The Premier League resumes this weekend with Matchday 26, and Sportsnet will have live coverage of five games, including Chelsea vs. Newcastle United and Manchester City vs. Tottenham.
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
Norwich City vs. West Ham United
Broadcast info: Four main Sportsnet channels at 9:30 am ET
Player to watch: Robbie Brady. The Irish forward has been a bit of a West Ham killer in the past, scoring in two of his previous three games against the Hammers.
Match notes: The road team has not won a single encounter in 13 previous Premier League meetings between these two clubs (with six home wins)… West Ham is winless in their last 16 Premier League visits to Carrow Road (with nine losses)… There has been a 90th minute goal in each of the previous four Premier League encounters between West Ham and Norwich.
SATURDAY
Bournemouth vs. Stoke City
Broadcast info: Sportsnet ONE at 9:30 am ET
Player to watch: Benik Afobe. The young English striker has been in fine form since joining Bournemouth last month—he has three goals in five Premier League starts for the Cherries.
Match notes: The road team has not won a single encounter in 12 previous meetings between these two teams in all competitions (with 10 home wins)… Bournemouth has won just three of their 12 Premier League matches at home this season (with four draws)… Stoke have lost their last three Premier League games. They have not lost four in a row since February 2012.
SATURDAY
Crystal Palace vs. Watford
Broadcast info: Sportsnet World at 9:30 am ET
Player to watch: Odion Ighalo. The Watford striker has 14 goals and three assists in 25 Premier League appearances this season, but has just one goal in his last five matches.
Match notes: Crystal Palace has won seven and lost just one of their previous 10 meetings with Watford in all competitions… Watford (seven) and Crystal Palace (nine) have conceded the fewest goals in the first half of Premier League matches this season… Palace has scored a league-high eight goals from defenders in 2015-16, but have the lowest total of goals from strikers (one).
SATURDAY
Chelsea vs. Newcastle United
Broadcast info: Sportsnet ONE at noon ET
Player to watch: Diego Costa. The Chelsea forward is on a tear, having scored seven goals in his past nine games. Although dealing with a broken nose, he’s expected to play on Saturday.
Match notes: Newcastle United has earned more points off of Chelsea (13) than any other team in the last five seasons… Chelsea is on the current longest unbeaten run in the Premier League: nine matches (three wins and six draws)… Guus Hiddink has only lost one of his 21 matches as a Premier League manager (with 13 wins) and is unbeaten in his last 16.
SUNDAY
Manchester City vs. Tottenham
Broadcast info: Sportsnet World at 10:30 am ET
Player to watch: Sergio Aguero. The Argentine has absolutely owned Tottenham, scoring 10 goals in eight career Premier League appearances against the London club.
Match notes: The last nine Premier League matches between these two sides have produced 41 goals… Manchester City have won eight and lost two of their last 10 Premier league meetings with Tottenham… City have not defeated any team currently in the top six of the table this season.
ALSO OF INTEREST
Arsenal vs. Leicester City
Kickoff: Sunday at 7:00 am ET
Player to watch: Petr Cech. The Arsenal goalkeeper leads the Premier League in clean sheets this season with 12, and has conceded just one goal in his last four Premier league outings.
Match notes: Arsenal have won 12 of their last 18 Premier League matches against Leicester City (with six draws)… Leicester has named an unchanged starting lineup in their last five Premier League matches… Three of the four players who have had a hand in 20 or more goals in the Premier League this season will feature in this match: Riyad Mahrez (24), Jamie Vardy (21) and Mesut Ozil (20)