EPL 2016/17 - Game Week 33

EPL

Seven matches to go, for a few teams six and the season is over. Chelsea cemented their position and the title is still theirs to lose and the moment they falter, Tottenham will snatch it equally deservedly. Liverpool may still make it to the Champions League if the others fall by the wayside. So too Manchester City, Manchester United and Arsenal. Chelsea have a tough one coming up at Old Trafford  and Tottenham may draw closer but have their own challenge hosting Bournemouth, Liverpool have their own banana skin at the Hawthorns, City will be visitors to a tough Southampton, Manchester United have their own demons to conquer as they host Chelsea while Arsenal visits Middlesborough. The bottom end is equally interesting. It is no less excruciating as the battles continued till doomsday cometh. Arsenal are losing it at the most crucial time especially when they have just been thrashed 3-0 by Crystal Palace. No mean feat for Sam Allardyce and the worst ever situation for Arsene Wenger and the Arsenal job at hand has been increasing untenable. They used to call managers names like Special One, Normal One and then whenever Arsenal lost 5-1, Wenger was called 5-1. Though Manchester United remained unbeaten since last October they haven't really always won and mostly draw at 1-1 hence Mourinho's new moniker is called One-One.

Champions League

In the Champions League, Barcelona even with their MSN (Messi, Suarez and Neymar) created something for themselves needing another miracle of hauling themselves back from a 0-3 hiding from Juventus. The other Massi has been doing wonders for the Italian club - Massimiliano Allegri the Juventus manager while Luis Enrique got embattled. Such is the changing fortune in the soccer and sports world just like it is in life. Downed 0-4 previously at PSG, they came back from the dead to win 6-1 at the Nou Camp. What is the likelihood of them repeating the miracle. I think this time it would be different. It is Juventus.

How on earth was it decided that Borussia Dortmund played Monaco after their team bus got rocked by a terrorist bomb that went off and Marc Bartra got injured. Surely that team were greatly affected. Kudos to the fan who were defiant and both sang You'll Never Walk Alone. UEFA has failed miserably for not considering the welfare of players above all else. Still Dortmund showed great courage to come back with two goals in the second half to eventually go down 2-3. As expected, Athletico Madrid dominated Leicester but could only win 1-0 from a dubious penalty where the foul was committed outside the box. Athletico could still win it but who dare to write off Leicester writing another new chapter? 

Other Sports

Meanwhile, in Badminton, Lin Dan won his final piece at the Malaysian Open for the first time beating his perennial rival Lee Chong Wei becoming the one who has won every title the sport has to offer. Sports is about the human spirit of overcoming great odds.

In golf, the talented Spaniard Sergio Garcia finally won his first major after 73 attempts! Viva Sergio! Bobby Jones has a famous quote - no putt is short enough to be despised. Did Garcia misread his putt or were the nerves once again showing? Countless times he has fallen short or his opponents just got better. In a clutch putt, your putter can feel like a ship's anchor. It was sudden death against the coolest customer in Justin Rose, the Olympic champion. Tiger Woods who beat Garcia by a shot in 1999 even joked about him about the yellow outfit Garcia once wore suggesting mental fragility. Sergio finally buried his demon with a 12-foot putt burying it into the hole for a life-changer! Well deserved. Otherwise, the tag of Best Player To Have Never Won a Major would have stuck with him. Justin Rose, one of the classiest gentleman in golf and sports tweeted - Incredible battle out there. Sport in the moment can be tough. But it's just sport. Hope you guys enjoyed it. Rose added - it is hard not to feel nice for him. Both of them are great friends and good rivals. 

Back to the EPL. The deadliest goal-scorers so far this season: (1) Romelu Lukaku (Everton) - 23 goals in 31 appearances (average: 0.74), (2) Harry Kane (Tottenham) - 19 in 23 (average: 0.83), (3) Alexis Sanchez (Arsenal) - 18 in 30 (average: 0.60), (4) Diego Coats (Chelsea) - 17 in 29 (average: 0.59), (5) Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Manchester United) - 17 in 27 (average: 0.63).  The most prolific is Harry Kane (at 0.83 goals/game) followed by Lukaku, Ibrahimovic, Sanchez and Costa. 

