The exhausting schedule of the English Premier League continues to add pressure, as we approach the matchweek 21 of the competition. At the Indian shores, the Indian Super League keeps up with the journey with another round of exciting fixtures.

As has been the case this season, the unpredictability of both the leagues will make it hard for the punters, but the following statistics might help you in one way or the other. 

Arsenal vs Manchester United

Arsenal taking on Manchester United always produces firepower. After a rather blip in form, the Gunners enter the game on the back of a six-match unbeaten run in the league. They have won five and have drawn one. Manchester United, on the other hand, saw their 13-match unbeaten league run come to an end when they lost 2-1 to Sheffield United on Wednesday.

One can rightly expect goals in the match given the fact that their last 0-0 draw dates back to February 12, 2014. Furthermore, the Red Devils haven’t defeated Arsenal since April 2018 in the league. Since then, they have lost three and have drawn twice. Given their current form both the team are in, you can punt on a draw, to say the least.

Player to watch: Bruno Fernandes

Bruno Fernandes might have dismissed all the talks of fatigue and tiredness, but the fact remains that he has failed to score or assist in each of his last four Premier League appearances. But well, that’s the standard he has set for himself. 

Bruno Fernandes has now failed to score or assist in each of his last four Premier League appearances.

�?vs Burnley
�?vs Liverpool
�?vs Fulham
�?vs Sheffield United

At least someone else will win Player of the Month. pic.twitter.com/rL3jxOM1Kh

�?Squawka Football (@Squawka) January 27, 2021

When Manchester United take on Arsenal at the Emirates, all eyes will be on the attacking midfielder, whose last league goal came on January 1 against Aston Villa. Arsenal have kept four clean sheets in their last five league outings, and if United are to breach their defence, one can rightly expect Fernandes to be a part of the attack.

ATK Mohun Bagan vs Kerala Blasters

Roy Krishna’s 67th-minute goal turned out to be the difference the last time ATK Mohun Bagan locked horns with Kerala Blasters. A lot has changed since. While ATKMB are in the hunt for the ISL title, Kerala Blasters are battling for survival as they sit 9th in the ISL points table. A dip in form for ATKMB has seen them losing twice in their last five outings and that has allowed Mumbai City FC to stretch their lead to six points at the top of the table.

As far as Kerala Blasters are concerned, they are unbeaten in their last five matches, having won twice, including that shocking 2-1 win over Bengaluru FC, and drawing three. One can expect Kerala Blasters to score at least once as they have found the net in four of their last five ISL games. ATKMB, on the other hand, boasts of a similar statistic.

Player to watch: Roy Krishna

ATKMB’s Roy Krishna has duly struggled for goals in recent times, but that has rather been down to a collective failure rather than his own fault. Be it as it may, Roy Krishna still remains one of ATKMB’s key assets and will be under the spotlight on Sunday at the Fatorda Stadium. Expect Krishna to exploit the Kerala defence that has kept just one clean sheet in their last seven outings.

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Feature image courtesy: AFP / Phil Noble

As the English Premier League enters Gameweek 4, fans have gathered enough knowledge to figure out what to expect going forward. Only Liverpool, Everton and Leicester City have won maximum points from the first three games, and judging by the look of things, it is expected to be a similar story this weekend too. The new week, meanwhile, brings another round of exciting league fixtures and here, we pick out two games that are worth keeping a close eye on.

Manchester United vs Tottenham Hotspur

Manchester United taking on Tottenham Hotspur has always been a close affair, to say the least. The two teams always try to get at each other's neck, and if history is anything to go by, the spectators are on the verge of yet another spectacular contest. The two teams are evenly poised in their last five Premier League encounters, with both winning two apiece and drawing one. Since 2013, however, Tottenham have registered just two victories at Old Trafford, which includes a 3-0 routing in 2018 when Jose Mourinho was in charge of the Red Devils.

