EPL 2014/15 - Week 21

Man City ate away Chelsea's lead in the past weeks and should actually be on top at the moment had they not let 2 points escape against Burnley a fortnight ago. I still give a slight advantage to Mourinho's men as they have proved more cohesive as a team while the Citizens have mainly relied on striker Aguero to make the difference in many of their matches. Here are my thoughts on this week-end's matches.

Sunderland v/s Liverpool. It will be interesting to see the reaction of the Kops with the knowledge that long-serving captain Gerrard will be leaving the club come May. Will it spur them to a better second part of the season or will it be a self-inflicted distraction? Their form of late has been improving with the trio of Lallana, Coutinho and Sterling giving vibrant displays up front. The team will get better with the return of Sturridge. Sunderland are capable of the better or worse and cannot be backed with confidence in this type of match-up. I think this will end in a draw. Draw.

Burnley v/s QPR. A 6-pointer at the tail end of the table. I've made a mess of predicting Burnley's outings so far but this looks an ideal match for them to get 3 crucial points as QPR have an awful away record. Home win.

Chelsea v/s Newcastle. I thought that Chelsea were unlucky to lose the fixture at St James Park a few weeks ago. They were undone by some bounces not going their way on the Newcastle goals. I can't see anything other than a Blues win here. Home win.

Everton v/s Man City. Everton are reeling at the moment and Man City will find that it's the perfect time to visit Goodison Park. The hosts will be hampered by the loss of keeper Tim Howard to injury. The Citizens will have to cope without play maker Yaya Toure, who has gone to play in the African Cup. On form and paper, the visitors should edge this match. Away win.

Leicester v/s Aston Villa. This looks set to be a low-scoring affair with both teams not re-known for their goal-scoring. The hosts showed great spirit and endeavour to snatch a point at Liverpool in their last game. They will aim to maximize points against a Villa team that has specialized in goalless matches of late. The problem with the visitors is their over-reliance on Benteke to get goals. I think the hosts will just edge this. Home win.

Swansea v/s West Ham. The loss of Bony to Man City is a huge loss on the pitch for Swansea. It remains to be seen where they will get the goals from now on. I expect West Ham to have a tougher second half of the season and although they are a top 10 club, they are mightily flattered by their 4th position at the moment. I don't think they will be in the top 7 in the end. A draw looks to be in the offing here. Draw.

WBA v/s Hull. The Pulis era has started at West Brom and I think that pretty much guarantees their safety in the top flight. Mind you, even before Pulis' arrival, West Brom were playing well and with purpose but were just being wasteful up front in some of their recent matches. With some better judgement and luck in these matches, they could easily be 6 points higher up the table than their precarious position. Striker Berahino is a great talent, albeit a raw one. Hull have no cutting edge and I think they could be in serious relegation trouble if they don't improve in the coming weeks. A home win looks to be the value punt of the week-end. Home win.

Crystal Palace v/s Tottenham. What Harry Kane is doing for Spurs is unbelievable. He single-handedly destroyed Chelsea last week. If he keeps up his goal scoring form, Tottenham will be difficult to beat in this match. It will be new manager's Pardew's first league match for the Eagles and as from now on, it's safe to throw away their previous nonchalant form. I think this match will either end in a draw or a Spurs win. Draw.

Arsenal v/s Stoke. This won't be a walk in the park for the Gunners as Stoke are very resilient as an away team. They beat the Gunners a few weeks back at home after storming through a commanding 3-goal lead. Obviously they won't get away that lightly in this match but I still expect them to pose problems for Arsenal who have over-relied on Alex Sanchez so far. The Chilean has spared his team many times recently and one has to wonder for how long they can rely on his goal scoring exploits. I see Arsenal losing another 2 points here. Draw.

Man Utd v/s Southampton. After a turbulent period, Southampton are back to their winning ways. They will pose a serious test to the Mancunians as manager Koeman has made them difficult to pin down. They are at ease playing with or without the ball. The good news for United is the return of Di Maria who will give their attack immediate impetus. With Rooney, RVP, Falcao, Di Maria and Mata, this is a team that will will have goal scoring chances at any time during a match. This could end in a draw but I give a slight home advantage to Van Gaal's team. Home win.

EPL 2014/15 - Week 20

Happy New Year 2015 everyone! 

Some really quick lucid thoughts before the party starts! I see wins for Aston Villa, Liverpool, Man City, Newcastle, West Ham and Chelsea, with the rest being draws. Chelsea looks to be the main value punt as I see them doing the job at Spurs.

EPL 2014/15 - Week 19

The top of the table should stay unchanged at the end of Sunday but Man City are poised to close the gap against leaders Chelsea, who could very well drop points at Southampton.

Tottenham v/s Man Utd. Both teams boast reasonable form and I expect a tight match here. Spurs find a way to win their matches while Utd are hard to break down. It will be interesting to see how Van Gaal himself copes with the hectic festive schedule and its impact on the performance of his players. I give Spurs a slight home advantage here but a draw looks a likely result. Draw.

Southampton v/s Chelsea. Soton have righted the boat after a bad losing run. Chelsea can beat any opponent any day and are certainly worthy favourites to win the match. I think the Saints will give them a run for the money and will boldly predict a draw in this one. Draw.

Aston Villa v/s Sunderland. I couldn't see Sunderland losing at home to Hull last week-day and they flattered to disappoint me, not for the first time. I like Villa's form at home and I think they will either win or draw this. Home win.

