EPL 2014/15 - Game Week 15
Santa Claus: What do you want for Christmas? You: A dragon? Santa: C'mon, be realistic. You: Ok then, I want Liverpool to win the League. Santa: As you were saying earlier, what colour dragon do you want?
Well, to be fair, Liverpool actually came back with two wins in a row. Southampton went the other way. Manchester City are playing good catch up with Chelsea who are still steam-rolling and Manchester United are coming up sooner than expected and Christmas is coming and with the usual fixture pile up with no rest, loos of form, suspension and injuries, everything could take on new meaning.
Newcastle v Chelsea - The Magpies could not do anything right at the beginning and then they could do no wrong. Then they went to Upton Park and were beaten and Turf Moor and held to a draw. What kind of belief do they have when they host table toppers Chelsea? Do remember that Chelsea were held 0-0 at Sunderland two games ago and Newcastle do have a good record against them. In the same fixture last season, the Magpies won 2-0 but lost 0-3 at Stamford Bridge. Prior to these, there was a 3-2 win at St. James Park. Can this Chelsea at their strongest in years do what they could not do last season? Yes. 1-2.
(Chelsea v Tottenham)
https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=832146190161307&set=vb.266828596693072&type=2&theater
Liverpool v Sunderland - Liverpool will be eager to continue their momentum of their recent consecutive wins with a third straight win and is certainly within their grasp. The last time Sunderland had beaten them was in early 2012. At Anfield, Liverpool should still ace it. 2-1.
Stoke v Arsenal - Stoke have lost 3 matches in a row while Arsenal did the reverse but history especially at the Britannia suggest that it could be a banana skin for the Gunners who last won there in 2010 out of eight meetings i.e Stoke's record against Arsenal was W4D3L1. Stoke are not in form while Arsenal are regaining some belief and in Alexis Sancehez they have an ace of a player. Peter Crouch likes to score against Arsenal so perhaps he will play. 1-2.
(Arsenal v Southampton)
https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=832168670159059&set=vb.266828596693072&type=2&theater
Tottenham v Palace - Tottenham are funny. They seem so strong and so weak at the same time. Palace can get physical and could trouble the delightful but fragile Spurs. Then again, Spurs have a superior record against Palace who have not won at White Hart Lane in the last two seasons. A home win but just. 2-1.
(Tottenham v Everton):
https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=830375547005038&set=vb.266828596693072&type=2&theater
Man City v Everton - City are approaching their best again after a stuttering start but they have only kept a clean sheet once in 17 meetings with Everton and Lukaku likes to score against City. Everton were surprisingly held by Hull at home in their last match. Meanwhile, City seems to be playing like Champions again and Sergio Aguero looks unstoppable. Last season City won 3-1 at home and 3-2 away. I think City is ready to repeat last season's performance. 3-1.
(Aguero)
https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=832099116832681&set=vb.266828596693072&type=2&theater
West Ham v Swansea - Right now the Hammers, the Saints, the Magpies and the Swans are almost at the same level and this is a good thing but result-wise, West Ham are tops. Then remember that they have never been beaten at home by Swansea in 11 meetings and having won 9 out of which in the last three meetings the Swans have not scored a single goal against them. The Swansea goal drought against the Hammers may end but still it should be a Hammer's win. Come on you Irons! 2-1.
Southampton v Man Utd. - The Saints are to be the best team this season but their schedule with the big boys were no joke - Man City (H), Arsenal (A) and now Man Utd (H). Past meetings were always tight affairs. Uted have won 3-2 and 2-1 but last season both home and away ties were 1-1. Though the Red Devils have won in their last 4 matches, this is not a given. The home team could match and surprise them. I expect Southampton to recover from their recent losses and get a better result. Draw. 1-1.
https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=831693810206545
Other Matches
QPR v Burnley - 2-2.
Hull v WBA - 1-1.
Villa v Leicester - 1-1.
Well, to be fair, Liverpool actually came back with two wins in a row. Southampton went the other way. Manchester City are playing good catch up with Chelsea who are still steam-rolling and Manchester United are coming up sooner than expected and Christmas is coming and with the usual fixture pile up with no rest, loos of form, suspension and injuries, everything could take on new meaning.
Newcastle v Chelsea - The Magpies could not do anything right at the beginning and then they could do no wrong. Then they went to Upton Park and were beaten and Turf Moor and held to a draw. What kind of belief do they have when they host table toppers Chelsea? Do remember that Chelsea were held 0-0 at Sunderland two games ago and Newcastle do have a good record against them. In the same fixture last season, the Magpies won 2-0 but lost 0-3 at Stamford Bridge. Prior to these, there was a 3-2 win at St. James Park. Can this Chelsea at their strongest in years do what they could not do last season? Yes. 1-2.
(Chelsea v Tottenham)
https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=832146190161307&set=vb.266828596693072&type=2&theater
Liverpool v Sunderland - Liverpool will be eager to continue their momentum of their recent consecutive wins with a third straight win and is certainly within their grasp. The last time Sunderland had beaten them was in early 2012. At Anfield, Liverpool should still ace it. 2-1.
Stoke v Arsenal - Stoke have lost 3 matches in a row while Arsenal did the reverse but history especially at the Britannia suggest that it could be a banana skin for the Gunners who last won there in 2010 out of eight meetings i.e Stoke's record against Arsenal was W4D3L1. Stoke are not in form while Arsenal are regaining some belief and in Alexis Sancehez they have an ace of a player. Peter Crouch likes to score against Arsenal so perhaps he will play. 1-2.
(Arsenal v Southampton)
https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=832168670159059&set=vb.266828596693072&type=2&theater
Tottenham v Palace - Tottenham are funny. They seem so strong and so weak at the same time. Palace can get physical and could trouble the delightful but fragile Spurs. Then again, Spurs have a superior record against Palace who have not won at White Hart Lane in the last two seasons. A home win but just. 2-1.
(Tottenham v Everton):
https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=830375547005038&set=vb.266828596693072&type=2&theater
Man City v Everton - City are approaching their best again after a stuttering start but they have only kept a clean sheet once in 17 meetings with Everton and Lukaku likes to score against City. Everton were surprisingly held by Hull at home in their last match. Meanwhile, City seems to be playing like Champions again and Sergio Aguero looks unstoppable. Last season City won 3-1 at home and 3-2 away. I think City is ready to repeat last season's performance. 3-1.
(Aguero)
https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=832099116832681&set=vb.266828596693072&type=2&theater
West Ham v Swansea - Right now the Hammers, the Saints, the Magpies and the Swans are almost at the same level and this is a good thing but result-wise, West Ham are tops. Then remember that they have never been beaten at home by Swansea in 11 meetings and having won 9 out of which in the last three meetings the Swans have not scored a single goal against them. The Swansea goal drought against the Hammers may end but still it should be a Hammer's win. Come on you Irons! 2-1.
Southampton v Man Utd. - The Saints are to be the best team this season but their schedule with the big boys were no joke - Man City (H), Arsenal (A) and now Man Utd (H). Past meetings were always tight affairs. Uted have won 3-2 and 2-1 but last season both home and away ties were 1-1. Though the Red Devils have won in their last 4 matches, this is not a given. The home team could match and surprise them. I expect Southampton to recover from their recent losses and get a better result. Draw. 1-1.
https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=831693810206545
Other Matches
QPR v Burnley - 2-2.
Hull v WBA - 1-1.
Villa v Leicester - 1-1.
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