Both teams have endured a difficult start to the 2020/21 season, and United especially, who conceded five in just two games already. Tottenham, on the other hand, have shipped four in three, but they have also scored six in the process (five of them came against Southampton).

Watch out for:

Harry Kane: Tottenham striker Harry Kane hasn't enjoyed a great run of form against Manchester United, scoring a solitary goal in his last five outings, but judging by his returns in the 2020/21 season, expect United defenders to have a hard time. The England striker has assisted five times this season; a figure that he previously matched in his last 55 league appearances. Only in 2016-17 (7) had he assisted more in any full season. Expect another important contribution from the England skipper.

Leeds United vs Manchester City

It's the guru against the prodigy on Saturday.

The last time Manchester City crossed swords with Leeds United in the Premier League, the blue half of Manchester were defeated 2-1 following Mark Viduka's late penalty in 2004. A lot has changed since. A LOT! City have won 11 major trophies since. All that, however, will be put to rest when Pep Guardiola will line his team against Marcelo Bielsa, the man he grew up idolising. City, who defeated Wolves 3-1 in the opening weekend, were thrashed by Leicester City 5-2 on Tuesday and judging by how Leeds have been so far, expect it to be another close encounter.

In their three Premier League fixtures so far, Leeds have scored eight goals. And while their attacking unit has been superb, their defence has been breached seven times already, meaning that City are highly tipped to score at least once.

Watch out for:

Patrick Bamford: A goal against Sheffield United last Sunday made Leeds striker Patrick Bamford the first player in Leeds United's history to score in his first three top-flight appearances for the club. The 27-year-old marksman has been an absolute poacher and his form is rightly expected to hit City at one point of time. If Leeds are to take anything positive from the game, Bamford will have to be at his best. 

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Glyn Kirk

After an enticing opening week of the Premier League, two of England’s biggest clubs - Chelsea and Liverpool - collide in the second gameweek of the competition this weekend. On the other hand, there are some gripping fixtures to take note of as well, with Manchester United and neighbours Manchester City opening their account.

That said, we take a look at what might transpire in the second round of fixtures of the Premier League.

Chelsea vs Liverpool

It took Liverpool, the defending champions, a gritty effort to get the better of Leeds United in their opening game, and a visit to Stamford Bridge is not going to be any easier. History favours Liverpool, with the Reds winning four of their last five meetings against the Blues in all competitions, but games like these hardly rely on the bygones. The thing to note, however, is that Jurgen Klopp’s men have scored at least twice in all of their victories, including a recent 5-3 win in July.

Liverpool’s fortunes at Stamford Bridge in the Premier League have been quite shaky, to say the least. They have, in fact, won just one of their last three games at the venue. And now with Chelsea flooding their squad with new signings, it will be interesting to see how the game pans out.

Watch out for: 

Mohamed Salah: A goal against Leeds on Saturday made Mohamed Salah the first Liverpool player to score on the opening day of four consecutive league seasons. He is, in fact, only the second player to do so after Teddy Sheringham (1992-93 to 1995-96). Fortunes favour Liverpool when Salah scores, as the Reds have won each of the last 35 Premier League games in which the Egyptian has found the net. 

Salah wasn’t on the scoresheet against Chelsea last season, but he did manage to grab two assists in as many games. In all, the Egyptian has scored two and has provided as many assists against the Blues in the Premier League. And having scored a hat-trick in the league opener, he will be buzzing to add more to his tally.

Wolves vs Manchester City

Manchester  City lost both of their 2019/20 Premier League games against Wolves last season, and that certainly speaks volume. While the first one was a 2-0 humbling at home, the other was a 3-2 routing at Molineux in December. So as City prepare themselves for another visit of the new season, they will know where exactly to strike, and who to keep in check.

For the Wanderers, they have always enjoyed playing against City and would be hoping for more of the same. What stood out the most in that 3-2 win is the fact that they allowed City a mere 37.8 percent possession; the lowest figure recorded by a side managed by Pep Guardiola in top-flight history. So, you know Wolves are truly capable of causing a major upset.

