Championship Opta Facts - 14-16 October

Doncaster Rovers v Leeds United

Ramon Nunez picked up a brace as Leeds won 2-1 in the Carling Cup tie against Doncaster back in August.
Doncaster have failed to score in their last two home games against Leeds in the league.
Rovers have scored just six goals this season, meaning they have the least potent attack in the league.
Leeds picked up their first clean sheet of the season when they beat Portsmouth 1-0 last time out.
Leeds are yet to win on the road this season, claiming just two points from their four away games.
Six different goalscorers have netted Doncaster's six goals so far this season.

Bristol City v Peterborough United

Bristol City are unbeaten in 12 matches against Peterborough in all competitions, winning 10 of these matches.
At home the Robins have not lost to the Posh since 1996, a run of 10 games in all competitions.
In 38 meetings between these teams (all comps.) there has never been a goalless draw.
Bristol City are one of just two teams that has failed to win a game at home so far this season in the Championship, claiming just two points from their five games at Ashton Gate.
Peterborough are the only side left in the Championship yet to keep a clean sheet this term.
The Robins have conceded a league high 10 goals in the last half an hour of their games this season.

Burnley v Reading

Burnley have won just one of their last four home league games against Reading (exc. playoffs), losing two and drawing one.
Reading have won their last three against Burnley in all competitions, scoring seven and conceding just one in this run.
The Royals have gained four points from trailing situations on the road this season, more than any other team in the division.
Reading have netted 91% of their league goals in the second half so far this season, the highest ratio in the league.
Burnley's 1-0 win over Millwall last time out marked the Clarets first clean sheet of the campaign.
Reading are unbeaten in four league games, this coming after four consecutive defeats.

Cardiff City v Ipswich Town

Ipswich have won their last five matches against Cardiff with the last three all finishing 2-0 in favour of the Tractor Boys.
Three of these defeats have come in Wales with Cardiff netting just once and conceding seven in this run.
Cardiff have conceded just one goal in their last three home games, enough for two wins and a draw.
Ipswich have kept three clean sheets in their last four matches, remaining unbeaten in this run.
The Tractor Boys have conceded a league high total of 10 goals in the 30 minutes either side of half-time.

Coventry City v Nottingham Forest

Forest came from behind to win 2-1 in both of last season's fixtures with Coventry.
Only one of the last 10 fixtures between these sides has ended level.
The Sky Blues are unbeaten in four home games and have managed to keep two clean sheets in this period.
Forest have netted exactly one goal in six of their last eight league games including each of their last four.
Nottingham Forest have won just once in their last six league games, losing the other five.

Derby County v Southampton

The Rams have failed to win in four home games against Southampton (inc. play-offs).
The last home win in this fixture came back in 2002, a run of eight games without a home victory.
Despite sitting at the top of the table, Southampton have picked up just one point from their last three away games.
The Saints have netted in each of their league games this season, Birmingham are the only other side in the league that can boast this record.
Southampton have netted a league high three penalties so far in this campaign.
Derby have netted six goals between the 61st and 75th minute so far, more than any other side in the league.

Middlesbrough v Millwall

Last season both league fixtures between these teams were won by the away side.
Boro have won five of their last six home games against Millwall.
Middlesbrough have kept a clean sheet in their last five games, but have failed to score themselves in the last three.
Millwall have not won since the second game of the season, a run of eight games without a victory.
The Lions have picked up just one point on the road this season and thanks to a -8 goal difference have the worst away record in the league.
Boro are the only unbeaten side left in the Championship.

Watford v Crystal Palace

Palace have won three of their last four games against Watford, netting exactly three goals in each of these victories.
The Hornets were winning in both of their games against the Eagles last season but could only emerge from the two meetings with a total of one point.
Last time out at home Watford picked up their first league win at Vicarage Road this season.
Palace have already won more away games in the Championship this season as they did in 2010/11.
Only Southampton (seven) have scored more goals in the last 15 minutes of Championship matches this season than Palace (six).

West Ham United v Blackpool

The Hammers have not lost at home to Blackpool since 1934, a run of 17 games in all competitions.
Blackpool have not won in six league games against West Ham, losing four of these matches.
The Seasiders are the top scorers in the second half of Championship matches this season (12).
Both of West Ham's defeats in the league this season have come at Upton Park.
Blackpool have lost only one of their last seven league games (four draws).