Hull v/s Leicester City. This is a match-up among relegation teams that could go either way. Hull stopped a losing run by getting 3 all-important points at Sunderland a few days ago, yet that does not mean that they will easily best last-place team Leicester. Without any confidence, I think this one could end in a draw. Draw.

Man City v/s Burnley. No contest for City, maybe they'll look at polishing their goal difference. Home win.

QPR v/s Crystal Palace. This is a glorious opportunity for Rangers to secure 3 points against manager-less Palace. The hosts put in a decent display in their last loss to Arsenal and will rely on in-form striker Austin to do the damage. Home win.

Stoke v/s West Brom. Stoke did my predictions good last time out by winning at Goodison Park. Their home form is not as solid as it has traditionally be but they have a great chance of enhancing that record by beating exposed West Brom. The Baggies are out of sorts at the moment and it's a good time to oppose them. Home win.

West Ham v/s Arsenal. This is a tough trip for the Gunners and I see Hammers striker Carroll being a tall order for their suspect defence. Were it not for the incomparable Alexis Sanchez, Arsenal would be in an even more precarious position than their current one. Wenger teams haven't fared well against Allardyce's in the past and I think Big Sam will relish coming up trumps again against the Frenchman. I see this ending either as a home win or a draw. Home win.

Newcastle v/s Everton. This pits two teams that are on a bad run and any result is possible, with a draw looking the likely result. Draw.

Liverpool v/s Swansea. The Kops have a difficult game on their hands against solid Swansea. Raheem Sterling is their main threat but he has to be more clinical as a finisher. Swansea will certainly keep the scoreline tight and will fancy taking whatever chances they get with striker Bony. Punting on a draw could pay dividends here. Draw.

EPL 2014/15 - Week 18

Merry Xmas everyone! Thanks again for popping by, Missed the last week-end of football and just back from a much-appreciated sunny vacation and now ready for the EPL football galore of the holiday season. Got to say that EPL rocks with the continual football while the rest of the continent are taking their break. Here are my selections for the Boxing Day's matches.

Chelsea v/s West Ham. The Hammers are overachieving big time but the buck stops here at the Bridge. This should be another 3 points in the bag for the Blues even with the possible absence of Hazard. Home win.

Burnley v/s Liverpool. I've been burnt by some of the Burnley performances lately and I've come to the conclusion that they can be a force at home and also nick some points against exposed teams when on the road. Liverpool don't inspire any sort of confidence although they have enough quality to win this match on their best day. A draw looks the likeliest result and that's the selection. Draw.

Crystal Palace v/s Southampton. Both teams are on a woeful run, therefore any kind of result is possible here. Hard to gauge this but a draw could very be the value selection here. Draw.

Everton v/s Stoke. Everton seems to be huffing and puffing at the moment while Stoke have put in some very good performances on the road since the start of the season. It will not surprise me if the Potters actually nicked this given that the home team are not in the best form at the moment. If there is a value away win, it's this one. Away win.

Leicester v/s Tottenham. Spurs have relied on late winners an unbelievable amount of times this season and this could be another match where they make the difference at the very end. The Foxes don't seem to have any solution to get out of their current rut and I think Spurs will pile on their misery. Away win.

Man Utd v/s Newcastle. The return of Di Maria is a huge bonus for the Mancunians. They are playing with the confidence that they can outscore opponents and I think they will overpower this Newcastle team missing a few first-team players. Home win.

Sunderland v/s Hull. Looking at the market odds, I believe that the hosts are an absolute steal for the win. Hull are suffering from a plate of injuries at the moment and I can't see them overcoming a Sunderland team buoying after a last-ditch win against regional rivals Newcastle. Home win.

Swansea v/s Aston Villa. These teams look evenly-matched but Swansea get the edge with the benefit of playing at home. I can't see the final score being more of a goal difference and if there is to be a winner, it's probably going to go to the home team. Home win.

WBA v/s Man City. Manager Pellegrini is saying that City are on championship form but they will have to win this match convincingly for me to be a believer. My only worry about them is how they can consistently deal with the losses of Aguero, Dzeko and Jovetic. Sure they did it well against Palace last week-end but they will have to do it again and again in the upcoming matches. Silva and Toure will need to be lethal with the scoring chances coming their way. West Brom are on a woeful run and City will be determined to get the all important full points. Away win.

Arsenal v/s QPR. Arsenal should win this given QPR's away record and the fact that the latter will also be short of several first-team players. As long as they don't make their customary defensive mistakes, this should be 3 points in the bag for the home team. Home win.

EPL 2014/15 - Week 16

My quick selections for this week-end's matches. I expect the statu quo at the top with the leading contenders winning their respective matches.

Burnley v/s Southampton. Soton to resume back their winning ways here against sorry Burnley. Away win.

Chelsea v/s Hull. Chelsea should have no trouble getting full points here. Home win.

Crystal Palace v/s Stoke. A draw looks very likely here as Stoke are due a good point on the road while Palace have a solid record at home. Draw.

Leicester v/s Man City. Even without Aguero, the Citizens should prove too much for the bottom team in the league. Away win.

Sunderland v/s West Ham. I see the high-flying Hammers losing this one, albeit by a small margin. Home win.

WBA v/s Villa. If there is to be a drab 0-0 on the cards, it could be this one. Draw.

