Bluffers’ Guide to the Premier League weekend: Vardy on a roll against troubled Man United

A mid-table clash of unusual significance, a grand day out for the Baggies and many other timely statistical wonders from Martin Bly

It is early days yet, but it is still somewhat surprising for Bluffers to contemplate that what should be the most celebrated game of the weekend – between the most famous English club in the football world and the reigning Premier League champions – is also no more than a mid-table scuffle.

Yet Leicester City visit Manchester United with five games played and neither team troubling even the Europa League places, to the accompaniment of rumours of dressing-room disquiet at Old Trafford and drastically lowered expectations among the Leicester faithful.

Bluffers will able to offer shreds of condolence to followers of both teams, although in United’s case the reassuring statistics apply to the team rather than the manager. For instance, the Red Devils’ home record against these opponents is all but invincible, Leicester having emerged victorious from just one of their last 18 visits to Sir Matt Busby Way.

United are also highly likely to at least find the net in Saturday’s early kick-off, having scored in each of their last 14 Premier matches against Leicester City, racking up a total of 33 goals.

Pro-Leicester bluffers are not short of ammunition, though, especially when it comes to recent head-to-head contests between the two managers. Jose Mourinho loves to have a pop at his opposite numbers - especially if they have history with his former clubs, which is often the case.

But the Special One has not won any of his last four league meetings against a team led by Claudio Ranieri, and has lost the last two. Ranieri’s favourite striker also has good form: Jamie Vardy has scored in three of the four matches he has played for Leicester City against United in all competitions.

Manchester City have had much the better start to the season of the two Manchester clubs, and travel to Swansea City on Saturday afternoon with a good chance of extending their 100 per cent record. The Swans have made a rotten start and a Welshman with powerful Manchester connections – one Ryan Giggs - has been mooted as a possible successor to the beleaguered Francesco Guidolin.

City bluffers have much to be chuffed about, and may point to the form of Kevin de Bruyne as a key factor: he has averaged, according to one reliable analysis, 3.4 key passes per league game so far this season. It is a multiple of that number that provides the gloomy City statistic of the week: the injury that caused Vincent Kompany to leave the field late in City’s midweek EFL Cup game was the 34th that he has suffered since joining the club in 2008.

A statistical milestone of a more upbeat nature might appeal to Bluffers in the Potteries, where West Bromwich Albion visit Stoke City for the 1,000th game in professional management of the Baggies’ gaffer Tony Pulis, who also spent almost a decade (in two spells) in charge of Stoke. Always a master of the more pragmatic aspects of the game, Pulis might like to point out that his current side are not only riding relatively high in the League (10th), they are also ranked fifth in terms of defensive resilience, while Stoke are rock bottom on both counts.

London bluffers will care little for such matters. Many will be examining the data on Chelsea’s visit to Arsenal, a fixture in which the home side are looking to record four successive Premier League victories for the first time since October 2015, against a transitional Chelsea side. In favour of the Blues, they have won more league matches at Emirates Stadium than any other away side (4), and Arsenal are winless in their last nine Premier League meetings between these two rivals.