The first of a busy December fixture list begin with mouth-watering encounters this weekend.
We guide you through four of the very best games from the most exciting and entertaining league in the world.
- Stoke City vs. Manchester City
Venue: Britannia Stadium
Kick-off: 1:45pm, Saturday
Head-to-head: Stoke 1, Draw 4, Man City 5
Match facts
Stoke City have won two of their 14 Barclays Premier League meetings with Manchester City (D5 L7), and one of the last 12.
Sergio Aguero has netted five goals in his five league appearances against Stoke.
At the Britannia Stadium, the Potters have lost just one of their seven BPL encounters with Man City (W1 D5), although that defeat came last time out (1-4 in February).
- Arsenal vs. Sunderland
Venue: Emirates Stadium
Kickoff: 4pm, Saturday
Head-to-head: Arsenal 6, Draw 4, Sunderland 0
Match facts
Arsenal are unbeaten in their last 11 Barclays Premier League matches against Sunderland (W7 D4) and have suffered defeat in just one of the last 23 meetings with them.
Sunderland have now won as many league matches in six matches under Sam Allardyce as they had in 17 outings under Dick Advocaat (three).
Allardyce has lost seven successive top-flight matches against Arsenal and has not beaten the Gunners in the competition since May 2010 (Blackburn Rovers 2-1 Arsenal).
- Manchester United vs. West Ham
Venue: Old Trafford
Kickoff: 4pm, Saturday
Head-to-head: Man United 8, Drawn 2, West Ham 0
Match facts
Manchester United are unbeaten in their last 13 Barclays Premier League meetings with West Ham United, winning 11 and drawing two.
West Ham have lost seven successive league fixtures at Old Trafford and have won twice there in the BPL era (W2 D0 L17).
Of teams Man Utd have faced 10 times or more at Old Trafford, the hosts’ best points per match rate in the competition is against West Ham (2.70).
- Chelsea vs. Bournemouth
Venue: Stamford Bridge
Kickoff: 6:30pm
Head-to-head: Chelsea 0, Draw 0, Bournemouth 0
Match facts
This is the first Barclays Premier League between the two but Chelsea have won their last three meetings with AFC Bournemouth in other competitions without conceding a goal.
AFC Bournemouth have used 14 English players in the league this season; more than any other club.
The Cherries have won on four of their last five league trips to London (L1).
