After two weeks of international football, Premier League 2020-21 returns with 10 enthralling encounters in matchweek 30 starting on Saturday, April 3.

As things stand, table-toppers Manchester City are 14 points clear of second-placed Manchester United, having played one game more than the Red Devils.

The matchweek 30 of England’s top-tier football league features some mouth-watering clashes, and here are the numbers that will help you ace it:

Chelsea vs West Brom

Chelsea host relegation-threatened West Brom at Stamford Bridge on Saturday. The Baggies are staring at the cusp of relegation as they are 10 points adrift of safety.

West Brom have won only one of their last five matches in the Premier League. Interestingly, they have failed to win a single match in their last 15 PL fixtures at Chelsea since 1978.

On the other hand, fourth-placed Chelsea have remained unbeaten in all competitions since Thomas Tuchel succeeded Frank Lampard in January.

The Blues are among a cluster of teams aiming to finish in the top-four of the Premier League, in order to seal their place in the next edition of the UEFA Champions League.

In the Chelsea vs West Brom head-to-head stats, the record clearly favours Tuchel’s side who have won 18 of the 25 matches while The Baggies have won only three. Four of those matches have ended in a draw.

Chelsea vs West Brom head-to-head
Chelsea	Metrics	West Brom
25	Matches	25
18	Wins	3
4	Draws	4

Chelsea will clearly start as the overwhelming favourites in the fixture on Saturday.

Leicester City vs Manchester City

Manchester City will lock horns with Leicester City in an exciting Premier League encounter at the King Power Stadium on Saturday.

Pep Guardiola’s men have won four of their last five PL matches and they will look to continue their good run in the league. However, the Cityzens had suffered a 5-2 defeat against Leicester in the reverse fixture.

Meanwhile, Leicester are also in decent form, having secured three wins in their last five PL encounters.

Last 5 matches (EPL)
Leicester City	Metrics	Manchester City
3	Wins	4
1	Draws	0
1	Losses	1

Leicester City have faced Manchester City 19 times in the league, winning seven while City have won 10. Two matches have ended in a draw.

In their last five encounters at the King Power Stadium, both Leicester and City have won two matches each while one ended in a stalemate.

Pep Guardiola's team are likely to clinch all three points against Leicester on Saturday.

Arsenal vs Liverpool

Defending champions Liverpool travel to the Emirates Stadium to take on Arsenal in the Premier League in the small hours of Sunday (according to Indian Standard Time).

While Jurgen Klopp’s men remain in the hunt for a top-four finish, the Reds are currently five points behind fourth-placed Chelsea.

Arsenal, who are nine points behind fourth-placed Blues, need to make sure that they win the UEFA Europa League in order to secure European football for the next season.

Both Arsenal and Liverpool have struggled for form having won two matches in their last five matches in the Premier League.

In the Arsenal vs Liverpool head-to-head, the stats favour the defending champions who have won 22 of the 57 encounters while the North London club has won 16. 19 of those matches have ended in a draw.

Arsenal vs Liverpool head-to-head
Arsenal	Metrics	Liverpool
57	Matches	57
16	Wins	22
19	Draws	19

In their last five encounters at the Emirates Stadium, both the clubs have won one match apiece while they have played three draws.

Liverpool are expected to start as favourites against Arsenal.

Manchester United vs Brighton

Second-placed Manchester United host Brighton at the Old Trafford in the small hours of Monday (according to Indian Standard Time).

The Red Devils have remained unbeaten in their five PL matches, winning three and drawing the other two.

On the other hand, 16th-placed Brighton have struggled throughout the ongoing edition of the league, winning just seven of the 29 matches played this season. The Seagulls have won just two of their last five matches in the Premier League.

Manchester United and Brighton have locked horns seven times in the league, with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men winning five and losing two.

Manchester United vs Brighton head-to-head
Manchester United	Metrics	Brighton
7	Matches	7
5	Wins	2
0	Draws	0

The hosts are tipped to secure a convincing win against Brighton.

Feature image courtesy: JUSTIN TALLIS / POOL / AFP

Former FC Goa attacker Ferran Corominas and Hyderabad FC striker Bartholomew Ogbeche share the record for most goals by a player in one Indian Super League season.

