Friday, April 17, 2015

EPL 2014/15 - Week 33

Anyone out there still thinking that Chelsea can be caught? Man City have been tamed away and Arsenal and Man Utd have seemingly entered the title race picture purely on their last bit of rich form. But it seems a case of too little too late as I cannot see Mourinho's team having a disastrous end run of games that would give these 2 chasers a fighting chance.

Crystal Palace v/s WBA. Palace are hot at the moment while the Baggies have turned surprisingly cold, possibly the loss of keeper Foster being one of the plausible reasons. It's impossible to go against the flying Eagles here and they can be dangerous on so many counts with talented players like Bolasie, Puncheon and Zaha to name a few. Home win.

Everton v/s Burnley. It is not a surprise that Everton are climbing the table after their disastrous first half. They won't be relegated but they won't make it in Europe either. Burnley are fighting for survival and are travelling to Goodison Park at an in auspicious time. Besides their rather fortuitous win at home against Man City, their level of form has been pretty poor. Lukaku could have a field day here and it should be 3 points for Martinez' men. Home win.

Leicester v/s Swansea. The good news for Leicester is that the visitors will be without a host of first-team players and will have to make do with a make-shift defence. If Ulloa and company can pounce on that weakness, they will get the much-needed 3 points to stave off relegation. Leicester usually make their games harder than they should, so I don't them to win this by a wide margin, but they can edge this. Home win.

Stoke v/s Southampton. If ever there is going to be a bore drawless match, it will probably be this one. The teams are evenly matched and even if it does not end up 0-0, a draw looks very likely to be on the cards. Draw.

Chelsea v/s Man Utd. A draw will suffice for Chelsea here to keep the Red Devils at bay in the title chase. This looks like a very likely scenario given that Mourinho goes into such types of matches in order not to lose, rather than to outright win. The hosts will be missing Costa but the visitors will be without Blind, Rojo and more importantly midfield anchor Carrick. I think it will be a home win or draw, with the preference going to the latter. Draw.

Man City v/s West Ham. The Citizen's miserable late form will certainly augur huge upcoming changes at the club. They are now fighting for fourth spot. They should be able to beat West Ham who are in a rut of their own. Aguero needs to find his lethal edge back if the hosts are to secure the last UCL spot. Home win.

Newcastle v/s Tottenham. Two more matches out for Papiss Cisse and the Magpies can't really wait. Spurs are ever reliant on Harry Kane to deliver and will again have several first-team player doubts going into the match with Lloris, Walker and Verthogen fighting for match fitness. A draw looks plausible here and that's the selection. Draw match.

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