EPL 2022/23 - Week 28

 Man City v Liverpool - Home

Bournemouth v Fulham - Home

Arsenal v Leeds - Home

Brighton v Brentford - Draw

Crystal Palace v Leicester - Home

Nott Forest v Wolves - Home

Chelsea v Aston Villa - Draw

West Ham v Southampton - Home

Newcastle v Man Utd - Home

Everton v Tottenham - Draw

Roy Hodgson is back at the helm at Palace and like so often is the case, a win could very well be bestowed to the team playing under the manager's first outing. The Eagles were simply horrible to watch under Vieira lately and having only one shot on goal in their last 5 matches was simply atrocious to watch. You can be sure that they will have more than one shot on goal against the visiting Foxes. Although they haven't been playing badly, Leicester are on a poor run at the moment and manager Rodgers looks to be on his way out sooner than later. Gone are the days where the Foxes were a nuisance to any team in the league; they look set to fight in the relegation zone from now on, unless the squad gets a complete overhaul, which is unlikely to be the case. I see the home team edging this one.

Win: Crystal Palace

EPL 2022/23 - Week 27

Aston Villa v Bournemouth - Home

Brentford v Leicester - Draw

Southampton v Spurs - Away

Wolves v Leeds - Home

Chelsea v Everton - Home

Arsenal v Crystal Palace - Away

Chelsea are riding a winning sequence and it needs to stay that way for manager Potter to keep his job. On paper, I cannot see a better squad than that of the Blues but it's only the wins that will appease the new owners. If they can keep the recent positive momentum, they should be able to overcome visiting Everton, who are genuinely fighting for their survival in the top flight. It might not end in a rout but the home team should have enough to edge this one.

More often than not, a team losing a manager, does very well on its first outing; players that have been underperforming try to impress the new coaching staff. So, slumping Crystal Palace might seem to have a card to play when visiting league leaders Arsenal. The Eagles have been dismal under the coaching of ex-Gunners star Vieira recently and it was no surprise to see the Frenchman sacked. Arsenal are showing good form at the moment and although they can scrape through matches like against Bournemouth, much remains to be seen how much resilience they have left in them in difficult matches. They were tossed out of European action in mid-week and have shown vulnerability when missing stalwarts like Saliba to injury. It would not be a shock to see Palace get a result here and the odds for an away win look very enticing.

Win: Chelsea, Crystal Palace

EPL 2022/23 - Week 24

 Everton v Aston Villa - Draw

Leeds v Southampton - Home

Leicester v Arsenal - Draw

West Ham v Nott Forest - Home

Bournemouth v Man City - Away

Crystal Palace v Liverpool - Draw

Tottenham v Chelsea - Home

It is amazing to see Man City throwing away matches they should have been bagging as early as half-time. Case in point against Forest last week where City was rampant but so profligate in front of goal. In mid-week, same story against Leipzig where Guardiola's men again failed to kill the match in the first half, giving their opponents a lifeline to restore parity. City fans would hope to think that this is just a blip, as failure to secure such types of wins will have damaging effects in the final standings of the league or outright boot them out ot the UCL. Although their minds will be on the return leg against Leipzig, City should go all guns blazing against Bournemouth for nothing less than 3 full points. Haaland is due a big match after a couple of below par performances and the relegation-threatened Cherries will provide him the ample opportunity for redemption. This looks a straight victory for the visitors and keep City firm on track in their pursuit of Arsenal.

In the Carabao Cup, Man Utd have a glorious chance of silverware after 6 years of drought. The Red Devils have improved tremendously under Ten Hag and are in the running in all 4 competitions. Rashford is in the form of his life and the whole squad seems to have been lifted particularly after the departure of Ronaldo. Newcastle have a solid team but they have been missing the beat lately. Their main problem for this final is that they will be playing their third-string keeper in goal. On form, it's hard to bet against the Red Devils and the best the Magpies can do is hope this goals to penalties. But I think the Mancunians will settle this match well before that and bring a first major silverware under the Ten Hag era.

