EPL Game Week 30

What an amazing team Barcelona have been. In subdued form of late and even losing to perennial rivals Real Madrid, they got into further trouble when they surprising lost to AC Milan 2-0. To come back from the dead at this level and of course with the usual suspect in Lionel Messi scoring twice in the openers and finally won 4-0 is nothing short of breathtaking. The second goal was a super goal! Watch:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wkkGtbxhsqA

http://sg.sports.yahoo.com/blogs/soccer-dirty-tackle/leo-messi-scores-impressive-goal-while-surrounded-half-201937664--sow.html

Then watch this: http://sg.sports.yahoo.com/blogs/fit-to-post-sports/striker-hits-post-four-times-single-shot-goal-083858036.html

Everton v Man City - Everton have done wonders this season on a shoe string budget. David Moyes has done much more than anyone else with a very limited budget but of late they have become erratic as evidence in their shock 3-0 home defeat by Wigan in the F.A. Cup. City are not the same team of last year. After an impressive win over Chelsea they struggled to beat Villa away. Over previous 5 matches, Everton have won 3, City one and the other was a draw. There was never more than 3 goals in their games. If there is a team that can stop City it would be Everton but towards the home stretch, teams like Everton would be tired if not depleted. 1-2.

Villa v QPR - Villa have been winning or losing by just one goal, mostly losses. QPR have awaken from slumber with two straight wins over Southampton away (2-1) and Sunderland (3-1). Most of their previous match ups ended in draws. QPR have more momentum now but will be away. Draw is a possibility but when you meet a hungry bear, you do not need to outrun the bear, you just need to outrun the others and that is what QPR needs to do. They are now level with Reading, a point behind Wigan and four behind Villa. There are great incentives. 1-2.

Southampton v Liverpool - YNWA. Liverpool fans must be singing. It was a good performance but the better team lost I think. Liverpool fans should be singing: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=241TRcDivA0. Will they be "High Enough"? Damn Yankees! Since beating Man City, the Saints have lost twice and drawn once but they play fearlessly and passionately scoring in alsmost every game. After the 0-2 home loss to WBA and 0-2 away loss to Zenit, Liverpool bounced back with a vengeance with 4 straight wins in all competitions and scored 15 goals! Suarez is red hot and should score again. 1-3.

Stoke v WBA - The draw specialist has lost three on the trot but due to their early season form they are still in 11th position ten points behind WBA in 8th. Stoke have only lost twice at home all season and have a better record against WBA when they both met previously with Stoke having lost only once, drew once and won the other three. Goalkeeper Begovic is also an outstanding player for Stoke. Draw. 1-1.

Swansea v Arsenal - Swansea's away form let them down again when they went down 1-2 to WBA last week. Arsenal was outdone by Tottenham in their London derby at White Hart Lane. Watching Arsenal is akin to watching the Singapore or England team - they make life very tough for themselves but to come back 1-3 down at home and went on to play Bayern Munich away with a 2-0 win was quite something really. Too little too late but still admirable. If the Gunners could beat Bayern away then who is Swansea? But then again, that super giant effort may also take its toll on them. Depends on which Arsenal is turning up. Their past encounters were even. Arsenal is fifth and 5 points behind 4th placed Chelsea. To dream of European nights, you have to get all points now. Michu has been quieter recently. 1-2.

Man Utd v Reading - It is the worst time for Reading to face Man Utd. now even if the home team may be a bit tired. After this they go to Arsenal away. Reading sacked manager Brian McDermott after four straight losses even though he guided them up from the lower divisions. There are no team that performed better than Reading in the last 15 minutes when they often scored. I do not see how removing the manager now could save them. Utd had just thumped Norwich 4-0 in their last EPL match but their two previous encounters were close where Utd won 2-1 at home and 3-4 away. They may be top and bottom but Utd averaged 2 goals in their last several games and Reading scored one almost each match. 3-1.

Sunderland v Norwich - The Black Cats having won in 6 matches having drawn 2 of them. The Canaries are slightly better having drawn 4 out of their 6 matches and winning one. Cats on home ground should devour birds right? No, not on their current form the way I see it. 1-1.

Tottenham v Fulham - Tottenham is one of the most attractive, brilliant and exciting teams out there. After beating Arsenal 2-1 they have the bragging rights in London derby. They also dispensed Inter Milan 3-0 and lost narrowly 2-3 to Liverpool when they do not deserve to loose. Fulham are more stable now but usually poor on their travels and both teams have never drew in their last 5 meetings with Tottenham winning 4 of them. Tottenham to march on. Bale should score again. 2-0.

Chelsea v West Ham - Chelsea are easier to watch these days but not as solid as before. Underestimate the Hammers at your own peril. They have beaten Swansea, lost narrowly to Spurs and had Stoke beaten away from their home. They can give Chelsea a run for their money but Chelsea have Arsenal and Liverpool breathing down their neck so they can't afford to let up. The Hammers have only beaten Chelsea once in 5 attempts and in these 5 encounters they scored 17 goals. 2-1.

Wigan v Newcastle - It is hard to predict Wigan. After winning 3-0 away to Reading, they got thrashed 0-4 at home against Liverpool then went to Goodison Park and had Everton beaten 3-0 in the F.A. Cup. Which Wigan will turn up? Remember last season where towards the end they had everyone including the top teams beaten to survive the drop? The Magpies is coming back a bit but there is the distraction of Anzhi in mid-week. The good news is Anzhi is visiting this time so they won't be coming back from Russia. In their previous meetings, they drew only once with Newcastle leading 3 games to 1 in victory. 0-1.

I have just realised that I have many prediction of away wins this week but I always love the underdogs! Life is always about that one shot! Watch:

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&v=7knUFWY2P44&NR=1

Have a great EPL weekend!

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