Stat Attack: The lowdown on Saturday’s Premier League games

All eyes will be on the title race on Saturday with leaders Arsenal and reigning Premier League champions Manchester City both in action. 

Pep Guardiola’s men go into their lunchtime showdown with Carabao Cup runners-up Newcastle five points adrift of the high-flying Gunners. 

But victory at the Etihad will put the pressure back on the North Londoners ahead of their 3pm kick-off with Bournemouth. 

Elsewhere, Chelsea and Leeds collide at Stamford Bridge in what is being billed as a must-win for both sides. 

Read on as we pick out the best Opta stats and facts ahead of Saturday’s six Matchday 26 fixtures.

Manchester City vs Newcastle (Saturday, 12.30pm, BT Sport)

City have won their last 13 Premier League home games against Newcastle — only Everton (14 vs Fulham) have had a longer winning home run against one side in the competition.

Following their 3-3 draw at St James’ Park last August, the Magpies are looking to avoid defeat in both Premier League meetings with City for the first time since 2004-05 (one win and one draw).

City have scored in their last 28 Premier League games against Newcastle since a goalless draw in November 2006. It is the joint longest goalscoring run one team has had against another in the league’s history, along with Manchester United against Leicester.

The champions are unbeaten in eight league away games (four wins and four draws), with each of the last three ending level.

Newcastle are one of three sides yet to win a Premier League game when conceding first this season, along with Brentford and Nottingham Forest. However, no side has shipped the first goal in fewer matches so far than the Magpies (five).

Arsenal vs Bournemouth (Saturday, 3pm)

Arsenal have won all six of their home games against Bournemouth in all competitions by an aggregate score of 17-2.

Bournemouth have never kept a clean sheet against the Gunners in the Premier League, winning just one of their 11 meetings with them in the competition (two draws and eight defeats). 

Since losing 2-0 to the Cherries on the opening day last season, Arsenal have won their last eight Premier League meetings with promoted sides. 

Bournemouth have lost all eight of their Premier League games against teams starting the day top of the table, conceding 27 goals in the process.

With four strikes and three assists, Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka has been involved in seven goals in his last six Premier League appearances against promoted sides. 

Aston Villa vs Crystal Palace (Saturday, 3pm)

Following their 3-1 win at Selhurst Park last August, Crystal Palace are looking to complete just their second Premier League double over Aston Villa, previously doing so in 2013-14.

Villa have scored in all 11 of their league games under Unai Emery, having failed to score in six of their 13 before his arrival this season.

The Villans’ last two home league games have both been 4-2 defeats, against Leicester and Arsenal respectively.

Since going 2-0 ahead after 36 minutes at Bournemouth in December, Crystal Palace have not scored in the first half in any of their last eight Premier League games. 

Last time out at Everton, Ollie Watkins became the first Villa player to score in five consecutive Premier League appearances.

Brighton vs West Ham (Saturday, 3pm)

West Ham have never kept a clean sheet against Brighton in the Premier League (11 games).

Following their 4-0 win against Nottingham Forest, the Hammers are looking to win consecutive league games for just the second time this season.

No team has scored more goals in the opening 15 minutes of Premier League matches than Brighton this season (nine). 

Seagulls forward Danny Welbeck has scored six goals in all competitions against West Ham (one for Manchester United, three for Arsenal and two for Brighton).

Jarrod Bowen has been involved in four goals in his last five league games for West Ham (two goals and two assists).

Chelsea vs Leeds (Saturday, 3pm)

Chelsea have won their last five Premier League home games against Leeds and are unbeaten in their last six against them at Stamford Bridge (one draw) since a 2-0 loss in December 1999.

Following their 3-0 win at Elland Road last August, the Whites are looking to complete their first league double over the Londoners since their title-winning campaign of 1991-92, when they won 3-0 at home and 1-0 away.

The Blues have not scored more than once in any of their last nine league games, netting just four goals in total in that time. 

Graham Potter’s side have lost their last three games in all competitions, failing to score a single goal.

Leeds won their first match under Javier Gracia against Southampton last time out — the only manager to win their first two Premier League games with the Whites is Terry Venables in August 2002.

Wolves vs Tottenham (Saturday, 3pm)

Wolves have not won any of their last six home league games against Tottenham since a 1-0 victory in February 2010.

Following their 1-0 win against them last August, Spurs are looking to complete the Premier League double over Wolves for just the second time, having previously done so in 2003-04.

After a run of 10 games in which they kept one clean sheet and conceded 21 goals, Tottenham have kept a clean sheet in four of their last five league outings. 

Spurs have scored a league-high 12 times from corners this season.

Wolves ace Raul Jimenez has scored four goals in his seven Premier League games against the North Londoners. 

Southampton vs Leicester (Saturday, 5.30pm, Sky Sports)

Southampton are looking to complete a league double over Leicester for the first time since 2007-08, when both sides were in the Championship.

The Saints have the youngest average starting XI in the Premier League this season (24 years and 268 days).

Leicester’s James Maddison has scored more Premier League goals against the Saints than any other side (five).

Since the start of last season, the Foxes have won 41% of their Premier League games (18/44) and averaged 1.8 goals per game when Maddison starts.

Ten of Leicester’s 36 Premier League strikes this season have come from outside the box.