Midweek in the Premier League gave midgets the much-needed widgets to digest the dynamics of survival mode with the two underdog stories providing a perfect cherry on the top.
Weekend once again features a promising undercard with one major heavyweight clash indicating that the business is about to pick up. Preview and predictions for a pivotal phase of the Premier League are as follows.
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Burnley vs Manchester City
Tale of The Tape: Burnely is now 8 league games without a win emerging as yet another strugglers to conquer the curse of 2018, this year has been harsh on the lower card which is seriously lacking consistency, Burnley’s last game on Turf Moor was a promising affair against United that was anything but a one-sided contest and I expect them to fight tooth and nail against Man City who can already feel the confetti falling from the sky after another convincing display against West Brom in midweek.
Prediction: Strange it may sound, Burnley could get a result in this match, a defiant draw.
Player Focus: Raheem Sterling
Manchester United vs Huddersfield Town
Manchester United’s world just went upside down at Wembley with the positivity of the transfers off the field tarnished by the passivity of the performance on the field, 2 wins and 3 losses against top 5 sides so far this season is below par by Mourinho standards. Huddersfield looked promising in the first half against Liverpool but faded ever so quickly just like their season which has reached a halt.
Prediction: A comfortable Manchester United victory with a 2 goal margin
Player Focus: Marcus Rashford
West Bromwich Albion vs Southampton
Tale of The Tape: Albion has hit rock bottom while the Saints shocking run without a win sails on. At least one team has the chance to rejuvenate itself but they say winning is a habit which also goes against these fellow strugglers.
Pardew’s home victory on matchday 23 against Brighton should be the catalyst that could provide them credibility at the Hawthorns. Saints, on the other hand, need Baptism of some sort to come out of to wash their sins and acquire that elusive win.
Prediction: West Brom to just nick it in the end.
Player Focus: Jay Rodriguez
Bournemouth vs Stoke City
Tale of The Tape: Bournemouth burned some bridges in the midweek shocking the champions on their own soil to gather some consistency while Stoke played a goalless draw against Javi Garcia’s Watford at home not capitalizing on their momentum.
Prediction: Stoke to get a point from this fixture
Player Focus: Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting
Leicester City vs Swansea City
Tale of The Tape: Mahrez melodrama hurt Leicester both on and off the field in the midweek, seems like he is on a strike now demonstrating the wrath of player power these days. 2 win, 2 losses and 1 draw in the last 5 matches is a reasonable run considering the card beside them have shown little consistency but they are up against the Swans who have a new swansong under Carvalhal inserting life into the lyrics by hitting the note with the new found intensity.
Prediction: Leicester to bring Swansea back to Earth, a home win is in order
Player Focus: Marc Albrighton
Brighton & Hove Albion vs West Ham United
Tale of The Tape: Brighton winless streak now stretches up to 5 matches, the desire in the performances haven’t been converted into results, there is a feeling watching the team play that a win is around the corner. West Ham is on the 6 matches unbeaten streak and even a depleted side managed to come from behind against the Palace to earn an important point.
Prediction: Thou Brighton shall have their win
Player Focus: Solly March
Arsenal vs Everton
Tale of The Tape: It was a dismal midweek for the Gooners where the old artillery imploded and the new explosive fell flat. Aubameyang would most probably make his debut which is the only positive coming out of an adverse Arsenal amenity. Everton earned much needed 3 points in the midweek with the former Gooner hogging all the limelight injecting much-needed pace to otherwise a pedestrian Everton side.
Prediction: Arsenal to win comfortably at the Emirates
Aubameyang scored 100 goals for BVB since the start of 15-16 season, 45 more goals than any player has scored for Arsenal in this period
100 Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
55 Alexis Sanchez
47 Olivier Giroud
32 Theo Walcott
24 Mesut Ozil pic.twitter.com/Q5CScpnYN5— Arsenal TV ⚪ (@Arsenal__Live) January 31, 2018
Player Focus: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Crystal Palace vs Newcastle United
Tale of The Tape: Palace has built up a lego fortress at the Selhurst Park off late, just 2 losses in last 10 PL games is a decent record, they should have dispatched City, man it was an entertaining encounter. Away draw against West Ham was a good result considering that road has been harsh on them. Tyneside, on the other hand, pleaded for incentive in January but they are falling on deaf ears right now, you just don’t know where the inspiration is going to come from.
Prediction: Palace to win with a purpose
Player Focus: Wilfred Zaha
Liverpool vs Tottenham Hotspur
Tale of The Tape: The heavyweight tie of matchday 26 will see two unpredictable teams colliding that usually results in skill supremacy with technical brilliance accompanied by drama and entertainment. Both the sides have been able to bring back the slide in their favor during the midweek with one-sided wins.
Of course, Spurs had a tougher opponent in Manchester United but they swept them away with the utmost ease. The key stat for Liverpool is that they are unbeaten at Anfield and are the only team to beat Man City in the league so far, enough said.
Prediction: Liverpool to seek revenge with a win
Player Focus: Sadio Mane
Watford vs Chelsea
Tale of The Tape: Watford stalemate against Stoke gave some encouraging signs in the form of Deulofeu who knows a thing or two about the Premier League from his past stint at Everton. He can provide the spark in the attack which Hornets are lacking currently. Chelsea was crucified with the fuming Conte at the center when defeat transforms into humiliation then the response needs to be relentless.
Prediction: Chelsea to bounce back with a win
I’m delighted and proud to become a Chelsea player. Looking forward to make my debut. Come on the Blues! #TheBlues pic.twitter.com/a4SQxG6ZaS
— Olivier Giroud (@_OlivierGiroud_) January 31, 2018
Player Focus: Olivier Giroud
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