After yet another best weekend of football so far this season, so we need to deliver another quality serving of stats and predictions with our 2020-2021 Premier League Predictions Week 8 and Preview. It will hopefully deliver loads of stats and a decent prediction or two for the discerning football fan. Including a new prediction based on H2H stats.
It’s a slow burner this week, with the two Friday games not really capturing the imagination, but ending with Liverpool v Manchester City.
An international break looms to steal our fun, so enjoy this week even more.
Our preview ambles through all ten Premier League fixtures, with a bunch of visuals, stats and figures for some barely interesting reading. And if that isn’t enough, we throw in our 2020-21 Premier League Week 8 Predictions for each game.
Come for the stats, stay for the predictions.
Premier League Week 8 Predictions – Preview Summary
H2H stats are for all time unless stated, and other stats are based on last season.
This week we have included a new prediction feature based on a bunch of stats, which are explained at the end to save you time now.
FRIDAY GAMES
BRIGHTON v BURNLEY
MATCH STATS
Why Brighton can win
Brighton have twice the xG of Burnley so far this season, and they are slightly out performing it too, unlike Burnley.
Brighton have scored more goals this season than Man City, Man Utd, Arsenal and Wolves.
Why Burnley can win.
Burnley have a 100% winning record against Brighton on a Friday.
Burnley also haven’t lost in the last four trips to Brighton (1W 3D)
100% of Burnley’s goals scored this season have come on the road. 100% of Burnley’s one point total has come on the road.
Despite playing decent football, and looking OK against bigger opponents, Brighton are still 16th with one win, and none of those at home.
Barely Interesting Stat:
Burnley have never lost to Brighton in a game in November.
Why Should We Care
Not the most inspiring game to kick off the week is it? This isn’t quite a relegation six pointer yet, but it probably will be by the time they meet again.
We Say….
Brighton 1 Burnley 1
S&C Computer Says….
SOUTHAMPTON v NEWCASTLE
MATCH STATS
Why Southampton can win
All but one of their points this year have come against sides from the midlands or further north.
Southampton have never lost a midweek game at home to Newcastle.
Southampton have won their last two home games 2-0.
Newcastle’s 1-0 win at Southampton last season was the first home loss since their most recent return to the Premier League.
Why Newcastle can win.
They beat no less a team than previous top four side Everton last weekend.
Newcastle have won the last three games v Southampton and not lost any of the last six games.
Newcastle are unbeaten away from home this season.
Barely Interesting Stat:
If Newcastle had scored one more goals to this point their current season record would be 11 goals scored, 11 goals conceded, 11 points and sitting in 11th.
Why Should We Care
Southampton have been a good early season story with their lofty position, but it was really only continuing their decent second half form from last season. But without Danny Ings? Che Adams has been talked about as the new Danny Ings Ings, and now he has the chance to do it solo.
We Say….
Southampton 2 Newcastle 0
S&C Computer Says….
EVERTON v MANCHESTER UTD
MATCH STATS
Why Everton can win
Everton are 4/4 after taking the lead. They’ve scored six first half goals this season to Man Utd’s three.
Man Utd have won just two of seven at Everton since Sir Alex retired.
Why Man Utd can win.
Man Utd have a 100% record away this season.
They are also second for most points won after going behind.
No team has scored more goals in injury time in both halves as a % of their total goals (22%).
Man Utd have won the last three matches between these sides on a Saturday, the last two being at Everton.
Barely Interesting Stat:
These teams have scored a combined one goal from their last two matches.
Why Should We Care
Everton are great at home, Man Utd are much better away. Looks a decent early kick off.
We Say….
Everton 1 Man Utd 1
S&C Computer Says….
CRYSTAL PALACE v LEEDS UTD
MATCH STATS
Why Crystal Palace can win
Zaha if he doesn’t fall over?
Why Leeds Utd can win.
Leeds scored as many goals in their last away match as Crystal Palace have scored at home this season in three games. Patrick Bamford has five goals himself away from home.
Leeds have almost twice as many shots on goals than Crystal Palace and shots on target.
Leeds are two goals ahead of their expected goals while Palace are slightly behind.
Leeds have only lost one of the last seven games v Crystal Palace.
Leeds have won five of their past six away games.
Barely Interesting Stat:
Crystal Palace haven’t beaten Leeds at home on a Saturday since 1987.
Why Should We Care
Leeds are good viewing no matter the opposition.
We Say….
Crystal Palace 0 Leeds 2
S&C Computer Says….
CHELSEA v SHEFFIELD UTD
MATCH STATS
Why Chelsea can win
Chelsea are currently 5.49 goals ahead of their xG and Sheffield Utd are 4.23 behind.
