the league.
Djbril Cisse, Jamie Mackie and Luke Young are the only three QPR players to score in more than one away match in the PL this season (two each).
The Baggies have lost four of their last six league games, winning just once in this period.
QPR have alternated a defeat and a win in their last six games. If this run continues they'd lose this match.
QPR are the most fouled team in the Premier League, 396 times.
No team has taken fewer points away from home than QPR this season (11).

Manchester United v Aston Villa
United have failed to win four times against Villa in the last four seasons in the PL: only against Chelsea and Liverpool (five each) have they been less successful.
Villa have only won on one of their last 26 league visits to Old Trafford (1-0 in December 2009).
The Red Devils have scored three or more in six of their last eight PL games at home to the Villans.
Defeat in this match would mean that Villa have their lowest-ever points total after 33 games in the Premier League (35).
Sir Alex Ferguson's men have won their last six Premier League games at home, conceding just one goal in this run.
Villa have taken maximum points in just one of their last 10 league matches (D5 L4).
Aston Villa have already picked up more points on the road this season (18) than last season (17).
Manchester United have not failed to score in consecutive Premier League games since May-Aug 2007.
Man Utd have won all nine Premier League games that Paul Scholes has started this season.
Despite defeat at Wigan, United have the fifth best points total after 33 games of a Premier League season.

Arsenal v Wigan Athletic
Arsenal have scored 19 goals in their last six league meetings with Wigan (3.16 per game).
The Gunners have won 10 of their 13 PL meetings with the Latics (D2 L1).
Arsenal have won all nine matches at home to Wigan in all competitions, keeping a clean sheet in each of the last six.
The Latics are the only Premier League side to have played at least five times at Arsenal but never taken a point there (W0 D0 L6).
Arsene Wenger's men have won their last five league games at home, and have lost only one of their last 15 (W12 D2).
Arsenal have not won six in a row at home in the league since the start of October 2009.
Wigan have only lost one of their last four league matches on the road (W2 D1): 1-2 at Chelsea.
To date, Manchester United are the only side against whom Robin van Persie has scored in two different league matches this season.
All but three of Arsenal's 35 league goals at home this season have come from open play (two direct free kicks and one goal from a corner).
Robin van Persie has scored or assisted 59 goals in his last 50 Premier League appearances.

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Premier League Opta Facts 9th-11th April

Everton v Sunderland
Sunderland have won none of their last 17 games against Everton in all competitions (W0 D5 L12).
Everton have won four of their last five Premier League games at Goodison Park, keeping a clean sheet in all four victories.
The Toffees have scored just 10 goals in their last 10 league outings on home soil.
Sunderland have won none of their last four Premier League away games.
The Black Cats have kept just one clean sheet in their last 11 games on the road.
The Toffees have scored eight goals in the opening 20 minutes of their last 10 Premier League games against Sunderland.
David Moyes' side have won the last four matches against Sunderland at Goodison, the last three without conceding a goal.
David Moyes has never managed a winning team against Martin O'Neill in the Premier League (W0 D6 L3).
Everton have scored exactly two goals in their last three Premier League games.
Nikica Jelavic has scored four goals from eight shots on target for Everton in the Premier League.

Newcastle United v Bolton Wanderers
Newcastle are unbeaten in their last seven Premier League games at the Sports Direct Arena, winning five.
Bolton have kept just one clean sheet in their last 41 Premier League games on the road.
The three goals netted against Wolves at Molineux ended a run of four away games without a goal for the Trotters.
Bolton have drawn just one of their last 28 Premier League away games and that came last season at St James Park.
49% of the goals Bolton have conceded have been netted by midfielders, the highest proportion in the league this season.
The last four meetings between Bolton and Newcastle at St James Park have seen one win apiece, two draws and just six goals.
Papiss Demba Cisse has scored five goals in five league games for the Magpies at the Sports Direct Area.
Newcastle are unbeaten in eight games against teams in the bottom five of the table this season, winning six.
Bolton have earned just one point from 10 games against the current top six in the Premier League and none on the road.
The Wanderers are the only team in the Premier League who are yet to score a headed goal away from home this season.

