EPL 2020/21 - Week 17

Everton v West Ham - Draw

Man Utd v Aston Villa - Home

Tottenham v Leeds - Draw

Crystal Palace v Sheffield Utd - Away

Brighton v Wolves - Home

WBA v Arsenal - Away

Burnley v Fulham - Draw

Newcastle v Leicester - Away

Chelsea v Man City - Home

Southampton v Liverpool - Home

Wishing all readers a very Happy New Year 2021! 

Sheffield Utd have had a rotten start of season and will be hoping to turn over a new leaf over the new year. A visit to Crystal Palace might be the best place for them to get that all-elusive first win. The Blades have gone close over the past matches and you feel that they need that extra bit of luck to win something out of a match. The good news for them is that Palace have gotten in a rotten form as well and could be easier pickings than most. When Zaha is not firing, the Eagles don't seem to have enough in them to cause major problems in the attacking end. Lately, they've been shipping goals like crazy and it is worth looking at a visitor win at current market odds.

Win: Sheffield Utd

EPL 2020/21 - Week 16

Brighton v Arsenal - Draw

Burnley v Sheffield Utd - Draw

Southamton v West Ham - Home

West Brom v Leeds - Away

Man Utd v Wolves - Home

Tottenham v Fulham - Home

Newcastle v Liverpool - Away

If there is a team that is scraping results these days, it's Wolves. Since the injury to star striker Raul Jimenez, they have been more involved into grinding out results than winning games convincingly. I don't expect them to be under pressure from the first minute at Old Trafford. The hosts are in rampant form and were it not for their nonchalant start to the season, they would be leaders of the EPL at the moment. Quite a shocking view for a team that has displayed quality of the highest standing to downright mediocre during Ole Gunnar's tenure as manager. But the arrival of Bruno Fernandes has really turned things around for the Red Devils. The Portuguese star is magically orchestrating things on the attacking end and with a steady defence, Man Utd can rival any team for 90 minutes. Despite their average home record so far, they should prove too strong for the visitors.

 Spurs have been lacking a step lately and it seems that they cannot fire without Kane and Son. The coming of strugglers Fulham should give the team a breather and get their title charge back on track. Whether Mourinho takes the opportunity playing a bottom-tier team to do some squad tinkering is questionable but what is clear is that getting 3 much needed points is the goal on order. Watch out for Kane and Son to work their telepathic magic again.

Win: Man Utd, Tottenham

EPL 2020/21 - Week 15

Merry Xmas everyone! Hope you are thoroughly enjoying the festive period.

I will be brief this weekday. I think Leicester is a real steal at current odds at home to Man Utd. Truth be told, Man Utd are on an amazing roll on their away matches and are in surprise contention for the title despite multiple hiccups since the start of the season. Their away record has put them in seriously good stead. However, a few of those wins have been through the scrape of their necks and they will need more than good fortune at the King Power stadium. They do have the firepower to breach the meanest of defences but they are also vulnerable at the back. The fact that they have had to come from behind in many of their matches entitles one to think that they might very well run short on an unauspicious day. The Foxes are by no means push-overs and their second position in the league suggests that they are in for another strong season. They were masterful in getting an away win at Tottenham last week and with Vardy in rather blistering form, Rodgers' men are more than capable of causing problems to the visitors. I find them as strong draw-no-bet contenders and it won't be going too much outside of my comfort zone to go for the all home win at current prices.

Win: Leicester

EPL 2020/21 - Week 14

Crystal Palace v Liverpool - Away

Southampton v Man City - Home

Everton v Arsenal - Draw

Newcastle v Fulham - Home

Brighton v Sheffield Utd - Draw

Tottenham v Leicester - Home

Man Utd v Leeds - Away

West Brom v Aston Villa - Away

Burnley v Wolves - Home

Chelsea v West Ham - Draw

I will chance up with 2 away teams this week-end. I think Leeds have it in them to shock Man Utd at Old Trafford. I feel this is going to be a high-scoring affair and the Peacoks have proven they can outgun their opponents in such scenarios. They are masterfully coached by Biesla who will have done his homework as to how to overpower the erratic home defence. Man Utd have goals in them as well and they are certain to inflict serious damage with the likes of Rashford, Fernandes and the possible return to form of Martial. Tactics will definitely play a big role in this and in that sense giving the nod to the visitors does not seem too far off.

Aston Villa should have trounced Burnley a few days ago but were let down by a lack of luck and finishing in front of goal. They will face a very penetrable defence in West Brom although new manager Sam Allardyce will certainly put a priority in plugging the holes at the back. Villa play better on the road and this is a huge opportunity to get full points against a team that will be learning a completely new system under new management. I expect the Villains to edge this.

