EPL Week 11: Bleacher Report Writers Make Their Expert Picks
With the European action done for another week, our focus swings back to the English Premier League, where the race for the title is seriously starting to take shape.
Buoyed by back-to-back wins over Chelsea and Arsenal, Manchester United find themselves atop the ladder for the first time this season, with the Blues and reigning champions Manchester City close behind. Seven teams are within one win of the fourth spot behind them.
At the other end of the table, the relegation battle is also heating up, with Reading, Queens Park Rangers and Southampton now a full win inside the dreaded drop zone.
So there's plenty to play for in Week 11 of the English Premier League and plenty of fascinating matchups to come your way.
Which teams are going to win, and who's going to be left feeling disappointed? Read on to see the Bleacher Report writers' tips and predictions for the EPL this week.
Leaderboard
1 of 11For those not familiar with the way this works, each writer has to pick a team and a score for every match in the Premier League that week.
A correct pick (i.e. Chelsea win) will earn them one point, and a correct score (i.e. Chelsea win 3-0) sees them earn three points.
Let's take a look at our Bleacher Report experts and how their predictions have held up through the opening weeks of the competition.
| Mohamed Al-Hendy | World Football Featured Columnist | 85 points |
| Michael Cummings | World Football Lead Blogger and Writer | 68 points |
| Dan Talintyre | World Football Featured Columnist | 65 points |
| Karl Matchett | World Football Featured Columnist | 64 points |
| Joe Tansey | EPL Featured Columnist | 62 points |
| Sam Tighe | World Football Featured Columnist | 60 points |
| Will Tidey | World Football Lead Writer and Editor | 59 points |
Arsenal vs. Fulham
2 of 11Saturday, 10th November, 2012, at 10:00 a.m. ET
Another tough fixture against Fulham looms this week for the Gunners, who haven't won a Champions League or Premier League match in several weeks now.
Martin Jol's side haven't been defeated in their past four matches, and they kept a potentially rampant Everton attack to a draw last week—perhaps an ominous sign heading into a match against an Arsenal side that has struggled for attacking consistency.
The Gunners showed life against Schalke during the week but still almost ended up dropping all three points despite an early two-goal lead.
Is this the week Arsenal prove they're still a top-four club?
| Dan Talintyre | Draw, 1-1 |
| Joe Tansey | Arsenal win 4-1 |
| Karl Matchett | Arsenal win 2-1 |
| Michael Cummings | Arsenal win 3-2 |
| Mohamed Al-Hendy | Arsenal win 2-1 |
| Sam Tighe | Arsenal win 1-0 |
| Will Tidey | Arsenal win 3-1 |
Everton vs. Sunderland
3 of 11Saturday, 10th November, 2012, at 10:00 a.m. ET
Everton have been arguably the surprise team of the season, with attacking dominance producing a great start to the Premier League season for the Merseyside club.
Marouane Fellaini, Kevin Mirallas, Nikica Jelavic and Steven Pienaar have formed a dynamic and vibrant attacking unit, and with players like Leighton Baines aiding from the back, the Toffees have become one of the hardest sides to beat, particularly at home at Goodison Park.
They'll be there this week to take on Sunderland, who have just one win for the season and are coming off a home loss to lowly Aston Villa last week.
Martin O'Neill's success with the Black Cats last year seems like a distant memory now, with the club lagging in 16th on the competition ladder and looking like a far cry from what they were last year.
Surely Everton will claim all three points in this one—or will they?
| Dan Talintyre | Everton win 3-0 |
| Joe Tansey | Everton win 2-0 |
| Karl Matchett | Everton win 2-0 |
| Michael Cummings | Everton win 1-0 |
| Mohamed Al-Hendy | Everton win 2-0 |
| Sam Tighe | Everton win 2-0 |
| Will Tidey | Everton win 2-0 |
Reading vs. Norwich City
4 of 11Saturday, 10th November, 2012, at 10:00 a.m. ET
Despite landing a whole host of players over the summer transfer window, it hasn't been a great debut season in the Premier League for Reading, who sit inside the relegation zone and without a win through their opening 10 matches.
The Royals have shown life against several top clubs and perhaps been unlucky not to have earned more points thus far. But they have simply been unable to get the job done late and finish matches like they should.
They'll have another good shot at that maiden win this week when they take on Norwich City, a club that has scored the second-fewest goals in the season to date.