Tottenham Hotspur v Norwich City
Norwich have failed to score in their last five Premier League games against Spurs.
The Canaries have won just one of the last 13 games against Spurs in all competitions (W1 D2 L10).
Tottenham have lost just two of their last 33 Premier League games at White Hart Lane (W20 D11 L2).
Spurs have kept just one clean sheet in their last six home league games.
Tottenham have scored in their last 21 league games on home soil.
Norwich have lost four of their last five away games including the last three in a row.
The Canaries have kept no clean sheets in their last 30 away games in the Premier League.
Spurs have won only one of their last seven Premier League games.
Gareth Bale has no goals and only one assist in his last eight Premier League appearances.
Grant Holt has scored six goals in his last seven Premier League appearances.

Aston Villa v Stoke City
Six of the eight Premier League goals Stoke have scored against Aston Villa have been netted in the 80th minute or later.
Kenwyne Jones scored in both league meetings with Villa last season.
Aston Villa have only won one of the last nine league meetings with Stoke (W1 D5 L3).
Alex McLeish's side have won just one of their last nine Premier League home games (W1 D2 L6).
The Villans have kept just one clean sheet in their last 11 Premier League matches at Villa Park.
Stoke have won none and lost four of the last six Premier League games on the road.
Four of the seven meetings between Villa and Stoke have ended as draws and the three wins have been by a single-goal margin.
Villa have scored fewer headed goals than any other team in home games this season (1).
Stoke are the only team to have hit fewer than 100 shots on target this season (80), while Villa are third lowest (116).
Peter Crouch has scored three goals in his last four home appearances but has not scored on the road in five matches.


Fulham v Chelsea
The Blues and the Whites have already met twice this season, both times at Stamford Bridge; in the Carling Cup where a 0-0 draw was won by Chelsea on penalties and 1-1 in the league.
Didier Drogba has scored three goals in his last four Premier League starts against Fulham.
Fulham have won just one of the 21 Premier League games against Chelsea (W1 D8 L12).
Fulham have kept just one clean sheet in their last eight Premier League games at Craven Cottage.
Martin Jol's side have won five and lost just one of the last seven games on home soil.
Chelsea have kept just one clean sheet in their last nine Premier League away games.
Victory at Villa Park in their last away game ended a run of five without a win on the road for the Blues and three straight defeats.
Chelsea have won three and drawn two of their last five visits to Craven Cottage.
Clint Dempsey has scored 13 goals in his last 12 matches in all competitions at Craven Cottage.
Dempsey's total of 15 goals this season is already the highest ever recorded by a Fulham player in a single Premier League season.

Blackburn Rovers v Liverpool
Rovers have won just two of the last 26 Premier League games against Liverpool (W2 D12 L12), but they did earn all three points last time they met at Ewood Park.
Blackburn have kept just one clean sheet in their last 17 Premier League games at Ewood Park.
Liverpool have lost six of the last seven Premier League away games including the last four in a row.
Yakubu has scored seven goals in his last nine Premier League games at Ewood Park.
Liverpool have won just one of their four Premier League away games against the teams in the bottom five of the table.
Blackburn have picked up just six points from north west derbies, fewer than any other team in the region.
Liverpool have won just one of their five north west derbies away from home in the Premier League this season.
Liverpool have taken just nine points from 13 games in 2012, only Wolves have fewer.
The Reds have hit the woodwork 28 times this season. If all their woodwork strikes (and the oppositions') had gone in, they'd be 13 points better off.
Blackburn have lost their last three league games, they have never lost four in a row under Steve Kean.

Manchester City v West Bromwich Albion
West Brom are looking for their 50th league victory over Manchester City.
Roberto Mancini's side are unbeaten in their last 26 Premier League games at the Etihad Stadium, winning 24 of those games.
Only one visiting side of the last 17 to play at the Etihad Stadium has stopped Man City from scoring two or more goals.
West Brom have kept just one clean sheet in their last 35 Premier League away games.
City have the best home record in the top flight this season, picking up 46 from a possible 48 points.
The Baggies have failed to score in their last three Premier League games against the Citizens.
Sergio Aguero has scored six goals in his last six Premier League games at the Etihad Stadium.
West Brom have lost all three away games against the teams in the current top four of the Premier League and taken one point from six matches overall.
Man City have scored the highest percentage of goals in the second half of home games of any side in the top flight (70%).
City have gone three Premier League games without a win, they haven't gone four without one since November 2009.

