EPL 2018/19 - Week 33

Bournemouth v Burnley - Home win
Huddersfield v Leicester - Away win
Newcastle v Crystal Palace - Home win
Everton v Arsenal - Home win
Chelsea v West Ham - Home win

Man City v Brighton - Man City win

A paltry set of matches in play this week-end. Liverpool got their title aspirations closer to reality today by winning at Southampton. I see easy wins for Bournemouth, Leicester and Chelsea, so they go into the accumulator.

I also see an easy win for Man City in their FA Cup encounter against Brighton. There is a big gulf of difference between those 2 teams and I cannot see Guardiola's men falter at this stage. They are motivated by the quadruple and although I don't think they will achieve it, the domestic treble is very much a live possibility.

Accumulator: Man City/ Bournemouth/ Leicester/ Chelsea

EPL 2018/19 - Week 32

Fulham v Man City - Away
Brighton v Southampton - Away
Burnley v Wolves - Away
Crystal Palace v Huddersfield - Home
Leicester v Bournemouth - Home
Man Utd v Watford - Home
West Ham v Everton - Home
Cardiff v Chelsea - Away
Liverpool v Tottenham - Home
Arsenal v Newcastle - Home

It certainly looks like Huddersfield is going down this week-end. I cannot see them getting a result at Crystal Palace and it is only a matter of when, not if, when they will go down. Man City should prove too strong for Fulham and so should Chelsea against Cardiff.

Liverpool still have their swagger and I see them getting a win against Tottenham. Kane has been on fire since his return but that is one of the rare good news coming out of White Hart Lane lately. Spurs could be under threat to get a top 4 position if they don't get their mojo back. I like Leicester's chances at home to Bournemouth; the Foxes are a better team under new manager Rodgers. Finally, Man Utd should have enough to overcome Watford although a draw will not be surprising either.

Accumulator: Man City/ Crystal Palace/ Leicester/ Chelsea/ Liverpool

EPL 2018/19 - Week 31

Bournemouth v Newcastle - Home
Burnley v Leicester - Away
West Ham v Huddersfield - Home
Fulham v Liverpool - Away
Everton v Chelsea - Draw

West Ham and Liverpool look the teams to back out of this shortened week-end of matches. Huddersfield are destined for the drop and I can see Chicharito having a field day against their poor defence. Liverpool are still alive in the title race and a win at Fulham will give them the lead and a certainly a psychological advantage. They should be too strong for Fulham.

For a good risk/reward flutter, it might be worth getting a go with Leicester. The team seems to have renewed impetus with the arrival of Rodgers and going to beat Burnley is certainly up their alley.

Accumulator: Liverpool/West Ham/Leicester

EPL 2018/19 - Week 29

Tottenham v Arsenal - Home
Bournemouth v Man City - Home
Brighton v Huddersfield - Home
Burnley v Crystal Palace - Home
Man Utd v Southampton - Home
Wolves v Cardiff - Home
West Ham v Newcastle - Draw
Watford v Leicester - Draw
Fulham v Chelsea - Away
Everton v Liverpool - Away

Spurs are slumping and Arsenal are on a roll. However, I cannot see Tottenham losing the London Derby at home to their arch-rivals. When the stakes are on the line, Pochettino's men have proven the more reliable and I expect them to use their superior mental toughness to overcome an in-form team that have yet to prove their mettle against the leading teams in the league. Spurs should prevail in that one despite their apparent loss of form.

With Liverpool having a seemingly-tough match at Everton, it would seem that Man City have the easier match-up against Bournemouth. I don't quite see it that way. I think that the Cherries have the potential to beat the heavily-favoured Citizens as they have strong form at home and Guardiola's men were not convincing in their last mid-week match against West Ham. An upset is possible here.

Accumulator: Tottenham/Wolves/Man Utd
Win: Bournemouth

EPL 2018/19 - Week 28

Cardiff v/s Everton - Away
Huddersfield v/s Wolves - Draw
Leicester v/s Brighton - Home
Newcastle v/s Burnley - Draw
Arsenal v/s Bournemouth - Draw
Southampton v/s Fulham - Draw
Chelsea v/s Tottenham - Away
Crystal Palace v/s Man Utd - Home
Liverpool v/s Watford - Home
Man City v/s West Ham - Home

Although they can still win the quadruple, the odds are really stacked against Man City to achieve something no team has ever accomplished in any league. But they are doing great in all their 3 remaining competitions, particularly in the league, when not so long ago, they were at risked of being left for dead by Liverpool at the top. The momentum has swung mightily and the Kops only hold a 1 point advantage albeit having played 1 extra match.

Both teams should win their mid-week home matches. The Citizens have the better match-up as they entertain a Hammers team that should be overwhelmed in every aspect. Guardiola will be thinking of working their goal difference here. Liverpool will face a pumped-up Watford team coming off a 5-1 thrashing of Cardiff. This will be no picnic for Klopp's men but I still expect them to edge this encounter in the end.

