EPL 2014/15 Game Week 4

The EPL is the toughest league in the world. There have been plenty of evidence that lends credence to it. Manchester City have impressively beaten Liverpool and Stoke did not get the results they were looking for and then they visited City and won 1-0 away. Swansea is second in the table with 100% wins with their last match where they promptly dispatched WBA 3-0 after having lost some players and a new manager. 

You fear the worst for Southampton after having lost so many key players when they moved to other top clubs and yet they went to Upton Park and won 3-1. Aston Villa on the verge of being sold and after a bad previous season with no signs showing that they could do well is playing so well and with positive results. Even newly promoted Leicester have been giving all a good fight. Burnley extended misery to the Red Devils having held them 0-0. Even QPR finally won.What a weekend it was. All these are very good but can the small teams hold their fort as the season drags on with suspension and injuries setting in?

During the international break, England stumbled in their 1-0 win over Norway with a poor showing only for Roy Hodgson to try a new way and players playing with more risks and in their favourite positions to have conjured an impressive away 2-0 win over Switzerland in their opening European Championship qualification. You must have read about the increasing sterling quality of Sterling, the new found striker in Danny Welbeck who scored a brace after Man Utd sold him to Arsenal. How will this weekend pan out especially with a mouth-watering opening match between Arsenal and Man City?

Arsenal v Man City - Some folks still got confused by the names of their stadiums. Read my lips - Arsenal's Highbury is called the Emirates while Man City's City of Manchester Stadium is called the Etihad. The Gunners are unbeaten and continued to play a nice passing game but without the highest quality midfielder like Yaya Toure they may struggle later. City started the way they ended last season. Will they bounce back after the Stoke debacle and punish Arsenal. Last season City hosted at the Etihad and won 6-3 and were held 1-1 at the Emirates. In the Charity Shield opener the Gunners won 3-0. I think they may cancel out each other. New signing Danny Welbeck is hot now. He may yet score again together with Aaron Ramsey if Ramsey recovers in time. Aguero and Toure to score for City. Draw at 2-2.

Chelsea v Swansea - This is the fight for top place would you believe it? Both teams are on five wins in all competition, home and away. Chelsea are this season's favourites while Swansea are playing unbelievably well even out of their skins. Chelsea have been looking really good and Diego Costa has been showing his value for goals justifying Mourinho's faith in him but he was injured and may not feature. Besides, conceding three goals at Goodison Park two weeks ago isn't Mourinho's cup of tea. In last season's head to head, Chelsea won both ties 1-0. Where will the goals come from if Diego Costa does not play? Drogba or new signing Loic Remy? Or Fabreagas and Schurrle? A surprise draw at 1-1 leaving Jose fuming? It is quite possible.

Palace v Burnley - Both sides are fighting back. Palace denied Newcastle with an away 3-3 draw while Burnley surprised Man Utd 0-0. Palace are conceding too many goals but while Burnley do not let in a lot but Palace is at home but both are still waiting for their first win. They have to wait a little longer. Draw. 1-1.

Southampton v Newcastle - Last season the Saints thrashed the Magpies 4-0 at the St. Mary's while they drew 1-1 at St. James Park. Southampton are playing well and their result finally showed when they won 3-1 at Upton Park. Newcastle are also playing well but they just could not win thus far. They will probably just about cancel each other out with a draw. 1-1.

Stoke v Leicester - Stoke started badly but are gaining a foothold and in their last match they claimed their biggest scalp yet when they went to the Etihad and got three full points! It was not a lucky performance, it was a great performance. They gave City a hard time and asked a big question and gave themselves a real big boost for the season. Kudos to Mark Hughes! Leicester City are no slouch themselves though they have not won, they hosted Everton and the and Arsenal and claimed a point each! At the same venue in January in the F.A. Cup, Stoke won 2-1. The Britannia is a hard place to visit. Home win. 2-1.

Sunderland v Tottenham - Last season Tottenham won both ties 2-1 away and 5-1 at home but the Black Cats were superb towards the tail end and though they have not won this new season yet, they are playing with purpose and held Man Utd. 1-1 but who could not hold or beat Utd these days. Spurs themselves showed great promise when they trounced QPR 4-0 but after going down 0-3 at White Hart Lane to Liverpool, I am not sure if they still have that same confidence. This is the frustrating thing about them. I have always love watching them but together with their long suffering fans, it always ends up like that. Sunderland won't be easy at the Stadium of Lights but I have a soft spot for Tottenham and their reward for an attacking game under Pocchettino should give them a a narrow win. 1-2.

WBA v Everton - The Baggies had two draws before they were thumped 3-0 by Swansea. Everton should be better than last season's high when they made Lukaku their own. Everton have scored a minimum of two goals per game but they have also conceded a minimum of two per game. They were hit for a six by Chelsea but that was because they were already chasing the game early on conceding two early goals. WBA are no Chelsea but despite their good season, Everton drew both matches when they met WBA 0-0 and 1-1. Martinez would have tightened up their defence by now after all most of their goal conceded were to Arsenal and Chelsea. I expect Everton to win. 0-2.

Liverpool v Villa - I saw how Liverpool laboured to a 2-1 win over Southampton at Anfield. It wasn't pretty. I missed the 1-3 loss to Man City as it was live at 3am but I caught the Liverpool/Tottenham match and was impressed because Tottenham are a very good team and the match was held at White Hart Lane but Liverpool won 3-0. I saw glimpses of last season when they were at their peak. Raheem Sterling was highly impressive once again  recently for club and country but his goal two weeks back was started by Sturridge who racing away with to players on his heels, stopped and turned only to turn again and race away before releasing the ball for Henderson whose low cross was met by Sterling. Maybe Rodgers knew something we don't about his signings. You would have seen left-back Alberto Moreno racing 50m before shooting diagonally into the goalkeeper's left post and in Javier Manquillo to the right, he is defensively much better then Glen Johnson so Johnson may find himself on the bench. 

Considering their miserable form last year, Villa are doing good now. I mean how many teams can go to Stoke and steal a win? Head to head last season, Liverpool were held 2-2 by Villa at home and won 1-0 away. Villa are winning and not so easily beaten even as they faced off field problems. Villa can have the tenacity to hurt teams if they are not careful but based on their last match won against Tottenham, Liverpool should win if they could replicate their performance but the problem is Sturridge is injured and shall miss the match. Bank on Balotelli and Ricky Lambert to get the goals. 3-1.

Man Utd v QPR - I did not expect Man Utd's loss to Swansea at home on opening day. Many thought they could in at Sunderland but were held. The they travelled to Turf Moor and were held 0-0 by Burnley. 3 matches, no wins, 2 points - relegation candidate? Utd have now splashed the cash. At their disposal now, they have Rooney, van Persie, Mata, di Maria, Falcao. Falcao is a top notch striker with two good feet so he is the kind of player where opponents could not force him to his weaker foot and he is full of goals. Goals and fireworks? And yet the real trouble with Utd has been their defence. In their previous encounters Utd won 2-0 away and 3-1 at home. QPR had their revival in their last match then they won 1-0 at home against Sunderland. QPR are facing off field problem with Fair play issues. Again, I was thinking what happens if Utd lost again or got held? To soothe the nerve of Utd fans, I pick Utd to finally win their first match. 3-1.

Hull v West Ham - Both have been inconsistent. They won one apiece when they met previously. Hull have been put up for sale by its Egyptian owner and that is hardly good for morale. In this respect the Hammers should have a better frame of mind but the Tigers are at home. I would say a goal apiece for a draw. 1-1.