EPL 2016/17 - Game Week 34

It was a week of master classes. Tottenham displayed almost perfect soccer with total domination and control over Bournemouth that at one point you actually fear for the visitors well-being. Tottenham Hotspurs were actually rampant with their precision and incision, flicks and one-twos and the usual suspects of Dele Alli, Harry Kane and Christian Eriksen and the resurgent Dembele who opened accounts. It was their seventh consecutive victories in the top flight for the first time in 50 years! Mauricio Pochettino's team performed a great consummate attacking show of force. Even Korean Son Heung-min has been irresistible of late. Spurs' imperious form has kept Chelsea under pressure and looking over their shoulders. The soccer dished out by Pochettino's Spurs was fluent and the attacking throughout incessant. Harry Kane got his 25th goal in all competition but it was the season's 20th making him only the 4th such striker who has scored more than 20 goals a season for three season in a row. He is in illustrious company for the others in this Hall of Fame are Ala Shearer, Ruud van Nistelrooy and the last one being Thiery Henry. Tough Eriksen and Alli have been gret throughout, I thought it was Harry Kane's best game for a long time. It was not just the goals but Kane was created and Kane scored and he was a constant menace and threat. Had Tottenham had a better start, they could be leading the tables if not equal to Chelsea and perhaps be the new Champions! My fear for Spurs is that despite being the best team right now but not winning trophies or the title, they could be disheartened. This team must be together and win something in the next 1-2 years.

Liverpool finally learnt how to play ugly. Their 1-0 away victory over WBA at the Hawthorns was as ugly as it got. It was fast and furious but it was a different game. It has kept their Champions League Dream alive for now. It was a hard-earned and very good and important win that gives teams belief. This was the sort of match that troubled them not so long ago. The Reds did not cowered and caved in even without their Captain Henderson and their two important players who were injured - Adam Lallana and Sadio Mane. The whole team fought well but you cannot help but single out Roberto Firmino for special mention. His winning goal at Stoke last week was amazing but on Sunday, he was at the heart of every Liverpool attack and defence. None created more chances or have more ball recoveries than him and he promptly won 64% of his duels. Firmino was excellent on the ball, he was tireless and he got the all important goal with a header firmly planted off a flick on by Lucas. He is such an intelligent player too. What a player!!! If Emre Can covered the middle well then Simon Mignolet gave a super steely performance with several timely saves. This augurs well for them till the grand finale.

Meanwhile, at Old Trafford, Manchester United finally pulled off their best performance of their season. This was a master-class from choke master Jose Mourinho. He must be given credit for their 2-0 win over Chelsea that throw the title race open to Tottenham. Did Mourinho rested Ibrahimovic and Mkhitrayan and a few others or did he plotted and schemed with his younger and faster players? Jesse Lingard and especially Marcus Rashford ran rings around Chelsea's defence. Mourinho has reclaimed some fame of old and he knew how to stop his ex players and team and pull one over Conte. His decision of man-marking of Eden Hazard by Herrera was a classic move that paid off. Herrera not only stopped Hazard, he created the first goal by sending Rashford through and Rashford showed his future potential by beating David Luiz and then a crisp low shot into the corner. This was pure Mourinho masterclass all over and he now has a chance for 4th place or Europa glory but their Europa win came at a prize. Saw the horrific injury to their talisman ZLatan Ibrahimovic - when he landed after an aerial duel, his knee joint buckled and you could see his calf caving in backwards. However, Marcus Rashford came to the fore once again to show his great potential by scoring the winner. 

In the Champions League, Leicester City outlasted all other English teams but bowed out to Athletico Madrid after an away 0-1 defeat and a 1-1 home draw with a Jamie Vardy equaliser. No shame at all if you think about how they defeated Sevilla the Europa Champions to get here. Now they can focus on their remaining league ties to stay afloat. Bayern Munich were left sore when they went out on a 6-3 aggregate (2-1/4-2) but there were great controversy in that the referee sent off Vidal who made a clean tackle and should have sent off Casemiro (Real Madrid) instead for diving and his foul on Arjen Robben. Two other Ronaldo goals were offside but still kudos to Ronaldo who plundered Bayern in both games. He is certainly a world great at this level. Despite Bayern Munich greatness, they have to have a re-look at themselves and their aging forces where many of their great servants are on the wrong side of 30s - Xabi Alonso, Franck Ribery, Philipp Lahm, Arjen Robben, Rafinha and Manuel Neuer. Old is gold but in this day and age of modern soccer, it is a different ball game.