Sheffield Utd haven’t won any of their last nine away games and have lost the last five straight on the road.
Why Sheffield Utd can win.
Chelsea failed to beat the Blades last season.
Sheffield Utd didn’t lose an away game in London last season.
Barely Interesting Stat:
Sheffield Utd won the first three clashes between these sides from when the Premier League started in 92-93. The Blades were relegated not long after.
Why Should We Care
Chelsea are starting to look like a side worth watching with their off season recruits playing and coming good. Or this could be Sheffield Utd’s turning point.
We Say….
Chelsea 4 Sheffield Utd 0
S&C Computer Says….
WEST HAM v FULHAM
MATCH STATS
Why West Ham can win
West Ham have flogged Wolves and drew with Man City at home in their last two games. Plus decent performances v Spurs and Liverpool in the other two games. But can they be trusted against Fulham.
Fulham last beat West Ham away in 2004 – ten games ago. That was in the Cup. Add another two games for a league win.
West Ham have scored three goals in each of the last three home games v Fulham.
Why Fulham can win.
Fulham are high on confidence after their first win of the season got them out of the bottom three.
Barely Interesting Stat:
Fulham haven’t beaten West Ham on a Sunday since 2001. Seven wins and four draws for West Ham.
Why Should We Care
West Ham have done well against big teams, now for some easier teams. Fulham getting better each week.
We Say….
West Ham 1 Fulham 1
S&C Computer Says….
WEST BROM v SPURS
MATCH STATS
Why West Brom can win
The last visit by a London team to the Hawthorns ended in a 3-3 draw.
West Brom beat Spurs in their most recent clash in 2018. 1-0 at the Hawthorns.
Spurs haven’t won in their last three visits to West Brom.
Why Spurs can win.
Spurs have a 100% record away this season.
Spurs have scored four times as many goals on the road this season than West Brom have done at home. And their three came in just one game.
West Brom haven’t won any of their last seven home games.
Spurs’ xG is 11 goals higher than West Brom’s.
Spurs also have twice the amount of Shots on target.
Barely Interesting Stat:
Spurs have won just one of the last six games between these sides in November going back to 1973.
Why Should We Care
Spurs look great away – averaging four goals a game away this season.
We Say….
West Brom 0 Spurs 4
S&C Computer Says….
LEICESTER v WOLVES
MATCH STATS
Why Leicester can win
Vardy is looking good again.
Wolves have taken more shots this season (+2.3 per game) but Leicester have a better shots on target per game than Wolves (+1.5).
Leicester have scored six points from losing positions this season. Wolves 0.
Leicester’s xG this season is almost double Wolves.
Why Wolves can win.
Wolves haven’t lost any of the last four matches between these sides. Although they have won only the one game.
Leicester have won only one of the eight games played on a Sunday.
Barely Interesting Stat:
Despite sitting sixth on the table, only the bottom four have scored fewer goals this season.
The last two games between these sides have ended 0-0 and three of the last four.
Why Should We Care
Leicester looked good last weekend, but with the last two games 0-0, perhaps you are better off saving yourself for Liverpool-Man City.
We Say….
Leicester 1 Wolves 1
S&C Computer Says….
MANCHESTER CITY v LIVERPOOL
MATCH STATS
Why Man City can win
Man City have won the last three league matches at home v Liverpool.
Man City have lost just one of their last 11 home games v Man City.
The away side have won just once in the last 21 games going back to 2010.
Why Liverpool can win.
Liverpool’s 19 shots per game is currently the best in the league. Man City are second three shots per game behind.
Liverpool top the xG too. And a mere seven goals ahead of Man City.
Barely Interesting Stat:
Liverpool have never lost to Manchester City on a Sunday – 22 games – 12 draws – 10 wins.
Why Should We Care
If you can’t care about this we question your football credentials. In saying that, the occasional big team clashes end up a little dull.
We Say….
Man City 1 Liverpool 1
S&C Computer Says….
ARSENAL v ASTON VILLA
MATCH STATS
Why Arsenal can win
Arsenal finally beat Man Utd away and should be on a high after that result.
At home Arsenal have won the last four straight and eight of the last nine.
Why Aston Villa can win.
Aston Villa are yet to concede a goal away from home this season.
They also have a 100% on the road this season.
Aston Villa have five more shots a game than Arsenal. Better xG, and is outperforming it more than Arsenal. Although both teams have the same expected points.
Aston Villa have won the last meeting of these sides – 1-0.
Barely Interesting Stat:
Aston Villa are yet to concede a goal away from home this season.
Why Should We Care
Because this is the last game before the international break.
We Say….
Arsenal 1 Aston Villa 2
S&C Computer Says….
