Hotshot Harry's Premier League

WEEK 26

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Predictions will generally be posted by Friday each week,
AND the analyses should be up by Wednesday following each weekend’s games.

The odds that I quote on each game are the first available and are quite
possibly subject to change as the game day approaches. 

WEEK 26

All times are Mountain Standard Time

LAST WEEK’S SUMMARY

WEEK 25

As was expected, Arsenal kept their lead at the top of the table, but a stellar effort by Manchester City at the end of their game with Liverpool keeps City in the running, only just. It’s getting to get tougher and tougher to catch the Gunners if City can’t establish some form of consistency. West Ham pulled off another victory, that’s three wins in four games, but if they are to avoid the drop, they need to keep it up. Not an easy task at Manchester United next time out. Week 27 will be 3/4 of the way through the season and time is running out for those trying to catch and those trying to escape.

WEEK 26 GAME 1 – Tues Feb 10th 12:30
HOME AWAY

EVERTON
The Toffees

BOURNEMOUTH
The Cherries
Odds PICK O/U 2 1/2 Odds PICK
PREDICTIONS: Here are two teams that don’t deserve the results that they have been getting. A PICK for this game would seem about right. All I can say is that because Everton are at home, I would have to give the nod to them. Everton PICK
RESULTS: 1-2
ANALYSIS:  Bournemouth are not the greatest team in the world, far from it, so were does that put Everton? Just about were they deserve. They got a very lucky away win at Fulham last week, but reverted back to their old ways against a largely uninspired Bournemouth. In fact, they were one goal up going into the break and had messed up other excellent chances. In the second period, in eight minutes, Everton had given up the equalizer, had a man sent off and lost the lead. The Toffees have now lost six of their home games and having lost Jack Grealish for the season, the rest of their campaign looks to be a steady decline. They were 8th in the table going into this game, and as I see it that is about as high as they are going to get.

WEEK26 GAME 2 – Tues Feb 10th 12:30
HOME AWAY

CHELSEA
The Blues

LEEDS
The Whites
Odds -1  O/U 3 1/2  Odds +1 
PREDICTIONS: Taking all things into consideration, this should be a relatively easy win for Chelsea. Leeds are formidable at home, but that’s not where this game is being played. Chelsea should make this a home victory. Chelsea -1
RESULTS: 2-2
ANALYSIS:  A very welcome, and unexpected result, for Leeds at Chelsea on Tuesday. With no one but themselves to blame, Chelsea had this game won at 2-0, but managed to let two points slip away before it was all done. The Blues had an overwhelming advantage in possession, and five times as many shots and had a comfortable lead at half time. Leeds managed to claw back two goals and Chelsea came looking for the winner with just a few minutes left. At the end, Cole Palmer was perhaps six inches from the goal line when the perfect cross was sent into him. The goal was open and if he had just stood there the ball would have just bounced off him into the net. Somehow, he managed to put it over the top of the goal. A ninety-year-old in a wheelchair could have scored that goal, but apparently not one of the best strikers in the Premier League.

WEEK 26 GAME 3 – Tues Feb 10th 12:30
HOME AWAY

TOTTENHAM
The Spurs

NEWCASTLE
The Magpies

 Newcastle United Logo
Odds Pick O/U 2 1/2 Odds Pick
PREDICTIONS: Wow. The team that can’t win at home against the team that can’t win away. One would have to go with the Spurs despite their horrible home record. I say that with no degree of confidence you understand. If you have money that you can’t find a use for, put it on Spurs.  Don’t blame me if it turns pear shaped. It’s not my Gold Star Pick anyway.
RESULTS: 1-2
ANALYSIS: Oh, this does not look good. With Leeds getting a draw at Chelsea, Tottenham are now just one spot above the relegation zone. As usual, Spurs looked disjointed and out of synch with each other. They did a lot of running around without producing anything of note, and as I have said before, even if they do have lots of injuries and missing players, most of the guys out there today are simply not good enough for Prime-Time football. Newcastle’s 12 corners to Spurs 2 gives some indication of how one-sided this game was. They already had a goal disallowed before Malik Thiaw scored from the penalty spot in extra time at the end of the first half. Archie Gray pulled Spurs level after the break, but their joy was short-lived as Jacob Ramsey scored a second for the Magpies just four minutes later. As is becoming common, the home team were booed off the pitch with the fans calling for the ouster of manager Thomas Frank.

