Premier League Gameweek 14: Preview, Betting tips and Predictions - it’s the rush hour, games coming thick and fast and everyone wondering where upsets would come from, here’s our take, hoping you find joy in them.
Welcome back on board, 80% success last time out, encouraging stats we know and just want to be better, we go again.
Last weekend proved yet again that some teams would be better off with someone else in charge.
Arsenal lead that conversation and if by the time you’re reading this a certain Unai Emery still has a job in England then the board have stuff outside of football on their agenda.
Arsenal lost at home to Frankfurt in midweek yet again from a winning position, that follows up an embarrassing 2-2 result on the same ground against Southampton.
You sit on your armchair with popcorn on your right and a chilled bottle of your favorite soda just across a beaming TV set and you suddenly feel you’re having the worst experiment of Swedish hamburger and some stale cream, that’s what Arsenal makes you feel these days and it can only get worse with Emery in charge, it’s time to let him go but not sure Daniel Farke would agree.
He’d love to have his Norwich lads take on a team managed by the Spaniard, would be fun unleashing his fleet-footed forwards on a team of seven defensive-minded players, hilarious to think of how much talent the Gunners have in their armor.
Speaking of teams that have solid ambitions, Manchester City is of another tale this season, 1-1 in Europe against a team you’d expect them to beat silly considering their priorities and you wonder if they’d ever stop conceding.
They’re quite fragile at the back and it seems like they can’t help it, although they rallied to win, their victory over Chelsea could have gone either way as they conceded early and had Chelsea timed their runs smartly, they’d have inflicted yet another loss on the reigning champions.
Step forward Newcastle, a traditional team with a rich history, no point raising hopes they don’t stand a chance against the Citizens but one can bet that Steve Bruce would defend all day long and hope for a break on the counter to hurt the frailties at City’s back.
The Magpies lost 2-0 at Villa Park on Monday and offered absolutely nothing on the day, similar showing will only earn them a harsh pummeling in the hands of the champions.
Ralph Hanselhutti led his lads to the Emirates and earned a point, he’d be gutted he didn’t get the three on offer as Arsenal were actually there for the kill.
The equalizer shows exactly why the Saints are down and under, they had the chance to seal it when 2-1 up and missed every one of them.
Bernd Leno was in inspired form but any good forward would make better decisions with the chances they had and if they don’t man up against a troubled Watford side this weekend they would be sorry for it.
Watford are flirting with relegation and the new manager, not so new really would face the heat if they don’t get anything from St Mary’s Stadium, the line up must be brave and the defense must find answers to stop Danny Ings and whoever is called to support him upfront.
It’s going to be a case of classic 4-4-2 against the popular 4-3-3… That’s some game to watch.
Liverpool are runaway leaders, winning by the skin of their teeth and leaving it late most times, that’s how champions do if you ask anyone close to the league.
They labored against Palace and only settled for a draw against Napoli in Europe.
We know where their priorities lie though and we won’t blame them, the taunting from their rivals from Old Trafford must stop and that can only happen if Jordan Henderson lifts the trophy in May and next on their plate to make that happen is Brighton.
Fresh from being handed a two-year contract extension, Graham Potter has a very difficult one to negotiate but his team is not afraid to dare, yet not afraid to lose.
They’re quite better to watch this season, to be honest, and no disrespect to Chris Houghton.
Liverpool could have Mo Salah back to complete the trilogy and that in its own rights is another bad news to the Seagulls who lost at home to Leicester last weekend.
Leicester are flying, not sure many teams can stop them this season, they are strong in every department and are very well taking it one game at a time.
They host embattled Everton on Sunday and not many would expect Marco Silva to pick a point here, in fact not many expect the Portuguese manager to be in charge on the day but this could be the final nail that would seal his odd fate.
What is Leicester doing right that Everton aren’t?
Man management by either manager is one, game management is another, and if you look at the decisions their respective players make in the final third, you get the answer to the third.
Chelsea may have lost at the Etihad but they are building something solid, they have a pattern and it’s obvious to the eyes, they’re home to an embattled Westham United this weekend and a win will restore confidence in the team.
Westham are in a very bad place right now and one must wonder what Manuel Pellegrini needs to do to get fired.
The team can’t defend and are struggling to get their record signing forward to score.
Team selection can also be very questionable with Michail Antonio needing fans to put up a banner to be called on when he comes on, he bullies his way to the score sheet or at least an assist of note.
They would feel a point would have happened if they had five more minutes against Spurs but that is a topic for another day.
Spurs under Jose Mourinho have played two and won two, conceding two on both occasions though and that must worry the flamboyant manager, yes he likes to win, but we know he hates conceding too.
Bournemouth are the next visitors to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and one can only expect the north London side to triumph.
Kristen Eriksen remains sidelined and Dele Alli continues to get the nod, how long before we begin to see the much expected Sissoko – Wanyama – Dier midfield pairing?
Manchester United are another team with loads of questions to answer, Astana beat the Red Devils in the Europa on Thursday but many would remind you the manager fielded lots of teenagers.
Neutrals would wonder if they wore a Liverpool jersey on the turf, no excuses except you want to talk about priorities.
In case the shape of the table doesn’t pass any message, someone has to tell Ole Gunnar Solksjaer that he stands a better chance of making it to Europe through the Europa as against the league where Wolves and Sheffield stand better chances of finishing above United.
Aston Villa visit Old Trafford on Sunday, not their favorite ground but on current form, anyone can dream on their way to play Manchester United.
Premier League prediction is next, tricky ties as always and folks must remember to gamble responsibly, it’s the rush hour, games coming thick and fast and everyone wondering where upsets would come from, here’s our take, hoping you find joy in them.
Fixture
|
Verdict
|
Player to watch
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Newcastle vs Man City
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City to win
|
Bernado Silva
|
Burnley vs Palace
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Burnley to win or draw
|
Ashley Barnes
|
Chelsea vs Westham
|
Chelsea to win
|
Tammy Abraham
|
Liverpool vs Brighton
|
Liverpool to win
|
Sadio Mane
|
Spurs vs Bournemouth
|
Spurs to win
|
Harry Kane
|
Southampton vs Watford
|
Over 7.5 corners
|
Danny Ings
|
Norwich vs Arsenal
|
Both teams to score
|
Teemu Pukki
|
Wolves vs Sheffield
|
Over 7.5 corners
|
John Lundstram
|
Leicester vs Everton
|
Leicester to win
|
Jamie Vardy
|
Man Utd vs Villa
|
Both teams to score
|
Daniel James
|
Strictly the writer’s opinion
Written by @Komptrolla