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Clint Vojdinoski’s EPL Preview

Posted on | Posted by Clint Vojdinoski

Norwich City v Sunderland

Saturday April 16, 7.45pm, Carrow Road

Norwich were hauled back into the relegation battle after a 1-0 defeat away at Crystal Palace. The Canaries were unbeaten in their previous three matches but struggled to impose themselves on this match which was decided when Palace midfielder Jason Puncheon lashed a 25-yard drive past Norwich keeper John Ruddy. Alex Neil’s side sit fourth bottom four points ahead of Sunderland with the Black Cats having a game in hand.

While Sunderland battled bravely but fell to two well taken strikes from Leicester’s Jamie Vardy in their 2-0 loss at home to the Foxes. Striker Fabio Borini was lively and forced a fine save from Leicester keeper Kasper Schmeichel, but the Black Cats were too often wasteful in the final third of the pitch.

Prediction

Four points separate the pair in this decisive relegation battle and both teams have conceded 57 goals. A point will be a satisfactory result for Norwich so look for them to sit with a lot of men behind the ball and counter the threat of Sunderland’s leading scorer Jermain Defoe.

Suggested Bets

Match Result – Draw

Under 2.5 Goals

Anytime Goalscorer – Dieumerci Mbokani

Manchester United v Aston Villa

Saturday April 16, 10pm, Old Trafford

Manchester United put in yet another poor attacking performance to go down 3-0 at Tottenham. United contributed no shots on target in the first half and were overrun in the second half as Spurs eventually overpowered United with a rush of goals between the 70th and 76th minutes. The defeat damages United’s slim hopes of a top-four finish as they lie fifth, four points shy of neighbours Manchester City who are in fourth.

Aston Villa’s relegation to the Championship was all but confirmed after they lost 2-1 to Bournemouth at home. Villa are 15 points adrift of safety with only five games to play. Poor defending gifted Bournemouth both goals and despite Jordan Ayew’s late consolation nothing could save Villa from another inevitable loss.

Prediction

Eight losses in a row, and 23 for the season, the curtain is coming down on Villa’s season from hell. For United, they have to increase the tempo and stretch an opponent who is their for the taking. Too often van Gaal’s team fall into the trap of slowing the game down and overusing the ball.

Suggested Bets

Match Result – Manchester United

Under 2.5 Goals

Anytime Goalscorer – Anthony Martial

Everton v Southampton

Saturday April 16, 10pm, Goodison Park

FA Cup semi-finalist Everton played out a 1-1 draw at Watford. In a dour contest, Everton took the lead on the stroke of half-time when James McCarthy pounced on a mistake yet, in what has been symptomatic of their season, they surrendered their one-goal advantage just moments later. The Toffees fell to 14th in the league with the pressure still on manager Roberto Martinez to keep his job.

Southampton eased to a 3-1 triumph over relegation haunted Newcastle. The Saints dominated the first half and took the lead on four minutes when Shane Long danced through Newcastle’s feeble defence. The Saints made it 2-0 seven minutes before half-time as Long teed up Graziano Pelle. Victor Wanyama bagged a third ten minutes after the interval to wrap up the points and keep Ronald Koeman’s side in contention for a Europa League place.

Prediction

Everton’s season is petering out as they look to the FA Cup for their only bit of silverware. Added to that, the Toffees are coming off a two day break after playing Crystal Palace. Southampton are finishing the season strongly and are keenly priced at $3.15.

Suggested Bets

Match Result – Southampton

Over 2.5 Goals

Anytime Goalscorer – Shane Long

Newcastle United v Swansea City

Saturday April 16, 10pm, St James’ Park

Newcastle United lurched closer to the drop after they miserably lost 3-1 at Southampton to leave themselves six points adrift of safety with six games to play. Rafa Benitez’s men put in another poor display away from home and were 2-0 down at the break with atrocious defending gifting Southampton both goals. The Magpies fell 3-0 behind after 55 minutes and from there they were never going to get back into the contest with Andros Townsend’s goal a mere consolation.