Arsenal v/s Newcastle. The visitors' winning run has to stop sometime and Arsenal really need a win to alleviate the pressure on Wenger. I think he might get some reprieve after this match. Home win.

Man Utd v/s Liverpool. Last season, the Kops easily won this feature and this result looks very unlikely this time. I see a home win here although the visitors can steal a draw with some luck. Home win.

Swansea v/s Tottenham. This looks to be a tight match and I see either a home win or a draw, and I'm more leaning on the latter. Draw.

Everton v/s QPR. Everton seem to have overcome their injury problems and they should be back to full strength for this fixture. QPR are a sorry team on the road and I can easily see them being over-matched at Goodison Park. Home win.

EPL 2014/15 - Week 15

Chelsea are maintaining the tempo, and the rest of the pack are chasing hard. Man City are back in a groove and have the hottest player on the planet in Sergio Aguero. Man Utd are getting the all-important wins and Arsenal look to be on an upward curve with the return of Giroud, the regaining of form of Ramsey and mainly because of the supreme exploits of Alexis Sanchez. What a December football-nanza this promises to be.

Newcastle v/s Chelsea. The fact that the Magpies are struggling with injuries gives Chelsea an all-important advantage here. The Blues remain dangerous with or without Diego Costa to lead the front line. Got to go with another away win for Mourinho and co. Away win.

Hull v/s West Brom. These teams have lost their way a bit of late with the Baggies faring worst of the two by losing their last 4 matches. Home advantage to Hull although a draw could be in the cards. Home win.

Liverpool v/s Sunderland. Although they won at Leicester, I certainly don't think the Kops are out of the woods yet. Sunderland are more than capable of snatching at least a point in this encounter and I see a draw as being the value punt of the week-end. Draw.

QPR v/s Burnley. What a 6-pointer of a match. QPR boast a relatively good record at home and this is a glorious chance for them to beat another fellow struggler. Home win.

Stoke v/s Arsenal. Stoke are certain to show their rough physical side which Arsene Wenger's teams loathe to play against. The Potters were rather unlucky not to gain at least a point in their last travels to Anfield and Old Trafford. Although their home form is patchy at best, I think they will manage to squeeze a point out of this match. Draw.

Tottenham v/s Crystal Palace. Spurs go with the favours of home advantage here and I think they will just edge this. Home win.

Man City v/s Everton. Got to go with the champions here although they have an all-important UCL game a few days at Roma. Their confidence is sky high and Aguero looks set to punish a below-par Evertonian defence in their last couple of matches. Home win.

West Ham v/s Swansea. This looks a draw written all over between 2 teams that are aiming for a top 10 finish this season. Draw.

Aston Villa v/s Leicester. I can't see Leicester winning this one, this looks almost a home win certainty. Home win.

Southampton v/s Man Utd. This could be a high-scoring game with possibly a draw to separate the two. Soton are back to reality after tough encounters against Man City and Arsenal. Man Utd are on a winning run but they've ridden their luck in a couple of them. The injury loss to Di Maria certainly hampers their attacking prowess. A draw looks likely here. Draw.

EPL 2014/15 - Week 14

Here are my quick selections for today's and tomorrow's EPL matches.

Burnley v/s Newcastle. This should be a tight one between struggling Burnley and a Newcastle team that is decimated with injuries. The hosts' only hope of survival this year is to compound the points at home and they will aim to get at least a point out of this encounter. A draw looks very likely. Draw.

Leicester v/s Liverpool. Two teams that don't inspire any confidence in any sort of way. Leicester put a dogged fight in their last defeat at QPR and Liverpool took the spoils late against Stoke. Typically, if Liverpool find any sort of their premium form, they should win this. But it's a big if. Draw.

Man Utd v/s Stoke. Man Utd are on a winning run but Stoke are no push-overs, particularly on the road. They almost snatched a point at Anfield on Saturday. I think that the short rest time plays in the hosts' favour here because of their bigger squad. They will miss Di Maria but have enough talent and more importantly confidence to see through this match. Home win.

Swansea v/s QPR. Bony is on fire for the hosts and they will aim to capitalize on full points against lowly Rangers. The latter edged Leicester over the week-end but they have an awful away form that looks to get worse against a solid Swansea team. Home win.

Crystal Palace v/s Villa. The Villains should have won their last away match against Burnley only to be tied late in the game. Palace boast solid form at home and are always a goal-scoring threat. They might just edge this. Home win.

WBA v/s West Ham. I don't think there will be lots of goals in this one and a difference of a goal might just settle this. The result could go any way but if there is a winner, WBA get the benefit of home advantage. Draw.

Arsenal v/s Southampton. Has the Saints bubble burst? Too soon to say but Arsenal seem on the verge to turn things around and have my vote here. Arsene Wenger's teams always go on a winning run after a patchy spell and I sense their last UCL win against Dortmund have uplifted the team in that direction. Home win.

Chelsea v/s Spurs. Again Spurs nicked it in the dying seconds against Everton. I am no fan of the way that they have won their last matches. Chelsea are the best team they will have encountered to date and I don't think they have the weapons to withstand the Blues's juggernaut. Home win.

Everton v/s Hull. This should be a straightforward home win. Home win.

Sunderland v/s Man City. I truly think City are on a run here after their defeat of Bayern Munich. Away win.

EPL 2014/15 - Week 13

My quick seleetions for this week-end's EPL matches.