The Nigerian forward Ogbeche netted his record-equalling 18th goal of the season in the 3-1 win over ATK Mohun Bagan in the semi-final first leg of ISL 2021-22. Interestingly, he is the record holder for the most hat-tricks in the Indian Super League.

Corominas, who was Indian Super League’s leading goal scorer for a considerable amount of time, got on the scoresheet in the very first game of the 2017-18 campaign against Chennaiyin FC, scoring once in a 3-2 win. The Spaniard netted 18 times in 20 appearances during the season as Goa reached the semi-final before being eliminated.

Goa won four of their first five matches that season and Coro scored eight goals during those outings, including two hat-tricks against Bengaluru FC and Kerala Blasters. After a midseason slump that saw Goa go on a five-match winless run, Coro returned to his best, scoring five goals in his team’s last three league stage games.

Coro came close to matching his tally from the 2017-18 season as he registered 16 goals in 20 appearances.

The 2019-20 ISL season was the most competitive among goal-scorers with as many as three players - Bartholomew Ogbeche, Roy Krishna and Nerijus Valskis - finishing with 15 goals. The Golden Boot, however, was awarded to Valskis since the Lithuanian had more assists to his name.

A couple of seasons before the aforementioned trio battled for the Golden Boot, former Bengaluru FC forward Miku had scored the same number of goals (15) in the 2017-18 ISL campaign. Riding on his return, the Blues reached the final and despite Miku’s 92nd-minute strike in the match, the Blues lost 2-3 to Chennaiyin FC.

Most goals by a player in one Indian Super League season

Player	Goals	Season	Team
Ferran Corominas	18	2017-18	FC Goa
Bartholomew Ogbeche	18	2021-22	Hyderabad FC
Ferran Corominas	16	2018-19	FC Goa
Bartholomew Ogbeche	15	2019-20	Kerala Blasters
Nerijus Valskis	15	2019-20	Chennaiyin FC
Roy Krishna	15	2019-20	ATK Mohun Bagan
Miku	15	2017-18	Bengaluru FC

Featured photo: ISL Media

Indian football’s premier competition, the Indian Super League (ISL) has taken some massive strides since its inception in 2014. Fans have witnessed some exhilarating displays over the years and the teams, for their part, have also grown considerably.

A substantial growth in the popularity of the league followed by some big-money signings in recent seasons mean the business side of the ISL has been skyrocketing.

Having said that, we take a look at the most valuable clubs in ISL:

Kerala Blasters FC - INR 487.42m

The runners-up of 2014 as well as the 2016 ISL seasons, Kerala Blasters FC recruited some smart foreign players, including Vicente Gómez, Gary Hooper, Costa Nhamoinesu and Bakar Kone for ISL 2020-21 season. Hooper, who has played two seasons in the English Premier League, arrived on a one-year deal and remains the most expensive player of the lot. It’s no surprise then that Kerala Blasters are currently the most valuable club in ISL. The investment in Hooper, however, went down the drain as the former Norwich City striker could only muster five goals in 17 games in ISL 2020-21.

Named after the ‘Master Blaster’ moniker of cricket great Sachin Tendulkar, who briefly co-owned the side, the team has seen some heavy investors including film stars Chiranjeevi and Akkineni Nagarjuna and producer Allu Aravind over the years. As of now, the team is owned by Blasters Sports Ventures Private Limited (BSVPL) and saw a new shirt sponsor in BYJU’S during ISL 2020-21 after ending their five-year association with Muthoot Group.

ATK Mohun Bagan FC - INR 468.68m

ATK Mohun Bagan FC, formerly known as Atletico de Kolkata before their merger with the iconic Mohun Bagan, are the second-most valuable football club in the ISL. The three-time ISL champions have not only got a great foreign contingent but their recent signings like Sandesh Jhingan and Subhasish Bose make them a potent unit. And with the stars of the previous season, Roy Krishna and David Williams, still in the team, it is no surprise that they are second on the list. Ahead of ISL 2020-21, the team announced SBOTOP.net as their principal team sponsor and the team went all the way to the final, only to lose the title to eventual champions, Mumbai City FC.

