EPL Game Week 16

The current table in the EPL reads: (1) Manchester City, (2) Manchester United, (3) Chelsea, (4) Tottenham (5) Arsenal), (5) Chelsea, (6) Liverpool, (7) Newcastle, (8) Stoke. The lower bottom half reads (14) Fulham, (15) WBA, (16) Sunderland, (17) Wolves, (18) Wigan, (19) Blackburn, (20) Bolton. The gaps in points are narrow especially for those at the bottom. The tough Christmas period is coming.

The EPL is a top league and one of the best in the world. I'm not sure if it is the best as both United and City were dumped out of the top European Competition but it is definitely the toughest. Game Week 16 is an important morale booster as you won't know how things will turn out after Christmas.

Game Week 16

Blackburn v WBA - Blackburn was leading Sunderland and looked headed for a win until the last few minutes. It must have been disheartening. WBA surprisingly went down at home to Wigan. It is hard to see both overpowering each other. They will just about balance up. 1-1.

Everton v Norwich - Everton tried but it was not enough to stop Arsenal but they are stronger at Goodison Park but if you saw how Norwich out 4-2 winners over Newcastle, they are good but it could be partly due to absnec of key defenders for the Magpies. The problem with most teams is consistency. Everton is having a difficult season but they will grind out a draw. 1-1.

Fulham v Bolton - Fulham was outplayed by Swansea but it is surely good for them to be meeting Bolton who lost at home. They are propping up the table and looks like they need a miracle to survivie. Fulham will take the points. 2-1.

Newcastle v Swansea - Two key defenders Steven Taylor and Fabio Coloccini responsible for the Magpies flying performance this season are both out and their replacement had a hard time coping with Norwich. Still at 7th place, their season prided on their defence has turned a corner and their strongest point became their weakest point and now to meet a back to form Swansea. Can Alan Pardew find a solution and motivate his boys? 2-2.
Wolves v Stoke - After a shaky start, Stoke is now back and in a healthy 8th position. Their upset win over Spurs can inspire them further. Wolves seem to have lost the plot. Even at home, can they msuter enough to stop Stoke. 1-2.
Wigan v Chelsea - Wigan played above themselves to beat WBA away but Chelsea is back. Lampard has been benched and Anelka like everyone else is going to China. Lampard came on to score the winner over Machester City to end the proud historical record. I still kept the Lampard jersey but the "D" cam fall off anytime and it would not look nice when people read it in Hokkien dialect. It is Wigan's misfortune to meet Chelsea now on the up and up. 0-2.

QPR v Manchester United - Credit to QPR losing only by a goal to Liverpool at Anfield. Man Utd looked like they are back with that 4-1 thrashing of Wolves but are they really back? QPR is capable of shocking some of the big boys plus I'm not entirely convinced about United's invincibility this season. QPR can give them a game but United has more match winners. 1-2.


Aston Villa v Liverpool - Villa is improving and Liverpool returned to winning ways. Villa Park is not an easy place but with Luis Suarez, Liverpool needs know no fear. Not only does he do the talking on the pitch, he got summoned for saying things and now even his finger is lethal. He is the most complete player. 1-1.

Tottenham v Sunderland - The irony is that Tottenham is hoping for less European distraction to focus on the league (now 3rd) and they lost to Stoke amid some controversy. If you had watched Sunderland's come from behind 2-1 win over Blackburn then you must believe in Martin O'Neill who worked that miracle. Blackburn led for quite a long time but Sunderland worked relentlessly to conjure 2 late goals for that win. Such a win at a critical point can turn your season around. Stoke showed that Tottenham can be disrupted. 1-1.

Manchester City v Arsenal - The cream of the crop game for the weekend. Chelsea has shown the City can be beaten so did Napoli. Only Arsenal had that proud record of remaining undefeated for a whole season. Will City suddenly lose a second match on the trot or will Arsenal's own unbeaten run come to a halt? Chelsea is more physical and has a better defence than Arsenal. I pick a draw. 1-1.

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