Win: Man City, Man Utd 

EPL 2022/23 - Week 23

 Aston Villa v Arsenal - Home

Brentford v Crystal Palace - Home

Brighton v Fulham - Home

Chelsea v Southampton - Home

Everton v Leeds - Draw

Nott Forest v Man City - Away

Wolves v Bournemouth - Home

Newcastle v Liverpool - Home

Man Utd v Leicester - Home

Tottenham v West Ham - Draw

Will clown keeper Emilio Martinez give his ex-club Arsenal a helping hand or will he be the thorn to their title aspirations? The keeper might be good but his lack of sportsmanship are a turn-off to the neutral fan. On his good day, he can help the Villains dent the Gunners who are showing a poor vein of home in recent weeks. They are win-less in their past 3 matches and although it is not down to the fact that they are playing terribly, they are being less lethal in front of goal as before. The youngsters in the team are still playing fluent attractive football but at this point, only wins count and they will have to win matches the dirty way to regain their position at the top of the table. Villa can certainly pose serious threats and ex-Gunners manager Emery will also have a point to prove against his old team. At current odds, a Villa win looks attractive.

Newcastle are suffering from a lack of goals in their recent slump and although they find it hard to win, it's hard for their adversaries to beat them as well. Their encounters with Liverpool have produced exciting multi-goal matches and it could be this match on Saturday that helps them find their goalscoring touch. Liverpool are the disappointment of the season and it seems an end to the cycle of Klopp's dominant team of the past years. The team is in serious need of rebuild. In a past life, Klopp managed to reinvent himself and his team at Dortmund (before an ultimate crash and burn) and it remains to be seen whether he can do it again with Liverpool. 

Win: Aston Villa, Newcastle

EPL 2022/23 - Week 22

 West Ham v Chelsea - Home

Arsenal v Brentford - Home

Crystal Palace v Brighton - Away

Fulham v Nott Forest - Away

Leicester v Tottenham - Home

Southampton v Wolves - Home

Bournemouth v Newcastle - Home

Leeds v Man Utd - Away

Man City v Aston Villa - Home

If there is a team right now with no danger of going down but whose manager is in a very precarious position right now, it is Chelsea. Harry Potter seems to have used all of his aces and if things don't improve for the Blues, there is no doubt that he is due for the sack not too long from now. The fact that the new owners have doled out a lot of cash to get new recruits but also have looked pretty trigger happy to effect changes are enough to suggest that they are most probably searching for Potter's replacement already. Let's face it as we saw it earlier in the season; the job was probably too big for the former Brighton manager and there is a mountain of difference and expectations between the 2 clubs. I have reservations seeing the Blues going as relatively strong favourites for their visit at West Ham. David Moyes' men have shown some resilient form in recent weeks and at their best will give the visitors all they can handle. Moyes has a good record against Chelsea and it would be no surprise at all if he can conjure up an upset this Saturday. At current odds, West Ham can be taken to win outright.

Win: West Ham

EPL 2022/23 - Week 21

 

Everton v Arsenal - Away

Aston Villa v Leicester - Home

Brentford v Southampton - Home

Brighton v Bournemouth - Home

Man Utd v Crystal Palace - Home

Wolves v Liverpool - Draw

Newcastle v West Ham - Home

Nott Forest v Leeds - Draw

Tottenham v Man City - Home

 

This could be the week where Arsenal crushes the league. With 5 points to spare with a game in hand, the Gunners look in total control of their destiny. Sure, Man City have the capacity to claw back the gap but Arsenal are looking strong at the moment and showing no signs of slowing down as many, including myself, thought they would.

Against a club in disarray like Everton, Arteta's men will be gunning for full points and will be disappointed not to do. After all, the Merseyside outfits are still looking for a new manager after sacking Lampard. This should be a canter for the visitors. On the other hand, Man City have an arduous match waiting for them at White Hart Lane. The fact that they did not reinforce the squad before deadline day can be seen as a negative. But losing Cancelo to Bayern is what will truly hurt the team for the remainder of the season. That was a shocker of a loan move as the Portuguese was arguably an untouchable on the first team just a while ago. A loss of form has turned that privilege on its head and there doesn't seem to be a natural successor for the versatile defensive back. While the Citizens will go in as favourites to get the away win, there is still a live possibility that they require some time to re-adjust filling the void left by Cancelo. It could be Arsenal 8 points ahead by the end of the week-end and that will be too much of a tall order for Guardiola's men to pick up.

