EPL 2016/17 - Week 31

Liverpool v/s Everton - Away win
Burnley v/s Tottenham - Home win
Chelsea v/s Crystal Palace - Home win
Hull v/s West Ham - Home win
Leicester v/s Stoke - Home win
Man Utd v/s West Brom - Home win
Watford v/s Sunderland - Home win
Southampton v/s Bournemouth - Home win
Swansea v/s Middlesbrough - Home win
Arsenal v/s Man City - Draw


Everton hasn't won a derby match at Liverpool for ages and I wonder if this is the year they finally crack their hoodoo. With Koeman at the helm and the team being in fine form, this is possible. Add to this a Liverpool team with recent see-saw results and Brazilian duo Coutinho and Firmino being probably short physically after being rushed from Brazil, I believe a surprise result could very well be in the cards. One thing that strikes out when looking at the managerial history of Ronald Koeman is that he often gets great results with his under-dog team in big matches. He has the knack of making his team deliver on the big occasion and it doesn't get any bigger than the Merseyside derby for the Evertonians. Liverpool are on their tip-toes at the moment and they will be missing Lallana through injury. With Lukaku in fine form, I see the Toffees with some chance of making the difference at Anfield.

Chelsea should reinforce their grip on the title by winning again this week-end and seeing their closest pursuers lose ground. I see Spurs losing points at Burnley; Arsenal and Man City are bound to share spoils. Man Utd should bag full points against West Brom as they try to ascertain the final 4th UCL spot.


Win: Everton, Chelsea, Man Utd

EPL 2016/17 - Week 30

WBA v/s Arsenal - Away win
Crystal Palace v/s Watford - Home win
Everton v/s Hull - Draw
Stoke v/s Chelsea - Home win
Sunderland v/s Burnley - Draw
West Ham v/s Leicester - Home win
Bournemouth v/s Swansea - Draw
Middlesbrough v/s Man Utd - Away win
Tottenham v/s Southampton - Home win
Man City v/s Liverpool - Home win

Most of the matches look even this week and there will probably be more drawn matches than usual. It will be interesting to see the impact of the European matches in mid-week notably on Leicester, Man Utd and Man City.

Leicester will be on a high after overcoming Sevilla and making it to the last 8 of the Champions League. I think they have a tough away trip to West Ham with both teams in need of points to get away from the relegation zone. While the Foxes have excelled in the UCL, their form in the Premier League has been terrible although they seem to have found a new lease of life after the sacking of Ranieri. I still think they are vulnerable on this trip though as they could be feeling the effects of the euphoria of the defeat of Sevilla. It might be worth going all out on a Hammers win or a draw-no-bet on the home team.

Chelsea have the title wrapped up bar accident and if they are ever to fail, I see Spurs as the most competent challengers to pick things up. It's true that they will be missing Kane to injury but the likes of Son and Ali have goals in them. Pochettino's men are a team on the upside and have rock solid form at home. They are difficult to break down. Southampton are no slouches as well and will certainly make it difficult for Spurs but in the end, I see the home team either edging or drawing this.

Win: West Ham
Draw-no-bet: Tottenham

EPL 2016/17 - Week 29

Bournemouth v/s West Ham - Draw
Everton v/s West Brom - Home win
Hull v/s Swansea - Home win
Liverpool v/s Burnley - Home win

A paltry set of matches to contend with this week-end. Liverpool should beat Burnley provided they show the same enthusiasm and urgency they did against Arsenal last Saturday. I also like Everton's chances against visiting West Brom. The Toffees are in good form and nearly nicked a result at White Hart Lane last week-end. They should overcome a Tony Pulis' team that has been having suspect form on the road of late.

Win: Liverpool, Everton

EPL 2016/17 - Week 28

Man Utd v/s Bournemouth - Home win
Leicester v/s Hull - Draw
Stoke v/s Middlesbrough - Home win
Swansea v/s Burnley - Home win
Watford v/s Southampton - Home win
WBA v/s Crystal Palace - Home win
Liverpool v/s Arsenal - Away win
Tottenham v/s Everton - Home win
Sunderland v/s Man City - Away win
West Ham v/s Chelsea - Draw

Harry Kane's sparkling form will be of huge benefit to Spurs when they host a rejuvenated Everton on Saturday. The England striker scored a first-half hat trick last week to maintain his team's challenge near the top of the table. The home team will need all to overcome the Toffees who have been enjoying a series of positive results as of late. It seems that Koeman has finally succeeded getting his team into his system after a dry spell. With Barkley and Lukaku full of confidence, the Toffees will have their chances to find the net in this match. However, Tottenham have a strong record at home and will make chances of their own. England midfield Alli has been a little under fire lately after his sending-off in an Europa league match but he is the dynamo in midfield that can turn a match around. Spurs will need him for their title challenge but also to make a difference in this match. I see the home team edging this one, so the punt is for a home win.

Man City should have too much for Sunderland to handle. With Jesus gone for the season, Aguero has regained his role as No 1 striker for the Citizens and the confidence in his play seems to have picked up lately. Sunderland might hold on for a while but in the end, I cannot see anything other than Guardiola's men celebrating.

Win: Tottenham, Man City