Watch out for:

Adama Traore: Three goals against Manchester City in his last two outings rightly puts Wolves�?winger Adama Traore up amongst the best in his position. His last season’s exploits made him only the third player to score three goals in a single Premier League season against Guardiola's Manchester City, following Eden Hazard and Jamie Vardy (both in 2016-17).

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Feature image courtesy: AFP / Paul Ellis

An extravagant week of UEFA Champions League football produced several stupefying results as Ligue 1 side Lyon caused a major upset, eliminating Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City with an astonishing 3-1 win, while Paris Saint-Germain ended Atalanta’s dream run to make it into the semi-finals.

RB Leipzig, despite missing their top-scorer Timo Werner, managed to breach a stern Atletico Madrid defence, but the biggest win of the round was Bayern Munich’s 8-2 thrashing of FC Barcelona. With that being done, there is now a high possibility that the fans are in the line to witness an all-German final or an all-French showdown.

That said, here’s how the week is stacked, and what you can expect from the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League: 

RB Leipzig vs Paris Saint-Germain

PSG’s record against German opponents is quite startling, to say the least, having progressed from all of their previous three meetings against the Bundesliga sides, which also includes a round-of-16 victory against Borussia Dortmund this season.

It is, however, the first time that these two giants are crossing swords, with both aiming to reach their first-ever European final. While Leipzig are relatively new to the Champions League setup, a win for PSG would make them the first French team to enter the final since AS Monaco did it in the 2003-04 season.

0 - No German side outside of Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund has reached the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League since Schalke in 2010/11. Target. pic.twitter.com/5rb2qcpWQN

�?OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) August 13, 2020

The team from the capital city of France are carrying an enticing Champions League record, having scored in each of their last 33 European games. Only Real Madrid have carried a longer streak (34). The last team to stop PSG from scoring was Manchester City in 2016, when a 1-0 win for Guardiola was enough to knock the Parisians out of the tournament.

Watch out for:

Neymar: Neymar lacked that clinical edge against Atalanta in the quarter-final, but all that was overshadowed by an enthralling return of an assist and a role in the build-up of the winner in the dying moments. Furthermore, he completed a total of 16 dribbles against the Italian side, which is now the most by any player in a single Champions League match since Lionel Messi v Manchester United in April 2008.

Since returning to action post lockdown, Neymar as scored five goals and an assist in his last six appearances (including club friendlies). When a player as staggering as Neymar is in the team, you just can’t overlook him. Expect him to make a telling impact.

Lyon vs Bayern Munich

Averaging a whopping 23.3 shots per game in the Champions League, Hansi Flick’s Bayern Munich have scored 39 goals in a mere nine games in the competition, significantly more than the closest opponent, PSG, who have bagged 22.

Up against Lyon, many might consider this as an easy rout for the German champions considering their latest showboating against Barcelona, but keep in mind that Lyon are actually chasing the Champions League title to keep their hopes alive for the next season, having finished a lowly seventh in the league last term.

8 - Bayern Munich are the first team to score eight goals in a Champions League knockout match. Endless. #UCL

�?OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) August 14, 2020

This will be the ninth meeting between the two sides, and Bayern hold the edge, having won four of their last eight encounters, while Lyon have two. Since being crowned champions in the 2012/13 season in an all-German final against Borussia Dortmund, the Bavarians have failed to progress from each of their last four semi-finals of the competition.

Watch out for:

Robert Lewandowski: With 14 goals and five assists in eight Champions League outings, Bayern Munich forward Robert Lewandowski is the outright top-scorer of the tournament. After being a part of all seven goals his side scored against Chelsea (three goals and four assists) in the round-of-16 across two legs, the Polish striker continued his rich vein of form against Barcelona, scoring one and assisting another in an 8-2 victory.