SC East Bengal - INR 449.93m

The arrivals of Anthony Pilkington, Jacques Maghoma, Danny Fox and Matti Steinmann had the value of newcomers SC East Bengal pegged at a sizable amount. The arrival of Scott Neville on loan from Brisbane Roar ahead of the 2020-21 ISL season somehow allowed the team to be within the salary cap. With so many new players in the team, the Red and Golds hoped to make a lasting impression in their debut season in ISL 2020-21. But inconsistent performances throughout meant that they finished the season ninth on the table despite the services of Liverpool legend Robbie Fowler as a coach.

Ahead of their ISL entry, East Bengal underwent a complete revamp, right from their owners to the manager. Shree Cement now acquires a whopping 76 per cent of the team’s shares, while TYKA Sports were roped in as the new kit sponsors. Established 100 years ago, the East Bengal club also came in with a rich legacy and a fierce fanbase.

Mumbai City FC - INR 408.27m

The takeover by the City Football Group -- a holding company that also has Premier League club Manchester City under its wing -- was bound to take Mumbai City FC’s value to the top among the ISL teams. With fresh capital, the team did some smart work in filing some major holes. The arrival of Hugo Boumous (for INR 1.8 crore), Mourtada Fall, Hernan Santana and even Bartholomew Ogbeche turned out to be a masterstroke as the Islanders went on to win their maiden ISL crown under their new head coach, Sergio Lobera. Not to forget their high-end sponsors like ETIHAD Airways, DafaNews, CISCO and Puma which put them fourth in the list of the most valuable clubs in ISL.

FC Goa - INR 374.94m

Co-owned by Indian cricket team captain Virat Kohli, FC Goa lost a few of their important players but managed to fill the void by bringing in five new foreign recruits for ISL 2020-21. The biggest signing was Australian centre-back James Donachie. The others in the list include Alberto Noguera, Ivan Gonzalez, Igor Angulo and Jorge Ortiz. In January, the Guars also brought in Adil Khan to solve their issues at the back and his signing guided them to a place in the playoffs where they lost to Mumbai City FC on penalties.

Jamshedpur FC - INR 354.11m

Acquisitions of Nerijus Valskis, Alex, Nicholas Fitzgerald and Stephen Eze remained Jamshedpur FC’s only big transfer business ahead of season 7. Jamshedpur FC had a lot to prove in the 2020-21 season after winning just four of their 18 matches in 2019-20. The team went on to defy odds and were in contention for a place in the playoffs right until the final match of the league stage. They finished sixth in the tally, above the heavyweights like Bengaluru FC and Chennaiyin FC.

Meanwhile, Tata Steel’s presence on the shirt, which is manufactured by Nivia since 2017, and the backing of a group as large as them make Jamshedpur FC financially steady.

Bengaluru FC - INR 347.86m

One of the most popular teams in the ISL, Bengaluru FC has one of the heftiest salary caps as their roster boasts Indian football talisman Sunil Chhetri, Udanta Singh and Gurpreet Singh Sandhu. Their foreign roster for ISL 2020-21 season included Cleiton Silva and Kristian Opseth. Meanwhile, JSW Group, through JSW Sport, returned as the club’s principal sponsor, and Puma continued to be their partner this season as well. Bengaluru FC also have one of the most vocal fanbases in the ISL called the West Block Blues.

A lowly seventh-place finish in the ISL 2020-21 season though has brought their value considerably low.

NorthEast United FC - INR 347.86m

The arrival of Idrissa Sylla, Luis Machado, Benjamin Lambot and Khassa Camara remained NorthEast United FC’s only big business and they rightly lived up to their label of being the dark horses of the ISL. The John Abraham-owned team continued to be manufactured by Performax for the 2020-21 season and Federal Bank also continued their association with the club, meaning that the team has a sizeable backing in terms of finances. As for season 7, the Highlanders finished third in tally, which is a significant improvement to their ninth-place finish in the 2019-20 season. The team lost to ATK Mohun Bagan in the playoffs. Khalid Jamil impressed as a coach in a league where teams are not known to work with Indian coaches.

Hyderabad FC - INR 343.70m

Hyderabad FC lost Marcelinho to Odisha FC, which took their team’s value down. The arrival of Joao Victor and Joel Chianese, however, remain their best business this season, while the loan signing of Aridane Santana kept them in line for a decent push after finishing last in the previous season. Hyderabad FC were on their way to rekindle a lost legacy, and while the arrival of Telugu actor Rana Daggubati on the board kept things in the right direction off the field, the Manolo Marquez-led team finished fifth in the tally, missing out on the playoffs spot by just two points.

