EPL Week 14: Bleacher Report Writers Make Their Expert Picks
Only two days have passed since the English Premier League was last with us, and now it's back with some midweek league action to entertain us.
The short turnaround is a wonderful thing for football fans who can't get enough of the EPL. Perhaps it's not the greatest thing for the players themselves, but for us it doesn't get much better than a two-day layoff between matches instead of six.
Our Bleacher Report writers have once again made their picks for the weekend, with plenty of surprising results expected throughout Week 14.
Read on to see who they picked to win and who they think will fall 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 (e.g. Chelsea win) will earn them one point, and a correct score (e.g. Chelsea win 3-0) sees them earn three points.
Also, for the next few weeks or so, our writers will try and predict the highest-scoring game of the weekend (the game that produces the most goals). Should there be two or three games that have the same highest total, then we will give out points to whomever picked any of those games. A correct pick will earn them five 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 | 105 points |
| Dan Talintyre | World Football Featured Columnist | 93 points |
| Michael Cummings | World Football Lead Writer and Blogger | 88 points |
| Karl Matchett | World Football Featured Columnist | 84 points |
| Joe Tansey | EPL Featured Columnist | 83 points |
| Sam Tighe | World Football Featured Columnist | 73 points |
| Will Tidey | World Football Lead Writer and Editor | 70 points |
Sunderland vs. Queens Park Rangers
2 of 11Update: QPR, Sunderland played to 0-0 draw on Tuesday at Stadium of Light.
After a tumultuous week that saw them fire manager Mark Hughes and hire former Tottenham Hotspur man Harry Redknapp before losing to Manchester United, Queens Park Rangers will look to put all the drama behind them and start a new era under Redknapp.
The London club will be making its way to the Stadium of Light this week to take on Sunderland—a side that are typically very strong at home and difficult to break down.
For a side that sits dead last in the competition and hasn't won a single match yet, this isn't the news they wanted to hear this week.
The Black Cats dropped all three points at home over the weekend to West Brom and will be eager to make amends for their poor performance. They have one of the best defensive records in the competition, and with QPR statistically one of the worst attacking teams in the EPL, this one looks like it will fall the way of the home side.
| Dan Talintyre | Sunderland win 2-0 |
| Joe Tansey | Draw, 1-1 |
| Karl Matchett | Draw, 1-1 |
| Michael Cummings | Draw, 1-1 |
| Mohamed Al-Hendy | QPR win 2-1 |
| Sam Tighe | Draw, 0-0 |
| Will Tidey | Draw, 1-1 |
Aston Villa vs. Reading
3 of 11Update: Aston Villa Topped Reading 1-0 on Tuesday at Villa Park.
After a strong performance against Arsenal last weekend, Aston Villa will take on Reading at Villa Park this week. The Villans will hope to get the three points and perhaps even move themselves out of the relegation zone in the process.
Reading fought back gallantly against Wigan last week but were undone in the waning seconds of the match. They will be looking to bounce back into the winners circle here.
The Royals are in a nice run of form, having picked up their first win of the season two weeks ago. With another match away from home against a team that is tough to break down in front of their home fans, this will be another difficult week for Reading.
Can Villa notch another home win this season, or are the newly-promoted Royals set to continue their recent strong performances here?
| Dan Talintyre | Aston Villa win 3-1 |
| Joe Tansey | Aston Villa win 2-1 |
| Karl Matchett | Aston Villa win 2-1 |
| Michael Cummings | Draw, 0-0 |
| Mohamed Al-Hendy | Aston Villa win 2-1 |
| Sam Tighe | Aston Villa win 2-0 |
| Will Tidey | Aston Villa win 1-0 |
Chelsea vs. Fulham
4 of 11Wednesday, 28th November, 2:45 p.m. ET
Rafa Benitez's first match in charge of the West London club finished in a scoreless draw with then-league leaders Manchester City—a result that provides the Spaniard manager with a good platform on which to build.
Benitez will be looking to get the Blues back inside the top three and end their winless streak with a strong performance at home against Fulham—a side that have been somewhat of a surprise package in the Premier League this season.
After selling Moussa Dembele and Clint Dempsey, the Cottagers looked to have thrown away their attacking creativity this year. But with a resurgent Dimitar Berbatov at the helm, Fulham have looked every bit as dangerous going forward this season.
Neither side comes into this match with the best form lines, with Fulham only winning one match since the start of October (against Aston Villa) and Chelsea failing to win since their defeat of Tottenham Hotspur back on the 20th of October.
