The Premier League resumes this weekend with Matchday 31, and Sportsnet will have live coverage of six games, including Manchester City vs. Manchester United and Newcastle United vs. Sunderland.
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
Watford vs. Stoke City 
Broadcast info: Four main Sportsnet channels at 10:30 am ET
Player to watch: Marko Arnautovic. The Austrian forward has been in very good form this season—he is Stoke’s leading scorer with 10 goals, and has netted three times over the last four games.
Match notes: Watford has won just two of their last 12 Premier League matches (with seven losses)… There have been just eight goals scored in the last seven league meetings between Watford and Stoke City… Only Manchester United (nine) has kept more clean sheets at home this season (nine) than Watford (eight).
SATURDAY
Swansea City vs. Aston Villa 
Broadcast info: Sportsnet World at 1:00 pm ET
Player to watch: Gylfi Sigurdsson. The Icelandic midfielder has been one of the hottest players in the league in recent weeks—he’s scored seven goals in 11 appearances for the Swans.
Match notes: Swansea City is unbeaten in their last six Premier League matches against Aston Villa (with two draws), winning the last four in a row… Villa’s Jordan Ayew and Swansea’s Andre Ayew netted in this fixture in October, becoming the first brother duo to score for opposing sides in the same match in Premier League history… The Swans have won just three of their last 13 league matches at home (with five losses).
SUNDAY
Southampton vs. Liverpool 
Broadcast info: Four main Sportsnet channels at 9:00 am ET
Player to watch: Graziano Pelle. He ended a lengthy goal-scoring drought last week when he netted a brace against Stoke. Can he build upon that on Sunday against Liverpool?
Match notes: Liverpool has won four of their last six Premier League encounters, averaging three goals per match in that stretch… Liverpool is looking to win four consecutive league matches for the first time since March 2015… Southampton has lost just one of their last six home league matches (with four wins).
SUNDAY
Newcastle United vs. Sunderland 
Broadcast info: Sportsnet ONE at 9:00 am ET
Player to watch: Jermain Defoe. The former Toronto FC star has scored seven goals for Sunderland in his last eight Premier League appearances away from home.
Match notes: Sunderland has won the last six Tyne-Wear derbies in league competition… Sunderland has beaten Newcastle more times than any other opponent in the Premier League (nine)… Rafael Benitez has not lost his opening home league match as a manager at any of his previous six clubs (five wins, six draws).
SUNDAY
Manchester City vs. Manchester United 
Broadcast info: Sportsnet ONE at 11:30 am ET
Player to watch: Sergio Aguero. The Argentine has scored seven goals in as many league meetings with Man United, and he has scored 11 goals in his last eight league matches away from home.
Match notes: Manchester City has won four and lost just one of the last six Premier League meetings with Manchester United… United has not lost three consecutive league matches away to City since 1955.
SUNDAY
Tottenham vs. Bournemouth 
Broadcast info: Sportsnet World at 11:30 am ET
Player to watch: Harry Kane. He scored a hat trick in his previous match against Bournemouth in October, and he’s coming off a two-goal outing vs. Aston Villa last week.
Match notes: Tottenham have lost only two of their last 16 Premier League matches at White Hart Lane (with nine wins)… Bournemouth have lost just one of their last nine league away matches (with four wins).
ALSO OF INTEREST
Crystal Palace vs. Leicester City 
Kickoff: Saturday at 11:00 am ET
Player to watch: Connor Wickham. He has four goals in his last two league appearances for Palace.
Match notes: Crystal Palace has taken just four points from the last 36 available in the Premier League… Leicester boasts the best away record in the league this season, picking up 31 points… Leicester has lost just five of their last 41 league matches.
