EPL 2016/17 - Game Week 10

Sunderland v Arsenal - The last and worst team versus the top, well the Gunners are second but only by goal difference of a goal. But hey this is the EPL where the weakest team can some day do a giant killing act. There have already been surprises but Sunderland are already in slumber land as they have last won many matches in a league cup and are bottom with only two points so how many matches have they won? They have been doing so badly that there are rumours of Sam Allardyce coming back to rescue them once more. Arsenal must be equally disappointed with their home draw against Mee Rebus, I mean Middlesborough but the Ah Beng say mee rebus. Former Barcelona keeper Victor Valdes and the visitors kept them at bay. While the Black Cats are capable of making it a tough and physical battle, Arsenal should be smelling blood to give Wenger a belated birthday present that they failed to deliver at home last week. 0-2.

Manchester United v Burnley - At one time, this would be a relatively easy match to predict. This season, it is different and not only that for if you were to base on last week's performances and results - you are no longer sure what is to come. The Red Devils are in 7th while Burnley are in 14th but the more hurting truth is that they are just four points apart and while Burnley after two losses shocked Everton to win 2-1 at Turf Moor, United crashed to a humiliating defeat to his former Chelsea by 0-4! Later, we saw Mourinho walked over to shake the hands of Conte, he leaned over with his hand close to Conte's ears. It was reported that he told Conte that to celebrate like that at 1-0 it was ok but to do so at 4-0 is humiliating. To add salt to wound, Pedro, familiar to me as a brand of shoes and ex Barcelona player, showed he was not made for walking when he burst through the United defence with a hesitant David de Gea stranded in no man's land to score the season's fastest goal after just 30 seconds! You did not have a chance to see or understand Mourinho's tactics. It was a horror show from de Gea and United, stuffs that nightmares are made of while Tom Heaton and Burnley on the other side gave a sterling performance. 

United have their guts so badly busted I wonder if they will recover so very quickly and give Burnley a thrashing. It is about the morale and confidence level. Did the Red Devils not bring the same thing to Stamford Bridge as they did to Anfield or has Jose underestimated his old boys and opted to play a bit more open? Could be the old boys really wanted it so badly to give it to him? However, credit to United for avenging their earlier league loss to Manchester City when they hosted and won 1-0 in the league cup. All you need is one Mata I mean Juan. United are unbeaten against them for 12 games and last time Burnley won at Old Trafford was in 1962. It is hard to watch the Red Devils these days with them being ultra defensive or too many long balls. Mourinho always have the nous to defend and the attacking forces are there. It should be a comfortable win. I said it should as with other matches. 2-0. 

Middlesborough v Bournemouth - It is not easy to get a result at the Emirates against Arsenal but Boro did! This shows how tough it is in the premier league and they are still win-less for some time. The Cherries themselves displayed great tenacity thrashing Hull 6-1 and then going to White Hart Lane to get a goalless draw. Even as Bournemouth is the better team they have never won away at Middlesborough and past results were mostly draws. I see a draw written all over. 1-1.

Tottenham v Leicester - Tottenham are the only unbeaten in the league. After the impressive 2-0 win over City they drew three times but they were all away games suggesting a decline in form. Champions Leicester are now just on eleven points after only their third league win of the season but they were impressive against Crystal Palace last week. Probably their best performance and this came after another mid-week Europa win over Copenhagen making it three wins and 100% in Europe but poor Jamie Vardy who was nominated for top awards - the Ballon d'Or was not fielded. In the last two seasons, they have met seven times with Tottenham leading with 3 wins to the Foxes' two wins. It is a match that either could win but they are each other's superior opposition. Tottenham are the better team but Leicester are in better form. 

Both sides have issues. Vardy did not even play recently from the striker who held the record of the most consecutive goals in the EPL history, better still in the same season. Dutchman Vincent Janssen could only score from the penalty spot while Korean striker Son would be a better choice. The pace may trouble Leicester captain Morgan. The Foxes have not been able to plug the gap left behind by Kante so it adds pressure on their back line and in the forward line, Okazaki's running may be good so Ranieri has to decide whether to pick him and if Vardy or Slimani to fit in. They did show what they could do last week. I'll be gunning for a draw here. 1-1.

