No letting up in race for Champs League

Crystal Palace 1 Arsenal 2
Palace are enjoying a rich vein of form since Alan Pardew took over. The Londoner is one of a few managers who fields four attacking players – Frazier Campbell, Dwight Gayle, Yannick Bolasie and Marouane Chamakh right from the go. This guarantees goals but also exposes them at the back. Arsenal will exploit that to their advantage.

Swansea 1 Man Utd 1
Gary Monk’s Swansea gave Man Utd a baptism of fire on his arrival in the League with a 2-1 victory in this season’s opener. United have since turned around their home form but they are stuttering badly on the road. Although Wilfred Bony will be missed by Swansea, I can’t see how a flat United are going to collect all three points.

Everton 2 Leicester 0
The Toffees have been transformed from a side with the league’s worst defensive record after the first 10 games to a really mean outfit. Their improvement has coincided with the return from injury of James McCarthy and John Stones. Coach Roberto Martinez also deserves credit for switching to a 4-3-2-1 formation.

Southampton 1 Liverpool 1
Italian striker Mario Balotelli’s return to form and the emergence of Jordan Ibe is more than atoning for the loss to injury of dynamic front runner Raheem Sterling. Southampton boast of the English Premier League’s best defense and a clever, fluid counter-attacking system. Given the importance of the game, and with Liverpool extremely hard to beat in recent weeks, a draw is on the cards.

Chelsea 3 Burnley 1
Chelsea resume their title hunt after their bruising Champions League encounter away to Paris St Germain. Burnley are an in-your-face, no-holds-barred outfit; which will make for an open encounter. Jose Mourinho is boosted by the return of creative midfield dynamo Cesc Fabregas and goal machine Diego Costa. It is a tribute to Burnley’s attacking credentials that I am tipping them to find the net.

Man City 3 Newcastle 1
Reigning champions Manchester City’s fans are relieved to welcome back big Ivorians Yaya Toure and Wilfred Bony, from their African Nations Cup exploits. Newcastle will feel the full force of the well-rested Africans as City seek to stay in touch with leaders Chelsea. Senegal forward Papisse Demba Cisse and French dribbling wizard Remy Cabella are the Magpies’ main attacking threat.

Hull City 2 QPR 1
Hull City were enamored by their one-all draw at Man City. They followed that up with a 2-0 victory over Villa, which makes them start as favourites for this game. However QPR will be equally buoyed by their 2-0 away victory at Sunderland last time out. I am tipping Senegalese powerhouse Dame Ndoyi to make the difference for Hull.

Aston Villa 1 Stoke 0
New manager Tim Sherwood will propel Aston Villa to a rare victory. Stoke will be dangerous opposition, given the embarrassing manner of their FA Cup exit at the hands of Blackburn Rovers. Christian Benteke, Ron Vlaar and Gabriel Agbonlahor need to be on top of their game if Villa are to sneak this win.

Sunderland 1 West Brom 1
Black Cats manager Gustavo Poyet was abrasive in his post-match press remarks following his side’s FA Cup capitulation to Bradford. Sunderland were also clueless in their 0-2 loss to QPR. I therefore can’t see them improving sufficiently enough to dispose of a Brummies side riding high.

Tottenham 2 West Ham 1
Mauricio Pochettino has cemented his coaching credentials with another stellar campaign with Spurs. The form of MVP ‘Hurricane’ Harry Kane and midfielder Christian Eriksen gives the North Londoners an edge over the Hammers who were listless in succumbing to a 0-4 FA Cup whitewash at West Brom. I am going for a narrow Spurs victory.