Wigan Athletic v Manchester United
United have won all 14 matches in all competitions against Wigan.
The Latics have failed to score in eight of their last nine Premier League games against the Red Devils, including the last five in a row.
Wayne Rooney has scored 10 goals in 14 appearances against Wigan in all competitions.
Wigan's win over Stoke ended a run of 13 Premier League games at the DW Stadium without a victory for the Latics.
Roberto Martinez's side have scored just six goals in their last 10 Premier League games at the DW Stadium.
The Red Devils have won 12 and lost just one of their last 17 Premier League away matches.
Man Utd have the best away record in the Premier League with 39 points, already 14 points more than they picked up on the road in 2010-11.
United have won their last eight games in a row, the longest sequence in the Premier League this season, and the longest within a season since 2008-09.
The Latics have had three players sent off in their last three league games against Man Utd.
Javier Hernandez has scored three goals in three league appearances against Wigan.

Wolverhampton Wanderers v Arsenal
Only Arsenal (19) have recovered more points from losing positions than Wolves (14) in the Premier League this season.
12 of the points Arsenal have recovered have come in away games, again a league high.
Wolves have dropped more points from winning positions than any other team in the 2011-12 Premier League (20).
Arsenal have lost just one of the last five Premier League away games (W3 D1 L1).
Wolves have won none of the last nine Premier League games at Molineux and lost the last seven in a row.
Wolves have gone 15 games at Molineux without a clean sheet in the Premier League.
Arsenal have won 15 and lost none of the last 18 games against Wolves in all competitions.
The Gunners have won the last five trips to Molineux in all competitions.
Wolves scored from their only shot on target against Arsenal when they met just after Christmas while the Gunners netted just once from 11 attempts on target.
Wolves have the worst home record in the top flight picking up just 11 points so far.

Queens Park Rangers v Swansea City
Three of the last four league games between Swansea and QPR have ended as draws.
Jamie Mackie has scored in his last two appearances for QPR against Swansea.
QPR have kept no clean sheets in their last 11 Premier League games at Loftus Road.
Gylfi Sigurdsson has scored six goals in his last five away league games for Swansea.
Swansea have won just two of their six games against the teams in the current bottom five of the table.
QPR have scored the highest percentage of goals in the first half of home games in the top flight this season (53%).
QPR have picked up seven red cards this season, more than any other Premier League side.
Swansea have lost their last three league games, their worst run of the campaign.
Swansea have collected fewer yellow cards than any other Premier League side this season (32).
Bobby Zamora has managed only four shots on target in eight games for QPR but two of those have resulted in goals.

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Premier League Opta Facts 6th & 8th April

Swansea City v Newcastle United
Newcastle have won four and lost none of the last six meetings with Swansea in all competitions.
Swansea didn't manage a single shot on target in their 0-0 draw with Newcastle at the Sports Direct Arena.
Newcastle have kept just two clean sheets in their last 13 Premier League away games.
Swansea have only won two of their last seven home games and kept just one clean sheet in that run (W2 D3 L2).
Only Manchester United and Manchester City have picked up more points in 2012 than Newcastle.
The Magpies have cleared more shots off their own goal line than any other Premier League team this season, 10.
Swansea have completed 85% of their passes this season, only Man City (86%) have a better rate.
Newcastle haven't won four Premier League games in a row since April 2006.
None of Gylfi Sigurdsson's six Premier League goals have been scored at the Liberty Stadium.
Newcastle have won eight of their last 10 league games against Welsh sides

Sunderland v Tottenham Hotspur
Sunderland have won just one of their last six Premier League games against Tottenham (W1 D2 L3).
Craig Gardner has scored in two of his last three Premier League appearances against Spurs.
Spurs have only won one of their last six Premier League visits to the Stadium of Light (W1 D2 L3).
Sunderland have won six and lost just one of their eight league games at the Stadium of Light under Martin O'Neill.
Tottenham have won none of their last six Premier League away games (W0 D3 L3) and failed to score in three of the last four on the road.
Gareth Bale is the only player to be booked twice for simulation in the Premier League this season.
Sunderland have scored three goals in each of their last two games. They have never scored 3+ goals for three successive Premier League games before.
The last time that Sunderland scored 3+ goals in three successive top flight games was February-March 1977.
If the Premier League had started on the day Fabio Capello resigned as England manager, Tottenham would be 13th, three points above the relegation zone.
Sunderland have won only 73 corners at home this season, only Norwich have a lower total.

