Premier League Matchweek 12: what the stats say

The Premier League is back for Matchweek 12 this weekend, bringing a slate of thrilling fixtures.Arsenal and Tottenham headline the action in a high-stakes North London clash, while Aston Villa take on Leeds in another intriguing matchup.

Elsewhere, Manchester City face Newcastle in a battle of heavyweights, and Everton host Manchester United in a game that could have big implications for both sides.

Burnley v Chelsea

Burnley have won just one of their 18 Premier League games against Chelsea (D5 L12), picking up a 3-2 victory at Stamford Bridge on the opening weekend of the 2017-18 season.

Chelsea have won eight of their nine Premier League away games against Burnley (D1), including each of the last six in a row. Only at Bolton (9 between 2004 and 2011) and Sunderland (9 between 2003 and 2013) have they won more consecutively in the competition.

Chelsea have won their last six Premier League away games against Burnley, netting at least three goals in each of the last five. In English top-flight history, only two teams have won six consecutive away games at another while scoring 3+ goals each time – Chelsea at Arsenal between 1960 and 1965, and Man City at West Brom between 2013 and 2021.

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Burnley have lost four of their last six Premier League matches (W2), conceding 2+ goals in five of those games. Indeed, the Clarets have kept just two clean sheets in their last 31 Premier League games, shipping 64 goals in this period (2.1 per game).

Chelsea have won both of their last two Premier League away games, each without conceding; the Blues last won three in a row on the road in the competition while keeping a clean sheet each time in November 2021 (4).

In the Premier League this season, Burnley have had the fewest shots (90), lowest xG (8.3), lowest possession (38.6 per cent), faced the most shots (192), and have the highest xGA (24.0). Since Opta have this data available (from 2012-13), the Clarets are the only side on record to rank poorest for each of these metrics in a campaign in the division.

Chelsea have won each of their last seven Premier League games kicking off at 12:30pm on a Saturday; in the competition’s history, on just three occasions has any side had a longer winning run in this exact kick-off slot: Manchester United (8 from January 2003-December 2003), Chelsea themselves (8 from May 2005-December 2017), and Manchester City (9 from May 2021-October 2022).

João Pedro has scored in both of Chelsea’s last two Premier League games and could score in three successive appearances in the competition for just the second time, after doing so in February/March last season for Brighton. However, the Brazilian has never scored in four games against Burnley in the Premier League, only facing Brentford (7) and Everton (5) more times without finding the net.

Zian Flemming has scored three goals in four Premier League starts for Burnley; the only player to score 4+ goals in his first five starts in the competition for the Clarets is Maxwel Cornet (4).

Chelsea’s Alejandro Garnacho could make his 100th Premier League appearance in this match. Aged 21 years and 144 days, he would be the youngest South American to reach the milestone, overtaking Gabriel Martinelli from October 2023 (22y 125d).

Bournemouth v West Ham United

Bournemouth are winless in their last eight Premier League games against West Ham (D5 L3), with each of the last four ending level. West Ham have only failed to score in one of their 16 Premier League games against Bournemouth, a 2-0 defeat at the Vitality Stadium in January 2019.

Bournemouth have won four of their five Premier League home games this season (D1), as many as their final 12 at the Vitality Stadium in 2024-25 (W4 D3 L5). Indeed, only Manchester City (15) have more points at home in the Premier League this campaign than the Cherries (13).

West Ham have won both of their last two Premier League games and are looking to win three in a row in the competition for the first time since December 2023.

Bournemouth have lost both of their last two Premier League games, after only losing one of their first nine of the season beforehand (W5 D3). The Cherries last lost three league games on the bounce in May 2024.

Bournemouth’s opposition passes per defensive action (PPDA) in the Premier League this season is 9.7, the lowest rate of any side in 2025-26, showing their intense pressing style. The Cherries also rank second in the division this term for high turnovers (83).

West Ham have lost their first Premier League game directly following all three international breaks in 2025 so far – the only ever-present side to do so this calendar year.

West Ham’s Nuno Espírito Santo has never beaten Bournemouth’s Andoni Iraola in four attempts in the Premier League (D2 L2); only against Jürgen Klopp has Santo managed more games in the competition without ever winning (7), while Iraola has only faced Eddie Howe (5) more times without ever losing.

Up until the October international break, only Erling Haaland (10) had been directly involved in more Premier League goals this season than Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo (9 – 6 goals, 3 assists). However, since then, Semenyo has gone four league games without a goal or assist. He was averaging 2.4 shots and 1.4 chances created per game in the competition prior to the October break, but that has fallen to 1.5 shots and 0.3 chances created per game since.