Who will end their unwanted streak this week?
| Dan Talintyre | Chelsea win 2-0 |
| Joe Tansey | Chelsea win 2-1 |
| Karl Matchett | Chelsea win 2-0 |
| Michael Cummings | Chelsea win 2-0 |
| Mohamed Al-Hendy | Draw, 2-2 |
| Sam Tighe | Chelsea win 2-1 |
| Will Tidey | Chelsea win 4-1* |
* denotes highest-scoring game of the week.
Everton vs. Arsenal
5 of 11Wednesday, 28th November, 2:45 p.m. ET
With a strong start to the season, David Moyes' side looked like a real threat to the top four in the Premier League this year and a very difficult side to take down—regardless of whether they played at your home ground or in Merseyside.
They were sound defensively and devastating in attack, and the Toffees looked like they had finally put together a competitive side this season.
Whilst that's still the case, the Merseyside club has started to drift of late. They find themselves back in fifth position with just one win since September.
They've dropped points to Wigan, QPR, Reading and Norwich City in the past two months and are in desperate need of a strong performance to get back in the right direction—which could also describe the Gunners' current situation.
Arsenal sit behind Everton in sixth spot so far this year, and whilst they are still very strong and talented this year, they have yet to put together two or three good performances in a row—taking two steps forward and two steps back at times.
Can the North London club get it right again this week, or will it be more frustration from Arsene Wenger and fans alike after this one?
| Dan Talintyre | Draw, 1-1 |
| Joe Tansey | Arsenal win 3-1 |
| Karl Matchett | Draw, 0-0 |
| Michael Cummings | Everton win 2-1 |
| Mohamed Al-Hendy | Draw, 1-1 |
| Sam Tighe | Draw, 2-2 |
| Will Tidey | Draw, 0-0 |
Southampton vs. Norwich City
6 of 11Wednesday, 28th November, 2:45 p.m. ET
It seems almost unbelievable, but Southampton have the second-longest active winning streak in the English Premier League at the moment.
Having picked up a strong away win over Queens Park Rangers, the newly promoted Saints toppled a slumping Newcastle United at home to give them back-to-back victories—moving them out of the relegation zone and building confidence that they can survive this season in the top flight.
They'll be at home this week to take on a Norwich City outfit that's managed some strong performances of late, including some big results against big clubs.
The Canaries haven't been beaten in their past six matches—taking points off Arsenal, Stoke City, Manchester United and Everton—but they haven't managed a victory away from Carrow Road, which will bode well for Saints fans.
Is this the week they change that statistic, or are the high-flying Saints set to make it three straight in the English Premier League this year?
| Dan Talintyre | Southampton win 3-1* |
| Joe Tansey | Southampton win 2-0 |
| Karl Matchett | Southampton win 2-1 |
| Michael Cummings | Southampton win 3-2 |
| Mohamed Al-Hendy | Southampton win 2-0 |
| Sam Tighe | Southampton win 2-0 |
| Will Tidey | Southampton win 3-1 |
* denotes highest-scoring game of the week.
Stoke City vs. Newcastle United
7 of 11Wednesday, 28th November, 2:45 p.m. ET
One of the toughest places to play in the Premier League this season has been the Britannia Stadium, and the slumping Newcastle United have the arduous task of traveling there this week.
Lucky them.
The Magpies have lost three straight matches while winning just one of their last eight; they simply haven't been able to get going in attack despite all the options they have at their disposal. Even without their injury problems, it still hasn't been a great month for Alan Pardew's men.
By contrast, Stoke are yet to be beaten at home this year. They've won three of their last four and have conceded just one goal at the Britannia all season.
They might be dead boring to watch in attack, but they make up for it in defense with on-ball pressure and the ability to snuff out attacking chances for their opponents. Will they contain the Magpies here like they have done to so many teams before them, or is this the week that Newcastle finally break the shackles and show just how devastating they can actually be?
| Dan Talintyre | Draw, 0-0 |
| Joe Tansey | Stoke win 1-0 |
| Karl Matchett | Stoke win 1-0 |
| Michael Cummings | Draw, 1-1 |
| Mohamed Al-Hendy | Draw, 1-1 |
| Sam Tighe | Stoke win 1-0 |
| Will Tidey | Stoke win 1-0 |
Swansea City vs. West Bromwich Albion
8 of 11Wednesday, 28th November, 2:45 p.m. ET
There has been no greater surprise through the opening third of the season than West Bromwich Albion, who have risen from potential relegation fodder to third place in the title race—just behind the two Manchester clubs on the EPL ladder.
Steve Clarke's men picked up their fourth straight victory with a win over Sunderland last weekend—a very difficult away trip—and will be looking to continue their run of form with a solid showing at Liberty Stadium this week.
Over the weekend, Swansea City held Liverpool (or were held, whichever way you want to look at it), and they will be eager to get back in the goal-scorers sheet this weekend at home.