Portsmouth v Barnsley

Both games between these sides last season were won 1-0 by the home side.
Portsmouth have managed to score 11 goals in their last four home games against the Tykes, an average of 2.75 goals per game.
Barnsley have netted just three second half goals in the league this season, fewer than any other side.
Pompey have lost four of their last five league games.
Barnsley are unbeaten in seven league games, though five of these have been draws.
The Tykes are still unbeaten on the road in the Championship this season (four draws, one win).

Brighton & Hove Albion v Hull City

Only four of the last 24 fixtures between these sides have seen both teams find the back of the net.
The Seagulls have not lost at home to Hull since 1965, a run of 18 games in all competitions without defeat.
Brighton have lost 10 points from winning positions so far this season, more than any other side in the Championship..
Last time out the Tigers managed to score twice in a game for the first time this season.
Hull's matches have seen the joint-fewest goals in the Championship this season (18).
After winning five of their first six Championship games this season (one draw), Brighton have now lost three of their last four (one draw).

Birmingham City v Leicester City

There has not been a goalless draw between these sides since 1970, a run of 36 games in all competitions without a stalemate.
Birmingham's last home win against the Foxes came in 1985, they have lost four of the seven matches since that last victory.
Leicester have kept a clean sheet in their last four league games, and are unbeaten in seven matches.
The Foxes last two away games have both finished goalless.
Birmingham have netted in each of their league games this season, Southampton are the only other side in the league that can boast this record.
Chris Wood has scored seven goals in his last five games for the Blues in the Championship.

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15.10. (Sat) 16:00 Manchester City - Aston Villa

PROBABLE LINEUPS

MANCHESTER CITY Hart Richards, Kompany, Lescott, Clichy Silva, Toure, Barry, Nasri Balotelli, Dzeko

ASTON VILLA   Given Hutton, Collins, Dunne, Warnock Bannan, Petrov, Delph, N'Zogbia Bent, Agbonlahor

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has hinted that he may not risk Sergio Aguero, as the Argentine recovers from a groin problem. The former Inter boss may choose to bring back his forward against Villarreal, who City take on in a midweek Champions League fixture.
Mario Balotelli appears to have shaken off a back problem, and should be ready to take to the pitch in this clash, but Carlos Tevez remains frozen out after he trained alone following his return to the club from suspension.
Opposition manager Alex McLeish may have Gabriel Agbonlahor available following a back problem, as the forward returned to training recently.
James Collins (foot), Carlos Cuellar (knee), Stephen Ireland (ankle) are all doubtful of making it in time for the match at Etihad Stadium, while Eric Lichaj (hip), Jermaine Jenas (Achilles) and Nathan Delfouneso (hamstring) are sidelined.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Both teams are both unbeaten after seven rounds of games in the Premier League.

• Samir Nasri (pictured right) has created the most number of goals in the league, with six assists so far. But his Manchester City team-mate David Silva is chasing him, having created five goals.

• City have won all three of their home games, scoring nine goals against their opponents. They have also not conceded a single goal in the league at Etihad Stadium.

• In contrast, Aston Villa are yet to win their first Premier League game away from home, having drawn all three  of their matches on the road this season.

• Gabriel Agbonlahor is currently Villa's top scorer in the league, with four league goals to his name. Sergio Aguero (nine) and Edin Dzeko (six) are still above him in the top scorers' chart.

• If all games ended at half-time, Villa would have been in fourth place now, sitting on a spot that leads to a Champions League qualifier.

Prediction

Manchester City have had a fantastic start to their Premier League campaign and have strength in their squad as well as depth. They are undoubtedly the better side on paper, and their recent home form coupled with Aston Villa's average away days means that the hosts should add three more points to their tally.

Editor's Prediction

Man City 2-0 Aston Villa

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15.10. (Sat) 15:30 Bayern Munchen - Hertha

PROBABLE LINE-UPS

BAYERN MUNICH Neuer Rafinha, Boateng, Badstuber, Lahm Schweinsteiger, Luiz Gustavo Muller, Kroos, Ribery Gomez

HERTHA BERLIN   Kraft Lell, Hubnik, Mijatovic, Kobiashvili Ottl, Niemeyer Ebert, Rafael, Ben-Hatira Ramos

Arjen Robben is a definite absentee for the game on Saturday afternoon as he is set to miss the next two weeks recuperating from hernia surgery he underwent earlier this week. Centre-half Breno, who is set to stand trial for arson, has also been ruled out of the match against Hertha Berlin.

Franck Ribery and Rafinha missed the game against Hoffenheim in the last round, but have returned to full fitness and are expected to be in the starting XI. Ivica Olic is also set be included in the squad after a long period on the sidelines.