Newcastle against Burnley screams a goal-less draw. This has the air of a snoozer and might be worth a go in the accumulators.

Accumulator: Man City (Win) / Liverpool (Win) / Newcastle/Burnley (Draw)

EPL 2018/19 - Week 27

Burnley v/s Tottenham - Away
Bournemouth v/s Wolves - Away
Newcastle v/s Huddersfield - Home
Leicester v/s Crystal Palace - Home
Arsenal v/s Southampton - Home
Man Utd v/s Liverpool - Home

Man Utd against Liverpool is the biggest rivalry in English football and the stakes are very high in this week-end encounter at Old Trafford. The momentum is clearly with the home team as Ole has revived his old team while Klopp's men seem to be huffing and puffing at the moment. The Kops have enough class to edge this on their best day but the chances are most likely to come United's way, with a Pogba in supreme form conducting their offence. A home team will certainly dent the Kops' title charge and that's the way I see this ending.

Accumulator: Man Utd/Wolves/Leicester

EPL 2018/19 - Week 26

Fulham v Man Utd - Away

Crystal Palace v West Ham - Home

Huddersfield v Arsenal - Away

Liverpool v Bournemouth - Home

Southampton v Cardiff - Home

Watford v Everton - Home

Brighton v Burnley - Draw

Tottenham v Leicester - Away

Man City v Chelsea - Home

Wolves v Newcastle - Home

Tottenham owe it to Son to still fighting for the title. The South Korean has carried the team during Kane's absence by scoring crucial goals and keeping Spurs in the title fight. I think Leicester will pose them mighty problems this week-end and the exploits of Son might not be enough. At current prices, I see it feasible to opt for a straight Leicester win.

Accumulator: Man Utd/Liverpool/Man City/Leicester

EPL 2018/19 - Week 25

Tottenham v Newcastle - Draw
Brighton v Watford - Draw
Burnley v Southampton - Home
Chelsea v Huddersfield - Home
Crystal Palace v Fulham - Home
Everton v Wolves - Away
Cardiff v Bournemouth - Home
Leicester v Man Utd - Away
Man City v Arsenal - Home
West Ham v Liverpool - Away

Accumulator: Chelsea/Man City/Liverpool/Crystal Palace/Burnley

EPL 2018/19 - Week 24

Arsenal v Cardiff - Home
Fulham v Brighton - Home
Huddersfield v Everton - Draw
Wolves v West Ham - Home
Man Utd v Burnley - Home
Newcastle v Man City - Away
Bournemouth v Chelsea - Home
Southampton v Crystal Palace - Draw
Liverpool v Leicester - Home
Tottenham v Watford - Draw

Arsenal and Man Utd are bankers to win their home matches. Man City face a tricky encounter at St James Park but it is a must-win for them if they want to keep pace with Liverpool who should edge their home match against visiting Leicester. Tottenham look vulnerable at the moment with missing stars like Kane and Son and I expect Watford to give them all they can handle on Wednesday night. It might be worth including Fulham and/or Wolves into accumulators as both are in a position to strike against lowly opposition.

Accumulator: Arsenal/Man Utd/Liverpool/Wolves

EPL 2018/19 - Week 23

Wolves v Leicester - Home
Bournemouth v West Ham - Away
Liverpool v Crystal Palace - Home
Man Utd v Brighton - Home
Newcastle v Cardiff - Home
Southampton v Everton - Draw
Watford v Burnley - Home
Arsenal v Chelsea - Home
Huddersfield v Man City - Away
Fulham v Tottenham - Away

Another week and another great opportunity for most of the league pretenders to garner full points as they play modest opposition. Liverpool, Man City, Man Utd and Tottenham would consider it a setback if they fail to pick up 3 points from their matches. Spurs have the more delicate task of the four as they travel to Fulham without Harry Kane but I still expect them to notch the win.

Add Newcastle to the mix as Benitez's team have a golden opportunity to take all points as they host Cardiff. The Welsh outfit look prime for the drop at the moment and I see them stuttering until the end, particularly on their away matches.

Accumulator: Newcastle/Man City/Man Utd/Liverpool/Tottenham

EPL 2018/19 - Week 22

West Ham v Arsenal - Home
Brighton v Liverpool - Away
Burnley v Fulham - Away
Cardiff v Huddersfield - Home
Crystal Palace v Watford - Home
Leicester v Southampton - Home
Chelsea v Newcastle - Home
Everton v Bournemouth - Draw
Tottenham v Man Utd - Home
Man City v Wolves - Home

Chelsea have been misfiring lately but I expect them to find back their scoring touch against Newcastle. Hazard is due for a big number on the score sheet and this might be the match he gets his team rolling again. Newcastle are an out of sorts team that should do enough to stay alive in the league but not good enough for any pretense otherwise. The Magpies make more headlines off the field these days surrounding the impending sale of the club and I cannot see them troubling the Blues at Stamford Bridge.