Having said that, the Canaries are in a good run of form, winning two of their last three and drawing the other. They won't be an easy side for the home team to beat.
| Dan Talintyre | Draw, 0-0 |
| Joe Tansey | Reading win 1-0 |
| Karl Matchett | Draw, 1-1 |
| Michael Cummings | Norwich win 2-1 |
| Mohamed Al-Hendy | Draw, 1-1 |
| Sam Tighe | Draw, 1-1 |
| Will Tidey | Reading win 1-0 |
Southampton vs. Swansea City
5 of 11Saturday, 10th November, 2012, at 10:00 a.m. ET
Swansea were strong at home against Chelsea last week, pushing the European champions the full 90 minutes and picking up a point for their efforts.
They've now only lost one of their past four matches, and they'll head to St. Mary's Stadium to take on a Southampton side that, simply put, is traveling in the opposite direction.
The Saints haven't won any of their past five matches and have just four points for the season. They are sitting dead last in the competition, in serious danger of throwing away their chances of staying alive in the Premier League.
Southampton might have netted 14 goals (only one less than Swansea), but they have conceded a staggering 28 goals, nine more than any other team in the competition.
They'll need a big performance at home if they hope to gain anything here.
| Dan Talintyre | Swansea win 2-0 |
| Joe Tansey | Swansea win 2-1 |
| Karl Matchett | Southampton win 2-1 |
| Michael Cummings | Swansea win 3-1 |
| Mohamed Al-Hendy | Swansea win 2-1 |
| Sam Tighe | Draw, 2-2 |
| Will Tidey | Swansea win 2-1 |
Stoke City vs. Queens Park Rangers
6 of 11Saturday, 10th November, 2012, at 10:00 a.m. ET
Queens Park Rangers had a great opportunity to pick up their first win when they hosted fellow relegation battlers Reading last week, but they couldn't get the job done, picking up a 1-1 draw and continuing their winless streak to start the season.
They now face one of the toughest trips in the Premier League: a visit to Britannia Stadium, where they'll meet a Stoke City side desperate to get back in the winners' circle.
The Potters haven't won in their past four matches, but they haven't been beaten at home this season and look unlikely to break that streak against a QPR side that couldn't even get past Reading last week.
Having said that, Celtic did beat Barcelona this week. Given the right circumstances, I'm convinced that anything can happen this weekend.
| Dan Talintyre | Stoke win 1-0 |
| Joe Tansey | Stoke win 1-0 |
| Karl Matchett | Draw, 1-1 |
| Michael Cummings | Draw, 1-1 |
| Mohamed Al-Hendy | Draw, 1-1 |
| Sam Tighe | Stoke win 1-0 |
| Will Tidey | Draw, 1-1 |
Wigan Athletic vs. West Bromwich Albion
7 of 11Saturday, 10th November, 2012, at 10:00 a.m. ET
Two sides that have surprised a few teams meet this week in the Premier League in a match that is shaping up to be a very interesting fixture.
Steve Clarke's side sits in the fifth spot, just two goals outside of the top four and ahead of sides like Tottenham, Arsenal, Newcastle United and Liverpool. They pushed both Manchester City and Newcastle United over the past month of football and are shaping as a genuine dark horse in the English Premier League.
Having said that, so too are Wigan Athletic.
They were strong away at White Hart Lane against a Tottenham side that is much stronger (at least on paper) than West Brom should be. But will Wigan get the points, or do the Baggies have a few more surprises in store for us?
| Dan Talintyre | Draw, 1-1 |
| Joe Tansey | Draw, 2-2 |
| Karl Matchett | Wigan win 2-1 |
| Michael Cummings | Draw, 2-2 |
| Mohamed Al-Hendy | Draw, 1-1 |
| Sam Tighe | Draw, 2-2 |
| Will Tidey | Wigan win 3-2 |
Aston Villa vs. Manchester United
8 of 11Saturday, 10th November, 2012, at 12:30 p.m. ET
Manchester United travel to Villa Park this week as one of the hottest teams in world football.
They've stormed to the top of the English Premier League with big wins over Chelsea and Arsenal, and they are the only team that's won every match in the Champions League to date.
Their squad is strong. Robin van Persie and Wayne Rooney are on the same wavelength, and the Red Devils seem to be an incredibly tough side to break down.