Bastian Schweinsteiger and Jerome Boateng sat out Germany's clash against Belgium in midweek with minor injuries, but will be fit to play on Saturday.

Brazilian midfielder Ronny is the only absentee for Hertha Berlin, while strikers Adrian Ramos and Pierre-Michel Lasogga have been declared fit to play.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Bayern Munich have not lost to Hertha Berlin at home for 34 years.

• Manuel Neuer has not conceded a goal in 1018 minutes.

• Bayern Munich have lost just one of their last 17 games against Hertha Berlin. In season 2008-2009 the Bavarians, led by Jurgen Klinsmann, were defeated by Lucien Favre's Old Lady at the Olympic Stadium in Berlin.

• Hertha Berlin are yet to be on the end of anything but defeat at the Allianz Arena since its creation.

• The Old Lady have lost just once in their last seven games.

• Thomas Kraft, Andreas Ottl and Christian Lell transferred to Hertha Berlin from Bayern Munich. In addition, coach and ex-right-back Markus Babbel spent seven years with the Bavarians, winning five trophies.

Prediction

Bayern Munich look unstoppable at the moment and with most of the squad ready to play on Saturday, Hertha Berlin would hardly make Jupp Heynckes' men sweat, at least on paper. Still, Markus Babbel's men have been in good form recently, and recently shocked Borussia Dortmund, so the Old Lady could be the team to finally breach the Bavarians' rock-solid defence.

Editor's Prediction

Bayern Munich 3-1 Hertha BSC

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Premier League Opta Stats 15th-16th October

Liverpool v Manchester United

Manchester United have posted the best shooting accuracy (54%) and conversion rate (26%) in the Premier League.
David de Gea has made more saves (32) and has a better saves to shots ratio (87%) than any other regular goalkeeper in the Premier League.
There have been five red cards in the last seven Premier League games between Manchester United and Liverpool at Anfield.
Liverpool have won four of the last six Premier League games against Manchester United overall and the last three in a row at Anfield.
Manchester United have never lost four away games in a row against any opponent in Premier League history.
Liverpool haven't won more than three home league games in a row against the Red Devils since the 1970s, when the Merseysiders won seven in a row between 1972 and 1979.
There were hat-tricks scored in both meetings in the Premier League last season; Dimitar Berbatov for United at Old Trafford and Dirk Kuyt for Liverpool at Anfield.
There have been four penalties awarded in the last five Premier League meetings between Man Utd and Liverpool.
The champions have lost just one of their last 16 Premier League matches since defeat to Liverpool at Anfield last season in March.
Last season's title win meant Manchester United overhauled Liverpool's tally of 18 English league titles, as they secured championship number 19.

Manchester City v Aston Villa

Gabriel Agbonlahor has scored in four of his last six Premier League appearances.
Agbonlahor has been booked in all three of his Premier League away appearances this season.
Aston Villa have posted the joint-worst shooting accuracy in the top flight, hitting the target with just 35% of their attempts.
Manchester City have scored more goals from outside the box than any other team this season (7).
Samir Nasri leads the Premier League with six goal assists this season.
The Villans have lost just one of their last 15 Premier League games (W6 D8 L1).
Manchester City have taken 28 from a possible 30 points in their last 10 Premier League matches and kept seven clean sheets in that run.
City have also won 12 and lost none of their last 13 Premier League home games, a run that started with a 4-0 win over Aston Villa, keeping 10 clean sheets.
Villa have won just four of their last 23 Premier League away games (W4 D8 L11), a run which started with a 1-3 defeat against Manchester City.
However, the Villans have lost just one of their last seven Premier League away games (W2 D4 L1) and are unbeaten in the last four.

Norwich City v Swansea City

Swansea have conceded just 58 fouls to date, fewer than any other side.
Swansea have won three and lost one of the last four league games against the Canaries.
Both matches in last season's Championship were won by the home side with a clean sheet.
Norwich have won nine and lost one of their last 10 matches in all competitions at Carrow Road against Swansea.
Swansea have scored an own goal in each of their last two visits to Carrow Road.
Norwich have lost just one of their last seven Premier League games at Carrow Road (W5 D1 L1).
The Canaries have lost just one of their last 15 league games at Carrow Road (W9 D5 L1).
Paul Lambert's side have kept just one clean sheet in their last 13 league games at Carrow Road and just three shut outs in their last 24.
The Swans have won just one and lost seven of their last nine league games away from home.
Norwich have conceded more penalties (5) than any other team in the top flight.