Odisha FC - INR 327.03m

Odisha FC, who finished sixth in the 2019-20 ISL season, roped in high profile names like Manuel Onwu, Marcelinho and Steven Taylor ahead of the new campaign. The team however failed to live up to the potential, finishing at the bottom of the table with just two wins out of 20.

Odisha FC decided to go full traditional for their kits for the 2020-21 season. Designed by T10 Sports, the kit paid homage to the cultural essence of the people and celebrates the Khaanti (pure) Odia spirit.

Chennaiyin FC - INR 324.95m

Two-time champions Chennaiyin FC managed to hold on to their Indian contingent, but at the same time, brought in experienced foreign campaigners in Fatkhullo Fatkhuloev, Jakub Sylvestr, Enes Sipovic and Esmael Goncalves to bring much-needed stability to the squad. All that, coupled with losing a few of their members from ISL 2019-20, meant they had one of the best wage bills for the 2020-21 season. A string of poor performances in the 2020-21 ISL season, where they won just three of their 20 league games, saw them finish eighth in the table; a far cry from what the two-time champions used to be.

Note: The team values have been noted by the market value of the players. Stats have been taken from transfermarkt.

Feature image courtesy: Twitter / @IndSuperLeague

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While league leaders Manchester City reestablished their 14-point lead in the Premier League title race, other teams in the top-six will play to bolster their chances of Champions League football for next season.

Last week saw Liverpool falter yet again and slip to eighth in the league standings, while on the other hand, Manchester United ended City's run of 21 successive victories with a 2-0 win at the Etihad Stadium.

The latest game week provides us with a wholesome package of quality football, and, we bring you the numbers that will help you with insights on who stands favorites to win their respective ties.

Leeds vs Chelsea

Leeds United have endured a hot-and-cold season, but they will be eager to halt Chelsea's 11-game unbeaten run under new boss Thomas Tuchel at Elland Road.

While the head-to-head record between the clubs is marginally in favor of Chelsea with 9-8, the Blues have won just once at Leeds. Considering Chelsea's form of late, one can expect the Londoners to secure their second EPL win over the Whites, but in a master tactician in Marcelo Bielsa, the visitors cannot expect a favorable reception from the hosts, who need a win to move into the top-10.

Last 5 matches at Elland Road
Leeds	Metrics	Chelsea
2	Wins	1
2	Draws	2
1	Losses	2

Leeds have not beaten a 'big six' opponent in seven Premier League meetings this season, and Saturday's fixture could somehow spring up a surprise result.

Fulham vs Manchester City

Fulham's victory at Liverpool did offer some respite to the 18th-placed club, but with runaway leaders Manchester City travelling to Craven Cottage, onlookers can expect nothing but a loss for the Cottagers.

Last 5 matches (EPL)
Fulham	Metrics	Manchester City
2	Wins	4
2	Draws	0
1	Losses	1

Pep Guardiola's men have won their last six meetings with Fulham in all competitions by an aggregate score of 18-0, but they will be wary of Scott Parker's men, who are seeking to be just the second team in Premier League history (Everton in 2010) to beat the reigning champions and the league leaders in consecutive matches.

Arsenal vs Tottenham Hotspur

Bitter rivalries always get the best out of teams in a Premier League fixture, and this Sunday, Arsenal will host arch-rival Tottenham Hotspur in the 58th North London derby in the Premier League.

Mikel Arteta's men have the edge in the head-to-head record, with 20 wins as opposed to Spurs' 14. But as far as form guide is concerned, both teams come into the tie on the back of massive wins in the Europa League.

Interestingly, Arsenal are winless in their last five meetings with Tottenham in all competitions, while Jose Mourinho's side are looking to win three consecutive league games against Arsenal for the first time since 1974. Fans can anticipate a quality contest of goals at the Emirates Stadium, but all eyes will be on Spurs captain Harry Kane, who is eager to build on his tally of 11 derby goals across all competitions.

Goals scored in halfs
Goals scored	First half	Second half	Total
Arsenal (home)	7	9	16
Tottenham (away)	11	10	21

Manchester United vs West Ham

Manchester United are still reeling from their disappointing 1-1 draw to AC Milan in the Europa League, and will seek to return to winning ways against West Ham.

