EPL Preview - Round 14

Can Leicester City increase their shock lead on top of the EPL ladder with a win over Manchester United? Will Manchester City and Arsenal bounce back?

Match of the Round

Leicester v Manchester United

Leicester host Manchester United in a shock top of the table clash 14 rounds into the competition.

The home team has been tremendous this season with striker Jamie Vardy scoring at will.

It is a huge achievement for Leicester to be on top of the table considering they were on the bottom at this time last season.

However there are two issues with their current run – although scoring the most goals in the league (28), conceding 20 goals is way too many for a top four side.

As well as that, the fact they have only played one big team - a 5-2 loss to Arsenal – means the tide will eventually turn.

This bodes well with Manchester United, who apart from their 3-0 hammering at the hands of Arsenal, has been the best defensive team in the competition conceding only nine in 13 appearances.

United has their own problems though with them struggling to find the back of the net on several occasions including their 0-0 draw against PSV Eindhoven in midweek Champions League action.

Coach Louis Van Gaal will be hoping the return of Wayne Rooney and Anthony Martial makes the desired difference.

Prediction – Manchester United to halt Jamie Vardy with a draw on the cards.

Tottenham v Chelsea

Tottenham are flying in the Premier League with this fixture coming at one of the worst times for visiting Chelsea.

Spurs are on a 12-match unbeaten run, which includes a dominant 4-1 win over Manchester City.

The man the Chelsea defence must keep a hold of is Harry Kane. The Englishman is in a rich vein of form with eight goals to his name so far this season.

Chelsea will be buoyed their midweek demolition of Maccabi Tel Aviv.

But realistically the Blues could be in trouble again this week.

Despite dominating their match against Norwich they barely got away with a 1-0 win.

The positives for them this weekend include the fact that Eden Hazard has scored in his last three appearances against Tottenham and Cesc Fabregas has provided 11 assists against them.

The duo has been far from their best this season, but if they turn up they will be able to turn things around for the Champions.

Tottenham have never gone 13 unbeaten in the EPL era and the last time they did in the league was in March 1985.

Prediction – Tottenham has one less day to prepare having played on Friday in the Europa League and without influential midfielder Bamidele Alli it might be too hard a task. Chelsea to snare a victory.

Manchester City v Southampton

Manchester City generally bounce back very quickly after a disappointing loss and Southampton should definitely beware.

The Citizens were not even a glimpse of themselves in their 4-1 hammering at the hands of Liverpool last week.

Couple that with a midweek 1-0 loss to Juventus and City will be extremely hungry for a win.

Sergio Aguero showed his class with a cracking strike against Liverpool and he will be the man City hang off for this win.

Southampton is not the same side as the previous two seasons and I see them struggling here.
A 1-0 loss to Stoke at home would have disappointed them but they need a lot of work to knock off Manchester City.

Prediction – Too hard to go against Manchester City here

Remaining fixtures

Aston Villa v Watford – Villa to pull off a draw here to start their improvement

Bournemouth v Everton – Romelu Lukaku to be on target again for an Everton win

Crystal Palace v Newcastle – Palace to bounce back from their loss to Sunderland

Sunderland v Stoke – Sunderland to pull off a draw at home

West Ham v West Brom – The Hammers should get the victory led my Manuel Lanzini

Liverpool v Swansea – The Reds inconsistency to continue with a draw

Norwich v Arsenal – The Gunners should win this one with ease

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