WEEK 26 GAME 4 – Tues Feb 10th 1:15
HOME AWAY

WEST HAM
The Hammers 

MANCHESTER UNITED
The Red Devils
Odds +1/2 O/U 3 Odds -1/2
PREDICTIONS: Manchester United are currently in fourth position in the table, much to my surprise. Therefore, I can’t see them having too much trouble with a newly resurgent West Ham. The Hammers are still the same cluster of misfits that have struggled for most of this season. Not much joy to be found this week for the Londoners. Manchester United -1/2
RESULTS: 1-1

ANALYSIS:  Manchester United dodged a bullet here. West Ham looked to be ready to claim another three points right up until six minutes into injury time ,when Benjamin Sesko stepped up and scored the equalizer for the Red Devils. The Hammers really didn’t deserve the lead and United already had a goal disallowed but needed to wait until the dying seconds to breathe a sigh of relief. West Ham continue their long hard climb out of the pits and this result puts added pressure on Notts Forest to get a result on Wednesday against Wolves. As the table reads right now, Forest are only two points clear of being caught but their relegation threatened neighbors.

WEEK 26 GAME 5 –Weds Feb 11th 12:30
HOME AWAY

ASTON VILLA
The Villans

BRIGHTON
The Seagulls
Odds -1/2 O/U 2 1/2 Odds +1/2
PREDICTIONS: After a couple of very uninspiring games in the last couple of outings, it’s about time Villa got their game together. Watching last week’s abomination of Brighton v Crystal Palace, I wouldn’t be surprised if Brighton never win a game again, certainly not in the Premier League. Aston Villa -1/2
RESULTS: 1-0
ANALYSIS:  Aston Villa made this look a lot harder than it needed to be. At this point in the season, Brighton bring absolutely nothing to the game. Villa couldn’t seem to find a way to break them down and it looked like it was going to be another home draw until five minutes from time. A corner by substitute Bailey floats into a crowded penalty area and Tyrone Mings raises up to nod the ball into the net. After a review, it was decided that it came off of Jake Hinshelwood and therefore was an own goal. To be fair though, it was a Mings’ goal. Actually, Brighton looked the better team in the second half, and although three points still keeps Villa in contention for a top spot, their current form does not look very inspiring. I must say that I was pleased with the result as it was my Gold Star Pick, but it looked like it was going down the drain until right at the end.

WEEK 26 GAME 6 – Weds Feb 11th 12:30
HOME AWAY

NOTTINGHAM FOREST
The Tricky Trees

WOLVERHAMPTON
The Wolves
Odds +1/2 O/U 2 1/2 Odds -1/2
PREDICTIONS: With West Ham breathing down their neck, Notts Forest can’t afford any slip ups here. Forest are at home and Wolves are already toast, but stranger things have happened. Nevertheless, I see the Tricky Trees compounding Wolves misery. Nottingham Forest +1/2
RESULTS: 0-0
ANALYSIS: A pathetic display by Wolves is one way of looking at this game. On the other hand, they did survive 35 shots from a very ineffective Nottingham side. One point at this stage will do Forest a lot more good than Wolves, but West Ham are hot on their tail in the race to avoid relegation. As far as the owner goes, one point isn’t good enough though. Nottingham’s manager, Sean Dyche, was fired shortly after the game finished, and now they are looking for their fourth manager this season. I thought Dyche did a decent job of keeping their head above water and another change this late in the season might not be enough to save them. At this stage, I see this as good news for West Ham.

