The Barclays Premier League was back with a bang last week,
with 30 goals going in during the first weekend of the 2015/16 season, and
Matchweek 2 promises more action-packed entertainment.
Aston Villa will aim for their first home BPL win against
Manchester United in 20 years on Friday, the 28-match unbeaten streak in August
matches for defending champions will be tested at Manchester City and debutants
AFC Bournemouth visit Anfield for their first league match against Liverpool.
For key stats from all 10 matches, read below.
Friday 14 August
7:45pm Aston Villa v Manchester United
Aston Villa have not beaten Manchester United at home in the
Barclays Premier League since August 1995 (D7 L12).
The Red Devils have won more matches against Aston Villa
(32) than any side against a single opponent in BPL history.
Wayne Rooney has scored more league goals against Aston
Villa than any other side (13).
Aston Villa have not won their opening two games of a
Barclays Premier League season since 1999/00.
Saturday 15 August
12.45pm Southampton v Everton
Southampton are unbeaten in six home Barclays Premier League
matches against Everton (W3 D3), while Everton have not scored in their last
three visits to St Mary’s.
Three of the last six goals in this fixture have been own
goals (Antolin Alcaraz, Seamus Coleman and Romelu Lukaku).
Graziano Pelle has scored five goals in his last eight BPL
appearances, after going the previous 14 matches without a goal.
Everton have kept one clean sheet in their last 17 away
matches in the top flight.
Sunderland v Norwich City
Sunderland have won one of their past six Barclays Premier
League matches against Norwich City (D2 L3).
Norwich City have scored just once in their last six visits
to the Stadium of Light (D2 L4).
Sunderland have picked up seven points in four home matches
under Dick Advocaat (W2 D1 L1). They had won seven points in their previous 11
home fixtures before his appointment.
Norwich have won just one point in their last nine BPL away
matches (D1 L8).
Swansea City v Newcastle United
Since being promoted to the Barclays Premier League, Swansea
City have collected more points against Newcastle United han any other side (17
- W5 D2 L1).
Papiss Cisse has netted four times in four BPL appearances
against the Swans.
Bafetimbi Gomis has scored six goals in his last seven
Barclays Premier League matches for Swansea City.
Newcastle United have lost six successive top-flight away
trips.
Tottenham Hotspur v Stoke City
Tottenham Hotspur lost both of their Barclays Premier League
matches against Stoke City last season, this after winning the previous three.
Charlie Adam, who has netted five goals in his last nine
league matches, has scored three times and been sent off twice in seven
top-flight matches against Spurs.
Harry Kane could make his 50th BPL appearance in this match
and has scored 24 goals in 49 matches. Only 15 players have scored 25+ goals in
their first 50 appearances in the competition.
Spurs fielded the youngest side on Matchweek 1, with the
average age of their team at Old Trafford 25 years 28 days.
Watford v West Bromwich Albion
Watford are winless in 14 league matches against West
Bromwich Albion (D6 L8, all in second tier). They have not met in the top
flight since December 1985.
At 29 years and 14 days, West Brom fielded the oldest side
in terms of average age on Matchweek 1.
Miguel Layun failed to score in any of his 17 competitive
appearances for Watford last season when they were a Championship club, but
netted in his first ever BPL appearance last weekend.
Rickie Lambert has scored five goals in his last two
appearances against Watford, including a hat-trick at Vicarage Road for
Southampton back in February 2012.
West Ham United v Leicester City
West Ham have won seven of their previous eight home Barclays
Premier League matches against Leicester City, losing the other in August 2000.
Leicester have won 25 points in the BPL since 1 April 2015;
four more than any other side.
Both Leicester City and West Ham are looking to win their
opening two matches of a Barclays Premier League season for the first time
since 1997/98.
West Ham are looking to win back-to-back league fixtures for
the first time in 2015.
Sunday 16 August
1.30pm Crystal Palace v Arsenal
Crystal Palace have been beaten in each of their last five
Barclays Premier League encounters with Arsenal.
Arsenal's victories last season in this fixture both came by
a 2-1 scoreline, with a goal in the 45th minute both times.
Alan Pardew has won 11 out of 19 league matches in charge of
Crystal Palace so far. No Eagles manager has won more in a single spell at the
club in the BPL.
Arsenal have won 16 points in their last six league away
matches (W5 D1).
4pm Manchester City v Chelsea
Manchester City have won only two of their last nine matches
against Chelsea in the Barclays Premier League (D3 L4).
Chelsea have not lost any of their last 28 BPL fixtures in
the month of August (W23 D5). Their last league defeat in the month came on 23
August 2006, when they lost 2-1 at Middlesbrough.
Jose Mourinho has won seven and lost just two of the 12
meetings as a coach with Manuel Pellegrini (D3).
Sergio Aguero has found the net nine times in his last eight
league appearances.
Monday 17 August
8pm Liverpool v AFC Bournemouth
Liverpool have never lost to AFC Bournemouth in six previous
cup fixtures (W4 D2). This will be their first league meeting.
AFC Bournemouth's two previous trips to Anfield to face the
Reds have ended in a 4-1 defeat (FA Cup third round replays in 1927 and 1968).
No side won more away matches (13) or collected more points
away (44) than AFC Bournemouth in the Championship last season.
Christian Benteke has scored 11 goals in his last 12
Barclays Premier League appearances.
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