It didn’t take long for Jose Mourinho’s side to respond to their ugly loss and climb back in to sole possession of top spot in the Premier League table. Their comfortable win over Newcastle United combined with Manchester City’s surprising draw to Everton has seemingly realigned things back to how they would like them to look. That puts them two points back ahead at the top of the table as we enter the third weekend in January.
The Blues will be looking to build their buffer this week as City faces the more difficult challenge. They’ll get a visit from the Gunners in town while Chelsea will try to extend their lead with a very manageable matchup with Swansea. This week’s best games in the EPL revolve around the top four teams, so here’s a rundown of the best matches.
Swansea vs. Chelsea – Saturday, 10:00 AM ET
EPL Odds: Chelsea -203, Swansea +571, Draw +300
Mourinho’s side bounced back from an embarrassing effort versus Tottenham to make very easy work of Newcastle last weekend. Oscar and Diego Costa led the way up front in a convincing win that calmed everyone’s nerves. It took a while for Chelsea to gets its legs underneath them in the first half as it seemed Newcastle carried the tempo in the early going, but a goal from Oscar just before halftime gave them the lead and momentum going into the break. After that, they looked much more confident in the final 45 minutes.
Now the key will be carrying over that momentum in to a game against a Swansea side that is winless over its last three outings. A chance to get away from Stamford Bridge and gain some confidence on the road might be the perfect situation for a Chelsea side that has struggled with inconsistency following a dominant start to the Premier League campaign. They’ve been feeling the heat from their fans at home, so a road game might be what the doctor ordered – even if they are more vulnerable in away games. Pick: Chelsea
QPR vs. Manchester United – Saturday, 10:00 AM ET
EPL Odds: Manchester United -190, QPR +486, Draw +311
Just when it seemed as though Louis van Gaal’s side had found its form, things have once again taken a turn for the worse as United has gone winless in three games – including last week’s surprising 1-0 loss to Southampton. The defeat marked the first time in nearly three decades that Southampton won at Old Trafford. For as much as all might seem lost right now, this weekend will provide a perfect opportunity to get back on track. QPR has dropped to the relegation zone with only two points to show for its last four games and there will be no excuse for van Gaal’s side not to find its legs and earn an important three points against. This has the makings of a get-well game and United should take full advantage. They have problems of their own but QPR’s issues are on a whole other level. Look for United to take care of business against a team they should beat regardless of venue. Pick: Manchester United
Manchester City vs. Arsenal – Sunday, 11:00 AM ET
EPL Odds: Manchester City -138, Arsenal +337, Draw +284
City’s stumble versus Everton last week could prove more costly than some would have thought at first glance. That’s because City’s schedule is about to get tougher, starting this week with a tough Gunners side that’ll be hungry for an upset. A weak stretch in City’s schedule helped offset the loss of Sergio Aguero but the road is about to get a lot bumpier and their superstar striker isn’t ready to return just yet.
City has done a decent job of limiting opponent’s chances as the 20 goals they’ve allowed is the third-fewest in the EPL. They’ve outscored opponents 25-12 at home but it doesn’t feel like they have enough muscle to push Arsenal around this weekend, so look for a draw in this one. Pick: Draw
