EPL Week 22 Predictions: Projecting Top Performers and Biggest Surprises
The 2013-14 Barclays Premier League is over halfway done, and teams still continue to fight near the top of the table as the season continues.
Through 21 weeks, Arsenal hold the top spot by just a single point, while Manchester City is in second and Chelsea is a very close third. While Arsenal have surprised many fans this season, Manchester United has been a disappointment, currently at just No. 7 in the table.
Matchday 22 is filled with plenty of exciting matches, including a very interesting one on Saturday, that could shake up the standings once again, so let's get into some predictions for the week, including top performers and biggest surprises.
Top Performers
| 1 | Luis Suarez | Liverpool | 8.76 |
| 2 | David Silva | Manchester City | 7.76 |
| 3 | Olivier Giroud | Arsenal | 7.56 |
| 4 | Eden Hazard | Chelsea | 7.61 |
| 5 | Wayne Rooney | Manchester United | 7.74 |
Luis Suarez, Liverpool
Arguably the best player in the Premier League this season, Liverpool's Luis Suarez has been on an absolute tear, grabbing 22 goals and five assists in just 16 appearances.
After not scoring for two matches, Suarez has picked things up once again to start the new year. In his two matches in 2014, he's picked up three goals, including an excellent performance in Liverpool's 5-3 win over Stoke.
Suarez will be looking to stay hot with the new year, as he has a nice matchup against Aston Villa. With 27 goals allowed and a minus-seven goal differential, it's been a rough year for them, and Suarez should be able to capitalize on that and find the back of the net at least once.
Olivier Giroud, Arsenal
Olivier Giroud hadn't played since the end of December, but he came up with a great performance for Arsenal in a relatively ugly 2-1 win over Aston Villa. With all of the injuries that have come up, the Gunners needed Giroud back, and it looked like he didn't miss a step.
According to WhoScored.com, Giroud posted a match rating of 7.64, which is surprisingly his highest match rating since November 23 against Southampton when he scored two goals in the process.
With a strong match coming from Giroud in his last game, he looks ready to go. The Gunners will be playing Fulham this coming week, and they've struggled all year as they're trying to avoid the relegation zone. Fulham has allowed 46 goals this season, which is 11 more than any other team this year.
This bodes well for Giroud and Co., as they'll be looking to put up a lot of goals before the match is over, and the 27-year-old forward could have a very nice day.
| Sunderland | 0-2 | Southampton |
| Manchester City | 4-1 | Cardiff City |
| Crystal Palace | 1-2 | Stoke City |
| Norwich City | 1-1 | Hull City |
| Arsenal | 3-0 | Fulham |
| West Ham United | 0-1 | Newcastle United |
| Liverpool | 4-2 | Aston Villa |
| Swansea City | 2-2 | Tottenham Hotspur |
| Chelsea | 3-2 | Manchester United |
| West Bromwich Albion | 1-2 | Everton |
Biggest Surprises
Liverpool and Aston Villa Will Score Goals in Bunches
The Reds have won three straight matches across all leagues, with their last loss coming 2-1 to Chelsea. Liverpool is on fire right now, scoring nine goals in their last three matches, and they will look to keep it up against Aston Villa.
Stringing a few wins together opens a lot of things up for a team. Luis Suarez is on a tear, while Steven Gerrard and Daniel Sturridge are playing well also. With 51 goals scored this season, only Manchester City has scored more than Liverpool this year.
The team is likely feeling good with this win streak, but at the same time this is a game where the Reds could lose focus against a team like Aston Villa. I think Liverpool will win, but I also expect them to let their guard down a few times in what has the makings of a high-scoring affair.
Prediction: Liverpool 4, Aston Villa 2
Manchester United Will Keep Things Close Against Chelsea
With 11 wins in 21 games, it hasn't been the best year for Manchester United. While they're currently just No. 7 in the latest table, the good news is that the Red Devils have now won five of their last six matches in the Premier League.
Of course, it won't be easy for them to keep up this hot streak against Chelsea. The Blues are right behind Arsenal and Manchester City at the top of the table, and Eden Hazard has been terrific all year.
But while many are counting United out, this is a game where they can show everyone that they've turned things around, even if they do lose.
I really think the Red Devils are going to finish closer to the top of the table than where they are right now, and this should be a good match to judge whether or not they can run with the top-tier teams in the league.
Prediction: Chelsea 3, Manchester United 2
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