WBA v/s Arsenal. I feel the Gunners will start picking up and their convincing UCL win against top team Dortmund might just keep them the needed tonic. Away win.

Burnley v/s Villa. Roy Keane's gone for Villa and this is a glorious chance to break their winless streak. Away win.

Liverpool v/s Stoke. Stoke are surprisingly better on the road and Liverpool are a team currently in disarray. A draw could be the result that would however not suit both of these teams. Draw.

Man Utd v/s Hull. Hull were unlucky last week and Man Utd rode their luck in their win at the Emirates. If they win this, they could be on a winning run. I think they will. Home win.

QPR v/s Leicester. A 6-pointer for both teams, I give the hosts home advantage here. Home win.

Swansea v/s Crystal Palace. Two teams with OK form and I expect a tight match here with possibly only a goal separating the two if there is to be a winner. Draw.

West Ham v/s Newcastle. I see the Magpies winning run end here as West Ham are playing with great purpose, particularly at home. Home win.

Sunderland v/s Chelsea. There's nothing stopping this Chelsea machine at the present, not yet. Away win.

Southampton v/s Man City. I think the quite miraculous win against Bayern will give renewed impetus to the visitors. I mean, there cannot be a better wake-up call than the way that they have come back from the dead in the UCL. They have the capacity to blow this Saints team away if all the pieces fall in their places. Away win.

Tottenham v/s Everton. I feel Everton can do the job here as they are the side which inspires the greater confidence to side with. Spurs have ridden their luck in quite a few of their games lately and they will need to be at the top of their game against the solid visitors. I don't think they are there yet, so I see value in backing the Toffees. Away win.

EPL 2014/15 - Week 12

Call it Perfect Saturday on Week 11 as all 7 selections won on the day. I dare not think of what that would have brought on an accumulator, but hopefully some of you dove in. Hoping that this week-end's selections come up trumps as well.

Chelsea v/s West Brom. Anyone still doubting that Chelsea won't win the title this year? I say they will win in a canter. This match against WBA will be a tough one as the Baggies are showing that they are a no-nonsense team with great fighting spirit. A close match it might be, but in the end though, the Blues should prevail. Home win.

Everton v/s West Ham. The Toffees will be without some key players for this match, none more affluent than Leighton Baines. West Ham have great form going in this match but I feel their star will start falling soon. I think the home team wins this by just. Home win.

Leicester v/s Sunderland. If there is an away win that I fancy on Saturday, it's in this match where the Black Cats can overcome a Leicester team in great need of confidence and renewed momentum. After a horrible spell of matches where they got annihilated big time, Sunderland scored an important first away win at Crystal Palace. Striker Steven Fletcher has regained his goal-scoring touch and it won't be surprising if he gets on the scoreboard again in this match. Since their fluke win against Man Utd, everything has been going downhill for the Foxes and it's only the beginning of their descent, I think. Away win.

Man City v/s Swansea. A tough match for the champions as Swansea are a really organized team. One's got to think that without Aguero, Man City would be nowhere near Chelsea at the moment. The Argentinian striker is carrying City on his shoulders and when he's not on-song, it spells big trouble for the Citizens. This match can really go either way and I see a draw here. Draw.

Newcastle v/s QPR. Newcastle has risen from the doldrums in recent weeks and are no longer in the precarious position they were in at the start. Manager Pardew's position looks safer as well. They will be missing some key men for this match but QPR is one of the easiest preys out there, so I see Newcastle just edging this. Home win.

Stoke v/s Burnley. This should be an easy win for the home team against a side that should keep struggling all year long. Home win.

Arsenal v/s Man Utd. An interesting game with both teams vying for a Champions League place rather than the title itself. Man Utd have only been beaten once by the Gunners in their last 8 games but all statistics should be thrown out of the window because they are 2 different teams from past years. The Gunners will have ex-Red Devil Wellbeck at the front line, while Utd are a Van Gaal team now. The loss of Blind over the course of the week is a big blow for the visitors; he was starting to be their midfield fulcrum. This should be a tight game and a draw looks the likeliest result. Draw.

Crystal Palace v/ Liverpool. The Kops have lost Sturridge for a few more weeks and Balotelli is also out injured which means that Ricky Lambert is their first-choice striker at the moment. I think Liverpool will keep struggling for the little while and they have a tough trip to Palace who sport good form at home. I see the Eagles outscoring the visitors in this one, so the selection is a home win. Home win.

Hull v/s Tottenham. Spurs have a history of struggling after a mid-week game or the international break and I see Hull piling on their current problems in this match. Home win.

Aston Villa v/s Southampton. The way I see it is that Villa are due a win sooner than later and Southampton's second position in the league is more than flattering. Sooner a balance should happen. This should be a tight match and the winner will probably be the one taking the most of its chances. Villa should have the most of the scoring opportunities and can very well take 3 badly-needed points. Home win.

EPL 2014/15 - Week 11

With Man City having alarmingly hit a ceiling in their past few games, the only word is Chelsea at the moment. I can see them taking an even bigger leap forward by winning at Anfield while City could very well get stuck at QPR.

Liverpool v/s Chelsea. It is very well documented how the Kops lost the league in this match-up last year following Gerrard's famous slip. If comparisons are to be made with last year, this Liverpool team is considerably weakened while Chelsea is miles better than last year. So, the Blues will go all guns blazing for the win here. They drew in their visits to Manchester this year, games that they were very close to winning. I can't see the visitors losing this match and Liverpool will be happy and fortunate to get a point. Away win.

