EPL 2015/16 - Game Week 9

A lot has happened during the international break week. Liverpool's Brendan Rodgers has been dismissed. Juergen Klopp has been appointed. A new era has just begun. 

Brendan Rodgers - When he first came on board especially in that almost defining season two years ago the first thing that came to my mind was there has not been a team that played such swashbuckling soccer for such a long time since the day Kevin Keegan also almost brought Newcastle United the title but in a ruthless world and soccer being so much about the money these days, nobody remembers second best. Everyone can now point a finger at Rodgers, jump on the bandwagon of condemnation and saying all the negative things about him. That is being fickle as there was a time he could do almost no wrong. Rodgers'Liverpool never had a good defence but they always outscored the opponents. Suarez and Sturridge carried the team with the muscle from Jordan Henderson and the mercurial speed of Raheem Stirling. The side gave not just the Kops but even neutral fans swooning for craving for more.  

Brendan Rodgers is a good manager but if anything too idealistic. It is hard to replenish that team and repeat that performance and replacing Suarez. When results did not come to fruition the pressure built up. Not scoring or conceding a goal first put enormous pressure on the team. Over time, you can see a Liverpool team not enjoying the game and playing with a heavy heart and feet lacking confidence. It is difficult to get out of this rut and the change is inevitable as LFC has stopped believing. Anyway, thanks for the memories Brendan Rodgers. Good luck!

Juergen Klopp - You will like Klopp. He has no pretensions. Humble, funny, charismatic, intelligent and he is real. Even his name Klopp sounds like Kop. Once Liverpool went to play Mainz when Klopp was in charge during off season and with all their stars came back after a 5-0 whipping from this then nit so known team. His Borussia Dortmund team are super fit and plays a pressing game and they even conquered the superb Bayern Munich team. Klopp has turned unknowns into super stars in his time so there is expectations but do not think of miracles just yet. He will take his time to handle things. I saw a tweet which showed him walking like the Beatles did on Abbey Road. He is real cool. Let's see. Watch this clip:

https://www.facebook.com/Redsismylife/videos/900491673367988/?pnref=story

Incidentally, the week begin with Liverpool's trip to Tottenham. Klopp definitely has to fix a dodgy defence. Simon Mignolet is a good shot stopper but he doe not command the box and is nervy at set pieces. This does not give confidence to his back four and Rodgers has a habit of using players in the wrong positions.

So here is the low down for the rest as well:

Tottenham v Liverpool - Tottenham are the only team not to have lost since the opening game but have been inconsistent and unpredictable. How do you rate a team that crushed Manchester City 4-1 and then got held by got held by Swansea. It depends on which Tottenham turn up. Recent history strongly favoured Liverpool as Spurs lost all their last five encounters to the Reds (home and away) and conceded by three goals or more each time but Liverpool are not in the best of form as they have in the recent past drew most matches 1-1 against lesser opponents. Spurs have the ability to won on their day or it could be a draw.

However, there is an interesting statistics that give hope to the home team - this is their 145th league clash and neither side has won six in a row. This shall be the match of the week and both sides can make history by winning or a draw. To add excitement, it will be Juergen Klopp's first match in charge. Many will use it as a barometer of how has he influence the team after a week. There will be changes to the visiting team assembled by Klopp and Liverpool players will be playing for their future. I suggest a happy ending for the Klopp with a "gegenpressing" win! 1-2.

Chelsea v Aston Villa - The Special One is in serious trouble! I like Jose Mourinho only because he makes the league interesting. I was never sold on his soccer which is ultra defensive. No doubt he has been a winner therein lies his problems. After his triumph with Porto he built a reputation for himself winning titles in different leagues but you have to remember he went to already successful teams, buy and add players and got more success. Not that it is easy but it is easier then say building a team from scratch or with ordinary players. But he is a proven good manager. If you have never failed in life, you do not know what to do when you are failing or have failed the first time. This is my fear for people as well or as in organisations and even a country. 

Mourinho has never lost successive league games and Aston Villa has been losing by one goal margin four times. His opposite counterpart Tim Sherwood is in equally hot soup I am sure. There are rumours that Brendan Rodgers has been lined up to take over. Half of those teams that were in 16th position after 8 games have been relegated and none has ever finished higher than 5th. Chelsea is lucky to be meeting Villa now rather than others. I certainly believe they are having some problems at the moment. Be warned as another loss could mean a replacement for the Special One who is no more special. Unless Villa put on a super performance I think a close win for the Blues. Most meetings between the two usually ended 2-1 to Chelsea and so it shall be. 2-1.