As opposed to how this fixture would have been played in previous campaigns, the clubs will use this tie to bolster their chances for Champions League spot next season. And for David Moyes' men, a victory at Old Trafford - for the first time since 2007 - will add to their spectacular run in English top-flight football this season.

As for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's men, the stakes for their victory are high and the Red Devils will look to add to their tally of 15 goals in their last three home games. Should they score three-plus goals in this fixture, this will be the first instance of the club achieving this feat since the run between May and September 2011 under Sir Alex Ferguson.

Last 5 matches (Home or Away)
Manchester United	Metrics	West Ham
3	Wins	3
1	Draws	1
1	Losses	1

Wolves vs Liverpool

Having lost six league games in a row at Anfield, following the loss to Fulham last week, a beleaguered Liverpool seek solace from their trip to an inconsistent Wolves on Monday morning.

The Reds have slipped down to eighth on the points table, but appear to have some hope for a top-four finish following their improved display in their Champions League tie a few days back. Diego Jota, who swapped Wolves for Liverpool, will be tasked with hunting down his former employers who are without a win in their last three games.

In terms of the Wolves vs Liverpool head-to-head record, Jurgen Klopp's men have the outright edge with a 10-1 record and the reigning champions will look to consolidate their current away run of five wins in six (if one has to factor their “home” second leg against Leipzig was played on the road in neutral Budapest).

Head-to-Head record
Wolves	Metrics	Liverpool
13	Matches	13
1	Wins	10
2	Draws	2

Feature Image Courtesy: AFP/ Glyn Kirk

Mumbai City FC will take on ATK Mohun Bagan in the blockbuster Indian Super League (ISL) 2020-21 final at the Fatorda Stadium in Goa on Saturday, March 13.

The Islanders and the Mariners dominated the league phase as they finished in the top two of the ISL 2020-21 points table.

In the semifinals, Mumbai edged out FC Goa 6-5 on penalties at the GMC Stadium on Monday to reach their maiden ISL final, while ATK Mohun Bagan defeated a spirited NorthEast United FC outfit to seal a place in the ISL summit clash with a 2-1 win (3-2 on aggregate) over the Highlanders at the Fatorda on Tuesday.

The Mumbai City FC vs ATK Mohun Bagan head-to-head record favors the Islanders as they secured victories over Antonio Lopez Habas’ men in both the league games of this season.

Mumbai City FC vs ATK Mohun Bagan FC head-to-head
Mumbai City FC	Metrics	ATK Mohun Bagan FC
2	Matches	2
2	Wins	0
0	Draws	0

The teams head into the final fixture in similar form, having won two, drawn two, and lost one in their last five matches.

MCFC vs ATKMB (Last 5 Matches)
MCFC	Metrics	ATKMB
2	Wins	2
2	Draws	1
1	Losses	1

Interestingly, while Mumbai have scored the most number of goals this season (37 goals in 22 matches), ATK Mohun Bagan have conceded the least number of goals in ISL 2020-21 (17 in 22 matches).

MCFC vs ATKMB goals scored comparison
Goal Scored	First-Half	Second-Half	Total
MCFC	21	16	37
ATKMB	7	24	31

MCFC vs ATKMB goals conceded comparison
Goal Conceded	First-Half	Second-Half	Total
MCFC	10	10	20
ATKMB	7	10	17

While Mumbai pipped ATK Mohun Bagan to win the ISL League Winner's Shield and claim the AFC Champions League spot in the season's final league game, the Islanders are tipped to claim their maiden ISL title against ATK Mohun Bagan due to their recent head-to-head record.

Feature image courtesy: 2021 Indian Super League

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When pitted against the UEFA Champions League, Europa League nights may not stand out in popularity, but as the competition has grown, fans have been treated to many thrilling matches in the knockout rounds.

As much as a major upset can elevate the tournament's greatness, fans are always eager to see teams - especially underdogs - showing a resolve to push through their limits and script memories worth remembering at the mention of the Europa League's round of 16 schedules. We look back at three landmark clashes that blew away all expectations.

Werder Bremen vs Valencia (2009/10)

The rechristened Europa League, formerly known as UEFA Cup, began on a promising note as its round of 16 saw as many as three ties go to the wire. And, at the top of the lot is the second leg meeting with Werder Bremen and Valencia.

