EPL 2017/18 - Week 21

Bournemouth v/s Everton - Away win
Chelsea v/s Stoke - Home win
Huddersfield v/s Burnley - Draw
Liverpool v/s Leicester - Home win
Newcastle v/s Brighton - Away win
Watford v/s Swansea - Home win
Man Utd v/s Southampton - Home win
Crystal Palace v/s Man City - Away win
WBA v/s Arsenal - Away win

Win Accumulator: Man Utd/Watford/Watford

EPL 2017/18 - Week 20

Tottenham v/s Southampton - Home win
Bournemouth v/s West Ham - Draw
Chelsea v/s Brighton - Home win
Huddersfield v/s Stoke - Home win
Man Utd v/s Burnley - Home win
Watford v/s Leicester - Home win
West Brom v/s Everton - Draw
Liverpool v/s Swansea - Home win
Newcastle v/s Man City - Draw
Crystal Palace v/s Arsenal - Home win

Can anyone stop this Man City juggernaught? They might not get beaten but a draw looks the realm of possibility. After all, not so long ago, they struggled to overcome the likes of Southampton, West Ham and Huddersfield in a string of 2-1 victories. It is reasonable to expect that they will drop points on some of their road travels. Their visit to Newcastle could be one of those. Benitez' men were on a wretched run and last weekend's win at West Ham brought some much-needed confidence to the club. The Magpies started the season reasonably well and have made it difficult for teams to break them down in many matches. If City go to St James Park in festive spirit, they could be in trouble. That's not to say that they won't go and blast their way to another dominant victory; they have the capacity for that in abundance, but any lack of focus could be lead to their first cock-up. At market prices, a double-chance (win or draw) on Newcastle might pay dividends.

Win or Draw: Newcastle

EPL 2017/18 - Week 19

Arsenal v/s Liverpool - Away win
Everton v/s Chelsea - Draw
Brighton v/s Watford - Away win
Man City v/s Bournemouth - Home win
Southampton v/s Huddersfield - Away win
Stoke v/s West Brom - Draw
Swansea v/s Crystal Palace - Draw
West Ham v/s Newcastle - Home win
Burnley v/s Spurs - Away win
Leicester v/s Man Utd - Draw


The way things are going it looks like Man City are sailing away comfortably to the title. But they will falter at some point. It will be stretching it too much to think they will throw it away though. There is actually more of a chance that they set the marker for killing the race in the earliest fashion. On Saturday, it will be a matter of how many goals they subject Bournemouth to for another dominating display.

Liverpool are going to the Emirates in a rich vein of form and I think there are chances that they won't get out of there empty-handed. Arsenal are far from having hit top gear so far and it seems they have been scraping through their matches for a while. Clearly, their best player Sanchez is not as inspired or commandeering as in previous seasons. I believe the Gunners will be caught out at home by some heavy-duty teams this year; Man Utd did the job a couple of weeks back and others will follow. The Kops are hammering opponents at the moment and will give any team, including Man City, some serious opposition. At current market prices, I see value in picking them either as straight winners or as a draw-no-bet selection.

Win: Liverpool

EPL 2017/18 - Week 18

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


I see a lot of home wins on Saturday and the away wins will come on Sunday. Arsenal should handily beat struggling Newcastle, Chelsea should prove too strong for Southampton and Watford should confirm their current form by beating Huddersfield.

On Sunday, Man Utd and Liverpool are strongly fancied to keep up with the pace at the top and they should have no trouble overcoming bottom-of-table teams such as West Brom and Bournemouth.

Accumulator: Arsenal/Chelsea/Watford/Man Utd/Liverpool

EPL 2017/18 - Week 17 (Wednesday matches)

Newcastle v/s Everton - Draw
Southampton v/s Leicester - Home win
Swansea v/s Man City - Away win
Liverpool v/s West Brom - Home win
Man Utd v/s Bournemouth - Home win
Tottenham v/s Brighton - Home win
West Ham v/s Arsenal - Home win

EPL 2017/18 - Week 16

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

A huge 6-point match decider is on the cards at the Theatre of Dreams on Sunday for the Manchester Derby. Most people think that this season's champion will come out of Manchester and I could not agree more; if there is any team that will stop the Guardiola juggernaut of Man City, it will be the Red Devils. I disagree with the markets on this one, though; Man City's odds are way too short in my opinion. For all their dominance since the start of the season, their last 3 league matches have resulted in 3 tight wins of 2-1, all won in the closing stages. That means that the Citizens have laboured whenever teams have shut the door. Against Man Utd, they will go against a manager known for parking the bus extremely well. That is Mourinho's forte when he is playing more talented teams. Man Utd have recently proven lethal when soaking up the pressure to deliver the knockout blow; ask Watford and Arsenal. Sure, they will be missing suspended Pogba in midfield but they have played without the Frenchman to good effect before his return from injury. Man City's defence is there for the taking, particularly on the counter-attacks and I believe the crowd will roar the home side to victory on Sunday. If they don't win, a draw-no-bet on the home side looks very enticing as well.

Sam Allardyce will right the ship at Everton but they are travelling to Anfield in the worst possible moment as Klopp's team are the hottest in the league. Goals can come anywhere from the quartet of Mane, Salah, Coutinho and Firminho. No doubt Sturridge needs to go elsewhere to find playing time. The most the visitors can look for is a hopeful draw but I think the Kops are just too strong at Anfield. Home win.

Finally, I see Crystal Palace getting another rare win against visiting Bournemouth. Their form has sharpened considerably in recent weeks with the arrival of Hodgson and the return of Zaha. Their unfortunate problem is that they have the most profligate striker in the league in Benteke. The Belgian international can score beauties when on fire but he has a record of spurning good goal scoring opportunities as well. Bournemouth look like a team on the wane and it is a massive opportunity for the Eagles to ramp up some much-needed points.

Win: Crystal Palace, Liverpool, Man Utd

EPL 2017/18 - Week 15

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

If Man City were unable to extend their lead after the midweek matches, they have another great crack at this over the week-end. They have the easiest task on paper given that they host the Hammers that are quite simply a team in disarray right now. It seems the only hope for Moyes' team is to maximize points at home because they are simply atrocious on the road. Although the Citizens' have won their last 2 matches at the death, they should find Sunday's match an easy offering on paper and should come out on top even in first gear.

The value of the week-end looks to be Leicester who will look for consecutive home wins after dispatching Spurs in midweek. Visitors Burnley are in good form and are sure to keep the match close. Many expect the match to be close, explaining the juicy odds on offer for a straight Foxes win or a draw-no-bet on them. I believe either one will pay at the end of ninety minutes.

Finally, Southampton could finally be getting an away win consolation after coming close to causing an upset at the Etihad. Not only did they succumb with the last kick of the match, they also hit the crossbar and had excellent chances to score against the Citizens. Bournemouth should prove a somewhat easier affair for Pellegrino's men and a draw-no-bet looks decent value at current prices.


Win: Leicester, Man City, Southampton