EPL Week 27 Previews: Insights | The Sporting Base
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EPL Week 27 Preview: Stats, Insights & Everything You Need To Know About Your Team’s Chances

February 21, 2019

By Lindsay


The EPL returns this week with some big names set do battle including Manchester United & Liverpool. See below for stats, insights, what you didn’t know about your club & everything else you need to know about your teams chances.


CARDIFF VS WATFORD – SATURDAY 23 FEBRUARY, 7:45PM, CARDIFF CITY STADIUM


Cardiff

Last 5 Matches: DLLWW
Ladder Position: 17th 
Goal Difference: -23 (GF 24, GA 47)

Watford

Last 5 Matches: WDLDW
Ladder Position: 8th 
Goal Difference: 0 (GF 34, GA 34)

Watford beat Cardiff 3-2 at home in December and would love to pick up its third straight win over the Welsh side. Prior to Watford’s current run, this was a fixture dominated by Cardiff however the tide seems to have swung back towards the Hornets.

Both of these sides have been involved in some very low scoring clashes as of late with each of Watford’s last five in the Premier League (and the FA Cup Fifth Round) having three or fewer goals and Cardiff’s last five in the league also having three or fewer.

Did You Know?

Cardiff

The Bluebirds are seeking a third consecutive top-flight victory for the first time since February 1961.

Watford

Watford are looking to secure their first league double over Cardiff since the 2005/06 campaign. 

Betting Insights

  • The ‘Over 2.5 Goals’ market has hit in each of Watford’s last six EPL night matches.
  • The ‘Both Teams to Score’ market has hit in each of Watford’s last six EPL night matches.
  • Across all competitions, Andre Gray has been the first goal-scorer in two of his last four appearances.

TIP: Draw


WEST HAM VS FULHAM – SATURDAY 23 FEBRUARY, 7:45PM, LONDON STADIUM


West Ham

Last 5 Matches: WLLDD
Ladder Position: 10th 
Goal Difference: -7 (GF 32, GA 39)

Fulham

Last 5 Matches: LLWLL
Ladder Position: 19th 
Goal Difference: -33 (GF 25, GA 58)

A big start to the weekend for these two London clubs in very different situations.

Fulham sit eight points off Premier League safety, while West Ham are the exact definition of mid-table sitting in tenth place and looking to hold their position.

Neither side is bringing a great deal of form to this clash however both probably enjoyed their weekend off having already been eliminated from the FA Cup. Before the break, Fulham had lost its last two and four of its last five while West Ham had two draws and two losses from its last four.

Did You Know?

West Ham

West Ham were 2-0 winners in the reverse fixture in December and are looking to complete the league double over Fulham for the first time since 2008/09.

Fulham

Fulham are the only Premier League team without an away win this season.

Betting Insights

  • Fulham has lost 10 of its last 11 EPL away matches.
  • The ‘Over 3.5 Goals’ market has hit in four of West Ham’s last five EPL matches as a home favourite.
  • The ‘Both Teams to Score’ market has hit in four of West Ham’s last five EPL matches as a home favourite.

TIP: West Ham



BURNLEY VS TOTTENHAM – SATURDAY 23 FEBRUARY, 12:30PM, TURF MOOR


Burnley

Last 5 Matches: WDDDW
Ladder Position: 15th 
Goal Difference: -18 (GF 29, GA 47)

Spurs

Last 5 Matches: LWWWW
Ladder Position: 3rd 
Goal Difference: +29 (GF 54, GA 25)

One of the bigger mismatches of the week and tough imagining any result other than a comfortable Spurs win. Burnley are undefeated through their five most-recent matches, but this is arguably their toughest task since Christmas, and I can’t imagine their defence will be able to hold Spurs for the full 90 minutes.

Did You Know?

Burnley

Burnley’s Ashley Barnes has scored in each of his last three Premier League appearances, including scoring from the penalty spot in his last two. Only five players have ever scored a penalty in three consecutive PL matches before.

Spurs

Spurs have scored a league-high 12 PL goals from outside the area in 2018/19, while Burnley have conceded the same amount.

Betting Insights

  • Tottenham has won nine of its last 10 EPL away matches.
  • The ‘Both Teams to Score in the Second Half’ market has hit in each of Burnley’s last three EPL matches.
  • Across all competitions, Son Heung-min has scored 11 goals in his last 12 appearances for Tottenham.

TIP: Spurs



BOURNEMOUTH VS WOLVES – SUNDAY 24 FEBRUARY, 3:00PM, VITALITY STADIUM


Bournemouth

Last 5 Matches: LWWLL
Ladder Position: 11th 
Goal Difference: -10 (GF 37, GA 47)

Wolves

Last 5 Matches: LWWWD
Ladder Position: 7th 
Goal Difference: +1 (GF 34, GA 33)

A genuine case to be made for both of these clubs, particularly given this match will take place at Dean Court. Wolves were held to a draw by the enigmatic Newcastle last weekend, but their three performances prior to that were outstanding and if they are any chance of claiming a European berth this season, they need to be winning matches like this one.

Did You Know?

Bournemouth

Only Fulham have won a higher percentage of their PL points in home matches this season than AFC Bournemouth.

Wolves

Wolves have won 11 PL matches this season, their joint-most in a single campaign in the competition, which was in 2010/11.

Betting Insights

  • There have been three or more goals scored during the second half in four of Bournemouth’s last seven EPL matches as a home underdog.
  • The ‘Over 2.5 Goals’ market has hit in each of Bournemouth’s last six EPL day matches as a home underdog.
  • Across all competitions, Raul Jimenez has scored a goal in three of Wolverhampton’s last four away day matches.

