EPL 2015/16 - Game Week 14

What an amazing week it was! Leicester City was last at this time last year but are now top of the table and their next opponent this week is second place Manchester United! Thanks to the hiccups suffered by Arsenal and Manchester City. Chelsea saved themselves blushes, Everton are in rampaging form, Tottenham are real title contenders, Liverpool are transformed in six weeks and look like Klopp machine running their opponents ragged. What a season this will be.

Bournemouth v Everton - Bournemouth stemmed their bleeding of many losses by salvaging a point at Swansea and are now at home but having met and lost to Everton 3 times all in cup competitions, they host the Toffees who have lost only 2 times in their last 10 away matches and their recent goal spree and winning form - last time out with a 4-0 home thrashing of Villa must strike fear in any opponent. If Ross Barkley and Romelu Lukaku continued their red hot form, they will be hard to stop. It was so unfortunate that Callum Wilson in such hot form early in the season has been injured. Everton can be guilty a little glitch here and now but their current form suggest another very possible win. 1-2.

Crystal Palace v Newcastle - Palace, conquerors of Liverpool away 2 weeks ago, crashed at home to of all teams Sunderland. Nobody expected that I am sure. Alan Pardew must be cursing to have wasted such a chance to secure 3 points. This must have brought some relief to visitors Newcastle who are in worse shape having won away at Bournemouth they crashed 0-3 at home to Leicester. There is something wrong with the Magpies and I admired the Toon Army's patience and long suffering fans for their loyalty. Bad news for the host and good for the visitors are that Newcastle somehow have a good historical record against Palace. In 5 previous meetings, Newcastle won 3 times and they drew twice in in 3 visits to Palace , they drew once and won twice. But in both their current state, a draw looks most appropriate. 1-1.

Manchester City v Southampton - I think Pelligrini is still in shock to have seen how his team crumbled like cookies at the hands of revitalised Liverpool last week. Their true character wold be out as they are now given another shot at home to Southampton. Are they on a downward spiral (after 0-0 draw at bottom team Villa) or will they rise to the occasion and punish the visiting Saints? Aguero did scores a world-class goal against the Reds and the occasion seems less daunting considering that the Saints on a winning streak ended with a 0-1 defeat at home to Stoke. Their best result of a 1-1 at home draw to City in 5 previous head to head encounters is discouraging. City cannot afford another shock if they want to be title contenders. They cannot afford not to win. Southampton's style unlike Liverpool, shall be harder to beat City. Home win. 2-0.

Sunderland v Stoke - The Black Cats may be at the wrong end of the table but Sam Allardyce's side just got a second win away to Palace and that is an achievement. They should also be encouraged that they do have a positive record against Stoke. In their last 5 meets, they each won 2 and drew 1. Stoke had a good but narrow win at away to the Saints but in their last 3 visits to Sunderland, they won once and lost twice. Stoke do not score a lot of goals so Sunderland can exploit that. So I think the home side can steal a point here. One apiece. 1-1.

Aston Villa v Watford - The once great Villa is in serious trouble propping up the table. I do not even want to tell you how many have they lost or when they have last won except that Watford's recent results were not representative of the way they have been playing. Losing to United at the very last minute and to a very good Leicester were no shame and prior to these, they had beaten the Hammers 2-0 (home) and Stoke 2-0 (away). Villa could only use their history to favour them if anything having won 6 and lost none to Watford in the past 8 meetings but if there could hold City 0-0 at home why can't they do Watford? I think Villa are in worse condition than even Newcastle. Villa could beat some other teams but not the Hornets. Away win. 1-2.

Leicester v Manchester United - Vardy! Vardy! Vardy! Jame Vardy has now equalled Ruud van Nistelrooy's record of scoring in 10 consecutive matches in the EPL. His record is even greater as van Nistelrooy did it over 2 seasons and Vardy did so in one and it is not over yet. You have to also consider that United at the time were champions and have Scholes and Giggs and Beckham who whipped in many a crosses for him to score. Vardy was a non-league player not so long ago. At St. James Park, he received a pass, make a pass, ran to receive the return, one touch and wham! The ball was in the net fooling the goalie who must surely be expecting the shot to the far post. It also kept me wondering how and why rich teams like Chelsea and United has chosen to be so boring when the Foxes are lighting the terraces. These days, with many matches going on TV at the same time, Leicester City is one of my favourites to follow. The Foxes are not a one man team despite Vardy's importance. They have a high level of team work and spirit. 

