Premier League Picks Of The Week 23

Sports - Football - Premier League - Week 23

The 23rd week of the Premier League saw:

236 shots - most by Burnley = 24
19 goals - most by Man City = 4
267 fouls - most by Palace = 23
33 bookings - most by Palace & Hull = 4 each
0 red cards
3 penalties - 2 scored (Negredo for Boro & Yaya Touré for City)

Mourinho storms out

Big Sam celebrating groovy style

Crouch dances to his 100th goal

What a game! It was not a good day to be an East-Londoner! Arsenal were shocked 1-2 by Watford for the first time at the Emirates (the Hornets' first league win against the Gunners since 1988), Tottenham frustrated in a goalless draw at Sunderland and West Ham absolutely taken to bits and thrashed 0-4 by Man City at the Olympic Stadium. And there was me thinking Chelsea might be worried after dropping points at Anfield... Pfff...

What a team! Burnley were and are on fire! Ok, they beat champions Leicester just 1-0, but the way they pushed and dominated the game, chance after chance was enthralling. And even more impressive is their home form, having recorded a club record of five consecutive home wins in the top league, last done in 1966. The Foxes in total contrast now have the worst record after 23 games by defending champions, beating Ipswich's miserable form of 1962-63.

What a man! It was a good weekend for goalkeepers, especially spot king Simon Mignolet and rock-solid Eldin Jakupovic. The prior stopper has saved 6 out of 12 spot kicks for Liverpool, an impressive 50%-record, denying Chelsea the three points at Anfield. The latter kept a rare clean sheet for Hull City, frustrating the hell out of United and their boss at Old Trafford and bagging a point as a hard earned and well deserved reward.

What a goal! Gylfi Sigurdsson's winner for Swansea was a beauty, in the build-up, counter and sprint as well as conversion, the striker set up nicely by debutant Luciano Narsingh, condemning Southampton to yet another defeat. This win makes it three wins out of four for the Welsh side, back-to-back wins keeping them out of the relegation zone in 17th, two points clear, from doom and gloom, to boom.

What the hell?! Claudio Ranieri was not happy - unlike some other managers, it was very unusual to see the charming Italian not smiling and complimenting. The champions' boss was complaining about referee Mike Dean not seeing a blatant hand ball. This blatant error - one of many, I am sick and tired of the video ref argument, but it cannot and does not cover up or excuse the Tigers' miserable form and season.

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

Click here for last week's Premier League Picks 

Pictures and stats taken from the BBC match reports