8 - Robert Lewandowski is the first player in Bayern Munich history to score in eight consecutive games in major European competition, overtaking Jürgen Klinsmann's seven-game run ending in 1996. Machine. #UCL pic.twitter.com/OradNtVk7a

�?OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) August 14, 2020

With Lyon struggling to keep a clean sheet, Lewandowski is duly tipped to make a telling impact. 

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Feature image courtesy: AFP / Manu Fernandez

The new-look UEFA Champions League returns this week as eight teams brace themselves for the one-off ties in Lisbon, Portugal for the quarter-final round of the tournament. 

With Estádio do Sport Lisboa e Benfica and Estádio José Alvalade jotted down as two neutral venues for the round, it is safe to say that all bets are off, and we could well and truly be witness to some shocking results. 

Barcelona vs Bayern Munich

Both Barcelona and Bayern Munich produced stunning displays in their respective second-leg games of the round-of-16. Bayern, up against Chelsea, hammered four past the Blues, winning the tie with an aggregate score of 7-1. Barcelona, on the other hand, scored thrice against Napoli to get through with an aggregate of 4-2.

The two teams have not crossed paths for five years, but shared a brief history, with Barcelona scoring six across both legs to reach the final in 2015. Prior to that, Bayern put seven past Barcelona over two legs to reach the final in 2013. Ironically, both teams went on to win the title that year.

35 - Lionel Messi has scored against 35 different clubs in the Champions League; two more than the next best Cristiano Ronaldo. Collection pic.twitter.com/7CGCmN71YX

�?OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) August 8, 2020

Barcelona, following a victory over Napoli, have reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League for 13th season in a row. No other team has managed to match this dominance. In fact, no other club has managed to put together a run of more than eight seasons in a row in the last eight of the competition. As far as semi-finals are concerned, the blaugranes have failed to reach the final four on just four of the last 12 seasons.

Bayern, for their part, have been truly ruthless in the Champions League, having scored a whopping 31 goals; 11 more than any other team. The closest competitors are Manchester City and PSG, who have scored 20 goals in the campaign. 

Watch out for: Robert Lewandowski

What a season Robert Lewandowski has had. It’s a shame that the prestigious Ballon d'Or has been called off.

66 - With a brace against Chelsea tonight, Robert Lewandowski is now the outright fourth-highest scoring player in Champions League history, with 66 goals. Carnivore. pic.twitter.com/iq1YCYbpKY

�?OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) August 8, 2020

The Polish striker, who is now the fourth-highest scoring player in the Champions League history at 66, has bagged 52 goals in 44 appearances this season, which is actually more than anyone else across Europe's top 5 leagues this season.

Across both legs against Chelsea in the round-of-16, Lewandowski was involved in all seven of Bayern Munich’s goals (3 goals, 4 assists), which now makes him the first player to score more than three and assist more than three against an opponent in the Champions League since Luis Figo in 2004-05 against AS Roma. He is duly tipped to make an impact against Barcelona.

Manchester City vs Lyon

Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City are yet to lose a game in year’s Champions League campaign. Having topped their group, the Cityzens dismantled Zinedine Zidane’s Real Madrid in the round-of-16, eliminating them by an aggregate scored of 4-2.

3 - Pep Guardiola is the third manager to eliminate Real Madrid in the knockout stages of the Champions League on more than one occasion, along with Marcello Lippi (1995/96, 2002/03) and Ottmar Hitzfeld (2000/01, 2006/07). Nemesis. #UCL pic.twitter.com/tdj7myw9Ui

�?OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) August 7, 2020

Lyon, on the other hand, finished second in their group after losing two games, but picked the momentum as they squared off against Juventus in the eliminators. Heading into the second leg with a 1-0 advantage, Memphis Depay made the difference in the second leg as his penalty goal was enough for his team to set up a quarter-final clash with City on the back of away goal advantage. 

