EPL 2017/18 - Game Week 5

The Premier League saw its first casualty when Crystal Palace sacked Frank de Boer just after 4 matches! The reason why Palace appointed de Boer must have included the fact that he once played for Ajax and spent 5 years at Barcelona. The only thing that has some resemblance of Barcelona is the team kit but to do so after 4 matches made even Jose Mourinho angry. Premier League teams are back in action this weekend after their mid-week European challenges for some. Some rediscover their form with solid performances while others raised more questions.

This week's biggest match will be in London at Stamford Bridge where champions Chelsea entertain Arsenal. By the time I publish this, the first match for the week would have been played.

Bournemouth v Brighton - Eddie  Howe was once touted to be a future successor to Arsene Wenger at Arsenal for the attractive soccer dished out by Bournemouth but how quickly things have changed. His team is struggling with four straight defeats having scored a goal and conceded eight. Hosting Brighton at this moment is a good thing except that Brighton have just defeated an otherwise undefeated WBA 3-1 with an impressive display. At home, the Cherries must go all out to win and kick start their season. 2-1.

Crystal Palace v Southampton - Palace were unlucky to have lost to Burnley away in their last match and de Boer was sacked.  So no more 'tiki taka' maybe just 'tard lai tard kee'. Good thing for Palace is home ground advantage plus the fact that the Saints are firing blanks and have just lost 0-2 to Watford at home. Could it be that the players that Palace have could never play the Ajax or Barcelona way and only the Palace way. They will have a new manager in former England manager Roy Hodgson. Palace has not scored a single goal yet this season. The Eagles must hope to soar. Not just hope but work their guts out. 1-1.

Huddersfield v Leicester City - Huddersfield dream start has come to an end not to a top team but another struggling one - West Ham. Leicester have lost three and won only once but those three came from top guns - Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea. Based on their style of soccer, the Foxes stand a chance to get something more than a draw but they have to work hard for it. They have at least Riyadh Mahrez and Jamie Vardy who on their own could conjure a goal. 1-2.

Liverpool v Burnley - Ah Liverpool. Klopp has remained loyal to his players and his philosophy but no one could understand why you have such a comical defence and have the chances to rectify it but did not. A team with such flamboyance, attacking prowess that play so beautifully but always let down by the defence. They have matched City early in that match but gave away an easy goal when they stood rooted as Kevin de Bruyne slipped a ball through for Aguero to find the net. Mane's sent off made it no longer a contest as Liverpool were completely lost and when Jesus scored, the Liverpool defenders were poles apart leaving at least three City players whom I suspect were discussing who should score while they were up in the air. So much time and space. This philosophy of poor defending and weak goal keeping will haunt them. They make each other nervy. When I saw the lineup I was asking why change so many players at the back? Moreno is good offensively but he is zero in defending. Dejan Lovren makes you angry watching him. He gave the ball away for nothing against Hoffenheim and did it again against Sevilla, once even completely missing a simple clearance in yet another game that Liverpool should have won. Liverpool falters when defending counter attacks and set-pieces. Opposing teams do not even have to plan it. Just wait for the gifts. Even teams like WBA and Burnley have a better defence. The performance versus City was shambolic. How have they never learnt. 

Burnley have been terrific and having a good start this season. They may be weaker away but they have given teams particularly Liverpool trouble. With Mane's red card suspension, Liverpool will sorely miss the one player that irritates and torture every team but Countinho available and if selected to start then he is the artistry and antidote needed to prise open Burnley. They have also missed Adam Lallana. Coutinho should put the Barcelona saga behind him and make the best of this season and he could join Barcelona next season. He could of course at his best carve out a win for the Anfield Kops. Sean Dyche is a very capable manager who makes his team stick to his plan closely and be difficult to beat as they are well organised. Liverpool were embarrassed by City recently and need a really solid performance and win at Anfield. They need to raise their confidence. 2-1.

Newcastle v Stoke City - The Magpies have overcome the jitters and won twice consecutively and are now confident. St. James Park welcome the Potters who played so brilliantly against leaders Manchester United. Jack Butland is back to his best after long injury lay off and if not for some incredible saves from David de Gea, things could have gone even better for Stoke. 1-1.

Watford v Mancherter City - The Hornets have been one of the teams of the season so far. They have been undefeated and just won 2-0 away to Southampton and sits fourth. City tore Liverpool apart and did the same to Feyenoord  away (4-0) in the Champions League. Watford do not look like the team that could trouble Pep Guardiola but at Vicarage Road they could score. 1-3.

WBA v West Ham - The Baggies started so well but surprising crumbled to Brighton and are looking to better days again at home. The Hammers got their first win and must be thinking the poor start has ended. Both sides should be gunning for a win. Tony Pulis's side is not pretty to watch but they are effective. West Ham need to throw a spanner in the works themselves. If Andy Carroll plays with Javier Hernandez, the visitors may even spring a surprise. 2-2.

Tottenham v Swansea - Tottenham's Wembley curse has been lifted with that 3-1 won over Borussia Dortmund. Swansea will play a different way yo Dortmund. Tottenham are back with a 3-0 win over Everton previously. There is little Paul Clement can do for Swansea except to have prepared well. Besides, Harry Kane is now in full throttle. 2-0.

Chelsea v Arsenal - The Gunners have bounced back and are impressive again but Chelsea is their nemesis and constant thorn. West London is not a happy ground for the visitors. Alvaro Morata have seamlessly blended into the Chelsea team and have been among the goals and Chelsea have more steel and are favourites to win here but Arsenal can hold them. 2-2.

Manchester United v Everton - Watch both Lukaku and Wayne Rooney as they have switched sides. The Toffees have serious issues. They have often been a good side, just a little short. Ronald Koeman is a very capable manager and with the recent splurging in the transfer market, we must be thinking this is a much stronger side but results on the pitch is anything but. Three straight wins for the Red Devils vs three straight lossed for Everton without scoring. A 0-3 defeat at Goodison Park by Tottenham followed by another 0-3 trouncing by Atlanta in Europa. But then they held Manchester City 1-1 much earlier. Paul Pogba will be missing, EVerton will be even more determine not to loose and both Rooney and Lukakau could score. It may be 2-0 to United or it may end at 1-1. Everton can do to United what they did to City. Draw. 1-1.