EPL 2014/15 - Game Week 11

The table showed it is Chelsea's title to loose. Southampton is the team of the year so far in 2nd. West Ham in 5th and showing no signs of slowing down and next is Swansea. Man Utd is in 10th where David Moyes previously did even better last time out. Liverpool in the meantime is a far cry from their incredible form last season. Very quickly we are into the 11th game of the new season. Football is as strange as life. Those haters of Sam Allardyce are now in love with him.

Liverpool v Chelsea - Liverpool have been rubbish. Their tempo has slowed down so much, all their opponents no longer fear them. Without the twin threat of Suarez and Sturridge, they are now less than ordinary. Opponents no longer get pinned back and you can blame it on Balotelli but playing alone up front he could not do much. Brendan Rodgers was criticised for playing second stringers as he rested Gerrard, Sterling, Henderson, etc. versus Real Madrid. Was that the tradition of Liverpool or should he have given themselves a chance of proceeding further. Would Gerrard, Sterling and Henderson be very disappointed not playing on the biggest stage at the Bernabeu? How about the travelling fans. Chelsea still leading the pack and obviously stronger than their host on Saturday, have not been as vibrant. After the 1-1 draw at Old Trafford, they scraped past Shrewsbury 2-1 in the League Cup and then won 2-1 at home to QPR. Last season Liverpool lost to Chelsea 1-2 at Stamford Bridge and 0-2 at Anfield. No chance of a Liverpool win and if they play well strategically they may get a draw. Chelsea win here. 1-2.

 (Chelsea v QPR)
https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=814241371951789&set=vb.266828596693072&type=2&theater

Burnley v Hull - Burnley did so well for 70 minutes at Emirates then collapsed due to the brilliance of Alexis Sanchez. Hull showed that they could mixed it with the big boys having held Arsenal and Liverpool away from home but in five meetings with Burnley, they won once and lost four. There were no drawn matches between them. It shall be their first draw. 1-1.
Man Utd v Palace - This has been their worst start to their campaign. You can't understand what was in Chris Smalling's mind when he made that tackle and got a second yellow and seeing red. Their defence are currently truly bad. Fortunately they are meeting a Palace side that lost a home tie against fellow strugglers Sunderland by 1-3. Surely a home win for Utd but Palace should get a goal due to Utd's poor defence. 3-1.

 (Man City v Man Utd) 
https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=814818281894098&set=vb.266828596693072&type=2&theater
Southampton v Leicester - The Saints are the darling team of all neutrals. They have won four matches straight. Meanwhile Leicester have not won in five including four losses. Their fortune could not be more contrasting but Leicester won their previous two matches when they met but have not scored in their last three. Home win for Southampton. 2-0.
West Ham v Villa - The Hammers are on song with a record of LWWWD. Villa's been a horror story of LLLLL but they finally scored a goal last week after so many matches. Christian Benteke was in good form but quickly go himself sent off and suspended. That explained their whole season thus far. Both teams'previous record were even. On current form Villa will struggle again. West Ham to win. 2-0. 
QPR v Man City - Poor QPR. They played well against Chelsea away but lost narrowly and now have to host Man City who finally won a match but despite not being as impressive City won their derby against the Red side of town. QPR could make the visitors sweat as City have been poor by their own standard and have been poorer in Europe but may not be able to prevent them winning. 1-2.
Sunderland v Everton - The Black Cats have hauled themselves out of danger. Their last match result - a 3-1 away win over Crystal Palace was impressive but they are facing a visiting Everton team growing back in confidence. In Everton's last five matches, aside from two 0-0 draw, they won the other three by scoring three times. They hit three past Lille, watch:

 (Everton v Lille)
https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=817004691675457&set=vb.266828596693072&type=2&theater
Everton are coming back to their real level, Sunderland have improved recently an at home. Question is can they stop Everton? Not at this moment but it also depends on how Roberto Martinez handles things to prevent a European hangover. I am taking Everton to win. 1-2.
Tottenham v Stoke - Tottenham Hotspurs is an enigma. Most neutrals would love them for the way they play no matter who is in charge because Spurs fans only wants attractive attacking soccer. At one moment, they play and look like the best team in the world and the next they can crumble like a pack of cards. They have just enjoyed 3 wins in a row in all competition. Stoke were a very tough team last year but are now less consistent with the results though their application are still there. Stoke have not beaten Tottenham in their last 5 meetings. They drew twice in 2012 and lost the next three. But it is exactly teams like Stoke that can cost problems to Tottenham so Pochettino must find a way to overcome this mystery. For the moment, they have a Harry Kane who is a bright future at Spurs and England as he plays through like a Hurricane. Spurs to win for their long suffering fans. 2-1.
WBA v Newcastle - This is an intriguing mid-table encounter at the Hawthorns where the Baggies and the Magpies are level on points. Both have just shaken off a bad start to the season and gotten rid of their migraine. Question is will the migraine returns. Playing West Brom at the Hawthorns can be tough but look at Newcastle's last three match record: won 2-1 away to Tottenham, won 2-0 away to Man City, won 1-0 at home to Liverpool. This is more than impressive. This is what dreams are made of. Newcastle to win for their long suffering fans. 1-2.
Swansea v Arsenal - Swansea are a surprising but deservedly so but the Gunners are as usual fourth but should be more and better. The Swans match records are only average as their last 5 matches read DLWLD while Arsenal's are DWWWD. The manner of Arsenal's home 3-3 against Anderlecht is a grave concern. How they they be leading 3-0 and allowed their visitors 3 goals in the last 30 minutes. However, Arsenal have a superior record to Swansea. In their previous 5 meets, they won three and drew two and the drawn matches were both 2-2 shorelines. Alexis Sanchez is hot and he could do real damage. Theo Walcott is finally back and looked sharp and dangerous. When you defence is not working your strike force has to score more. Swansea could surprise if Arsenal's energy have been sapped in Europe but I pick an Arsenal win. 2-3.

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