⚽️ Premier League Matchweek 24: Previews, Fixtures, Results, Stats, Live Updates and More

[Goodness]

Arsenal kick off a huge Premier League weekend looking to reclaim top spot.

A loss to Manchester City in the week has seen the champions retake the lead atop the table, although the Gunners could move ahead of them with a win at Aston Villa.

They will meet former manager Unai Emery at Villa Park during Saturday’s lunchtime kick-off before a busy 3pm schedule.

City travel to Nottingham Forest knowing whether or not their title rivals have dropped points, while Chelsea host Southampton with Graham Potter under pressure. Crystal Palace and Brentford will contest a London derby of sorts and Fulham play high-flying Brighton.

A huge clash between Newcastle and Liverpool rounds off an action-packed Saturday.

On Sunday, in-form Manchester United will meet a free-scoring Leicester team at Old Trafford in what looks a fascinating game.

Finally, the weekend action wraps up with a fierce London derby at Tottenham, with West Ham heading to north London for the 4:30pm kick-off

This is a thread for Matchweek 24 of the 2022/23 Premier League season. Join the discussion and share your views on the various matches.

[Goodness]

Matchweek 24 Fixtures

[Goodness]

Aston Villa vs Arsenal

• Aston Villa have conceded the most (nine) goals in the opening 15 minutes this season, while Arsenal have conceded the fewest (none).

• Ollie Watkins has scored three Premier League goals against Arsenal – the only team he has netted more often against is Liverpool.

• Bukayo Saka has scored or assisted 12 goals in his last 14 Premier League starts against the teams from the Big Six (nine goals and three assists)

• Arsenal have won their last three matches against Aston Villa in all competitions.

• Arsenal are winless in their last four games across all competitions.

[Goodness]

Chelsea vs Southampton Key Stats

• Chelsea lost the reverse fixture 2-1 against Southampton in August. They have not faced defeat in consecutive league matches against Saints since December 1993.

• Chelsea have drawn their last three Premier League matches, previously having a longer run of consecutive draws in their final five outings in the 2006/07 campaign.

• Southampton have kept just one clean sheet in their most recent 28 Premier League matches, a 1-0 away win at Bournemouth in October. Their last clean sheet against a side that was not newly promoted to the division that season was in April 2022 at home to Arsenal, a 1-0 win.

• Chelsea’s seven Premier League games in 2023 have seen just nine goals scored (four for, five against), with only games involving Newcastle (5) and Fulham (8) seeing fewer. They have not scored more than once in any of their last seven league games, last going longer without scoring at least twice during a nine-game run in November and December 2010.

• Mason Mount has been involved in five goals in his five Premier League starts against Southampton (four goals, one assist) – only against Norwich (7) has he been involved in more.

[Goodness]

Liverpool supporters will be delighted to hear that Virgil van Dijk is in contention to start against Newcastle in the Premier League this weekend.

The Dutch defender is one of the side’s most important players and the news of his imminent return will be music to Liverpool supporter’s ears.

Van Dijk has been out for over six weeks after suffering a hamstring injury in the 3-1 defeat to Brentford at the start of last month. His absence has felt along with the other long list of players who have been on and off the physio table throughout the season.

Speaking ahead of the game, Klopp revealed that he ‘looks absolutely ready’.

[Samuel]

Line ups

[Goodness]

Arsenal have been dealt a major blow ahead of their fixture against Aston Villa on Saturday.

Thomas Partey missed Arsenal’s crucial game against Manchester City on Wednesday night in the Premier League and it showed just how vital he is to their performances.

Arsenal lost the game 3-1, dealing a huge blow to their title chances.

Manchester City now find themselves at the top of the Premier League, but Arsenal do have a game in hand. The Gunners face Aston Villa in a lunchtime kick-off, which gives them an excellent chance of regaining their position at the top of the table, for a few hours at least.

However, according to journalist Chris Wheatley, Partey will miss their game against Aston Villa.

[Goodness]

HT | Aston Villa 2-1 Arsenal

Goals from Watkins and Coutinho sees Villa go in at the break ahead after Saka had fired Arsenal level

[Goodness]

Most goal involvements by English players in the Premier League this season:

◎ Harry Kane: 18
◉ Bukayo Saka: 17
◎ Ivan Toney: 17
◎ Marcus Rashford: 15

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vs Southampton
vs Leicester City
vs Manchester City
vs Arsenal

Ollie Watkins is on fire.

[Goodness]

Aston Villa’s record when leading at half-time this season:

◉ Won: 5
◎ Drawn: 0
◎ Lost: 0

Arsenal have to go where no team has gone.

[Sholadoye]

HALF-TIME: Aston Villa 2-1 Arsenal

Shots: 4-2
Shots on target: 2-2
Possession: 32.9%-67.1%
Corners: 0-3

[Samuel]

The line-ups of Chelsea vs Southampton have been announced

Chelsea XI: Azpilicueta, Koulibaly, Kovacic, Kepa, Mount, Chilwell, Felix, Benoît Badiashile, Noni Madueke, Enzo Fernández, David Datro Fofana

Subs: Sterling, Marcus Bettinelli, Trevoh Chalobah, Zakaria, Havertz, Conor Gallagher, Wesley Fofana, Mykhaylo Mudryk, Lewis Hall

Southampton XI: Armstrong, Mohamed Elyounoussi, Ward-Prowse, Bednarek, Paul Onuachu, Maitland-Niles, Perraud, Gavin Bazunu, Bella-Kotchap, Kamaldeen Sulemana, Roméo Lavia

Subs: Walcott, Caballero, Adam Armstrong, Lyanco, Walker-Peters, Djenepo, I. Diallo, Sékou Mara, Carlos Alcaraz

[Samuel]

The line-ups of Nottingham Forest vs Man City have been announced.

Nottingham Forest XI: Navas, Colback, Shelvey, Freuler, Aurier, Felipe, Joe Worrall, Gibbs-White, Lodi, Brennan Johnson, Danilo

Subs: Hennessey, A.Ayew, Wood, Harry Toffolo, Gustavo Scarpa, Mangala, Sam Surridge, Bonaventure, Neco Williams

Man City XI: Walker, Gundogan, De Bruyne, Laporte, Ederson, Grealish, Ruben Dias, Bernardo, Rodri, Haaland, Foden

Subs: Stefan Ortega, Mahrez, Ake, Akanji, Kalvin Phillips, Sergio Gómez, Cole Palmer, Julián Álvarez, Rico Lewis

[Samuel]

Oleksandr Zinchenko’s first-ever Premier League goal came at the perfect time

[Samuel]

Coutinho scores his first Premier League goal in 272 days against Arsenal

[Sholadoye]

TEAM NEWS​:rotating_light:
Wolves vs Bournemouth

[Goodness]

A thriller at Villa!

Arsenal return to the top of the PL. For now…

[Goodness]

Arsenal’s last five games in all competitions:

1-0 vs Man City
1-0 vs Everton
1-1 Brentford
1-3 vs Man City
2-4 vs Aston Villa

An absolutely HUGE win for the Gunners.

[Goodness]

4 - Aston Villa have conceded 4+ goals in consecutive home matches for only the second time in their top-flight history, with the previous instance coming in 1935-36. Flustered.