EPL 2016/17 - Game Week 5

It was a different kind of weekend EPL soccer but no less succinct and even more intriguing. Thirty over goals, surprises, ironies, mesmerism, excitement and even intoxication. Even the Euro is easily forgotten. Wow!

Chelsea v Liverpool - I do not know which smart Alec's idea it was to play this match and such good matches at 2000 hours and SG time 3am on a Saturday morning. Such God-forsaken time are for vampires and Zika mozzies. I saw how Chelsea recovered from the jaws of defeat by a surprisingly good Swansea and confirmed that Diego Costa minus his anger and wild, abrasive ways is quite a hell of a striker. His two strikes were superb, a first timer and a scissors kick. Wow! Terry seemed to be injured and David Luiz may make his return debut ala Paul Pogba. He was sold by Chelsea for 50 million pounds and now bought back for 32m. He is an interesting footballer but can't defend to save his life. The Blues showed the fight in them saving at least a point. Conte realised that it is not easy but he has Eden Hazard and Costa in good form.

Meanwhile, Liverpool dished out the most exciting soccer in the EPL we have not seen for awhile. It was a mesmerising performance, even intoxicating. It was clearly the Klopp effect. The movement, the passing, the pace and the aggression. If they cut out those silly mistakes like what Lucas did and play like this more often, they are potential champions. Leicester are no ordinary team and did play well but they could not cope with the Reds. Even Mignolet fought till he was bloodied. Henderson played like a captain and was very purposeful and confident. Sadiio Mane was again a monster and quite unplayable. He could be the best buy of the season. 

Adam Lallana ran 13.1 km the most anyone had ran this season in a match. He got his second after the England goal against Slovakia and this time it was an unstoppable shot to the roof. His jinking runs and unpredictability are precious assets. Georginio Wijnaldum is also showing big improvements. Firmino has finally displayed his full potential and abilities. He tormented the opponents every time he got the ball. Firstly, few players are better than him in pressuring and winning the ball from opponents. His skills are so exquisite that he could drag two or three players out of position and he is a super cool assassin, having the time of a split second to somehow catch his opponents wrong-footed or out of position just before the final kill. And Coutinho did not featured until very late on. It was good to see that Vardy scored and he played well and threatened often. However, his goal should not have been allowed. The ball was not out of the penalty box when a Leicester player went into the box before the Lucas blunder. 

In recent years, Chelsea hardly lost to Liverpool but their records head to head are almost equal but exactly in this tie last season, Liverpool won. In October 15 Liverpool won 3-1 away. It shall be a very interesting encounter because of the way both sides play which is very contrasting. Liverpools' own unpredictability and inconsistency v Chelsea's tactical and pragmatic approach. Liverpool leaks goals and this Chelsea side too so it could be a high scoring draw unless both take a more cautious approach. 2-2.

Hull v Arsenal - The Tigers have a poor record against the Gunners. In their last six visits to Hull, Arsenal won five times and lost once and that was in 1915. Hull have been playing well but they will run short as the season goes on. Scottish international Robert Snodgrass is their hero with his set pieces and goals. Arsenal have been conceding goals first and in midweek PSG took less than a minute for Cavani to score. Arsenal seemed not to have warmed up yet this season even though they will dominate possession with their passing game and this match will be the same. They have not really been firing. Hull will make it difficult but the Gunners will get through. 0-2.

Leicester v Burnley - Their most recent last nine pairings, the Foxes have lost none. losing 1-4 to Liverpool was no crime and not that they played badly but Liverpool were completely in the zone playing like the Brazil team of 1982. Most teams would have lost there that day. Having said that, Leicester need to get their campaign back quickly but a midweek visit to FC Brugge may have made them tired but then an away 3-0 win was tonic for their souls. The Foxes are back after a difficult start? Their burly defence should hold out against Burnley and expect Vardy and Mahrez to pounce. After being champions, their life has gotten more difficult. Would Vardy and Mahrez have thrived better if they had left? 2-0.