Meanwhile, Manchester United won luckily at Watford with a late goal but they played much better this time. Forget all past records when they have met as they were both very different teams then. United are more stable and are harder to beat now but they they do not score and are boring. They should learn from Leicester. United need to remember that 3-5 loss of last season. I would really love to see Vardy getting a goal here for a new record and the home team winning. This would be for all the underdogs in the world! A Leicester win is possible. Keep believing! Manchester United fans won't be happy and there are many in the world except in Manchester. 2-1. Vardy to score!

Tottenham v Chelsea - This time in previous years for such a tie, you know Tottenham could play well but you won't be sure of the result in favour of Spurs but not anymore as both Pochettino and Mourinho are experiencing very different fortunes. For me, Pochettino has done an incredible job at White Hart Lane and I consider his team as title contenders. They now have a good defence marshalled by Vertoghen and Alderweireld, a solid yet creative midfield - think Eric Dier, Eric Lamela. Dele Alli and Eriksen with Harry Kane back at his best and yet again scoring his 9th goal in 6 matches when he bagged one 5,000 miles away to Qarabag. 

You now turn to Chelsea, you watched them narrowly beat Norwich and though they came back from Maccabi Tel Aviv with a 4-0 away win, you have to ask if they have indeed turn that corner and if they had, around the bend, is there an oncoming Tottenham train? They last met here when Spurs crushed them 5-3. Those who followed Tottenham may ask they have been splendid all season and lost only but once, there must be a blip coming somewhere, would this be it? Pochettino has made Tottenham hard to beat and instilled a belief to win matches with a young team that can run opponents ragged. They are even doing the big wins like last week's 4-1 hammering of West Ham. A derby can get scrappy but I am going for a Spurs win even as they have less rest from their travel to Azerbaijan to play Qarabag on 27 Nov. but there is no better time to prove doubters wrong and show their title credentials. 2-1. 

West Ham v WBA - Almost 70% of this tie in the past ends in a draw. 80% of those played at Upton Park ends in a draw. While the Hammers are smarting from last week's 1-4 thrashing by Spurs, the Baggies achieved a significant morale boosting 2-1 win over the Gunners. The Hammers need to discover their earlier form of winning even against all the big teams. Maybe the injury of Dimitri Payet has cost them dearly as he was the chief creator of many of their goals and scoring some. Expect this match to be physical but WBA won't win. Probably it will end a draw but I am sticking it out for West Ham to win. 2-1.

Norwich v Arsenal - When a bird faces a gun it is a no brainer. The Canaires won just once in 13 matches against the Gunners and lost 7 of the last 9. They posted a narrow home win over Swansea then lost narrowly at Chelsea. Arsenal were stunned 1-2 at WBA last week but went on to revive their hopes in the Champions League with a emphatic 3-0 win over Dynamo Zagreb with Ozil and Sanchez outstanding and they cannot slip again as they have dropped to 4th. Both seems to be peaking especially Ozil. Norwich will be staring down a gun barrel as Wenger cannot afford any insipid display. 0-2.

Liverpool v Swansea - The Reds are now winning again. That 3-1 away win at Chelsea was good but was it a flash? Then they visited the Etihad last week. Even the most ardent fan had reservation for a victory let alone a 4-1 trouncing of league leader City especially after that 1-2 home defeat by Palace the other week. From the whistle, Liverpool moved fast and furious and harassed City non-stop thus preventing City from playing their usual game and rhythm. The pressing was strong, the movements were quick and the one touch play from Firmino, Coutinho and Lallana was indeed excellent. At any time, there were 3-4 Liverpool players in and around the final third swarming the City defence like bees. This was what was lacking previously. In six weeks, now Liverpool can not just win but score quite a few more goals too. The confidence and belief is back and this was missing since Luis Suarez left. (Meanwhile Sturridge was reportedly injured again this time at training. Despite his wondrous talent, he seemed to be made from paper. )

The question is can they sustain it and do it on a consistent basis. One thing is for sure - Klopp's gegen-pressing is here to stay and Liverpool players like Lallana has never run so much in their life. When you saw Skrtel scoring that volley for their last goal, you know that the spark has been ignited and the fire is raging. However, a meek surrender in a next game would bring you back to square one. Swansea have been awful of late but managed to claw back a home point against Bournemouth. To make things worse, in 7 meetings, Liverpool won 5 and lost none previously while the Swans have not won away for a long time. I like Klopp's style of closing down their opponents and winning the ball back with lightning raids. They should allow this in golf so that I can harass my opponents with this method. A Liverpool win. 2-0. Could it be more after watching the 4-1 win over City?

Watch: (Manchester City v Liverpool) https://www.facebook.com/knn.sg/videos/795954067183260/