1 - Lyon is the first French team to eliminate Juventus in the knockout stage of the European Cup/UEFA Cup/Cup Winners' Cup. Arrivederci. #JUVOL pic.twitter.com/Jc7vmm49X2

�?Optajean (@OptaJean) August 7, 2020

History means little in the current era, but City are yet to register a win against Lyon, having lost one and draw one in their head to head count. 

Watch-out for: Gabriel Jesus:

The absence of striker Sergio Aguero seems less impactful now as Gabriel Jesus now leads City’s lethal attack alongside Raheem Sterling.

2 - Gabriel Jesus is just the second player to score in both legs of a Champions League knockout tie against Real Madrid for an English side, after Ruud van Nistelrooy with Manchester United in 2002-03. Galactic. #UCL pic.twitter.com/S1yFvFcKtJ

�?OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) August 7, 2020

The Brazilian forward was on target in both the legs against Real Madrid as City beat the record European champions 4-2 on aggregate. Pep Guardiola will be hoping the striker can add to his six goals and three assists tally against a side which has shipped in 10 goals in the Champions League; second-most amongst the quarter-finalists.

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Feature image courtesy: AFP / Tobias Schwarz

The elite European nights are back!

Months after the UEFA Champions League was put to a halt due to the global pandemic, Europe’s elite competition marks its return with two high profiles clashes this week, as Juventus and Manchester City ready themselves for the second leg of the round of 16 against Lyon and Real Madrid respectively.

While the new directives of the Champions League state the remaining games will be played in Lisbon, Portugal, the unplayed ties of the round-of-16 will be staged at the club's home ground, meaning that Juventus, Manchester City, Bayern Munich and Barcelona are all set to play their final game on the home turf.

Furthermore, the quarter-finals, as well as the semi-finals, will now be played as single-leg ties, with Estádio do Sport Lisboa e Benfica and Estádio José Alvalade jotted down as two venues.

Juventus vs Lyon

A goal from Lucas Tousart made all the difference the last time these two sides met in the competition as Lyon registered an important 1-0 lead heading into the second leg against Juventus.

Juventus, having lifted their ninth consecutive Serie A title, are expected to go in all guns blazing, and the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Paulo Dybala, who were rested during their 3-1 defeat to Roma last weekend, are set to mark their return. 

The club from Turin hasn’t enjoyed a great run of form since football resumed in Italy. They sure have bagged goals on regular intervals, but note that if Lyon manage to get one past them, the onus will be on the Old Lady to score at least thrice in order to book a place in the quarter-finals.

Watch out for:

Memphis Depay: Lyon’s speedster Memphis Depay marked his return from a long injury layoff when his squad squared off against Paris Saint-Germain in Coupe de la Ligue League Cup final last Friday. The 26-year-old, who has been out since December last year, has enjoyed a breathtaking first half of the season, having scored a whopping 14 goals and two assists in just 18 appearances.

The former Manchester United winger has averaged 3.4 shots per games in five Champions League appearances; a figure that is certain to shake Juventus�?core. With Maurizio Sarri not enjoying the greatest run of form, having lost two back-to-back games in the league, Depay will be the one hogging the limelight.

Manchester City vs Real Madrid

Free-flowing Manchester City may have missed out on the Premier League title to Liverpool, but their attacking prowess, despite missing Sergio Aguero, remains unquestionable. The Cityzens capped off their league journey with a thumping 5-0 win over Norwich City, and they will be hoping for a similar result when they welcome Zinedine Zidane’s Real Madrid with an away 2-1 advantage.

City have had 13 goalscorers this season, with as many as five -- Raheem Sterling (20), Sergio Aguero (16), Gabriel Jesus (14), Kevin de Bruyne (13) and Riyad Mahrez (11) -- scoring more than 10. Madrid, on the other hand, have had 21 scorers this season, with their captain and defender Sergio Ramos being their second top-scorer at 11. The massive factor which might affect the game one way or the other however remains the fact that the visiting side will be without their captain after he was shown a red in the first leg at Santiago Bernabeu.