QPR v Blackburn Rovers

QPR have the lowest conversion rate of any team in the Premier League, scoring with just 6% of their attempts.
Blackburn have given away the most fouls (96) of any team in the Premier League this season.
Rangers' 0-6 defeat last time out against Fulham was their heaviest defeat in the Premier League and their third worst in the English top flight (lost 1-8 to Man Utd in March 1969 and 1-7 to Sheffield Wednesday in May 1987).
Blackburn won the last three Premier League meetings with QPR by a 1-0 scoreline and that was also the score when they met in last season's FA Cup.
QPR have failed to score in four of their seven Premier League games and only netted via an own goal in one of the others (against Aston Villa).
Blackburn have won only one and lost eight of their last 12 Premier League away games.
Rovers have only won three of their last 21 Premier League matches overall (W3 D7 L11).
Paul Robinson has the worst saves to shots ratio in the Premier League, keeping out just 50% of accurate attempts at goal.
QPR have won just one of the last 11 meetings with Blackburn (W1 D3 L7) in all competitions.
Blackburn have posted the worst passing accuracy in the opposition half this season, completing just 61% of their passes.

Stoke City v Fulham

Stoke City have fired in fewer shots on target (17) than any other team in the Premier League.
75% of the goals Stoke have conceded have been netted in the first half, the highest proportion in the top flight.
Stoke played Fulham three times last season (twice in the league and once in the Carling Cup) and all the games finished with a 2-0 scoreline.
Clint Dempsey has scored three goals in the last four league meetings between Stoke and Fulham.
Bobby Zamora has scored in four of his last five Premier League appearances.
Peter Crouch has scored in three of his last five Premier League starts against Fulham.
Tony Pulis' side have scored just four goals in their last nine Premier League matches.
The Potters have won only two of their last nine games (W2 D3 L4).
Since losing to Fulham at the Britannia Stadium, Stoke have lost just one of their last 12 Premier League home games (W7 D4 L1).
Fulham's win over QPR ended a run of seven matches in the league without a victory for the Whites (D5 L2).

Wigan Athletic v Bolton Wanderers

Bolton Wanderers have allowed their opponents more shots on target against them than any other team in the Premier League (49).
78% of the goals Bolton have scored so far have been netted in the second half, the highest proportion in the Premier League.
Bolton are on a run of six straight league defeats, their joint-poorest run ever in the Premier League.
Owen Coyle's men have also lost their last six at home in the league, becoming only the fifth side to do this in the Premier League.
Wigan have lost four Premier League games in a row for the first time since October 2008.
Four of the last five Premier League games between Wigan and Bolton have ended as draws.
There have been just three goals scored in the last four meetings between Wigan and Bolton at the DW Stadium.
Wigan have scored just 10 goals across the 12 Premier League meetings with the Trotters.
Bolton have conceded more goals than any other team in any season after seven games in Premier League history.
Bolton have lost 11 of their last 12 Premier League matches, winning the other.

Chelsea v Everton

No team in the Premier League has conceded fewer shots on target than Chelsea (25).
Frank Lampard has scored four goals from just five shots on target in the Premier League this season.
Tim Howard has only conceded two goals from the last seven penalties faced, making four saves.
Chelsea have won only one of the last nine Premier League meetings with Everton, drawing six of the remaining eight encounters.
Louis Saha has scored five goals in six appearances in all competitions for Everton against Chelsea.
Didier Drogba has scored seven goals in his last nine Premier League matches against Everton.
Chelsea have won nine and lost none of their last 10 Premier League games at Stamford Bridge, but have gone five games without a clean sheet on home soil.
Everton have gone 16 games at Stamford Bridge since their last Premier League victory (W0 D9 L7), but the last five games in a row have all been draws. No Premier League fixture has ever seen six consecutive draws.
The Londoners have gone six games without a clean sheet and they have not had a run of seven without a shutout since September 2003.
Everton have won none of their last eight Premier League trips to London, drawing six.

West Bromwich Albion v Wolverhampton Wanderers

All five of the goals West Brom have scored so far this season gave been netted in the first half of matches and the last four have all been netted in the opening five minutes of games.
Steven Fletcher has scored nine goals in his last 15 Premier League appearances. Two of those goals came in a 3-1 win over West Brom last May.
West Brom have won six and lost only two of the last 11 meetings in all competitions against their Black Country rivals.
West Brom have won five and lost none of their last nine home matches against Wolves since they lost 2-4 at the Hawthorns in September 1996.
The Baggies have won just one of their last eight Premier League matches (W1 D3 L4).
West Brom have won just four out of 25 Midlands derbies in the Premier League.
Wolves have won just one of 11 Midlands derbies away from home.
Wolves have kept just two clean sheets in their last 13 Premier League away games.
Mick McCarthy's side have lost their last four Premier League games in a row. Wolves haven't lost five in a row in the top flight since April 1984.
Wolves have been 0-2 down at half-time in each of their last three Premier League matches.