Bolton Wanderers v Fulham
Bolton have failed to score in their last four Premier League games against Fulham.
Clint Dempsey has netted three goals in the last two games against Bolton.
Bolton have won none of the last nine Premier League matches against Fulham (W0 D 4 L5).
Fulham have won 11 matches against Bolton in the Premier League, more than against any other opponent.
In the last six meetings between Bolton and Fulham in all competitions, Bolton have only scored two goals, both netted by Ivan Klasnic.
Martin Petrov has scored three goals against Fulham, the only opponents in the Premier League he has more than one goal against.
Fulham have won just one of their last 10 Premier League away games and lost four of the last five.
Bolton have lost just one of their last six Premier League home games (W3 D2 L1).
Owen Coyle's side have kept just two clean sheets in their last 18 games at the Reebok Stadium.
Fulham have 498 points in Premier League history.

Chelsea v Wigan Athletic
Chelsea have won 10 and lost just one of the 13 Premier League meetings with Wigan.
The Blues enjoyed their record Premier League win over Wigan when they won 8-0 versus the Latics in May 2010.
Wigan have never kept a Premier League clean sheet against Chelsea and have lost five and won none of their six trips to Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea have lost just one of their last nine Premier League home games (W5 D3 L1) and kept three clean sheets in a row at Stamford Bridge.
Wigan have picked up seven points in their last three Premier League away games.
Fernando Torres needs one more assist to record a new personal best in a single season (currently he has four).
Wigan have lost 14 of their last 15 Premier League trips to London, conceding 46 goals in that period (3.1 per game).
The only two occasions in Wigan's history in the top four divisions where they've conceded eight or more goals have come away in London (1-9 v Spurs in 2009 and 0-8 v Chelsea in 2010).
Wigan are aiming to record an unbeaten run of five games for only the sixth time in the Premier League.
It is almost 10 years since Chelsea lost a Premier League home game in April (0-3 v Man Utd, 20 April 2002). Since then their record is W15 D8.

Liverpool v Aston Villa
Aston Villa have won just two of their last 20 Premier League games against Liverpool (W2 D6 L12.
Stewart Downing's last Premier League goal came in the Liverpool v Aston Villa match at Villa Park last May, while playing for the Midlanders.
Steven Gerrard has scored more goals against Aston Villa (9) than versus any other Premier League opponent.
Liverpool have won 21 Premier League games against Aston Villa, their joint-highest number of wins over any opponent in the competition (along with 21 wins over Newcastle).
Aston Villa have only lost two of their last nine Premier League away games but they have won none of the last four.
Liverpool have won just three of their last 12 Premier League matches at Anfield (W3 D7 L2).
Liverpool have had 30 shots more than Manchester United but have scored 40 goals fewer.
Liverpool have been involved in only five games with over 3.5 goals this season, only Everton have been involved in fewer (four).
Stewart Downing has hit more shots without scoring than any other player in the Premier League this season, 62 (including blocked shots).
Villa have conceded more goals from corners than any other side this season (13), while Liverpool have taken more corners than any other side (255).

Norwich City v Everton
Everton have won 99 Premier League games away from home.
Norwich scored from their only shot on target in the match against Everton at Goodison Park back in December.
Everton have won five and lost none of their last seven matches in all competitions against Norwich.
Norwich have lost just one of their last six Premier League games at Carrow Road (W2 D3 L1).
Everton have only scored seven goals in their last nine Premier League away games.
Norwich have had fewer corners at home than any other Premier League side this season, 59.
41% of Everton goals this season have been scored or assisted by a substitute, a higher proportion than any other Premier League team.
Six of Norwich's goals have been assisted by substitutes, only Man City (7) have a higher total.
Grant Holt's scoring rate of 0.41 goals per game puts him in the top 30 for scoring in the division's history (players with 10+ goals).
Everton are aiming to win three Premier League games in a row for the first time since January 2010.

West Bromwich Albion v Blackburn Rovers
There have been three red cards in the last two Premier League meetings between West Brom and Blackburn at the Hawthorns, one in each game for Rovers.
The Baggies have only won two of the 11 Premier League games against Blackburn (W2 D5 L4).
Blackburn have won just two of their last 15 Premier League away games (W2 D6 L7).
West Brom have lost six of their last nine Premier League games at the Hawthorns (W2 D1 L6), but have won two of the last three.
Blackburn haven't lost three games in a row since December, the third of which was a home reverse to Bolton which sparked the biggest fans revolt against manager Steve Kean.
If only home games counted, WBA would be 17th and clear of the drop zone on goal difference alone.
Almost a fifth (19%) of West Brom's goals this season have come in the opening 15 minutes.
Rovers have conceded more goals from crosses than any other side this season, 21.
Blackburn are one of only three teams not to draw a game 0-0 in the Premier League this season (along with Everton and Man Utd).
Blackburn's Paul Robinson has the lowest saves-to-shots ratio of any regular goalkeeper in the Premier League this season (56%) and the lowest pass completion of any player in Europe's top five leagues (25%).


