EPL Game Week 12: Previews and Predictions

Presenting the Premier League Game Week Predictor, a new weekly feature at Sportskeeda. Here are the previews and predictions for the matches in the EPL for the upcoming game week . Points will be assigned on the basis of the results I predict correctly, you are welcome to predict your own results and compare your final scores with mine .

THE RULES

Taking a cue from Mark Lawrenson , the famous BBC pundit, the following will be the rules .

1. 3 points for a correct score.

2. 1 point for a correct result.

3. 0 points for a correct result.

4. All your predictions in the comments section before the start of the first match.

This feature will be done every game week, so start predicting, and beat our prediction points as often as you can .

All timings in brackets, IST

1 . Norwich City vs Arsenal ( 19 Nov, 1815 hrs)

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The international break always comes at the wrong time for Arsenal , and they would not have wanted this break at a time when as a team they were enjoying their best form in over 8 months. Norwich have played some very beautiful football this season, and beating them at home is not a very easy task. But if Arsenal are to challenge for the Champions League spot, these are the kind of matches they just have to win. I will go for an Arsenal win, though it will not by any means be easy .

Prediction : 1-2

2 . Everton vs Wolverhampton Wanderers ( 19 Nov, 2030 hrs )

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Neither of these teams has had a good start to the season. David Moyes’ job is pretty safe, Mick McCarthy bought himself time with a very important win against relegation rivals Wigan last week. However the quality is there in Moyes’s side to scrape this one through.

Prediction : 2-0

3 . Manchester City vs Newcastle United ( 19 Nov, 2030 hrs )

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So this is finally the match when Newcastle’s unbeaten run will come to an end. They have been unbeaten in all 11 matches this season, surprising everyone, but maintaining that against the table toppers at their home looks like a near impossible task. A lot will depend on the performances of Coloccini and the Taylor’s in the defense for the Magpies. If Newcastle manage to remain unbeaten after this match, I promise to buy Alan Padrew a drink !

Prediction : 2-0

4 . Stoke City vs QPR ( 19 Nov, 2030 hrs )

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Stoke City are at the back of a 5-0 thrashing against Bolton a fortnight ago, but thanks to the International break and the rest to the players, they had all the time in the world to recuperate. QPR lost to City in the last match they played but displayed good fighting capabilities. This will be a very interesting match, depending on how the Rangers defend against set pieces, especially throw ins. Difficult to predict, I will go for a narrow victory for the home side.

Prediction : 2-1

5 . Sunderland vs Fulham ( 19 Nov, 2030 hrs )

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Steve Bruce, despite having bought over 10 players during the summer, hasn’t had the best of starts to the season. He is one of the managers whose job seems to be in trouble. At home against Fulham, a minimum of 1 point is expected of Sunderland. Fulham are gelling well finally, and generally do not perform well after having Europa league matches on Thursdays, understandably due to fatigue. However they are well rested and prepared, and Zamora just earned his second England cap against Sweden.

Prediction : 1-1

6 . WBA vs Bolton ( 19 Nov, 2030 hrs )

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So with a thumping win against Stoke, Coyle’s team have finally got their season on track. Hodgson’s boys aren’t performing that well currently and there couldn’t have been a better time for Bolton to travel to the Hawthorns. This will be a pretty close match.

Prediction : 1-2

7 . Wigan Athletic vs Blackburn ( 19 Nov, 2030 hrs )

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This is a vintage relegation battle match, and I have always enjoyed relegation battles more than the title battles. For the long term benefit of the Blackburn fans, wouldn’t it be best if they lose, so that probably the Venky’s get some sense and decide to sack Kean someday? But I doubt if that would happen. This kind of a match should generally be won by the home side, or they may find themselves in deep deep trouble come May.

Prediction : 2-1

8 . Swansea City vs Manchester United ( 19 Nov, 2300 hrs )

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A 1-0 win seem to be the order of the day for Manchester United since the defeat to noisy neighbors City. Swansea away aren’t as easy as it may seem, and Rooney might still continue to play in midfield, so there it is, a one nil victory for United is something Sir Alex will be contend with.

Prediction : 0-1

9 . Chelsea vs Liverpool ( 20 Nov, 2130 hrs )

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A wonderful in depth preview of this match has already been done on this site which can be read here. I won’t say much about this one, except that it is an interesting match for Torres against his previous club. Home advantage, and the lack of clinical finishing by Liverpool tempts me to give this one to Chelsea.

Prediction : 3-2

10 . Tottenham Hotspur vs Aston Villa ( 22 Nov , 0130 hrs )

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Another very interesting match this game week. Tottenham, especially their midfield, is in a sensational form. Villa are currently managed by McLeish who takes defending very seriously. Villa’s strike partnership of Gabby and Bent is doing exceptionally well, but it won’t be enough to salvage a point against Tottenham.

Prediction : 3-1

These are my predictions for the week. What are yours? Post in the comments section then let’s calculate the points after the matches.