Racing, Football and Boxing Galore

The first week-end of May promises to be spectacular with the usual football being eclipsed by the Guineas, Kentucky Derby and above all the fight of the century between Pacquiao and Mayweather. Some quick thoughts on those events.

In the EPL, I expect Chelsea to be officially crowned champions on Sunday. They need to beat Crystal Palace and I believe they will have enough in them to do so. I also see wins for Liverpool, Swansea, West Ham, Man Utd and Tottenham. The rest are draw selections (obviously).

The 2000 Guineas looks wide open but a few names stick out; Estidhkaar, Gleneagles, Intilaaq, Territories and Ivawood. Sheikh Hamdan looks to have a strong pair in Estidhkaar and Intilaaq; the former was a good second in the Craven and has reportedly improved since then according to connections. Intilaaq was an impressive maiden winner a fortnight ago and has been supplemented for the race. He's got unusual speed for a Dynaformer colt and the mile will be his minimum trip. Gleneagles was the best 2-year old of the lot and the main question regarding the Ballydoyle representative is his fitness as this will be his seasonal reappearance. If he has progressed accordingly during the winter season, he could be the best of the Classic bunch. Territories represent the Godolphin stable under the care of Andre Fabre. The manner he won his first race of the season indicates that a strong showing can again be expected of him. After all, master Fabre does not usually cross the Channel unless the potential for success is there. Finally, Ivawood is another from the Hannon yard backed with confidence by connections. He was clearly beaten by stable companion Estidhkaar on his seasonal reappearance and I find it difficult for him to reverse the places. I will go for Estidhkaar to prevail, with Territories and Intilaaq pursuing him home.

The Kentucky Derby also is a strong and open affair. I will retain this quartet; American Pharoah, Dortmund, Carpe Diem and Mubtaahij. The first two are from Baffert's barn and will probably go as the market leaders before the stalls open. AP was arguably last season's best 2-year old in the US and missed his Breeders Cup date due to injury. He has mightily won his 2 races this year which means that the ability is there. Unless he encounters traffic problems, I expect him to play a big part at the finish. Dortmund is battle-hardened and undefeated in 6 races. He's had to duke it out a few times to keep his record intact and has so far come out on top every time. He's most dangerous if given a soft lead and it will be interesting to see the tactics between him and the other front-runners in a race that usually livened by a suicidal pace on the let go. Carpe Diem is the main hope of leading trainer Pletcher. I think this son of Giant's Causeway is one of the best of the Classic lot but am intrigued as to his aptitude in a big field as this; a strong contender on paper but he might show his limits in this race. Mubtaahij hails from the de Kock stable and booked his ticket to the big race after winning the UAE Derby in an impressive fashion. For certain, what he beat in Dubai is nowhere as good as what he will encounter at Churchill Downs. He has shown tough resilience though and looks sure to figure among the best of the day rather the trailers. I think the best horse will win this and it will be the Pharoah.

Pacman v/s Money, the fight of the century. Bigger than Ali v/s Frazier, Sugar Ray v/s Hearns, Lewis v/s Tyson. The best 2 fighters of their generation, although both are at the twilight of their careers. Mayweather is un-defeated in 47 matches. He's quick, evasive and hard to be caught. Pacman is a punching machine. The heart says Pacman because he's the better person, by far. The mind says Money because he's the agile boxer with the perfect movement and deadly connect. It looks to be one for the ages. Go Pacman!

EPL 2014/15 - Week 34

Chelsea can put all title talk to rest this week-end when they visit Arsenal. Mourinho's never lost in 12 confrontations with Wenger and he only adds to this tally to dispatch any intent of the Gunners to make it an exciting title race. It would not be a stretch to think that fireworks could be off field rather than on it, the animosity between the 2 club managers being as fierce as any. At the bottom half, Leicester has made huge strides of late and there are 6 teams very much in the fray for the drop. The only excitement of the EPL sadly lies there.

Southampton v/s Tottenham. Both teams won't make the UCL, that's a guarantee. The hosts have to contend with some absentees with the likes of Wanyama and Rodriguez, not to mention keeper Forster who's out for the season. Spurs will also likely miss their No 1 Lloris. Home advantage should count here and I think Soton will just edge this by the odd goal. Home win.

Burnley v/s Leicester. An absolute 6-pointer here. Leicester are in flying form while Burnley are mostly going down a steep. They need Ings to get back firing here as they have only scored 1 goal in their last 7 matches. They should be able to take advantage of the Foxes' dubious defence. As for the visitors, striker Nugent might be missing but they have other dependable strikers to count on. I think it's home advantage Burnley but by no means certain. Home win.

Crystal Palace v/s Hull. Palace were unexpectedly rocked last week at home to WBA. Overconfidence after a series of good results, maybe? Hull are right in the danger zone and seem to have grind hard to get results. Palace forwards could have a field day here. Home win.

Newcastle v/s Swansea. The Magpies have been on a rotten run since Cisse's suspension and it does not look to be any better with the coming of Swansea. The visitors relish this kind of away encounter. where they keep the match relatively close and rely on late spurts of attack to try to make the breakthrough. They are a tough side to break down on their best day and are visiting Newcastle at the right time. Away win.

QPR v/s West Ham. Rangers will be looking for full points against a team that has won only once in their last 12 matches. The Hammers cannot be taken lightly though as they tend to keep matches close for a while. A draw looks the likeliest possibility here, which won't really arrange the hosts. Draw.

Stoke v/s Sunderland. Not sure what to make of Sunderland under Advocaat yet. Stoke are very good at home on their best day and that's the only form on offer here. Home win.

WBA v/s Liverpool. The Kops were surprisingly knocked out of the FA Cup by Villa last Sunday. They are badly missing Sturridge up front as Balotellit clearly does not fit in Rodger's system. West Brom managed to win last week after some tough losses at home. Difficult on form to see how this will go but Liverpool have the 4th UCL spot to desperately fight for, I think they will just edge this match. Away win.

