BPL Panel: Chelsea, City clash will end in stalemate

Title contenders Chelsea and Manchester City light up Stamford Bridge in this weekend’s star match in the Barclays Premier League (BPL).

It’s January 31 so it’s too early to be talking about a title decider, yet that’s precisely the feeling around Saturday night’s epic battle between the two teams.

Our soccer analysts are back to give you their views and predictions of all 10 games.

Welcome to the BPL preview!

HULL CITY V NEWCASTLE

Hull have only managed to win two home games all season, with the wins coming against Crystal Palace and Everton. Sunday, will they add your club to the list?

Sunday: Jon Carver has been given the mandate until end of the season at my darling Newcastle and it remains to be seen if the team would regain their winning mentality. One thing sure about the team currently is that they would both concede and score against any opposition – such is the attack mentality adopted by the interim boss. Hull City are no easy club to face and at home they can control the rate at which they ship in goals while also contributing at the other end. Both teams have had two weeks to prepare for this tie but I think home advantage would edge it for Hull City. 2-1

Aisha: Two teams not having a particularly good time at the moment. However, I think Hull will be stronger at home and should win this 2-1

Kayode: Hull desperately need to start finding their form as they are in huge danger of getting relegated. It’s not rosy for their opponent either so I’m expecting a scrappy game as both sides are desperate to get the three points. 1-1

CRYSTAL PALACE V EVERTON

Only one of the last eight fixtures has ended as a home win (2 draws, 5 away wins) but Everton have won none of their last six away games in the BPL – losing the last five in a row. Aisha, what’s your take?

Aisha: Alan Pardew has given Crystal Palace a new wave of confidence as their recent results show. Everton are without a win in a few games, like you said, and are beginning to get desperate. I feel this will be a draw. 2-2

Kayode: Palace have won four successive games since Alan Pardew was installed on the second day of the year. The Eagles occupy the relatively safe position of 13th ahead of the visit of Everton and all credit goes to Pardew. Everton have been poor lately so I don’t see them winning this. 2-1

Sunday: Look at the form book and you’d see the difference between these two teams. Everton have fallen from last year’s lofty heights, have a misfiring forward line and a strange defence that concedes continually, while they are a few losses away from relegation battle and I think Palace have the potential to do just that on Saturday. Their strength lies in the wings and the absence of Bolassie to AFCON has only spurred Puncheon and impressively, Wilfried Zaha to make sure the Pardew effect continues. Alan Pardew and Crystal Palace to continue their winning momentum. 2-1

LIVERPOOL V WEST HAM

Liverpool have only won two of their last six games at Anfield, drawing three. Kayode, do you see West Ham grabbing a point or three here?

Kayode: It’s highly unlikely because Liverpool have been playing very well recently. Agreed, their home from have not been great but the Hammers away form is not scary either. The Reds should win this 2-0

Sunday: Liverpool were extremely unlucky to lose to Chelsea in midweek and they are showing determination and belief in the past few months which has seen their fortune change a bit. They still lack some cutting edge and they’d fancy their chances against high-flying West Ham. I don’t think manager Allardyce will attack from the outset and I think his tactics will play into Rodgers’ hands, but he’d need the players to step up and the fans will definitely help then on. Liverpool to boss and win this feisty encounter. 3-1

Aisha: Liverpool showed in the Capital One semi-final matches with Chelsea that they are close to the form which made them runners up in the league last season. The additional 30 minutes they played at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday may have an effect but they still should get all three points against West Ham at Anfield. 2-1

MANCHESTER UNITED V LEICESTER CITY

Manchester United have lost just once in their last 14 fixtures in all competitions. Kayode, surely Leicester should be buried with goals at Old Trafford. No?