Swansea reached the 40 point mark in the league with a 1-0 triumph over Chelsea thanks to their talisman Gylfi Sigurdsson volleying a first half winner. Sigurdsson’s fourth goal in five matches came in the 25th minute when he capitalised on a weak clearance from Chelsea defender Matt Miazga.

Prediction

Benitez has not won a match since replacing Steve McClaren with the team showing no increase in confidence or any verve to haul themselves out of relegation trouble. Swansea are $3.05 to upset the Magpies and send them on the brink of a second relegation under the ownership of Mike Ashley.

Suggested Bets

Match Result – Swansea City

Over 2.5 Goals

Anytime Goalscorer – Gylfi Sigurdsson

West Bromwich Albion v Watford

Saturday April 16, 10pm, The Hawthorns

West Brom let slip a 1-0 lead to go down 2-1 at Manchester City. Stephane Sessegnon put West Brom ahead in the sixth minute with a smart right-footed finish from just inside the 18-yard box but he then turned villain by giving away a penalty which was converted by Sergio Aguero. Samir Nasri won it for City in the second half as West Brom’s winless run stretched to three matches.

Watford snapped a four match losing run with a 1-1 draw at home to fellow FA Cup semi-finalist Everton. After falling behind on the stroke of half-time, the Hornets managed an equaliser just moments later when Jose Holebas headed in Ben Watson’s corner. Despite the draw it was another performance which lacked confidence in attack as Watford were unwilling to push forward to fashion chances for their strikers Troy Deeney and Odion Ighalo.

Prediction

Both team’s are safe yet both are out of form. This will be an ugly, dour contest and a draw would suit them both as they inch towards the end of the season. Overall though, take a West Brom victory.

Suggested Bets

Match Result – West Bromwich Albion

Under 2.5 Goals

Anytime Goalscorer – Saido Berahino

Chelsea v Manchester City

Sunday April 17, 12.30am, Stamford Bridge

Chelsea suffered their first defeat under interim boss Guus Hiddink as the Blues went down 1-0 at Swansea. Alexandre Pato wasted two fine chances for Chelsea while Swansea midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson converted his chance. The defeat kept Chelsea in 10th and dented their slim hopes of forcing their way into next season’s Europa League.

Manchester City came from behind to beat West Bromwich Albion 2-1 thanks to Sergio Aguero’s penalty and a goal from Samir Nasri. City fell behind on six minutes but hit back 13 minutes later when Stephane Sessegnon brought down Aleksandar Kolarov inside the area and Aguero calmly converted the spotkick. The winner came when Aguero set up Samir Nasri in the 65th minute to ensure Manuel Pellegrini’s men held on to fourth spot for at least another week.

Prediction

Chelsea’s streak is over and with an unrealistic shot at finishing in the European places, look for Hiddink to maintain the experimentation in the lineup. Manchester City’s form has taken a renewed upturn at the business end of the season, coinciding with the returns of Kevin de Bruyne and Nasri from injury.

Suggested Bets

Match Result – Manchester City

Over 2.5 Goals

Anytime Goalscorer – Sergio Aguero

AFC Bournemouth v Liverpool

Sunday April 17, 8.30pm, Vitality Stadium

Bournemouth moved past the 40-point mark in their first season in the top flight as they overcame a doomed Aston Villa 2-1. The Cherries took the lead two minutes into first-half stoppage time through Steve Cook. Woeful Villa defending allowed Eddie Howe’s side to double their advantage on 74 minutes when Ciaran Clark’s poor control gifted Josh King his fifth goal of the season. Jordan Ayew pulled a goal back in the 85th minute for Villa but Bournemouth held on.

In-form Divock Origi scored twice as Liverpool hammered Stoke City 4-1. Alberto Moreno’s early screamer was cancelled out by Bojan Krkic before Daniel Sturridge’s close-range header restored Liverpool’s lead before the break. On as a half-time substitute, Origi got on the scoresheet five minutes into the second half with Liverpool’s third of the game as he nodded in James Milner’s cross, and the 20-year-old added a fourth with 25 minutes remaining.

