5 key Premier League battles this weekend

Premier League

The excitement and suspense of the Premier League returns this weekend with 10 thrilling fixtures.

Manchester City will be hoping to break their six-game winless streak in all competitions, including a midweek derby loss to Manchester United, who were humiliated last week by Chelsea.

On the other hand, London sides, Arsenal, Tottenham and West Ham will be aiming to continue their new found form in the league.

Here are five must see PL fixtures this weekend.

  1. Sunderland vs. Arsenal

Venue: Stadium of Light

Kick-off: Saturday, 12:30pm

Head-to-head: Sunderland 3, Draw 10, Arsenal 17

Match facts: Sunderland have won only one of their last 25 Premier League matches against Arsenal (D9 L15).

Arsenal have conceded only eight times in 15 visits to Sunderland in the PL, keeping a clean sheet in three of their last four trips to the Stadium of Light.

Olivier Giroud has scored five times and assisted two goals in his last six Premier League matches against Sunderland in all competitions.

  1. Manchester United vs. Burnley

Venue: Old Trafford

Kick-off: Saturday, 3pm

Head-to-head: Man Utd 2, Draw 1, Burnley 1

Match facts: United are unbeaten in their last 12 home league fixtures against Burnley, last losing to them at Old Trafford in September 1962 (W8 D4).

Burnley beat Man Utd 1-0 in their first Premier League meeting in August 2009, but are winless in the three matches since (D1 L2).

This could be United’s 100th Premier League victory over a promoted side. Their record stands at P143, W99, D30, L14.

  1. Tottenham vs. Leicester City

Venue: White Hart Lane

Kick-off: Saturday, 3pm

Head-to-Head: Tottenham 7, Draw 4, Leicester 9

Only Spurs (54) have won more Premier League points than Leicester City (53) in 2016.

Claudio Ranieri has never lost a Premier League match against Spurs (W7 D3).

Spurs are yet to concede a goal from open play in the PL this season, conceding four times from set pieces.

  1. West Brom vs. Manchester City

Venue: Hawthorns

Kick-off: Saturday, 3pm

Head-to-head: West Brom 4, Draw 3, City 13

Match facts: Albion have lost their last nine Premier League matches against City. The only side they have lost more in a row against is Chelsea (11 from 2002 to 2011).

Man City are unbeaten in their last 13 PL encounters with the Baggies, drawing once. They last lost to them in December 2008 when Roman Bednar scored a 90th-minute winner for West Brom.

David Silva has been directly involved in seven goals in his eight PL appearances against West Brom, scoring four and assisting three.

  1. Southampton vs. Chelsea

Venue: St. Mary’s Stadium

Kick-off: Sunday, 5pm

Head-to-head: Southampton 8, Draw 8, Chelsea 19

Match facts: Southampton have won only two of their last 14 Premier League matches against Chelsea, but they did beat the Blues 3-1 in October 2015 (D5 L7).

Since a 2-1 defeat to Chelsea in February last season, Saints are unbeaten in nine home PL outings (W6 D3). It is their longest home unbeaten top-flight run since March 2005 (12).

Chelsea have taken eight more points from their first nine matches than they did last season (11). This is the biggest improvement from all Premier League sides who were present in 2015/16