Win: Arsenal

 

 

 

 

EPL 2022/23 - Week 20

 Liverpool v Chelsea - Home

Bournemouth v Nott Forest - Draw

Leicester v Brighton - Home

Southampton v Aston Villa - Away

West Ham v Everton - Home

Crystal Palace v Newcastle - Away

Leeds v Brentford - Draw

Man City v Wolves - Home

Arsenal v Man Utd - Home

An Arsenal vs Man Utd fixture used to be one of the hotly contested matches in the not-so-distant era of the Ferguson and Wenger days. We talk of intense rivalries in derbies but the feud between the 2 clubs and particularly their managers was as intense as ever been witnessed in the Premier League. Add to the mix the 2 non-compromising captains in Keane and Vieira and the matches were certainly extraordinary. 

With Arsenal now strongly in command at the top of the league and the Red Devils showing signs of renaissance under Ten Hag, Sunday's fixture will bring some air of nostalgia to their fans. Arteta has brought new life and hope to the Gunners through a judicious selection of young guns playing free flowing football reminiscent of the Wenger days. Odegaard, Martinelli, Saka are playing with an energy level that is packing a punch through defences while Partey is the strong midfield anchor the Gunners have been looking for in recent years. The defence is strong too and goalkeeper Ramsdale is a proven number 1 that should be England's as well. 

Man Utd got their 10-game winning streak snapped in mid-week at Selhurst Park where they were rather unfortunate to concede the tying goal in extra time. More importantly though was the loss of Casemiro for this match due to a yellow card. The Brazilian is arguably the Red Devils' most valuable player after Rashford so far this season. He is the midfield lynchpin they have been looking for since Roy Keane. Arsenal looks certain to score without the presence of Casemiro giving cover to the back four. In fact, one way Man Utd can sneak a victory out of this is with strong physical play to break the dynamic threat posed by the Gunners' forwards. I sense that the Arsenal attack will overwhelm whatever resistance the vistors can offer and claim a comprehensive win; one of the big steps remaining towards the coveted title.

Win: Arsenal

EPL 2022/23 - Week 19

 

Man Utd v Man City - Home

Brighton v Liverpool - Away

Everton v Southampton - Home

Nottingham Forest v Leicester - Home

Wolves v West Ham - Home

Brentford v Bournemouth - Home

Chelsea v Crystal Palace - Home

Newcastle v Fulham - Home

Tottenham v Arsenal - Draw

I mentioned a while back that Chelsea might have commited folly replacing a Champions League winning coach like Tuchel with the unproven Potter. Seems the results of the past few gameweeks are indeed showing that Chelsea have embarked on the wrong path and unless their results start improving drastically, he might be out the door sooner than later. The coming of Crystal Palace give the Blues a first-rate opportunity to get back to winning ways and I think they will. Against Fulham in mid-week, Chelsea seemed buoyed by new arrival Felix until the loanee got sent off in the second half which led to their defeat. Crystal Palace are a team playing with little confidence at the moment and this should end up in a much-needed 3 points in the bag for the home team.

Man Utd are in hot form and their Derby against Man City will put their title credentials to the test. Rashford is playing with supreme confidence, bagging goals from everywhere. Martial is due a goal soon and wouldn't surprise me if he is on the scoresheet (if he plays). Rivals Man City are still the favourites to land the league title again although the gap with Arsenal is starting to get worrying. They lost to Southampton in mid-week and I have a feeling that all is probably not right in their setup at the moment. Still, they never go beaten in advance particularly with striker Haaland leading the charge. I believe this will end in either a draw or the home team edging this.

