Tottenham v Manchester City
Manchester City's defence is starting to look as formidable as their attack, conceding just twice from 52 shots in their six Barclays Premier League matches so far: both of which are the lowest in the division. This is bad news for a misfiring Tottenham attack that has needed an average of just under 20 shots to score each league goal this season - the division's third worst - and does not look capable of redressing the unhealthy imbalance in recent instances of this fixture. In their last 10 top-flight meetings, City have scored 28 goals to Spurs' nine, including a 6-0 and two 5-1 victories.
Leicester v Arsenal
For all their dominance of matches this term, Arsenal have often found a cutting edge elusive. The only side to have fired in an average of over 20 shots per match, the Gunners have needed a division-high average of 24.2 to find the net. Saturday's hosts Leicester have had no such difficulty, needing fewer attempts to score each of their goals (6.2) than anyone except West Ham. However the Foxes' opponents so far have also found scoring relatively straightforward, with one shot in every 7.4 finding its way past Kasper Schmeichel, so this could be the game that sees Arsenal's persistence finally pay off.
Liverpool v Aston Villa
Both of these sides have endured disappointing starts to the season and will surely be looking to turn things around here. If Aston Villa are to find a way past Liverpool's defence then they will need to be patient, with the home side allowing the division's smallest share of shots in the first half of matches. Just 28.4 per cent of the efforts that Simon Mignolet has had to deal with have been struck before the interval, suggesting a caution-first philosophy from Brendan Rodgers so far.
Manchester United v Sunderland
Many will be expecting a comfortable home win here and the deluge could begin earlier than expected. Sunderland have already conceded 10 first-half goals this season - twice that of any other top-flight club - which, coupled with their inability to stifle opponents, suggests this game could be over before half-time. The Black Cats have allowed more attempts at their goal than anyone except Crystal Palace - an average of 18.2 per match - and over twice the amount permitted by United (8.8).
Southampton v Swansea
Recent history does not suggest this encounter will be a goal-fest, with only seven scored in the six Premier League meetings between Southampton and Swansea to date. The last three have ended 1-0 and only once have both teams found the net. However, with Southampton's once-formidable defence currently the division's second leakiest, able to withstand just seven shots for each goal conceded so far, this could be the year that this fixture finally bursts into life.
Stoke v Bournemouth
We could see a fast start to this encounter, with these two among only three top-flight sides to have scored more than half of their Premier League goals in the first half an hour of matches this season. Stoke are continuing their habit from last term where they racked up 62.2 per cent of their league goals in the first half of matches - one of the highest proportions in the division - while visitors Bournemouth are the only side to have netted three goals inside the first quarter of an hour so far.
West Ham v Norwich
Norwich have struggled to defend at close quarters so far this season, as evidenced by the four goals they have conceded from inside their six-yard box: the most of any top-flight side. Hosts West Ham are on a hot streak and have struck 16 Premier League goals from this range since the start of last season - more than anyone except West Brom - so could continue their impressive start to the campaign here.
Newcastle v Chelsea
Steve McClaren has endured a nightmare start to life at Newcastle and getting his side to create enough chances has proved particularly difficult. The Magpies have racked up the division's lowest shot tally so far: an average of just 8.3 which is almost exactly half visitors Chelsea's 16.5. However, Newcastle have been one of Chelsea's chief bogey teams in recent seasons, having won their last three meetings at St James' Park and taking more points off the reigning champions than anyone else in the last three seasons.
Watford v Crystal Palace
We could be waiting patiently for the goals to arrive in this clash, with these two sides having conceded the division's highest percentage of goals in the second half so far this season. All of the goals Watford have conceded have come after the break, as have all but one of those shipped by Palace. The Hornets could find themselves with plenty of opportunities to continue their impressive start given that their visitors have allowed more shots than anyone else this season: an average of almost 20 per match.
West Brom v Everton
Everton's defence looks to have regained its former solidity after last season's disappointing showing, with the average of 18.2 shots faced per goal conceded higher than anyone except leaders Manchester City. This is bad news for a West Brom side that has struggled for goals this season, and it gets worse when we look at how well the Toffees tend to deal with headers: the Baggies' chief stock in trade under Tony Pulis. The 42.9 per cent of Premier League goals scored from headers by the home side since the start of last season is comfortably the division's highest, while the 12.7 per cent of goals conceded from the air by their visitors is the second lowest.
Source: PA-WIRE