At the Mestalla, the first leg meeting saw a 10-man Valencia secure a hard-fought 1-1 draw, with Juan Mata's 57th-minute strike canceling out Torsten Frings' penalty in the first half. With 11 shots on target, Los Murciélagos ensured they could stand up to the pressure from Die Werderaner and put up a fight in the reverse fixture at the Weserstadion.

Little did anyone know that the second-leg would become the first high-scoring fixture in the Europa League's round of 16. David Villa and Mata gave Valencia a 2-0 lead within the first 20 minutes, and Hugo Almeida drew one back in the 27th minute. Villa's 45th-minute strike took Valencia to a 4-2 lead in the aggregate, before a rapid-fire second half ensued.

The Spanish striker completed his hat-trick in the 65th minute, but his joy was short-lived as goals from Torsten Frings, and Marko Marin brought Bremen back into the tie, before Claudio Pizarro's 84th-minute goal propelled the German side to secure a 4-4. However, by away goals, Valencia moved onto the quarter-finals.

Fulham vs Juventus (2009/10)

In a David vs Goliath story, Roy Hodgson's Fulham overturned their 1-3 deficit from the first leg fixture in Turin to outmuscle an Alessandro del Piero-led Juventus with a 4-1 win at the Craven Cottage.

Goals from Nicola Legrottaglie, Jonathan Zebina, and Samir Salihamidžić made it virtually impossible for the Cottagers to prolong their ambitious run in Europe, but as they say, never say never again.

French striker David Trezeguet gave Juventus an early breakthrough in the second minute to silence the home audience in West London, but a 9th-minute Bobby Zamora goal brought smiles back to the Fulham faithful, igniting hopes of a valiant comeback.

Hungarian attacking midfielder Zoltan Gera's twin strikes in the 39th and 49th minute brought the fixture to a 4-4 aggregate, something that left the entire crowd dumbfounded. Chris Dempsey's introduction injected some confidence into the Fulham side and the American's chip shot over Antonio Chimenti not only completed a 5-4 comeback victory for the Cottagers, but also went down as the English club's greatest ever win against a European opponent.

Athletic Club vs Manchester United (2011/12)

The last season of Sir Alex Ferguson was predominantly defined by Manchester United's 13th Premier League title - their 20th English championship trophy. But an unimpressive campaign in Europe perhaps left a stain on what could have been fairytale ending.

Upon climbing down the ladder to the Europa League, onlookers were convinced that the Red Devils would eventually run out as winners of the competition. But Spanish side Athletic Club spoiled the party as they not only won both their round of 16 legs, but also saw the English giants lose back-to-back European home games for the first time since 1996.

The first leg, played at Old Trafford, saw Athletic Bilbao score three past United - the first instance against an English opponent but a Wayne Rooney double gave them hopes of a possible comeback.

Fernando Llorente's glorious volley in the 23rd minute and Óscar De Marcos' 66th-minute strike compiled further misery on Ferguson's United. Rooney's consolation goal in the 80th minute got the aggregate to 5-3 and thus brought down curtains on the Red Devils' error-riden campaign in Europe in the 2011-12 season.

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Glyn Kirk

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While Manchester City have secured a solid 14-point lead at the top of the table, the other top four contenders have struggled to find form of late.

On the one hand, Manchester United’s goal-scoring woes continued with a 0-0 draw against Crystal Palace. On the other, Liverpool succumbed to their fifth consecutive defeat as Chelsea overpowered them 1-0 at the Anfield Stadium.

Both the former EPL giants will be desperate to make amends with their next league match arriving in a matter of days, and we bring you the numbers that will help you predict better.

Burnley vs Arsenal

Though a good eight points separate Burnley and Arsenal, the two sides don't arrive in the fixture with much to separate them at the moment.

While former Premier League giants Arsenal leads the head-to-head record against the Clarets with 10-1, the Gunners have lost thrice in their last five EPL matches as opposed to Burnley's three. A better side on paper, Mikel Arteta's men have won more matches than Burnley in this time, but Turf Moor has been a difficult side for Arsenal of late.

Last 5 matches at Turf Moor
Burnley	Metrics	Arsenal
0	Wins	1
4	Draws	4

A win against Leicester City away from home, however, does make the Gunners the favorites in this fixture.