Tottenham v Bournemouth - Tottenham are really the Hotspurs they called themselves. Definitely the most consistent team over two seasons and maybe more under the Argentine Mauricio Pochettino. They just need a little bit more and could have won the title even for this season and go further in Europe. They are on a winningest streak if there is such a word. If you had seen how they tore Watford apart last week you will totally agree with me it would be such a shame if they do not win something soon especially that Dele Alli goal. The Cherries themselves are back to their best but Chelsea were too good. Eddie Howe and his team have done very well and can often surprise even the big teams by playing good football but it is a very different task against Spurs. Tottenham will keep the pressure on Chelsea till the end. Harry Kane is back too. Even Eric Dier has started scoring. Eriksen is in usual fine form and Dele Alli is going great guns since a long time ago. Last season's wonder strike where he received the ball and in one fell swoop spun around and volleyed home made all confirmed a very special talent. Last week's opening goal was about similar and equal to Coutinho's strike for Liverpool - beating his man and curling a shot into the top corner leaving the goalie clutching thin air. 2-0. 

Crystal Palace v Leicester City - Love him or hate him, you have to give it to big Sam Allardyce for turning Palace around. Stuffs of what legends are made of. Palace were no- hopers before he came and then they still struggled. Imagine what confidence can give to soccer teams and people in general. After being the only the second team to beat Chelsea at Stamford Bridge after Liverpool, they trounced Arsenal 3-0. They are soaring again and wrong time for the Foxes to face them. Leicester have won every game under Craig Shakespeare till they went crashing 2-4 to Everton at Goodison Park as they fielded a slightly different team on rotation as they await Athletico Madrid in the Champions League Quarter Final tie in mid-week where they have lost 0-1 at Athletico Madrid. In their last four home ties with Leicester, Palace alternated between victory and defeat - keeping a clean sheet in victory and failing to score in defeat whereas Leicester have won their last three encounters. Palace are on song while Leicester have been rejuvenated with their old belief and will be weary from their mid-week sojourn. Draw. 1-1.

Everton v Burnley - Everton and Burnley seemed to take turns to beat one another over the years with close one or two goal margins. While Everton scored an impressive win over Leicester at Goodison Park, Burnley have been picking up steadily once again. In their last five ties, Everton led 3-2. Though Burnley will be hard to crack, Everton are on form and Lukaku must be surging to win the top scorer award. It must be expected for Everton to win just like the previous two home ties. 2-1.

Stoke v Hull - Stoke City are in a bad moment having lost their last four matches but has historical advantage over the Tigers as they have lost only once to Hull in nine occasions. Stoke are higher up the table while Hull are facing the drop and historical numbers are for statistics, the library and commentators. Hull have failed to score in their last three league visits to Stoke's Bet365 stadium but Hull's recent form and results were better than Stoke. Unless the home side come up with something better, Hull may be tougher to play against than Liverpool. 1-1.

Sunderland v West Ham - In all seven previous meetings, Sunderland are winless. Perhaps Black Cats are afraid of Hammers. Both sides are actually in terrible shape but West Ham won 1-0 last week against Swansea and have a superior record against Sunderland having won 3 and drawn 2 in their past 5 encounters. Cats have 9 lives but Sunderland have 7 matches left. Miracles are needed and Jermaine Defoe should score but the Hammers are not in the best times so a draw is reasonable. 1-1.

Watford v Swansea - Against each other Swansea has a slightly better record. In their last three encounters, many shots were taken but there were only two goals with the away side yet to score. Swansea's immediate and great improvement under Paul Clement has halted. It is probably down to the injury to their formidable striker Llorente. The Hornets were revived for two matches until they got severely crushed 4-0 by Tottenham. Watford are comfortable in 10th place while the Swans need to win badly for survival. I like to see Swansea win and they could if Llorente returns. 1-2.