Manchester City v Bournemouth - Last season when they met City won both by four goal margins. The frightening thing is that this City side is even better. Ask Manchester United as they have no answer. Although City have beaten United with bigger margins in the past, that 2-1 scoreline did not do justice to their supremacy. Pogba was chasing shadows. City was simply magnificent. Kevin de Bruyne, as reject of Mourinho at Chelsea, was easily the man of the match. He created one, scored one and hit the post. He and City dominated. Just know that Vincent Kompany, Gundogan and Aguero were absent that day. Pep's team will be the one to beat to the title. Eddie Howe's team will be in a furnace and Jack Wilshere on loan and even at his best can do little. Joe Hart was probably smiling in Turin when he watched Claudio Bravo slipped and gave away a goal. Hart was ousted for the very reason Bravo was bought - to play and distribute with his feet. What an irony but Hart's laughter was short lived as he dropped a clanger too for Torino. City's 4-0 thrashing of Borussia Moenchengladbach with an Aguero hattrick in midweek make this an even more frightening prospect for any visitors. City are just too good. 3-0.

WBA v West Ham - Tony Pulis has not have much success this season and Slaven Bilic must be scratching his head how his side could not be playing like last season. They played very well and led 2-0 against Watford at  home then crumbled to a shock 2-4 defeat even with Payet back (two assists) and Mikhail Antonio on song with two goals. Not something Hammers fans want to remember at their new London Stadium. It just shows that it is so difficult to maintain standards but I do think that West Ham have enough quality to bounce back and this time with an away win here. 1-2.

Everton v Middlesborough - Do you know that Everton is third and ahead of Manchester United? I call this the Koeman effect. Ronald Koeman came from the same school as Pep Guardiola and are students of the great master Johan Cruyff. He did amazingly well for Southampton in such a short time and now doing the same for Everton. Romelu Lukaka is back with a vengeance bagging a hattrick against Sunderland giving the Toffees four wins in a row. Middlesborough were never good playing Everton in the past so shall it be here. Home win for a top manager. 2-0.

Watford v Manchester United - Both teams do not want to face each other now for different reasons. The Hornets played a stupendous game at West Ham last week, storming back to victory away from home after being 2-0 down to win 4-2 with both Odion Ighalo and Troy Deeny scoring excellent goals. United will find them brimming with confidence but at the same time, Watford could be facing a backlash from United who so miserably lost 1-2 at home to their rival City. Last season, United struggled to beat Watford. Still United should have too much firepower for Watford. Expect United to come back to winning ways but it won't be a walk in the park. Ibrahimovic will be in the thick of action and is always worth a goal while Marcus Rashford always makes a difference even when he comes on late but the Red Devils just failed in their mid-week assignment at Feyenoord where they lost 0-1. Well, Mourinho is showing his true colours again blaming his players who were bought and/or selected by him. I thought great leaders and managers give credit to their staff and players and take the blame themselves. No? Anything less than a win here would result in more white wash from the Sulky One. 1-2.

Crystal Palace v Stoke - Palace got their first win finally and Wilfred Zaha showed his true worth. Meanwhile Stoke are propping the table and Mark Hughes must quickly find a way out. His Stoke were quite special at times last season. Four goals in the 41, 56, 59 and 70 minutes at home to Tottenham spelled trouble and they haven't scored in two matches. Even historical record favours Palace. It points to a home win for Palace. If so, Stoke City are in serious danger. 2-1.

Southampton v Swansea - The Saints have a superior record to the Swans. In their last seven meetings, Swansea failed to score in five matches when they met. Southampton have been unfortunate often losing their star players each season and have also been unfortunate having lost narrowly but Swansea stormed back and swarmed Chelsea and played well to hold for a draw was rather impressive. It should be a narrow win for the Saints. 1-0.

Tottenham v Sunderland - Although Tottenham fell away to Moncao in mid-week, they can fall back on their stupendous record against the Black Cats unbeaten in their last twelve meetings, having won nine and drew three. Sunderland lost most of their away games at White Hart Lane and considering their last week home game hammering by an improving Everton (0-3), you actually fear for them as they found themselves where they wish to avoid - the relegation zone. Spurs themselves went to SToke and gave their opponents a 4-0 hammering. But soccer does not work by simply adding those scores but what is done on the pitch on the day. Still, I feel White Hart Lane will be White Hot Lane now the Alli and Kane has found their scoring boots. 2-0.