Only Bruno Fernandes (34.2 per cent) and Erling Haaland (32.9 per cent) have been directly involved in a higher proportion of theirside’s shots in the Premier League this season than Jarrod Bowen (32.2 per cent), who has had a hand in 37 of West Ham’s 115 efforts (26 shots, 11 chances created).

Brighton and Hove Albion v Brentford

After winning their first two Premier League games against Brentford in the 2021-22 campaign, Brighton have won just one of their last six against the Bees (D3 L2).

Brentford are winless in all four of their Premier League away games against Brighton (D2 L2), with their last win at the Seagulls coming in the Championship in September 2016 (2-0).

Brighton remain unbeaten in their last nine Premier League games at the Amex Stadium (W5 D4) since a 0-3 defeat to Aston Villa in April. Indeed, since the start of last season, the Seagulls have only lost three of their 24 home league games (W11 D10); the only ever-present sides with fewer top-flight home defeats in this time are Arsenal, Aston Villa and Liverpool (all 2).

Brentford have lost four of their five away games in the Premier League this season (W1), more than their final 14 on the road in 2024-25 (W7 D4 L3). After their 0-2 defeat to Crystal Palace, the Bees could lose back-to-back away league games without scoring for the first time since April 2023.

Brighton have kept a clean sheet in both of their last two Premier League games, last doing so three matches in a row in August 2022 under Graham Potter.

After only winning two of their first seven Premier League games of the season under Keith Andrews (D1 L4), Brentford have since won three of their last four (L1), scoring 2+ goals in each of those wins.

Brighton have forced 101 high turnovers in the Premier League this season, 20 of which have resulted in a shot. These are both league-high tallies in the competition in 2025-26.

This will be Fabian Hürzeler’s 50th Premier League match in charge of Brighton (P49 W20 D17 L12 to date), while aged 32 years and 269 days he will become the youngest manager ever to reach 50 games in the competition, surpassing Chris Coleman’s record set in September 2004 (34y 107d).

Brighton’s Yankuba Minteh has made more carries into the opposition’s penalty area (35) than any player in the Premier League this season. Minteh has also made 36 carries ending with a take-on in the competition this term, second only to Jérémy Doku (41).

Only Erling Haaland (14) has more Premier League goals this season than Igor Thiago (8), with the Brazilian scoring six goals in his last six appearances in the competition. Indeed, his eight goals are the joint-most by a player in Brentford’s first 11 games of a Premier League campaign, along with Ivan Toney in 2022-23 and Bryan Mbeumo in 2024-25.

Fulham v Sunderland

Fulham have lost their last two Premier League home games against Sunderland, with this the first top-flight meeting between the sides since a 4-1 win for the Black Cats in January 2014.

Sunderland lost their last league game against Fulham, a 2-1 loss at Craven Cottage in the Championship in April 2018. They’ve not lost consecutive league meetings with the Cottagers since a run of three between 2002 and 2006.

Fulham are unbeaten in their last 10 Premier League games against newly promoted opponents (W5 D5), winning their last three in a row – their longest winning run over promoted clubs in the division since October 2011 (4 in row).

Sunderland won their last away Premier League game against a London club 2-1 at Chelsea in October, but the Black Cats haven’t won back-to-back away games in the capital within a single season in the competition since March 2001.

Fulham have earned 91 per cent of their points in the Premier League this season at Craven Cottage (10/11), the highest home ratio of any side in the competition this term. The Cottagers have won three of their last four home league matches (L1), as many as their previous 13 beforehand (W3 D5 L5).

Sunderland have 19 points in 11 Premier League games this season (W5 D4 L2), their best tally at this stage of a top flight campaign since 1999-00 (23), and best by any newly promoted side since 2008-09, when Hull City had 20 in their first 11 games. A win here would make it the best start after 12 games by a promoted side in the competition (22 pts) since Wigan Athletic in 2005-06 (25).

Sunderland’s open play expected goals tally of 5.1 is the lowest of any side in the Premier League this season. Indeed, 47 per cent of the Black Cats’ non-penalty xG in the competition this term has come from set plays (4.5/9.7), the highest ratio of any side.

Fulham have had 121 shots in their 11 Premier League games this season – an average of exactly 11 per game. This is their lowest average ever in a campaign in the competition.