Prediction

Liverpool are in the midst of tinkering with their lineup as they are playing their best team in the Europa League but the replacements have been stepping up. Bournemouth are safe, yet in this clash appear to be suspect against the Reds who will press them higher up the pitch to disrupt their passing game.

Suggested Bets

Match Result – Liverpool

Over 2.5 Goals

Anytime Goalscorer – Daniel Sturridge

Leicester City v West Ham United

Sunday April 17, 8.30pm, King Power Stadium

Jamie Vardy’s clinical double helped Leicester City to a 2-0 triumph over Sunderland and another step closer to the Premier League title. The England striker raced onto Danny Drinkwater’s long ball before finishing coolly midway through the second half of a tense and scrappy affair. Claudio Ranieri’s side secured a killer second in injury time, again it was Vardy. The Foxes are now assured of Champions League qualification for next season.

A hat-trick in a little over seven minutes from Andy Carroll was not enough for West Ham in a thrilling 3-3 draw against Arsenal. The Hammers came out of the blocks sluggishly and were made to pay as Arsenal raced into a 2-0 first half lead before Andy Carroll’s treble either side of half-time helped Slaven Bilic’s side come from two goals down to take a 3-2 lead. In a breathless encounter, West Ham failed to hang on as they conceded a goal to Laurent Koscielny with 20 minutes remaining. The result stretched West Ham’s unbeaten run at home to 14 matches.

Prediction

Three straight draws has derailed West Ham’s top-four ambitions but it is not through the lack of attacking endeavour. With the finish line of a remarkable, one-of-a-kind season in sight, look for Leicester to play with a reduction of tension that permeated their clash against Sunderland.

Suggested Bets

Match Result – Leicester City

Over 2.5 Goals

Anytime Goalscorer – Jamie Vardy

Arsenal v Crystal Palace

Sunday April 17, 11pm, Emirates Stadium

Arsenal’s faint title hopes are in tatters after West Ham’s Andy Carroll bagged a hat-trick in a thrilling 3-3 draw. Arsenal defender Laurent Koscielny rescued a point for Arsene Wenger’s side after they had blown a two-goal lead. Earlier, the Gunners were 2-0 up and cruising thanks to first-half goals from Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez but Carroll singlehandedly turned the game on its head.

Crystal Palace eased any fears they had of being sucked into a relegation battle with a 1-0 triumph at home to Norwich City, their first win in the league since December 19. Jason Puncheon scored the only goal of the game in the 68th minute with a superb long-range effort. Importantly, Palace kept their first clean sheet in the league since December, ending a run of 12 games without one. The victory moved Palace 10 points clear of Sunderland in the final relegation place.

Prediction

While Arsenal’s defending was suspect against West Ham, this clash will be a routine three points for them. Palace are barely limping towards the end of the season.

Suggested Bets

Match Result – Arsenal

Over 2.5 Goals

Anytime Goalscorer – Alexis Sanchez

Stoke City v Tottenham Hotspur

Tuesday April 19, 3am, Britannia Stadium

Stoke were comprehensively thrashed 4-1 at Liverpool with Bojan Krkic’s first-half equaliser the only bright spot in a result which dropped them down to ninth in the league, but with their Premier League status intact. A poor second half showing would be concerning for manager Mark Hughes as his side faded badly as the match wore on.

A trio of quickfire second-half goals helped Tottenham to maintain their pursuit of Premier League leaders Leicester City with a 3-0 humbling of Manchester United. A dour first half livened up after the break as 0-0 became 3-0 within six second-half minutes as Dele Alli, Toby Alderweireld and Erik Lamela struck to help Spurs stay seven points behind the leaders with five matches remaining.

Prediction

Tottenham have to take the game to Stoke to keep their title hopes alive but with a settled and confident first 11 in the midst of a five match unbeaten run they have enough to see off the Potters and keep the title race going for another week.

Suggested Bets

Match Result – Tottenham Hotspur

Over 2.5 Goals

Anytime Goalscorer – Harry Kane

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