EPL Week 14 Prediction

Just when we thought we have been served enough mouth watering clashes this season, EPL week 14 has brought forth another one as third place Manchester City host table toppers Chelsea. This is one game many teams will be keeping an eye on, because any slip from one of them will have an effect on the title race.
Talking of title race, the week 14 fixtures sees Liverpool take on Bournemouth on Sunday, while Arsenal take on West Ham at the Olympic stadium on Saturday. Other games see Tottenham take on Swansea at home, Stoke city play host to Burnley, West Brom host Watford, while Jose Mourinho's men take on Everton on Sunday evening as they plan to avenge the embarrassment of last season.

Saturday 3/12/2016
Manchester City Vs Chelsea 1:30pm
Manchester City will be the first big team to face Chelsea since their switch to the 3-4-3 formation, it will be remembered that Chelsea lost to Arsenal and Liverpool at the early stage of the season prior to Conte's tactical change which have now seen them win all their games and sits top of the table one point above their Saturday opponent.

Guardiola will be have to answer a lot of questions if he is to get anything from this game and the chief of them being "how is he going to stop Chelsea from tearing his team apart". We all know Guardiola to be a tactical genius but when faced against a straight forward and dogged manager in Antonio Conte, there will only be one winner; the person who wants it more.
Prediction: Manchester City 0 - 1 Chelsea (away to score)



Crystal Palace Vs Southampton 4pm

I continue to tell people football is one sports that forgets. No matter what you have done for a club in the past once you are not performing up to expectation, you will be shown the exit door. This is what is happening with Alan Pardew and Crystal Palace. Many have forgotten that some months back Crystal Palace were at wembley for the Final of the English FA cup a feat which was made possible by the tactical master class of Alan Pardew who thrilled the fans with a lovely dance step when his team scored first against the run of play in that game with Louis Van Gaal Manchester United. Fast forward some months later and fans are crying for his blood as their team now sit 17th on the table and have lost their last 6 matches. One amazing thing about them is that they have found the net in 5 of those games. So definitely their problem is not scoring goals but in keeping their opponents at bay.  A defeat to Southampton may just be the beginning of the end for the french man but we know as this things play out in football, even though he may leave soon but Saturday is not the day.
Their opponent Southampton have just booked their place in the EFL Cup semi finals where they face Liverpool after eliminating the Gunners by virtue of their 2 - 0 win at the Emirate on Wednesday night. They will be hoping to transfer that form to the league this weekend and put the final nail on the coffin for Alan Pardew.
Prediction: Crystal Palace 2 - 1 Southampton (1x, GG, over 2.5)

Stoke City Vs Burnley 4pm
Stoke City finally looks like a team enjoying their football at the moment, they have suffered just a single defeat in their last 6 games and picked up 4 wins, something teams like Manchester United, Arsenal and Tottenham cannot boast of. They come up against a Burnley side whose game plan is to defend against the big boys and then come out against lower teams.
If Stoke city are to continue doing what they are doing currently then I see them having no problem winning this one.
Burnley on the other hand will be feeling hard done by the 2 - 1 defeat they suffered at the hands of Manchester City last weekend, after putting up a wonderful display only for them to be punished by two Sergio Augero goals. If they are to avoid going down this season, they need to pick up points from a game like this and put their foot strong on the table to avoid being blown down when the breeze blows.
Prediction: Stoke City 3 - 1 Burnley (1, GG, over 2.5)

Sunderland Vs Leicester City 4pm
I usually don't like predicting games like this because it is usually very difficult.
According the EPL Script this was supposed to be a win for Sunderland after their game with Liverpool but the twist in the story came when it was discovered that their opponent is Leicester City the defending Champions.

With that said I believe both teams will have to settle for a draw and look forward to their next fixtures for 3 points.
Prediction: Sunderland 2 - 2 Leicester City (x, GG)

Tottenham Hotspur Vs Swansea 4pm
The reason I don't like the EPL is that it doesn't make room for long honey mood. Swansea just recorded their first win since their appointment of their new manager Bardley and now they have to pay the price by playing against a Tottenham side who have forgotten the sweet taste of  being unbeaten, and  have only won just once in their last 6 games, with majority of them being away from home.
Prediction: Tottenham 2 - 0 Swansea (1, over 1.5)

West Brom Vs Watford 4pm
This is a clash between 8th and 9th a battle for supremacy in its own. West Brom have enjoyed a little run of form winning two and drawing one in their last three games, scoring 7 and conceding just twice. They play host to Watford who too enjoyed a little run of form. Watford are currently having difficulty in fielding their complete squad for a game of late and with two of their players suspended for this clash, they will be facing an uphill task if they are to defeat west brom.
Prediction: West Brom 2 - 1 Watford (1x, GG, Over 1.5)

West Ham Vs Arsenal 6:30pm
The Hammers return from a difficult double faced battle with Manchester United and they will no doubt be feeling the scars sustained from that battle. Despite that, they will be entertaining the Gunners at the Olympic stadium for the last game of the day.

As this is a London derby, form doesn't really matter. So West Ham knowing what lies in wait for them in the coming weeks (fixture wise) they will struggle to rub off some points from the gunners.
Arsenal on the other hand will be keeping their eyes glued to the Chelsea - Man city game to see if they can take advantage of any outcome and make their way back to the top three on the log.
Arsene Wenger will be happy to recall Ozil and Sanchez back to the starting lineup for this one.
Prediction: West Ham 2 - 2 Arsenal (x2, GG, Over 1.5)

SUNDAY 4/12/2016
AFC Bournemouth Vs Liverpool  2:30pm
Afc Bournemouth face their second big fixture in two weeks in Liverpool after last weekend's cracker with Arsenal.
Bournemouth will be prepared to serve Liverpool with a title credential test, as they are play in front of their fans at the Vitality stadium a place very difficult for the away team to get a result.
After loosing 3 -1 to the Gunners Eddie Howie's men will be more prepared and relaxed to face a Liverpool team who were involved in the EFL cup on Tuesday night.
Prediction: Bournemouth 1 - 3 Liverpool (2, over 1.5)

Everton Vs Manchester United 5pm
This fixture last season Everton demolished Manchester United 3 - 0 under LVG, as they took united by surprise with an early goal and the rest as they say is history.
United under Jose Mourinho will be offered an opportunity to take back their pound of flesh from Koeman's team who are not doing too well at the moment having won just once in their last 6 games.

Manchester United will be hoping that Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Co will come along with their scoring boots for this one.
Prediction:  Everton 0 - 3 Manchester United (2, over 2.5)

MONDAY  5/12/2016
Middlesbrough Vs Hull City  9pm
Middlesbrough seems to have finally discovered the final piece to their puzzle as they now play beautiful and attractive football with goals to go with it.
Hull City who are struggling to get a steady run of good results will be visiting the Riverside for the Monday night football which sees them take on 15th placed team in the league. Mike Phelan will be hoping that his experience with Manchester United will help him steer Hull out of the relegation zone.

Prediction: Middlesbrough 2 - 2 Hull City (1x, GG, over 1.5)