Stoke City v Wolverhampton Wanderers
Stoke have only lost one of the last nine matches in all competitions against Wolves (W4 D4 L1).
Kenwyne Jones has scored four goals in four Premier League games against Wolves.
Stoke's recent home results have seen a pattern of pairs of results LLWWDDLLWWD meaning if the pattern continues this game will end as a draw.
Wolves have won just one of the last 14 Premier League away games (W1 D5 L8).
Stoke have had fewer shots on target than any other Premier League side this season (76), and only 11 more than the leading player (Robin van Persie).
Since arriving in the Premier League in August 2008, Stoke have averaged 38.4% possession in their games.
At home, the Potters have averaged 39.8% possession since joining the Premier League in 2008.
Stoke have scored only 11 goals in their last 15 Premier League games.
Wolves have conceded at least two goals in each of their last seven games. The last time they did this in eight successive top-flight games was October 1964.
Wolves have taken seven points from their last seven away games, as opposed to no points from their last seven at Molineux.

Manchester United v Queens Park Rangers
Anton Ferdinand (now QPR) has scored own goals in his last two Premier League games at Old Trafford
Man Utd have won nine and lost none of their last 12 matches against QPR in all competitions.
QPR have picked up just two points form the last 27 available in Premier League away games.
Rangers have gone 12 away games without a clean sheet in the top flight.
Manchester United have won 32 and lost just two of their last 36 Premier League games at Old Trafford.
United have conceded just one goal in their last five Premier League home matches.
Antonio Valencia has 12 assists and four goals in 16 Premier League starts this season.
Manchester United have the best pass completion rate in the division since Paul Scholes returned in January, they were only sixth best before that.
United's total of 76 goals is the second-most of any team after 31 games in Premier League history (they had scored 78 at this stage in 2001/02).
Only three sides (Chelsea 04-05, Chelsea 05-06 & Man Utd 06-07 - all 25) have won more of their opening 31 games than Man Utd this term (24).


Arsenal v Manchester City
Manchester City are one of only three teams against whom Robin van Persie has not scored in the Premier League this season (along with Fulham and Wolves).
If he scores in this match, van Persie will become only the fourth player to score against 17 different teams in a Premier League season (after Cole 1993/94, Shearer 1994/95 and Wright 1996/97).
Arsenal have failed to score in five of their last six matches against Manchester City in all competitions, including the last three at the Emirates Stadium.
Manchester City have failed to score in three of their last four Premier League games against the Gunners and each of their last four visits to the Emirates Stadium.
There have been three red cards in the last three Premier League meetings between Arsenal and City.
After winning 18 and losing just one of the first 22 Premier League meetings, Arsenal have won just two and lost three of the last seven against City.
Arsenal have won 11 and lost one of their last 14 Premier League games at the Emirates.
Manchester City have won none of their last 26 away league games against Arsenal (W0 D8 L18), but did win there in the Carling Cup this season.
Since their last league win in October 1975, Man City have scored just nine goals in 26 visits to play Arsenal in north London.
Manchester City have scored just five goals in their last nine Premier League away games and won just two (W2 D3 L4).
Before Christmas David Silva scored five goals and provided eight assists. Since Christmas he has failed to score and provided only four assists.

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Premier League Opta Facts - March 24th - 26th

Chelsea v Tottenham Hotspur

Chelsea and Tottenham have both won two and drawn four of the last eight meetings between the two sides in the Premier League.
Chelsea have lost just one of their last eight Premier League home games.
The west Londoners have won 16 and lost none of their last 24 matches against Spurs at Stamford Bridge in all competitions.
Harry Redknapp has lost his last eight visits to Stamford Bridge as a Premier League boss.
Spurs have managed a total of just six shots on target at Stamford Bridge spread across their last four league visits.
Chelsea have dropped the joint-most points from winning positions in the Premier League this season (15).
Chelsea have only won four of their last 14 Premier League matches (W4 D6 L4).
Tottenham have won just two of their last nine Premier League games and taken just one point from the last 12 available.
Tottenham have netted 10 goals in the opening 15 minutes of matches this season, a divisional high.
Juan Mata has created a scoring chance every 24.4 minutes this season, more often than any other player.

