English Premiere League Picks - Wednesday April 3, 2019

(15) Brighton at (6) Chelsea, Stamford Bridge

Wednesday April 3rd, 2:45 pm EST, Chelsea over Brighton

Chelsea is giving us theater after their dramatic win over Cardiff, as is their mounting drama on the sidelines. Brighton, sitting in 15th on the EPL table, is just trying to hang onto the regulation cliff, which is its own kind of drama.

The Blues are suffering from a lack of confidence in their manager, which is clearly translating to performance. The fans are in revolt and while they may have won they did so by the skin of their teeth. Coach Sarri opted to rest N’Golo Kante and Eden Hazard for the Cardiff meeting, but they should be found in Wednesday’s lineup and lend to a better performance.

The Seagulls have not been terrible as of late, winning 3 matches and dropping 2, one to Leicester and one to Southampton. They did a solid job in knocking Millwall out of the FA Cup which settled them in their first semi-final appearance since the 1982/83 season. This could translate to strength at Stamford Bridge against the chaotic Blues.

Since 1933, these teams have had only 11 match-ups. Chelsea bagged nine wins while Brighton snatched one, but that was in their first ever meeting way back in 1933. As for league meetings, The Blues have taken all seven match-ups. Further, The Seagulls have won only 1 of their 11 Premier League midweek games.

For all their theatrics, Chelsea is still a lot better than Brighton, bar none. The Blues will win this 2-0.

 

(3) Tottenham vs (14) Crystal Palace

Wednesday April 3rd, 2:45 pm EST, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Tottenham over Crystal Palace  

Tottenham should be celebrating their new stadium with this game, but they are under pressure to garner points as they slip further away from the top 4. The Spurs mustered a single point of a possible 15 as of late and Crystal Palace smells blood. Palace is circling the wounded hoping to take the 3 points that would guarantee top-flight for next year.

The Spurs, when out of issue, are lethal in the Premier League, and stacking them up against The Eagles looks dandy on paper. Tottenham has 20 wins, 1 draw and 9 loses as opposed to CP who have 9 wins, 6 draws and 15 loses. However, the last 6 matches for each team are a different story: The Eagles boast 3 wins, 1 draw and 2 loses and The Spurs are with 2 wins, 1 draw and 3 loses.

Tottenham is entering this meeting sans momentum and playing out of fear that never fairs as well as playing for ultimate glory. However, they have Kane ready to show up and their new home could give them some much needed vigor amid their slump.

The Eagles will be looking to stay afloat and their win over basement dwellers Huddersfield, doesn’t say much as they had to work hard to get it.

Tottenham have taken The Eagles in their last 7 Premier League meetings and were scoreless in 5 of them. The Spurs have a run of five successive 1-0 victories over Palace which is the longest streak of consecutive identical results between the two sides in EPL history.

Lets not make this one too hard on the old noggin: Beting Tottenham will take this in their newly christened stadium 3-1

 

(2) Manchester City vs (18) Cardiff City

Wednesday April 3rd, 2:45 pm EST, Etihad Stadium, Manchester City over Cardiff

MANCHESTER WILL WIN - end of story.

However, I should probably provide some color in case anyone is here for my eloquent writing prowess.

Manchester have been trading spots on top with the Reds and right now, if they keep doing what they’re doing, the Citizens will have a Premier League title to their name. So, this game does mean something, just not as much to Cardiff, who are there simply as the sustenance needed to get City back on top.

City has won all 12 of their matches since their defeat by Newcastle United on January 9th and they’ll be adding one more after this meeting. This is not a game against Cardiff, its City against Liverpool in a game of points and other match outcomes. It’s going to be razor thin finish between these two clubs, aaaaaand I need to pivot back before I forget Cardiff altogether.

Cardiff does have something riding on this game: pride and a top-flight spot so they will want to walk away with something to show for the impending loss. An embarrassing whooping could be detrimental to their hinging top spot and their overall confidence as a team.

The Bluebirds have faltered with away games this season and going up against City is not going to change the tide on this.

City will take this and will dig their claws into that top table spot. They’ll take this 3-1

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