Liverpool vs Fulham

It is fair to say that Jurgen Klopp has run out of ideas to win the league, after lifting the title a few months back. The Reds succumbed to their fifth straight defeat last night as Chelsea beat them 1-0 to into the top four, and although the Reds clearly remain the better side on paper against Fulham, they will be short of confidence.

Fulham have lost just once in their last five EPL games, winning twice and drawing the same, but winning at Anfield will need much more than good form.

Last 5 matches at Anfield
Liverpool	Metrics	Fulham
4	Wins	1
0	Draws	0

Interestingly, while a star-studded Liverpool side (22) has scored nine more goals than Fulham (13) this season, the Cottagers (15) have conceded two goals lesser than the Reds (17).

Manchester City vs Manchester United

If there's one side who can pause Manchester City's unbelievable winning streak, it has to be their city rivals. Despite not being half as good as City on paper, the Red Devils have held a psychological advantage over Pep Guardiola's men in recent times.

City have won just twice in their last five clashes with United, with the other three seeing City losing twice and drawing once. United also hold a 23-15 lead over City in their head-to-head.

However, one cannot deny City's current form. While Guardiola's men have won five of their last matches, United have drawn four times and won only one. Their record at the Etihad also favors City more.

Last 5 matches at Etihad
Manchester City	Metrics	Manchester United
3	Wins	1
1	Draws	1

Chelsea vs Everton

Liverpool might have been a difficult place to win for Thomas Tuchel's Chelsea team, but Carlo Ancelotti's Everton have been the real deal in the Premier League so far.

The Toffees trail Chelsea by a point in the table with a game in hand, and as far as the firepower is concerned, both the teams equally boast of some of the world-class players in their squad.

Hosts Chelsea lead Everton 26-12 in head-to-head and will be optimistic with their home record against their opponents as well, but Ancelotti has already pulled off some big upsets this season.

Last 5 matches (Home or Away)
Chelsea	Metrics	Everton
2	Wins	4
2	Draws	1
1	Losses	0

Feature Image Courtesy: AFP/ Peter Powell

Khalid Jamil’s dream run as an Indian Super League head coach with NorthEast United FC will get steeper when they host ATK Mohun Bagan in the first leg of the second semi-final at the GMC Stadium in Bambolim on March 6.

Though the Highlanders got the better of the Mariners through a late Federico Gallego goal in their last league appearance, NEUFC will now face a knockout stage specialist in Antonio Lopez Habas.

NEUFC and ATKMB have shared the spoils with one win each in the league stages. Both the teams have won thrice in their last five matches although NEUFC remain unbeaten in those games as opposed to ATKMB.

Making their maiden ISL debut this season, ATKMB will appear in the playoffs for the very first time unlike NEUFC, who have played twice in the knockout stages where they won one and lost the other. However, Habas has reached the playoffs twice and he went on to win the tournament from there on both occasions.

NEUFC an ATKMB arrive at the fixture with little separating them.

Last 5 Matches
NorthEast United FC	Metrics	ATK Mohun Bagan
10	Goals	8
4	Goal Scoring Matches	4
2	Clean Sheets	2

As was the case with FC Goa and Mumbai City FC, NEUFC and ATKMB also intensify their games in opposite halves thereby making this fixture a game of two halves as well.

Half Scored
Goals Scored	First Half	Second Half	Tally
NEUFC	18	13	21
ATKMB	5	23	28

On paper, ATKMB remain the better side with a string of star individual performers in every section of the field. While NEUFC have outscored ATKMB this season scoring 31 goals as opposed to the Mariners' 25, it is the defence that ATKMB excel in.

Habas' men have been the best defensive side in ISL this season, conceding just 15 goals in 20 games whereas NEUFC have let in 25 goals so far.

Half Conceded
Goals Scored	First Half	Second Half	Tally
NEUFC	10	15	25
ATKMB	7	8	15

Feature Image Courtesy: Website/ISL

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FC Goa will face their former head coach Sergio Lobera for the third time this season when they welcome Mumbai City FC at the familiar Fatorda Stadium on March 5, Friday, after the Gaurs played out a stalemate with Hyderabad FC to eliminate the Nizams in the top-four race.

The Islanders, on the other hand, defeated ATK Mohun Bagan to reclaim the top position as Lobera's managed to get into the playoffs yet again.