Man City v/s Aston Villa. Villa will go to Manchester in high spirits after booking their trip to Wembley for the FA final. They still are in a precarious position in the league though and have points to make. City are done for the title and are striving for a UCL spot. They will have Silva available after his scare in their last match. Aguero and Benteke will light the fireworks upfront here and City go with the favors in order to stop their season from unraveling. Home win.

Everton v/s Man Utd. This is a tough one for the Mancunians as the Toffees are on a decent run. A trip to Goodison Park is never easy but if Man Utd go there in the same spirit and demeanor as at Anfield, they can dominate proceedings. This should be a close match and a draw could very well be on the cards. Draw.

Arsenal v/s Chelsea. How will Wenger be able to beat Mourinho? Clearly the Portuguese has made a career getting results against clubs playing attacking football. Arsenal are best at playing their flowing football but that is often a suicidal approach against Mourinho's teams. That's a major dilemma for Wenger. Chelsea will play this match in order not to lose. They will park the bus or do whatever it takes not to give Arsenal the full points. I think it's either going to be a draw or an away win although for sporting reasons, it would be great if Wenger finally got one over his nemesis manager. Draw.

EPL 2014/15 - Week 33

Anyone out there still thinking that Chelsea can be caught? Man City have been tamed away and Arsenal and Man Utd have seemingly entered the title race picture purely on their last bit of rich form. But it seems a case of too little too late as I cannot see Mourinho's team having a disastrous end run of games that would give these 2 chasers a fighting chance.

Crystal Palace v/s WBA. Palace are hot at the moment while the Baggies have turned surprisingly cold, possibly the loss of keeper Foster being one of the plausible reasons. It's impossible to go against the flying Eagles here and they can be dangerous on so many counts with talented players like Bolasie, Puncheon and Zaha to name a few. Home win.

Everton v/s Burnley. It is not a surprise that Everton are climbing the table after their disastrous first half. They won't be relegated but they won't make it in Europe either. Burnley are fighting for survival and are travelling to Goodison Park at an in auspicious time. Besides their rather fortuitous win at home against Man City, their level of form has been pretty poor. Lukaku could have a field day here and it should be 3 points for Martinez' men. Home win.

Leicester v/s Swansea. The good news for Leicester is that the visitors will be without a host of first-team players and will have to make do with a make-shift defence. If Ulloa and company can pounce on that weakness, they will get the much-needed 3 points to stave off relegation. Leicester usually make their games harder than they should, so I don't them to win this by a wide margin, but they can edge this. Home win.

Stoke v/s Southampton. If ever there is going to be a bore drawless match, it will probably be this one. The teams are evenly matched and even if it does not end up 0-0, a draw looks very likely to be on the cards. Draw.

Chelsea v/s Man Utd. A draw will suffice for Chelsea here to keep the Red Devils at bay in the title chase. This looks like a very likely scenario given that Mourinho goes into such types of matches in order not to lose, rather than to outright win. The hosts will be missing Costa but the visitors will be without Blind, Rojo and more importantly midfield anchor Carrick. I think it will be a home win or draw, with the preference going to the latter. Draw.

Man City v/s West Ham. The Citizen's miserable late form will certainly augur huge upcoming changes at the club. They are now fighting for fourth spot. They should be able to beat West Ham who are in a rut of their own. Aguero needs to find his lethal edge back if the hosts are to secure the last UCL spot. Home win.

Newcastle v/s Tottenham. Two more matches out for Papiss Cisse and the Magpies can't really wait. Spurs are ever reliant on Harry Kane to deliver and will again have several first-team player doubts going into the match with Lloris, Walker and Verthogen fighting for match fitness. A draw looks plausible here and that's the selection. Draw match.

EPL 2014/15 - Week 32

Some flash thoughts before the matches start this Saturday.

Home Win: Southampton, Tottenham, WBA, West Ham, Man Utd
Away Win: Arsenal, Chelsea
Draw: Sunderland/Palace 

EPL 2014/15 - Week 31

With the international matches over, it's the final push to the line. Man City are the ones under the gun as their title aspirations are all but gone, and they are fighting for second place with the likes of neighbours Man Utd and Arsenal hot under their heels. Liverpool can still aspire for a 4th place spot even after their home defeat last week-end but they have seemed to be running out of steam of late.

Arsenal v/s Liverpool. As I've mentioned above, I think Liverpool have peaked and can no longer sustain the good run of form prior to their defeat to Man Utd last week-end. Their dynamic trio of Lallana, Sterling and Coutinho have been devoid of ideas in their last matches, so other players will have to step up. The return from injury of Sturridge is a plus as he is always a goal scoring threat. The Gunners usually finish the season strong and they are in good form going into this match. Striker Giroud has been banging all types of goals lately and Ramsey's forward forrays give their attack much impetus. This is a 6-pointer match for a  UCL spot and I give the edge to the home team. Home win.

Chelsea v/s Stoke. The Blues might miss Costa for this match but I don't think it will matter. Stoke are always a dangerous side to play against but unless any mishap, this should be 3 more points for Mourinho's men. Home win.

Everton v/s Southampton. Pelle finally scored a goal and that was against England in mid-week. This should give him some confidence heading in this match against the Toffees. Southampton are a genuine top 6 team and they will have opportunities to score with the likes of likes of Tadic, Elia and Mane. Everton are solid at home and their main challenge is to climb up to a more respectable position up the table. These are 2 even teams and a draw is a probable outcome. Draw.

Leicester v/s West Ham. I see the Hammers finally getting an overdue win here. Leicester haven't impressed me in their last couple of matches, which makes me think that they are going down unless they pick up on their form. West Ham are not at their strong early-season level but they have been getting better after a rough stretch of matches. They are the away pick of the week-end. Away win.

Man Utd v/s Aston Villa. The home team will be buoyed by their win at Anfield last week-end. The LVG system seems to be finally going and heading to full steam. They need to beat Villa convincingly to silence the remaining critics. Villa are not out of the woods yet and Tim Sherwood has yet to prove that he will get them out of their rut. This is going to be a difficult match for them and I see a home win here. Home win.

