EPL Week 33: Bleacher Report Writers Make Their Expert EPL Picks

Last week's Manchester derby might not have changed a whole lot in terms of the title race, but there's still plenty of key things to be watching for in the Premier League.

Who will emerge as a winner from the race for the top four? Can Arsenal finally make the jump back into the Champions League spots, or will they succumb to another shock loss? And who's going to see their relegation survival plans helped or hindered this week by their performances?

Want predictions from every game in the English Premier League this week?

Our expert Bleacher Report writers have got them, so click on to find out who they see winning and losing from the week's domestic action.

Leaderboard and Information

For 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 him one point, and a correct score (e.g. Chelsea win 3-0) sees him earn three points.

Also, until the remainder of the season, our writers will try to predict one player from the week's action who will score a goal. Can be any team and any player, but the only rule is they cannot pick the same player to score more than two weeks in a row. And if he doesn't play, then too bad.

A correct selection 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.

Dan Talintyre	Breaking news and world football writer	286 points
Mohamed Al-Hendy	World football featured columnist	279 points
Karl Matchett	World football staff writer	248 points
Joe Tansey	World football featured columnist	245 points
Michael Cummings	World football lead blogger and writer	239 points
Will Tidey	World football editor and lead writer	237 points
Sam Tighe	World football tactical analyst	223 points

Player to Score This Weekend

As mentioned before, from now until the end of the season, our Bleacher Report writers will try to pick a player every week to score at least one goal—which they'll earn extra points for if they can.

They cannot pick the same player two weeks in a row.

Let's take a look who our Bleacher Report writers like to find the back of the net this weekend.

Dan Talintyre	Luis Suarez, Liverpool
Joe Tansey	Loic Remy, Queens Park Rangers
Karl Matchett	Olivier Giroud, Arsenal
Michael Cummings	Luis Suarez, Liverpool
Mohamed Al-Hendy	Luis Suarez, Liverpool
Sam Tighe	Christian Benteke, Aston Villa
Will Tidey	Wayne Rooney, Manchester United

Arsenal vs. Norwich City

Saturday, April 13, 2013 at 10:00 a.m. ET, Emirates Stadium

Arsenal will look to jump into the top four this week when they take on Norwich City at the Emirates—a game they would be very disappointed with if they did not walk away with a victory.

The Gunners have won three in a row whereas their opponents have won just once away home all season, which could make for a very easy win for Arsenal here.

However, Norwich have already beaten the Gunners this year (1-0 at Carrow Road), when many were expecting the North London club to dominate. Could we be in for a repeat of that performance in this one, or will the Londoners—with their eyes on the top four—be too strong here?

Dan Talintyre	Arsenal win 3-0
Joe Tansey	Arsenal win 2-1
Karl Matchett	Arsenal win 3-0
Michael Cummings	Arsenal win 2-1
Mohamed Al-Hendy	Arsenal win 2-0
Sam Tighe	Arsenal win 3-0
Will Tidey	Arsenal win 3-0

Aston Villa vs. Fulham

Saturday, April 13, 2013 at 10:00 a.m. ET, Villa Park

Having played their way out of the bottom three, Aston Villa will be looking to continue their impressive performances of late when they welcome Fulham to Villa Park this week.

The Cottagers aren't the strongest team away from home, but have shown some good road form in recent weeks, and will be tough to break down in this one—even with the Villans knowing that three points here could mean the difference between relegation and survival.

Look for plenty of emotion and feeling in this one from the home side, but will that be enough to get them over the line with victory against Fulham?

Dan Talintyre	Aston Villa win 2-0
Joe Tansey	Aston Villa win 1-0
Karl Matchett	Aston Villa win 2-1
Michael Cummings	Aston Villa win 2-1
Mohamed Al-Hendy	Aston Villa win 2-1
Sam Tighe	Aston Villa win 2-1
Will Tidey	Aston Villa win 2-0

Everton vs. Queens Park Rangers

Saturday, April 13, 2013 at 10:00 a.m. ET, Goodison Park

Everton have been particularly strong all season at home, and will look to continue that dominance when they welcome a struggling Queens Park Rangers side to Merseyside.

QPR did show some resistance in their quest to avoid relegation, but with only one point gained from their last three weeks, have seemingly all but given up that chance of remaining in the top flight—something that could well be confirmed with defeat in this one.