Win: Man Utd, Chelsea

EPL 2022/23 - Week 18

Brentford v Liverpool - Home

Arsenal v Newcastle - Away

Everton v Brighton - Home

Leicester v Fulham - Home

Man Utd v Bournemouth - Home

Southampton v Nottingham Forest - Away

Leeds v West Ham - Home

Aston Villa v Wolves - Home

Crystal Palace v Tottenham - Home

Chelsea v Man City - Away

Arsenal have opened a 7-point gap at the top and the way they are playing, they will take some stopping. They have a huge nugget this week against upcoming powerhouse Newcastle. Although the Magpies fired blanks against Leeds, they are by no means push-overs; they have the team to frustrate the strongest teams particularly on their travels. This is going to be a major test for the young gunners and it will give them a world of confidence to keep striving at the top if they pass this. I believe this is going to be a close one and wouldn't be surprised if the visitors nick it in the end.

West Ham are on a bad losing streak and it wouldn't be a surprise if manager Moyes is given the boot to change the club's fortunes. Leeds will be buoyed by their excellent draw at Newcastle and can certainly compound the visitors' misery. The Peacocks have been involved in a few high-scoring matches and I can see them outscoring a Hammers team that has been mainly hurt by their inability to find the net consistenly of late.

Win: Newcastle, Leeds

EPL 2022/23 - Week 17

Wolves v Man Utd - Away

Bournemouth v Crystal Palace - Home

Fulham v Southampton - Draw

Man City v Everton - Home

Newcastle v Leeds - Home

Brighton v Arsenal - Away

Tottenham v Aston Villa - Home

Nott Forest v Chelsea - Away

Glad that EPL is back after an eventful World Cup! The race is on to catch Arsenal at the top as Arteta's men seem to have lost none of their sparkling form by overcoming West Ham last week. I like Spurs' chances against visiting Villa. Harry Kane will have to live with his missed penalty against France and I believe he has come back mentally stronger from the experience. Opponents beware! Villa are going to have better results with Emery as coach but they will miss Martinez in goal. The keeper is one of the best around despite his shameful acts during the WC. Same league as Suarez, just no class!

I like Newcastle's chances for securing a top 4 spot at the moment. The squad might be a little overstretched if they hit major injuries but they have been playing all the right notes lately. Manager Howe is just doing a supremely good job with them so far. They should have goals to spare against Leeds.

Before I leave, wishing you all a Happy New Year 2023!

Win: Tottenham, Newcastle

EPL 22/23 - Week 15

 Man City v Brentford - Home

Bournemouth v Everton - Home

Liverpool v Southampton - Home

Nott Forest v Crystal Palace - Away

Tottenham v Leeds - Home

West Ham v Leicester - Home

Newcastle v Chelsea - Home

Wolves v Arsenal - Away

Brighton v Aston Villa - Draw

Fulham v Man Utd - Away

Let's keep rolling with the Newcastle bandwagon, the current hottest team in the league. Chelsea are always a dangerous opponent but they are in a crust at the moment and should be good pickings for the Magpies. An outright win for the home team looks very likely and looks favourable at current odds.

Southampton finally dismissed their German manager and look very vulnerable on their trip to Liverpool. Salah has regained his scoring touch lately and he could be in for a big outing. He won't be going to the World Cup so there's little chance he won't be giving his all, as there is always the concern that avoiding injury will be on the minds of those going to Qatar.

Arsenal have been a refreshing surprise, having garnered some outstanding results since the start of the season. Arteta has had his young team firing on all cylinders and were it not for Man City's dominance, the Gunners would have been hot EPL favourites. Wolves is one of the easiest places to go to, and Arsenal will not want to miss on 3 assured points. 

Trifecta: Newcastle/Liverpool/Arsenal. 