Arsenal v Aston Villa

Aston Villa have earned eight points in the Premier League at the Emirates Stadium, more than any other away team.
Villa have won two and lost just one of their five Premier League visits to the Emirates after going 12 without a win at Highbury and losing the last eight in a row.
The two sides have already met at the Emirates in the FA Cup this season, with the Gunners coming from two down at half-time to win 3-2.
Arsenal have won three penalties in the two games against Villa this season, all converted by Robin van Persie.
Arsenal have won six league games in a row for the first time since March 2010. They haven't won seven on the bounce since October 2007.
Villa have conceded a higher percentage of goals from set pieces in the Premier League (46%).
The Gunners have scored the lowest percentage of goals from set plays (12%).
Laurent Koscielny has made more last-man saving tackles than any other player in the Premier League this season.
Stylian Petrov has made more interceptions than any other player in the top division (96).
Since defeat against Arsenal just before Christmas, Villa have lost just three of their 11 Premier League games (W3 D5 L3).

Bolton Wanderers v Blackburn Rovers

Blackburn have drawn 99 games away from home in Premier League history.
Bolton mustered just two shots on target in their 2-1 win over Blackburn at Ewood Park earlier this season.
Bolton have won just two of the last 10 Premier League meetings with Blackburn, but those two victories have come within the last three encounters.
Defeat to Bolton in the last match between the two at the Reebok signalled the end of Sam Allardyce's era at Blackburn and the appointment of Steve Kean.
Victory over QPR in their last league game ended a run of four consecutive defeats for Bolton.
Blackburn took just 10 points from their first 17 Premier League matches, but since Christmas they have taken 18 points from 12 games.
Junior Hoilett has scored three goals in his last two Premier League outings.
Bolton have failed to score in four of their last six Premier League games.
David Wheater is the only player in the Premier League to be red carded twice in the Premier League this season.
Bolton have the joint-most red cards in the Premier League this season (5).

Liverpool v Wigan Athletic

Liverpool have won none of the last four league meetings with Wigan, with the last three in a row ending as draws.
Wigan have won just one of their last 14 Premier League matches (W1 D7 L6).
The Latics have only scored eight goals in 13 Premier League meetings with Liverpool.
Only Wigan (8.4%) have a lower chance conversion rate than Liverpool (9.1%) in the Premier League this season.
Luis Suarez has won more penalties than any other player this season in the PL (4).
Gary Caldwell has conceded more penalties than any other Premier League player this season (4).
Only Wigan (7) and Wolves (5) have picked up fewer points than Liverpool (8) in 2012.
The Reds have lost four of their last five Premier League matches.
Only Man City have lost fewer Premier League home games than Liverpool (1), but the Reds have drawn the most home games this season (8).
32% of the goals Wigan have scored have come from outside the box, the highest proportion in the top flight.

Norwich City v Wolverhampton Wanderers

Norwich fired in nine shots on target at Molineux against Wolves, their joint-most in a single Premier League game this season.
There have been 17 goals netted in the last three league matches between Norwich and Wolves.
Sylvan Ebanks-Blake has scored five goals in the last three league games between Norwich and Wolves.
Norwich have only won one of the last 12 league meetings with Wolves (W1 D5 L6).
Wolves have won just one of their last 15 Premier League games and taken just one point from the last 15 available.
The Black Country outfit have gone 26 Premier League games without a clean sheet and have shipped 19 goals in the last five league matches.
Norwich have taken just one point from the last 12 available in the Premier League.
The Canaries have scored a higher percentage of headed goals than any other Premier League side (36%).
Norwich have won fewer penalties (1) than any other team in the Premier League.
Grant Holt has committed more fouls than any other player in the Premier League this season (70).

Sunderland v Queens Park Rangers

Sunderland are unbeaten in their last nine league games against QPR, winning six.
The Black Cats have won just one of their last five Premier League games (W1 D1 L3).
Sunderland have won five and lost just one of seven Premier League games at the Stadium of Light under Martin O'Neill.
QPR have earned just two points from the last 24 available in the Premier League away from home.
50% of the goals QPR have netted have been scored in the first half, the highest proportion in the top division.
QPR have used 35 different players in the Premier League this season, more than any other team.
Adel Taarabt has had the most shots of any player this season who hasn't scored a Premier League goal (64).
QPR have won just two of their last 17 Premier League games (W2 D4 L6).
Lee Cattermole has the worst disciplinary record in the top flight with eight yellows and one red this season in the league.
QPR have picked up the joint-most red cards in the top flight this season (5).