Manchester City v Bournemouth - City tore the Magpies apart the last game where Aguero netted five and now has 84 premier league goals equal to Cristiano Ronaldo but went out injured and could now miss up to 7 games. This is dampening for the Citizens as they have no other proven scorers except Wilfried Bony and 19 year old Iheanacho. The last time they met Bournemouth coach Eddie Howe played in the team that held City 0-0. Like City they have also lost their top score Callum Wilson to injury. City has not been as consistent as well as can bee seen when West Ham and Tottenham ruffled their feathers but it may be a tad too much to expect Bournemouth to do the same. 2-0. 

Southampton v Leicester - After a slow start the Saints are back to winning ways. They was they have pounded Chelsea the other week for a 3-1 win was impressive. The Foxes have been special too. You wonder why Chelsea could not play like them. Both sides have in form strikers, Pelle for Southampton and Vardy for Leicester. The home team's Goals Scored/Against is 13/10 while foe the visitors are 17/15. There will be goals. Watch out also for Southampton's Mane and Shane Long who scored a beauty in Ireland's 1-0 win over Germany. Yes, Germany! For Leicester they have Schlupp, Mahrez and Ulloa to get the goals. In their last five encounters, they do not do draw, either side would win. This will be their first draw for a while. 2-2.

Everton v Manchester United - Be warned! Romelu Lukaku is one of only four players to have scored a hattrick against the Red Devils in the Premier League and in their last five encounters the score reads 3-2 in Everton;s favour. There were no draw. Louis van Gaal has not fixed the problem despite spending a fortune. United plays a build up game and have been too slow as you can see the first 6-20 minutes how Arsenal destroyed them. You can't just depend on 19 year old Martial to deliver and why do LVG and ROy Hodgson continue to use Rooney and even made him Captain. It is time to drop him. Everton are playing well and you saw how they thumed Chelsea. Ross Barkley is in the form of his life and you will know what I mean if you saw his England display against Estonia where he was Man of the Match. His nutmeg pass threaded through 3-4 defenders for Walcott to score was a sight to behold. D do not forget they still have Naismith. Home win. 2-1.

WBA v Sunderland - The Black Cats are winless and Sam Allardyce is back. He was a former Sunderland player. He is fortunate not to be playing a stronger team. The problem facing him is that a the Hawthorns, WBA has won five and lost none to Sunderland in their last six home games with them here. But Sunderland played well but was unlucky and allowed West Ham to come back for a draw in their last match. Sam and Sunderland have to wait for their first win. Draw. 1-1.

Crystal Palace v West Ham - This is an interesting tie. Alan Pardew has done a miracle at Palace with them sitting pretty in fourth but the Hammers would provide a stern test having already well-beaten the top teams all away from home but have an indifferent home form though they have been unbeaten in their last five matches. West Ham fans are rejoicing. To add sparks to the match do remember this is a London Derby. Watch Hammer's Dimitri Payet who has 5 goals and 9 assist in the Ligue 1 and EPL combined and it will be a good game. Draw. 2-2.

Watford v Arsenal - The Gunners have many players on international duty and may be tired but they were all on form and scoring. Alexis Sanchez, Alain Giroud, Aaron Ramsey and Theo Walcott. Will Arsenal disappoint again after that epic Man Utd win? But Watford are a team that defends well and conceded only one goal at home so far but have only one win in their last five matches. The home side's Odion Ighalo can hurt Arsenal as he already has five goals to his name till now. However, Petr Cech who made early season blunders has now the best EPL save percentage at 82%. It shall be a tall order for Watford to win it as the last they did against the Gunners was way back in 1988 where some of you were just born. Arsenal to win and keep pace with City. 1-3.

Newcastle v Norwich - Maybe this will be the Magpies big break, just the tonic they needed. They played so well and almost had Chelsea beaten only to get a draw and then allowed Man City to walk all over them 6-1. The reason stems from the fact that in five premier league meetings, the Magpies are unbeaten against the Canaries and Norwich have never won at St. James Park but Norwich has a playe in Wes Hoolalan who can hurt the home team as he has 5 assists only second to Man City's David Silva. A win finally for Newcastle. 2-1.

Swansea v Stoke - Gary Monk has done great at Swansea and they have started well but have now not won in their last five matches. Meanwhile, Stoke have reverse their slide with three straight wins. However, Stoke have won only once in 18 visits to Swansea. I like Gary Monk and the way Swansea play and it is time for them to bounce back. Home win. 2-1.