EPL Game Week 27

Manchester United have an almost unassailable lead of 12 points with 12 matches to go. I do not have to like Man Utd but when they can prove that money is not everything, I like that notion. Arsenal have been making money but are not really spending but they may blossom in future years when a limit is set on number of foreigners but for now they have a problem. What about those fighting to avoid the drop?

Fulham v Stoke - Fulham is back at Craven Cottage and have made a decent recovery beating West Ham, losing narrowly to Man Utd and holding Norwich away. Stoke have not been well but also recovered with a 2-1 win over Reading. Strangely, they never drew one another in five meetings with Fulham leading 3-2 wins. Both teams won their home ties previously. There is nothing to suggest history will not repeat itself. A Fulham win. 2-1.

Arsenal v Villa - The Gunners are a roller-coaster now. When you think they are good they turned bad and vice versa. Their aura was gone. After being unbeaten for four matches, they have now lost two in a row to teams as varied as Blackburn and Bayern. The bad news for Arsenal is that Villa are coming up roses with their away 3-3 draw at Everton and then the 2-1 home win over West Ham. After the mid-week home thumping (1-3) at the hands of Bayern, can Arsenal summon a battle cry? In 5 previous meetings, Villa lost 4 and drew 1. A must win for the Gunners. Only just. 2-1.

Norwich v Everton - After that 5-0 KO by Liverpool , the Canaries have not lost but drew all 3 EPL matches but they lost 0-1 to Luton in the F.A. Cup. Everton have been doing great and the 2-0 loss to Man Utd was an exception. To me they are one of the most consistent teams and solid in their application but they have also become a draw specialist. This is an away game and it does not help that all three previous meetings ended in draws. Time for Fellaini to score. 2-2.

QPR v Man Utd - Life is sometimes cruel. QPR have beaten Chelsea away, held Tottenham and Man City at Loftus Road and before that 1-4 spanking by Swansea drew four matches and were unbeaten 4 times. On paper, it is a foregone conclusion but they will be everyone else's favourite team that day when they meet Man Utd except man Utd fans. Can they surprise like they did Chelsea, City and Spurs? Utd could be tired after the Real encounter. How will Harry Redknapp exploit that? They have never beaten or drew Utd in three previous attempts and each time lost by 2 goals. QPR must be desperate and hungry to scrap for the spoils and the points. Utd were below par when they beat Reading 2-1 in the FA Cup. You will persecute me  but Rooney and Phil Jones will be absent. 1-1.

Reading v Wigan - Reading were doing really well like beating Newcastle and holding Chelsea before losing 1-2 to Stoke and then 1-2 to Man Utd in the FA Cup. The relief is that Wigan themselves have not won for quite some time save for the FA Cup against a smaller team. They met once which Wigan won at home. This could be a draw as they cancel each other out but I will go for a Reading win. 3-2.

WBA v Sunderland - WBA have been missing their early season form but their 2-0 away win over Liverpool must surely be epic! Martin O'Neill's men are not going to roll over and play dead as they are the Black Cats not Brown Dogs. WBA has not kept successive clean sheets since a long time till they met Liverpool which was their first victory in six games and Sunderland have not lost thrice in a row. So how? Sunderland has never beaten the Baggies in five meetings and drew only once. I'll go for a WBA win. 3-2.

Man City v Chelsea - This one will be an epic game. City have only won 2 points out of a possible 9. They face a mammoth task to catch their neighbour. Chelsea had 3 out of a possible 9 points. One defending English champions and the other former English champions and reigning European champs. The tough part is that a draw is of no use to both. In five previous encounters they are level with two wins each and a draw. Try as they might, I think it will end in a draw. 2-2.

Newcastle v Southampton - The Magpies played a cracking game against Chelsea to win but went down to Tottenham. It typified their topsy-turvy season. Southampton have been playing very well with their last scalp being a 3-1 win over Man City. If you can beat City who else you cannot beat. In their last meeting The Saint won 2-0. Since Demba Ba left, Newcastle's goals have dried up a bit. I feel it will be a draw. 2-2.

West Ham v Tottenham - The Hammer's form has not been as solid as the early season and Tottenham can be entitled tot he occasional blip but the superlative form of Gareth Bale and their attacking play has few peers. Playing away will be harder but Spurs have the second best away form so it will not be a problem. Spurs won 3 out of 5 meetings previously, having lost one and drew one. While West Ham can surprise, I think it is hard to stop Tottenham. 1-2.