The battle for top spot continues as Chelsea regained a slim two-point advantage on the league table heading into Week 33 of Barclays Premier League football. With all of the Premier League clubs now knocked out of the Champions League, the focus will now shift to two remaining pieces of silverware to be won this season. The FA Cup and the Barclays Premier League title. Because of the FA Cup semifinal weekend, the EPL schedule is a little different than usual. There are actually three matches next Wednesday, including a North London Derby between Spurs and Arsenal. My pick for match of the week is Everton at Aston Villa. Here I take a look at a few this weekends crucial matches, giving you insight on making your EPL soccer wager a winner.

Hull City vs. Burnley

It’s crunch time for both of these clubs if they wish to stay playing in the top flight next season. This will be the most important game of the year for these two sides as Burnley makes their trip to Hull City on Saturday. If ever there ever was a relegation six-pointer, this is surely it. Both clubs would be relegated if the season ended today, but Hull has a game in hand against everyone else in the relegation race. Burnley can’t afford a loss in this match, as that would mean a six-point gap between themselves and the Tigers. Even though a win on their home pitch may not guarantee the Tigers safety, it would put them in a better position and help their efforts to move out of the drop zone. Hull are the favorites and their home form has been good, while Burnley will look to rebound from 6-1 pounding by Manchester City last time out. I expect the Tigers to win this one by a goal difference.

West Ham vs. Sunderland

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Things are heating up with only seven weeks remaining as we head into Week 32 of Barclays Premier League football action this Easter weekend. The battle continues for this year’s crown as Manchester United and Chelsea exchange positions atop the leader board weekly. Currently the Red Devils hold a one-point advantage atop the league table over the Blues, with two facing off against each other this Saturday in my pick for match of the week. Here I take a look at a few this week’s top matches, giving you insight on making your EPL soccer wager a winner.

Manchester United vs. Chelsea

Chelsea has received good news as they prepare to head to Old Trafford this weekend in its quest to dethrone Manchester United. The Reds will be without star striker Wayne Rooney who is on crutches as well as Cesc Fabregas, who is out with a broken leg. Chelsea’s Didier Drogba is expected to feature for the Blues, but even without Rooney a victory over the Red Devils will not be easy. United dealt Chelsea a 3-0 loss in this fixture last season, but this year will be different. The Blues are in excellent form, having tallied 12 goals in two EPL matches since its untimely exit from the Champions League. They defeated Portsmouth 5-0 and Aston Villa 7-1 and are will be looking to avenge last year’s defeat. Manchester United’s Owen Hargreaves, who has been out of action for nearly 18 months, and John O’Shea are expected to make their return in Saturday’s match. I expect Cheslea to get a much needed three points in this one with a close 1-0 win.

Arsenal vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers

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As we head into Week 31 of Barclays Premier League football action, there are three clubs fighting it out for the league title, but just which club will be holding the trophy at the end of the season remains to be seen. This weekend will give us more insight into who will likely be crowned champion at the end of the season and it will also tell us what sort of teams we can expect to see in the second division next season as few squads are still on the relegation bubble. Manchester United has a one-point advantage over second place Chelsea as the Blues cling to a one-point lead over third place Arsenal. My pick for match of the week has to be Arsenal at Birmingham City. Here I take a look at the matches for the top three clubs, giving you insight on making your EPL soccer wager a winner.

Chelsea: -250
Draw: +340
Aston Villa: +625

No. 2 Chelsea dropped to second on the league table despite a commanding 5-0-victory midweek over bottom side Portsmouth. It appears that Chelsea are back in control of their Premier League aspirations and now have the chance to regain their place at the top of the table with victory over No.7 Aston Villa who has drawn in their last two matches. Sitting more than a point behind Manchester United could be costly by Week 38, so the Pensioners can’t afford to drop any more points, especially at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea midfielder Michael Ballack will return to the lineup after recovery from an Achilles injury and keeper Hilario is also fit again from his groin strain. The Blues will be without Michael Essien, Ashley Cole, Ricardo Carvalho, and Jose Bosingwa. Aston Villa’s hopes for a Premiere League title are slowly fading as the season’s end draws closer. While they haven’t lost any of their last six matches — taking away eight points from a possible 12 on the road in recent weeks, they have drawn seven of their last 10 league games and are badly in need of three points to stay in the race for a fourth-place finish. Aston Villa will be without central defender Richard Dunne, midfielder James Milner and strikers Emile Heskey and Gabriel Agbonlahor. Villa has already beaten Chelsea once this season – winning 2-1 at Villa Park in October. I expect a hard fought contest with Chelsea winning to take three points.