Swansea v/s Hull. This should be a home win as there is a different class between these 2 teams. The only worry about the home team is how match-fit is striker Gomis but Gary Monk has creatively redeployed his resources when in need. Home win.

West Brom v/s QPR. Another home win here. WBA are almost a fortress at home against the small guns and QPR are the worst team on the road. To have any chance of staying up, Rangers will have to pile the points at Loftus Road. Home win.

Burnley v/s Tottenham. Spurs will be missing keeper Lloris for this match but the ever-dangerous Harry Kane will be spearing the attack again. Burnley cannot be dismissed and I think they will have at least a point out of this. They burned City last time out at home and they will feel they can undo Spurs as well. A high-scoring draw could be the likely outcome. Draw.

Sunderland v/s Newcastle. Dick Advocaat was rather unfortunate to lose his first match in charge of Rangers as they were un-done in the dying minutes of that match against West Ham. Jermaine Defoe is misfiring at the moment and it may be that he does not have the young legs for the EPL anymore. His strike partner Steven Fletcher comes off a fresh hat-trick for Scotland in mid-week, which could provide him the confidence to start banging the goals for the club. Newcastle will again be without Cisse and that's a big handicap going into this North derby encounter. I think the most they can expect is a draw but I think that Sunderland will get the much-needed 3 points. Home win.

Crystal Palace v/s Man City. Since this is a Monday game, the Citizens will know where they stand in the league as they take on the Eagles. The latter are currently playing with confidence under Pardew and will certainly pose problems to the City defence. This match could end up in any result and while it is hard to fathom another loss for City, I think that if they win, it will be by a minimal margin. Still, a draw might settle this. Draw.

EPL 2014/15 - Week 30

The EPL race got somewhat spicier with all English teams now out of the UCL. To say that Chelsea holds a significant advantage is an under-statement; the title is theirs to lose and with Man City being off-form, the Blues can also rely on their opponents floundering in their coming matches to comfort their advantage at the top. Unlike what Mourinho is saying, it's not a 5-team race, it's maybe a 2-team race, and will possibly be a 1-team race sooner rather than later.

Man City v/s WBA. Having suffered the wrath of Messi and Barcelona, City have to get back on track with a win against the in-form Baggies. Quite a difficult task given that Tony Pulis' men are proving a difficult team to break down. Also, the hosts will be without injured Yaya Toure and their record without the powerhouse midfielder is not stellar. I still think they will win in the end, but it won't be a surprise if the Baggies end up sharing the spoils. Home win.

Aston Villa v/s Swansea. Christian Benteke seems to have regained a new lease of life under Tim Sherwood and can add to his counter here. Swansea were unlucky to miss out on points against Liverpool last Monday and deserve respect on their road travels. They do however, have trouble holding a clean sheet, which is why I think the Villa tandem of Agbonglahor and Benteke can open them up while holding the visitors' defence at bay. Home win.

Newcastle v/s Arsenal. The problem for the Magpies right now is the absence of Papiss Cisse which limits their goal scoring ability. They don't have anyone close to filling that gap. Arsenal produced a strong performance against Monaco in the UCL and were unlucky not to get that 3rd necessary goal to go through. There is definitely a question on their fitness after their exertions at Le Principaute. Class should tell in the end and I think the Gunners will just edge this. Away win.

Southampton v/s Burnley. Burnley cannot cease to amaze and their last shocking win against Man City showed the determination of Ings and company to fight till the end. I think they will be up against it against Southampton as the hosts have a strong home record and are difficult to score against. Striker Pelle is due a goal for a long time and this might be the match to stop his rotten spell. I am going for a home win but Burnley has burnt my predictions before. Home win.

Stoke v/s Crystal Palace. This pits two teams that are on an even keel and safe from the relegation battle. I give a slight advantage to Stoke because of their strong form at home. Also, Palace might be without Jason Puncheon, which will remove some of the flair out of their quick and inspiring attacks. Home win.

Tottenham v/s Leicester. The Foxes somewhat disappointed me in not being able to break down a 10-men Hull team last week. This is a dangerous match for them against a no-nonsense Spurs team with Harry Kane at the helm. Leicester will be lucky to get a point out of this match. Home win.

West Ham v/s Sunderland. Dick Advocaat is a good manager but I am not convinced he is the person to guide Sunderland out of the relegation battle. He's more proven with teams playing on the other side of the table. Still, players always try to make first impressions during a new manager's first game so Sunderland can hope for a result here, particularly that the Hammers are in a rather rotten form. I think the tide will turn sooner than later for Allardyce's men and they have shown lately that they are not far from their early-season blistering form. I think they will edge this one. Home win.

Liverpool v/s Man Utd. The Red Devils gave one of their more convincing displays of the season when beating Spurs last week-end. Liverpool, at Anfield, are another piece of metal though. The Kops were lucky to beat Swansea in their last match and I am wondering whether they have peaked. This is a 6-pointer for the 4th and last UCL spot and I think this will end up in either a home win or a draw. Draw.

Hull v/s Chelsea. Hull are riding some good momentum but their task for this match has been made harder with the injury to top striker Jelavic and suspension of midfield stalwart Huddlestone. Chelsea should pounce on these shortcomings and get the full points. Away win.

QPR v/s Everton. Everton were booted out of the Europa League in mid-week after being destroyed 2-5 in Kiev. They are bound to feel the effects of that arduous match and Rangers have the capacity to cause the Toffees problems when playing at home. The hosts will have Barton back and need the full points but I think they will have to contend with just 1 in the end. Draw.

EPL 2014/15 - Week 29

Chelsea's spectacular ouster from the UCL at the hands of PSG is a blessing in disguise for their EPL title aspirations. That will be their only focus till the end of the season. There is a doubt regarding their current fitness levels as they have seemed somewhat flat physically in their last few games but unless they find themselves dealing with major injuries, I don't think that fitness will be a factor in the run-in. Man City will in all probability exit the UCL as well next week, so the EPL will be their main priority push. Expect lots of words of war between Mourinho and Pellegrini till the end.