Burnley v/s Hull. Could this be the match for Burnley to finally secure a first win? Hull's visit should be one of their best chances to finally break their duck. This match could swing either way but a Burnley win could be a worthy longshot punt. Home win.

Man Utd v/s Crystal Palace. The trials and tribulations of the Mancunians are daily newspaper fodder but this is an improving team by the week. They should win this even with a depleted defensive corps. Home win.

Southampton v/s Leicester. This should be 3 more points for Koeman's men. Their star striker Pelle should be relishing adding to his astonishing goal tally. Home win.

West Ham v/s Aston Villa. I mentioned before that Villa were due a win and they were unfortunate to lose against Spurs last week-end. Were it not for the dismissal of Benteke, they looked great value for the win. West Ham will be keen to continue on their very good vein of form and are difficult to breach at home. This encounter looks tight and it would be no surprise to see it end on an even note. Draw.

QPR v/s Man City. Man City will have the benefit of knowing Chelsea's result at Anfield before starting the match. Whether that will be an advantage remains to be seen. This match could end in a blowout for the visitors as on paper, there is a gulf between the 2 teams. However, the likelier scenario is that further misery will be heaped on the visitors following their mid-week debacle in Europe. Rangers gave Chelsea a fright last week and there is no better time for them to face the out-of-sorts visitors. Again, a long punt might be worth chancing on the hosts and a draw will reap significant dividends as well. Draw.

Sunderland v/s Everton. The hosts put a stop to their horrendous losing run by beating Crystal Palace last week-end. Everton only drew against Swansea but they are a team on the upgrade. A draw could be the end result here although the Toffees have enough quality to settle this. Draw.

Tottenham v/s Stoke. I am not convinced with the displays of Spurs at the moment and I feel they are still a vulnerable team finding their feet under Pochettino's new system.  There is no disputing the squad is talented but they seem to be winning games based on individual flashes rather than solid team play. They should never have won at Villa last week-end. On the other hand, Stoke should have won their last game but threw away a 2-goal lead against the Hammers. This should be an even match and a draw looks a high possibility. Draw.

WBA v/s Newcastle. Both teams are sporting good form at the moment and I just fancy WBA because they are playing at home where they are very decent. Newcastle's good winning run could very well end here. Home win.

Swansea v/s Arsenal. This is a tricky game for title challengers Arsenal. Swansea are a well-managed team that are not afraid to go head-to-head with even the best teams. They cannot be under-estimated in any way. The Gunners shockingly gave away a 3-goal lead in mid-week against Anderlecht and Monk's men are definitely a tougher proposal. The great news from the Gunners' front is the form of Alexis Sanchez who is currently defences apart and scoring in the bucket load as well. Hard to separate both teams and this could go any result. Draw.

EPL 2014/15 - Week 10

With Man City's recent woes, Chelsea is about to widen the gap at the top and the excitement of the race to the top could be put to bed sooner than expected. Of course, there will be twists and bounds and it's too early to declare a winner but Chelsea are in a very strong position at the moment.

Newcastle v/s Liverpool. The Magpies comprehensively beat Man City in the Carling Cup in mid-week and they are in resurgence mode. This is bad news for Liverpool who are nowhere near optimal form. They are badly lacking Sturridge up-front and they look vulnerable here. This should end in a home win or draw and I favour the former. Home win.

Arsenal v/s Burnley. No ingeniosity into thinking that this will be a Gunners win. The main question is by how much. Walcott might return for this game and give the home side some much-needed impetus. Home win.

Chelsea v/s QPR. Another home win here. Can't see Chelsea giving away the 3 easy points on offer. Home win.

Everton v/s Swansea. Everton have started a good run but will be put to the test by a good Swansea side. The visitors nearly won at Anfield in mid-week and they are giving the habit of proving resilient opponents to whoever they play. This should be a tight game which might very well end in a draw, but I suspect that the home side will just edge this in the end. Home win.

Hull v/s Southampton. These 2 teams are enjoying a good spell at the moment. Southampton have found a gem of a striker in Pelle. Hull are a solid team and difficult to break down. This should be an even battle with a draw looks the likeliest result. Draw.

Leicester v/s WBA. The Foxes have to rack up the points at home in they are to avoid relegation as they are simply too weak on the road. WBA are an on-off team but on their best day can take all the points here. This can go any result with the draw the most probable outcome. Draw.

Stoke v/s West Ham. Another possible draw on the cards. Stoke have good form at home and the confidence of the Hammers should be high after dominating Man City in their last home win. A dra 0-0 that will satisfy both parties, should not be a surprise here. Draw.

Man City v/s Man Utd. The Manchester derby does not look as lopsided as it would have looked a couple of weeks back. City are reeling at the moment after back-to-back defeats against West Ham and Newcastle. The theory of second-season blues for Pellegrini could be very well founded. The absence of Silva for the Citizens makes their task more complicated as the little Spanish genius has been one of their brightest sparks of late. Rivals Man Utd managed to tie Chelsea in the dying seconds at Old Trafford last week-end and it will have brought back some much needed swagger to the team. The Red Devils needed that kind of impetus and this could kick-start a good run for them. However, going to beat City at the Etihaad could be out of their reach. For all their woes, Man City still have the deepest squad in the league and should again be formidable at home. I think the hosts will edge this. Home win.