Southampton v Manchester City - The Saints have an inferior record to City. In their last five, City have won three in a row but in their last two matches, Southampton are undefeated winning 4-2 at the St. Mary's and drew 1-1 at the Etihad. In their previous 5 matches, Southampton lost just once to red hot Tottenham which is no shame while City have not tasted victory i their previous 4 until last week's 3-1 win over Hull. City trails Liverpool in 4th place just 2 points behind with a game in hand but with United and Arsenal breathing down their neck. Though a City win can be likely, it may not be so simple. In fact, Southampton could cause trouble and ask questions of them. City scores in most games but they have also conceded goals in many games. If the Saints hold on and counter well they could get a point. 2-2.

WBA v Liverpool - Except for 2012/13 season where Steve Clarke led them to do a double over the Reds, the Baggies have not won the next 7 encounters in which Liverpool won 4. Unfortunately, Liverpool have no won at the Hawthorns since Kenny Dalglish was the manager. This sums up the challenge for both sides and many would think it a draw here but WBA have not won in 3 matches with their last win being a 3-1 victory over Arsenal. Their last 2 meetings at the Hawthorns were 0-0 and 1-1 but WBA's recent form has not been good while Liverpool though struggling against the smaller teams are quietly remaining undefeated and last week's 2-1 away win at Stoke was very significant because they were without Henderson, Mane and Lallana. Besides, Klopp fielded a strange looking line up with two young players in T. Arnold and Ben Woodburn then playing Clyne in a left sided midfield role with Milner moved to midfield. They played a forgettable first half and though Woodburn was controversially not given a penalty and Stoke countered and took the lead while Liverpool's defence once again collapsed like a pack of cards. 

For sure Klopp has given his chances to the defence but they continue to falter at the slightest pressue. Dejan Lovren can be very good some days but he was not even ordinary but a bundle of nerves making unnecessary mistakes. Fortunately, Liverpool's two brilliant Brazilian came a calling to save the day with two great strikes. Coutinho drilled it low to Ben Foster''s right before Firmino's thunderbolt to the top of the net from a long looping pass from Wijnaldum. This win could prove crucial to their belief and the points going forward with the others with games in hand. A win is very important for Liverpool with the chasing pack behind. Based on their last match and form, a win is very possible. Tony Pulis needs no guessing. A steong back four with five spread across the middle and a powerhouse forward with great strength and focus on set pieces, work rate and aggression with usual possession of 40%. So for Liverpool it is about not giving away fouls around the box and then defending them well. 1-2. 

Manchester United v Chelsea - Chelsea are United's bogey team as they have not beaten Chelsea in eight matches. That does not mean they can't win here and Mourinho would be desperate to not just to end that drought but they needed the points. A win for the visitors would mean doing the double over their opponents and an inch closer to their title. A win for United or even a draw could be cheered by the rest especially Tottenham. It is unlikely for Chelsea to crumble at this point and there is no way for Mourinho to attack them. So he could see himself playing against his own fortress. United has a problem in that their only regular goal scorer is the 35 year old Ibrahimovic. There are also extra motivation for Chelsea players whom Mourinho has accused of betraying him. Expect Hazard and Costa to give them problems. As the points at stake are so precious here, do not expect an open attacking game. Chelsea will end their undefeated streak. 0-1.

Middlesborough v Arsenal - Typically, the Gunners should take full points but this has become anything but typical and could even end up as a catalyst or final nail the Arsene Wenger. Besides, Boro are unbeaten against Arsenal at their home ground but the first such meeting here since 2008 but are even worse shape from where they lie in the table. Or conversely, they could get a whip lash from the visitors who were completely humiliated by Palace last week. 0-2.