Since early August, the Premier League has been pushing itself to the limit in order to make room on the calendar for the 2022 World Cup. The final round of games before players are formally freed for international service on Monday mark the arrival of that moment.
There won’t be another Premier League match until Boxing Day, which is six weeks from now, when each of the 20 clubs has played on either a Saturday or Sunday. That implies that the table will remain in its current standings for a while after the game on Sunday evening.
It’s critical to finish on a high note because depending on the outcomes, a new leader and bottom club may emerge.
This is a thread for Matchweek 16 of the 2022/23 Premier League season, join the discussion and share your views on the various matches.
Manchester City won home and away against Brentford in the Premier League last season. They have never won three consecutive league games against the Bees (10 meetings).
Manchester City have won their last 11 Premier League home games, their longest such run since a run of 14 in the 2017/18 campaign. They have scored at least twice in their last 15 at the Etihad, with only Liverpool having a longer run of scoring 2+ goals in Premier League home games (16 between February and December 2019).
Brentford are one of four teams yet to win away from home in the Premier League this season (D4 L3). Only Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest and Wolverhampton Wanderers (2 each) have gained fewer points on the road than the Bees (4).
Manchester City are averaging more high turnovers per game than any other side in the Premier League this season (10.8). Only Everton (27) have faced more shots from high turnovers than Brentford thus far this term (25).
As well as being the top scorer in the Premier League this season, Erling Haaland’s goals have been worth a league-high 13 points to Manchester City. It is the most points won by a Manchester City player in a single Premier League campaign since 2016/17 (Sergio Aguero, 13).
3 - Ivan Toney has scored 2+ goals on three occasions in the Premier League this season; only Erling Haaland (5) has done so in more different matches.
16 - Brentford have never lost a Premier League game when scoring first, winning 13 and drawing three of the 16 occasions when they’ve opened the scoring. Resolute.
100% shot accuracy
50 touches
10 touches in opp. box
9 duels won
7 aerial duels won (most)
6 shots on target (most)
5 passes into final ⅓
4 x possession won
2 clearances
2 goals
1 through ball
Dean Smith
Ivan Toney opened the scoring at the Etihad, taking his goal tally to the season to 9
He is now the second highest scoring Englishman this season ahead of Callum Wilson (6), Marcus Rashford (4), Bukayo Saka (4) and Raheem Sterling (3)
Should he be going to Qatar?
14 - 2020/21