Aston Villa v/s Tottenham. Villa are due a win very soon and this could come against a Spurs team that are still finding their feet under Pochettino. The hosts are relying much on striker Benteke but he's been struggling since returning from long-term injury. Spurs were shocked at home to Newcastle last week-end and I find it tough to see them as winners here. It looks more probable that Villa will prevail in front of their front crowd. Home win.

Crystal Palace v/s Sunderland. The last 2 Sunderland games have been rather extraordinary. First, there was their 0-8 bomb at Southampton, where they committed more errors than a first grader. They  kept their error rate high against Arsenal last week, with keeper Mannone blundering on the Gunners' second goal. Palace are strong at home and they look set to pounce on a team that is in much need of confidence. Home win.

EPL 2014/15 - Week 9

West Ham v/s Man City. This is a tough one for the visitors because the Hammers are sporting good form and are not easy to be broken down. City had trouble to overcome Villa on their last away match a few weeks ago and this is a similar sort of challenge. They will rely on in-form Aguero again and the sooner they get on the score-sheet, the better for them. Class should tell at the end, but I expect nervy moments for the away fans. Away win.

Liverpool v/s Hull. If there is going to be a major upset this week-end, I think it will be this match. Liverpool were thrashed in mid-week in the UCL and are a team in poor confidence at the moment. They are greatly missing Sturridge to steer them out of trouble. Raheem Sterling is the only Kop playing consistently and well. Hull almost stole 3 points at the Emirates last week-end and they will certainly not be intimidated by an arguably weaker team than the Gunners. The value might be going with the away team but a draw is as likely a result as well. Draw.

Southampton v/s Stoke. The Saints blitzed sorry Sunderland in an amazing 8-0 win last Saturday. Stoke were lucky to edge Swansea as their tying penalty was clearly a dive by Moses. Stoke did the business at the Etihaad a few weeks ago and it would not be a shock if they were to win here. However, Southampton has the momentum and they are fancied to win this one. Home win.

Sunderland v/s Arsenal. Both team don't inspire any confidence at the moment. Sunderland were the victims of one of the worst outings ever when thrashed at St Mary's by a whopping eight goals to none. Arsenal failed to beat Hull last Saturday and then had to rely on 2 goals in the dying minutes to beat Anderlecht in their UCL mid-week match. They might edge this one as well, although the odds seem to be very much in favour of a draw. Draw.

WBA v/s Crystal Palace. WBA held Man Utd to a draw on Monday with 2 very well-taken goals. Palace were comprehensively beaten at home to Chelsea, as expected. The result could go any way here as these teams are closely matched. Draw.

Swansea v/s Leicester. I see the home team getting back to winning ways here. They were unlucky not to get something out of their last match against Stoke. Leicester don't inspire any confidence on their road travels. I think Swansea have a long overdue win in them and they should win this one. Home win.

Burnley v/s Everton. Burnley's season is coming to shreds. Everton is getting better and better. They had a hard away match in mid-week but I still expect them to be competitive in this one. Away win.

Tottenham v/s Newcastle. Spurs got an impressive win in the Europa league on Thursday but the opposition was inferior to even the lowly Newcastle. The Magpies stole this match last year following keeper Krul's heroics. I don't see such a scenario happening again and I think Spurs can double up another win in 4 days. Home win.

Man Utd v/s Chelsea. The way both teams are playing, Chelsea will definitely be fancying full points here. The hosts are weak at the back and Mourinho will seek to exploit on those weaknesses. The Blues are strong enough on defence to withstand the Utd onslaught and keep their goals-against to a minimum. I think Chelsea will either win or draw this. Away win.

QPR v/s Villa. Both teams are in urgent need of points after a disastrous few weeks. How Rangers lost to Liverpool last week is mind-blowing. This match looks relatively easier for the visitors after having tackled heavy guns lately. A draw seems likely here unless Redknapp goes for the jugular again at the end. Draw.

EPL 2014/15 - Week 8

As is very common after international breaks, there are bound to be surprise results in this week-end's matches, so not throwing caution to the wind is probably a good idea. Here are my selections.

Man City v/s Tottenham. The champions were on a good roll before the break, and will be keen to keep the momentum going to keep in the touch with the pace set by Chelsea. They were made to work hard in their last win at Villa and moments of brilliance from Toure and Aguero, as expected, made the difference. That they did not panic during the long spells of sterile domination attests to the state of mind analogous to champions. Spurs are still finding their feet with their new coach and new players settling in. They will certainly be resilient but should eventually be broken down by the mighty attacking prowess of the home team. It could be close but Man City should prevail in the end. Home win.

Arsenal v/s Hull. The Gunners lost Ozil for a couple of months, which is a huge blow, although some think that it might be positive given the German's indifferent form. Truth is, Ozil is a game-changer and the Gunners badly need one at the moment with the absence of Walcott and Ramsey. The Gunners really need a win here to get on the title-charging bandwagon. They will huff and puff against a compact Hull side but once they can open the scoring, they should be in for a badly-needed win. Home win.

Burnley v/s West Ham. This is an ideal spot for the Hammers to claim full points, with Burnley yet to record a win. It seems whoever scores first will have a distinct advantage here. I think a share of the spoils is a real possibility here. Draw.