Swansea City v Everton

Swansea have won the last three Premier League games in a row without conceding.
Swansea have lost just one of their last eight Premier League home games (W3 D4 L1).
Gylfi Sigurdsson has scored five goals in his last six Premier League appearances for the Swans, though he is yet to score at the Liberty Stadium.
Everton have committed more fouls than any other team in the Premier League (368).
Swansea have committed fewer fouls than any other team in the top flight (240).
68% of the goals Everton have scored have been netted in the second half of games, the highest proportion of any team in the Premier League this season.
Everton have had 16 different goalscorers this season, the joint-most in the Premier League along with Arsenal and Manchester United, but no Toffees player has scored more than three goals.
Royston Drenthe has won a foul every 25 minutes this season, a more regular rate than any other Premier League player.
Ashley Williams has blocked more opposition shots than any other player in the Premier League this season (35).
Everton have scored just 13 goals in their last 17 Premier League matches and only more than once in one of those games.

Stoke City v Manchester City

Stoke didn't manage a single shot on target in their visit to the Etihad Stadium just before Christmas.
City had 76% of possession against Stoke in their meeting earlier this season, second only in the whole Premier League to the 78% they enjoyed at home v Blackburn.
Man City have conceded a higher proportion of second half goals of any team in the top flight (81%).
The Potters have shipped a higher proportion of first half goals of any Premier League side this season (53%).
Stoke have fired in fewer shots on target than any other side in the top division (72: 31 fewer than any other side, Swansea 103).
Manchester City have mustered the joint-most shots on target in the Premier League this season (188).
Tony Pulis' side have scored a higher percentage of set piece goals than any other team in the top flight (60.7%, almost twice the league average of 31.4%).
Man City have won the last three games against Stoke in all competitions without conceding a goal.
The Citizens have not won in their last four trips to the Britannia Stadium in all competitions (W0 D2 L2).
The last goal Carlos Tevez scored for Manchester City was netted versus Stoke City; he netted two in the 3-0 win over the Potters at the Etihad Stadium last May.

West Bromwich Albion v Newcastle United

Newcastle have picked up 999 points in the Premier League era.
Newcastle have given away more penalties than any other team in the Premier League (9).
There have been 35 goals scored in the last eight meetings in all competitions between West Brom and Newcastle and neither side has managed a clean sheet in that run.
West Brom have lost just one of their last five Premier League games (W3 D1 L1), while Newcastle have won just one of their last five (W1 D2 L2).
The Baggies have lost none of the last six games in all competitions against the Magpies (W3 D3 L0).
Newcastle have lost six of their last nine Premier League away games (W2 D1 L6).
Danny Simpson has cleared more shots off the line than any other Premier League player (6).
Demba Ba has scored four goals in two appearances against West Brom.
Peter Lovenkrands has scored in all four of his league appearances against West Brom, three in the Premier League and one in the Championship.
Some Tchoyi has scored four goals in two Premier League games against Newcastle, while Peter Odemwingie has netted three in two matches against the Tynesiders.

Manchester United v Fulham

Manchester United scored five goals from eight shots on target when they beat Fulham at Craven Cottage back in December.
Wayne Rooney has scored 16 goals in his last 16 appearances in all competitions for Manchester United.
Rooney has netted five goals in his last four appearances against Fulham at Old Trafford.
The Red Devils have won nine penalties this season, more than any other team.
Man Utd have scored the joint-most headed goals (14) and nine different players have scored one for the 2010-11 champions this season.
Man Utd have won their last seven Premier League games at Old Trafford against Fulham, with the Londoners failing to score in their last four and their only goal in the previous match was an own goal by Rio Ferdinand.
Danny Murphy has scored more goals (5) against Manchester United than versus any other opponent apart from Newcastle (six).
Pavel Pogrebynak has scored five Premier League goals from five shots on target.
Only David Silva (12) has more goal assists than Antonio Valencia (11) in the top flight this season.
Martin Jol has never beaten Manchester United as a manager in the Premier League (D2 L5), losing his last five games against them.

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Premier League Opta Facts - 20th & 21st March

Blackburn Rovers v Sunderland

Sunderland have drawn 99 games in the Premier League era.

