Sheffield United vs Man City
Bramell Lane, Sheffield
Saturday, 31-10-2020 @3:30pm
Ref: Michael Oliver
Sheffield United have never beaten Manchester City in the Premier League in eight attempts, the most they’ve faced any side in the division without winning (D3, L5). Their only goal in those fixtures was scored by Brian Deane in April 1993. Manchester City are vying to win four consecutive league games against Sheffield United for the first time since March 1930. The Blades are winless in six league meetings since a 1-0 triumph in the second tier in January 2000.
Sheffield United full-back Max Lowe is available to face Manchester City after passing concussion protocols. John Lundstram’s refusal to agree to a new contract is not expected to have an impact on his involvement.
Nathan Ake and Gabriel Jesus could be fit to return for City, while Aymeric Laporte is under consideration for only his second league game of the season. Manager Pep Guardiola remains without Sergio Aguero, Fernandinho and Benjamin Mendy.
The Blades could fail to win any of their first seven league games in a season for the first time since 1991. Sheffield United have equalled their worst record of one point after six league fixtures in a season, first set in the 1975-76 top flight. They lost their seventh league match of that season. They have earned a solitary point from their past nine Premier League fixtures since beating Chelsea in July. The Blades can match the club Premier League record of five successive home games without a win, set in 1993 and equalled in 1994. Manager Chris Wilder has won 99 of his 202 matches in charge of the club in all competitions. Billy Sharp is one short of 100 league goals for Sheffield United.
City’s total of eight points is their lowest at this stage of a season since 2014-15. It’s Pep Guardiola’s worst start as a manager after five league games of a season. The fewest points his sides have earned after six league fixtures is 13. Manchester City have conceded as many as eight league goals after five matches for the first time since 2006-07. They could fail to score more than once in four successive Premier League games for the first time under Pep Guardiola. Since the beginning of last season, City are winless in all seven Premier League away matches when they conceded the opening goal (D1, L6). No side has won more English top-flight fixtures on Halloween than Manchester City’s tally of 10 – level with Arsenal. Riyad Mahrez has been directly involved in 99 goals in 203 Premier League appearances, scoring 58 and providing 41 assists. Kyle Walker, who began his career at Sheffield United, is one short of 100 Premier League appearances for Manchester City.
Burnley vs Chelsea
Turf Moor, Burnley
Saturday, 31-10-2020 @6pm
Ref: David Coote
Burnley’s Johann Berg Gudmundsson is doubtful with a calf injury, while Erik Pieters misses out with a similar problem. Phil Bardsley remains unavailable following a positive coronavirus test, while this game comes too soon for Ben Mee and Jack Cork.
Chelsea boss Frank Lampard has reported no new injury concerns following Wednesday’s win against Krasnodar. Thiago Silva was rested in midweek and is set to reclaim a starting spot. The Blues will continue to assess Kepa Arrizabalaga’s shoulder problem, while Billy Gilmour is still recovering from knee surgery.
Burnley’s only victory in 12 Premier League matches against Chelsea was by 3-2 at Stamford Bridge in August 2017 (D3, L8). The Blues are unbeaten in all six of their Premier League fixtures away to Burnley, scoring two goals or more in each of their five victories at Turf Moor. The Clarets’ last top-flight home win against Chelsea came in August 1973, when Frank Casper scored the only goal.
Burnley could lose four consecutive Premier League home games for the first time since 2010. They are also in danger of suffering five defeats in their opening six top-flight matches for the first time since 1927-28. They recovered to avoid relegation that season. Sean Dyche’s side have won just one of their past 24 home league games against established top-six sides (D4, L19). That victory came against Tottenham in February 2019. Burnley have played 19.6% of their passes long, the highest percentage in the Premier League this season. They have scored just one top-flight goal from open play, a joint-low in 2020-21. If fit, Johann Berg Gudmundsson could play his 100th Premier League game. Ashley Westwood and Chris Wood could both make their 100th Premier League appearance for Burnley.
The Blues are vying to keep clean sheets in consecutive league matches for the first time under Frank Lampard. Chelsea have conceded 42 Premier League away goals since the start of last season, three more than any other club. Their six away league goals this season have been scored by six different players: Jorginho, Reece James, Kurt Zouma, Mason Mount, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Tammy Abraham. Edouard Mendy can become the third goalkeeper to keep a clean sheet in each of his first three Premier League appearances for Chelsea, emulating Neil Sullivan and Petr Cech.
Liverpool vs West Ham United
Anfield Stadium, Liverpool
Saturday, 31-10-2020 @8:30pm
Ref: Kevin Friend
Liverpool are unbeaten in eight Premier League games against West Ham since losing both meetings in 2015-16 (W6, D2). The Hammers won 3-0 at Anfield in August 2015 but that is their only victory in their past 47 league games away to the Reds.
Liverpool are without Fabinho because of a hamstring problem, so 19-year-old centre-back Rhys Williams could make his Premier League debut. The Reds will monitor the fitness of Thiago Alcantara and Naby Keita, who are nearing returns, while this game may come too soon for Joel Matip.
Michail Antonio is absent for West Ham but boss David Moyes does not think the player’s hamstring injury is “too bad”. The striker could be replaced by Sebastien Haller at Anfield. Deadline-day signing Said Benrahma awaits his Hammers debut, having not been involved against Manchester City last weekend because of a lack of match fitness.
Jurgen Klopp’s side have won 28 of their past 29 top-flight matches at Anfield. If the Reds avoid defeat they will equal the club record of 63 home league games unbeaten. The only club in the top four English divisions to have enjoyed a longer undefeated streak on home turf is Chelsea (86 league matches between 2004 and 2008). Sadio Mane is set to make his 200th Premier League appearance. Mane has scored in each of his last four games against West Ham, and has five goals and three assists in six Premier League matches for Liverpool versus the Hammers. Mohamed Salah has six goals and two assists in his six top-flight games against West Ham.
The Hammers have lost 21 of their 24 Premier League games away to the reigning champions, with their only victory coming courtesy of Jermain Defoe’s strike against Man United in 2001. West Ham are unbeaten in four top-flight matches, with all of those games coming against opponents who finished in the top seven last season. Their only defeat in six Premier League away games was last month’s 2-1 loss at Arsenal.
The upcoming Premier League games.
Sunday, 01-11-2020
-Aston Villa vs Southampton @3pm
-Newcastle United vs Everton @5pm
-Man United vs Arsenal @7:30pm
-Tottenham Hotspur vs Brighton and Hove Albion @10:15pm
Monday, 02-11-2020
-Fulham vs West Bromwich Albion @8:30pm
-Leeds United vs Leicester City @11pm
Match-Day 7 results so far
Friday, 30-10-2020
-Wolves 2-0 Crystal Palace