Crystal Palace v/s Chelsea. The Blues saw their title hopes evaporate last year when they lost this fixture in the title run-in. You can expect Mourinho to have learnt from that. This Palace team will be slightly different though, as Warnock has replaced Pulis as manager. With Costa at the forefront, Chelsea are always a threat to score at any time. The Eagles will give it a go, but class should tell here and the visitors will certainly be gunning for another valuable 3 points in the bag. Away win.

Everton v/s Aston Villa. One thing that is obvious but not too much so when looking at the standings, is that Everton are certainly better than their 17th ranking. With their current squad, they should be on a good run soon and that could very well start against the visiting Villains. The latter are having a horrible run of their own following a run of brutal encounters with the top teams. A hungry home team should add to their woes. Home win.

Newcastle v/s Leicester. Manager Pardew will probably not last much longer at Tyneside but this match gives him and his men an excellent opportunity to get their first win of the season. Striker Papiss Cisse has been the lone bright spot for the Magpies with some fine goals in recent matches and he will certainly relish taking on one of the worst defences in the league. Leicester have shown admirable tenacity in all their matches but I doubt they will be able to keep their momentum; a reality check might be more in the offing for them. Home win.

Southampton v/s Sunderland. I see Southampton getting back to winning ways here. They are playing well as a cohesive unit and will only get better as the season progresses. Although Sunderland got their first win in their last match, they do not inspire confidence as to replicate the same vein of form, week-in week-out. Striker Steve Fletcher seems to be hitting good form for them, but Southampton have my vote for the win. Home win.

QPR v/s Liverpool. Relegation expert Harry Redknapp is certainly not getting the job done at Rangers so far. They will be missing influential Mutch and Barton. Their displays have been listless, to say the least. The coming of Liverpool does not bode well for them. Sturridge might return to give their attack much-needed impetus. Sterling is always a threat and is developing into a top winger. Liverpool need the win to catch up with the leaders and I think they will get the 3 points. Away win.

Stoke v/s Swansea. This is a match between 2 teams of even strength that will end in the middle of table come May next year. None are in a rich vein of form or lack of, and a draw could be the likeliest result. Draw.

WBA v/s Man Utd. The Red Devils owed their last win to the heroics of keeper De Gea in the dying minutes of the match against Everton. Need to see those top-class saves from this budding star goalkeeper to understand how good he's becoming. Falcao got his first Premiership goal in that match as well, and has again scored for Columbia during the international break. If he's on a streak, then the WBA defenders are in for a tough encounter. WBA have a young starlet striker in Berahino but this week again, I see the Red Devils outscoring their opponents and get another win under Van Gaal. Away win.

Arc de triomphe 2014 - Can a Prince upset the fillies, the Japanese, and the odds?

The Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, my favourite race, as regular readers will know. Sure, there won't be Australia or Sea The Moon, but this year's race is without doubt a vintage one regrouping several top-class horses with a chance to enter racing folklore by winning the world's most prestigious prize. Here are my thoughts on those I consider the main protagonists as well as those that are at the forefront of the market but which I don't give much of chance.

Taghrooda, Britain's best filly, is the rightful favourite for the race.  Three-year old fillies have a fantastic record in this race, notably because of the generous weight allowance in their favour. She's only been floored once in her career and the word from trainer John Gosden is that she was in season when beaten by Tapestry on that occasion. She has beaten males and her elders in the King George and is by far the best middle-distance filly in the world in my opinion. She has such great tactical speed that her bad draw should not be a factor. Provided she's not in season again, she should play a leading role here and I see her in the first 3.

Ectot is clearly Hurricane Run's best progeny to date. The mile and a half is his optimum distance. A winner of 6 of his 7 races, his Classic career has been beset by injuries. He won the Prix Niel three weeks ago after several months layoff. On his best day, he should be in with a leading chance. My only worry about him is whether he will bounce from his last race, having come up with a big winning effort after a long layoff. If he does not bounce, don't be surprised if he wins this.

Harp Star. The best Classic filly from Japan and definitely one with a live chance if she takes to the Longchamp track. As with other 3-year old fillies, the weight allowance will play to her advantage. By Deep Impact, she should relish the distance. She's top-class and could be the one to realize the Japanese dream of finally winning the Arc.

Just A Way. The highest-rated horse in the world and possibly the best horse going up to a mile and a quarter. He is not proven at the mile and a half distance and that is a big negative for me. Although he is a live chance for many, in my books he's the one with the least prospect of winning among the Japanese raiders. He thrashed them all in the Dubai Duty Free at Meydan but the added distance will have others see him out.

Avenir Certain. Unbeaten in 6 career races, she is the best Classic filly in France having won the French Guineas and Oaks. The only un-certainty regarding her is the distance and being by Le Havre does not dispel doubts about her stamina. The way she won her 2 races at a mile and a quarter seems to indicate that she will have enough class to see out the twelve-furlong distance. She's been drawn in stall 1 and will need to ensure that she finds the necessary passage at the right time. I think she's top-class and will be in the first 3.

Treve. 3 outings and 3 defeats this year, no-one thought that she would have gone downhill to that extent after winning this race a year ago. This week, her connections gave yet another round of positive vibes about her, but after 3 comprehensive defeats, it's hard to take those with confidence. Dettori, her jocked-off rider says she's gone, and I will concur with him. I think she is no longer the same filly as last year and retirement will be the route to take with her.