Kayode: Sure, United should win this game but I don’t expect another 5-3 kind of a crazy goal-fest at Old Trafford like when the two sides met early in the season. 2-1

Aisha: The Red Devils are beginning to get their rhythm in the league never mind the disappointing goalless draw with Cambridge in the FA Cup. Leicester City stunned United 5-3 last year in the BPL but I think the Red Devils will avenge that defeat in this game. 3-1

Sunday: Nothing but a convincing win at Old Trafford will pacify the home fans for the horror show United put up in the 5-3 capitulation the last time these two met. Louis van Gaal has been exhibiting the same attribute that got him booted out at Bayern – stubbornness and rigidity – and it’s not a good sign for United. The club has not had a good game in recent memory and although Leicester would pose the usual problem. The Red Devils should win convincingly. 3-0

STOKE V QPR

QPR have scored 1.2 goals on average this season, better than Stoke’s 1.1. Their defence is the problem for QPR though, with an average of 1.7 goals conceded in their last 20 matches in the BPL. Aisha, can they hold their own against Victor Moses and Peter Crouch?

Aisha: I doubt it because QPR have been very poor on their travels this season and I don’t fancy them getting anything from this game. Stoke should win this 2-1

‎Sunday: The Potters dismantled Rochdale in their FA Cup win on Monday but at the cost of Bojan missing the rest of the season. However, facing a relegation-threatened QPR that has lost all their previous away games should be the right setting to begin life without their talisman. It remains to be seen if a two weeks’ break has done the Rangers any good but currently, a narrow win for Stoke City is the most-likely outcome. 2-1

Kayode: After qualifying to the 5th round of the FA Cup, Stoke host a struggling QPR at the Britannia Stadium. That win came with a loss as they were dealt a blow with Bojan’s injury ruling him out for the rest of the season. Still, a struggling QPR won’t be excited by the prospect of facing Stoke at the Britannia. 3-0

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SUNDERLAND V BURNLEY

Sunderland have fewer wins than any other team in the BPL and have more draws than any other team as well. Aisha, can Burnley nick this one?

Aisha: Burnley are the favourites of most analysts for relegation but Sunderland are not completely safe themselves just yet. But I tip the Black Cats to win this 2-1

Sunday: A relegation six pointer and the perfect game for Gus Poyet to unleash Jermaine Defoe on Burnley. Sunderland are not known to score much and that has been their major negative all season. Burnley on the other hand do not hold back whether home or away and it could be a fascinating encounter. ‎Defoe to mark his home debut with the winner. 2-1

Kayode: Both sides are hovering just above the relegation zone with 20 points each.  This is a huge match for the two sides.  Both teams are only three points off bottom spot and are desperate for all three points. Neither will get it. 1-1

WEST BROMICH V TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR

West Brom have scored the joint least goals in the BPL alongside Sunderland. Sunday, where will the goals come from against Spurs?

Sunday: The Tony Pulis effect. That is what West Brom would ride on in this encounter. Although the Midlands club have not fully understood their new manager’s philosophy, they are already pretty hard to beat and are winning games which is a positive. Tottenham have exerted themselves in mid-week in the League Cup and fatigue could set in. Another issue is the problem of their strikers and an under-par defence. Harry Kane will be stifled and Pulis to nick another win. 2-1

Aisha: Spurs are playing well at the moment and in the midweek qualified for the final of the Capital One Cup. West Brom are a decent side and would be difficult at home. A draw would be a fair result. 1-1

Kayode: After securing a nervy passage to Wembley in the Capital One Cup semi-finals at Bramall Lane, Spurs must focus their attentions on the BPL as the race for the fourth positions heats up with every passing week. So, they can’t afford to lose to West Brom. They will, though. 2-0

CHELSEA V MANCHESTER CITY

Chelsea have won four and lost just two of their last eight BPL games against Manchester City. Also, no team has beaten City more often in the league than Chelsea (22 victories, same as Arsenal). Aisha, do you see your team maintaining their record over the Citizens?