The Black Cats have won four and lost none of the last seven meetings with Rovers in the Premier League.

Blackburn have not kept any clean sheets in their last 15 Premier League games at Ewood Park.

Blackburn haven't won back to back league games since November 2010.

Sunderland have kept one clean sheet in their last nine Premier League away games.

Blackburn have conceded more headed goals than any other team in the Premier League (12).

Sunderland have conceded a league-high proportion of headed goals (32%) in the top flight.

The Black Cats have shipped a league high proportion of 19% of their total goals conceded in the opening 15 minutes of matches.

Blackburn have scored nine goals from free kicks this season, more than any other side in the Premier League.

Sunderland have scored more goals from direct free kick shots at goal than any other team (4).

Manchester City v Chelsea

Frank Lampard has scored six goals in his last 10 Premier League games against Man City.

Carlos Tevez has scored in each of his last five Premier League appearances against Chelsea, netting six in total across those games.

Man City have failed to score in 13 of their last 19 Premier League games against Chelsea, but have scored in four of the last five.

There have been four penalties awarded in the last five meetings between City and Chelsea.

Manchester City have won their last 19 Premier League home games and could set the record for the competition's longest ever run of home victories if they win this match.

Chelsea have only won one of their last seven Premier League away games (W1 D4 L2).

80% of the goals conceded by Man City have been netted in the second half this season, more than any other team.

Roberto Mancini's side have only lost one league game after going ahead this season and that was against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

Mario Balotelli has the best minutes per goal scored rate in the top flight this season, netting every 90.3 minutes on average.

Juan Mata is the most prolific creator in the top flight setting up a chance for team-mates every 23.7 minutes on average.

Tottenham Hotspur v Stoke City

Tottenham have drawn 99 games at White Hart Lane in the Premier League era.

Matthew Etherington has scored four goals in his last four Premier League appearances against Spurs.

Spurs have failed to keep a clean sheet in each of their seven Premier League meetings with Stoke City.

Stoke have already earned more points away from home (14) this season than they managed in the whole of 2010-11 (12).

Despite losing their last three Premier League games, Spurs still have more points (after 28 games) than in any previous Premier League season.

Spurs haven't lost four Premier League games in a row since November 2004 and haven't lost back to back home games since September 2008.

Stoke have scored a league high 37% of their goals from headers.

Tottenham have netted a league-low proportion of 4% of their goals from headers.

The Potters have conceded a league-high 54% of their goals in the first half of games this season.

Stoke have scored the highest proportion of set piece goals in the Premier League (59%).

Everton v Arsenal

Everton didn't manage a single shot on target when they lost at the Emirates Stadium back in December.

Four of Arsenal's six Premier League away victories this season have seen the Gunners come from behind to win.

Arsenal have recovered more points from losing positions than any other team in the Premier League this season (19).

The Gunners are the first team in the Premier League era to win four consecutive games from losing positions.

Arsenal have scored more goals (80) against Everton than any team against any single opponent in Premier League history.

Everton have conceded in the 70th minute of four of their last seven games against the Gunners, including each of the last two.

Everton have won none and lost seven of their last nine Premier League games against Arsenal.

Lee Mason will officiate this fixture and awarded a controversial offside goal to Everton's Louis Saha when these two sides met at the Emirates last season.

Tim Cahill has scored for Everton in three of the last four games against Arsenal at Goodison Park.

Robin van Persie has scored 44 goals in his last 45 Premier League appearances.

Queens Park Rangers v Liverpool

Liverpool have drawn 99 games away from home in the Premier League era.

The Reds have netted 496 goals on the road in Premier League history.

QPR have won one of the last 11 league games against Liverpool (W1 D2 L8).

No team with fewer than 12 points after 14 Premier League home games has ever survived in the Premier League (QPR have 11).

QPR have dropped more points (15) from winning positions than any other team and 13 of those have been thrown away on home soil; also a division-high.

55% of the goals QPR have scored have come in the first half, a Premier League high.

Adel Taarabt has fired in the most shots this season without scoring in the Premier League (63) closely followed by team-mate Shaun Wright-Phillips (58) and then Stewart Downing of Liverpool (52).

Liverpool have won just two of their nine Premier League games in 2012.

QPR have won just one of their last 16 Premier League matches, a run which includes a 0-1 defeat to Liverpool.

QPR have picked up the joint-most red cards (5) along with Bolton.

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