Liverpool good for share of spoils

Arsenal 2 Everton 0
Only Liverpool rank higher than Arsenal on the current form table. Everton have on the other hand won just one of their last ten Premier League games. This points to an Arsenal victory. Although I expect Everton to give Arsenal a good run for their money, Romelu Lukaku’s indifferent goal scoring form makes the Toffees vulnerable to defeat.
West Brom 1 Southampton 1
Ronald Koeman must be worried by the manner in which his team is losing games they dominate. Home losses to Swansea and Liverpool has dented the club’s push for Champions League qualification. Tony Pulis’ rejuvenated West Brom, powered by stars Brown Ideye and Victor Anichebe, will pose a major attacking threat but Southampton have the league’s best defence.

Stoke City 2 Hull City 1
Stoke are on course to matching last season’s top 10 finish, thanks in no small part, to the goal scoring heroics of Mame Biram Diouf and Victor Moses. Hull City have gathered some steam but they will get a reality check.

Liverpool 1 Man City 2
Liverpool last tasted defeat on December 17 when they fell 0-3 to Manchester United. They have since put together a 20-match unbeaten run. Their high tempo, full pitch pressing game will hold them in good stead for the champions Manchester City. With Raheem Sterling and Jordan Ibe blossoming, manager Brendan Rodgers is developing a reputation for giving young players a chance.

Man United 2 Sunderland 0
Unless Louis van Gaal addresses the team’s poor away form, Manchester United will miss out on Uefa Champions League qualification. Home form has sustained the record champions, and I expect it to count for much when Gustavo Poyet’s goal-shy Black Cats’ visit the Old Trafford coliseum. I predict that under pressure strikers Radamel Falcao and Robin van Persie will deliver the goals.
Newcastle 1 Aston Villa 0
The manner in which Aston Villa snatched defeat from the jaws of victory at home to Stoke City should ring alarm bells for new manager Tim Sherwood. Ron Vlaar’s red card has denied the Villains defensive muscle and leadership at a time all top lieutenants must be pulling in the same direction. I am tipping Newcastle United to edge this English Premier League contest by the slimmest of margins.

Burnley 2 Swansea 1
No club better punches above their weight than Burnley. Sean Dyche has assembled the team on a shoe-string budget but you would never tell that from the way they throw themselves about. Their work ethic has seen the Turf Moor side clock the longest distances in each of the 27 seven league games they have played to-date.

West Ham 3 C. Palace 2
Crystal Palace’s gung-ho approach to matches is making the London club one of the most entertaining in the division. With West Ham keen to address their poor form, I expect fireworks to fly in this London derby. Africans Marouane Chamakh, Yannick Bolassie, Alexander Song, Cheikh Kouyate and Diafra Sakho will have a major say.

Spurs 2 Swansea 1
Spurs have turned winning 2-1 into an art form. I am backing the North London club to repeat the score line despite the exertions of their Capital One Cup final with Chelsea. Swansea remain true to their ethos, and impressed in dismantling Manchester United last week, but I cant see how they can return to Wales with anything.

West Ham 1 Chelsea 2
I don’t understand the Hammers fans’ impatience with manager Sam Allardyce. The Upton Park outfit may have lost their oomph in recent weeks but they are still way above their pre-season targets. This promises to be a feisty London derby.