WEEK 26 GAME 7 – Weds Feb 11th 12:30
HOME AWAY

CRYSTAL PALACE
The Eagles

BURNLEY
The Clarets
Odds -1 O/U 2 1/2 Odds +1
PREDICTIONS: After last week’s efforts against Brighton, Palace look all but useless to me. Burnley may be toast but they still have some pride left. The dismal effort that The Eagles produced last week does not inspire any confidence whatsoever. Might be going out on a limb here, but I’ll take Burnley to keep it close. Burnley +1
RESULTS: 2-3
ANALYSIS:  Palace continue their slow, but inevitable, slide down the Table. All five goals were scored in the first half with Palace going out to a two-goal lead courtesy of new signing Jorgen Strand Larsen. The three points that Burnley eventually ended up with certainly made them feel good, but a measly 68% pass accuracy rate is embarrassingly bad. When you look at the stats, it’s hard to see how they managed to pull this off: 36% possession, Palace’s 3 times more shots on goal and 4 times more corners. It shows not only how bad Burnley are, but also The Eagles’ lack of getting much of anything right.

WEEK 26 GAME 8 – Weds Feb 11th 12:30
HOME AWAY

MANCHESTER CITY
The Citizens

FULHAM
The Cottagers
Odds -1 O/U 3 Odds +1
PREDICTIONS: As promising as Fulham can be, I fear that the Cottagers will have bitten off more than they can chew. City’s last week’s victory over Liverpool will have given them confidence to press on in their pursuit of Arsenal. With the home field advantage, they should have no problem with dispatching Fulham. Manchester City -1
RESULTS: 3-0
ANALYSIS: This went pretty much as expected. The game was effectively over by halftime, and Earling Haaland didn’t bother coming out for the second period. Fulham showed a little more fight later in the game, but that was probably due to the fact that City had eased off and cruised to an easy win. Before Arsenal play on Thursday, their lead over Manchester sits at three points. After they play Brentford, it might go back to six points.

WEEK 26 GAME 9 – Weds Feb 11th 1:15
HOME AWAY

SUNDERLAND
The Black Cats

LIVERPOOL
The Reds
Odds +1/2 O/U 2 1/2 Odds -1/2
PREDICTIONS: Everyone knows that the Cats are tough at home, but Liverpool should have this one in the bag. A stinging result against Manchester City a few days ago should inspire them to get a result here. Liverpool. -1/2
RESULTS: 0-1
ANALYSIS:  Sunderland suffered their first home defeat of the season at home against a Liverpool team seeking revenge for their defeat to Manchester City last time out. An entertaining and spirited affair saw chances for both teams and a draw would have been a fair result. Mid-way through the second half, Virgil van Dijk rose up to nod in the only goal and Liverpool went back to Merseyside with all the points. Despite certain entities praising Milos Kerkez’ efforts, I’m not one of them, he was left out of this game. For my money, he is more of a liability than an asset. Perhaps Liverpool’s management are starting to see it that way also.

WEEK 26 GAME 10 – Thurs Feb 12th 1:00
HOME AWAY

BRENTFORD
The Bees

ARSENAL
The Gunners
Odds +1 O/U 2 1/2 Odds -1
PREDICTIONS: The short trip across North London shouldn’t be any kind of impediment for Arsenal. Brentford have been producing some unexpected and somewhat undeserved results of late, but I see Arsenal consolidating their lead at the top of the table. Arsenal -1
RESULTS: 1-1
ANALYSIS:  I’ll admit I severely underestimated Brentford this season. In fact, I had them as possible candidates for the drop. The Gunners had the opportunity to regain their six-point lead atop of the table, but in the end were lucky to escape with the single point. I don’t know how many goals Igor Thiago has at this point, I do know that lots of them have come from penalties, but he missed some great chances to add to his tally on Thursday. Everyone can have an off day, but his lack of taking advantage when the moment presents itself happens way too often for a bona fide top-line striker. Brentford could have had this game all sewn up as the second half came to a close, with many break-away chances, but failed to land the killer blow. Arsenal again, didn’t show why they should be League leaders, and I still think that by the end of the season, they will be second banana, again.
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