Soccer Saturday: Week 22

Welcome to a new series in Mr. Paokaliao, where we dissect the games happening each week, as well as for those playing Fantasy Leagues (be it through the official site, or other alternate sites) to decide what transfers to make or which players are on form.

First and foremost, I would like to start of with letting everyone know that I am a proud supporter of this club since 12 (that's 14 years and counting)

Yes. Am a Newcastle United Football Club supporter ever since the Alan Shearer era. Otherwise known as the Magpies, Toon Army or Geordies, us lot have gone through aplenty since the inauguration of the Premier League (Relegation, Europe, Mike Ashley)

Anyway, that's beside the point. Let's get down to proper football talk, and discuss the games happening in this week, Gameweek 21. 

Note: Numbers shown in within the brackets represent their record in the Premier League (Win-Draw-Loss)

1. Swansea (8-6-7) vs Chelsea (15-4-2) [MIO Stadium Ch102]

• Last 5 games: Swansea (WWLDD) & Chelsea (WWDLW)
• Last 5 home games for Swansea: DWLWD
• Last 5 away games for Chelsea: LWWDL

Swansea faces the league leaders with plenty of key personnel missing, with Ki Sung-Yeung away on Asian Cup duty, and Jonjo Shelvey completing his 4 match suspension. Additionally, now with their top scorer Bony off to Manchester City, all the goal scoring burden will now rest on Bafetimbi Gomis, and on-loan Nelson Oliveira now as their back up striker. Jefferson Montero could make it to the bench after making a quicker than expected recovery from a hamstring injury.

Chelsea will be missing Cesar Azpilicueta with a groin injury, but will be welcoming back Thibaut Courtois after missing the past 2 games with a finger injury. 

Chelsea has emerged victorious 4 out of the last 5 times in this fixture. Times are a changing now at the Liberty Stadium, and with Bony now off to Manchester City, expect a tough time in terms of goals to come for Swansea. I don't envision Gomis replicating the success of Bony, but his hold up play has been decent. Sigurdsson will now have a larger role to play, thus expect him to bomb forward with every opportunity possible. However, I still expect Chelsea to coast through this fixture comfortably, as their attacking firepower may prove too strong for Swansea's defence to cope. Expect Hazard to play a huge role once again.



Prediction: Chelsea to win 2-0
Key personnel: Gylfi Sigurdsson, Eden Hazard 


2. QPR (5-4-12) vs Manchester United (10-7-4) [MIO Stadium Ch103]

• Last 5 games: QPR (WLDDL) & Manchester United (DWDDL)
• Last 5 home games for QPR: WWDDL
• Last 5 away games for Man Utd: WDDDW

QPR will be without Armand Traore, with Sandro & Yun Suk-Young still sidelined with knee and ankle injury respectively. Niko Kranjcar is back from a thigh problem. 

Manchester United comes into this fixture with the possibility of Robin Van Persie missing out due to an ankle injury, while Ashley Young misses out due to a hamstring problem. They will welcome back both Rafael and Marcos Rojo from their respective cheekbone and thigh injuries.

QPR hosts Manchester United, with the travellers having lost their previous game against Southampton without even registering a shot at goal and mysteriously "resting" Falcao. Although QPR has been getting all of their points at Loftus Road, I don't expect them registering even a draw today. Watch out for Wayne Rooney coming in from midfield to dominate against QPR's weak midfield, as well as Falcao getting a game this time round. However, do expect Charlie Austin to once again feature at some point in time.

Prediction: QPR 1 Man Utd 3

Key Personnel: Charlie Austin, Wayne Rooney

3. Aston Villa (5-7-9) vs Liverpool (9-5-7) [MIO Stadium Ch104]

• Last 5 games: Villa (DLDDL) & Liverpool (DWWDW)
• Last 5 home games for Villa: WDDDW
• Last 5 away games for Liverpool: LWWWW

Aston Villa will be missing plenty of key players, with Ciaran Clark suspended, and Ron Vlaar, Philippe Senderos and Libor Kozak all sidelined. However, new signing Carles Gil from Valencia comes straight into the team, and will be expected to feature at some point during the game.

Liverpool will be racing against time to hopefully get Steven Gerrard and Adam Lallana fit for this fixure. Both are recovering from an tight hamstring and thigh injury respectively. Joe Allen, Kolo Toue  & Daniel Sturridge are still out.

Aston Villa will soon find themselves in serious relegation trouble if they cant convert the chances they have. They have scored only 11 goals. which is 2 shy of Alexis Sanchez himself. Liverpool now find themselves on the cusp of a renaissance, being undefeated the Old Trafford collapse. Apparently, Mario Balotelli has scored 4 goals against Villa in 3 games, twice as many as any other opponent. Im predicting a narrow Liverpool victory, with this game potentially being decided by a moment of brilliance or stupidity.