Win: Leeds, Aston Villa  

EPL 2020/21 - Week 13

Arsenal v Southampton - Draw

Leeds v Newcastle - Home

Leicester v Everton - Draw

Fulham v Brighton - Draw

Liverpool v Tottenham - Home

West Ham v Crystal Palace - Home

Aston Villa v Burnley - Home

Sheffield Utd v Man Utd - Away

Some quick selcctions for this mid-week's array of fixtures. I see Aston Villa being too good for Burnley. Provided he's not still shell-shocked by his record and driving ban yesterday, I expect Grealish to play a major role in securing the win for Villa. Burnley were rather fortuituous to get the full points at ailing Arsenal but I don't expect their away vein of form to continue.

Sheffield Utd are in an absolutely horrible state at the moment and Man Utd will relish visiting the Blades. The Red Devils are capable of the best and worst but I still expect them to come up trumps at the end. With Cavani back, they have ample ammunition to do real damage to an out-of-sorts team like Sheffield Utd.

Win: Man Utd, Aston Villa

EPL 2020/21 - Week 12

Wolves v Aston Villa - Away

Newcastle v West Brom - Away

Man Utd v Man City - Home

Everton v Chelsea - Home

Southampton v Sheffield Utd - Home

Crystal Palace v Tottenham - Away

Fulham v Liverpool - Away

Arsenal v Burnley - Home

Leicester v Brighton - Home

There are not many seasons where both Manchester teams are not playing major roles in the title charge but this year seems to be one of those years. Both have missed the start in racing terms and have ground to cover. Man Utd are reeling at the moment even though they have managed to squeeze out wins in their last few EPL matches. They have looked done and dusted at half-time in many of those matches only to roar back in the last 45 minutes. They have goals in them although Martial and Rashford have been excessively profligate in front of goal. Martial, in particular, is an out-of-sorts striker at the moment and the arrival of Cavani will help cover for the Frenchman's non-output. Man City look like they haven't yet hit full stride as well. The prolonged absence of Aguero up front has not helped as the Argentinian has always proven a source of crucial goals. But City will inevitably find their rhythm sooner than later and new players like Ferran are slotting nicely in Guardiola's setup. I feel the Red Devils will be playing with the most urgency here after their unceremonious dumping out of the UCL in mid-week. Manager Ole needs a convincing outing as job security and I expect his team to play a physical game that eventually lands them 3 points.

Spurs are on a roll at the moment and should be able to overcome inconsistent Palace at Selhurst Park. Son and Kane are forming an amazing duo at the moment and under the management of Mourinho, Spurs look set to continue leading the pack past this game week.

Win; Man Utd, Tottenham

EPL 2020/21 - Week 11

Burnley v Everton - Away

Man City v Fulham - Home

West Ham v Man Utd - Home

Chelsea v Leeds - Draw

West Brom v Crystal Palace - Home

Sheffield Utd v Leicester - Away

Tottenham v Arsenal - Home

Liverpool v Wolves - Draw

Brighton v Southampton - Home

The Spurs against Gunners London derby is always an exciting one to follow every season and this year is no different. Tottenham have a few believers that this can finally be the year they lift the elusive Premier League trophy. They are in good form at the moment buoyed by the fantastic duo of Son and Kane. Adding Mourinho and Bale to the mix have added credence to their title tilt. I personally don't think they have the squad to do it, but if Liverpool and Man City keep faltering in the stretch, it might not be far-fetched. The Gunners have been in quite horrific form of late and Arteta's bubble seems to have burst. Much of their misfortunes seem to rest on Aubameyang not firing and no-one else is picking up the pieces. There's even clamour for forgotten man Ozil to make a return to change the fortunes of the club. I just cannot see the Gunners win this one. Mourinho is a master at getting away with at least a draw in those kinds of home encounters and I think they could very well edge this one for good measure. A home win is expected here.

Leicester are another team that looks to be on a rotten form. They were shockingly beaten at home by Fulham in last Monday's match. Then they got beaten in the Europa League in mid-week. However visiting the Blades is something they will welcome. The home team are still winless and have 9 of their 10 matches. I think there's a good reason to believe they will go under if they make no changes at the top. They are a pale reflection of the team they were last year where they had an awesome home record and making it hard for teams to break them down. Not this year, where something clearly has broken in their system. Vardy will relish this match and it should end up in an away win.

Win: Leicester, Tottenham