The Mean Machine

Can Manchester United secure an 8th clean sheet from 9 Premier League games in GW9?

No Premier League team secured more clean sheets than Manchester United last season and if the opening 8 rounds are anything to go by, it seems highly unlikely that any side will finish with more this season.

United notched up their 7th clean sheet of the season at Anfield last weekend, with David De Gea in inspired form yet again and Liverpool supporters must be sick of the sight of him. However, even though United fans were left frustrated by the lack of ambition José Mourinho’s side showed on the day, this was par for the course for the wily Portuguese coach. He has now failed to beat any ‘Big 6′ side in his last 10 Premier League away games against them, losing 5 times, while all the others have finished in a stalemate. It’s a statistic that will need improving on if the Red Devils are to have any chance of wrestling the title away from neighbours’ Manchester City.

Saturday’s opponents Huddersfield Town are now coming to terms with the harsh realities of life in the Premier League after their bright start to the season. The Terriers have the lowest goal expectancy of all the teams in GW9 action, so the likes of Antonio Valencia and the aforementioned De Gea are sure to be popular Fantasy Premier League choices again.

EPL Goals - GW9

Elsewhere, Pep Guardiola’s free-scoring Manchester City side, who are on target to set a new Premier League goals record, host Burnley at the Etihad on Saturday and Sean Dyche’s troops may have their work cut out just to limit the damage.

After suffering a shock loss to bottom club Crystal Palace, Chelsea will be looking to get back to winning ways when they entertain Watford at Stamford Bridge, while the pick of the Gameweek 9 action takes place on Sunday when Tottenham Hotspur host Liverpool.

Spurs were thwarted in their efforts to get the size of the Wembley pitch reduced in the summer, so this should be a good test of their title credentials, as they look to prove that they can deliver on large fields despite what the statistics say.

Friday Night football is back, with West Ham United taking on Brighton and Hove Albion at the London Stadium, so remember to get those line-ups finalised early!