Only Brighton (76 per cent) have scored a higher per centage of their Premier League goals this season in second halves than Sunderland (71 per cent - 10/14), while conversely, Fulham have conceded 69 per cent of their goals in the competition this term after halftime (11/16), the third-most of any side.

Only Marcos Senesi (19) and Bruno Guimarães (18) have made more passes that have broken the opponent’s defensive line in the Premier League this season than Sunderland’s Granit Xhaka (15). The Swiss midfielder has created five chances from line-breaking passes in the competition in 2025-26, with only Bruno Fernandes (7) creating more.

Liverpool v Nottingham Forest

Liverpool lost this exact fixture 1-0 last season, the only league game in which they failed to score all season. They’ve not lost consecutive home league games against Nottingham Forest since 1963.

Nottingham Forest won 1-0 away and drew 1-1 at home against Liverpool in the Premier League last season – they’ve not gone three league games without defeat against the Reds since February 1993.

Nottingham Forest have lost their last six Premier League away games against the reigning champions by an aggregate score of 24-2. Their last such victory was in December 1994 (2-1 v Manchester United).

Although Liverpool have lost five of their last six Premier League games (W1), they have won four of their five at Anfield in 2025-26 so far (L1). Indeed, the Reds have only lost one of their last 22 home league games (W17 D4) since losing 0-1 to Nottingham Forest in September 2024.

Nottingham Forest are one of four sides yet to win away from home in the Premier League this season (also Fulham, Newcastle, Wolves). The Tricky Trees have lost both of their last two away league games without scoring, last losing three in a row without a goal in October 2022.

Liverpool are currently 8th in the Premier League table. It’s the latest into a season they’ve started a match this low down since April 2023, when they won 3-2 at home to Nottingham Forest when starting the day in 8th place.

Liverpool have lost five of their last six Premier League games (W1), more than they lost in the whole of their title winning campaign last season (4). Indeed, before this run, the Reds had only lost five of their previous 49 league fixtures (W33 D11).

Nottingham Forest have scored as many goals in their three Premier League games under Sean Dyche (5) as they had in their first eight of the season under Nuno Espírito Santo (4 goals) and Ange Postecoglou (1 goal) beforehand.

Indeed, Forest are averaging more shots-per-game (13.0) and xG-per-game (1.6) under Dyche than they were under either of his predecessors in 2025-26.

This is set to be Mohamed Salah’s 300th Premier League appearance for Liverpool, the fifth player to reach that figure for the Reds, after Jamie Carragher (508), Steven Gerrard (504), Jordan Henderson (360), and Sami Hyypiä (318). Salah’s 276 goal involvements (188 goals, 88 assists) for Liverpool are the joint-most by a player for a single Premier League club (level with Wayne Rooney for Man Utd).

Morgan Gibbs-White has scored in both of Nottingham Forest’s last two Premier League games and could score in three successive league appearances for the first time in his career. He is one goal away from becoming the fourth player to score 20+ Premier League goals for the Tricky Trees, after Chris Wood (37), Bryan Roy (24), and Stan Collymore (22).

Wolverhampton Wanderers v Crystal Palace

Having won three of their first five Premier League games against Crystal Palace (D1 L1), Wolves have now won just one of their last nine against the Eagles (D1 L7).

Crystal Palace have won 57 per cent of their Premier League games against Wolves (8/14), their highest win rate against any side they’ve faced more than 10 times.

Wolves have failed to win any of their 11 Premier League games this season (D2 L9), only failing to win any of their first 12 in a league campaign in 1983-84 (14). Only seven teams have been winless in their first 12 Premier League games of a season, though three of those ultimately survived relegation (Everton 1994-95, Derby County 2000-01 and Newcastle United 2021-22).

Crystal Palace have lost their last two Premier League away games, as many as they had in their previous 18 (W9 D7). They last lost three in a row in February 2024.

Wolves have conceded exactly three goals in each of their last three Premier League games, losing 3-2 against Burnley and 3-0 against both Fulham and Chelsea. They last conceded 3+ goals in four consecutive league games back in September 1985 in the third tier.

Wolves are the lowest scorers in the Premier League this season (7), while only the top two sides Arsenal (5) and Manchester City (8) have conceded fewer than Crystal Palace (9). Six of Wolves’ seven goals have been Opta defined big chances, the joint-highest ratio this term (86 per cent, level with Chelsea).

