The Premier League resumes with Matchday 22 this weekend, and Sportsnet will have live coverage of five games, including Chelsea vs. Everton and Stoke City vs. Arsenal.
Check out the breakdown and broadcast info for this weekend’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
SPORTSNET’S LIVE MATCH TRACKER
SATURDAY
Chelsea vs. Everton
Broadcast info: Four main Sportsnet channels at 9:30 am ET
Player to watch: Ross Barkley. The young attacking midfielder is having a strong campaign for the Toffees, recording six goals and seven assists in 20 league appearances.
Match notes: Chelsea is unbeaten in their last 20 Premier League matches against Everton at Stamford Bridge (with 11 wins)… Everton have lost just one of their 10 road matches this season (with three wins and six draws)… No team has dropped more points from leading positions this season than Chelsea (12, tied with Bournemouth and Newcastle United)… Roberto Martinez has lost all six Premier League visits to Stamford Bridge as the opposition manager.
SATURDAY
Bournemouth vs. Norwich City
Broadcast info: Sportsnet ONE at 9:30 am ET
Player to watch: Benik Afobe. The young striker made his debut for Bournemouth earlier this week vs. West Ham following a transfer from Wolves. He’s scored plenty of goals in the Championship over the last two years, but this is his big chance to make an impression in the Premier League—as well as helping the Cherries avoid relegation.
Match notes: Norwich City is unbeaten in their last six meetings with Bournemouth in all competitions (with three wins)… Bournemouth has won just one of their last seven home league matches (with three losses)… Norwich is the only team yet to keep a clean sheet away from home this season… Bournemouth has scored six goals in the opening 15 minutes of matches this season (tied for the most with Stoke City).
SATURDAY
Aston Villa vs. Leicester City
Broadcast info: Sportsnet ONE at 9:30 am ET
Player to watch: Kasper Schmeichel. The Danish goalkeeper has been a bit of an unsung hero for Leicester City, starting all 21 league games. He’s on the verge of recording his fourth straight clean sheet in the Premier League, which would set a new team record.
Match notes: Leicester City have already earned two more points this season (43) than they did in all of 2014-15… Aston Villa have scored just five first-half goals in this campaign… The lowest points total for a Premier League side after 21 matches that still avoided relegation is 12 points (West Bromwich Albion in 2004-05). Aston Villa currently has 11 points… Aston Villa are looking to win back-to-back league matches for the first time since last May.
SUNDAY
Stoke City vs. Arsenal
Broadcast info: Four main Sportsnet channels at 11:00 am ET
Player to watch: Olivier Giroud. The Frenchman is coming off a great performance, scoring twice in Arsenal’s 3-3 draw vs. Liverpool in midweek. He also has the best minutes per goal ratio of any Premier League player this season (minimum five goals), averaging a goal every 117 minutes.
Match notes: Stoke City have lost just one of their seven Premier League home matches vs. Arsenal (with four wins)… Arsenal have conceded seven goals in their last two away games… Jonathan Walters has scored in three of his last four appearances for Stoke in all competitions… Mark Hughes is unbeaten on home soil in his last seven league matches against Arsene Wenger (with five wins).
MONDAY
Swansea City vs. Watford
Broadcast info: Sportsnet World at 3:00 pm ET
Player to watch: Andre Ayew. After a strong start to the season, the Swansea striker hit a rough patch of form. He ended a run of six league games without scoring or assisting by netting in Swansea’s last match against Sunderland, and the Swans need him to produce if they’re going to avoid relegation.
Match notes: Watford have scored exactly one goal in each of their last four visits to Swansea City in all competitions… Swansea City have conceded the opening goal 14 times this season. Only Villa (15) have done so more often… In their last 12 matches, Watford have either kept a clean sheet (five times) or conceded exactly two goals (seven times)… Swansea have won just once at home in the their last nine games (with four losses.
ALSO OF INTEREST
Liverpool vs. Manchester United
Kickoff: Sunday at 9:00 am ET
Player to watch: Wayne Rooney. He’ll be looking to score in four consecutive matches for Manchester United for the first time since March 2012. At 175 goals for United, he’s also tied with Thierry Henry (175 for Arsenal) for the most goals for a single club in Premier League history.
Match notes: Juan Mata has scored three goals and collected four assists in his last six league appearances against Liverpool… Manchester United have won six of their last eight Premier League meetings with Liverpool and two of the last four at Anfield… Christian Benteke has scored in his last three league matches against Manchester United…