Crystal Palace v/s QPR. The Chris Ramsey effect seems to have petered out at QPR and I expect them to flounder again on this road travel. The dynamic Palace attack spearheaded by Jason Puncheon will certainly pose problems for the Rangers slow defensive corps. Home win.

Arsenal v/s West Ham. The Gunners have a crucial UCL match against Monaco in mid-week, so Arsene Wenger might decide to tinker with his team selection against the off-form Hammers. They need the win for the Top 4 fight, so the hosts cannot set their sights too far ahead. Their last FA Cup win away at Old Trafford will buoy the team, particularly match-winning scorer Danny Wellbeck. The Hammers are due a wake-up call soon but in the end the Gunners should have too much firepower for them in this one; it won't be easy but Arsenal should edge this. Home win.

Leicester City v/s Hull. Leicester need to translate their good displays into points, their main problem is that they are not converting their scoring chances into goals. This is a 6-pointer for both teams and I give a slight advantage to the Foxes because they will have home advantage. Home win.

Sunderland v/s Aston Villa. These are 2 teams that don't score often, so it would be of no surprise if it ended in a drab score-less draw. Draw.

WBA v/s Stoke. These 2 teams should end in the middle part of the table far from the relegation zone. Both can play compact and are difficult to break down. This encounter can go any way really. Draw.

Burnley v/s Man City. Burnley snatched an improbable draw at the Etihaad and they will hope for another strong showing to get something out of this match. Man City have to win to keep their title hopes alive, their minds also set on their upcoming and most important match so far this season when visiting Barcelona in the UCL next week. They will probably try to put this match to bed early and avoid any injuries for their trip to the Nou Camp. Burnley seem to be suffering from burn-out in their last couple of matches and they look to be up against it here. Bony could open his account for the Citizens after having endured some tough initial matches . Away win.

Chelsea v/s Southampton. I think Chelsea will come firing out of the starting blocks after their flat UCL encounter against PSG. They will look for some redemption. Diego Costa is really due a goal, not having scored in his last 7 matches. Southampton do not have their early-season form and have shown vulnerability whether at home or on the road. I cannot see them stopping the Blues' march towards EPL glory. Home win.

Everton v/s Newcastle. The hosts had a tough Europa League encounter in mid-week and Newcastle can take advantage of any lack of condition the Toffees might suffer from. The problem for the Magpies is that they will be missing Papiss Cisse for a long stretch of matches because of the spitting incident with Johnny Evans. His absence is a major setback to the potency of their strike force. Everton need a win to stave off any talk of relegation but I don't think they will get the full points here. Draw.

Man Utd v/s Tottenham. This is a huge match for both teams fighting for a Top 4 spot. I give the Red Devils home advantage but they will have to shackle Harry Kane to bolster their chances of a win. It would be no surprise if this ended in a draw but I think that the hosts will have the benefit of the home crowd to spur them and somewhat relieve them of the misery of being booted out of the FA Cup at the expense of Arsenal in their last match.  Home win.

Swansea v/s Liverpool. If the Kops are on song, they will blow away Swansea, as their form and play has been irresistible of late. If they come up with another clanger like against Blackburn in the FA Cup, then Swansea have a shout. I think this match will be high-scoring and possibly a draw might settle this. Draw.

EPL 2014/15 - Week 28

Man City's season is un-raveling and their defeat at Liverpool is surely the final nail in their coffin. For sure, they will pick themselves up but there is every reason to think that it will be the case of too little too late should they gain ground on leaders Chelsea in the last 10 matches of the EPL season. Piling on Chelsea for whatever measly returns on offer is the surest thing in the EPL at this point.

Aston Villa v/s WBA. There is a distinct possibility that Tim Sherwood picks up his first point for Villa here. Villa should try to maximize points here as the Baggies have shown vulnerabilities on their road travels. A boring draw-less score is within the realms as these are 2 teams are more renowned for their defensive stance. Draw.

Hull v/s Sunderland. It remains to be seen how the off-field events concerning Adam Johnson will have impacted the visitors. Hull have shown strong form of late and will go into the match as firm favourites, but erratic Sunderland should not be discounted in these types of matches. A real 6-pointer at the bottom of the table and I think that the Black Cats could spring a surprise here. They look to be the value punt of this game week. Away win.

Southampton v/s Crystal Palace. These will match up with 2 teams going in the opposite direction; the Saints are huffing and puffing of late while Palace are racking up impressive points under Pardew. The problem with the hosts is their profligacy in front of goal, particularly with striker Pelle on a long goal scoring drought. Palace took full advantage of the failing form of the Hammers over the week-end but this match seems a harder proposition for them. It's a wake-up call for Southampton to revive their European ambitions and I expect them to edge this. Home win.

Man City v/s Leicester. City are clamoring that they need to win their remaining games to keep their title and they need to start their winning by beating Leicester. The Foxes have actually shown very disposition in their last games and I was particularly impressed with them in their last visit at the Emirates where although they lost to Arsenal, they crafted enough chances to get something out of that match. Man City have lost points against relegation-threatened teams at the Etihaad and the worst they could do is under-estimate the opposition again. Still, if they show the form which allowed them to blitz Newcastle in their last home match, they should be too much for the visitors. Home win.

Newcastle v/s Man Utd. I still think that Man Utd is a sleeping giant that will awaken up sooner than later. They are still racking up wins even though the team is un-balanced and certainly being bigger than the sum of its parts at the moment. Van Gaal needs time and until his system properly clicks, they will approach away matches with the aim of not losing them. Newcastle have a very good record at home and they will create chances against the Utd defence. It should be a tight one and I think a draw will settle this. Draw.

QPR v/s Arsenal. Arsenal need to win these types of matches in order to secure that ultra-competitive 4th UCL spot. Sanchez has been quiet of late and that could be the match to sparkle him. Ozil is their form player at the moment and it seems that the Gunners will have too much firepower for the hosts. Away win.

Stoke v/s Everton. Stoke are enjoying a fine season while Everton are a disappointment compared to last year. I think this match is going to be tight, with a draw suiting both teams. Draw.

