EPL 2014/15 - Game Week 3

After two rounds, I formed my opinion on who could be champions though the season is still young. Things of course could evolve and change but there are some glaring signs...

Burnley v Man Utd - David Moyes is laughing. He actually did better than Louis van Gaal. Losing the opening match at home, drawing the next match and then got unceremoniously dumped by MK Dons (formerly Wimbledon) who are two leagues below them. Now LVH said he probably needs a year. That Burnley no matter how determined will struggle is without a doubt but they are at home to a struggling Man Utd both looking for a first win. Utd has become worse than average and must be relieved to be facing Burnley and there is no better time to face them than now for the home team. After spending something like 30 million pounds each for Herera, Luke Shaw, Fellaini, 40m on Juan Mata and now 60m on Angel Di Maria Utd have joined the ranks of Chelsea and Man City as big spenders. The Red Devils must win their next match to avoid further ridicule. Rooney is now both England and Utd captain. He must be inspired and lead so he should get a goal here and RVP too. 1-2. Spare their poor fans a thought.

Man City v Stoke - All the signs are there for the defending champions that they have the ability to retain the crown. Beating Liverpool 3-1 was an improvement over last season. City should not allow the same things to happened last season where they sometimes dropped points unexpectedly. Stoke's away draw against Hull was an improvement over their opening home loss to Villa but right now Stoke are not in the mould to stop City. 3-0. 

Newcastle v Palace - The Magpies have been playing well without scoring and winning since Loic Remy left. There is no better place than St. James Park to get that result and no better team to meet than Palace who after a stout defiance against Arsenal were tamely thrashed 1-3 by West Ham. This is a match that they must start winning. 2-1.

QPR v Sunderland - Harry Redknapp has started badly when they ought to be getting better than during their last stay in EPL. They have now lost all three matches they have played. That 0-4 whacking from Tottenham was hard to watch if you are their fan and now they have outdone themselves and only better than Man Utd. as they slumbered 0-1 to League Two side Burton Albion. Sunderland should do well this season being unbeaten to date. QPR have to stamped their slide now before they go back down where they came. 1-2.

Swansea v WBA - The Swans are among the top in the table with two wins out of two. If you include the League Cup, it would be 3 and 100% - all by one goal margin. WBA are the draw specialists. Can the Swans continue this purple patch? Or will they be halted by the draw specialists? Halted and draw. 1-1.

West Ham v Southampton - What the Hammers did at Palace last week was surprising good for their fans with that 3-1 win but they have just crashed out of the League Cup after penalty kicks by Sheffield United. The Saints played very well in their opener against Liverpool but lost and were held goalless by WBA at home last week. These two teams have produced many England stars more recently Southampton. This will end a draw. 2-2.

Everton v Chelsea - Everton have shown time and again they could play and compete. If there is one team that can spoil the party at the end of the season, Everton would be it. They were tough at Leicester and they were actually leading the Gunners 2-0! McGeady and Naismith are in very good form and at Goodison Park, Everton can be a match for Chelsea. Old man Samuel E'too who just joined may have something to prove to Mourinho. ALthough Petr Cech have served him and Chelsea so well, he was dropped in favour of Tibaut Courtois but Diego Costa is injured and may not feature. 1-1.

Villa v Hull - Villa is supposed to be in free fall this season but considering their plight have done very well. Villa are back to their inconsistency. After a surprise 1-0 win at Stoke they defied Newcastle for a draw but went down to lower division Leyton Orient in the League Cup. An away win at Loftus Road over QPR and then a draw at home versus Stoke have put the Tigers in good stead. Will Steve Bruce's side secure a win? 1-1.

Tottenham v Liverpool - Tottenham tore QPR apart last week with an exhibition that once again gave hope to their long suffering fans. The have always shown promise but the problem is can Spurs sustain the challenge? They are top of the table and there is something about ""Erik" that Pochettino has discovered. Erik Lamela gave the impression that something is going to happen whenever he got the ball, Christian Eriksen combined well with him and Chadli and then there is young England defender Eric Dier. Liverpool have not been the same as they were. They have many players coming in and going down at the Etihad did not suggest they are going to be title challengers. They have a deeper squad now.Adam Lallana has not featured, if Markovic and Balotelli can play to their potential, Liverpool may be something more rather than have an over reliance in Sturridge. Spurs may be eager to wipe out that bad memory of going down 0-5 at White Hart Lane. It is not likely to happen again but their meeting were high scoring. If Liverpool want to have belief, they have to win such a match. 2-3.

Leicester v Arsenal - Leicester City have given a good account of themselves having held Everton 2-2 then gave Chelsea a good fight before going down 0-2. Arsenal have qualified for the Champions League. They may spend more money but what they really need is a solid defensive midfielder to boss the engine room. They trailed Everton 2-0 which must be bad but they were very good to be able to come back 2-2. The Foxes surrendered to lower division Shrewsbury Town 0-1 in the Cup. Their toughness will be tested by the Gunners mazy passes. 1-2.

Neither Arsenal or Liverpool will win the title this season. It will be between Man City and Chelsea. Arsenal could push nearer and give themselves a chance if they sign someone like Sami Kheidira and a top striker or else they shall come in third. Liverpool will need a longer time provided whoever they have bought gel. Man Utd will not be in the top four this season. Everton and Tottenham will be breathing down Liverpool's neck for fourth place.