Man Utd have been on a roll since Ole's appointment but it could all be coming to a halt as they visit Tottenham. The Red Devils haven't won during their last 7 league visits to Spurs and I cannot see them reversing this trend this year. Truth be told that Man Utd are playing much better since Ole took over but they have also been playing less than stellar teams. Spurs will be an entirely different proposition. Kane and company have an excellent record at home and I cannot see them losing this match.They should either edge this or come away with a draw.

Man City look set to be in a long unbeaten sequence and should have no trouble defeating Wolves. Liverpool have a tougher road trip at Brighton but the superior Kop quality should prevail and Klopp's team should maintain their current lead gap at the top.

Accumulator: Chelsea/Man City/Liverpool/Tottenham

EPL 2018/19 - Week 21

Everton v Leicester - Draw
Arsenal v Fulham - Home
Cardiff v Tottenham - Away
Bournemouth v Watford - Draw
Chelsea v Southampton - Home
Huddersfield v Burnley - Home
West Ham v Brighton - Home
Wolves v Crystal Palace - Home
Newcastle v Man Utd - Away
Man City v Liverpool - Home

Very quickly, Arsenal, Spurs, Chelsea look easy winners. Man City are playing their league defence against Liverpool. I believe they will win this to keep any hope of keeping their title. Man Utd are on a roll and should be able to ride their wave and land a win at Newcastle. I like Huddersfield's chances at home to struggling Burnley. Any pretense of the Terriers staying in the division will require them to win many points at home and they don't come any easier than Burnley these days.

Happy New Year 2019 to all readers of this blog! Wishing you a lot of winners in the coming year!

Accumulator: Man Utd/Arsenal/Spurs/Huddersfield/Chelsea/ Man City

EPL 2018/19 - Week 20

Brighton v/s Everton - Away
Fulham v/s Huddersfield - Home
Leicester v/s Cardiff - Home
Tottenham v/s Wolves - Home
Watford v/s Newcastle - Home
Liverpool v/s Arsenal - Home
Crystal Palace v/s Chelsea - Home
Burnley v/s West Ham - Away
Southampton v/s Man City - Away
Man Utd v/s Bournemouth - Home

Can Man City be rocked for the 3rd time in a row? Their late capitulation at Leicester was certainly shocking and the Citizens are no longer in that confident mode anymore. At current prices, it might be value to stick with them to overcome the Saints; they haven't become a bad team all of a sudden. But the past 2 losses have certainly dented their chances of keeping the title particularly that league leaders Liverpool are showing no sign of slowing down.

Liverpool look set to continue on their roll as they welcome Arsenal. The Gunners are puffing at the moment and as they are still a work in progress under new coach Emery, I don't expect them to be firing on all cylinders against the league favourites. With a win, Klopp's men will have taken care of a big obstacle.

Keeping the faith with the Red Devils as they entertain Bournemouth. They are also a team under revolution under manager Ole and while I don't expect them to be mesmerizing against strong teams, they should be able to overcome the poor form of the Cherries.

Leicester have struck against 2 leading teams in Chelsea and Man City and should have no trouble against visiting Cardiff.

Accumulator: Man City/Liverpool/Man Utd/Leicester

EPL 2018/19 - week 19

Fulham v Wolves - Home
Burnley v Everton - Draw
Crystal Palace v Cardiff - Home
Leicester v Man City - Away
Liverpool v Newcastle - Home
Man Utd v Huddersfield- Home
Tottenham v Bournemouth - Away
Brighton v Arsenal - Away
Watford v Chelsea - Away
Southampton v West Ham - Draw

Time to pile on Man Utd in the coming weeks as caretaker manager Ole has been handed favourable fixtures to open his Red Devils managerial stint. Huddersfield should be in for a thrashing at the hands of a liberated Utd side.

Man City should recover from a shocking home defeat to Crystal Palace and get thevwway win at Leicester. Foxes' manager is in dire needs of results to stave off sacking but it will be a tough act against the league favourites. City should get the much-needed full points here to keep pace with Liverpool.

The kops should handle visting Newcastle easily. I am not do sure of the prospects of Spurs at home to Bournemouth. I think there might be a shock in the offing here for those looking for a mighty value punt this gameweek. Although they thrashed Everton in their last match, Spurs owe a great deal to the calamitous error of England keeper Pickford to get back in the match after being outplayed at the start. I think Spurs will teeter sooner than later and Bournemouth might have a card to play tomorrow.

Accumulator: Liverpool/Man Utd/Man City
Value: Bournemouth 

Merry Christmas and Happy holidays!

and thanks for tuning in.