GW 8 – Brighton go to Anfield after four straight clean sheets
Four wins, nothing conceded
Brighton have won four in a row and kept a clean sheet in all four. The wins include 3-0 against Arsenal in September, Arsenal's only league defeat. They are third with 16 points, have scored the most goals in the league, 23, and conceded 5, as few as Arsenal.
Brighton create the most in the league, 2.2 expected goals per match, and share the highest expected points with Bournemouth, 12.3. Bart Verbruggen has kept five clean sheets, the most of any goalkeeper. The club's longest Premier League winning run since 2016/17 is four, from early 2025, and they have now matched it. A win at Anfield would beat it.
Liverpool have won ten of 18
Liverpool are fifth with 12 points and won 2-1 at Brentford last time out. Alexander Isak returned from injury and scored the winner. He is second in the league in expected goals per match, 0.69. Liverpool are the second most dangerous side straight after winning the ball, 0.47 expected goals within eight seconds.
Of the 18 Premier League meetings since 2017, Liverpool have won ten, Brighton four, and four were drawn, with 3.2 goals per match. Brighton won the latest, 2-1 at home in March. Last time at Anfield Liverpool won 2-0. Pascal Groß is sixth in the league in assists per match, 0.59. Kick-off Sunday 15:00 CET.
City have won seven in a row since losing to Villa
Manchester City lead with 21 points after seven straight wins and have scored in 23 consecutive matches. Their expected points are 11.3, so the surplus is 9.7, the largest in the league. Erling Haaland scored twice against Ipswich last time and leads the league in expected goals per match, 0.72.
City's last defeat was 1-2 at home to Aston Villa in May. Villa also won 1-0 at Villa Park the autumn before. Of the 14 meetings since 2019 City have won nine and Villa four. Villa have 8 points and are unbeaten in three. Kick-off Saturday 13:30 CEST.
Arsenal have won six straight at home
Arsenal are second with 18 points and have won two in a row since the defeat at Brighton. They have the league's best defence by expected goals conceded, 0.83 per match, and have won six home games in a row.
Everton have 10 points and lost last time out. Of the 20 meetings since 2016 Arsenal have won eleven, Everton six, and three were drawn. Arsenal won the last two. Kick-off Saturday 16:00 CEST.
Forest and Bournemouth still short
Nottingham Forest have 5 points and are nineteenth, but their expected points are 11.5. The shortfall of 6.5 is the largest in the league, and they have lost three in a row. On Friday night they visit Ipswich, who have 9 points, at Portman Road.
Bournemouth have 6 points from 12.3 expected, a shortfall of 6.3, the second largest. Last time out came their first win of the season, against Sunderland. They create the second most in the league, 2.0 expected goals per match, and the most from corners, 0.54. On Sunday they visit Manchester United, who have 7 points, three draws in a row and five games without a win. The last three meetings ended 2-2, 4-4 and 1-1.
Fulham have 5 points from 10.6 expected, the third largest shortfall, and visit Coventry, who have 6.
The rest of the round
Chelsea are fourth with 13 points and have won two in a row. They have won the last five meetings with Tottenham and 14 of 20 since 2016. Tottenham have 6 points and have scored 6 goals, but won their first match of the season last time out.
Crystal Palace and Newcastle have the league's two lowest expected points, 5.7 and 6.2, but 7 and 8 points in the table. Palace concede the most in the league, 2.4 expected goals per match. Brentford have scored in 9 consecutive matches and visit Hull, who create the least in the league, 0.9 expected goals per match. Sunderland are bottom with 4 points after four straight defeats and host Leeds, who have 10.
Fixtures matchweek 8 (Swedish time): Ipswich–Nottingham Forest Fri 21:00, Aston Villa–Manchester City Sat 13:30, Arsenal–Everton Sat 16:00, Coventry–Fulham Sat 16:00, Chelsea–Tottenham Sat 18:30, Crystal Palace–Newcastle Sun 15:00, Hull–Brentford Sun 15:00, Liverpool–Brighton Sun 15:00, Manchester United–Bournemouth Sun 15:00, Sunderland–Leeds Sun 17:30.
Source: Premier League Weekly Report – Matchweek 8 (PlaymakerAI)