The home side are heavily favored and should walk away with a win here, especially given that they still have a sneaky chance to make a run at the top four in 2013.

Dan Talintyre	Everton win 3-1
Joe Tansey	Everton win 2-1
Karl Matchett	Everton win 2-0
Michael Cummings	Everton win 2-1
Mohamed Al-Hendy	Everton win 2-1
Sam Tighe	Everton win 2-1
Will Tidey	Draw, 1-1

Southampton vs. West Ham United

Saturday, April 13, 2013 at 10:00 a.m. ET, St. Mary's Stadium

It seemed only weeks ago that Southampton were cellar dwellers in the Premier League, but thanks to some inspired performances, the Saints are all the way up in 11th position.

They've overtaken West Ham as the Premier League's best newcomer this season, and will be looking to crack into the top half of the table this week with a win at home. Which, given their three-game winning streak, will be a very tough for the Hammers to stop.

West Ham have been poor on the road all season, but showed great determination to hold Liverpool to a 0-0 draw at Anfield in their last away fixture. Can they back that up with another gritty performance here, or will the Saints be too strong in front of their home fans on the day?

Dan Talintyre	Southampton win 2-1
Joe Tansey	Southampton win 2-1
Karl Matchett	Southampton win 2-1
Michael Cummings	Southampton win 1-0
Mohamed Al-Hendy	Southampton win 2-1
Sam Tighe	Draw, 1-1
Will Tidey	West Ham win 1-0

Reading vs. Liverpool

Saturday, April 13, 2013 at 10:00 a.m. ET, Madejski Stadium

The best goal-scoring team in 2013 in Liverpool will take on the worst team in the Premier League in Reading this week, who also happen to have the worst defensive record in the competition.

The Royals are dead last and seemingly devoid of any chance of staying alive this year, which should mean that the Reds' attacking dominance continues in this away fixture.

Brendan Rodgers' side chalked up over 25 shots when they played Reading earlier in the year, and whilst that only produced the one goal, it was clear just how dominant their attack can be against Reading. And given that they've got a much stronger lineup now, look for the Reds to continue their winning ways with another big performance here as they rectify their mistakes from last week.

Dan Talintyre	Liverpool win 4-1
Joe Tansey	Liverpool win 3-1
Karl Matchett	Liverpool win 3-0
Michael Cummings	Liverpool win 2-0
Mohamed Al-Hendy	Liverpool win 3-1
Sam Tighe	Liverpool win 3-1
Will Tidey	Draw, 1-1

Newcastle United vs. Sunderland

Sunday, April 14, 2013 at 7:00 a.m. ET, St. James' Park

Another Tyne-Wear derby this weekend from Newcastle and Sunderland should make for a very fascinating affair, but perhaps even more so given the threat of relegation hanging over both sides.

The Magpies' winter transfer purchases have helped them move away from the drop zone, but they're still only five points away from 18th-place Wigan and will be desperate not to slip back down the table again—something that will resonate with Sunderland also, as they're just goal difference away from Roberto Martinez's side.

Which team will take a serious hit in their bid for survival this week?

Dan Talintyre	Newcastle win 3-2
Joe Tansey	Draw, 1-1
Karl Matchett	Draw, 1-1
Michael Cummings	Draw, 1-1
Mohamed Al-Hendy	Newcastle win 2-1
Sam Tighe	Newcastle win 2-1
Will Tidey	Draw, 2-2

Stoke City vs. Manchester United

Sunday, April 14, 2013 at 9:05 a.m. ET, Britannia Stadium

Having dropped three points to Manchester City last weekend, Manchester United will be desperate to get back to their winning ways with a dominant performance against Stoke City.

The Red Devils outplayed the Potters when they met earlier in the year, but with the Britannia Stadium the venue this time—one of the more difficult road trips to take—United most certainly won't have it all their own way again as they seek to wrap up the Premier League title.

Stoke haven't won in their last six games and have slipped down the league table to just one win outside the bottom three as a result of that.

Taking on the champions-elect isn't the ideal thing to help them in their bid for survival either, and they'll need a big showing if they're going to win here.

Dan Talintyre	Manchester United win 2-1
Joe Tansey	Manchester United win 3-1
Karl Matchett	Manchester United win 2-1
Michael Cummings	Manchester United win 3-1
Mohamed Al-Hendy	Manchester United win 3-1
Sam Tighe	Manchester United win 1-0
Will Tidey	Manchester United win 3-1

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