The Premier League resumes this weekend with Matchday 14, and Sportsnet will have live coverage of five games, including the top of the table clash between Leicester City (1st place, 28 points) and Manchester United (2nd place, 27 points).
Check out the breakdown and broadcast info for this week’s top matches below (all stats courtesy of the Premier League). And follow the Premier League action this weekend with SPORTSNET’S LIVE MATCH TRACKER
SATURDAY
Manchester City vs. Southampton 
Broadcast info: Four main Sportsnet channels at 9:30 am ET
Player to watch: Raheem Sterling. The Englishman has scored in three of his last five league appearances against Southampton. With Sergio Aguero still finding his form after his injury layoff, City will be looking to Sterling for a bit of inspiration on Saturday.
Match notes: Southampton have won just one of their last eight league meetings with Manchester City (with five losses)… The Saints have won just two of their last 13 away matches (with six losses), but are unbeaten on the road this season (two wins, four draws)… Manchester City have allowed fewer shots (37) on target than any other team in the league this season.
SATURDAY
Crystal Palace vs. Newcastle United 
Broadcast info: Sportsnet ONE at 9:30 am ET
Player to watch: Georginio Wijnaldum. How influential has the Dutch midfielder been for Newcastle since his summer move from PSV? Consider this: he has been involved in eight of the Magpies’ 13 league goals this season (six goals, two assists), or 62% of the offence.
Match notes: Papiss Cisse has scored in both of his league appearances against Crystal Palace… The Eagles have won only three of their last 11 Premier League home matches (with seven losses)… Newcastle is unbeaten in their last 11 matches against Crystal Palace in all competitions (eight wins, three draws).
SATURDAY
Aston Villa vs. Watford 
Broadcast info: Online at Sportsnet World NOW at 9:30 am ET
Player to watch: Odion Ighalo. The Nigerian forward is one of the top scorers in the league with seven goals, and he has two assists. He’s been directly involved in 75 percent of Watford’s goals this season, the highest percentage of any player in the Premier League.
Match notes: Aston Villa is unbeaten in eight meetings (with six wins) against Watford at home in all competitions… The Villans are winless in their last 12 Premier League matches (with two draws)… Aston Villa is bottom of the table with five points. No Premier League team has avoided relegation after earning five points or less from the opening 13 matches of a season.
SATURDAY
Leicester City vs. Manchester United 
Broadcast info: Sportsnet ONE and Sportsnet World at noon ET
Player to watch: Jamie Vardy. The league’s top scorer with 13 goals, the English forward enters this 1-vs.-2 match with the opportunity to set a new record by scoring in 11 consecutive Premier League matches. He tied Ruud van Nistelrooy for the league mark last week in the Foxes’ 3-0 win over Newcastle United.
Match notes: Manchester United have won 10 of the last 11 Premier League matches against Leicester City, However, the Red Devils lost 5-3 win in the corresponding fixture last season… There have been 18 goals scored in the last four league meetings between these clubs… Leicester have recovered more points from losing positions (10) than any other team in the league this season… Leicester is the only side to find scores in all 13 of their league games this season.
SUNDAY
Norwich City vs. Arsenal 
Broadcast info: Sportsnet World at 11:00 am ET
Player to watch: Mesut Ozil. The German is one of the hottest players in club football right now—he’s earned an assist in seven consecutive league games, and he has 11 assists overall on the season, five more than any other player.
Match notes: Norwich City have won just one of their last 13 Premier League meetings vs. Arsenal (with seven losses)… Of the last 11 league goals Arsenal have scored against Norwich, 10 have come in the second half… Olivier Giroud has scored in each of his last four Premier League away matches… Arsenal have won 10 and of its last 13 away fixtures in the league (with two losses).
ALSO OF INTEREST
Tottenham vs. Chelsea 
Kickoff: Sunday at 7:00 am ET
Player to watch: Harry Kane. After a slow start to the season the English striker is finally coming good. He has scored seven goals in his last four Premier League appearances, and he netted the winner in Spurs’ midweek UEFA Europa League victory.
Match notes: Chelsea has lost five of their last seven league away matches (with one win)… Spurs are unbeaten in their last 12 league matches. They have never gone 13 unbeaten in the Premier League era… Eden Hazard has scored in his last three league appearances against Spurs…
