EPL 2016/17 - Game Week 37

EPL is indeed the most competitive soccer league. It is not just so easy to win the league title. You could see the smaller teams or teams at the bottom holding or even beating the bigger and richer teams at their own game. That is the beauty of it. Chelsea have more or less done it with that 3-0 in over Middlesborough sending them down to the Championship and Tottenham's 0-1 collapse at West Ham may have just ended the fight. The attention now turns to who gets into third and fourth and which is the last team to be relegated and also the top scorer chart. EVerton's Romelu Lukaku has 24 goals from 35 matches (ratio: 0.68), Tottenham's Harry Kane has 21 from 27 games (ratio: 0.77) and Diego Costa got 20 from 33 (ratio:0.60). Kane is the most lethal in that sense regardless who tops. There are two to four matches left depending on the team but all soccer fans have two weeks left to savour and three months to lick their wounds if their team falters or fall short. Let's see the crystal ball for the week:

Everton v Watford - The Toffees have not scored for 3 matches and lost 2. Romelu Lukaka has 24 goals this season leading the scoring chart after playing 35 games, 3 ahead of Harry Kane should end up tops but no harm to add a couple more. The Hornets have lost their sting scoring zilch for the last 3 matches and also lost them all. Everton are safely in 7th position and has done well. With their last match away to Arsenal, they would certainly want to give their fans at Goodison Park a good closing to the season but they have not beaten Watford in their last three encounters. The good news is Watford have never won at Goodison Park. Home win. 2-0. (The match is scheduled to play at 0245 hours so it would be over when you read this - Result: Everton 1 Watford 0).
WBA v Chelsea - The Baggies stopped their rot of 4 defeats with a draw last week while Chelsea ended a rare defeat by United with a vengeance with 4 victories. The last 5 meetings between them there was only a draw and for wins for the Blues. Chelsea will clinch the title with a win here which should be expected. If they could go to Goodison Park and won 3-0 why not here. However, in 5 meetings at the Hawthorns, WBA have won three. After all they have been the most consistent and ruthless side this season to be in this position. No longer are they as boring and winning 1-0. If they win here and have the title it is because they deserve it. What a season it has been for Conte and his boys. 0-2. (The match is scheduled to play at 0300 hours so it would be over when you read this - Result: WBA 0 Chelsea 1).

Manchester City v Leicester City - City showed how good they can be with that 5-0 thrashing of Palace last week. It was no contest. This is the area on how they are better than Liverpool and the Reds could learn from them but the Foxes could be tricky for them and have a good record against the host. They have lost twice to City, drew once and won thrice in five meetings with victories in their last two - home and away. City have only beaten Leicester twice in seven meetings. The Foxes have won 5 out of 6 visits to City. Just before the trouncing of Palace, they were held 2-2 by Boro. So which City is turning up for this match as they need to win to stay further up from Liverpool. Leicester put o a solid performance against Watford last week (3-0). If City were to be as good as their last match they win. There is no pressure on Leicester now in 9th position. A draw  is possible. 2-2.
Bournemouth v Burnley - The Cherries have lost just once at home to the Clarets. Burnley are unbeaten in their seven games against Bournemouth. It is only their second meeting in the premier league. Bournemouth are now unbeaten in their last three matches while Burnley are undefeated in two. At 40 points, Burnley is not entirely safe as yet so the fight is on. 1-1.
Middlesborough v Southampton - Boro have won only once in 5 home meetings with the Saints. However, Southampton have played to two goalless draw in their last two matches. With a solid defence even without Virgil van Dkye, the visitors should hold out a less efficient Boro attack and score one to win. 0-1.
Sunderland v Swansea - The Black Cats were winless for the last 4 times they hosted Swansea. After being relegated, no one expected Sunderland to skin Hull 2-0 away form home last week putting a big dent to Marco Silva's team who have been playing so well. Swansea remained unbeaten in their last three which included two wins. Impressive considering their opposition and they need a win here as Crystal Palace are three points ahead and there are only two matches left. They have to win both and hope for Palace to drop points as Palace last match is against United. 1-2.
Stoke v Arsenal - The Potters so called because of the pottery industry in Stoke-on-Trent have lost only just once in eight home games versus the Gunners. This is the Gunners' second worst bogey ground so to speak. Arsenal even failed to score in 3 of their last 4 visits to the bet365 ground. But Stoke despite the Potter Mark Hughes molding have been inconsistent  this season and now in 13th place. They have not won in three but improving with two draw. Arsenal are back to winning ways and maybe inspired by their 2-0 win over United and might still make it to the fourth spot and have now climbed to 5th after a good 2-0 away win at Southampton but they have to win their remaining matches. Two home matches against Sunderland and Everton will end their season. They should keep the momentum and win at Stoke. Arsene Wenger may then save his proud record of always qualifying for the champions league after all. Will the Gunners persevere? 1-2. 
Crystal Palace v Hull - This match has significance for the bottom three. Palace after some heroics are in a slump with three consecutive losses. There is a loss of confidence and the Tigers too may be affected by last week's shocked 0-2 home loss to Sunderland. After this, Hull will host Tottenham while Palace travels to Old Trafford. Swansea gets to host WBA. Swansea should be favourites to stay up followed by Palace and unless Hull pulls off a miraculous effort. A home win will see Palace saved and Hull with the remotest chance. Draw. 2-2.
West Ham v Liverpool - A tall task for Liverpool who made things more difficult for themselves. Narrow 2-1 away win over Stoke and 1-0 away over WBA seemed to have put them in good stead but they promptly crashed 1-2 to Palace at home. Saw how City gave a lesson to Palace? Even United loss at Arsenal has helped a bit but they do not know how to find a way past Southampton. The whole world knew how the Saints will lineup and how they will play so why didn't Klopp make changes instead of playing the same way and same player position where they have failed? See how Arsenal had the Saints beaten 2-0 at the same venue. Why not put Firmino back to a central role and switch Origi to the left or give Sturridge a longer run or to start over Origi who has failed to take his chance. Without players like Mane and Lallana, Liverpool could not unlock tight spaces. Sturridge should get a start here.

The bad news is that West Ham are now unbeaten in five games three draws and two wins including last week's 1-0 home win over Tottenham. Liverpool have yet to beat the Hammers in their last five outings. What appeared earlier on as favourable fixture for Liverpool has now turned  into a nerve wrecking one. Worse, their last two visits to West Ham were 0-2 and 1-2 defeats. For Liverpool it is a must win. None of the last seven matches between them ended a draw with Liverpool winning 7 and West Ham 4. Liverpool must summon their best to win this like a cup final and another cup final at Anfield against Boro and they go in. 1-2.
Tottenham v Manchester United - Tottenham were the best team for quite some time. Did the Lilywhites get the jitters again crashing at West Ham (0-1) last week dampening their hope of winning the title. In 15 matches, Spurs have only won once and it came last season but Jose Mourinho have not win at White Hart Lane in four visits. United's 25 match unbeaten record came to an end at the Emirates as the Gunners gunned them down 2-0. United have enough good players but were bossed by Arsenal. United have also not won here in their last two meetings draw one and lost one. Former Captain Roy Keane said as much that United with the squad and players they have and the money they have spent should be ashamed to be in sixth position. I believe Mourinho will set up the team in a defensive shape and then to counter. Spurs have nothing to lose now as they may have surrendered the title. Few teams can stop Tottenham, Manchester United included. Their Europa game may also have tired them. 2-1.

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