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Things are heating up as we head into Week 30 of Barclays Premier League football action this Saturday and Sunday. Manchester United has leapfrogged Chelsea and now holds a two-point advantage atop the league table over the Blues and Arsenal who are knotted up for second. My pick for match of the week has to be Everton at Birmingham City. Here I take a look at a few this week’s top matches, giving you insight on making your EPL soccer wager a winner.

Tottenham Hotspur (4th) vs. Blackburn Rovers (12th)

The Hotspur currently sit in the fourth spot on the league table, level in points with Manchester City and having played an extra game. They will face a Blackburn side with a miserable record against the top clubs on the road. The Spurs have had significant problems at defense and midfield, with Ledley King and Jonathan Woodgate both still sidelined and Aaron Lennon, Tom Huddlestone, David Bentley and Jermaine Jenas all unavailable for the upcoming match. Substitute goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini is also still out. Blackburn, have improved since mid-January and, other than a 3-0 defeat at Stoke City, has been much harder to beat in recent outings. Tottenham now look to be establishing some consistency while Blackburn has not won away since November. With the firepower at manager Harry Redknapp’s disposal, Spurs should clinch a comfortable win at home.

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We are nearing the final 10 weeks of Barclays Premier League football action as we enter into Week 28 this Saturday and Sunday. Chelsea maintains a slim one-point advantage atop the league table over second place Manchester United. My pick for match of the week has to be Manchester City at Chelsea. With Manchester United on Carling Cup duty, the Blues have the chance to widen the gap as they play their match in hand. Here I take a look at a few this week’s top matches, giving you insight on making your EPL soccer wager a winner.

Chelsea: -222
Draw: +290
Manchester City: +650

Top of the table Chelsea will host No. 5 Manchester City at Stamford Bridge this Saturday. The Blues were defeated in the Champions League 2-1 by Inter at the San Siro but could have won the match had they converted more of their scoring opportunities. Everyone will be watching the reunion between John Terry and Wayne Bridge who has now made himself unavailable for England. Henrique Hilario will get the call in goal after Czech Republic goalkeeper Petr Cech tore a calf muscle against Inter Milan in midweek. Ashley Cole is a long-term absentee with a broken ankle and Yury Zhirkov has a calf injury. Paulo Ferreira is back in contention after not being registered for the Champions League in midweek, but Florent Malouda is expected to continue at left back. Jose Bosingwa, Michael Essien and Deco all remain sidelined. In the meantime City were handed an embarrassing defeated by Stoke midweek, and holding their own against the league leaders would do wonders for team morale. However, they have taken just one point from a possible nine on the road and have failed to score in their last seven visits to Stamford Bridge. Their 2-1 victory at home to the Blues in December ended a run of eight successive defeats to Chelsea. It will be a tough task against a Chelsea side who have dropped just two points at home all season and who have gone 37 matches unbeaten at Stamford Bridge in all competitions. I expect the Blues to take this one at home and the three points.

Stoke City: +425
Draw: +250
Arsenal: -153

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Barclays Premier League football action returns after a week of Champions League and Europa League fixtures. Chelsea maintains a slim one-point advantage atop the league table as they continue to be the team to beat this season. My pick for match of the week has to be Liverpool at Manchester City. Here I take a look at a few this week’s top matches, giving you insight on making your EPL soccer wager a winner.

Everton: +375
Draw: +250
Manchester United: -142

Barclays Premier League title hopefuls No. 2 Manchester United will travel to Goodison Park to do battle with No. 9 Everton on Saturday. Man U is looking for a victory that will see them over take Chelsea at the top of the table, at least temporarily. United walked away with a 3-0 win the last times these two sides met in November. Everton’s overall Premier League record against United is 3-35. The Red Devils are coming into Saturday’s match having won six of their last eight games. Wayne Rooney, an Everton transfer in 2004, will lead his squad and heads into the contest in great form, with ten goals in his last eight appearances. United will continue to be without suspended Luis Nani and Rio Ferdinand. Ryan Giggs is out for another three weeks with a broken arm while John O’Shea is out indefinitely with a thigh muscle strain. Meanwhile, Everton are reaping the rewards of US international loan Landon Donovan, and you can be sure that he’ll play an important role against United. If the home side can hold off the reigning champions, they will be one step closer to a consecutive European berth. Phil Jagielka remains a long-term casualty for the Toffees, but is now joined on the sidelines by Marouane Fellaini who will miss the rest of the season with an ankle injury. Key midfielder Tim Cahill will also be out for three weeks after suffering a calf strain. I suspect Manchester United to continue their dominance, while Everton’s only hope will be to shut down a red-hot Wayne Rooney. Look for the Red Devils to take this one and a much desired three points.

Arsenal: -500
Draw: +250
Sunderland: +1100

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