Fixture List 19/20: Key Games

And the fixtures are out.  And there are some very interesting fixtures across the season.

During pre season we will review the must watch games of each month and explain why they cannot be missed.

AUGUST

11th August: Manchester United v Chelsea

Hold onto your hats people, we have a cracker at Old Trafford to kick start both Manchester United and Chelsea premier league campaigns.  With both teams concluding last season in very different moods (Chelsea claiming 3rd place and winning Europa League; United finishing 6th, losing to Cardiff 2-0 at home); there will be expectations from both set of fans going into this one.

Looking at the most recent games at Old Trafford makes this one even tastier:

• 28th Dec 2015: Man United 0 – 0 Chelsea
• 16th Apr 2017: Man United 2 – 0 Chelsea
• 25th Feb 2018: Man United 2 – 1 Chelsea
• 28th Apr 2019: Man United 1 – 1 Chelsea

In the last 4 games, Manchester United scored first in the first half in 3 of those games.  The only game they did not do this was the 0-0 draw in 2015.  The ties at Old Trafford have always been tight and expect nothing less from this fixture.

FourFiveOne predicts: Man United 2 – 1 Chelsea with Martial to score first in the first half.

24th August: Liverpool v Arsenal

Wow.  That escalated quickly.  This game never fails to impress, especially if you are a neutral. Liverpool will be going into this tie full of confidence as they seem to always get the better of Arsenal at Anfield.  They tend to start the game at an extraordinary pace and Arsenal simply fail to cope.  In the last 4 premier league games at home, Liverpool have scored 10 goals in the first half.  In total, they have scored 15 goals in 4 games at Anfield.

The scorers of these goals breakdown in the following way:

1. Firmino: (7)
2. Mane: (3)
3. Salah: (2)
4. Sturridge: (1)
5. Wijnaldum: (1)
6. Allen: (1)

Needless to say, if Firmino plays, he is more than likely to score, especially if Arsenal do not resolve their defensive problems as early as possible this summer.

FourFiveOne predicts: Liverpool 3 – 1 Arsenal with Firmino to score first.

31st August: Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur

Well this is quite the start for the Gunners isn’t it?  Arsenal face a difficult start to their campaign as they host Spurs 7 days after travelling to Liverpool.  That means they play the Champions League finalists back to back in August.  Talk about tough starts.

However if the previous 4 games at the Emirates are to go by, Arsenal have a very good chance of victory:

• 8th November 2015: Arsenal 1 – 1 Tottenham Hotspur
• 6th November 2016: Arsenal 1 – 1 Tottenham Hotspur
• 18th November 2017: Arsenal 2 – 0 Tottenham Hotspur
• 2nd December 2018: Arsenal 4 – 2 Tottenham Hotspur

Arsenal will have to keep an eye on Kane, as he has scored 3 in 4 against the Gunners at the Emirates.  However, expect a fast start from Arsenal, they scored first in 3 of their last 4 v Spurs at home.

FourFiveOne predicts: Arsenal 2 – 2 Spurs with  Kane to score the final equaliser from the penalty spot.