The Champions League will serve a mouth-watering clash between Juventus and Monaco. The best defence and the best attack. It is irresistible force versus immovable object. What a shame! This should be the final. 

Bournemouth v Middlesborough - The good news advantageous to the Cherries is that they have never lost at home to Boro. Bournemouth were recovering with better results but unfortunate that their last two matches were losses to  Chelsea and Tottenham. Middelsborough's 1-2 home loss to Arsenal is no shame but they are staring at a lower division next season if they do not start doing miracles now. Boro are not the bashing boys but too often have lost narrowly. Like most teams in their position they are just a little short but not for effort. At home, Bournemouth should prevail. 2-1.

Hull v Watford - The Tigers lost both their last two matches to the Hornets when they met (both 1-0). After winning two on the trot, Hull have lost 1-3 back to back in the last two. Watford are in a much better position and form recovering to win last week after a 0-4 hiding by Tottenham. Hull should have the greater motivation to fight for survival especially at home and could surprise Watford unless their spirit is dead. 1-0.

Swansea v Stoke - in seven contests with the Potters, Swansea have won just once (D3L3). Swansea's mini revival under Paul Clement has halted somehow and on a losing streak but Stoke have been very much the same losing four before winning 3-1 against Hull last week. Stoke however are in 11th place and Swansea 18th. Stoke have not been their best this season when they travel. If Swansea were to be bold and clinical they could recover and take this one especially playing at home. 2-1. 

West Ham v Everton  - The Hammers in 13th with 37 points are slightly safe but Hull are in 17th with 30 points and two losses could put West Ham back in danger. That is how close things are. West Ham have won only once in 17 league contests with the Toffees and Everton have plundered 7 goals in their last two matches with Ross Barkley and Lukaku in fine form. Everton's away form to West Ham is like a jinx having won 6 and drawn 2 in eight meetings. Worse, Romelu Lukaku always scores against West Ham. The home team is currently lacking a consistent match winner. 2-3.

Burnley v Manchester United - Burnely should remember jolly well when they won their first Premier League match against United in 2009. The Red Devils last two visits to Turf Moor yielded only  a solitary goal so you can imagine it is not an easy place to go to. Last two matches played at Turf Moor produced only one goal and the last time they played in October (Old Trafford) it ended 0-0. But hey, United has a renewed energy just recently. Not only do we have Joseph Schooling but Jose gave Conte's Chelsea a schooling too. The Clarets did not do too badly until they crashed 1-3 at Everton. Burnley won't be easy and the longer they could hold United the more likely they could get a result or at least a point so United will try to score early. Sean Dyche may do a Mourinho unto United. I wanted to predict a 1-1 draw but Marcus Rashford is in great form. 1-2.

Liverpool v Crystal Palace - The Reds used to find it hard to beat Palace at one time (two defeat at home) but in their last two they won away. Sam Allardyce has never won a match at Anfield but he has once again performed his magic to save a relegation threatened club. While Palace has been restored and tremendously improved, Liverpool have been quietly winning and remaining undefeated for quite long despite their long injury list of key players - captain Henderson, Mane, Lallana and ongoing for Sturridge. Liverpool must win their remaining games to be assured of champions league action next season. Allardyce's Palace will use aerial bombardment and set pieces to score. The good news is that Liverpool kept a clean sheet at the Hawthorns last week with Simon Mignolet in fine form for several games now. Roberto Firmino has proven how good he is and if Coutinho could be back at his best it should be a home win at Anfield. Liverpool must remind themselves Palace went to Stamford Bridge and had Chelsea beaten. No margin for error. 2-1.

Matches postponed due to the F.A Cup:

Chelsea v Southampton - Postponed.

Arsenal v Sunderland - Postponed.

Manchester City v WBA - Postponed.

Leicester v Tottenham - Postponed.