Only Burnley (39 per cent) have a lower average possession than Crystal Palace in the Premier League this season (42 per cent), with the Eagles failing to win either match in which they had more than their opponents (draws with Sunderland and Bournemouth).

This will be Rob Edwards’ first Premier League game in charge of Wolves. His first home win as Luton manager in the competition came against Crystal Palace in 2023-24, in the first match after the November international break.

No Crystal Palace player has scored more goals in all competitions this season than Ismaïla Sarr (8). However, more than half of his goals (5) have come outside of the Premier League (1x Community Shield, 2x League Cup, 2x UEFA Conference League).

Only Arsenal striker Viktor Gyökeres (57) has made more off-ball runs into the opponent’s penalty area in the Premier League this season than Crystal Palace full-back Daniel Muñoz (53).

Newcastle United v Manchester City

Newcastle United have won just one of their last 35 Premier League meetings with Manchester City (D6 L28), a 2-1 home win in January 2019 under Rafael Benítez.

Manchester City have won 12 Premier League away games against Newcastle, their joint-most away victories against an opponent in the competition (also 12 v Everton).

Manchester City have scored in each of their last 33 Premier League games against Newcastle. Only three sides have had a longer scoring streak against an opponent in top-flight history – Chelsea v Newcastle (37 from 1933-1969), Tottenham v Newcastle (35 from 1922-1961) and Everton v Blackburn (34 from 1925-1962).

Newcastle have lost their last two Premier League games, last losing more consecutively in January 2024 (4). They’ve opened the scoring in both of their last two, never losing three in a row when leading each time.

Manchester City lost two of their first three Premier League games this season (W1), conceding four goals in the process. Since then they’ve lost just one of their last eight (W6 D1), conceding just another four goals in this run.

Newcastle have lost three Premier League games despite scoring first this season, going down against Arsenal (1-2), West Ham (1-3) and Brentford (1-3). It’s as many defeats as they’d suffered in the previous two campaigns combined (1 in 2024-25, 2 in 2023-24), while they last lost more in 2021-22 (4).

Newcastle boss Eddie Howe has won none of his 18 Premier League meetings with Man City (D2 L16) – it’s the most a manager has faced an opponent in the competition without ever winning.

Man City’s Erling Haaland has 14 Premier League goals this season, almost twice as many as the next highest scorer (Igor Thiago, 8). His next goal will be his 100th in the competition, while a goal in this match (or indeed any of his next 15 apps) will make him the fastest to reach this milestone.

Erling Haaland has scored 19 goals in all competitions for Man City this season (excl. Club World Cup). A goal in this match would be the third earliest (by date) a Premier League player has reached 20 in a campaign, after Andrew Cole in 1993-94 (21 November) and Haaland himself in 2022-23 (8 October).

All three of Nick Woltemade’s non-penalty goals for Newcastle this season have been from first time shots – only Jean-Philippe Mateta (4) has scored more with 100 per cent of them coming from first time shots.

Leeds United v Aston Villa

Leeds are winless in their last five Premier League games against Aston Villa (D2 L3), since a 3-0 away win in October 2020.

Aston Villa have lost just one of their last 11 Premier League away games against Leeds (W4 D6), going down 3-1 in May 2003 under Graham Taylor.

Leeds have failed to score in each of their last three home league games against Aston Villa – they’ve never gone four without a goal at Elland Road against an opponent, while only at Everton (a current run of five) have Aston Villa kept more consecutive clean sheets.

Each of Leeds’ last seven Premier League wins have been against sides starting the day in 13th place or lower in the table. They’ve won none of their last 17 against sides in the top half (D6 L11) since a 2-1 win at Liverpool (8th) in October 2022.

Aston Villa are unbeaten in all 17 of their Premier League games against promoted sides under Unai Emery (W13 D4), with their last defeat coming in Steven Gerrard’s final game in charge in October 2022 (0-3 v Fulham).

Aston Villa (20 per cent - scored 3/15) and Leeds United (22.7 per cent - 5/22) are the two lowest ranked sides for big chance conversion in the Premier League so far this season. Indeed, only bottom side Wolves (6.7 per cent) have a lower shot conversion rate overall than Leeds (7.6 per cent).

Aston Villa have scored more goals from outside the box than any other side in the Premier League this season, netting more from distance (7) than they have from inside the area (6). It’s already as many goals as they scored from outside the area than they managed in the whole of last season.

Leeds have scored a league-high share 80 per cent of their Premier League goals in the first half of games this season (8/10). Each of their last three strikes have come in the opening 15 minutes of games, with no side netting more in this time period overall than the Whites this term (3).

