We enter Week 17 of the Premier League with a new competition leader, but we’ll have to wait until Monday to find out if Liverpool can consolidate their position. That match will well and truly be worth the wait, however as it is against bitter rivals Manchester United.
City will attempt to atone for their first loss off the season when they host Everton on Saturday night, while Chelsea will look to continue their winning run of form past Brighton.
City
Last 5 Matches: WWWWL
Ladder Position: 2nd
Goal Difference: +36 (GF 45, GA 9)
Everton
Last 5 Matches: DWLDD
Ladder Position: 7th
Goal Difference: +4 (GF 23, GA 19)
For the first time this season, City enter the new Premier League week off the back of a loss. It certainly is not panic stations, however and I am expecting them to respond in a big way at home. Everton are winless in their last three league fixtures and face a huge task.
Palace
Last 5 Matches: LDWLL
Ladder Position: 16th
Goal Difference: -10 (GF 13, GA 23)
Leicester
Last 5 Matches: DDWDL
Ladder Position: 9th
Goal Difference: +1 (GF 21, GA 20)
A pretty even looking affair between two week sixteen losers and a case to be made for both Palace and Leicester. At their best and given what they have been able to achieve in the early stages of this season, the Foxes do have the class edge and I think this looms as a terrific opportunity at three points.
Watford
Last 5 Matches: DLLLD
Ladder Position: 12th
Goal Difference: -3 (GF 20, GA 23)
Cardiff
Last 5 Matches: WLWLW
Ladder Position: 14th
Goal Difference: -15 (GF 15, GA 30)
One team that has lost form and one team that is really beginning to find it. Currently, Cardiff is winning every other week but it does coincide with when they are playing in front of the Welsh faithful. Watford really should have won in Week 16, but they are under the odds in head-to-head betting and I’m happy to stay out of this one.
Huddersfield
Last 5 Matches: DWLLL
Ladder Position: 18th
Goal Difference: -17 (GF 10, GA 27)
Newcastle
Last 5 Matches: WWLDL
Ladder Position: 15th
Goal Difference: -9 (GF 13, GA 22)
Town simply cannot hold together a positive run of form and they look likely to be fighting the relegation fight for the rest of the season. Newcastle have also been tough to trust from a betting perspective, but they simply won’t be offered a better opportunity to return to the winner’s stall.
Wolves
Last 5 Matches: DLLWW
Ladder Position: 10th
Goal Difference: -2 (GF 17, GA 19)
Bournemouth
Last 5 Matches: LLLWL
Ladder Position: 8th
Goal Difference: -1 (GF 25, GA 26)
Two clubs that flew the gates at the beginning of the season, but whose form has sharply tailed off recently. Bournemouth have had a far tougher run of matches, however and have lost to City and Liverpool, but beaten Huddersfield in their three most-recent league matches. They are over the odds at $4.
Spurs
Last 5 Matches: WWLWW
Ladder Position: 3rd
Goal Difference: +14 (GF 30, GA 16)
Burnley
Last 5 Matches: DLLLW
Ladder Position: 17th
Goal Difference: -17 (GF 15, GA 32)
This looks like being one of the most one-sided fixtures of the week and Spurs should be recording a comfortable victory. Burnley have offered little resistance all season and have struggled to contain attacks.
Fulham
Last 5 Matches: LWLDL
Ladder Position: 20th
Goal Difference: -24 (GF 16, GA 40)
West Ham
Last 5 Matches: DLWWW
Ladder Position: 11th
Goal Difference: -2 (GF 23, GA 25)
A London Derby between two clubs with vastly different recent form lines and I am confident that West Ham will make it four in a row. They have been simply outstanding in front of goal recently and have netted nine in their three most-recent league games. I can’t see why they have been priced as long as they have.
Brighton
Last 5 Matches: LDWWL
Ladder Position: 13th
Goal Difference: -3 (GF 19, GA 22)
Chelsea
Last 5 Matches: DLWLW
Ladder Position: 4th
Goal Difference: +20 (GF 33, GA 13)
Chelsea pulled off the result of the season when they became the first club to beat Manchester City, and they should just be beating Brighton on Sunday night. The Seagulls dropped all the points to Burnley last week and would need to improve tenfold to win this match.
Southampton
Last 5 Matches: DLDLL
Ladder Position: 19th
Goal Difference: -17 (GF 13, GA 30)
Arsenal
Last 5 Matches: DWWDW
Ladder Position: 5th
Goal Difference: +15 (GF 35, GA 20)
The Gunners only snuck past Huddersfield last week, but this is another great opportunity to keep the pressure on the top four and they should have too much firepower for the floundering Southampton.
Liverpool
Last 5 Matches: WWWWW
Ladder Position: 1st
Goal Difference: +28 (GF 34, GA 6)
United
Last 5 Matches: LDDDW
Ladder Position: 6th
Goal Difference: +2 (GF 28, GA 26)
The match of the round and typically, one of the better fixtures of the entire Premier League season. The Reds took top spot away from City last weekend and will be confident of consolidating their position by beating their old, bitter rivals in front of the Anfield faithful.