EPL 2014/15 - Game Week 34

Southampton v Tottenham - The Saints as expected are lagging a bit in the last lap. The good news is that they are playing at home but the bad news is that they are facing a Tottenham side that is back to winning ways. Worse, Southampton have a poor record playing Tottenham having lost all matches in their previous five encounters. They are capable of a result but they have been up and down. 1-1.

Burnley v Leicester - Burnley are tough at their home ground Turf Moor. Here, they have beaten Manchester City, held Tottenham and lost only 0-1 to Arsenal but they have never beaten the Foxes in five previous meetings. Besides, Leicester are on a roll with three wins in a row! You will be tempted to pick a Leicester win knowing Burnely can be tough at home. Then you watch Crystal Palace on a row and playing at home with WBA floundering and the WBA went on to promptly dispatch Palace to the cleaners. 1-2.

Crystal Palace v Hull - As mentioned above, Palace were so hot and played at home with WBA so bad and yet Palace faltered. Now they find themselves in a similar situation playing the Tigers who are now fighting relegation having forgotten how to win and lost three on the trot. Palace have a superior record against Hull. 2-0.

Newcastle v Swansea - In terms of form and results, the Magpies are the worst lot in the EPL now. They are back in danger if they do not nick a win or two from now. The Swans are not getting the best results (a draw and a loss in their last two games) but at least they are playing and getting a couple of wins here or a draw there. What is facing Newcastle squarely is that head to head they have not beaten Swansea in five meetings. 1-2.

QPR v West Ham - In this London derby both teams are in similar shape with 3 losses, a draw and a win in their last five matches. Only the Hammers are in tenth position whereas QPR is just above Burnley but at Loftus Road, they are a different side. 1-1.

Stoke v Sunderland - Stoke have been quite bad that you would not expect them to beat Southampton last week but they did. Their results form are identical and so are their historical records head to head. 2-1.

WBA v Liverpool - What can I say about Liverpool? The title was theirs last season. This season was a poor start followed by a great recovery then it seems tapering off. What about Steven Gerard? In his time he has no peers. Remember Istanbul and many other great Anfield nights but Gerard is a different player now. Some Liverpool die hards may blame Brendan Rodgers if Gerard is not fielded but the fact is Gerard slows down Liverpool's play. Alex Ferguson was ruthless as a manager. He allowed no sentiment. 

What about Raheem Sterling? When Sterling started talking about his salary and wanting more or that he wanted Champions League experience, he has forgotten where he came from and who gave him that chance. If I were Rodgers, I would have dropped him from the line up. No one is bigger than the club, his company or his country. Take a leaf from Coutinho. When asked to renew his contract. He just asked where to sign.

What about Brendan Rodgers? He is a good coach. We have seen how exciting Liverpool have been but Rodgers is still young and can become a great over time. Is time on his side now? He squandered a huge sum reaped from Suarez's sale without recruiting a truly great player or two. He was tactically naive against Aston Villa in the FA Cup semi-final despite a dream start of going one up. Again there is probably nothing to show for. Dortmund's Klopp is available and Liverpool suits him fine. Even his name suggests an affiliation to the Kops. 

WBA have been doing bad business but the last match win over rising Palace with two clear goals showed they may have turned a corner. Liverpool do have a good record against WBA. Liverpool were so bereft againstt Villa that maybe the bet result they could get against WBA I would say a draw.Or will they rise above themselves to win well at WBA? 1-2.

Manchester City v Aston Villa -When City played West Ham, I was more worried for City. Fortunately they came through. You see I actually like Pelligrini who is such a gentle man. But Villa is going through a resurgence perhaps and probably Tim Sherwood has brought back their belief. They had beaten Tottenham 1-0 away whcih you may think it was a fluke but then they had Liverpool beaten in the Cup semi. Normally City would be too strong for Villa and also have a much superior head to head record. Can Villa take another scalp of a big boy? May be a good fight and a close call. 2-1.

Everton v Manchester United - After their last defeat, Everton have three wins and a draw. They are back. United have been winning until that Chelsea defeat. Head to head both teams do not do draws and Everton have a better record with three wins to United's two. Since 2012, United have lost to Everton when they visited Goodison Park. A draw here is possible but I pick Everton to win. 1-0.

Arsenal v Chelsea - The Gunners are playing so well they are on a roll. Chelsea have been doing well since a long time. However, Arsenal have not beaten Chelsea for a long time. There is a temptation to see a Gunners win for the way they play but Chelsea are the choke masters as you have seen how Man Utd were unable to unlock them. It will take something extra to win here. Head to head their last five meetings were five losses and a draw. In fact, in those five encounters, Arsenal scored only once. Let's settle for a draw this time. 1-1.

Have a great soccer weekend, the season is ending soon.