EPL 22/23 - Week 14

 Leeds v Bournemouth - Away

Man City v Fulham - Home

Nott Forest v Brentford - Away

Wolves v Brighton - Away

Everton v Leicester - Draw

Chelsea v Arsenal - Home

Aston Villa v Man Utd - Away

Southampton v Newcastle - Away

West Ham v Crystal Palace - Draw

Tottenham v Liverpool - Away

It really looks that Man Utd are back under Ten Hag. They needed a result against Real Sociedad in mid-week and while they got the win, they came up short a goal to top their Europa League group. Going to win at Sociedad is not easy but the Red Devils did it. They are on an upward trend and should get better with time. They have a great opportunity to snatch full points against a struggling Villa side who will benefit with Unai Emery taking the help in mid-week. If there's a opportune time to play Villa, it's definitely now while Emery is getting to terms with the team as he will definitely improve them in the medium to long term. I see the Mancunians edging this.

Wolves are just playing terrible at the moment and if they keep that way, they look ripe for the descent. Brighton are a much better team on the road than at home and with an in-form Trossard, are very much able to take the spoils from this encounter.

I mentioned Southampton are a young improving team before and while they will be competitive, I don't think they have enough to match the surging Magpies. Newcastle are having their best Premier League period for a very long time and I expect them to over-power the Saints at the St Mary's stadium.

Win: Man Utd, Brighton, Newcastle

EPL 22/23 - Week 13

 Leicester v Man City - Home

Bournemouth v Spurs - Away

Brentford v Wolves - Home

Brighton v Chelsea - Draw

Crystal Palace v Southampton - Home

Newcastle v Aston Villa - Home

Fulham v Everton - Home

Liverpool v Leeds - Home

Arsenal v Nott Forest - Home

Man Utd v West Ham - Home

Quickly, keeping on the Newcastle bandwagon seems logical. The Magpies should have too much firepower for the Gerrard-free Villains. Newcastle look good contenders to secure at least a Europa league spot this season and with a little bit of luck, a Champions League spot does not look out of reach as well. I will double this with a Brentford win. The Bees host struggling  and still manager-less Wolves and Ivan Toney could solidify his England chances with goals and a convincing performance upfront.

Win: Newcastle, Brentford

EPL 2022/23 - Week 12

 Nott Forest v Liverpool - Away

Everton v Crystal Palace - Draw

Man City v Brighton - Home

Chelsea v Man Utd - Home

Aston Villa v Brentford - Home

Leeds v Fulham - Away

Southampton v Arsenal - Home

Wolves v Leicester - Home

Tottenham v Newcastle - Draw

West Ham v Bournemouth - Home

Is Arsenal for real this year? The Gunners are certainly surprising leaders for many (including me) and are currently riding some fantastic form. The team is young and motivated and Arteta is pulling the right strings at the moment. Who knows how long this will last but they look to be the main threat to Man City's dominance of the league. Going to Southampton is not going to be an easy stroll for the Gunners. I persist into thinking that Southampton are worth better than their current14th position. They have a young team too and they often need that clinical last touch to make the difference in their matches. I wouldn't be surprised if they overcome the Gunners, who at some point in the coming weeks, will falter in my opinion. 

Win: Southampton

EPL 2022/23 - Week 10

 Leicester v Crystal Palace - Draw

Fulham v Bournemouth - Home

Wolves v Nott Forest - Home

Tottenham v Everton - Home

Aston Villa v Chelsea - Home

Leeds v Arsenal - Away

Man Utd v Newcastle - Away

Southampton v West Ham - Draw

Liverpool v Man City - Away

Here's the shocker waiting to happen: Newcastle can go beat the Red Devils on Sunday! Man Utd are on a good run in the league since their difficult start. They made hard work of beating minnows Omonia in the Europa League in mid-week after creating countless number of goalscoring opportunities. This usually means either of 2 things; their strikers are off-form or the opposing keeper was having a field day. It was a bit of both actually. The profligacy in front of goal will definitely concern Ten Hag. Should the hosts fail to crystallize their efforts on goal, Newcastle are the kind of team that can make them pay. I was saying in an earlier post that the Magpies are now a solid team that cannot be messed with. They have strong individuals that play very well collectively under manager Howe. They have the firepower to cause trouble at Old Trafford and at current odds, they are taken to spring an almighty upset.

Win: Newcastle