Andy Gray and Richard Keys: Premier League predictions

Sport360 staff 08:35 06/12/2014
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  • Good bit of business: Striker Didier Drogba.

    With Manchester City now just six points behind leaders Chelsea their title defence has been reignited.

    – #360stats: Facts and figures ahead of the EPL games

    Today, City face Everton while Chelsea have a tough away game against Newcastle.

    Andy Gray and Richard Keys, who front beIN Sports’ Pre­mier League coverage, discuss the title race and what might happen.

    Andy Gray: Anyone who thought Chelsea were running away with the title with the best part of the season yet to come was living in dreamland. Yes, they are playing well and I think they will win it but it’s going to be very close.

    City are hot on their tails and, make no mistake, they will push them all the way to the wire.

    Chelsea have been fortunate so far in that they have not had any major problems with injuries to key players or suspensions that have affected them in big games while City have had plenty to deal with, never more so than now with Vincent Kompany.

    The fact City are defending champions heaps even more pres­sure on them because everyone is gunning for them but they have coped well and a six-point gap is easy to close.

    So Chelsea might be getting a bit nervy, however the depth of their squad gives them a big advantage.


    Any thoughts that they may be relying too much on Diego Costa have been dispelled by Didier Drogba and Loic Remy who have proved they can provide more than adequate cover.

    We know what the Drog can do but he is 36 years old so he has to be managed carefully while Remy is a terrific footballer, quicker than Costa and more direct with his running.

    So in a department where they were bereft of real talent last year they now have an excess of quality.

    To be honest, I can’t see any vulnerability in Jose Mourinho’s side. The goalkeeper looks as good as any and they have Petr Cech in reserve; the back-four looks solid and the midfield is strong, although if they lost Cesc Fabregas or Nemanja Matic they don’t really have a like-for-like replacement, but they still have good players to fill the gap. The top end of the pitch speaks for itself, it’s overflow­ing with class.

    Mourinho’s experience, particu­larly going into the final few games of the season if it remains as tight as it is now, will also be important but he is under more pressure now than perhaps he has ever been in is managerial career. He hasn’t won anything for three years and he needs to put that right.

    He is already trying to take the pressure off his players publicly by saying he is not bothered about going unbeaten, like Arsenal did 10 years ago, and just wants to win the league. Privately, he will be making it more than clear to his players how much that title means to him.

    Today’s game at Newcastle is a tough one because Mourinho has never won an EPL match at St James Park but if you look at the two sets of players I think that’s about to change. Newcastle will run them close with that amazing Geordie support behind them but defensively they don’t look good enough. 2-1 Chelsea win.

    Richard Keys: The thing that wor­ries me about City is that they have to keep Sergio Aguero fit because when he is firing so are they. When he is missing, they go missing, although Yaya Toure finally seems to have rediscovered some form. But we definitely have a proper title race on our hands and I hope it’s going to be nip and tuck all the way.

    I still fancy Chelsea because, as Andy says, they are better equipped in all departments and they look a little hungrier but six points can quickly become nothing so they have to stay focused.

    Taking Drogba back to Stamford Bridge, to cover for Costa, was a brilliant piece of business and just for good measure Remy, who Brendan Rodgers decided against taking to Anfield so he could buy Mario Balotelli, has also proved to be a shrewd signing.

    I thought Mourinho’s experi­ence and knowledge of the Premier League would give him the edge over Manuel Pellegrini last season but I was proved wrong. Pellegrini now has title winning experience under his belt so I don’t think Mourinho’s past means a jot.

    The Chelsea boss will approach this game at Newcastle pragmati­cally with the intention of coming away with a win but don’t expect him to take any risks. Newcas­tle have had some good results recently but I don’t think they are strong enough to get anything here. Chelsea will get the job done. 0-1.


    Man City v Everton

    AG: You need only look at Sergio Aguero’s first goal against Sunder­land to see the quality this boy has. To nutmeg a defender with a touch of finesse and then unleash a shot full of power and venom which was past the goalkeeper before he could even move shows you what he is all about. Everton are not playing very well and I don’t expect any respite at the Etihad. 3-1.

    RK: Expect Aguero to get a couple more goals against an Everton side that looks soft compared to last season. 3-0.


    Southampton v Man United

    AG: Three home wins against Crystal Palace, Stoke and Hull does not mean Manchester United are back. It’s been a tough few days for Southampton with back-to-back defeats so they need to stop the slide. Graziano Pelle has gone five games without a goal but I have a feeling he might get one here. 2-2.

    RK: Southampton have hit the wall but I agree with Andy on United and I am sure Louis van Gaal would take the draw if you offered it. 2-2.

    Liverpool v Sunderland

    AG: This is a big week for Liver­pool after a scruffy 1-0 win over Stoke and victory over a very poor Leicester side. If they can make it three on the trot it could turn their season around. 2-0.

    RK: Wins over Stoke and Leicester don’t represent a Liverpool revival but if can’t win this then serious questions need to be asked. 2-0.

    Hull v West Brom

    AG: There’s not much to choose between these strugglers but home advantage is key. Hull are difficult to beat on home turf so I expect them to win 1-0.

    RK: West Brom boss Alan Irvine is under pressure and I can’t see it getting any better at Hull who got a great point against Everton in midweek. 2-1 home win.

    QPR v Burnley

    AG: Burnley are on decent form and I still don’t know what to make of QPR. However, they are strong at home. 2-0.

    RK: Yes, QPR are decent at home but Burnley have got belief at the moment. 2-2.

    Stoke v Arsenal

    AG: Stoke always make life hard for Arsenal because of their physi­cality which always upsets Arsene Wenger. Arsenal won’t lose but Stoke can get a point. 1-1.

    RK: Arsenal don’t enjoy playing at Stoke but Mark Hughes’ side are totally unpredictable which makes this game hard to call. 1-1.

    Tottenham v Crystal Palace

    AG: I never know which Totten­ham side is going to turn up. When they are at it, Spurs look decent and because it’s at White Hart Lane they will win this 3-1.

    RK: Neil Warnock’s side are a bit up and down and although they can survive in the Premier League it is going to be a tough for them. Spurs will have too much. 3-1.

    West Ham v Swansea

    AG: West Ham have belief and desire but Garry Monk has got Swansea firing on all cylinders. I can’t separate these teams. 2-2.

    RK: Sam Allardyce will fancy this and they might just have the edge over Swansea, although Wilfried Bony is a threat and could nick something for Monk’s side. 2-1.

    Aston Villa v Leicester

    AG: This is a great opportunity for Villa to get back to back wins and with Christian Benteke back in the side and scoring they will have too much for Leicester. 2-0.

    RK: I wouldn’t leave the house on a cold winter afternoon to watch this match. Aston Villa will sit back and bore everyone to death and then hit Leicester on the break. It won’t be pretty but Villa will probably win this 1-0.

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