EPL 2014/15 - Game Week 13

Chelsea went to Schalke 04 and won handsomely with an awesome and masterful display in a 5-0 win. Manchester City finally came alive with a 3-2 win over Bayern Munich and Aguero in fine form with a hattrick. Few teams beat Bayern Munich. Arsenal beat Borussia Dortmund 2-0 which was good considering they have been conceding goals. Liverpool fought to a 2-2 draw away to Ludogorets to keep their faint hopes alive.

Chelsea are on sort of auto-pilot now. Man City are trying to keep up but something is not quite right yet. They are not peaking together and n patches. Arsenal play pretty as usual but is Wenger been too stubborn with his philosophy. At Anfield, Brendan Rodgers is having a hard time to make Liverpool like last season, With these in mind my crystal balls says:

WBA v Arsenal - WBA surrendered tamely at Stamford Bridge last week and are in 13th while the Gunners played a good attacking game at home to the Red Devils, pinned them back, created numerous chances but could not convert and paid dearly despite their slick passing and quick movement. I know not what Arsene Wenger and the Arsenal players were thinking when they left themselves open for suicidal counter attacks and are now just four points above WBA in 8th place and have not won over three matches. They have been stung too frequently on the counter-attack so where is that balance between attack and defence? Things have just gotten worse as Jack Wilshere who has become more influential is now injured and out for three months. The injury list resembles a hospital. What have they been doing wrong? Past matches gave a strong hint of a close match with Arsenal with a slight advantage. The scores were (Arsenal first) - 2-0 (H), 2-1 (A), 1-1 (A), 1-1 (A) and 1-0 (H). A close win for Arsenal because they have Alexis Sanchez. 1-2.

Burnley v Villa - Burnley is on revival mode and on fire. For the first time this season they are not at the bottom and moved one place above QPR. When they had Hull beaten at Turf Moor, people thought it was a fluke because it was their first win then they repeated their feat when they went to Stoke's Britannia and won 2-1 with England Under-21 striker Danny Ings firing a brace! Villa themselves have stemmed the rot recently. After holding two much better teams in West Ham and Southampton, they are more resilient. History will be made if Villa win as Burnely have lost none of the last 13 home games against Villa since 1959 in all competitions and Villa's record in the league is worse having not won there since 1936! Villa will play and get another draw. 1-1.

Liverpool v Stoke - Liverpool are bleeding. What a difference a season made. Of all teams, Palace tore them apart with a solid performance as Liverpool surrendered meekly. Brendan Rodgers is in danger and has to turn his team around real quick. There is really no time for further poor performance as they have lost four matches in a row in all competitions. However, there are strong advantages in the home side's favour. Firstly, Stoke are not having a good season and have just lost at  home to lowly Burnley. Rickie Lambert opened his accounts last week and scored 3 times in four matches against Stoke when he was a Saints player. Finally Stoke City have never won at Anfield in their last 29 visits. With Sturridge in bad shape and their lack of firepower, will the former Saints players Lambert and Adam Lallana come to their rescue again? Liverpool should have signed Alexis Sanchez really. 2-1.

(Palace v Liverpool):
https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=826390024070257&set=vb.266828596693072&type=2&theater 

Man Utd v Hull - It's a no brainer. The Red Devils are back to winning while the Tigers are smarting with three straight losses. All their last five meets ended one way - in favour of Utd. even when Utd were having their worst season. Steve Bruce will not have a happy ending even if he were to be well received. 2-0.

QPR v Leicester - Sometimes, I do feel for these clubs. Both teams have been around for a long time. Today they sit right down in the bottom three. QPR's form was LWLDL and Leicester's form was LLLLD. They do not draw when they meet based on their last five. A home win for QPR. 1-0.

Swansea v Palace - The Swans were graceful and Gary Monk has done a great job as they took the game to Man City last week and gave them a fright. Palace did even better when they had Liverpool beaten 3-1. In five previous meetings, Palace have never beaten Swansea. Based on their display against Liverpool, Swansea will not be having a walk in the park. Draw. 2-2.

West Ham v Newcastle - The Magpies recovered and rescued themselves just as the Hammers did. West Ham remained unbeaten until visited Goodison Park last week. Newcastle were even better, recording five wins on the trot home or away. What came over them? West Ham had dropped a notch in form while their visitors are in the form of their life. Away win. 1-2.

Sunderland v Chelsea - After all the losses, the Black Cats have win once and drew twice in their last three matches. Their visitors topped the table and remained unbeaten. It is never a good time to play Chelsea but this is the worst if you had watched how the Blues tore apart Schalke 04 and you worry for Sunderland. However, there is hope if they repeat last season's performance when they pipped Chelsea twice 2-1 home and away. Chelsea is just too good. Away win. 0-2.

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=827836100592316

Southampton v Man City - The Saints are still second after last week's away draw to Villa. They are by far the most logic-defying team. In both their last five meetings, Southampton have not beaten Man City. City finally bared their teeth when they had Bayern Munich beaten with a hattrick from their superlative striker Sergio Aguero. Southampton are at home, rested in mid-week as City toiled and with Ronald Koeman at the helm, they will give City a run for the money but City may just prove too strong. 1-2.

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=827851030590823&set=vb.266828596693072&type=2&theater

Tottenham v Everton - The Cockerels last four matches were all scores of 2-1 except they lost to Stoke two weeks back. The Toffees are on a WDWDW sequence which means undefeated and they could carry on that trend at White Hart Lane. In the last five meetings of both sides, Everton never won at White Hart Lane and Tottenham never won at Goodison Park. In the same tie last season Tottenham won 1-0 and they are certainly capable of repeating that but Everton are no pushovers. It shall be a draw. 2-2. How good are Everton? Watch:

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=828880673821192&set=vb.266828596693072&type=2&theater