They've only been beaten at home once all season—back in September against Everton—and will have full confidence about their ability to get a result here, having gone undefeated in six of their past seven Premier League encounters.
| Dan Talintyre | West Brom win 2-1 |
| Joe Tansey | West Brom win 3-1 |
| Karl Matchett | Draw, 1-1 |
| Michael Cummings | Draw, 2-2 |
| Mohamed Al-Hendy | West Brom win 2-1 |
| Sam Tighe | Draw, 2-2* |
| Will Tidey | West Brom win 2-1 |
* denotes highest-scoring game of the week.
Tottenham Hotspur vs. Liverpool
9 of 11Wednesday, 28th November, 2:45 p.m. ET
Tottenham Hotspur bounced back well from their North London flogging with a strong performance at home against West Ham—something they'll be looking to repeat this week when they welcome Brendan Rodgers' Liverpool to town.
Spurs had lost three in a row heading into last weekend, but they proved their attack is still strong and capable of scoring goals this season—something that will be tested against this year's strong Liverpool defense.
The Merseyside club haven't been defeated since they lost to Manchester United at home back in September, though away from Anfield they've only managed one win all season—against Norwich City, also in September this year.
The Reds have picked up draws against strong opponents, but they haven't quite been able to land that knockout punch this season. Is this the game that they finally turn it around, or will Spurs' attack simply have one too many weapons to contain?
| Dan Talintyre | Draw, 2-2 |
| Joe Tansey | Tottenham win 3-2* |
| Karl Matchett | Draw, 2-2 |
| Michael Cummings | Tottenham win 2-1 |
| Mohamed Al-Hendy | Tottenham win 2-1 |
| Sam Tighe | Tottenham win 2-0 |
| Will Tidey | Tottenham win 2-1 |
* denotes highest-scoring game of the week.
Manchester United vs. West Ham
10 of 11Wednesday, 28th September, 3:00 p.m. ET
With Manchester City dropping points to Chelsea, Manchester United find themselves on top of the league table with another come-from-behind victory over the weekend—this time against last-place Queens Park Rangers.
The Red Devils have been incredibly inconsistent this season, and were it not for the brilliance of Robin van Persie or Javier Hernandez, they might have found themselves outside of the top four at this stage of the Premier League season.
However, they stand where they stand, and they'll be looking to build on their position when they welcome West Ham United to town.
The Hammers were beaten convincingly by Tottenham last week, and they now face another tough road trip to Old Trafford. The London club might be sitting up in eighth position, but as I've said previously, they have yet to prove themselves as a decent team this year. (Their best win this season came against 10th-placed Fulham.)
Is this the week that Sam Allardyce's men show that they are the real deal, or will Fergie's boys kick it up a gear to keep their club atop the table?
| Dan Talintyre | Manchester United win 1-0 |
| Joe Tansey | Manchester United win 3-2 |
| Karl Matchett | Manchester United win 3-1 |
| Michael Cummings | Manchester United win 4-2* |
| Mohamed Al-Hendy | Manchester United win 3-1* |
| Sam Tighe | Manchester United win 3-0 |
| Will Tidey | Manchester United win 2-0 |
* denotes highest-scoring game of the week.
Wigan Athletic vs. Manchester City
11 of 11Wednesday, 28th September, 3:00 p.m. ET
Having surrendered the league lead last weekend, Manchester City will be looking to bounce back with a strong performance at the DW Stadium when they take on Wigan Athletic, who have been incredibly tough to read this season.
Roberto Martinez's men are lagging in 15th position, but they have shown against Tottenham, West Ham and Everton that they can turn it on when they need to.
The Latics were lucky to beat Reading last week, which would lead many to suggest they'll simply be dominated here. But there are reasons to suggest the home side might make this one a little closer than we expect—starting with City's away form.
It's no secret that Roberto Mancini's men can't play away from the Etihad, with just two wins away from home all season. They are still undefeated, but whenever they play on the road it's always worth giving the home team a little more of a chance.
Can Wigan give the reigning champions their first loss of the season, or will City's undefeated streak continue with a confidence-boosting performance away from home?
| Dan Talintyre | Manchester City win 1-0 |
| Joe Tansey | Manchester City win 3-1 |
| Karl Matchett | Manchester City win 3-2* |
| Michael Cummings | Manchester City win 3-1 |
| Mohamed Al-Hendy | Manchester City win 2-0 |
| Sam Tighe | Manchester City win 2-1 |
| Will Tidey | Manchester City win 3-1 |
* denotes highest-scoring game of the week.
What did you make of our Premier League picks this week?
Comment below or hit me up on Twitter: Follow @dantalintyre
