EPL 2017/18 - Week 32

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

Crystal Palace have been close to getting positive results against top teams lately and it would be no surprise if they got one against visiting Liverpool early Saturday. The Kops are irresistible when they are at their best. We've talked so much about Salah, Firmino and Sane obliterating defences at will. The other side of the coin for Liverpool is that at times, they can fail to fire or take their chances, and their defence is prone to lay one or two eggs in matches as well. Were it not for some stoppage-time misfortunes, Crystal Palace should have beaten Man City and drawn with Man Utd recently. Roy Hodgson clearly has a game plan to play the strong teams and can always rely on Zaha to cause havoc near the opponent's goal. I see them getting a good result and are a value draw-no-bet.

I also see wins for Man City, Man Utd and Arsenal and see worth in bundling those in an accumulator.

Accumulator Win: Man City/ Man Utd/ Man City
Draw-no-bet: Crystal Palace

Meydan Dubai World Cup Day - 31st March

1. Heavy Metal - Economic Model - Rosa Imperial
2. Barnamaj - Tallaab Al Khalediah - Paddy's Day
3. Vazirabad - Rare Rhythm - Torcedor
4. Gold Town - Reride - Mendelssohn
5. Blue Point - Jungle Cat - Faatinah
6. Roy H - X Y Jet - Mind Your Biscuits
7. Neo Realism - Benbatl - Real Steel
6. Cloth of Stars - Hawk Bill - Rey de Oro
7. West Coast - Talismanic - North America

There are 3 things to note in this year's Dubai World Cup day.

First, I expect Godolphin to have one last strong outing after having had their most dominant Carnival ever. They have taken no prisoners in the past months because Charlie Appleby has and bin Suroor have acted like a formidable one-two punch on their way to the top of the trainer leaderboard. Mike de Kock, the usual challenger to boys in blue over the years, has been virtually non-existent this year. On DWC day, trainer Andre Fabre will add to the Godolphin armada with some real live chances. Gold Town, Blue Point, Benbatl, Cloth of Stars and Hawkbill have strong chances for the outright win, so at the end of the day, I expect Sheikh Mohammed's colors to prevail in at least 2 or 3 races.

Second, American runners are the best on dirt and thus have to be respected accordingly. They should win at least 2 of the dirt races. Roy H, in the Golden Shaheen, is the closest to a banker for the night. This is the best sprinter of the U.S coming to Meydan. All vibes are positive from connections and bar accident, he should win. West Coast is the best middle-distance horse in America and he will be hard to beat in the World Cup. The dark horse of that race is Talismanic and if he takes to the dirt, he might pose problems for the favourite. It's a big 'If' though.  I think the son of Medaglia D'oro will run well and is best punted for a place.

Third, Japanese runners always do well coming to Dubai in the middle-distance turf races. They regularly snatch the Dubai Turf or Scheema Classic. So, one or two of Neo Realism, Real Steel, Rey  de Oro or Satono Crown could very well be poised to strike. Their odds should be enticing as well.


Win: Roy H, Blue Point, Gold Town, West Coast
Value Win: Cloth of Stars, Neo Realism, Vazirabad
Value Place: Rosa Imperial, Talismanic, Hawk Bill

EPL 2017/18 - Week 31

Bournemouth v/s West Brom - Home win
Huddersfield v/s Crystal Palace - Away win
Stoke v/s Everton - Home win
Liverpool v/s Watford - Home win

A skeleton fixtures of matches to contend with this week-end. Liverpool obviously go with massive claims as they host Watford. West Brom look in free-fall and with Bournemouth enjoying a good spell at the moment, it is logical to side with the Cherries. I like the chances of Crystal Palace as they travel to Huddersfield. I think the Eagles will beat the drop as they continue their resurgence with Roy Hodgson and Huddersfield are well within their grasp. Finally, Stoke can get an oh-so-important win under Paul Lambert. They have had encouraging displays of late and Everton are very exposed on the road.

EPL 2017/18 - Week 30

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

It's true that in terms of rivalry, nothing in England can surpass Man Utd against Liverpool; it is indeed the fiercest one in English football. With the title going to Man City, the main stake for these 2 clubs is second place at best, and the bragging rights, if any, that go with it. Klopp has transformed the Kops into a swashbuckling goal scoring machine. Great for the eyes and supporters. The Citizens might differ but I believe they are the most entertaining side in the league. Their upfront trio of Salah, Firmino and Mane can blow apart any defence. Liverpool go into any game with a chance to win.

This is exactly the type of side that Mourinho likes to play. And excel at. Earlier at Anfield, he doubly parked the bus to get a draw goal-less draw. The Portuguese hates to get his team thrashed and will build any needed walls to not lose face. He will certainly be less defensive at Old Trafford but his tactics against such type of adversary will be tilted to not conceding goals rather than putting them in. Hopeful for the typical Kop defensive blunder or other lightning-quick counter-attacks with the likes of Sanchez and Lukaku. Expect the above trio to starve for space and be tightly-checked for most parts of the match.

On form, Liverpool have the edge. But this is more an off-game than anything; throw away the form and the team with the most desire more often prevails in these types of encounters. It's hard to see the hosts losing this; I see Mourinho prepping up the players' minds to win by all means irrespective of the football product on the pitch. Liverpool's dynamic play will be stifled and the Red Devils will be ready to pounce on the common liberties given by the visitors. I see a draw-no-bet with the hosts as a great value play. For those looking for better risk/rewards, an outright home win is definitely in the cards.

Win or draw-no-bet: Man Utd

Meydan 10th March Selections - Super Saturday

1. Last Voyage - Masar - Yulong Warrior
2. Comicas - Yalta - My Catch
3. Ertijaal - Jungle Cat - High on Life
4. Heavy Metal - Kimbear - Drafted
5. Benbatl - Blair House - Folkswood
6. Thunder Snow - Boynton - North America
7. Hawkbill - Best Solution - Frontiersman

EPL 2017/18 - Week 29

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

It seems there is no manager under more pressure than Arsene Wenger these days. Pundits, commentators and even ex-Arsenal players are calling for his head, tired of long barren years of failing to secure the Premiership. The Gunners are playing without much confidence but true to previous Wenger teams, they are bound to rise and go on a decent winning run sooner than later. I like their odds of getting the win at Brighton. The hosts are on a good run of undefeated matches and that makes Arsenal's favourable odds all the more enticing. An away win looks great value.

After Man City, it is getting crowded among the leading pursuers and I see comfortable wins for Liverpool and Tottenham. Spurs should have no trouble handling struggling Huddersfield while the Kops are currently on a rampage and should overcome visiting Newcastle and ensure a losing return for ex-Liverpool manager Benitez. Make it a double with Liverpool and Spurs.

Win: Arsenal
Double: Liverpool/Tottenham