Headliner - Erling Haaland (lee)

Haaland has had a break from competitive football during the World Cup and will be looking to add to his total of 18 goals in 13 appearances this season. The Norwegian international has averaged 9.5 points per game as per the image from our Heatmaps feature below and he is top amongst forwards for goals (18), shots in the box (SiB) (49), shots on target (SoT) (28) and 'big chances' (21). Man. City scored seven goals over the last six gameweeks before the break and the reigning Champions are ranked eighth for shots (86) and 10th for SoT (26). Their opponents Leeds shipped 14 goals over the last six gameweeks, more than any other side. Only Liverpool and Fulham (20 each) have allowed opponents more 'big chances' than the Yorkshire side. Our Fix Algorithm currently projects a point score of 8.3 for Haaland.

Mohamed Salah (avl)

Salah showed glimpses of his old self in the last six gameweeks prior to the break with only Rodrigo (five) scoring more goals than his four amongst midfielders. As the Stats Sandbox image below shows, the Egyptian international is top amongst midfielders for shots (27), SiB (20), SoT (13) and 'big chances' (eight) over that timeframe. Liverpool have scored just eight goals over the last six gameweeks but are top for shots (100), SiB (72), SoT (39) and 'big chances' (23). Their hosts Villa are likely to be without Martínez in goal and conceded 11 goals over the aforementioned period with only Bournemouth, Wolves (12 each) and Leeds (14) more porous. Meanwhile, only Leeds (19), Liverpool and Fulham (20 each) allowed opponents more 'big chances' than the Midlands side. Our Fix Algorithm currently projects a point score of 5.5 for Salah.