Premier League preview: A statistical look at all the games on New Year's Day, including Arsenal v Cardiff City, Swansea City v Manchester City, Southampton v Chelsea, Liverpool v Hull City and Manchester United v Tottenham Hotspur

Providers of the largest online database for detailed football statistics WhoScored.com preview all of the matches in game week 20 of the Premier League

Martin Laurence
Tuesday 31 December 2013 16:03 GMT
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Theo Walcott is expected to be in action for Arsenal against Cardiff
Theo Walcott is expected to be in action for Arsenal against Cardiff (GETTY IMAGES)

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Manchester City's current unbeaten run in the league (8 matches) is twice that of any other team at present, while Swansea are without a win in 5 (only West Ham and West Brom are on a longer winless streak). The Swans, meanwhile, have netted just once in the 5 Premier League encounters between these two.

Arsenal, who have kept 4 clean sheets in their last 5 matches at the Emirates, host a managerless Cardiff side that have scored just twice in a 6 game winless streak away from home. With the Welsh outfit conceding 19.6 shots per game on the road Arsenal, who have the second best conversion rate in the league (13.6%), shouldn't need too many chances to score.

In a repeat of Tony Pulis' first game in charge the new Crystal Palace boss will be out for revenge against Norwich having shored up his defence since taking charge. The Eagles have conceded just 7 goals in 7 games under the new management having conceded 21 in the previous 12 and face a Norwich side that have scored just 6 times away from home.

West Ham may have only scored 6 goals away from Upton Park all season but they've netted in each of their last 11 matches against London rivals Fulham. Kevin Nolan, who scored for the first time since the opening day of the season at the weekend, has scored in more matches against the Cottagers (5) than any other side.

Hull's tally of 6 goals scored in the second half against Fulham at the weekend was just one fewer than they've managed away from home all season. Liverpool will be keen to make amends for a shock defeat at the KC Stadium when they return to Anfield, where they have scored at least 3 times in each of their last 6 matches.

Wednesday's meeting between Southampton and Chelsea will be the fifth between the two sides in less than a year. In 3 of the last 4 Southampton's Jay Rodriguez - who has 6 goals in his last 7 appearances - has opened the scoring, with both sides on the scoresheet in each of their last 6 encounters.

Everton have not won at Stoke since 2008 but they've lost just once away from home all season; less than any other side. The Potters have lost just once at the Britannia Stadium this season, however, with these two sides sharing the spoils in 3 of their last 4 meetings in the Midlands.

Sunderland, who have the worst home record in the league this season, host an Aston Villa side that have performed far better away from Villa Park. The visitors have won 5 and lost just one of their last 8 matches at the Stadium of Light, and the Black Cats have failed to score in 3 of their last 4 encounters with Paul Lambert's side.

Prior to a 9 game winless run West Brom and Newcastle were separated by just 1 point after 10 matches, with that gap now up to 15. The two sides have played out entertaining encounters in recent years, with both sides on the scoresheet in each of their last 12 meetings.

Manchester United have not beaten Tottenham in 3 attempts but will hope to have Wayne Rooney back fit when the Londoners visit Old Trafford on New Year's Day. The forward has scored 9 goals in his last 9 league starts against a Spurs side that have conceded 10 times in their last 4 away games having let in just one in the previous 5.

@martinlaurence7

All statistics courtesy of WhoScored.com, where you can find yet more stats, including live in-game data and unique player and team ratings

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