EPL 2018/19 - Week 4

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


Man City should continue on their unbeaten run this week-end as they host the toothless Magpies. This is a banker win for the Citizens who will also look to enhance their goal difference.

I really like the chances of West Ham against Wolves. The Hammers have been arguably unlucky in their last couple of starts and are much better than what their position suggests. Having Wolves as visitors is a perfect tonic for them to get their season back on track. They are definitely the best value pick of the week-end.

Mourinho is reeling at the moment and unless the wheels are falling off completely for the Red Devils, I can see them bouncing back with a win at Burnley. No doubt that another loss will significantly weaken the Special One's position at Old Trafford. While it is true they got thrashed against Spurs last week-end, there is no doubt that the result could have been reversed if Lukaku had not missed the open goal in the first half. Missing those sitters against the likes of Tottenham can just be lethal. If the Mancunians play with the same energy and are not profligate in front of goal, they have every chance to win this.

Win: Man City, West Ham, Man Utd

EPL 2018/19 - Week 3

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

The bankers are obvious; Liverpool and Man City should be having field days playing the likes of Brighton and Wolves. The 2 league favourites will be looking to not only bag the 3 points but also give a healthy dosage to their goal difference as this might play a crucial part towards the end of the season.

I have three value plays and I'm hoping that at least 2 of them hit the target. They are Leicester, Crystal Palace and Newcastle. I think the Foxes have a great chance to steal the full points at Southampton. The Saints look a vulnerable team at the moment as Mark Hughes tries to put his system into place. Leicester are a well-oiled team that are difficult to break down and have the means to inflict damage at the other end.

I also like Crystal Palace as a draw-no-bet as they visit Watford. I expect Palace to finish in the top 10 this season as ex-England manager Hodgson has put together an organized squad. They will be hard to beat and they can definitely land the spoils with the likes of Zaha up front.

Finally, I think Benitez will have Newcastle put up a valiant fight against visiting Chelsea. I am not convinced by the Blues at the moment despite their unbeaten start with new manager Sarri and they will definitely start losing points as the manager gets to grips with the facets of the league. Newcastle looks a great value draw-no-bet.

Value Win: Leicester
Accumulator: Liverpool/Man City/Leicester
Draw-no-bet: Newcastle, Crystal Palace

EPL 2018/19 - Week 2

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

This week-end is an opportunity for most leading teams to gather full points and enhance goal difference. Man City is a banker win against Huddersfield. Man Utd should have too much firepower for Brighton. Spurs should overcome Fulham although I think they won't win it in a canter. Liverpool should continue on their hot goal spree at Selhurst Park.

Leicester should continue to do well with Claude Puel at the helm and they are fancied to beat Wolves.

Chelsea hosting Arsenal is the main match of the week-end. The encounter is between 2 teams with new managers, so there is definitely an element of surprise that can creep in. It is not impossible to fathom Arsenal coming up trumps in this London derby. They have the firepower to inflict damage to any team and Chelsea will be more vulnerable at the back now that Courtois is gone. For a value win, Arsenal could be a nice play.

Win: Leicester
Win accumulator: Man City/Liverpool/Man Utd
Value win: Arsenal

EPL 2018/19 - Week 1

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

A quick run-down of the first week. Despite their woes, I expect Man Utd to beat Leicester this Friday. Liverpool should start with a bang against West Ham. Emery will have a baptism of fire against Man City and this can potentially end in a high-scoring draw. I like Crystal Palace's away chances at newcomers Fulham.

Value Win: Crystal Palace
Win Couple: Man Utd/Liverpool
Draw: Arsenal/Man City

EPL 2018/19 - Predictions

Welcome back reading my ramblings on yet another EPL season that looks promising and exciting! I majorly took the summer off, enjoying the World Cup and racing, recharging batteries and getting ready for EPL. Things will be very much in the mix for many clubs in the opening weeks as many players get back in condition after the toll of a gruelling summer. This is bound to affect results in the short term. Here are some of my predictions for the coming season regarding the leading clubs.

Champions Man City will be hard to beat again. They have the best squad in the league which will be further reinforced by the arrival of star winger Mahrez. Mendy, their record-breaking defender which was mostly unavailable last year will be fit from day 1 and will certainly bolster their back four. There should be no ill-effects of the World Cup for much of the squad as most of them did not go through the latter stages. The Citizens gave a great account of their excellent disposition by comprehensively beating Chelsea in the Community Shield and should be in the Top 2 again.

The main danger for Man City will be Liverpool. It seems the Kops are getting very close to ending their championship drought and this season puts them in the best position in years to do. There is no reason to think that star striker Salah won't keep scoring week in week out. The Egyptian fits perfectly under the attacking system devised by manager Klopp and forms the best attacking trio in the league with the likes of Firmino and Sane. Add to this Sturridge who can definitely be an able substitute for scoring if he stays healthy. The Reds have also been bolstered by the arrivals of Keita and Fabinho as well as keeper Alisson who should add solidity to their defence, their main weak point in the past years. Liverpool are in for a great shout till the end and it's a toss-up between them and City for the title in my opinion.

Man Utd look in trouble at the moment. Mourinho is not happy and that does not bode well as this usually signals his departure or sacking is near. There can be no encouragement from their pre-season  form and the fact that the moody manager is the one making the headlines is enough to tell you that the Red Devils won't win the title this year. Sanchez will need to hit top form from the start after a quite disappointing opening spell last year. The main question is whether he needed time or if he simply does not fit into Mourinho's defensive system. There might be tectonic changes at Old Trafford starting at the top and I think the most the Red Devils can secure is a UCL spot.

Tottenham will be the club feeling the most from the World Cup as their numerous Belgian, English and French players are still on the recovery route. I expect the opening weeks to be very hard on them and that could mean the end of their title dreams right there. It is almost certain that Harry Kane won't be banging goals from opening day. The other bad news is the lack of major signings during the summer. Spurs are bound to yet another European spot but I cannot seem them lifting the trophy in the end.

Arsenal's new manager Emery will have to adapt to the rigors of the EPL and he will be considered a success if he can land a UCL spot. The Gunners have been banging in goals in pre-season and I expect strker Aubameyang to seriously put a challenge on the most goals marker. The Gunners won't win the championship but if Emery can find his footing, the squad is talented enough to achieve consistently good results.

Chelsea will also be with a new manager after the departure of fellow Italian Conte. They have lost keeper Courtois to Real Madrid which should be a big blow at the back. I don't think they will be good enough to end in the top 4. Blues fans should not be expecting much this year.


Win Title: Man City 
UCL: Liverpool, Tottenham, Man Utd