As Madrid trail 2-1, they need at least a goal to take things back on level terms. That, however, is expected to be an arduous task as City have been truly ruthless at home since the restart, having scored 24 goals in a mere six games. They have, in fact, scored three or more on five different occasions at home, including a 4-0 drubbing of champions Liverpool. 

Watch out for:

Karim Benzema: Having scored 26 goals and 10 assists in all competitions this season, striker Karim Benzema has duly led the charge for his team since football resumed in Spain. The 32-year-old Frenchman has scored seven times and assisted twice in his last 10 appearances in the league, so as he gears up to take on Pep Guardiola's defence at the Etihad, his manager would want him to continue the rich vein of form he has enjoyed of late.

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Feature image courtesy: AFP / Javier Soriano

The final week of the Premier League fixtures takes the centre stage as the battle for the top four spots tightens up. With Leicester losing 3-0 to Tottenham on Sunday, it's time for the likes of Manchester United, Wolves and Spurs to make the most of what's left in store.

The drama is set to reach its conclusion this week, and here are two games that need your special attention.

Liverpool vs Chelsea

Liverpool taking on Chelsea in the Premier League has always been unfolded as closely-fought affairs, to say the least. The Reds have indeed won two of their last five games against the Blues, with Chelsea registering a solitary victory, but their recent form, which saw them losing to Arsenal last week, coupled with an injury to Jordan Henderson, remains a cause of concern.

For Chelsea, history suggests that they have struggled in front of the goal against Liverpool, having scored just four goals in their last five meetings. In fact, the last time Chelsea scored two against Liverpool in the Premier League, they had both Diego Costa and Gary Cahill in the line-up and Jose Mourinho was in charge (2014).

The Blues, like the newly crowned champions, have been utterly inconsistent since the restart, but the fact remains that they have scored at least two goals on five occasions during that period. At the same time, they have also conceded two or more on three occasions.

Watch out for:

Mohamed Salah: No one from Liverpool's deadly attacking trio has enjoyed a consistent run of form against Chelsea in the league. The last time these two sides crossed swords in the league, the likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold and Roberto Firmino were on target as the Reds clinched a marginal 2-1 win over Chelsea.

And so, all the eyes will be on a certain Mohamed Salah, who has, in fact, scored two in his last five league games against Chelsea, including a whirlwind of a strike from distance.

Leicester City vs Manchester United

A lot depends on what Chelsea manage to churn out from their away game against Liverpool. Given Liverpool's current run of form, Chelsea are somewhat tipped to earn something positive from it. But if things go wayward, the likes of Leicester City and Manchester United will be ready to pounce on the opportunity.

Manchester United, who are set to play West Ham United at home on Wednesday, are level on points with the Foxes, only a place behind on goal difference. The two teams have enjoyed a stellar battle between each other, with United winning four of their last five games; three of those victories came through a single goal margin.

As far as their current form goes, Manchester United were on a 19-game unbeaten run before Chelsea spoiled the party in their FA Cup semi-final, but they have indeed scored goals for fun. Apart from their 2-2 draw against Southampton, and the recent 3-1 defeat to Chelsea, United have looked extremely comfortable in all areas of the field. In fact, they have scored 21 goals in their last eight games in all competitions, while conceding just six (before the FA Cup semi-final). Leicester, on the other hand, have dropped points since the restart, and struggled to get keep up in the creativity department.

Watch out for:

Marcus Rashford: The England international looked out of touch as the league resumed, but he has duly picked up the pace, scoring three goals and an assist in his last four Premier League games. As far as Leicester are concerned, he has bagged three goals against them in his last five league outings, which includes two winners; both contributing toward a 1-0 victory.

Rashford, who has had a healthy competition with his fellow striker Anthony Martial, will be key to United's pursuit against Leicester.