Prediction: 1-0 win for Liverpool

Key Personnel: Mario Balotelli

4. Tottenham (10-4-7) vs Sunderland (3-11-7) [MIO Stadium Ch105]

• Last 5 games: Tottenham (WWDWL) & Sunderland (WLDLL)
• Last 5 home games for Tottenham: WWDWW
• Last 5 away games for Sunderland: DDWDL

Tottenham will be without Erik Lamela and Ryan Mason for at least a week more, and that they will be having their regulars back after the midweek FA cup replay tie. Nabil Bentaleb misses out due to international commitment at the African Cup of Nations.

Sunderland will be without Jack Rodwell, Lee Cattermole and Anthony Reveillere through injuries and Liam Bridcutt misses out after his sending off against Liverpool. Jermaine Defoe might well be handed his debut against his former team.

Tottenham is the form team of the EPL coming into this fixture. In my opinion, the loss against Crystal Palace was just a blip, and I feel that they would most likely get back to their winning ways against a Sunderland side that has been simply woeful of late. Jermaine Defoe might help with their issues of scoring, but it might not be enough for them to get a win. Hence, am tipping for a clear Tottenham victory.

Prediction: Spurs to win 3-1

Key Personnel: Christian Eriksen, Harry Kane, Jermaine Defoe

5. Leicester City (4-5-12) vs Stoke (7-5-9) [MIO Stadium Ch106]

• Last 5 games: Leicester (LLLDW) & Stoke (LLWDL)
• Last 5 home games for Leicester: (LLLWW)
• Last 5 away games for Stoke: (LLDWL)

Leicester will be without Kasper Schmeichel, Matt Upson, Jeff Schlupp through injuries, and Riyad Mahrez will be away for international duty through African Cup of Nations. Dean Hammond & Esteban Cambiasso might miss out as well.

Stoke will be without Mame Biram Diouf through African Cup of Nations, but will welcome back Steven Nzonzi. Peter Odemwingie is still a long term casualty.

Leicester, after a bright start, find themselves rooted at the bottom of the table. Stoke is one team that you just simply wont know how they will perform. This match is one that has a word draw all over it.

Prediction: 1-1 draw

Key Personnel: Bojan Krkic

6. Burnley (4-8-9) vs Crystal Palance (4-8-9) [MIO Stadium Ch 107]

• Last 5 games: Burnley (LLDDW) & Crystal Palace (LLDDW)
• Last 5 home games for Burnley (DWLDW)
• Last 5 away games for Crystal Palace (DLDDW)

Burnley will be hoping that Kieran Tripper and Jason Shackell be passed fit for this game. Kevin Long, Stephen Ward and Matt Taylor are all still sidelined. 

Crystal Palace will be having a fully fit team, coupled with the addition of Yaya Sanogo on loan from Arsenal. Mile Jedinak is away on international duty, likewise for Yannick Bolasie

Two teams with identical records come face to face in another relegation 6 pointer. It seems that with Alan Pardew at the helm of Crystal Palace, they seem to be a different team. Burnley, whom everyone thought would be clear cut favourites for relegation, are making a fight out of it, with Sean Dyche doing a better than expected job. Will Yaya Sanogo show EPL, especially Arsenal fans, what he is capable of? Or will Danny Ings come up with goals to further add on to his burgeoning reputation? I predict an exciting 2-2 draw for this game.

Prediction: 2-2 draw

Key personnel: Danny Ings


7. Newcastle (7-6-8) vs Southampton (12-3-6) [MIO Stadium Ch 102] 2300

• Last 5 games: Newcastle (LLWDL) & Southampton (WWDWW)
• Last 5 home games for Newcastle: WWLWD
• Last 5 away games for Southampton: LLWWW

Newcastle has officially the longest injury list, with Mehdi Abeid, Siem de Jong, Gabriel Obertan, Rolando Aarons, Jak Alnwick, Rob Eilliot, Steven Taylor & Adam Armstrong all missing through injury. Furthermore, Cheick Tiote & Papiss Cisse are away on international duty.

Southampton themselves do have a long absentee list, with Victor Wanyama, Morgan Schneiderlin & Toby Alderweireld missing in action. Emmanuel Mayuka, Sadio Mane & Maya Yoshida misses out due to international commitment.

The 2 teams come into this fixture in contrasting form. With Newcastle having just pick up 4 points, while Southampton had managed to pick up 13 out of 15 points, with the only points dropped playing against Chelsea, and Southampton actually played well, including getting wins against Arsenal and Man Utd. Newcastle, who will wait only till the end of the month to decide on their next manager, would have not preferred to meet Southampton. But, given that Southampton's midfield tandem of Waynama & Schneiderlin are both missing, I'm tipping Newcastle to at least hold on for a point.

Prediction: 1-1 draw

Key Personnel: Dusan Tadic, Moussa Sissoko