Bullet point previews of Premier League matches

20.04.2023 - 02:17 channelnewsasia.com

Match-by-match facts and statistics ahead of the next round of Premier League fixtures from April 21-23 (all times GMT):Friday, April 21 Arsenal v Southampton (1900)* Arsenal have won 25 of their 47 Premier League games against Southampton (L8 D14). * Arsenal and Southampton played out a 1-1 draw in their previous meeting in October.* League leaders Arsenal drew their last two league games, while relegation-threatened Southampton lost their last two.

Saturday, April 22Fulham v Leeds United (1130)* Following their 3-2 win at Elland Road in October, Fulham are looking to complete the league double over Leeds for the first time since 1959-60.* Fulham have beaten Leeds twice this season, winning 3-2 in the league and 2-0 in the FA Cup.* Leeds have conceded 16 goals in four league games in April, conceding at least four goals in three of those matches.Brentford v Aston Villa (1400)* After losing their first three home league games against Villa between 1935 and 1947, Brentford have won their last four in a row against them.* Villa have earned seven points from their three league away games in London under Unai Emery.* Brentford have lost their last three league games, as many as they had in their previous 21.Crystal Palace v Everton (1400)* Palace have won just one of their last 16 Premier League games against Everton (D7 L8).* Following their 3-0 win at Goodison Park in October, Everton are looking to complete their first league double over Crystal Palace since 2004-05.* Palace have won all three of their league games since Roy Hodgson's return to the club, as many as they had in their previous 18.Leicester City v Wolverhampton Wanderers (1400)* After their 4-0 win at Molineux in October, Leicester are looking to complete

Arsenal rowing Unai Emery Roy Hodgson London Leicester county Park

Arsenal have made huge strides over the last 12 months. When they ended last season with two emphatic defeats in three games to miss out on a top-four finish, their prospects of then competing for the title looked fanciful. But the summer signing of Gabriel Jesus changed the mood from despondency to excitement, and after what looks like a second consecutive run-in disappointment – despite their fine win at Newcastle – Mikel Arteta could do with pulling off the same trick: picking a player so obviously the right fit his arrival inspires teammates and supporters with the certainty of progress. Most likely, the plan is to recruit a midfielder to replace Granit Xhaka, as good at St James’ as he has been all season but still lacking the class required in a champion team. If rumours are to be believed, Declan Rice will be the man, and though his lack of finesse might be a problem, his physicality would make facing Arsenal an even more unpleasant task than it is already. Daniel Harris

Gundogan brace takes Manchester City four points clear at top of Premier League

MANCHESTER, England : Hard-charging Manchester City went four points clear of Arsenal at the top the Premier League on Saturday, beating Leeds United 2-1 with a pair of near-identical goals from Ilkay Gundogan, stretching their winning league run to 10 games.

Man City pair Erling Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne nominated for Premier League Player of the Month award

Manchester City pair Erling Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne are both on the eight-player shortlist for April's EA Sports Premier League Player of the Month.

Premier League: 10 talking points from the weekend’s action

Jack Grealish has stopped falling over. But it’s not just that. Grealish was fouled just twice against Fulham, neither of these the contact-seeking lunges that had for a while become a part of his game. Grealish isn’t necessarily cheating or diving when he does this. The take-the-foul routine is also a way of having your legs battered into a pulp over several years. Grealish carries the ball too well not to be tripped a lot. Contact will happen. Why not manage how that collision works, take the lightest of touches, fall well? But Grealish has started to stay up as well, to use his strength instead to terrorise and bully defenders. He was very good against Fulham, helping to make the opening goal, and just about surviving an ongoing battle with Kenny Tete, who was defending aggressively. Another thing here: the Fulham crowd barracked Grealish and he wagged his finger back at them. But the feeling was less outrage, more pantomime jeers, a kind of semi-buried respect. The other story of Grealish’s season is that he is now surely the most marketable English player in the league; and, grudgingly perhaps for some, one of the most likeable. Barney Ronay