It’s already Week 17 of Premier League play and I want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas. I hope Santa fills your stockings with plenty of yuletide cheer. My pick for match of the week has to be Manchester United at Fulham. Here I take a look at this weeks match ups giving you insight on making your EPL soccer wager a winner.
#1 Chelsea was running away from the pack just two weeks ago but they have taken a bit of a detour lately. The club barley managed to edge out a 2-1 win over last place Portsmouth in their last game and this week they travel to #19 West Ham. West Ham has dropped three games in a row coming into Sunday’s match and has fallen to the second bottom spot on the league table. Even though Chelsea have not played to top form in their past few matches, they should have no problem putting this one away for three points.
#2 Manchester United had narrowed Chelsea’s lead two, but could not take advantage as they fell to Aston Villa at home last weekend. They recovered nicely picking up three points with a 3-0 win over Wolverhampton midweek, however maintaining second spot. United will travel to Craven Cottage to play #9 Fulham on Saturday. Fulham has been playing to form in league play and are undefeated in their last four outings. Fulham will have home field advantage and this could be a tough win for Man U. This match ends in a draw with both teams sharing the points.
#3 Arsenal were able to maintain third spot on the league table by winning last weekends match against Liverpool at Anfield, but drawing a midweek match against Burnley. They lost ground in the race for the top spot and will be looking to make up ground with a win against #16 Hull City on Saturday. Hull have picked up a few points in recent games but it will be difficult for them to post a victory at Emirates Stadium. Arsenal will pick up a much-needed three points in this one.
# 4 Aston Villa is has moved up the league table three spots since early November They are coming off a huge win over Manchester United on the road and then followed that up with a solid midweek victory over Sunderland, picking up six points for the week. They will host # 11 Stoke City at Villa Park this weekend. Stoke is sitting mid table and they are playing fairly well, picking up much needed points on a regular basis. However, I don’t see them winning this one as the Villans have momentum and home field advantage on their side. Villa will be too strong and should claim all three points to retain their place in the top four.
# 5 Tottenham Hotspur defeated close rival Manchester City 3-0 in a mid week match. City has played well this season but the Hotspur played even better. Tottenham will now travel to Ewood Park to face # 11 Blackburn Rovers on Saturday. The Rovers has been playing well of late despite dropping their last match 2-1 against Birmingham City. However, with home advantage they may be able to force a draw and walk away with a point. Probably not as Tottenham edges out a win.
#6 Liverpool has had a topsy-turvy season losing matches to lower seeded teams and wining matches against the odds. The Reds are coming off a midweek win over Wigan picking up three points and moving up one spot on the league table. Liverpool has yet to maintain any consistency in their form, allowing them to string any number of wins together and enough points to break into the top five. The will need to take advantage of this week’s fixture as the travel to bottom side #20 Portsmouth on Saturday. Portsmouth has struggled all season and has not found a way to pull themselves out of last place. They are coming of a 2-1 loss to Chelsea and have one win in their last six. Even with home field advantage I don’t see them holding off Liverpool. But then again it depends on witch Liverpool team shows. This game ends in a draw.
#7 Birmingham City are playing well and are unbeaten in their last eight matches. They have climbed the league table seven spots since early Week 12. They travel to #15 Everton on Sunday. Everton have been struggling this season, mainly with a barrage of injuries. They drew Chelsea on Dec 12 and have a quality squad and if they can get their players healthy. At some point you could expect them to start moving up the league table, but not this weekend. Look for Birmingham City to continue their unbeaten streak with a win.
#8 Manchester City has one win in their last six matches and is coming off a 3-0 loss to Tottenham midweek, dropping then to eighth place. They will have home field advantage in their next match as they host # 10 Sunderland. After a good start to the season, the Black Cats has struggled lately and have slide two spots on the league table since early November. With home advantage City should be too strong, claiming all three points.
#18 Wolverhamton Wanderers will host # 13 Burnley at Molineuax this Sunday. The Wolves have been picking up a few points in recent matches, moving them up the table. However, a midweek loss to Manchester United dropped them back into the bottom three. Burnley has played better at home this season, but has been miserable on the road. They have just a single point in eight games away from home. Given Burnley’s away history, I take the Wolves to pick up the three points.
The #17 Bolton Wanderers will travel to #14 Wigan Athletic in a rare Monday night match up this week. Wigan has picked up five points in their last six matches but cannot maintain any consistency and have fallen two spots on the league table since Week 12. Bolton posted a solid win over close rivals West Ham, allowing them to climb two spots on the league table in December. Just two points separate the clubs. A victory for Bolton would see them leapfrog Wigan, Hull City and Everton. This one will end in a draw with both teams picking up a point.
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