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Michael Lintorn runs through four of the most interesting Opta stats about this weekend's Premier League games, looking at ways to use them for betting...


Sunderland have failed to keep a clean sheet in any of their last 22 meetings with Newcastle in all competitions.  Steve Bruce has carried out maintenance work on his defence this summer but it will take a while to mould them into a cohesive unit, with Shola Ameobi no doubt keen to take advantage having netted four times in his last four clashes with the Black Cats. Sunderland have scored in seven of the last eight Tyne-Wear derbies too though, leaving it until the 90th minute to strike in each of the last two.

There have been more hat-tricks scored in Arsenal v Liverpool fixtures than any other in Premier League history. As if this statistic isn't intriguing enough, consider this: two of the players that are likely to feature in their Saturday showdown scored hat-tricks on week two of the last Premier League campaign, with Theo Walcott sinking Blackpool and Andy Carroll stunning Aston Villa. In addition to those two, Robin van Persie, Dirk Kuyt and Maxi Rodriguez all struck three times in one match in 2010-11.

West Brom have failed to score in their last six visits to Stamford Bridge in all competitions.
There are hefty odds offered on Chelsea keeping a clean sheet against assistant manager Roberto Di Matteo's old club West Brom because of the Baggies' prolificacy under his successor Roy Hodgson, but there is good reason to expect them to fire a rare blank. The Blues conceded just once in seven pre-season games, and were similarly resilient in Andre Villas-Boas' first competitive outing at Stoke.

Stoke have accrued just two points from a possible 30 in their last ten Premier League away games
Surprisingly, given that Sunday's Norwich v Stoke match pits Premier League newcomers against FA Cup finalists, most of the Opta trends point in the direction of a home victory. Games between the two have produced just one away win in 13, the Potters have been shut out on seven of their last nine away days and they have triumphed in just three of their last 14 in total in the Premier League.


Recommended Bets:

Both teams to score in Sunderland v Newcastle @ 1.92
A hat-trick to be scored in Arsenal v Liverpool @ 26.0
Chelsea to keep a clean sheet v West Brom @ 2.08
Norwich to beat Stoke @ 2.66


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