Tapestry. Supplemented with a hefty sum at the final declaration of the race, so the Coolmore boys must be confident. They have every reason to be after she shocked Tahgrooda on her last outing although there seems to be excuses from the beaten connections (see above). Still, she race a fantastic race on that occasion. She's been beaten since then but at an unsuitable mile distance. With everything said, I am camping with the thought that Taghrooda is the one to side with and thus I don't see Coolmore celebrating in the end.

Gold Ship. A top-class Japanese middle-distance performer who is capable of some quirky races, not no to the extent of Orfevre's follies. His chances should be similar to Harp Star and the two dug out a closely-fought duel this year with the filly coming out on top by a slight margin. Cannot be dismissed by any means and many Japanese will be rooting for him to break their duck.

Ruler of the World. He is a Derby winner and recent of the Prix Foy, one of the main Arc trials. Will be ridden by Dettori who's very bullish on him. I am not. I think he's overhyped and will find the others much too good.

Kingston Hill. The St Leger winner should be out of depth here. Many Leger winners have failed and he's destined to be the same.

Prince Gibraltar. He is 40/1 as I write this. A summary of him will be as follows: he's been a favourite of the French Derby and the Grand Prix de Paris and got beaten (with excuse) on both of them. He was then heavy favourite of a Group 2 race and was again beaten. Is he an over-hyped horse or just unlucky? The truth seems somewhere in between. He is no easy mount, usually hangs left at the finish, and has had back problems. Provided his trainer has worked on those, this is a horse that has a fantastic turn of foot and for whom the distance will not be a problem. If he shows up on his best day, he should be thereabouts at the finish. I think he's the dark horse going in this race and under the radar for that matter at 40/1.

Prince Gibraltar is an each-way selection and I will have him, Taghrooda and Avenir Certain in the first 3.

EPL 2014/15 - Week 7

Huge huge strike last week-end with bulls-eye hit on 8 of the 10 predictions, so hoping to keep riding the momentum wave and upholding the form.

Hull v/s Crystal Palace. Palace are enjoying the better form of the two and playing with great confidence at the moment, be it at home or on the road. I don't anticipate many goals in this one and last year's matches between the two resulted in 1-nil outcomes. A draw looks highly probable here. Draw.

Leicester v/s Burnley. This is a match between 2 teams tipped largely by the general population to go down, so this is an important 6-pointer for both. Home advantage to the host team here, who will also try to benefit from the fact that Burnley haven't been able to score in their last 4 matches. Home win.

Liverpool v/s WBA. Liverpool won't win the league this year, it's really stating the obvious. I said this last season too and almost ate my words, but I am pretty confident they will not challenge this year, given the poor way they've started the season. They lost in the UCL at Basel but should be able to regroup to beat West Brom. The Baggies shocked Spurs at White Hart Lane last week-end but lightning does not strike twice. Home win.

Sunderland v/s Stoke. It would be amazing if Sunderland snatched yet another draw. I think they are due a win shortly. Stoke can be resilient and their last away win at Man City shows that they are not to be under-estimated by any means. Still, I think the Black Cats are up for a win and this could be the match for them to break their duck. Home win.

Swansea v/s Newcastle. Needless to say that Pardew's tenure at Newcastle is hanging by a thread and defeat at Swansea will only lower the already-low odds for his sack. However, this match does not bode well for the Magpies as Swansea have good form at home. The loss of Papiss Cisse might be too much for the visitors to overcome and I see the crisis deepening on Tyneside. Home win.

Aston Villa v/s Man City. The Villains could welcome back striker Benteke but that might not be enough to stop the champions. The hosts will still be missing captain and defensive rock Vlaar. The Citizens were unlucky not to get full points against Roman in the UCL over the week but they are starting to hit good form; Lampard and Aguero, in particular, are on a good scoring trend. I don't think City will lose this match and the most Villa can hope here is a draw. Still, I think going with a win for the visitors, is the preferred selection. Away win.

Man Utd v/s Everton. Rooney will be missing the match against his old team due to suspension. Come in Mata and it will be interesting to see the dynamic with him as the offensive midfield commander. The Red Devils are fragile at the back and Toffees striker Lukaku could very well lighten the score sheet here. Everton had to play an Europa match in mid-week which might take its toll at the end of the match. I think the United strikeforce will pounce again and the hosts will outscore their opponents in the end. Home win.

Chelsea v/s Arsenal. Both played in mid-week but let's look at the main fact here; Wenger has never beaten a Mourinho team and there is only animosity between the 2 managers. Wellbeck might have scored a hat trick against Galatasaray but the Chelsea defence is something else. Arsenal are in ok form right now, nothing more. They lost this fixture 6-to-nil last year and although there is hardly any chance that there will a similar scoreline, everything points to another Chelsea win. Home win.

Tottenham v/s Southampton. It will be a battle between manager Pochettino and his previous team. Spurs were arguably unlucky to be held to a draw in their mid-week match against Besiktas. They are in a poor vein of form with only a win in their last 7 matches. Southampton are riding a good wave at the moment, led by striker Pelle. They will cause Spurs trouble but I fancy the hosts to bounce back and get a much-needed win in the end.

West Ham v/s QPR. This looks like a drab London Derby and I have no confidence backing either of them at the present. If QPR can snatch an away win this year, this match could represent a good start for them. However, their leaky defence will certainly present the Hammers opportunities to put the contest to bed. For value, going with a QPR win might be very rewarding, but a draw could be the likelier result. Draw.