Emiliano Buendía has been involved in five goals in his last five Premier League appearances for Aston Villa (3 goals, 2 assists), averaging a goal involvement every 39 minutes in these games. It’s as many goal involvements as he’d recorded in his previous 37 league appearances.

Only Erling Haaland (11) has won more attacking first contacts at corners in the Premier League this season than Leeds defender Joe Rodon (10).

Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur

Arsenal have won five of their last six Premier League games against Tottenham (D1), including the last three in a row. It’s their longest winning run against Spurs since a five game stretch between January 1987 and January 1989.

Tottenham have lost seven of their last nine Premier League games against Arsenal (W1 D1), as many defeats as they’d suffered in their previous 25 north London derbies (W9 D9).

Arsenal have lost just one of their last 32 Premier League home games against Tottenham (W19 D12), going down 3- 2 in November 2010.

Arsenal have scored in each of their last 26 Premier League home games against Tottenham, netting at least twice in each of the last eight. It’s their longest home scoring streak against an opponent in the competition, while only against Leicester have they had a longer run scoring 2+ (9 between 1997-2016).

Arsenal have only conceded once in eight home games in all competitions this season, with Erling Haaland netting for Man City in a 1-1 draw in September. The Gunners have won their last five at the Emirates, last winning six in a row without conceding between April and September 2008.

Tottenham are the only side still unbeaten away from home in the Premier League this season (W4 D1). Indeed, Spurs have the joint-most points (13), the joint-most goals (12) and the fewest goals conceded (3) of any side on the road this term.

Arsenal have scored both more goals from set pieces (excluding penalties) both overall (10) and as a per centage (50 per cent) than any other side in the Premier League this season. Meanwhile, no side have conceded fewer set piece goals than Spurs this season (2). 

Spurs manager Thomas Frank won his first ever Premier League game in charge against Arsenal in August 2021 but is since winless in seven against the Gunners (D2 L5).

This will be the first Premier League north London derby without either Harry Kane or Son Heung-min appearing for Tottenham since a 1-1 draw at the Emirates Stadium in September 2014. Between them, Kane (14) and Son (8) are responsible for 27 per cent of Spurs’ Premier League goals against Arsenal (22/82).

Arsenal midfielder Martín Zubimendi has completed 445 passes while under pressure from opponents in the Premier League this season, with only Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson completing more (492).

Manchester United v Everton

Manchester United have won 42 Premier League games against Everton, the most wins any side has against another in the competition.

Everton have won just one of their last 12 Premier League games against Man Utd (D5 L6), a 1-0 home win in April 2022. They’ve won just one of their last 32 against them at Old Trafford (D8 L23), 1-0 in December 2013.

Manchester United have won their last four Premier League home games, more than they had in their previous 13 at Old Trafford (W3 D2 L8). They last had a longer run between April and August 2023 (8).

Everton are winless in their last nine Premier League games on a Monday night (7pm or later), since a 2-1 win against Arsenal in December 2021 (D5 L4). Away from home, the Toffees are winless in 10 Monday night matches (D4 L6) since a 3-0 win at Sunderland in September 2016.

Manchester United have opened the scoring, gone behind, but gone on to avoid defeat in their last two Premier League matches, drawing 2-2 with both Nottingham Forest and Tottenham. They’re the first team to do so in consecutive games since Man City in May/August 2012 (3-2 wins v QPR and Southampton), while no side has ever done so three times in a row.

No side have scored more first half goals than Manchester United in the Premier League this season (11), while only Arsenal and Crystal Palace (4 each) have shipped fewer before halftime (4). However, the Red Devils have conceded more goals in the second half than any other side this term (14).

Everton have used fewer players than any other side so far in the Premier League this season (19) and also have the oldest average starting XI in the competition this term (28y 190d).

Only Brighton (232) have applied more pressure in the opponents half per game than Everton (224) in the Premier League this season. Meanwhile, Toffees’ Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall leads the way for total pressures in the opposition half this season among midfielders (503).

Bryan Mbeumo has been involved in more Premier League goals than any other Man Utd player this season (6 – 5 goals, 1 assist). However, Everton are the only side the Cameroonian has faced more than twice in the competition without registering a single goal or assist (8 games).

Jack Grealish had provided four assists from five chances created in his first three Premier League appearances for Everton this season, earning him the August player of the month. Since then, he’s created 19 chances in seven games, but none of them have been converted