TIP: Wolves



NEWCASTLE VS HUDDERSFIELD TOWN – SUNDAY 24 FEBRUARY, 3:00PM, EMIRATES STADIUM


Newcastle

Last 5 Matches: LWWLD
Ladder Position: 16th 
Goal Difference: -12 (GF 22, GA 34)

Huddersfield

Last 5 Matches: DLLLL
Ladder Position: 20th 
Goal Difference: -34 (GF 14, GA 48)

Huddersfield needs to close a 14 point gap over its final 12 games or face relegation in its second Premier League season. Having Aaron Mooy back from the Asian Cup has not helped out with four straight Premier League losses and just one goal in that time.

Newcastle is perhaps the easiest opponent they have faced in that run that included Chelsea, Manchester City and Arsenal.

Did You Know?

Newcastle

Salomon Rondon has been directly involved in 41 per cent of Newcastle’s 22 PL goals this season, scoring six goals and recording three assists. He struck the Magpies’ winner in the reverse fixture against Huddersfield.

Huddersfield

Huddersfield Town have played more Saturday 3pm matches than any other Premier League side this season are yet to win in that time. Their last victory played at 3pm on a Saturday came against Watford in April 2018.

Betting Insights

  • The ‘Both Teams to Score’ market has failed to hit in each of Newcastle United’s last seven EPL matches as a home favourite.
  • The ‘Over 2.5 Goals’ market has hit in four of Newcastle United’s last five EPL day matches at St. James’ Park.
  • Huddersfield has lost three of its last four EPL matches to nil.

TIP: Newcastle



LEICESTER CITY VS CRYSTAL PALACE – SUNDAY 24 FEBRUARY, 5:30PM, KING POWER STADIUM


Leicester

Last 5 Matches: LLDLL
Ladder Position: 12th 
Goal Difference: -3 (GF 31, GA 34)

Palace

Last 5 Matches: LLDWL
Ladder Position: 13th 
Goal Difference: -7 (GF 27, GA 34)

Leicester are hoping to record their first win in six matches, while Crystal Palace, five points behind their opponents, will be looking to build on their 1-1 draw with West Ham United.

Did You Know?

Leicester

Leicester have not lost four consecutive home PL matches since January 2000.

Palace

Sixty-seven per cent of Crystal Palace’s PL goals have come in away matches this season, the highest in the league.

Betting Insights

  • The ‘Under 2.5 Goals’ market has hit in each of Leicester’s last six EPL night matches as a favourite.
  • Crystal Palace has led 1-0 at half-time in four of its last five EPL matches.
  • Christian Benteke has scored in each of his last three EPL appearances against Leicester.

TIP: Draw



ARSENAL VS SOUTHAMPTON – MONDAY 25 FEBRUARY, 2:05PM, EMIRATES STADIUM


Arsenal

Last 5 Matches: LWWLW
Ladder Position: 5th 
Goal Difference: +17 (GF 52, GA 35)

Southampton

Last 5 Matches: WWDDL
Ladder Position: 18th 
Goal Difference: -16 (GF 28, GA 44)

Since 2004, Arsenal has won back to back games against Southampton just one time in 2017.

That might be the only positive from December’s 3-2 loss at St Mary’s and the knowledge that in that same time span, Southampton has only beaten them on back to back occasions once as well.

32 of Arsenal’s 50 Premier League points have come at the Emirates but keeping a clean sheet has been a real issue with just four all season.

Did You Know?

Arsenal

Arsenal are unbeaten in their last 23 home league matches against Southampton since a 1-0 loss in November 1987.

Southampton

Having won the reverse fixture, Southampton are looking to complete their first league double over Arsenal since the 1987/88 campaign, when a 17-year-old Alan Shearer scored a hat-trick on his first league start for Saints.

Betting Insights

  • The ‘Both Teams to Score’ market has hit in each of Southampton’s last seven EPL day matches.
  • The ‘Over 2.5 Goals’ market has hit in 24 of Arsenal’s last 31 EPL matches as a favourite
  • Alexandre Lacazette has scored a goal in three of Arsenal’s last four EPL matches.

TIP: Arsenal



MANCHESTER UNITED VS LIVERPOOL – MONDAY 25 FEBRUARY, 2:05PM, OLD TRAFFORD


United

Last 5 Matches: WWDWW
Ladder Position: 4th 
Goal Difference: +17 (GF 52, GA 35)

Liverpool

Last 5 Matches: WWDDW
Ladder Position: 2nd 
Goal Difference: +44 (GF 59, GA 15)

Set for a seismic contest at Old Trafford, Manchester United and Liverpool will face off in a fixture that could have huge implications in the title race. Having played one less match than Manchester City, Liverpool will enter Week 27 second on the Premier League table due to goal difference.

With City not in league action this weekend, the Red Devils could provide a major boost to their cross-town rival’s title hopes as they look to extend their own undefeated run in the top flight to 10 matches. The odds of that occurring will be boosted if Mohamed Salah continues the trend which has seen him fail to score against United throughout his career.

Salah and his teammates also failed to score during a 0-0 Champions League result against Bayern Munich on Tuesday, whereas United’s most recent fixture ended in a 2-0 triumph over Chelsea in the FA Cup.

Did You Know?

United

Manchester United have won seven of their last nine home league matches against Liverpool.

Liverpool

Liverpool have lost just one of their last 13 PL away matches. However, against sides starting the day in the top four, they are winless in their last seven away from home.

Betting Insights

  • The ‘Over 2.5 Goals’ market has hit in each of Manchester United’s last six EPL home matches.
  • The ‘Both Teams to Score’ market has hit in each of Manchester United’s last six EPL home matches.
  • Sadio Mane has been the first goal-scorer in each of Liverpool’s last three EPL matches.
  • Paul Pogba has scored eight goals in Manchester United’s last eight EPL matches.

TIP: Manchester United


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