Premier League Picks Of The Week 34

Sports - Football - Premier League - Week 34

The 34th week of the Premier League action saw:
158 shots - most by Bournemouth = 21
19 goals - most by Bournemouth = 4
155 fouls - most by Burnley = 17
28 bookings - most by Hull & Middlesbrough = 4
2 red cards - Oumar Niasse for Hull & Gaston Ramirez for Middlesbrough
1 penalty - 0 scored (Arnautovic for Stoke)

What a game! It took Everton nearly 70 minutes to register their first attempt and did not manage to get a single shot on target in the goalless draw at West Ham. Not much to write about there as you can gather. Their Red Scouse neighbours didn't do any better, failing and falling miserably 1:2 at home against a reborn Crystal Palace (click here for my full LFC match report). A lot of negatives for both sides of Liverpool... United meanwhile are sneaking and creeping their way closer and closer to their bitter rivals in the top four after their comfortable 2-0 win at Burnley, just three points behind Liverpool in third with two games in hand, and two behind City in fourth, who they play next in one of their games in hand!

What a team! As mentioned above, Crystal Palace made it six wins out of eight league games after seeing Christian Benteke's double haunt and down his former side Liverpool 2-1. The win at Anfield sees Big Sam's side onto 38 points, seven clear of danger, whilst Jürgen Klopp is left scratching his head. Apart from Philippe Coutinho's fine free-kick halfway through the first half, there was not much to cheer for the Reds, looking worn and torn, labouring 72% possession but not creating much. Palace have now won on their last three league trips to Anfield - the first team to do so since Chelsea in October 2005. Again, click here for my full LFC match report.

What a man! Gastón Ramírez should be very ashamed! The Middlesbrough midfielder got booked twice within 20 minutes, once for diving and another for a reckless tackle on Marc Pugh. Two stupid actions that cost his side, who were already 2-0 down early on at Bournemouth, making an already difficult game in their battle for survival close to impossible. Reckless and hopeless, Boro got thrashed 4-0 and are stuck in 19th, nine points from safety with five games remaining. Cherries meanwhile, will be very happy to have ended their four-match winless run with a win and three points that shoot them four places up the table to 12th, seven points safe from the drop. Surely Eddie Howe and his men are well set for their third season in the Premier League.

What a goal! How crucial will Marko Arnautović's penalty miss be? Just 60 seconds after he blasted the spot kick high for Stoke, Tom Carroll doubled Swansea's lead with a deflected strike from long range after Fernando Llorente had headed the home side ahead early on. The Liberty Stadium erupted in joyous celebrations and deservedly so after their first victory since March gave the Swans a boost in the relegation battle, keeping them 18th in the table, just two points behind Hull and safety. At the top meanwhile, Chelsea enjoyed a convincing home win over Southampton, with Eden Hazard and Diego Costa impressing as always, both on the scoreboard in the 4-2 win that puts the Blues seven points ahead of Spurs at the top, having played one game more due to the FA Cup ties.

What the hell?! Talking about the Tigers, they had a nightmare start against Watford at the KCOM Stadium, seeing Oumar Niasse sent off harshly for his challenge on M'Baye Niang in the 25th minute. Marco Silva's men also saw a decent penalty shout denied by referee Bobby Madley, but came back courageously and stunningly in the second half. Lazar Marković netted the rebound after his header came back off the bar, before Sam Clucas doubled the score and sealed the deal with a breathtaking smacker from 25 yards out. Hull have now won 19 out of a possible 21 points at home under Silva, defying all the refereeing howlers and odds against them in the relegation battle, staying two points above the drop zone.

My Predictions - Actual Results
(Forgot to make some predictions, which then we're automatically set to 1:0)
Arsenal P:P Sunderland*
Bournemouth 1:0 Middlesbrough - 4:0
Hull City 1:0 Watford - 2:0
Swansea 1:0 Stoke - 2:0
West Ham 1:0 Everton - 0:0
Burnley 1:0 Man United - 0:2
Liverpool 1:0 Crystal Palace - 1:2 or click here for my LFC match report
Chelsea 2:1 Southampton - 4:2
Leicester P:P Tottenham*
Man City P:P West Brom*
*Postponed due to FA Cup Semi Finals

Click here for last week's Premier League Picks.

All pictures and stats taken from the BBC match reports.