Premier League Picks Of The Week 33

Sports - Football - Premier League - Week 33

The 33rd week of the Premier League action saw:
256 shots - most by Everton = 29
30 goals - most by Tottenham = 4
239 fouls - most by Chelsea = 20
27 bookings - most by Southampton & West Brom & Man United & Chelsea = 3 each
1 red card - Byram for West Ham
1 penalty - 1 scored (Vokes for Burnley)

What a game! Palace fought back from two goals down to earn a crucial point against Leicester in an absorbing draw at Selhurst Park. A Robert Huth header and a good combo between Riyad Mahrez and Jamie Vardy had given Craig Shakespeare's side a convincing lead, the Foxes looking on top, 0-2. But defensive cracks showed and cost again, giving Yohan Cabaye an easy sweep home before Christian Benteke levelled the score on 70 minutes, converting Andros Townsend's cross with sheer power and stubbornness.

What a team! Tottenham made it seven top-flight wins in a row for the first time in half a century, staying in hot pursuit of league leaders Chelsea, cutting the gap to four points. Spurs dominated Bournemouth left, right and centre, and the result reflects that, a comfortable 4-0 home win. Boom! The Blues meanwhile looked a shadow of themselves being well beaten 2-0 by Manchester United at Old Trafford, Antonio Conte looking shocked, close to crying or bursting out in tears at times, seeing his side lose for the second time in four outings. Doom and gloom?

What a man! Harry Kane became just the fourth player to score 20 Premier League goals in three consecutive seasons, joining the elite list of strikers of Alan Shearer, Ruud van Nistelrooy and Thierry Henry. Another guy on a high, Romelu Lukaku scored for a ninth successive home game, the first man to do so for Everton since Dixie Dean in 1934, to make it eight league wins in a row for the Toffees beating Burnley 3-1 at Goodison Park. And last but not least, Roberto Firmino scored a winner for the second weekend running as Liverpool edged past West Brom 1-0 to go third.

What a goal! Xherdan Shaqiri's beauty of a strike from 30 yards out sealed a first league win in six games for Stoke City, downing Hull City 3-1 and seeing his side climb up to 11th. The Tigers could still hold their heads up high despite staying winless in 16 away games as they end the weekend with their fate in their own hands with two points separating them from the bottom three with five games remaining thanks to Swansea's 1-0 defeat at Watford. The Welsh side's defender Alfie Mawson took too much time in a dangerous area and Étienne Capoue pounced and scored sealing the home win at Vicarage Road.

What the hell?! West Ham have been shown more red cards than any other side in the Premier League season, seeing their fifth player sent off in their 2-2 draw at Sunderland, giving away a goal and throwing away two points late on. It is just not the Hammers' season, manager Slaven Bilić knows and has conceded that much. Southampton looked just as subdued, giving away three goals and three points at home against Man City, seeing them remain in ninth. Arsenal meanwhile, have finally had something to smile about again, beating Middlesbrough 1-2 at the Riverside in a dull encounter. The win is only the Gunners' third in their past nine league games, moving them up to sixth, seven points behind City in fourth with a game in hand. Boro remain deep in trouble six points from safety. Still cheering loud you Gooners?!

My Predictions - Actual Results
Tottenham 3:0 Bournemouth - 4:0
Crystal Palace 0:1 Leicester - 2:2
Everton 1:0 Burnley - 3:1
Stoke City 1:0 Hull City - 3:1
Sunderland 2:2 West Ham - 2:2
Watford 1:0 Swansea - 1:0
Southampton 4:2 Man City - 0:3
West Brom 1:1 Liverpool - 0:1
Man United 0:0 Chelsea - 2:0
Middlesbrough 1:1 Arsenal - 1:2

Click here for last week's Premier League Picks.

All pictures and stats are taken from the BBC match reports.