Predict360: Liverpool move into second but Man Utd still lead

Elsewhere, there has been little movement, although a point for Simon and Tottenham means the bottom three are starting to cast adrift from the pack.

However, there is no time like the present to recover the deficit and this weekend, Shivam, Mark and Ted will be hoping a correct result for their respective sides can thrust them up the table.

The big head-to-head this weekend is at Old Trafford as United host Everton on Sunday. With six points between them in the Predict360 table, Mark will be hoping he can emerge from the basement and into contention.

We will have to wait and see. As always, best of luck gentlemen.

CURRENT LEAGUE TABLE (after 21 rounds)

Man United (Moe) – 19pts

Liverpool (Obaydah) – 18

Man City (Darren) – 17

Tottenham (Simon) – 15

Chelsea (Shivam) – 13

Everton (Mark) – 13

Arsenal (Ted) – 12

 

TED TOTSIDIS – @TedTots (Arsenal)

What happened last week? Other than the fact we didn’t score more goals, I would say everything else went well last week against Stoke. We totally dominated the match in all aspects; controlling the midfield and setting up wave after wave of attack. Even debutant Nacho Monreal had a great match at left-back. Was I expecting anything less than a win? No and rightly so if we’re to secure Champions League football next season.

This week: We travel to the Stadium of Light to face Martin O’Neill’s industrious Sunderland side this weekend. I have a lot of respect for Martin because he usually has very little budget to work with at his clubs, yet manages to get them all performing at their peak. What this means is a tough match away from home today, so my only hope after the mid-week madness of international friendlies, is that our lads show up and are focused from kick off, not the second half which has been the case for the last few weeks now. We should win this match and pending other results, the three points should propel us to within a point of fourth place. Come On You Gunners! Sunderland 1 – 2 Arsenal

 

SHIVAM MANGHNANI – @ShivamLM (Chelsea)

What happened last week? Yet another 3 points squandered against Newcastle. I would have taken the draw at 2-2 but to lose 3-2 is sickening and the fault lies with the manager. The players looked fatigued; Chelsea have played at least a game every 3 days since November yet Rafa Benitez only makes one substitution the entire game and an enforced one as that. Obviously the players have to take some blame especially with a couple (namely Ramires and Fernando Torres…again) being very casual in possession and leaving Chelsea susceptible on the counter.

I am surprised Benitez didn’t go with Cesar Azpilicueta as his pace would have certainly helped the back four. But Frank Lampard and Juan Mata again showed their quality and we need to keep them both fit till the end of the season.

This week: Against Wigan it should be easier than last week. But Chelsea don’t seem to understand the concept of easy. David Luiz and Eden Hazard will be back which should help our squad. Luiz was excellent for Brazil against England and showed no signs of any injury. Personally I would love to see Ramires play higher up the field because when he plays as a holding midfielder alongside Lampard he tends to be very sloppy and often reckless in the challenge.

With Hazard back it will be interesting to see if Benitez goes for Mata/Oscar/Hazard or will again for playing a left back at left wing.I can’t see Chelsea having too many problems today and a win is due and a rather big one at that. Chelsea 6-0 Wigan

 

MARK SCHUMANN – @MarkSchuey (Everton)

What happened last week? Sigh…. Should have been a simple 3 points against a team that is struggling but we only managed to walk away with a draw. We are still in the hunt for a Champions league spot, and with Chelsea seemingly imploding wouldn’t it be funny if both Spurs and Everton got 3rd and 4th with Chelsea 5th or even 6th? Who knows on current form.

This week: Oh dear. Manchester United away – it doesn’t get any scarier in the Premier League this season. We have struggled to keep the goals out against teams who struggle struggles for goals so I’m not banking on a clean sheet. My only ray of hope is that Man Utd have been a bit unsure at the back themselves. I can’t bring myself to predict a loss for Everton, although this is one week where I’m not hugely confident of Everton’s chances. However, last year was 4-4 so you never know. Manchester United 2-2 Everton

 

DARREN BALL – @AbuDhabiDaz (Man City)

What happened last week? Last week saw a very entertaining 2-2 draw with Liverpool and a game that saw 3 goals which could all probably lay claim to goal of the season. How times have changed when it is City that are not happy with dropping 2 points in this fixture. Liverpool put in a very strong performance and it was evident that City are desperately missing the midfield presence of Yaya Toure and the defensive power of skipper Vincent Kompany.

The draw saw us slip a little bit further away from the league leaders who have opened up a 9 point gap at the top. It will be a very tough ask to close that gap but we all know what happened with 6 games left last season.

This week: City travel down to the south coast to face a Southampton team under new management for the late game on Saturday. Just as we expected in the season opener, this will not be a walk in the park. Southampton are a decent team who can score goals, but are also capable of conceding a few.

City will thankfully welcome the return of Yaya Toure and his brother Kolo from the AFCON and we are hoping to see the return of captain Kompany. With 13 games remaining I still think both teams at the top will drop points but for City I don’t think today will be one of those days. Southampton 0-3 Manchester City

 

MOHAMMED ANABTAWI – @MoeAnabtawi (Manchester United)

What happened last week? Last week, it was a wonderful match at the Cottage and an admirable performance by both teams. But United came out victorious organizing themselves effectively from the back to the front. It was somewhat pleasing to see us defend well over the past few fixtures.

We have managed to concede a goal here and there but considering how we have managed to sit back and allow teams to come forward, it was as if we wanted to know just how good we are defensively ahead of Wednesdays clash vs Real Madrid. I am by no means comparing Tottenham, Southhampton & Fulhams line of attack to Real Madrids, but it was the invited pressure that made good practice for us.

This week: With Real Madrid looming in the background, the tie on Sunday has shown the lack of support for the FA towards English teams in European competitions.  I have nothing but true admiration for Everton and the entertaining football they often play, while this fixture has thrown up some classic encounters over the years.

However, considering United’s squad depth, I am confident that no matter what team is on the pitch they will earn a positive result against the Toffees.  As important as it is to win on Sunday, it is more crucial on earning that positive result at the Santiago Bernabeau which will enable us to either fight back or seal the win at Old Trafford come 5th March. Manchester United 3 – 2 Everton

 

SIMON THURSTON – @SimonPThurston (Tottenham)

What happened last week? Right result; wrong scoreline. This was the tight game I envisaged up until the point Goran Popov spat at Kyle Walker resulting in a deserved red card early in the second half. From that moment on there was only one team in it. And although the Baggies went for it in the last 10 minutes, Spurs were good value for their three points thanks to a thunderbolt from Welsh wizard Gareth Bale.

This week: In their last three league meetings with Newcastle at The Lane, Spurs have won all three by an aggregate of 8-0. This includes a 5-0 thrashing last season in what was probably the Londoners best performance of the season. Prior to the transfer window, I may have been tempted to predict a similarly one-sided affair.

However The Toon seem to have invested in some quality reinforcements, and the once relegation candidates must surely be looking up rather than down now. Spurs are on a run of nine matches without defeat, and Emmanuel Adebayor is back from AFCON duty at just the right time given Jermaine Defoe is expected to be out for three weeks through injury.

Newcastle will be buoyed by their amazing 3-2 win against Chelsea last week, but at home I feel we are a match for anyone. It won’t be a repeat of the 5-0 demolition, but I am sticking my neck out for a home win. Tottenham 2-1 Newcastle

 

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