This weekend offers some blockbuster Premier League encounters; Man United host Brentford, Liverpool visit Brighton. Man City’s clash with Arsenal headlines all the action!
THINGS ARE LOOKING UP FOR LEICESTER
The top two sides at the end of the English Championship season are automatically promoted to the Premiership and while it is far too soon to speculate right now, a look at the current table is revealing. Sitting perched at the top, with 27 points out of a possible 30, are Leicester. Yes, the 2015/16 champions who were relegated last season. Down in the Championship they have made the best start of any team in that League’s history, and that’s after losing two of their best players, Youri Tielemans and James Maddison, to top-flight clubs after going down. They are already seven points clear of the third-placed team on the table, Preston, with just over a quarter of the season completed. Early as we say, but Leicester might well bounce straight back to the Premiership.
🏴🪄Jamie Vardy (36) has 3 goals in his last 3 starts for Leicester City! Going strong. 💪 pic.twitter.com/5VTopbwMRE
— EuroFoot (@eurofootcom) October 2, 2023
FOXES TOO SLICK FOR ROVERS
Speaking of Leicester, last week they played Blackburn Rovers and won 4-1 away from home. Veteran Jamie Vardy got on the scoresheet as did the Foxes’ player of the 2022/23 season, Kelechi Iheanacho. Two goals came in the final 10 minutes to add a gloss to the scoreline but the match was significant for another reason. It was the first time that two former English Premiership champions had played one another in the second-tier Championship. Of course, Blackburn won the title in 1994-95.
Only two teams in England's top four divisions have a 100% win rate away from home in the league this season:
— Squawka (@Squawka) October 1, 2023
◉ Leicester City: WWWWW
◉ Arsenal: WWW
The Foxes are on fire. 🦊 pic.twitter.com/TEWF7RhYz4
WHY LUTON CAN CELEBRATE 32 YEARS LATER
The cork can stay a long time in the champagne bottle, but it always pops out at some stage. For Luton Town those it has been what seems like forever. The promoted team from last season’s Championship picked up their first win in the top-flight this season when they beat Everton, before promptly losing to Burnley ahead of a tough fixture against Tottenham. It’s probably worth mentioning that 1992 was the last time that Luton won a game in the Premiership. That year Leeds were crowned champions, Ian Wright beat Gary Lineker to the Golden Boot, Diego Maradona was playing for Napoli, Pep Guardiola had just completed his first full season with Barcelona as a player and Mo Salah had not been born.
Our first top-flight win since April 1992.
— Luton Town FC (@LutonTown) September 30, 2023
11,480 days ago! 🧡
WILL SAKA’S RECORD STREAK END ON 87?
Here’s a stat that caught me by surprise. If Buyako Saka plays any part in this weekend’s match against Man City, he will have appeared in 88 consecutive Premiership matches, which will extend his record for an Arsenal player. That’s quite remarkable for the 22-year-old. The bad news is that he’s racing against time to be fit following an injury that has been plaguing him and which saw him restricted to 33 minutes for the Gunners against Lens during the week. He has already broken the previous record for longevity, the 82 games set by Paul Merson.
Bukayo Saka has played in each of Arsenal's last 87 Premier League games, a club record streak of uninterrupted appearances in the competition.
— Squawka (@Squawka) October 6, 2023
He's in contention to make 88 in a row. 👀 pic.twitter.com/5TFiS5PAfh
WHEN TRENDS THROW UP UNLIKELY RESULTS
Regular readers will know that I’m into trends in the EPL. Even though it’s scheduled to come, it’s often a shock when it does. My trends, based on years of statistics and reports, showed that Manchester City were due to not win last week. Still, trying to pick Wolves to beat them was tough – but that’s what happened. For those interested, these following “results” are due, either this week or next. Feel free to have a bet or two with Hollywoodbets and see if you can make some cash. Newcastle (vs West Ham) and Crystal Palace are due to concede (vs Nottm Forest). Furthermore, Newcastle are due a draw or defeat. Tottenham (vs Luton), Liverpool (vs Brighton) and Brighton themselves are due clean sheets. Surely such two attack-minded sides like that can’t draw 0-0? Or can they? Villa are due a draw and play Wolves this week. Some really unlikely scenarios on paper, but this is the Premiership.
