EPL Week 35: Bleacher Report Writers Make Their Expert EPL Picks
The English Premier League title race might be over for 2013, but the inaugural Bleacher Report EPL writers' tipping competition is still fiercely competitive.
The race for the top spot and avoiding the wooden spoon are still being closely fought out, and whilst some attention might focus on the top-four race in the real football, we all know this is where the real action and drama is this weekend.
Read on to see who our B/R experts see winning and losing this weekend in the English competition, and how they see the games unfolding this weekend.
Leaderboard and Explanation
1 of 12For 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) earns him 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. It 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.
| Mohamed Al-Hendy | World football featured columnist | 299 points |
| Dan Talintyre | Breaking news and world football writer | 296 points |
| Karl Matchett | World football staff writer | 271 points |
| Michael Cummings | World football lead blogger and writer | 256 points |
| Joe Tansey | World football featured columnist | 255 points |
| Will Tidey | World football editor and lead writer | 255 points |
| Sam Tighe | World football tactical analyst | 239 points |
EPL Week 35: Player to Score
2 of 12As 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.
If they can pick correctly, it will earn them extra points, but they cannot pick the same player two weeks in a row. Let's take a look who our B/R writers like to score this week.
| Dan Talintyre | Daniel Sturridge, Liverpool |
| Joe Tansey | Gareth Bale, Tottenham Hotspur |
| Karl Matchett | Robin van Persie, Manchester United |
| Michael Cummings | Santi Cazorla, Arsenal |
| Mohamed Al-Hendy | Gareth Bale, Tottenham Hotspur |
| Sam Tighe | Christian Benteke, Aston Villa |
| Will Tidey | Christian Benteke, Aston Villa |
Manchester City vs. West Ham
3 of 12Saturday, April 27, 2013, 7:45 a.m. ET at Etihad Stadium
City might have conceded the Premier League title to United last weekend, but there's still plenty of pride in Roberto Mancini's side, which they'll look to show here.
However, the Hammers have been playing very well of late and could be a tough test for the Citizens—even with the home-ground advantage in their favor.
| Dan Talintyre | Manchester City win 3-1 |
| Joe Tansey | Manchester City win 2-1 |
| Karl Matchett | Manchester City win 2-0 |
| Michael Cummings | Draw, 1-1 |
| Mohamed Al-Hendy | Manchester City win 2-0 |
| Sam Tighe | Manchester City win 3-0 |
| Will Tidey | Manchester City win 3-0 |
Everton vs. Fulham
4 of 12Saturday, April 27, 2013, 10 a.m. ET at Goodison Park
Everton must win to keep their top-four hopes alive—something which Fulham will be well used to having played Chelsea and Arsenal in the past few weeks of the Premier League.
Can David Moyes' side keep their European dream alive this weekend?
| Dan Talintyre | Everton win 2-1 |
| Joe Tansey | Draw, 2-2 |
| Karl Matchett | Everton win 2-1 |
| Michael Cummings | Draw, 1-1 |
| Mohamed Al-Hendy | Draw, 1-1 |
| Sam Tighe | Everton win 2-0 |
| Will Tidey | Everton win 2-0 |
Southampton vs. West Bromwich Albion
5 of 12Saturday, April 27, 2013, 10 a.m. ET at St. Mary's Stadium
Southampton have been simply superb of late, while West Brom will be looking to return to the form from their strong start to the season. Albion has slipped in recent weeks; can they rectify it with a win in this one?
| Dan Talintyre | Southampton win 1-0 |
| Joe Tansey | Southampton win 2-1 |
| Karl Matchett | Southampton win 2-0 |
| Michael Cummings | Southampton win 2-1 |
| Mohamed Al-Hendy | Southampton win 2-1 |
| Sam Tighe | Southampton win 1-0 |
| Will Tidey | Draw, 1-1 |
Wigan Athletic vs. Tottenham Hotspur
6 of 12Saturday, April 27, 2013, 10 a.m. ET at DW Stadium
Wigan have relegation fears they want to erase; Tottenham Hotspur have a Champions League dream that they desperately don't want to lose to Arsenal in 2013.
