EPL 2015/16 - Game Week 16

I was away from home and managed to catch the Stoke v Manchester City match. The way Stoke City  started the game with such aggression, intensity and speed I thought City was playing and red and white stripes. Xherdan Shaqiri and Arnautovic were exquisite. I was cheering Stoke each time they attacked in waves in a foreign land that I may be mistaken for a Stoke fan. 

Then later I watched the Swansea v Leicester City match and saw how the wonderful Riyadh Mahrez scored a hattrick. I just pray that the Foxes would not suffer injuries or suspension to their key players. Kudos to Claudio Ranieri and his fearless boys. I hope they win the title! How could they being a small club with a poor man's budget build such a brilliant team? Chelsea and of late especially Manchester United where LVG spent so much money and did not have the guts and gumption to display and express. 

Norwich v Everton - The Canaries are decent and have been losing narrowly even to the top teams and even held Arsenal but it took a very organised team like Watford to prise them. Everton are a very good team but they do not win nearly as often as they should. 70% of their meetings ended in draws in the past. Norwich are capable of doing better like how they surprised the Gunners but Everton have Romelu Lukaku and Ross Barkley in sparkling form. I am backing Everton to win this one even though they have only won once in seven visits to Carrow Road. 1-2.

Crystal Palace v Southampton - Palace are doing as well as West Ham and deservedly so. The Saints' form has floundered of late and fallen a few rungs. The only thing going for them coming into this match is that Southampton have a superior head to head record (4-1 wins/no draw). Remember Southampton got whacked by Liverpool 1-6 in the Cup and could only muster a home draw against Villa. Palace to get a win finally. 2-1. 

West Ham v Stoke - For the Hammers to go to Old Trafford and get a point was a good result even I was hoping for West Ham to repeat their superb results against all top teams away. The 0-0 draw with Manchester United said more about them than United. It does not come easier this round hosting Stoke who made me think that City was red and white stripes with the way they played. When they both met in the past results were mostly close. Stoke are flying at the moment while West Ham has dropped a notch but are at home.

I saw the match at a pub overseas and was highly impressed by Mark Hughes's Stoke City who were aggressive and quick from the whistle that got me cheering them especially Xherdan Shaqiri who cut past City's defence on the right to make a delight low cross for Arnautovic to finish and then a superb through pass that left City's defence in sixes for Arnautovic to secure his brace. The 1.93m Arnautovic could have had a hat-trick as both tormented and embarrassed City. On current form, Stoke should take the honours but hang on a minute and look at what happen to Liverpool. To me it is likely to be a draw. 1-1.

Manchester City v Swansea - Both sides are now what they are not. City have been more than a shock. They used to be style and swagger but not anymore. They were a poor showing at Stoke. Swansea's season has been in tailspin lately. With both teams suffering poor form, we look at the Etihad as an advantage plus City's historical dominance over Swansea and barring a great shock like how Newcastle shocked Liverpool, it should really be home points to the max.Otherwise, City's aspiration to be champions will take such a severe beating they may not recover. 2-0.

Sunderland v Watford - Sam Allardyce gave the Black Cats 2 wins on the trot but they succumbed to Arsenal. The Hornets have been doing well and after 2 unfortunate defeats to Man United and Leicester have clearly bounced back strongly. In their last 5 meetings, Watford have not beaten Sunderland and lost twice at the Stadium of Light. If Sunderland could beat Stoke and Crystal Palace why can't they do so at home to Watford? But there is something about Watford that makes them tough and they should not cower. Draw. 2-2.

Bournemouth v Manchester United - I have told you that this United is poor from the beginning but at first no one believed. Now everyone is saying it. Although they are riding high I do not think they deserve it. They do not score many and like to do 0-0. There is something wrong. This is not Manchester United. Bournemouth is having a small revival and winning at Chelsea last week must be a feather in the cap. If they could go to Chelsea and win, why not United at home? The problem is can the home side sustain the performance? A lucky narrow away win unless they are angered by being dumped out of Champions League. 0-1.

Aston Villa v Arsenal - An away draw for Villa last week at St. Mary's was an improved result but they are hosting a rampant Arsenal who despite missing some important players will prove too much for the Villans. The Gunners learned it the hard way in the Champions League and were almost dumped out. Villa will feel more misery looking at the history of their last 5 head to head where they have lost all matches, scored twice and concede 17. The Gunners could go in there and get a win for sure after an inspirational 3-0 away win at Olympiacos. 0-2.

Tottenham v Newcastle - For the Lilywhites, 2 draws in their last 2 matches are not convincing and did not favour nor further their interests. When both side have met they do not do draws but Spurs have been superior. You saw that the Magpies totally hurt Liverpool last week and if they could believe in their own performance, they could surprise yet again but as I said it is not enough to put up a good show now and then. An improved Newcastle visiting White Hart Lane is still too daunting a task. Home win for me. 2-1.

Liverpool v WBA - Liverpool were the most exciting and in-form team and people start talking about titles and so on. Only if things are so simple in life. That away 4-1 win over City and then the away thrashing to Southampton got folks carried away. Newcastle were so bad that all Liverpool need to do was to turn up right? Wrong. The Magpies brought them down to earth to allow reality to seep back in. It was their worst performance under Klopp. In the last 35 times they have met at Anfield, Liverpool won 19 and lost twice. WBA lost half of their away games. Thinking back on Newcastle, it now depends which Liverpool turns up. However, Klopp has done something wonderful at Anfield. Do note that WBA have beaten Arsenal only recently. As expectations go, we expect Liverpool to win again. 2-0. 

Leicester City v Chelsea - The Foxes are very admirable. They are my favourite team even if they are not topping the table for they way they have been playing. They need not fear Chelsea who are definitely in shambles as they have even lost to Bournemouth at home last week and are n 14th position. Mourinho won't be around for too long I strongly suspect. In their last five meetings since 2004, Leicester have never won this tie. All this is about to change. I am considering if I want to wake up at 4am for this match and even if I don't, I am hoping for them to won. 2-1.