Tottenman v/s Swansea. Spurs are in quick need of getting back to earth after their disappointment in the Carling Cup final. They are going to rely on Harry Kane to strike again. This is going to be a tough match for them as Swansea are usually a team difficult to break down. The visitors could spring an upset here but a draw is probably the likelier result. Draw.

West Ham v/s Chelsea. The Blues will be visiting the Hammers at the right time as the once high-flying hosts are now struggling. I can't see a home win here and the most West Ham can aspire to is a draw. Still, Costa is due a goal soon and could very well be the one making the difference in the end. Away win.

Liverpool v/s Burnley. The Kops are the form team of the moment and if the likes of Coutinho and Sterling display their cutting edge, they should be able to outscore the Clarets. However, it would be a mistake for the hosts to under-estimate the Clarets as the latter have shown remarkable resilience on their away travels to top teams. I expect a high-scoring match with the hosts riding their wave and edging this. Home win.

EPL 2014/15 - Week 27

Man City could be in for a good gush of wind in their sails as far as the league is concerned; they have Yaya Toure back, they are almost out of the UCL which makes retaining the EPL their main target, and Chelsea do not seem to catch a break as far as referees are concerned. If Man City succeed in getting full points at Anfield this week-end, their confidence for catching Chelsea will be sky high.

West Ham v/s Crystal Palace. The Hammers were unlucky not to get the away win at Spurs last week-end. They had glorious chances to put the game beyond reach after opening a 2-goal advantage and will rue the 2 lost points in the end. Still, they are playing well and difficult to beat at home. After a successful opening few games under Pardew, Palace seem to be lacking confidence at the moment and they are scrapping to get points. I think the ball is very much in the hosts' court here and they should have enough to get the 3 points. Home win.

Burnley v/s Swansea. Burnley got the all-important draw at Stamford Bridge last Saturday albeit in controversial circumstances. The most flagrant in my mind was the penalty not given for a blatant handball of Knightly. How much should the defender's arm to be deliberately extended for referee Atkinson to call a penalty is beyond understanding. However, as they've shown in many of their previous matches, the Clarets are a team with a fight and will look for the 3 points at home in their fight for survival. They look a banker to score, it's just that they usually leak in a few as well. Swansea beat Man Utd last week-end and were it not for a couple of inspiring plays by midfielder Shelvey, I am not sure they would have mustered the win. On their best day, Swansea cannot be discounted against most teams and I think this one will go close. Draw.

Man Utd v/s Sunderland. The critics are having a great time lambasting Falcao but I still think he will show the world class striker he is, if given a few runs of games. It's true he's missed some glorious chances, but once he gets his mojo back, he will score by the bucket-load. The injury to RVP is a blessing in disguise for the Columbian and he has got to seize his chance if he wants to continue his career at Old Trafford. This is not an easy match for the hosts as Sunderland have sprung a few surprises in their recent visits. Under Poyet, they've shown capacity to deliver shock results when least expected. Still, I think that Van Gaal is close to having his team playing near optimum capacity and this could be the match when all the elements are finally put together for a big delivery. Home win.

Newcastle v/s Aston Villa. It was a little shocking to see the Magpies destroyed by Man City by a whopping 5-0, after a few consistent and strong showings in their previous matches. They started the match on the wrong foot by conceding a penalty on a defensive howler in the first minute and never got in the match. Villa were also undone by a defensive howler, that one in the final seconds, when losing their first match under Tim Sherwood. They deserved at least a point out of that loss. I can't see them winning this at St James Park but they look good value for a draw. Draw.

Stoke v/s Hull. Many are crediting ex-Man Utd No 2, Mike Phelan, for the recent revival of the Tigers. They have certainly shown more spark up front and Jelavic is taking the chances coming his way. Stoke were lucky to get the 3 points against Villa but they are a solid mid-table team that will carve chances against bottom clubs. This could end up in a bore draw. Draw.

West Brom v/s Southampton. These are two teams that rely on strong defences to keep things tight and then try to make the difference at the other end through the odd goal. The Baggies are trying to escape the relegation zone once and for all and I think they will be comfortably secure in the end. I think Southampton's best hope is for a 6th place finish although I think they will end up no better than 8th. I anticipate a close match and if there is to be a winner it will be by the minimum margin. Draw.

Liverpool v/s Man City. Coutinho won this fixture for the hosts last year following a terrible Kompany clearance. The win had the Kop confidence at an absolute peak to land the elusive title, which eventually petered out in memorable circumstances as everyone knows. The roles are different this year as Liverpool are out of the title race and are hoping for a 4th place finish at best. I think that the fact that the hosts had a tough away Europe League match on Thursday plays into the Citizens' advantage. Having Yaya Toure in the starting line-up gives them an extra lift. Having Bony ready to come off the bench gives them ample ammunition for damage. Silva is in the zone at the moment and Aguero is again terrorizing defences. A must win for City and I think they will get it. Away win.

Arsenal v/s Everton. Arsenal's loss at home to Monaco means that they are practically out of the UCL. I can't see them lose a successive home match so they look set to vent their frustrations on the visitors. Everton had all the trouble in the world to snatch a point against Leicester at Goodison Park last Sunday in a match where they showed uncharacteristic defensive frailties. Sanchez and co will carve them open if they get similar types of chances as the Foxes. The Toffees snatched a point late in last year's fixture but they will do well to do it again. I just don't think they will. Home win.

Finally, the Carling Cup final between Chelsea and Tottenham. I can't see anything other than a Chelsea win here. Although Spurs soundly beat them at White Hart Lane, it will be an entirely different match at Wembley since Harry Kane will be a marked man. The fact that Spurs had a tough away match to play in midweek clearly gives the extra edge to Mourinho's men. Chelsea win.

EPL 2014/15 - Week 26

Will the return of Toure and newcomer Bony give renewed impetus to Man City in their bid to catch Chelsea? The Citizens cannot afford to let any more points slip at this stage and while I think the gap is too big to be bridged, Pellegrini's men will certainly go gung-ho for full points as drawn matches will be useless for them at this point. Chelsea are in a strong position and should remain so by the end of this week-end.

