The Premier League resumes this weekend with Matchday 23, and Sportsnet will have live coverage of five games, including Arsenal vs. Chelsea and West Ham United vs. Manchester City.
Check out the breakdown and broadcast info for this week’s top matches below (all stats courtesy of the Premier League). And follow all of the Premier League action this weekend online with SPORTSNET’S LIVE MATCH TRACKER
SPORTSNET’S LIVE MATCH TRACKER
SATURDAY
Crystal Palace vs. Tottenham 
Broadcast info: Four main Sportsnet channels at 9:30 am ET
Player to watch: Wayne Hennessey. Palace has not scored in the league since Lee Chung-yong’s winner at Stoke City on Dec. 19, so it could be up to Welsh goalkeeper to help them earn a share of the points vs. Spurs.
Match notes: Crystal Palace has failed to score in four of their last five Premier League meetings vs. Tottenham… Palace has won just two of their last seven matches at home (with three draws), failing to score in four of the last six… Spurs are unbeaten in their last nine road matches (with four wins)… The last nine league meetings between Spurs and Crystal Palace have produced 17 goals, all of them in the second half.
SATURDAY
West Bromwich Albion vs. Aston Villa 
Broadcast info: Sportsnet ONE at 9:30 am ET
Player to watch: Salomon Rondon. He scored his first goal since October in Tuesday’s FA Cup win, and the Baggies would love it if the Venezuelan found the back of the net again on Saturday against their local rivals.
Match notes: Aston Villa has taken just two points from a possible 30 in their last 10 league road matches… The Baggies are unbeaten in their last five top-flight home matches against the Villans (with two wins)… All seven of Aston Villa’s Premier League wins against West Brom have been by a one-goal margin.
SATURDAY
Watford vs. Newcastle United 
Broadcast info: Online at Sportsnet World NOW at 10:00 am ET
Player to watch: Georginio Wijnaldum. The Dutch midfielder has been outstanding for Newcastle at home, scoring nine goals and adding an assist in 12 appearances. But he hasn’t been nearly as effective on the road, with no goals and two assists in 10 games.
Match notes: Watford have already beaten Newcastle United twice this season: once in the in Premier League and once in the FA Cup earlier this month… The Magpies have scored just six goals in their last 16 Premier League road matches… Only Manchester United has kept more clean sheets (seven) in home matches this season than Watford (six)… Watford’s Odion Ighalo has scored six goals in his last six league appearances at home.
SATURDAY
West Ham United vs. Manchester City 
Broadcast info: Sportsnet ONE at noon ET
Player to watch: Sergio Aguero. The Argentine is putting together another solid season, with 10 goals and two assists in 15 games. He also loves playing against West Ham, scoring four goals and tallying two assists in seven league games vs. the Hammers.
Match notes: West Ham United is unbeaten in its last eight league home games (with fur wins)… 14 different players have scored a league goal for West Ham this season; only Chelsea (also 14) have had as many individual goal-scorers… The Hammers ended Man City’s 11-match winning streak in the league back in September.
SUNDAY
Arsenal vs. Chelsea 
Broadcast info: Sportsnet World at 10:30 am ET
Player to watch: Petr Cech. One again he’s been one of the top goalkeepers in the league this season, proving to be an astute (and relatively cheap) off-season acquisition by the Gunners. And you just know he’d love to put one over his old club on Sunday, especially with Arsenal entering the weekend top of the table.
Match notes: Arsenal has not scored in the last eight hours and two minutes of Premier League action vs. Chelsea… Chelsea is unbeaten in their last eight Premier League matches against the Gunners (with five wins) since Arsenal won in October 2011… Diego Costa has scored five goals in five Chelsea appearances in all competitions under Guus Hiddink… Three of the last four league meetings between these two sides at Arsenal have ended in a 0-0 draw.
ALSO OF INTEREST
Manchester United vs. Southampton 
Kickoff: Saturday at 10:00 am ET
Player to watch: David De Gea. The Spaniard has eight clean sheets this season, good enough for third overall in the Premier League. Saturday will mark his 150th league appearance for Manchester United.
Match notes: Graziano Pelle has scored three goals in as many appearances against Manchester United…. The Red Devils have not kept a clean sheet in any of their last eight Premier League matches against Southampton… Wayne Rooney has currently scored 98 Premier League goals at Old Trafford.