Watford v Hull - The Hornets are unbeaten in three matches while the Tigers were beaten in their last four. Somehow, Hull have the better record against Watford. If I were Hull I would stare at and remind themselves that they used to have Watford for breakfast, well almost event though past wins were one goal margins. Unfortunately, Hull have been in terrible shape after a bright beginning. A draw for Hull would be good for an away game. 1-0.

WBA v Manchester City - Banana skin, I see banana skin. The record for the past five matches in all competition read LDLDL and I am talking about the great Pep Guardiola and Manchester City and not Tony Pulis and the Baggies. You have seen how WBA gave Liverpool a difficult game. The only thing against the hosts are that they  have lost in their last nine league matches to City. If we talk about unbeaten games for City against them, then it stretches to 13. Can City return to winning ways like their first ten matches where they could do no wrong and now they seems to do nothing right? If you look at their respective last five matches, their records are almost identical with WBA faring only slightly better. "Sack Pep!"nobody is saying that as he is the saviour. Numero Uno. Welcom to the EPL, Pep! WBA are like draw specialist so you must go there and grind  up a result like Liverpool did. City need this win real bad and they have to show it and play with attitude. How City respond now can determine their future this season. In soccer, just like golf as in life, all you need is confidence no matter how good you are or else everything can fall flat. 1-2.

Crystal Palace v Liverpool - Palace are on a losing streak. A home loss to struggling West Ham followed by an away 1-3 defeat to Leicester were not a good way to prepare for Liverpool. Palace was once Liverpool's bogey team. The Reds last met them in June and won 2-1 at this venue with Firmino and then Benteke who scored the winner but the latter is now playing for the Eagles and may have a personal point to prove to Klopp for selling him. Palace's game is based on speed and crosses and when the high balls come Liverpool and their goal keeper will have a busy day.

Liverpool has proved this season that they could cope with the physical and defensive teams and with their usual high pressing need to keep Palace at bay. A mid-week cup win over Tottenham with Daniel Sturridge bagging a brace in a 2-1 win is chicken soup for the soul. If Liverpool are now believing they have to win and win well. 1-3.

Everton v West Ham - The Toffees are the Hammers bogey team but in May, their home defeat ended the curse of 15 leagues games without defeat to West Ham. Ronald Koeman is a very capable manager just like his counterpart Slavan Bilic but both are in different situation. Everton were doing great but their last five matches yielded only two draws without any win while their visitors who have been losing have now won three matches in a row inlcuding a 2-1 cup win over Chelsea. But the Hammers are Romelu Lukaku's favourite opponents having scored eight times in ten games. He should get one here I supposed and keep up his record. I feel it is a draw. 2-2.

Southampton v Chelsea - The Saints are marching in. They have always been bouncing back. Their record against Chelsea have been abysmal. Do not forget Chelsea's impressive win over Manchester United but their slightly changed team lost 1-2 to West Ham in the league cup on Wednesday. Will Southampton surprise or will Chelsea continue with that impressive streak? Forget about that 1-2 defeat to West Ham in the League Cup and do not forget that the current top scorer is Diego Costa. I have been watching him and he is really very good. Of course, Jamie Vardy and Harry Kane, last season's number one and two are having problems with form and injury but take nothing away from Costa as he has been marvellous and when Eden Hazard decides to have fun, Chelsea could get a win. 1-2.

Stoke v Swansea - Both sides are now in a starkly different position compared to the beginning of the season. Stoke and Mark Hughes seemed to have stemmed the rot, turned the corner and recovered from their horrendous form. It will be a tall task for Swansea since they have never beaten Stoke at their ground. Strangely, the Swans' results do not reflect their play and they have merely been losing by the odd goal like 2-3 and 1-2. This is a lack of confidence. On current form, Swansea has no chance but Swansea could start with an away draw. Are we expecting too soon? Maybe Bradley is planning with a strategy for a draw. Shaqiri is is great from. 2-1.