Something's got to give here, but which one will it be?
| Dan Talintyre | Tottenham win 3-0 |
| Joe Tansey | Tottenham win 3-1 |
| Karl Matchett | Draw, 2-2 |
| Michael Cummings | Tottenham win 2-1 |
| Mohamed Al-Hendy | Tottenham win 2-0 |
| Sam Tighe | Tottenham win 2-0 |
| Will Tidey | Tottenham win 3-0 |
Stoke City vs. Norwich City
7 of 12Saturday, April 27, 2013, 10 a.m. ET at Britannia Stadium
Stoke have typically been very strong at the Britannia Stadium this season and calmed relegation fears with a strong win over Queens Park Rangers. Can they continue that run with another strong performance against a struggling Norwich City here or are the Canaries about to come good once more?
| Dan Talintyre | Stoke win 2-0 |
| Joe Tansey | Draw, 0-0 |
| Karl Matchett | Stoke win 1-0 |
| Michael Cummings | Draw, 1-1 |
| Mohamed Al-Hendy | Stoke win 2-1 |
| Sam Tighe | Draw, 0-0 |
| Will Tidey | Draw, 1-1 |
Newcastle United vs. Liverpool
8 of 12Saturday, April 27, 2013, 12:30 p.m. ET at St. James' Park
Liverpool and Newcastle are two very proud Premier League clubs, and whilst neither will be truly happy with the way that their 2013 season has unfolded, they'll be looking to finish strong with a win in this one.
The Magpies are typically a tough side to play at home and the Reds are without their talisman in Luis Suarez, but will that change the outcome of this one at all?
| Dan Talintyre | Liverpool win 2-0 |
| Joe Tansey | Newcastle win 3-2 |
| Karl Matchett | Liverpool win 2-1 |
| Michael Cummings | Draw, 0-0 |
| Mohamed Al-Hendy | Newcastle win 1-0 |
| Sam Tighe | Liverpool win 2-1 |
| Will Tidey | Newcastle win 2-1 |
Reading vs. Queens Park Rangers
9 of 12Sunday, April 28, 2013, 8:30 a.m. ET at Madejski Stadium
Either Reading or Queens Park Rangers will have the unfortunate honor of finishing last this season in the Premier League—a title that neither wants but one will eventually concede and accept begrudgingly.
Rangers were poor last week at home to the Potters and have seemingly ended their chance at avoiding relegation in 2013. Will they throw in the towel this week with another poor performance against the Royals or can Harry Redknapp inspire his troops for success once more?
| Dan Talintyre | Draw, 2-2 |
| Joe Tansey | Draw, 3-3 |
| Karl Matchett | Draw, 0-0 |
| Michael Cummings | Draw, 2-2 |
| Mohamed Al-Hendy | Draw, 1-1 |
| Sam Tighe | Reading win 2-1 |
| Will Tidey | Reading win 1-0 |
Chelsea vs. Swansea City
10 of 12Sunday, April 28, 2013, 10 a.m. ET at Stamford Bridge
Last time these two teams met, there was a red card and a crying ball boy. Hopefully that won't happen this time around, but with plenty of feeling—and the Blues desperately chasing a spot in the Champions League next season—literally anything could take place this weekend.
| Dan Talintyre | Chelsea win 1-0 |
| Joe Tansey | Chelsea win 3-0 |
| Karl Matchett | Draw, 0-0 |
| Michael Cummings | Chelsea win 2-1 |
| Mohamed Al-Hendy | Chelsea win 2-0 |
| Sam Tighe | Chelsea win 2-0 |
| Will Tidey | Chelsea win 4-1 |
Arsenal vs. Manchester United
11 of 12Sunday, April 28, 2013, 11 a.m. ET, Emirates Stadium
Arsenal will give former captain Robin van Persie a guard of honor this week for winning the Premier League with Manchester United—something he completely deserves, but which Gunners fans will not at all be happy about given his performances for the Red Devils this year.
United have already won the title, but would love to continue their success over a rival and continue the Gunners' frustration in 2013. However, the Londoners have plans of their own, and with a spot in the Champions League next season potentially on the line, they'll be more than up for this one.
| Dan Talintyre | Manchester United win 2-1 |
| Joe Tansey | Manchester United win 3-1 |
| Karl Matchett | Arsenal win 3-2 |
| Michael Cummings | Manchester United win 2-1 |
| Mohamed Al-Hendy | Manchester United win 2-1 |
| Sam Tighe | Arsenal win 2-1 |
| Will Tidey | Draw, 1-1 |
Aston Villa vs. Sunderland
12 of 12Monday, April 29, 2013, 3 p.m. ET at Villa Park
Last game of the week this week, and it could not be bigger for Aston Villa, who must not suffer defeat to the Black Cats here if they want to avoid relegation from the Premier League in 2013.
However, this is a Paolo Di Canio resurgence we're trying to stop here, and as we've seen in the last few weeks, that's much easier said than done. Sunderland will look to continue their success with another big win here, but will this be where their surprising streak ends?
| Dan Talintyre | Draw, 1-1 |
| Joe Tansey | Draw, 1-1 |
| Karl Matchett | Aston Villa win 2-1 |
| Michael Cummings | Draw, 1-1 |
| Mohamed Al-Hendy | Sunderland win 2-1 |
| Sam Tighe | Aston Villa win 2-1 |
| Will Tidey | Aston Villa win 3-1 |
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