Aston Villa v/s Stoke. The Villains needed a change of direction badly and Tim Sherwood is now responsible for saving them from relegation. A typical response of players for a new manager's first match is to over-perform; first impressions count that much. So, I give advantage Villa here, particularly against a Stoke team that will be missing a few first-team players. Can Benteke finally get going? Maybe. Home win.

Chelsea v/s Burnley. I don't think it will be an easy match for Chelsea as they just came from an arduous match in Paris. Burnley were unlucky not to have gotten more out of their last away match at Old Trafford and if they show as much enterprise and resilience as in that match, they will have chances to score against the hosts. Still, beating Chelsea at Stamford Bridge should be too much for them and the hosts should prevail in the end. Home win.

Crystal Palace v/s Arsenal. Arsenal have new impetus in attack with the returns from injury of Sanchez and Walcott and more importantly the return to form of Ozil and Cazorla. I think they will have too much firepower for the Eagles, who have looked somewhat one-dimensional of late, relying mainly on the likes of Puncheon and Zaha to create havoc in their opponent's half. Away win.

Hull v/s QPR. A 6-pointer here with both teams deep in relegation territory. Hull have gotten some good form lately and can rely on Jelavic for their goalscoring. Rangers took me by surprise last week in winning at Sunderland. This match will either be a confirmation that new manager Ramsey is the right man to save them, or just a fluke first-away win against an erratic Sunderland side. I prefer to give advantage to the hosts here given what they've shown in their last matches. Home win.

Sunderland v/s West Brom. I really can't decipher the hosts; they are capable of the best and worst. What I know is that West Brom will make it hard for them as they will play compact at the back and rely on the speed up-front of Berahino. On paper, this looks like the best draw on offer. Draw.

Swansea v/s Man Utd. Much is being said about Man Utd and the kind of football they are playing. It is true that they were horrendous against Burnley. Still, they have only been beaten once in their last 18 matches, no matter how bad or well they've played.  Swansea shocked them at Old Trafford during LVG's first match in charge and it would be no surprise if they doubled up on them. If Di Maria and Falcao find their feet, then it could be an entirely different story. Best to avoid although a draw looks enticing here. Draw.

Man City v/s Newcastle. I think it will be a hard match for the hosts as Newcastle are no push-over. They visitors will get chances to score and if City play are as nonchalant as they have been in several of their home matches, they could lose points again. The arrival of Bony could give them some much needed firepower particularly when Aguero is out or not at 100%. The Argentinian has regained his scoring touch last week-end and it would take a brake one to dismiss him when he's on fire. The return of Yaya Toure is another big plus for the home team, which is why I think they will win this but I don't expect it to be a roll-over. Home win.

Tottenham v/s West Ham. Harry Kane is just on fire and that gives Tottenham some serious edge for this match. The Hammers have been cold on their road travels and will be happy that Spurs have played a mid-week Europa game. I expect another close match with possibly Kane and co outscoring their opponents. Home win.

Everton v/s Leicester City. Leicester had chances to score at least a couple of goals in their last away defeat at the Emirates Stadium, Their record signing striker Kramaric got himself on the score-sheet and he could be a shrewd buy. They have got to put in their chances if they are to garner points out of tight matches. It will not be surprising to see Everton on a resurgence as their first-half season results have been on the under-performing side. They lost to Chelsea last week due to a late goal and were good value to at least snatch a draw out of that match. Provided they keep the defensive mistakes at bay and do not under-estimate the Foxes, I think the Toffees will win this. Home win.

Southampton v/s Liverpool. The Saints will have the benefit of welcoming a Liverpool side that had a hard mid-week match. The Kops will still be missing Gerrard but Sturridge is fast getting games under his belt to be a major threat up front. I don't see the 3-0 scoreline that favored the visitors in last year's fixture; this one should be a close match with probably both sides settling for an even tie. Draw.

EPL 2014/15 - Week 25

Chelsea distanced themselves from City last week-end and 7 points looks cushion-proof enough for them to lead all the way to the title. At the end of the season, City will be able to reflect on lost opportunities such as not being able to beat the likes of Stoke, Burnley and Hull at home. Unlike Chelsea suffer a monumental collapse, which is hard to fathom at this point, the 7 current points difference should be insurmountable. Actually, it would not be surprising if the gap were more in the end.

Arsenal v/s Leicester. This should be 3 points for Arsenal. Sanchez is back for this encounter and brings the Gunners to a whole new level. Leicester are a club in turmoil with rumours of manager Pearson being sacked. Whether the speculation is true or false should not matter for this match; Arsenal need the 3 points to re-position themselves for a UCL spot and they should get them. Home win.

Hull v/s Aston Villa. My mind is oscillating between a home win or a draw. Hull have more upside as they have more potential to score than the sorry Villains. Home win.

Sunderland v/s QPR. I cannot see anything other than a home win here. New arrival Jermaine Defoe is the main man for Gus Poyet and he's bagged 2 league goals in 3 matches. QPR were bad on the road with Redknapp; without him I don't know how they can expect to be better. Home win.

Liverpool v/s Tottenham. Spurs have had nightmare results against Liverpool of late and it will be interesting if in-form striker Harry Kane can change things in this fixture. The Tottenham striker has to get an England call-up surely. Liverpool are getting their mojo back and since they've enjoyed playing Spurs in recent matches, I think they will go for the jugular again here, particularly if Sturridge gets to join the confident cast of Sterling, Coutinho and Gerrard. Home win.

Chelsea v/s Everton. I cannot see Everton win this, particularly that they are not in sparkling form. Chelsea can crush the league this week and the Toffees will be lucky to escape this match with a point. Home win.

Man Utd v/s Burnley. Much is being said of the non-exciting football of Van Gaal's men although they have only tasted defeat once in their last 17 matches. I think once Falcao gets a good run of matches, the goals will start flowing for him and the rest. He's a goal-scoring machine at his peak. Although the match between these 2 sides ended in a score-less draw early in the season, this one could very well be a high-scoring affair; Burnley have a porous defence which will definitely be put to the test by the likes of Di Maria, Falcao and RVP. Home win.

