EPL Game Week 18
This is the only time you are at the better end of a stick as you are on holiday or partying and resting while the EPL and the players have to work. This is the crucial period of the EPL for those trying to win the title as well as those who are fighting for survival. It is also why it is the toughest league in the world. Strange things are beginning to happen from the last matches and Oman became the 98th country to have visited my blog.
Chelsea v Fulham - While Chelsea has lots of experience winning the league title they have never won the European title nor has it the experience handling a situation they are facing now and their title hope is fast fading and this being a London derby makes things tougher. Fortunately, they are playing at Stamford Bridge where a normally good Fulham became lame and lost 0-5 at home to Manchester United, a very surprising result but credit to the Red Devils. Can Chelsea beat Fulham when they couldn't beat Wigan? 2-1 with Sturridge to score for the home team and Clint Dempsey for the away team.
Bolton v Newcastle - Bolton is having a wrecked season but gave themselves a lifeline when they surprised Blackburn with an away 2-1 win. Is this the start of their revival that will lead to eventual survival especially with the imminent sale of Gary Cahill? Newcastle was impregnable and was unbeaten for sometime but suddenly found themselves unable to win for so many games even going down 2-3 to WBA at home. Is this the beginning of their decline? Djemba Ba could do no wrong and scored a brace and you can count on him to add to his tally of 13 for the season. 2-2.
Liverpool v Blackburn - Liverpool has been limping recently and they could not even win at Wigan. Blackburn is in serious trouble after losing 1-2 to Bolton at home. Meantime do you think the 8 match ban on Suarez was a fair one? Why didn't they make public their findings? Racism should never be condone but how do you decide when it is your word against my word. There's no excuse if Suarez did wrong but in today's world there is a lot going on in political correctness. Did they take into consideration cultural differences. I want you to watch this clip to understand:
Liverpool must absolutely win this one even without Suarez but if Suarez plays then he would score and can Andy Carroll step forward and combine with Craig Bellamy to conjure the goals? 2-0.
Manchester United v Wigan - Wigan is on the up and it bodes well for their revival and survival after they held both Chelsea and Liverpool. The problem is that Man U's form has returned. Not many can go to Fulham's Craven Cottage and win 5-0 so it spoke volume on Man U's way of doing things. 2-0 to the Devils but it can get tricky.
Sunderland v Everton - Martin O'Neill has done his magic. The Black Cats are pouncing again. Everton is all about work ethics. Their 1-0 win over Swansea showed. This will in all probability be a close win either way or to me more likely a draw. 1-1.
WBA v Manchester City - Roy Hodgson has done a really good job at WBA for they put three past Newcastle at St. James Park. City would be a much sterner test as they whacked Stoke 3-0. Can City march on? 0-2 to the Sky Blues but beware Roy Hodgson and WBA, they are really quite good as a bottom half team.
Stoke v Villa - Stoke was torn apart by Man City while Villa lost to Arsenal. This game looks like a draw all over. 1-1. Stoke need Matthew Etherington to come alive again.
Arsenal v Wolves - Wolves gained a precious point when they held Norwich - the best of the weaker teams. Arsenal will be rampant and Robbie van Persie needed two more goals in two games to erase Alan Shearer's record. Maybe he could score both in this one game? 2-0.
Swansea v QPR - Both teams are about equal. QPR held the big boys earlier on but has since been slipping away. They have last lost 2-3 to Sunderland at home while Swansea lost 0-1 to Everton at Goodison Park. Swansea could ace this one but I think it will be more like draw. 2-2.
Norwich v Tottenham - Norwich were held 2-2 by Wolves while Tottenham held Chelsea 1-1. Though it is an away game for Tottenham, they may be too strong for Norwich. Losing Rafael Van der Vaart can affect Tottenham though. 1-2.
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