Raheem Sterling struck Manchester City s second goal in their 2-0 win at Burnley to move onto 99 for the club in the Premier League.
With Pep Guardiola s men starting to build an ominous lead at the top of the table, this weekend would be an ideal time for Sterling to score for just the second time against Liverpool in what would be his 11th league meeting with his former employers.
Burnley have had a poor couple of games but there s value to be had in backing three of their top performers to deliver when they host in-form Brighton and Hove Albion.
Meanwhile, Anthony Martial is back among the goals for Manchester United and could well be worth a spot in your fantasy line-up.
154 Raheem Sterling has been directly involved in 154 goals in all competitions under Pep Guardiola (99 goals 55 assists) eight more than any other player for Manchester City in this time. Flick.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe)
NICK POPE
Burnley s number one Nick Pope had a rare moment of misfortune last time out, flapping at a Bernardo Silva shot that allowed Gabriel Jesus a simple goal three minutes in.
Still, he made four saves in total to keep the scoreline reasonably respectable and take his tally to 204 in the competition since the start of last season. No goalkeeper has made more.
In fact, only Ederson (29) has kept more clean sheets than Pope (22) in that same time frame, and the man hopeful of becoming England s regular number one will be determined to add to that against Brighton and prove his City slip-up was a mere blip.
JAMES TARKOWSKI
Like his goalkeeper, James Tarkowski has also kept 22 Premier League clean sheets since August 2019, more than any other defender (Harry Maguire is next on 21). He has every chance of getting another here.
Brighton are on a roll after beating Tottenham and Liverpool 1-0 and they won this game last season at Turf Moor 2-1, Aaron Connolly scoring a second-half winner.
However, three of the seven Premier League meetings between these two have finished 0-0, including the reverse game in November. Indeed, this could be the first fixture in Premier League history to see no goals scored in both games in two separate campaigns (there were two 0-0 draws in 2017-18, too).
LUCAS DIGNE
Everton left-back Lucas Digne has already registered six assists this season, the most of any defender in the league. Since he joined the Toffees in 2018, only Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold (28) can better his tally of 17.
Digne actually splits the two Liverpool full-backs when it comes to chances created over the same time period, his 165 bettered only by Alexander-Arnold among defenders (166).
His battle with Manchester United s Aaron Wan-Bissaka could be key to the result at Old Trafford.
6 Lucas Digne has provided more Premier League assists this season than any other defender (six). Outlet.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe)
RAHEEM STERLING
As well as scoring 99 goals, Sterling has provided 55 assists in all competitions for City under Guardiola. Those 154 goal involvements are the most of any player in the Catalan s time in charge, eight more than next best Sergio Aguero.
The England forward has not always enjoyed facing his old club and City have a fairly miserable record at Anfield, having won just once in their previous 29 league visits – and that was back in May 2003.
But with the champions reeling from consecutive home defeats to Burnley and Brighton, Sterling may well sense the Reds are there for the taking.
JAMES MADDISON
In Leicester City s 2-0 win at Fulham, James Maddison set up both goals, marking the first time he has recorded multiple assists in a Premier League game.
In his previous 12 appearances in all competitions, the former Norwich City man has been directly involved in 12 goals (six scored and six assisted). There were just three games in that run where he failed to score or set up a team-mate.
Brendan Rodgers men are flying high and will be confident of a result away to an inconsistent Wolves.
CHRIS WOOD
Chris Wood has only scored four league goals all season and just one of those has come in his most recent seven appearances.
That could all change against Brighton. Wood has scored eight times in league football against the Seagulls, making them his favourite opponent in English football.
ANTHONY MARTIAL
Anthony Martial had a positive cameo in that 9-0 demolition of Southampton, scoring twice and winning a (controversial) penalty after coming on at half-time.
Everton will not want to see Martial with renewed confidence. The France forward has managed six goals and three assists in his past 11 appearances in all competitions against the Toffees.
Even if Edinson Cavani starts in his place, Martial may well be a threat: he came off the bench to score one and set up another in a 2-0 EFL Cup win at Goodison Park in December.
5 Anthony Martial has now scored on all seven days of the week in the Premier League for Man Utd, becoming the fifth player to do so, after Ryan Giggs, Andrew Cole, David Beckham and Wayne Rooney. Collection.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe)
