EPL Week 12 Picks: Predicting Weekend Winners and Losers

Expect the unexpected. 

That’s what the tagline for the 2013/14 Premier League season appears to be. 

We're 11 games into the campaign, and so far it has been a case of anyone can beat anyone. 

The first weekend of fixtures after the international break gets underway at Goodison Park where Everton entertain Liverpool in the Merseyside derby. 

Everton vs. Liverpool is just one of three games in Week 12 that matches teams inside the top eight. 

League leaders Arsenal host high fliers Southampton at the Emirates.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger will be hoping his French players—Laurent Koscielny, Olivier Giroud and Bacary Sagna—come through a tense week of international football unscathed. 

Manchester City will look to keep their 100 percent home record intact when they face a Spurs side that have struggled for goals this season, scoring just six.

Here’s a glimpse at this weekend’s fixture list and a full slate of predictions before we delve a little deeper into three of the games. 

Date, time	Team	vs.	Team	Prediction
Nov. 23, 12:45 p.m GMT	Everton	vs.	Liverpool	Liverpool win, 2-1
Nov. 23, 3 p.m GMT	Newcastle	vs.	Norwich	Draw, 2-2
Nov. 23, 3 p.m GMT	Fulham	vs.	Swansea	Swansea win, 2-1
Nov. 23, 3 p.m GMT	Stoke	vs.	Sunderland	Draw, 1-1
Nov. 23, 3 p.m GMT	Hull	vs.	Crystal Palace	Hull win, 1-0
Nov. 23, 3 p.m GMT	Arsenal	vs.	Southampton	Arsenal win, 2-1
Nov. 23, 5:30 p.m GMT	West Ham	vs.	Chelsea	Chelsea win, 4-1
Nov. 24, 1:30 p.m GMT	Man City	vs.	Tottenham	City win, 2-0
Nov. 24, 4 p.m GMT	Cardiff	vs.	Man United	United win, 2-0
Nov. 24, 8 p.m GMT	West Brom	vs.	Aston Villa	W Brom win, 2-1

West Ham vs. Chelsea (Prediction: West Ham 1-4 Chelsea)

West Ham’s goalscoring woes this season have been well documented. With Chelsea to visit this weekend, finding the back of the net will not get any easier. 

The Hammers have bagged just nine goals in the league, and their highest goalscorer, Ravel Morrison, has just three to his name. 

With Andy Carroll’s return still four weeks away—per Steve Stammers in the Mirror—Sam Allardyce will likely set out his stall in a defensive manner for the clash with Chelsea. 

Allardyce’s “false nine” system worked well against Spurs five weeks ago, but since then the East London outfit have struggled, scoring just twice in four games. 

For Chelsea, Jose Mourinho will see the game at the Boleyn Ground as a chance to bounce back after a difficult two weeks for his team. 

The Blues looked sloppy in their defeat to Newcastle, and they were lucky to escape from the match against West Brom with a draw. The match with West Ham offers them the chance to right those wrongs. 

The Hammers are disciplined and organised, but Chelsea should have too much creative and individual talent around the pitch to trouble them.

Cardiff vs. Man United (Prediction: Cardiff 0-2 Man United)

A trip to Wales to face Cardiff is not the easiest post-international tie for Manchester United. 

Cardiff have beaten both Manchester City and Swansea at home this season, and Malky Mackay’s side will be confident of doing the same to United when the Red Devils visit town. 

Mackay has set his side out in a way that makes them difficult to break down. With Steven Caulker marshalling the back four, Cardiff look an organised unit. 

The problem for the Welsh team, like many other sides in the Premier League this season, is scoring goals. They have managed just three in their last five, failing to score against Aston Villa and Norwich. 

Although the United defence has looked ropey at times this season, they should not face much pressure from Cardiff in the attacking third. 

David Moyes’ side will, however, need to be wary of Cardiff’s threat from set pieces.

There will be much focus on the Scot’s team selection come Sunday. With Michael Carrick ruled out until the end of the year, the champions will need to rejig things at midfield in his absence.

But in Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie, United have two players who are playing at the peak of their powers. They have disguised other frailties in the starting XI in recent weeks.

Between them, the pair have scored six and assisted six goals in the last four matches, and more of the same can be expected this weekend. 

Fulham vs. Swansea (Prediction: Fulham 1-2 Swansea)

Fulham’s new head coach Rene Meulensteen reckons he can get the best out of Dimitar Berbatov this season—per Jacob Murtagh in the Mirror. 

Berbatov has mustered just one goal in Fulham’s opening 10 league games, and the Cottagers could do with him rediscovering his Midas touch.

Fulham, who have looked disjointed at times this season, have lost their last three league games. They currently languish in the relegation zone with just 10 points from their opening 10 games. 

Swansea will travel to West London with the memories of their 3-3 game with Stoke fresh in their minds. Michael Laudrup’s side were livid when Stoke were awarded a 96th-minute penalty, which they duly converted, and will be looking to take their disgust out on Fulham. 

One positive from the game against Stoke was the performance of Wilfried Bony. In the absence of Michu, the Ivorian created space for himself in dangerous areas, and his performance was rewarded with two goals. 

If Bony can continue his impressive form, then Swansea should pick up all three points against Fulham. 

The Welsh side will likely dominate possession, and if they can fashion chances, Bony will convert. 

The Swans picked up just two points from their last three games against Stoke, Cardiff and West Ham, and they will be desperate for a win.