Useless Facts About this Weekends Fixtures

Aston Villa v Liverpool

When Villa beat Liverpool, 1-0 in May, it was the first time in 13 matches they’d beaten this weekend’s opponents at home. During that 13-game run, Villa only scored 5 goals. Villa are a very different side now. No Friedel, Luke or Ashley Young, no Downing or Reo-Coker. Mind you, Liverpool aren’t going to be able to call on Aurelio, Meireles or Cole.

Despite that recent run, these two have met 85 times in the top flight with Villa winning 38-27

Everton v Norwich

Norwich have turned up at Goodison 21 times in the league, and come away with all the points on just 6 occasions. The last time was September 1993, when they went a goal down and then turned things around sensationally with Efan Ekoku scoring 4, including a 2nd half hat-trick. Norwich won 5-1.

They’d also beaten them at Goodison in January of the same year, when a 1-0 win saw them go to the top of the table. Last time they met here, was February 2005 when a Duncan Ferguson goal was enough to give Everton a 1-0 win.

Blackburn v West Brom

West Brom have had just 1 win in their last 7 visits to Ewood Park. That was way back in April 1966, when they won 1-0. That game was the last time they’d meet for 46 years.

West Brom have been goalless at Blackburn for the past 3 visits. Unlike in 1932 when these two teams played out an exciting 4-4 draw.

Fulham v Bolton

In 18 meetings in the top flight at Craven Cottage, Fulham have only been beaten twice. That’s not happened for the last 15 games, and you have to go back to 1952 to find the last time Bolton won there. Fulham have won 12 out of the last 13 home games against Bolton.

With Bolton bottom of the table, things aren’t looking good for an away win.

Wigan v Chelsea

These two have only ever met 6 times at Wigan. Chelsea have won 5 of those. The only blot on their copybook came in September 2009 when goals from Bramble, Rodallega and Scharner gave Wigan a 3-1 win. Chelsea made up for it, though as they won 8-0 in their next meeting at Stamford Bridge and 6-0 when they returned to the DW Stadium.

Despite the 3-1 win in 2009, Wigan have only scored 5 goals in those 6 meetings.

Newcastle v Swansea

Newcastle were founded in 1882, Swansea 1912. These two have never ever met in the top flight before. The last time Swansea travelled to St. James’s Park and won was October 1980 when they won 2-1. That was in the Old Division Two. Swansea also won when they turned up in April of that year. That ended a run of 3 successive victories for Newcastle, where they’d scored 13 goals with just 2 conceded.

Wolves v Stoke

It’s been 14 visits to Molineux since Stoke last came away with a victory, and that was all the way back in 1968 when they won 4-3. It’s also a run that stretches to 1 win in the last 19 trips there.

In September 1972 the two played out an exciting 5-3 game when Wolves won. Since then, Stoke have only scored 5 goals in the next 9 visits. All this is about meetings in the top division only.

QPR v Man Utd

19 matches have been played between these two at Loftus Road, United are 7-5 in front with both teams scoring 28 goals.

May 1989 is the last time QPR beat United at home when they won 3-2. They also dumped United out of the cup that year too. The last meeting between these two at this venue was back in March 1996 when they played out a 1-1 draw.

Tottenham v Sunderland

Sunderland beat Spurs 2-1 in August 2008. That’s their only success in their last 17 visits back to September 1969, when they won 1-0. Although Sunderland did beat Spurs, 3-2 at White Hart Lane in 1978 when they were both in the old Division Two.

The more recent record is that Spurs have only won 1 of their last 3 meetings at home to Sunderland.

Sunderland’s biggest win here was a 6-0 victory in 1914.

Man City v Arsenal

In 76 league visits to Man City, Arsenal still has the upper hand with 32 wins to 25. There have been 13 goals in the last 4 meetings between these two at this venue. City’s 1-0 win in August 2006 ended a 9-match unbeaten run for Arsenal at City.

Last time they visited, Arsenal came away with a 3-0 win as Nasri, Song and Bendtner scored. It was only 2 years ago when City won 4-2, yet only Richards, Lescott and Barry from that team, stand a chance of meeting Arsenal again on Sunday.