THE STRIKER: previews two Premier League matches on Monday with a verdict plus our exclusive Match Stats. It’s SHEFFIELD UNITED v WOLVES at 6pm and BRIGHTON v CHELSEA at 8.15pm.
SHEFFIELD UNITED V WOLVES
6pm It’s the first Monday Night Football of the new Premier League season and we have an excellent evening ahead. It was fantastic for football fans that the Premier League voted to show every game live in September, so instead of both of these games kicking off at the same time we have a nice evening ahead and can enjoy both games. This is a very interesting fixture because these two teams spent a lot of time in and around each other in the table last season. Wolves had a very long season with a long Europa League qualifying campaign, and they would have been glad of the summer break.
Sheffield United returned from lockdown in very poor form and threw away the chance of European football. They had been brilliant before lockdown, but their games had a lot of chances and perhaps that has hurt them long-term. Earlier in the season teams weren’t taking their chances, but they suffered a lot of losses towards the end of the season. They did beat Wolves however with a last minute winner in a very close game. I’m expecting another very close game with limited chances in front of goal. Under 2.5 goals is fairly priced at 1.54 and I’m happy to back the draw at 3.1.
The Striker Says:
One point win Draw at 3.1 with BETDAQ Exchange.
You can view all markets here -> http://bit.ly/BDQshuwol
MATCH STATS
- Sheffield United have lost only two of their last 13 home games against Wolves in league competition (W7 D4 L2), winning each of the last two, including this exact fixture in the Premier League in 2019-20.
- Wolves are looking to avoid losing consecutive league games against Sheffield United for the first time since September 1996, losing 1-2 in both matches on that occasion.
- Sheffield United are yet to lose on the opening day of a Premier League season, winning two and drawing two.
- Wolves are unbeaten in their opening league match in each of the last seven seasons (W3 D4), last losing on MD1 against Leeds United in 2012-13.
- Sheffield United lost their final three league matches of last season. They last lost four games in a row back in September 2013 when they were in League One, losing six in a row with their final game in that run a 0-2 defeat to Wolves.
- Wolves have lost 12 of their last 15 top-flight matches in Yorkshire (W2 D1), last winning there back in March 1981 against Leeds United.
- Last season, British players played 26,009 minutes in the Premier League for Sheffield United, the second-most behind Burnley (28,919); Wolves gave the fewest minutes to British players in 2019-20 (4,336) and didn’t have a single goalscorer from Britain.
- Last season, Sheffield United recorded just 114 shots on target, fewer than any other Premier League side. It’s the fewest shots on target in a season for a side finishing in the top half of the table since 1997-98 (when we have this stat available).
- Wolves striker Raúl Jiménez scored 27 goals in all competitions last season, the third-most of any Premier League player after Raheem Sterling (31) and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (29); however, he failed to score in both appearances against Sheffield United, managing just one shot on target across 180 minutes.
- Chris Wilder has won 99 of his 195 games as Sheffield United manager in all competitions. Victory here would see him become the first Blades manager to reach 100 victories in fewer than 200 games.
BRIGHTON V CHELSEA
8.15pm It’s crunch time for Chelsea on Monday night as they start the new season after a big summer of spending. Frank Lampard was given a 200 million war chest and now he has to deliver. The jury is still out on Frank Lampard at Chelsea for me, although I take on board that it’s a very big debate – some people love him and some hate him! The reality is he took Chelsea from 3rd the season prior to 4th last season, and for all that they play some good football going forward they had major issues at the back last season. The other reality is realistically how close can Chelsea get to Liverpool and Manchester City? An interesting season awaits.
Brighton impressed at times last season and in fairness to them, they improved a lot from the season before. They are a mid to bottom table side and that’s as good as they are. They usually start in good form and finish the season poorly! They managed to hold Chelsea to a draw here way back on New Years Day but with the new additions to the squad Chelsea will get the job done here. Harder games lie ahead, and they will still have issues at the back, but they can get off to a winning start this evening.
The Striker Says:
Two points win Chelsea to beat Brighton at 1.66 with BETDAQ Exchange.
You can view all markets here -> http://bit.ly/BDQbhache
MATCH STATS
- Brighton have failed to win any of their six Premier League encounters with Chelsea, losing five times and scoring just two goals in the process (D1).
- Chelsea have never lost against Brighton in league competition, winning nine and drawing one. The Blues have faced Brighton more times without ever losing than they have against any other side in their league history.
- Chelsea have lost two of their last three season openers in the Premier League (W1), this after going 18 consecutive campaigns without defeat on the opening matchday between 1999-00 and 2016-17.
- This is the third time Chelsea are starting a Premier League campaign on a Monday, with the Blues going on to win the title on the previous two occasions (2014-15 and 2016-17).
- Brighton have won just three of their 18 Premier League matches in 2020 (D9 L6), the fewest of any current side.
- Chelsea shipped 54 Premier League goals last season, their most in a season since 1996-97 (55) and their tally of just nine clean sheets was their joint-lowest ever in a Premier League campaign, along with 1996-97 and 2015-16.
- In Premier League history, Chelsea have earned 1997 points (W578 D263 L235) – their next victory will see them become the third team to earn 2000 points in the competition, after Manchester United (2234) and Arsenal (2011).
- Brighton haven’t lost a league game on a Monday since April 2015 (0-1 v Rotherham), winning four and drawing six since. All five of the Seagulls’ Premier League games played on Mondays have ended level.
- New Chelsea signing Timo Werner scored 28 league goals for RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga last season, the fourth-most in Europe’s top five leagues behind only Ciro Immobile (36), Robert Lewandowski (34) and Cristiano Ronaldo (31).
- Brighton’s new signing Adam Lallana will be looking for his first Premier League start since December 2019. Chelsea are the side the midfielder has faced the most in the Premier League without registering a single goal or assist (9 appearances).
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