Aisha: It’s still January but this game could be a title decider. A Chelsea win would see the Blues opening up an eight point lead over City which could prove too much for the champions to recover from. A win for Man City would mean we still have a title race while a draw keeps us all guessing. Manchester City have uncharacteristically been very poor in recent games perhaps because of the absence of Yaya Toure. Chelsea on the other hand needed extra time on Tuesday to beat Liverpool in the Capital One Cup and may not have recovered fully by Saturday. Diego Costa faces a violent conduct charge and could be suspended for this game. I think all these will culminate in an explosive 1-1 draw

Sunday: It remains to be seen if Diego Costa will feature after his misdemeanours in midweek and Fabregas is injured. However, whoever Jose Mourinho puts out on the field will do the job against an out-of-form City. The Champions were bossed by Middlesbrough last weekend and have only been scrapping through games in Yaya Toure’s absence. Aguero and Dzeko are not fully fit while Jovetic’s form leaves much to be desired. Depending on how well Hazard and Oscar play in this fixture, I see Chelsea winning it. 2-1

Kayode: Chelsea will be without talismanic striker Diego Costa after the Football Association charged him for stamping on Liverpool’s Emre Can during Tuesday night’s Capital One Cup semi-final, second leg. Cesc Fabregas pulled his hamstring in the same match and is likely to watch on from the stands. Can Chelsea survive from those double blows? Now with a five point gap to the Blues, City need to show that they can keep up with the pace which they have shown on many occasions in the last few years. It will be an explosive game that will eventually end in a draw. 2-2

ARSENAL V ASTON VILLA

The Gunners will be seeking a hat-trick of league wins when they face Aston Villa. Kayode, do you see that happening?

Kayode: So far this season, Arsenal have not strung three league wins together but they’ll get few better chances than against goal-shy Aston Villa to achieve that. It’s a straight forward win for the Gunners! 2-0

Aisha: The Gunners are cruising right now and I don’t see a struggling Aston Villa slowing them down. This should be a comfortable 3-0 win for the home side

Sunday: It’s going to be a routine win for the in-form Gunners who can now call on a plethora of attacking players to dismantle the opposition. Their defence is also looking the part again and it’ll fancy its chances against the lowest scoring team in the division. Three easy points for the Gunners. 3-1

SOUTHAMPTON V SWANSEA

Like Arsenal, Southampton are seeking hat-trick of league victories after disuniting Man United and Newcastle United in previous games. Aisha, will the Saints go marching on?

Aisha: Against all odds, Southampton are in the Champions League position at the moment. Another great showing against Swansea will make them a real threat to the big names contending for the third and fourth spots. Yes, the Saints’ will go marching on! 2-1

Sunday: Swansea are bitterly missing Bony’s holding-up prowess upfront and although Bafetimbi Gomis is a good target man, he can’t bring the ball to play others in like the Ivory Coast forward. This has affected the Welsh side’s forward play and Southampton would be happy facing them now. The Saints were left stunned by Palace and Zaha in the FA Cup last weekend and they would want to prove that the loss was only a blip in form. Koeman’s men to battle to victory in front of their home support. 2-0

Kayode: Southampton are the fourth highest scorers in the BPL this season with 37 goals, while Swansea occupy a mid-table position with 26, although nine of those were netted by Wilfried Bony, who has now joined City. So, goals seem guaranteed in Sunday’s Premier League clash between Southampton and Swansea at St Mary’s Stadium. 3-2

WEEK 22 PREDICTIONS

MATCH	KAYODE	AISHA	SUNDAY	RESULTS
Aston Villa v Liverpool	0-2	1-1	0-2	0-2
Burnley v Crystal Palace	1-0	2-2	1-1	2-3
Leicester v Stoke	1-2	1-1	1-1	0-1
QPR v Man United	1-3	1-2	1-2	0-2
Swansea v Chelsea	1-3	1-2	1-2	0-5
Tottenham v Sunderland	2-0	2-1	3-0	2-1
Newcastle v Southampton	1-2	1-1	2-2	1-2
West Ham v Hull	2-0	2-1	2-1	3-0
Man City v Arsenal	2-1	2-2	2-2	0-2
Everton v West Brom	0-1	2-0	2-1	0-0

PUNDITS LEAGUE TABLE

PUNDIT	WK 22 CORRECT RESULT (1PT)	WK 22 SCORE (2PTS)	WK 22 TOTAL POINTS	CUMULATIVE POINTS
Sunday Omeike	5	2	7	141
Aisha Falode	4	2	6	127
Kayode Tijani	7	4	11	116