Southampton v/s West Ham. I think Southampton have a live chance for a 5th place finish and they need to maximize their points at home. West Ham cannot be under-estimated in any way but they are one or two notches behind Koeman's men, so I think a home win beckons here. Home win.

Stoke v/s Man City. The visitors are finding life hard without Yaya Toure and are certainly going to endure an arduous trip here against a team that shockingly won at the Etihaad a few months back. Aguero has gone close lately and this could be the match that opens the flood gates for him. I see City just edging this match. Away win.

Crystal Palace v/s Newcastle. It's Pardew against his old Newcastle team. Newcastle are in good form and can snatch a point here. Draw.

WBA v/s Swansea. I see the Baggies just edging this as I still think Swansea are lacking in the scoring department without Bony. Home win.

EPL 2014/15 - Week 24

Chelsea and Man City are playing 2 teams that are prime for relegation this week-end, so it should be statu quo at the top of the table with 5 points still separating the two. My thoughts on the upcoming matches.

Tottenham v/s Arsenal. I thought Spurs would stumble against WBA last game week but they came up trumps with a thumping 3-0 win. They should be pumped up for this always-tense derby. Harry Kane is simply the hottest striker in the league at the moment and will definitely cause problems to the Gunners defence. I think Arsenal are a team on the up. With the return of Walcott and the confident play of Cazorla, Ozil and Rocisky, they can open up the stingiest defences. Not mentioning that the return from injury of Alexis Sanchez gives them attacking options that makes them dangerous from the opening minute. This looks set to be a high-scoring affair and a draw could be a likely result. Draw.

Aston Villa v/s Chelsea. The naysayers will say that Mourinho has never won at Villa Park. I think this is bound to change tomorrow. I can't see anything other than a Chelsea win. Villa are finding it hard to score and that means that they will be fighting relegation this year, Away win.

Leicester City v/s Crystal Palace. I really think the Foxes can win this match. Palace were brought back to earth last week-end after winning all its matches under Pardew. I thought they were quire flattered in some of these wins. Leicester needs to win these kinds of home matches to survive; they are in the middle of a good run-in and they are a good value-bet for the outright win. Home win.

Man City v/s Hull. No contest here, this should be 3 more points for the Citizens. Could be a high-scoring contest too with Aguero prime to end his goal-scoring drought following his recent return from injury. Home win.

QPR v/s Southampton. Rangers have been rocked this week of the departure of Redknapp. They look vulnerable for a home loss here and I think the Saints will pounce here. Away win.

Swansea v/s Sunderland. Hard to gauge Swansea at the moment; they were in a terrible rut following the departure of Bony. They managed to win at Southampton last week-end although I wouldn't say that they deserved the 3 points. Gus Poyet might have gotten one of the best deals of the January window with the coming of Jermaine Defoe. The ex-England striker is always a scoring threat and will certainly pose problems for Swansea. I am juggling a draw or an away win here. Away win.

Everton v/s Liverpool. The Kops are definitely on the up and this is the kind of match where Everton wished it had keeper Howard back. The Toffees managed to win at Palace in their last match but that hardly puts them in season-winning form. With the return of Sturridge, Liverpool have gotten their mojo back. Coutinho and Sterling are playing with renewed confidence and if motivation counts for anything, Gerrard should have it in abundance for his last Derby match. It should be a tight match and it wouldn't be a surprise to see the Kops smiling at the end. Away win.

Burnley v/s West Brom. If there is to be a scoreless draw, that would be it. Draw.

Newcastle v/s Stoke. The hosts won this fixture 5-1 last season and although I don't think the gap will be that high, I think they will win again. The Magpies are playing pretty neat football under John Carver and although their last home match ended in defeat against Southampton, they created chances galore but simply couldn't convert. With Papiss Cisse back, they should not have this kind of trouble. Stoke are usually hard to break down but will be missing Shawcross at the back. It's advantage to the home team for me. Home win.

West Ham v/s Man Utd. This tough match was made a little easier for the Mancunians given that the Hammers will be playing with only one recognized centre-back. That means that the likes of Falcao, RVP, Rooney and Di Maria are going to have goal-scoring chances; it will be a matter of taking them. Still, the Hammers are a tough nut to crack, particularly at home. A draw could settle this, although Man Utd have enough quality to bag the 3 points particularly with the return to form of Di Maria. Away win.

EPL 2014/15 - Week 23

Huge match between the 2 only contenders for the title; Man City visit Chelsea in a match that they cannot afford to lose. Big-name players Costa and Yaya Toure will not be playing and much will rest on the decisiveness of other star players such as Silva, Aguero and Hazard. Here are my week 23 predictions.

Hull v/s Newcastle. I think this looks prime to end in a draw. Hull have not been as solid at home as in previous years and I believe they will be seriously involved in the relegation battle. Newcastle played some lively football in their last loss at home to Southampton but they lack cutting edge with the absence of Papiss Cisse. The jury is still out on caretaker manager Carver as to how he will make of the Magpies. Draw.

Crystal Palace v/s Everton. New manager Pardew seems to have given the Eagles a lift after winning his first 4 matches. They move the ball well and are an attacking threat, but it is their defence that is their main Achilles heel. Everton are in a rot at the moment and will again be without the services of keeper Tim Howard. While the Toffees can never be discounted, I think the most they can look for here is a draw and that's my selection. Draw.

Liverpool v/s West Ham. The Kops should have a much better second half of the season. Sturridge should be back, Gerrard should have a spring in his step given that these are going to be his last months as a Kop. And more importantly, Coutinho and Sterling seem to have regained confidence in terrorizing defences. That said, the Hammers are no slouch. They are in a comfortable position at the moment and their offence has particularly clicked, giving them all-important goal scoring opportunities. Probably the hosts will edge this, by just. Home win.

Man Utd v/s Leicester City. The visitors have had a resurgence of late but I don't think they will go win at Old Trafford. The Red Devils lost this fixture in the first leg at King Power stadium, a match in which they looked like comfortable winners until referee Clattenburg wrongfully changed the course of the game. Van Gaal will probably resort to an attacking formation here to uncover the Foxes again. Falcao is begging for a goal and it could very well come in this one if he starts. Home win.