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Feature image courtesy: AFP / Oli Scarff

Another exciting week of the Premier League unfolded as a 3-0 win for Sheffield United over Chelsea at home gave Manchester United a perfect opportunity to get into the top three, should they beat a free-flowing Southampton on Monday night.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men are just two points away from Chelsea and a point adrift of fourth-placed Leicester City, who suffered a humiliating 4-1 loss to Bournemouth on Sunday. Meanwhile, Wolves bounced back to winning ways on the weekend, with a 3-0 drubbing of Everton still keeping them in the contention.

So as the 36th gameweek approaches, here are two games that need your special attention.

Arsenal vs Liverpool

Since being crowned the new champions of England, Liverpool have somehow lost their touch, to say the least. In their last five outings, they have not only lost once but have also seen their perfect home run getting a hit by Burnley.

14 �?Arsenal have now drawn 14 Premier League games this season, the most of any side, whilst the Gunners have only shared the spoils more often in a single campaign in the PL in 1993-94 (17). Dutch. #ARSLEI pic.twitter.com/KSTbnVGUbe

�?OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) July 7, 2020

Regardless of that though, their form against Arsenal, whom they face at the Emirates on Wednesday (Thursday, 00:45 IST) is expected to bring them all three points. The Reds, in their last five appearances against Gunners, have scored three or more on four occasions. Klopp’s men have, in fact, have scored 16 goals in their last five outings against Arsenal.

The champions are duly tipped to score the opener as they have done it in four of the last five games against their Wednesday opponents.

Watch out for:

Mohamed Salah: Liverpool’s Egyptian king Mohamed Salah has scored three and provided as many assists in his last five Premier League games. It was, in fact, Salah who scored a brace when Liverpool played Arsenal earlier in the season, recording a 3-1 win.

The Gunners, as it stands, remain his favourite prey, having scored five in five against Arsenal in the league. With Roberto Firmino, who carries a similar record as Salah against Mikel Arteta’s side, struggling to find the net of late, the Egyptian remains a perfect and the safest bet.

Leicester City vs Sheffield United

Brendan Rodgers�?Leicester City have been utterly inconsistent since the Premier League resumed. The Foxes have registered a solitary victory in their last five outings, and thus, a visit of Sheffield United at King Power Stadium on July 16 remains a definite worry.

Rodgers�?men have struggled to keep a clean sheet since the restart and have conceded first in three of their last six appearances (against Chelsea, Everton and Arsenal). Sheffield, on the other hand, also lost their touch in June, but victories over Tottenham, Wolves and Chelsea are expected to give them an upper hand. They have, in fact, scored eight goals in their last four league outings, averaging two per game.

2 - McGoldrick and McBurnie are only the second duo with the surname prefix 'Mc' score in the same Premier League game for the same side, the others being McArthur and McManaman for Wigan in May 2013. Hammer. pic.twitter.com/tSvZwR2Fp2

�?OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) July 11, 2020

Watch out for:

Oliver McBurnie: Sheffield striker Oliver McBurnie is in devastating form of late. He may have scored just two goals since the restart, but his involvement, especially against Chelsea and Tottenham, where his side scored three apiece, is worth keeping an eye on. An absolute poacher, the 24-year-old is tipped to wreak havoc when he squares off against the likes of Caglar Soyuncu and Jonny Evans. Not to forget the fact that he was on the scoresheet when these sides crossed swords earlier in the season.

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Feature image courtesy: AFP / Paul Ellis

A 2-1 defeat to Chelsea for Manchester City in the mid-week not only gave Liverpool their first league title in 30 years, but the next line of fixture means the new champions would be at the receiving end of getting a guard of honour from the former champions when they visit the Etihad Stadium on Friday, July 3 (as per IST).

It took just two games into the Premier League’s Project Restart to draw curtains, but the league has anyway been a one-sided affair since the time Liverpool cruised into a 22-point lead over second-placed Manchester City. As things stand, the drama lies in achieving the remaining Champions League spots, with as many as seven teams fighting for just two positions.

