EPL WEEK 18 PREDICTION

The beauty of the English Premier League is that, it is always available to bring you breath taking games during the festive season. The boxing day fixture traditionally marks the mid point stage of the season. Historically the team that tops the league on Christmas day usually goes ahead to win the league and this season the Blues currently occupy that position with a 6 points lead to second placed Liverpool.
This year's boxing day fixtures will see 8 games go down, while the remaining two fixtures will be played over Tuesday and Wednesday.
Monday 26/12/2016
Watford Vs Crystal Palace 1:30pm
The boxing day games kicks off with this clash at the Vicarage Road, Watford have not found it easy of late, suffering back to back defeats after their wonderful display against Everton.  Luckily for them the last two defeats have come on their travels away from home. And they will be ready to welcome a "Pardewless" Crystal Palace after the English man was relieved of this duty as manager just days before Christmas.

Crystal Palace will be hoping they can secure the services of Sam Allardyce whom many believe is the master of the relegation battle, they will be relying on his services to steer them off the relegation zone come May 2017, and they will be no better time to start than with this fixture. But first the new boss has to understand his new players.
Prediction: Watford 2 - 0 Crystal Palace (1, over 1.5)


Chelsea Vs Bournemouth 4pm
Leaders Chelsea welcome Eddie Howe's side to the bridge for the boxing day clash. Bournemouth have been the team that have caused a lot of worries to opposition this season and Chelsea will be hoping to avoid any upset if they are to maintain the lead at the top much longer.
Conte's men have been on a 1-0 winning streak and will not really care if they can get another of such result in this fixture.
Prediction: Chelsea 2 - 1 Bournemouth (X2, Over 1.5) 

Arsenal Vs West Brom 4pm
Arsenal bad performances and complete reliance on Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil have been going unnoticed for a while but now they have currently lost two games in a row with similar scoreline of 2-1. With not just their bad form on the pitch, they now also have to deal with the contract issues of two of their most valued asset at the moment Ozil and Sanchez. I don't see things looking too good for the Gunners. News of Danny Welbeck back in training have been greeted with much joy by the Arsenal fans but will the English man be rushed into playing games, that's another question left to be answered by time.

West Brom under Tony Pullis have been performing very well, compact in defence and clinical in attack they have only lost twice in their last six games. Their experience of playing United last week will be an added advantage for them going into this fixture.
Prediction Arsenal 2 - 2 West Brom (X2, GG, over 2.5) 

Manchester united Vs Sunderland 4pm
As the weeks go by the odds for Man Utd to win games begins to get smaller, this is not happening by chance but a prove that they are doing something right. It is now history that United could not record back to back wins in the premier league since August 2016. Now in recent time, they are a team no one wants to face because you never know which Manchester United team will show up.
David Moyes returns to Old trafford for the first time since leaving it, no one knows what sort of reception he will get from the home fans but one thing is for sure, the team he will be playing against will be a much more exciting team to watch than what he put out in this same fixture three years ago.
Prediction: Man Utd 2 - 0 Sundrland. (1, over 1.5)

Swansea Vs West Ham 4pm
I remember predicting a winning streak for West Ham this period but fixtures like this often stand as stumbling blocks for teams looking to maintain a good run. Both teams have contrasting forms, While Swansea have suffered back to back defeats, West ham have recorded back to back wins.
If statistic is anything to go with, Swansea are considered favourite for this one as they boast a 33% home win record against West ham's 21% away win record.
I see a very tight game in terms of separating the winner and the looser but a free flowing game in terms of goals.
Prediction: Swansea 2 - 3 West Ham (X2, GG, over 3.5)

Burnley Vs Middlesbrough 4pm
This another of those games that are very difficult to predict with both teams playing unpredictable football and the goal scoring form of Spanish striker Negredo makes it even more difficult. But with this game being play at the Turf moor, I see Burnley getting something from this game.

Prediction: Burney 1 - 0 Middlesbrough (X1, Over 0.5)

Leicester City Vs Everton 4pm
Many things have been said of Leicester City this season, but one thing I wish to remind people is that Leicester City have not all of a sudden forgotten how to play football, they have just reserved the best for last. I believe that their surge to the top half of the table is about to begin. And there is no better way to prove it than a victory in front of their fans a day after Christmas.
Everton have won just once in their last 6 games and their only victory came against Arsenal Fc, I have often complained about the lack of result Everton are getting at the moment despite their array of talent in the team. I don't see that changing in this game as Leicester will come out on top in this one.
Prediction: Leicester City 2 - 1 Everton (1, GG, over 1.5)

Hull City Vs Manchester City 4pm
Hull City will be playing for pride as they face Pep Gaurdiola's Manchester City on boxing day in front of their fans. We all know what happens when a team plays for pride; They never want to loose carelessly. Hull City may be sitting bottom on the league with no victory in their last 6 games, but it doesn't really matter, this is Christmas and so Mike Phelan and his men will want to put up a performance that the home fans will be proud of.

For City they know that any slip up now will mean that the fate of the race to the premier league title will no longer be in their hands and so they will need to once again without Kun Augero and Fernado try to avoid loosing any point at the KC stadium.
Prediction: Hull City 0 - 1 Manchester City 

Tuesday 27/12/2016
Liverpool Vs Stoke City 6:15pm
This fixture sees Joe Allen return to Anfield, as we have already witness this season, players and coaches who returned to their previous clubs didn't come out the same.

With all of them being beaten by their former team. And that sums up this fixture. It is also worth mentioning that this might be one of Mane's last game for the club as he departs for the African come of Nations which starts in January 2017. So he will want to leave his mark by being among the goal scorers.
Prediction: Liverpool 2 - 0 Stoke City (1, over 1.5) 

Wednesday 28/12/2016
Southampton Vs Tottenham 8:45pm
Southampton seems to have picked themselves up after their Europa league exist and are now unbeaten in their last three games with two wins and a draw. Their current form will be put to the test against a Tottenham team who have Manchester United breeding at the neck.

Spurs know that if they are to keep their hope of playing again in Europe next season alive, defeat should not be a word used in the same sentence with their name too often from now till May 2017.
Prediction: Southampton 1 - 1 Tottenham (X2, GG, over 0.5)

On behalf of myself (Mbonu Gerald) and the editorial team of EPL Predict, We wish you all a Merry Christmas!