Things got a little more interesting as we head into Week 16 of Premier League play. The mighty Chelsea fell to Manchester City 2-1 snapping their five game winning streak, and allowing Manchester United to get to within two points of the top spot on the leader board. My pick for match of the week has to be Liverpool at Arsenal. Here I take a look at this weeks match ups giving you insight on making your EPL soccer wager a winner.
#1 Chelsea will look to extend their 100 percent home record this Saturday when #15 Everton visits Stamford Bridge. The Blues have dropped two in a row starting with an English League Cup loss to Blackburn, followed by a league loss to Manchester City. Everton have had a tough time with injuries to key players this season and will now play without midfielder Tom Cahill who will begin serving a one game suspension this weekend. Everton played relatively well in their last two games but walked away with just a single point. If they want to move up the league table they will have to start winning games, especially at home. Chelsea will be looking to make up for the two losses they have just suffered and will take all three points in this one.
#2 Manchester United is just two points behind league leader Chelsea and have to feel good about the possibility of regaining the top spot with a win over #5 Aston Villa at Old Trafford this weekend. Their defense is pretty beat up, but it does not seem to be affecting their form, scoring four goals in each of their last two league matches. Aston Villa could break into the top four for the first time this season and this will test their ability as they have played better at home than on the road this season. Look for Man U to take three points having home advantage.
This is my pick for match of the week. #3 Arsenal will travel to Anfield to do battle with #7 Liverpool on Sunday. Both squads have not played to potential so far this season and find themselves 10 or more points behind the leader. The Reds have been inconsistent and have struggled to put together a decent run of games. Arsenal had a difficult week and fell to two defeats, one in the league and one in the English League Cup. However they ended the week with a 2-0 home victory over Stoke City, allowing them to maintain third place. Look for Liverpool to take advantage of the spectacle that is Anfield and take three points in this one.
#4 Tottenham Hotspur are playing well and have won five out of seven at White Hart Lane. They will be hosting # 18 Wolverhampton Wanderers this Saturday. The Wanders have taken just two points from their last six away fixtures, and are second from last on the league table. The Hotspur gave away a two-goal lead against Everton late in their last match and only picked up a single point. The Wolves had an important win against Bolton last week allowing them to leapfrog ahead of them on the leader board. Tottenham should pick up all three points with a win.
After seven consecutive draws, # 6 Manchester City finally notched back–to–back wins last week. First knocking Arsenal out of the English League Cup 3-0, and then toppling league leader Chelsea 2-1. They will now look to gain ground as they travel to #19 Bolton. Bolton has struggled, posting four defeats and a draw in their last five outings dropping them to second bottom on the table. Manchester City will be looking to keep the good form of their last couple of games going and I would expect them to do this against Bolton. I take City for the win in this game.
#8 Fulham have been in excellent form and have found themselves in the top 10. They will travel to Turf Moor this weekend to face #13 Burnely. Fulham posted a victory in their last match at home against Sunderland. Burnley is sitting mid-table and will have Captain Steve Caldwell back after a one game suspension. Fulham will be without Simon Davies who is sidelined with an ankle injury. Look for Fulham to keep their momentum going to pick up the win.
#9 Birmingham City has been in excellent form recently, and are on a run of six unbeaten games. The will host # 17 West Ham at Saint Andrews ground this weekend. West Ham suffered a defeat against Manchester United in their last match and will be looking to bounce back. Both of their last two away games have ended in draws. Striker Kevin Phillips will return from injury for Birmingham, while Zavon Hines and Matthew Upton will be out for West Ham. I look for both clubs to walk away with one point apiece from this one as it ends undecided.
Last place #20 Portsmouth will host # 10 Sunderland on Saturday at Stadium of Light. Sunderland has taken 16 of 18 points at home and had a good start to the season. But in recent weeks they have started to slide down the table. They have lost three of their last four league matches. Portsmouth had a good home win last week but has lost five out of seven on the road. Both teams have been struggling in recent weeks and Sunderland has lost seven players to injuries and suspensions. I see this one ending in a draw.
# 12 Blackburn Rovers have lost six of their last seven League road games and will travel to KC Stadium to face off against # 16 Hull City this weekend. The Rovers knocked Chelsea out of the League Cup and drew with Liverpool in their last two matches. Hull have added eight points to their league total in their last six, and have taken 11 points out of a possible 15 at home. With Blackburn’s inability to win on the road and the Tigers success at home, I am going with Hull to pick up the win.
The final game of Week 16 is between two mid table teams with # 11 Stoke City hosting # 14 Wigan Athletic. Only Manchester United and Chelsea have beaten Stoke City at Britannia Stadium in the last 12-months, and Wigan has lost five of their last six matches on the road. The Potters have been playing well and are expecting Jamie Bettie to return for this Saturday’s match. Wigan followed their recent 9-1 thumping by Tottenham with a 3-2 loss to Birmingham in their last outing. Look for Stoke to pick up some much needed points.
Matt Martz is a sports writer for the Bakersfield Californian located in Central California. Blessed is the gambler who expects nothing, for ye shall not be disappointed.
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