It’s Matchday 2 of the Premier League which promises more exciting and mouth-watering clashes than the opening day.
Defending champions, Leicester City and runner-up, Arsenal, clash after disappointing in their first game of the season. While Manchester United’s clash with Southampton is the first ever Premiership clash on Friday.
In case you’re a little bit confused, here’s a rundown of five games you should watch this weekend.
- Manchester United vs. Southampton
Venue: Old Trafford
Kickoff: Friday, 8pm
Head-to-head: Man Utd 23, Draw 4, Southampton 7
Match facts:
Southampton are unbeaten in their last three away Premier League matches against Manchester United (W2 D1). United had won 13 of 14 previous fixtures.
The Saints have won their last two league trips to Old Trafford. They have never won three in a row there in their entire league history.
Jose Mourinho has lost four of his last seven home league matches as a manager, the same number he’d lost in his previous 232 league matches on home soil (W190 D38 L4).
- Stoke City vs. Manchester City
Venue: Britannia Stadium
Kickoff: Saturday, 12:30pm
Head-to-head: Stoke 3, Draw 5, Man City 8
Match facts:
Stoke City have won two of their last four Premier League matches against Man City, after winning only one of their previous 12 against them (D5 L6).
Man City’s only previous Premier League win at the newly-named bet365 Stadium came in February 2015. They have drawn five and lost two of the other seven matches they’ve played there, scoring only four goals.
Sergio Aguero has netted six goals in six Premier League matches against Stoke.
- Burnley vs. Liverpool
Venue: Turf Moor
Kickoff: Saturday, 3pm
Head-to-head: Burnley 0, Draw 0, Liverpool 4
Match facts:
Burnley have never scored a Premier League goal against Liverpool, losing all four of their previous encounters with the Reds.
Liverpool’s 100% win record against the Clarets is one they hold against only two other teams (Cardiff City and AFC Bournemouth) in Premier League history.
Burnley’s last home win over Liverpool in the league came in September 1974. They last scored against the Reds in March 1975 and haven’t found the net in six matches since.
- Watford vs. Chelsea
Venue: Vicarage Road
Kickoff: Saturday, 3pm
Head-to-head: Watford 1, Draw 2, Chelsea 3
Match facts
Watford have met Chelsea three times at Vicarage Road in the Premier League (W1 D1 L1), with their only win coming back in September 1999.
Antonio Conte and Walter Mazzarri met seven times in Serie A as managers, Mazzarri only coming out on top only once.
Watford’s 1-0 win in 1999 is the Hornets’ only win over the Blues in their last 15 meetings in all competitions (D5 L9).
- Leicester City vs. Arsenal
Venue: King Power Stadium
Kickoff: Saturday, 5:30pm
Head-to-head: Leicester 1, Draw 6, Arsenal 13
Match facts:
Leicester and Arsenal, who finished 1st and 2nd last season, both lost their opening matches. The last time the top two from the previous season in England’s top flight both lost on opening day was in 1953/54.
Arsenal have scored four Premier League hat-tricks against Leicester (Dennis Bergkamp, Nicolas Anelka, Thierry Henry and Alexis Sanchez), the joint-most against one opponent in Premier League history.
Claudio Ranieri will be looking for his 100th Premier League win as a manager in this match.
