Previews of the Premier League matches this weekend

LONDON: Match-by-match facts and statistics ahead of round three of the English Premier League this weekend.

● Wolverhampton vs Manchester City

City have won five of their eight Premier League meetings with Wolves, including the last three games.

This is the first league match between the teams since 2012.

Promoted Wolves were beaten 2-0 by Leicester in their last league match while City thrashed Huddersfield 6-1.

Wolves were one of two sides City failed to score against in all competitions last season.

They were held to a goalless draw in a League Cup tie in October but advanced on penalties.

Under Pep Guardiola, City have not lost in the league to a promoted team.

They have won nine matches and drawn three.

● Arsenal vs West Ham

West Ham have managed seven wins in 44 Premier League meetings with Arsenal with five of them away from home.

West Ham midfielder Jack Wilshere returns to his boyhood club for the first time since his 17-year Arsenal stay ended in the close season.

Arsenal have suffered defeats in their opening two league games for the first time since 1992.

West Ham are also seeking to end a run of two straight losses under new boss Manuel Pellegrini.

Arsenal midfielder Mesut Ozil has scored three goals and assisted two in his last four league matches against West Ham.

● Bournemouth vs Everton

Bournemouth are looking to win their opening three Premier League matches for the first time.

Everton are seeking their first Premier League away victory against Bournemouth at their fourth attempt.

Richarlison could become the second Everton player after Romelu Lukaku to score in each of his first three Premier League appearances.

Everton boss Marco Silva has won his last two Premier League games against Bournemouth – 3-1 with Hull and 2-0 with Watford.

Bournemouth (11) and Everton (14) have scored 25 goals in their six Premier League meetings.

● Huddersfield vs Cardiff

This will be the first top-flight meeting between the clubs since February 1956, when Cardiff won 2-1 at Leeds Road.

Huddersfield are winless in their last nine encounters with Cardiff since winning 1-0 in the third tier meeting in January 2003.

Neil Warnock’s Cardiff have completed a lower share of their passes this season than any other team in the Premier League, with 62.7%.

Since their promotion to the Premier League last year, Huddersfield have failed to score in 22 of their 40 matches – more than any other club in this period.

Huddersfield have lost their opening two games of the season, while Cardiff are aiming for a first victory of the campaign after drawing with Newcastle on the opening weekend.

● Southampton vs Leicester

Leicester won at St Mary’s 4-1 last season and are aiming for back-to-back away league victories at Southampton for the first time.

Danny Ings, who scored against Everton last weekend, is looking to become only the fourth player to score in his first two Premier League starts for Southampton.

Leicester forward Kelechi Iheanacho has scored three goals in his last four appearances against Southampton.

Claude Puel’s Leicester have lost their last four league matches on the road, while Southampton have recorded one win in their last 12 matches at St Mary’s.

The visitors will be without striker Jamie Vardy after he was sent off for a reckless challenge on Wolves defender Matt Doherty last weekend.

● Liverpool vs Brighton

Juergen Klopp’s Liverpool are unbeaten in their last 22 league matches at Anfield and have kept a clean sheet in the last six.

Since the start of last season, Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah has been involved in 44 Premier League goals (33 goals, 11 assists), 11 more than any other player in this period.

Brighton boss Chris Hughton is looking to avoid a Premier League defeat against Liverpool for the first time, at the sixth attempt.

Brighton recorded their first win of the season against Manchester United last weekend, while Liverpool collected maximum points from their first two matches against Crystal Palace and West Ham.

Following his goal against Palace, Liverpool’s James Milner extended his current record of most Premier League games scored in without losing, which now stands at 48 matches.

● Watford vs Crystal Palace

Palace are unbeaten in their last seven league matches against Watford at Vicarage Road since a 2-0 defeat in the Championship in February 2009.

Watford have lost just once in their last nine league matches at home, winning five and drawing three.

If striker Troy Deeney finds the net it will be his 100th goal for Watford in all competitions.

Palace forward Wilfried Zaha has failed to score or assist in any of his previous six top-flight appearances against Watford.

Watford sit fourth in the league after winning their first two matches, while Palace are 10th with three points.

● Fulham vs Burnley

Sean Dyche’s Burnley are unbeaten in their last 10 Premier League matches against promoted teams.

The Clarets are looking for their first Premier League win at Craven Cottage after losing 3-0 on their only previous visit in February 2010.

Since the start of last season, Burnley have won 53% of their Premier League points in away matches – a higher share than any other team in the competition.

Slavisa Jokanovic’s Fulham are have lost their first two games on their return to the Premier League.

After winning five consecutive league matches between March and April, Burnley are winless in their last seven.

● Newcastle vs Chelsea

Newcastle have won four of their last five home league matches against Chelsea, most recently recording a 3-0 victory on the final day of the 2017-18 campaign.

Eden Hazard has been involved in 110 Premier League goals, with 69 goals and 41 assists. Only Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba have played a part in more goals for Chelsea in the competition.

Maurizio Sarri could become the fifth Chelsea boss to win his opening three Premier League matches, following Antonio Conte, Carlo Ancelotti, Guus Hiddink and Jose Mourinho.

Newcastle have won all their three home league matches on a Sunday in 2018, while Chelsea have lost all three of theirs away from home.

Seven of Chelsea striker Alvaro Morata’s 12 Premier League goals have been assisted by Spanish compatriot Cesar Azpilicueta, including a goal in a 3-2 win over Arsenal last weekend.

● Manchester United vs Tottenham

United have won 21 of their 26 Premier League home matches against Spurs and have been victorious in each of their last four without conceding a goal.

Spurs were the last London team to win a league match at Old Trafford, on New Year’s Day in 2014.

David De Gea has conceded 10 goals from the last 14 shots on target that he has faced for Spain and Manchester United combined since the start of the 2018 World Cup.

Mauricio Pochettino has won 199 matches in all competitions as a manager, excluding shootouts, with 123 of these coming at Spurs.

Since taking charge at United ahead of the 2016-2017 season, Jose Mourinho has guided the club to 153 points, 16 fewer than Spurs in the same period. — Reuters