Saturday, January 30, 2021

EPL 2020/21 - Week 21

Everton v Newcastle - Home

Crystal Palace v Wolves - Draw

Man City v Sheffield Utd - Home

West Brom v Fulham - Home

Arsenal v Man Utd - Draw

Southampton v Aston Villa - Home

Chelsea v Burnley - Away

Leicester v Leeds - Home

West Ham v Liverpool - Home

Brighton v Tottenham - Home


The team with the worst form in the EPL right now is Newcastle and it is a terrific moment for any team playing them. Steve Bruce's team are winless in their last 11 matches and playing some dreadful football at the moment. The return of Saint Maximin back from the sidelines will help improve the team but one cannot do it all alone and the Frenchman will need a few matches to get back in the groove. Carlos Ancelloti and Calvert-Lewin are probably rubbing their hands for this encounter; any less than 3 points will be disappointing for the home team. Surely an easy home win.

I can see the Gunners and Red Devils playing a drab draw. The latter were oh-so-awful against Sheffield Utd in mid-week; they are not yet the finished article and rely heavily on Fernandes to be in inspired form. Arsenal is starting to pick up some form but are not yet at a level where they can dominate the leading teams. Typically this match would have been the highlight of the season in the Keane v Viera days but not anymore; I would not be surprised it ends in a goal-less draw.

Win: Everton

Draw: Arenal v Man Utd

Monday, January 25, 2021

EPL 20/21 - Week 20

 

Crystal Palace v West Ham - Draw

Newcastle v Leeds - Away

Southampton v Arsenal - Home

WBA v Man City - Away

Burnley v Aston Villa - Draw

Chelsea v Wolves - Away

Brighton v Fulham - Home

Everton v Leicester - Away

Man Utd v Sheffield Utd - Home

Tottenham v Liverpool - Home


Champions Liverpool are on a terrible run and they finally scored against Man Utd in the FA Cup on Sunday but still lost the match. They will win again sooner than later but I don't think it will happen during their visit at Spurs. This match is coming too soon for their shaky confidence. Mourinho will surely have a plan for them and Harry Kane and Son will be oh-so-happy to confront the depleted Livepool centre-backs. This should end either in a home victory or at best a draw for the visitors, so a draw-no-bet on Spurs looks very good value.

Chelsea have just sacked manager Lampard and will most likely be manager-less for their match against Wolves. Or they might have reeled in Tuchel just soon enough for the match. Regardless, Wolves will relish the uncertainty prevailing at Stamford Bridge at the moment and can very well eke out a draw. A draw-no-bet on Wolves looks excellent value as well.

Draw-no-bet: Tottenham, Wolves


Saturday, January 16, 2021

Week 19 - EPL 2020/21

 

Wolves v West Brom - Home

Leeds v Brighton - Home

Wet Ham v Burnley - Draw

Fulham v Chelsea - Away

Leicester v Southampton - Home

Sheffield Utd v Spurs - Away

Liverpool v Man Utd - Draw

Man City v Crystal Palace - Home

Arsenal v Newcastle - Home


Spurs lost 2 precious points to Fulham in their mid-week match but their display showed that they are not far off top form. Korean superstar Son could have bagged a hat-trick in the first half with some luck. Their profligacy in front of goal eventually cost Mourinho'a men the win as the Cottagers tied in late in the game. The fact that Tottenham created enough winning chances convinces me that their machinery is well-oiled at the moment and should have enough in them to overcome the worst team in the league in Sheffield Utd. The Blades finally got their first win of the season, courtesy of a visit of hapless Newcastle. Spurs will be an entirely different proposition and the visitors will be distraught not to bag the 3 points there. They should win this.

Liverpool v Man Utd has usually been the match of the season for so many years and it is great to see the rivalry stoked up again with the recent revival of the Red Devils. The latter are the surprising leaders of the EPL at the moment and certainly have improvement into them. Whether that is enough to overcome the champions remains to be seen but Man Utd deserve some recognition going into the match. Although they are unbeaten on their travels so far in the league, I don't think they quite have what it takes to win at Anfield at the moment but they can certainly pick up a draw. This one should end either in a home win or draw, would be my take.

Win: Tottenham

Draw-no-bet: Liverpool