Manchester City vs Liverpool

Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City endured their eight loss of the season when they visited Chelsea this week. Up next for them is a home fixture against Liverpool. City taking on Liverpool has always promised goals, to say the least. In fact, as many as 19 goals have been scored in their last five meetings, with both City and Liverpool winning twice.

City have been quite firm at home against Liverpool in the league, with their last defeat at the Etihad coming back in 2015 when goals from Philippe Coutinho, Roberto Firmino and Martin Skrtel sealed a 4-1 win for the visitors. Since then, only four players are still at Liverpool.

Known for their free-flowing football, City have scored at least one goal against Liverpool at home since 2010. Therefore, don’t expect it to be a dull affair.  

Watch out for:

Sadio Mane

Having scored 15 goals and seven assists in 28 league appearances this season, Sadio Mane has been the scourge of Manchester City, with the Senegalese scoring two in his last three league games against the Cityzens. And while Mohamed Salah carries a similar record, the impact he has had against Manchester City in the past is hard to ignore. Expect him to play a big role at the Etihad.

Everton vs Leicester City

This may not be the most high-profile game of the week but it indeed remains one to watch as the league tightens its grip in the final four standings. Leicester, who are yet to win a game since the Premier League Project Restart, have stumbled on their way, and Everton, on the contrary, have been quite positive.

Both teams are coming into the game with two losses and a solitary win in their last five league fixtures. Their head-to-head count, however, favours visitors Leicester, who have won three of their last five meetings. Furthermore, at least two goals have been scored in four of their last five encounters.

Jamie Vardy

Forward Jamie Vardy has scored 19 goals in the league this season, but his recent form remains a cause of concern for the Foxes. Regardless of that, the fact remains that he loves scoring against Everton, having accumulated four goals in his last five games against the Toffees.

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Feature image courtesy: AFP / Paul Ellis

After a year of desolation and desperation, South Africa managed to win a series, by whitewashing an Australian side at home in an ODI series. Incidentally, it was the second successive time that South Africa had beaten Australia in all games of an ODI series at home, having won 5-0 in 2016. But all this was too much happiness for them to take, and they now embark on an India tour to keep themselves grounded. On a lighter note, South Africa's ODI teams have done fairly well in India. 

Watch out for:

HEINRICH KLAASEN - He mesmerized everyone in the India ODI series in 2018 with a flurry of sweeps and reverse sweeps and is in fine form after the Australian ODIs where he shone with two half-centuries and a century in three matches and won the Man of the Series award.

Trans-Tasmanian rivalry

Meanwhile, Australia and New Zealand engage in another series in Australia, this time in the ODI format. Having beaten India 3-0 in the ODIs in New Zealand, the Kiwis arrive with a completely contrasting result to that of the Aussies who were handed a 0-3 whitewash. When these sides meet in 50-overs cricket, sparks fly and one might expect no less from this very irrelevant series that could still draw attention.

Watch our for:

MITCHELL STARC - Starc returned from the South African tour early to watch Alyssa Healy blast India's Women's team in the Women's World Cup final and in the family competition that is getting close, he might want to inch ahead. The left-arm seamer had a good tour of South Africa where he consistently found success against their best batter and skipper, Quinton de Kock, cleaning him up thrice.

More of the Bangladesh show?

They thumped Zimbabwe 3-0 in the ODIs with Liton Das and Tamim Iqbal in top form. But as T20Is arrive, the bridge between the sides might just be smaller. That said, at home, Bangladesh hold all the aces and a whitewash similar to that in the ODIs is very much possible in this two-match series at Dhaka. If Zimbabwe can keep the top order silent, anything might happen, but again that's easier said than done. 

Watch out for:

TAMIM IQBAL - Elevated to ODI captaincy after the stepping down of Mashrafe Mortaza, Tamim will have to work under Mahmudullah for the T20 series. The southpaw is in fantastic form, having notched up 158 and 128 in two of the three ODIs in the series. His quick starts could be equally important in the shortest format of the game.

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Feature image courtesy: AFP / Marco Longari