EPL 2016/17 - Game Week 29

WBA v Arsenal - The Baggies crashed at home to bottom team Sunderland (0-2) then went to Goodison Park and got trounced 3-0 but before that were going great guns. This signals trouble and a loss of form for Tony Pulis's team and it was poor preparation before hosting the Gunners who on the other hand after poor losses to Liverpool and Bayern Munich gave Lincoln a backlash of 5-0. You can't dismiss Lincoln for they have pulled off upsets over bigger and better teams before that. The last five encounters previously saw WBA won only once at the Hawthorns. Arsenal are in fifth and they have never missed out on qualification to the Champions League. It will spook them since they do now. The thing is that Arsenal have lost just once in twelve encounters with WBA and the host are suffering a drop in form as evidenced. There is nothing seriously wrong with Arsenal except that they lack a certain steel and could have been a tad more consistent. At the highest level, little things make the difference. 0-2.

Crystal Palace v Watford - Palace have been somewhat revived winning their last two matches. Sam Allardyce must have taken great pleasure especially in their last match with a 2-0 away win over WBA while the Hornets were outgunned by the Saints (3-4) at home and have not won in three matches. Palace can take heart that they have a better unbeaten record than Watford (W4D1L0) whenever they met but most games were tight with scores of 1-1, 1-0 or 2-1. But Watford won when they played at Selhurst Park last season. That could be an encouragement. 2-1.

Everton v Hull - Everton are very much in the fray and lies in 7th position after an impressive 3-0 win over WBA and Hull did themselves a big favour having won 2-1 at  home against Swansea. With Ross Barkely sparkling and Romelu Lukaku relentless, it may be hard to stop them. However, after winning three consecutive games against the Tigers, the Toffees are winless in the last three but Hull have never beaten Everton at Goodison Park since way before I was born. Hull will make it tough but I think Everton should prevail. 2-1.

Stoke v Chelsea - The Potters are being moulded by the Potter's hands and Mark Hughes masterminded a great result even if it was 0-0 away to Manchester City. That is not easy to do at the Etihad but could he do the same to runaway leaders Chelsea who played a classic game to win 2-1 at West Ham? Stoke's record against Chelsea are quite stark - W2D3L12. But at the same time Chelsea recorded only two wins in seven visits. Cheslea have no European distraction but may have more tired legs with the F.A. Cup encounter with United earlier week. It could be a close match. Everyone knew how Chelsea play just like Leicester last year but no one could stop them. Why? Because the players and the entire team are on form and have exceptional belief. It is all about the belief. Stoke plays a different game from the others. So they may get something here. 1-1.

Sunderland v Burnley - The Black Cats look firm favourites to go down this time despite many years of last minute Houdini escapes. They have conceded eight goals without scoring for three matches. Burnley are also not getting the results, recently just getting a little short after an impressive draw with Chelsea but the Clarets have yet to lose to Sunderland in three meetings this season with two wins and a draw. Sunderland have not lost at home to Burnley in the last eight times. Though Sunderland have been awful, they could get a point here. 1-1.

West Ham v Leicester - The Hammers have not won in four matches. The Foxes have not just not lost but impressively won their last two. Their form this season has been treacherous especially away from home and the last two 3-1 wins were at home. Craig Shakespeare has just been confirmed as manager, not just care-taker and it is blooming roses once again at Leicester especially when Vardy and Mahrez are purring again. Leicester are unbeaten against West Ham for five matches in all competition and their inspiring qualification in the Champion Leagues has shamed Arsenal and Manchester City. Trailing 1-2 in the first leg away match against Sevilla, nobody expected them to win the reverse home match 2-0 to pull through except themselves. It is exciting again who they may shock next. Perhaps they may go all the way. Never say never for they have done it over a season last year in the Premier League but they say this is different as it is Champions League. West Ham have not won in four matches while Leicester won all their last three including this Champions League. There may be worn out legs after the mid-week exertion but it must surely inspire them Foxes. Away from home this season they are unproven but on current form and if they could beat Liverpool and Sevilla, they could beat West Ham. 1-2.

Bournemouth v Swansea - Eddie Howe's Cherries have bounced back while Paul Clement's Swansea have been quite brilliant and you will not know that they were struggling just not too long ago. While Bouremouth's stocks are rising again, Swansea seemed to have taken a little tumble. It will be interesting to watch the development of these two young English managers. Eddie is just 39 and Paul 45. Eddie's achievement for Bournemouth has been very impressive and Paul came from Bayern Munich so that says a lot. Face to face, Bournemouth thumps Swansea with 4 wins and a draw in their last five meetings and have also scored two goals or more whenever they play Swansea. Take note the Swansea has in the past, won three of these away fixtures. Joshua King scored a hattrick against West Ham last week despite missing a penalty. It should be a high scoring draw. 2-2.

Middlesborough v Manchester United - Boro's early season stubbornness may have lost its belief and are in danger of being relegated and have lost their last three. Their record against the Red Devils have been dismal. Their hope is that United may be a little blunt of late having not won for two matches but Boro have been winless against the Red Devils for twelve times and United have won four in their last six visits. Boro have lost their last three matches on offer but United are mot much better drawing two and lost one. If United win and Arsenal also wins, United will still be in sixth position where they have been stuck for the longest time. Boro can prove a tough nut to crack at home and it depends on Ibrahimovic to deliver as he seems to be the only who could really score. Paul Pogba has not shown that he is really that good and the current injury has become the world's most expensive problem as have been said much earlier. 0-2.

Tottenham v Southampton - This is quite an intriguing clash. Frankly, Tottenham have been irrepressible and scoring freely. Kane will get two or three, Eriksen gets one and Dele Alli one. Something like that plus they have the joint best defensive record to Chelsea conceding only 20 goals. They have scored 18 goals in their last 5 matches. The Saints scored 12 in 5 but conceded 8. Once their forte, Southampton are leaking a bit. It could be due to the injury of Virgil van Dijk. Mauricio Pochettino has won four out of five games against his former club. It is unfortunate that Harry Kane in such scintillating form suffered an injury that will keep him out for awhile as he has been by far and away the best striker this season. This will be close but may be high scoring. 3-2.

Manchester City v Liverpool - This will be a huge game that has great bearing on the top four. It should be a pulsating match as both are attacking teams and pure philosophy. City are scorers and given Liverpool's poor defence, City should score but in their last 5 encounters, Liverpool won 4 and drew 1 and are back to winning ways after conceding first at home against Burnley while City were held at home by Stoke before beating Boro 2-0 way in the F.A. Cup. Liverpool have won four consecutive league games against City and Guardiola has so fat been surprised by the difficulty of the EPL. There will be goals from Liverpool too and if they their attack is on form their defence will hold out much better but once their attack are suffocating, their defence crumbles. Philippe Coutinho looks out of sorts lately. Perhaps he has not been fully fit after injury. This match could go either way. Pep Guardiola quality at Barcelona has gone AWOL and City's collapse against Monaco (1-3) was shocking after a home lead of 5-3! Both sides have defensive vulnerability but Liverpool have the psychological advantage and more rest. 1-2.