Goodison Goals Among Likely Occurrences in the Premier League

WhoScored.com looks ahead to this weekend's Premier League games, predicting a number of likely occurrences based on games gone by. While match-ups such as Chelsea-Arsenal standout for more obvious reasons, we analyse some eye-catching trends to give insight into how the points might be spread across some of this week's matches involving teams at the top and bottom of the league.

Manchester City vs Wolves - Goals Galore (Preview)

Many will see Wolves’ trip to the Etihad as something of a formality that McCarthy's men will leave with nothing, but a look at the previous meetings between the sides show that the Midlands club never roll over against their big-spending opponents.

The two sides will be knowledgeable of their opponents’ styles having played one another just 4 days prior to Saturday's clash, with City running out 5-2 winners in a fantastic encounter. The 7-goal thriller was the second in succession between the sides after Wolves went to Manchester and pushed City all the way in an eventual 4-3 defeat last season

A look at the attack sides map (below) from that day shows that both teams looked to exploit their left-sided talents, restricting their opponents to just 27% (City) and 23% (Wolves) of attacks down the right. Carlos Tevez played on the left side of a Manchester City attack that day and bagged a brace, and while the former hero won't be playing this weekend, City will need to be wary of the threat that Matt Jarvis carries on the Wolves left once again.

In the other game last season, Wolves picked up a surprise victory, and Roberto Mancini will be more than aware of guarding against complacency in his ranks. Whatever the result, though you would have to favour the home side, one can bet on goals aplenty, with 4.5 being scored on average in the last 6 matches between the sides and City lead the way with 33 goals already in the league this season!

Bore Draws?

Two games that look far less capable of producing a glut of goals will be played out between Sunderland-Villa (Preview) and Wigan-Fulham (Preview). The former match-up is traditionally a tight affair, with Villa boasting the better record prior to a Sunderland double last season, with both games ending 1-0 to the Black Cats.

The game looks set to be an even one once again, with Villa the draw specialists having been held a league high of 5 times this season. Sunderland have only scored more than once against this Saturday's opponents in 1 of the 20 Premier League meetings thus far, while Villa have managed the feat just 5 times.

Darren Bent will be returning to his former club for the first time since leaving in January, which may well add spice to a typically tense affair, with 4 players receiving their marching orders in the last 6 encounters.

Fulham are notoriously poor travellers, which will undoubtedly be cause for hope for Roberto Martinez as Wigan look to end a 6-game losing streak. However, a look back at the previous fixtures between the sides will make for less than encouraging reading, having failed to beat Fulham in their last 9 attempts.

While Fulham have dominated the exchanges at Craven Cottage, the meetings between the sides at the DW tend not to be ones to write home about! There have been five draws between the teams in the last five games at the Latics' home stadium, and with neither side hitting the goal trail yet this season, failing to score in 4 of their 9 matches each, whose to bet against another share of the spoils?

Everton vs Manchester United: Late Drama Assured (Preview)

United will be keen to get right back on track in the league following their humiliation at the hands of rivals City last time out, but are well versed in the threat Everton pose to them. While recent games between the sides tend to be tight, none were more so than a memorable match-up in this fixture last season, with the Toffees coming from 2-down to net a quickfire double in injury time and level the thrilling game at 3-3.

A look at the player position map from that day (above) shows that the hosts were in the ascendancy for much of the game, with 6 of their 10 outfielders taking their place in the United half more than their own, including left-back Leighton Baines (3). In comparison, only 3 United players spent the majority of their time in their opponents territory, with Scholes (18) and Giggs (11) two of those to be penned back in their own half.

The last game between the sides was won by United, courtesy of an 84th minute strike from Javier Hernandez, and late goals have become something of a trend in the fixture, with Jack Rodwell scoring the decisive injury time goal in a 3-1 win for the hosts back in February of last year.

Player to Watch - Nenad Milijas

While plenty of superstars will take to the field as ever in England's top-flight this season, it is not Rooney, nor van Persire, nor Torres who will strike fear into opposing fans the most, but Wolves midfielder Nenad Milijas!

The Serbian international netted the opening goal in the recent match against City on Wednesday night, and tends to step up to the plate against the Citizens having scored in his last 3 matches against Mancini's men.

The cup strike followed goals in consecutive league starts against City, who have found it hard to deal with the 28-year-old in the past. In the last two league games in which Milijas has lined up against Wolves' weekend opponents, the midfielder has had 6 shots, scoring a goal in each, as well as creating 4 chances for teammates. He has also put in a shift defensively, making 6 tackles in the matches and picking up an exceptional average WhoScored rating of 8.32 for his troubles.