English Premier League Match Day 16

The EPL returns to action this weekend, placing a huge test on each clubs' overall endurance and depth within the squad, with each team playing their third match within a nine day span. 

League leaders Manchester City continued their winning ways on Tuesday, dispatching of early season Cinderella side Watford and solidifying their 2 point advantage over Liverpool, while placing a full 10 points between them and Chelsea, who now sit 4th in the Premier League standings.

Saturday's fixtures once again carry a large amount of ramifications. With each point crucial through this stage of the campaign, there should be no shortage of maximum efforts to collect positive results, as the race for survival and a Premiership title continue to heat up. 

Chelsea vs Manchester City 
Stamford Bridge, London, England 
12-08-2018 - 12:30 pm ET - NBC 

The battle of 'Big Six' clubs continues on Saturday night, when the Citizens of Manchester City make their annual trip to west London, where a humbled Chelsea side should be highly motivated to knock the defending champs off their perch. 

Chelsea return home off a terrible second half collapse. After taking a convincing 0-1 lead into halftime, the Blues allowed a slumping Wolverhampton side to net 2 second half goals and take all three points during their match day 15 affair. Leaving the Blues losers of 2 of their last 3 EPL matches, and dropping them all the way down into the 4th spot of the English ladder.

Maurizio Sarri was heavily criticized for resting many of his key contributors, but with 3 domestic matches over a 6 day span, and playing 5 fixtures over the next 14 days, the Italian had to find rest for many of his key pieces, as December is one of the most grueling months for top flight teams to endure. 

Sarri is expected to re-insert many of his most valuable components for this Big Six affair. Pedro, David Luiz, Jorginho and Olivier Giroud are all scheduled to make their return into the starting eleven after receiving some much needed rest on the bench. This talented quartet should be fully refreshed and ready to provide the home side with a spirited effort, as they attempt to erase the Blues last outing and help salvage their suddenly slipping season.

The hosts will surely lean on the services of Eden Hazard. The Belgium attacking midfielder leads the Londoner's with both 7 goals and 6 assists to start the new campaign. Although Chelsea's star winger has failed to hit the back of the net in his last 11 outings in all competitions, he seems primed to have a breakout performance against this Man City side who have struggled to defend creative players who can both involve others and get quality shots on goal.  

N'Golo Kanté may be the true "X-factor" in this match-up. The Frenchman will be asked to contribute on both sides of the pitch. Known for slamming the door on attacking threats, the World Cup winning defensive midfielder has also been moved more forward in threatening positions, giving the Blues even more options in the final third of the pitch.

Kepa Arrizabalaga will face another stiff test on Saturday night. The young Spaniard has had a hard time keeping Big Six clubs off the final score line. Now with a dangerous Man City side coming to town, the team's first year keeper will be asked to have a magical performance in order to help propel his new club to victory.

Manchester City arrive at Stamford Bridge in prime form. The defending EPL champs continue to set the pace atop the Premier League table and currently lead closet rivals Liverpool by 2 points. Still, the Citizens understand they cannot afford to slip up with the Reds waiting in the wings. 

Pep Guardiola should have no problem motivating his troops for their encounter with the Blues. The Spaniard has led the Citizens to victory in their last 3 meeting with the Londoners, as he has reversed many of the visitors woes against this Chelsea side.

Man City will be be without two of their main figures within the starting rotation, with Kevin De Bruyne and most recently Sergio Aguero picking up injuries on the campaign. The Argentine danger-man will be a major miss leading the line. Aguero's 5 goals while playing at Stamford Bridge have been invaluable, the teams all-time leading goal scorer always seems to find the back of the net in the most opportune times when facing the Blues.

Guardiola is rumored to call on the services of Gabriel Jesus to fill the primary striker role. The young Brazilian has struggled to complete his chances in the final third of the pitch, although Pep could opt for the trio of Leroy Sane, Raheem Sterling and Riyad Mahrez who are flying within Cities 4-3-3 formation, with 19 combined goals. I would not be surprised to see this combination getting the starting nod during this English affair.

The Silva combination will certainly man the midfield duties, with David and Bernardo providing the visitors with true class while moving forward in attack. They are able to break down defenders with skillful dribbling skills, while using their pin-point passing techniques to set their array of trigger-men into positions to get on the highlight reel. 

Manchester City will have a huge mountain to climb based on the club's long standing history, as the Citizens have never won four consecutive matches against the Blues in their prior 160 meetings, giving the visitors an opportunity to re-write the history books. 

Chelsea vs Manchester City - Match Prediction

Saturday's featured contest has all the makings of another instant classic. With Man City riding into town having won their last 3 matches against the Blues, while Chelsea have failed to taste defeat while on their own in pitch in the last 11 outings, this match-up has plenty of intrigue as the first ball is kicked. 

Chelsea start the match day in a true rut, going 2-2-1 over their last 5 matches in all competitions, concerning many over Maurizio Sarri's recent tactical decisions, and the Blues Champions League aspirations. The public are also certainly down on the home side, after a lethargic spell of play many are already writing the 5 time EPL champs off against the defending champs. Although their style of play matches up well against the Citizens, using pacey wingers to flood the final third of the pitch, while creating a large amount of shots on goal which can always complicate matters for any side in the world. 

Manchester City expect to take all three points on match day 16. The visitors seem to have broken their long standing curse over the Blues, with a squad full of world class players who fit Pep Guardiola's system perfectly, it has become extremely difficult to take points from the defending champs. The guests use a up-tempo style of play, always pushing forward using a high percentage of passes to march up-field, where they simply overwhelm their opponents once in front of goal, having scored 66 goals in just 23 appearances, they are averaging a gaudy 2.86 per contest during the 2018-2019 campaign.

I expect a valiant effort from Chelsea in this top four fixture, the public perception will be on this mighty Manchester City side to ride into town and snatch a victory without much resistance, but the Blues have been called out and humbled over the past few weeks, I anticipate them taking much of this match to the Citizens and at least grabbing a share of the spoils. 

Chelsea vs Manchester City - Betting Tips

Over 1.25  +110 . 2.1 - Total 1st Half Goals
Chelsea  +0.5  -110 / 1.91 - Full Time Spread 
Chelsea - Team Total Over 1  -120 / 1.83 - Goal
Both Teams To Score and Over 2.5 Goals  -125 / 1.8 

EPL Bonus Match Tips 

Bournemouth vs Liverpool

12-08-2018 - 7:30 am ET - NBC-SN

Both Teams To Score and Over 2.5 Goals +100 / 2.0
Liverpool - To Score in Both Halves - YES  +120 / 2.2 

Arsenal vs Huddersfield Town

12-08-2018 - 10:00 am ET

Arsenal  -1.5  -120 / 1.83 - Full Time Spread 
Arsenal - Team Total Over 2  -140 / 1.71 - Goals
Arsenal - To Score in Both Halves - YES  -115 / 1.87

West Ham vs Crystal Palace 
12-08-2018 - 10:00 am ET 

Both Teams To Score - YES  -130 / 1.77
Over 2.25  -125 / 1.8  -  Full Time Goals 

Cardiff City vs Southampton
12-08-2018 - 10:00 am ET 
Both Teams To Score - YES  -110 / 1.91

Leicester City vs Tottenham 
12-08-2018 - 2:45 pm ET 

Over 1  -135 / 1.74 - Total 1st Half Goal 
Both Teams To Score and Over 2.5 Goals +110 / 2.1 
Tottenham - Team Total Over 0.5  -115 / 1.87 - 1st Half Goal 
Tottenham - Team Total Over 1.5  -110 / 1.91 - Full Time Goals 

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