EPL Week 16: 20 Stats You Must Know

After Chelsea's mid-week heroics to take down the undefeated City, the title race is looking very, very close and we start to sort out the boys from the men this year.

With just 12 points separating the top seven places in the league, and eight points separating the bottom nine, every week of the English Premier League is valuable in getting points on the board and making sure you're heading in the right direction.

Some cracker games this week and whether you're heading to a game, out to a bar, or just making yourself comfortable on the couch, why not make yourself extra comfortable by adding a few more dollars to that bank account?

Here's the 20 stats you must know for every game in the Premier League this week.

Blackburn v West Bromwich Albion

Blackburn have conceded in every home game this year; letting in 15 goals in their seven matches played at home this year.  West Brom on the other hand, have only scored 14 goals for the season, but 71 percent of those goals have come in the first half.

Click here for a more detailed analysis of this game.

Hot-to-trot tips:

Over 0.5 goals at half time

First goal to be scored between 16-30 minutes

Everton v Norwich City

At home, Everton have allowed at least one goal in every encounter, and have failed to score in 57 percent of these clashes. Offensively, Norwich have been far stronger, ranked 6th in most goals scored in the league.

In 42.9 percent of games Everton has played in have gone over 2.5 goals, while for Norwich, the number is far higher at 66.7 percent, but at home, Everton will be looking to keep it close—which they will do for the most part, just not quite close enough.

Hot-to-trot tips:

Norwich to win

Under 2.5 goals for the match

Fulham v Bolton

In what shapes as either being a real close, hard fought, encounter or the worst match of the week, Bolton travel to Fulham to take on a side who has scored 75 percent of their goals for the year at home, and 67 percent of their matches have had less than 2.5 goals.

Bolton, on the other hand, have had over 2.5 goals in 87 percent of their matches and have earned 67 percent of their total points for the year on the road. Bolton will score goals and keep this one close, and it could be one where the momentum swings on multiple occasions.

Hot-to-trot tips:

Over 2.5 goals for the match

Both teams to score

Fulham HT into Draw at FT

Newcastle United v Swansea City

When Newcastle score first, they've won every single time this year.

When Swansea concede first, they have not won at all this year.

And at home, Newcastle looks set to get the points in a game they really should have no trouble winning against a side conceding 90 percent of its goals, and only scoring 10 percent of them away from home.

Hot-to-trot tips:

Newcastle to win

Newcastle to score first

Newcastle HT into Newcastle FT

Wolverhampton v Stoke City

At home, Wolves have proved a handful at times this year, and against a Stoke side fresh of knocking of the streaking Spurs, could prove some value here.

They've got 71 percent of their points at home, whilst Stoke have only scored 0.57 goals on average away from home this season—the second lowest in the league.

If you can put two past Tottenham, I've got no problem Stoke can score, I'm not just not sold on them running away with this one as easy as it might look.

Still, I'm playing it safe in this one.

Hot-to-trot tips:

Both teams to score

Over 2.5 goals for the match

Wigan Athletic v Chelsea

Chelsea will be breathing fire after taking down Manchester City at the Bridge and with the appearance of a reinvigorated side, Wigan look set to face a beating in this one.

Eighty percent of the Blues games have gone over 2.5 goals, and with Wigan conceding in their last 12 matches—allowing nearly two goals on average per game—they look set to be dominated by a Chelsea side that has all the momentum at the moment.

Hot-to-trot tips:

Chelsea to win by 2+ goals

Chelsea HT into Chelsea FT

Queens Park Rangers v Manchester United

Manchester United will be thanking Chelsea for bringing City back to the pack, and look set to keep the pressure on against the league leaders by taking the points against QPR.

United have scored in every away game this year, scoring the opening goal in 87 percent of their encounters so far.

QPR has only won once at home, and has not won when losing at half time.

Looks like the divisional race is really heating up for the New Year.

Hot-to-trot tips:

Manchester United to score first

Manchester United HT into Manchester United FT

Aston Villa v Liverpool

Liverpool—for all their struggles to close out games they should win—still only sit four game off the top, and away to Vila, whilst tough, shapes as another game they probably should win.

With 73 percent of their matches going under 2.5 goals, Liverpool will look to keep it tight at the back, and press forward late.

Watch out for a late Villa goal though—77 percent of the goals Liverpool have let in have been in the second half.

They should still do enough though for at point at worst in this one.

Hot-to-trot tips:

Under 2.5 goals

Half time result as a draw

Tottenham v Sunderland

Tottenham losing to Stoke? That I did not predict.

What I do predict though, is that the Spurs will bounce back strongly at home against a hapless Sunderland side.

Resurrected? Hardly. I'm not buying into that just yet.

With 85.7 percent of Spurs games going over 2.5, as well as 60 percent of Sunderland, this one looks set to do the same.

Sunderland's inability to score goals away could haunt them—as they 0.86 they've averaging away will not survive against the 2.5 the Spurs are at home.

Hot-to-trot tips:

Tottenham to win

Over 2.5 goals for the match

Manchester City v Arsenal

The run may well be over, but the season definitely is not, and for City, last week's loss to Chelsea may well just bring them down to earth.

Whether they come down in a good piece, or in lots of piece scattered across the ocean, well, that's remains to be seen.

This one shapes as an offensive shootout, with Batolli and van Persie the form players of the league to date.

City have had games go over 2.5 goals on 86.7 percent of occasions, and Arsenal 60 percent, but with City looking to keep it tight at the back after a loss, I think the under might be a play. We'll keep it safe and go with the under 3.5 in this one.

At home, off a loss, needing a win to silence the doubters, I think City will be too good for the Gunners. Van Persie will give it a real shot, but he alone is not good enough to take down a more complete City side that hasn't lost at home all year, and is averaging their home wins by three goals.

Hot-to-trot tips

Manchester City HT into Manchester City FT

Under 3.5 goals for the game