Arsenal v Sunderland

There have only been eight goals scored in the last seven Premier League matches between Arsenal and Sunderland.
Arsenal have won seven and drawn three of their 10 home Premier League matches against Sunderland and the Black Cats have failed to score in their last three visit to the Emirates.
Only one of the 13 goals Sunderland have scored against Arsenal in the Premier League era has been netted in the first half.
Robin van Persie has scored 21 goals in 24 Premier League games in 2011 and three in three home appearances against Sunderland.
Arsenal have won just four of their last 18 Premier League matches (W4 D7 L7).
The Gunners have kept nine clean sheets in their last 13 Premier League games at the Emirates Stadium, including one in a 0-0 draw with Sunderland in March.
No team with fewer than eight points after seven games has finished in the top four in the Premier League era - highest was 5th (3 teams).
Sunderland's clean sheet last season at the Emirates was one of just four in their last 23 Premier League matches.
Since the start of February, Sunderland have only once gone two league games without defeat.
Arsenal have conceded 16 goals so far this season, more than in any season since 1963-64 when they had shipped 20 after seven matches.

Newcastle United v Tottenham Hotspur

This is the first time that Newcastle have gone 10 games unbeaten in the top flight since August 1997. (W5 D5)
Spurs have scored exactly one goal on each of their last six visits to St James Park in the Premier League.
Newcastle have won four and lost none of their last five Premier League matches against Tottenham at St James Park.
If Spurs win this match, they will equal their best ever run of successive victories in the Premier League era (five), which they have done four times before.
Aaron Lennon scored in both meetings with Newcastle in the Premier League last season.
Demba Ba has scored 11 goals in 14 Premier League starts.
Newcastle are unbeaten in their last seven Premier League matches at home to London sides, but five of those games have been draws.
Spurs have won only one of their last nine trips to play teams from the north east in the Premier League (W1 D3 L5).
Only the top three sides in the Premier League have scored more goals than Tottenham this season, despite the fact that Spurs have played one game fewer than most teams.
Newcastle have conceded fewer goals than any other side in the Premier League this season and the fewest after seven games of any previous season in the top flight other than 1995-96 and 1900-01, where they had shipped just three.

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15.10. (Sat) 13:45 Liverpool - Manchester United

Getty Images

PROBABLE LINEUPS

LIVERPOOL Reina Kelly, Skrtel, Carragher, Enrique Kuyt, Gerrard, Lucas, Adam, Downing Suarez

MANCHESTER UNITED De Gea Smalling, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra Nani, Fletcher, Anderson, Young Rooney, Chicharito

Liverpool look set to welcome back captain Steven Gerrard to a starting role after his substitute appearance in the Merseyside derby before last week's international break, and should be near enough full strength.

Manager Kenny Dalglish could well select Andy Carroll up front to partner Luis Suarez if Gerrard isn't quite ready to start, as he did against Everton.

Sir Alex Ferguson will have to decide on who marshalls the centre of midfield for his side, with Darren Fletcher finally recovered from his various injury problems.

Meanwhile, the mental state of Wayne Rooney could play a factor in whether the striker plays, and while you should by no means bet against Sir Alex starting the club's talisman, don't be too surprised if the manager decides to him out.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Manchester United have never lost four away games in a row against a single team in the Premier League, but have lost their last three at Anfield.

• There have been four penalties awarded in the past five Premier League games between Liverpool and Manchester United.

• Pepe Reina's (pictured right) last penalty save in the Premier League was from Wayne Rooney against Manchester United in March 2010.

• Manchester United have 1,476 goals in the Premier League, more than any other team.

• No goalkeeper has made more saves than David de Gea has in the Premier League this season. The Spaniard has made 32 stops.

• Nemanja Vidic has been sent off three times against Liverpool in the Premier League, the only player to have been dismissed this many times against a single opponent.

• Manchester United have scored eight goals from set-pieces this season, the most in the Premier League.

Prediction

It is bound to be a tight and fiercely fought affair between the two sides, and while Ashley Young will cause the right-back Martin Kelly considerable problems, Liverpool should do some damage through the livewire Suarez up front. Expect an entertaining draw.

Editor's Prediction

Liverpool 1-1 Man Utd.

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