Youthful Backline: The Premiership saw its youngest defence on May 7 last year. Middlesbrough fielded goalkeeper Ross Turnbull (20 years old) and defenders Andrew Davies (20), Matthew Bates (18), David Wheater (18) and Andrew Taylor (18). Average age of the defence? 18.8 years old.

Yuletide Jeer: Holding top spot on Christmas Day is more often a curse than a blessing. Only five times - Manchester United (1993-94 and 2000-01), Blackburn (1994-95) and Chelsea (2004-05 and 2005-06) - have a team gone on to win the title after being top at Christmas.

Deadly Shearer: Alan Shearer holds the record for the most hat-tricks in the EPL. He has 11. Second is Robbie Fowler with nine, third is Michael Owen with eight.

Ooh-ah Cantona: Eric Cantona scored the Premiership's first hat-trick in 1993. Interestingly, he was still playing for Leeds United then, and scored against Tottenham in a 5-0 thrashing. Those were his last Leeds goals before he was transferred to Manchester United.

Scoring 'keepers: Two goalkeepers have scored in the Premiership's history - Peter Schmeichel in 2001 and Brad Friedel in 2004.