For FC Goa fans, this could be the perfect opportunity to make things even with Mumbai, who bought star players like Hugo Boumous, Mourtada Fall, Ahmed Jahouh and more from the Gaurs last summer. FCG come to the knockout tie as the better side in terms of form as well.

While Mumbai have won twice and lost twice in their last five ISL matches, FC Goa remain unbeaten in the same number of matches. Not only that, but FC Goa have been the better side in the head-to-head as well, leading Mumbai 7-5 in the 16 times they have clashed so far.

FCG also come into this fixture as the more experienced side in the knockout stages of the tournament.

In Playoffs
FC Goa	Metrics	Mumbai City FC
12	Matches	4
3	Wins	1
3	Draws	1
6	Losses	2

Despite Mumbai buying a large chunk of the proven firepower in ISL, they have scored just four more goals than Goa in the entire tournament. Interestingly, the clash could be a story of two different halves.

Half Scored
Goals Scored	First Half	Second Half	Total
FC Goa	14	17	31
Mumbai City FC	20	15	35

Half Conceded
Goals Conceded	First Half	Second Half	Total
FC Goa	10	13	23
Mumbai City FC	9	9	18

Despite finishing nine points above FC Goa in the ISL points table this season, Mumbai have never really dominated the Gaurs in the league stages. While the first fixture between the two this season ended in a narrow 1-0 win for the Islanders, the return fixture saw Goa managing a stunning 3-3 draw against MCFC.

Feature Image Courtesy: Website/ISL

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FC Goa Mumbai City FC Expert ColumnIndian Super League

Playing matches relentlessly is one of the biggest challenges that every Premier League club faces and this aspect also makes it one of the toughest leagues in the world.

Hence, Manchester City’s extraordinary winning streak and Chelsea’s gritty top four survival – all remain at stake in the second phase of matchweek 26.

Manchester City vs Wolverhampton Wanderers

With a massive 12-point lead at the top of the table, Manchester City couldn't have asked for more at this prime juncture of the season. However, one loss now could cause a massive upheaval in their form and consequently, their European ambitions. And the Wolves side have every potential to cause such disruption.

Both Wolves and Manchester City have remained unbeaten in their last five matches. While City have won all five of their matches, Wolves have won thrice and drawn twice.

But the Cityzens will take confidence from their past records against Wolves. Not only do City lead 4-1 in their last five encounters at the Etihad, but they enjoy a good head-to-head lead as well.

Manchester City vs Wolverhampton Wanderers Head-toHead
Manchester City	Metrics	Wolverhampton Wanderers
13	Matches	13
7	Wins	4
2	Draws	2

Crystal Palace vs Manchester United

Though the Red Devils remain the clear favourites going into this game, Crystal Palace have historically pulled off some of the major upsets against Manchester United.

United have a superior record over Crystal Palace in almost all aspects going into this fixture, not only in terms of head-to-head record but Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's men have also remained unbeaten in the last five games whereas the Eagles have lost twice.

Crystal Palace vs Manchester United Head-to-Head in EPL
Crystal Palace	Metrics	Manchester United
23	Matches	23
13	Goals	44
8	Goal Scoring Matches	20
3	Clean Sheets	15

United have won in four of their last five visits to Selhurst Park, have scored more goals (25) than Palace (14) and also conceded less than the Eagles. But Palace will take encouragement from their recent record against United where they have won twice in the last three encounters.

Liverpool vs Chelsea

The biggest fixture of this matchweek is definitely Liverpool taking on Chelsea. With just one point separating the two, hosts Liverpool will look to leapfrog the Blues with a home win on Friday.

However, Jurgen Klopp won't be too optimistic given Liverpool's recent form in the Premier League, where the Reds have lost four of their last five matches, as compared to Chelsea's unbeaten stint under new coach Thomas Tuchel.

Liverpool vs Chelsea head-to-head have also been close with the two sides facing each other 57 times and Liverpool leading Chelsea 23-20. Chelsea's strong performances at Anfield also make this fixture quite unpredictable.

Last 5 matches at Anfield
Liverpool	Matches	Chelsea
2	Wins	0
3	Draws	3

Feature Image Courtesy: AFP/ Paul Ellis

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English Premier LeagueExpert Column