Stoke v/s QPR. The Potters were dealt a huge blow in mid-week by losing striker Bojan for the season. Rangers are hapless on the road and it looks like they need a quick goal in order to stand any chance of getting something out of this match. If Stoke replicate some of their late good form, they should win this. Home win.

Sunderland v/s Burnley. These are 2 teams where it would be stretching to back with any confidence and a draw could very well be on the cards. New Black Cat Defoe will be at ease playing the Burnley defence and should be a prime target to score. Draw.

West Brom v/s Tottenham. Probably another draw on the cards. West Brom will be difficult to break down at home under Pulis. Spurs had a hard mid-week match edging Sheffield United in the Carling Cup and are so ever-reliant on edging matches in the last 10 minutes or so. It should either be a home win or a draw and the latter is my selection. Draw.

Chelsea v/s Man City. That's the big one and I cannot see Chelsea losing this, even without Costa and possibly Fabregas as well. First, Mourinho will go for the draw if he sees his team cannot win this match. His league record at Stamford Bridge speaks for itself and it will take a City team at the top of its game to come away with the 3 points. Fact is, the Citizens are not even close to being at full-strength. Yaya Toure will be missing and City have expressed difficulty controlling the tempo of matches in the absence of their midfield enforcer. Striker Aguero has yet to fully discover the sparkling form prior to his injury layoff. A quick goal for City will certainly put Chelsea's home record into perspective and under pressure, but I believe there are more chances of damage being inflicted on Hart rather than Courtois over the 90 minutes. Chelsea might feel it more in their legs after their tempestuous mid-week win against Liverpool but in the end, I think they have the mental toughness to win this. Home win.

Arsenal v/s Aston Villa. It seems that "RoadRunner" Alexis Sanchez might miss this match but that should not prevent the Gunners scoring a win. Villa just cannot score and the Gunners should not have this kind of problem with the returning Walcott and in-form players like Cazorla and Rosicky. Home win.

Southampton v/s Swansea. The value home win of the week-end should go to the Saints. Swansea are finding it tough with life without Bony and the Saints are in impeccable form of late. After grazing the post so many times of late, Saints striker Pelle might finally get a well-deserved goal. Home win.

EPL 2014/15 - Week 22

Man City fired the first salvo of the transfer window by snatching Bony from Swansea. The Ivory Coast striker has very well adapted to the demands of the EPL and has proven a clinical striker; it will interesting how he fares in a star-studded team where he will not necessarily be the main focal point of the attack. I nurture some doubts as to how well he will fit in the scheme of things at Man City but he could very well prove me wrong and be a success. Here are my selections for this week-end.

Aston Villa v/s Liverpool. The Villains have a problem of scoring but are also tough to score against. Liverpool will have Sterling back after he was rested in their last league match; the England winger has a few goals in him if at his best for the remainder of the season. This should be a tight one and a draw looks a likely possibility. Draw.

Burnley v/s Crystal Palace. This is a 6-pointer game for 2 struggling teams. Burnley need to make the most of these home matches and with striker Ings in good form, they have a live chance to win this. I am interested to see the impact of new manager Pardew on this Palace team. I see the odds of him improving the team as good as the odds of him making them worse. I will go for a home win by the minimum margin here. Home win.

Leicester v/s Stoke. Stoke were uncharacteristically poor in their last away loss to Arsenal last Sunday. I was expecting a better showing. Leicester is on the up slightly and it may be that the draw they snatched at Anfield a couple of weeks back, have opened doors for them. If Stoke play poorly again, Leicester are in with a big shout for the win. Probably a draw is on the way here. Draw.

QPR v/s Man Utd. Man Utd were horrible in their last home loss to Southampton. The talk of Falcao being unsettled is one of the many topics during this transfer period. Obviously, if they are playing at their best, this should be a walk in the park for the visitors, but their last couple of performances have been far from convincing. Rangers need to pile the points at home because they cannot do so on the road. Striker Austin will certainly cause havoc up front and Redknapp's men will battle all the way to get something out of this match. This match looks tight and I will go for the draw here. Draw.

Swansea v/s Chelsea. The fact that the hosts lost their best player Bony does not bode well for this encounter or for the rest of the season for that matter. I don't see their forward Gomis having the same kind of impact as his predecessor. After stuttering of late, Chelsea need to get full points out of this encounter to get their momentum going. I think they will win, probably by a slight margin. Away win.

Tottenham v/s Sunderland. Newly-arrived striker Defoe might suit up against his old club Spurs. The home team have enough talent to break down any defence, as they proved by banging in 5 goals against Chelsea. I think with high-flying Harry Kane, they will be too much for Poyet's team. Home win.

Newcastle v/s Southampton. After getting Man Utd's scalp at Old Trafford, it won't be a surprise iff the Saints beat the Magpies at St James Park. They will be missing 3 key players for this match but Koeman is such an astute manager that I see them getting something out of this match. Probably another win for the visitors. Away win.

West Ham v/s Hull. This is a glorious opportunity for West Ham to continue their great form and add another 3 points to their tally. Hull are in deep trouble at the moment and with the loss of their 2 strikers in their last match, it's hard to see how they are going to score in this match. I have a suspicion that Hull are ripe for the drop if one wants a long-term punt. Home win.

Man City v/s Arsenal. The Citizens have done well to close the gap with leaders Chelsea lately and they look set to keep the momentum going against an Arsenal side that struggles to beat the big teams. Man City will welcome Aguero back and the Argentinian brings them to another level. Arsenal have their own talisman of their own in Chilean winger Sanchez, who to me, is the EPL player of the year so far. Even though they will be missing Yaya Toure for their next few matches, their form dictates that they will be too much for the Gunners who have been over-reliant on Sanchez. Home win.

Everton v/s WBA. Tony Pulis teams are tough to break down and Everton are not playing with any confidence at the moment. This looks set to be a dull Monday game, and the end result might very well be a draw. Draw.

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.