Aston Villa seem to have their work cut out for them, but they will no doubt be up for the challenge. They did manage to win against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light last week, which certainly isn't an easy thing to do, and the Villans could well shock the away side in this one.
Having said that, short of a few defensive calamities from Manchester United, it's hard to see anything but the away side continuing their run of good form in this one.
| Dan Talintyre | Manchester United win 2-0 |
| Joe Tansey | Manchester United win 3-1 |
| Karl Matchett | Manchester United win 3-0 |
| Michael Cummings | Manchester United win 4-2 |
| Mohamed Al-Hendy | Manchester United win 3-1 |
| Sam Tighe | Aston Villa win 1-0 |
| Will Tidey | Manchester United win 2-0 |
Manchester City vs. Tottenham Hotspur
9 of 11Sunday, 11th November, 2012, at 8:30 a.m. ET
Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur always seem to produce fantastic football matches, and they look set to repeat the process this week at the Etihad Stadium, with both sides desperate to prove themselves as genuine contenders this year.
The away side lost a humiliating home game to Wigan last week and will be keen to establish themselves against a premier club like Manchester City, who have the title of defending champions for a reason.
The Citizens sit in third place this year—just two points off league leaders Manchester United—but having all but surrendered their qualification dreams in the Champions League this year, they will be looking to bounce back with a strong performance at home.
Fantastic matchups right across the pitch; two sides full to the brim with talent.
This looks set to be one of the best matches this week.
| Dan Talintyre | Draw, 1-1 |
| Joe Tansey | Manchester City win 2-1 |
| Karl Matchett | Draw, 2-2 |
| Michael Cummings | Manchester City win 2-1 |
| Mohamed Al-Hendy | Tottenham win 2-1 |
| Sam Tighe | Manchester City win 3-2 |
| Will Tidey | Manchester City win 4-1 |
Newcastle United vs. West Ham United
10 of 11Sunday, 11th November, 2012, at 10:00 a.m. ET
In years gone by, St. James' Park had been one of the harder trips to make in the Premier League, and whilst Newcastle United are still a tough team to take down, their home ground is definitely not the fortress it once used to be.
They haven't had a convincing result at home all season. They have dropped points to both Aston Villa and Manchester United and were perhaps fortunate to not lose any more.
Still, they are a very talented side on their day and will be a tough task for West Ham United, who enter this match full of confidence after keeping defending champions Manchester City scoreless at Upton Park in their 0-0 draw.
The Hammers will be a tough test for the Toon despite the apparent gap between the two teams, with this fixture definitely capable of going either way.
| Dan Talintyre | West Ham win 1-0 |
| Joe Tansey | Newcastle win 2-1 |
| Karl Matchett | Newcastle win 2-1 |
| Michael Cummings | Newcastle win 2-1 |
| Mohamed Al-Hendy | Newcastle win 2-1 |
| Sam Tighe | Newcastle win 2-0 |
| Will Tidey | Newcastle win 3-1 |
Chelsea vs. Liverpool
11 of 11Sunday, 11th November, 2012, at 11:00 a.m. ET
Blue vs. Red is one of the oldest battles known to man, and whilst those colors might reflect the rivalry between Everton and Liverpool more than Chelsea does, the Blues still have a strong and colorful history against the Merseyside club.
This week looks set to be no different, with the Reds desperate to prove to themselves and their fans that Brendan Rodgers' system can work and produce results this year, something that they cannot attest to so far this season.
Liverpool sit in 12th position on the table, but they have a run of good form under their belt heading into this daunting clash at Stamford Bridge having not lost in their past five league encounters.
They'll certainly have their work cut out for them against the West London club, who picked up a confidence-boosting win in the Champions League during the week and will be looking to keep pace with both Manchester clubs atop the league table.
Plus, there's Fernando Torres to consider, as he always relishes playing his former club. And I'm sure that his former club doesn't mind playing him either.
Should be a cracker.
| Dan Talintyre | Chelsea win 3-1 |
| Joe Tansey | Chelsea win 2-1 |
| Karl Matchett | Draw, 2-2 |
| Michael Cummings | Chelsea win 2-1 |
| Mohamed Al-Hendy | Chelsea win 3-1 |
| Sam Tighe | Chelsea win 2-1 |
| Will Tidey | Chelsea win 2-1 |
What did you make of the predictions this week by the B/R writers?
Comment below or hit me up on Twitter: Follow @dantalintyre
