EPL 2017/18 - Game Week 9

Things are changing every week. Be it international games like qualifying for the World Cup or the domestic league. Fortunes, they are a-changing. Singapore became 173 in world football from an all time high of 70s. Some traditional world soccer powers are on the decline while a few others are on the rise. There are still qualifying business to do. Sweden will take on Italy, Republic of Ireland plays Denmark, Northern Ireland meets Switzerland, Croatia versus Greece.

The Premier League is the same. Sometimes, you get the wrong owners, the wrong managers or even the wrong players. Sometimes, such wrong decisions can lead one into the wilderness. It is the same with life. Life is never fair. Ask Craig Shakespeare. Ask Mourinho. Life is an unfair race.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1DmaxFgXZ1I (Life Is An Unfair Race)- Mike Steele

West Ham v Brighton - Michail Antonio is back. How the Hammers missed him through injury last season and he got the goal last week against Burnley but Andy Carroll let his madness ruled him getting two yellow card in two minutes for identical fouls and West Ham let off Burnley by conceding the equaliser 5 minutes before time. Similarly Brighton conceded a late Rooney penalty to Everton. While the Hammers are inconsistent, Brighton are a mixed bag. They could beat Newcastle but lost to Bournemouth. Slaven Bilic has not been able to replicate that special season where West Ham was a joy to watch with Payet around. They have to overcome teams like Brighton especially at home. 2-1.
Chelsea v Watford - After a great win over Athletico Madrid disaster visited Chelsea who has not won since (0-1 loss at home to City) followed by a greater choker  - a 1-2 win loss to winless Crystal Palace and then allowing Roma to come back in a 3-3 draw. How they miss Morata. They are facing the in-form Hornets who remained unbeaten for awhile and last week brought red faces when they downed Arsenal at Vicarage Road. Do not think that Chelsea will find them easy. Watford are playing with such confidence. You may have a sense that this is Watford's chance to pull off a big one like Arsenal last week. However, it may be easier to beat Arsenal than Chelsea. Conte may be uttering strangely but if Alvaro Morata plays, Chelsea wins but Watford will put up a good game. 2-1.


Huddersfield v Manchester United - Huddersfield have not won a match for a pretty long time after a brilliant start. United went to Anfield with Mourinho but dared not play and were lucky against Benfica (away). Only a goalkeeping error gave them full points from a Rashford goal. Manchester United have a certain way of playing and Sir Bobby Charlton pointed out early that the he is not the Man Utd kind of manager. Mourinho simply dare not lose even after spending 300 million pounds. Lukaku has stopped scoring. He consoled the 18 year old Benfica goalie but he must have felt the same consolation for himself. Huddersfield may be the kind of game for him to score. 0-2.


Manchester City v Burnley - Unstoppable Manchester City. They truly looked the part with 5 goals, six and even 7 goals! Pep Guardiola is finally putting his pieces together. Just look at Raheem Stirling, chastised by Liverpool fans but now he is a key player for City so far. He has been brilliant with regular goals and assists. The other has been Kevin de Bruyne who did not make the cut under Mourinho and was released. He is now a player in a class of his own, among the best in the EPL and Stirling must continue his improvement and bring his game to the international level. City's form in Champions League has been excellent. There is no way Burnley could stop them? Even if they are one of the toughest to beat. Could Sean Dyche come up with something special. Can a more physical game stop City marauding. The Etihad are seeing the resurgence. Whoever is better than City will win the league. 4-1.

Newcastle v Crystal Palace - The Magpies played in a surprisingly pulsating game against the Saint last week drawing 2-2. The Eagles recorded not only their first goal but it was done against Champions Chelsea and not only that, they actually won! What inspiration and credit should go to Roy Hodgson. Who would thought that Palace with such a wretched start could beat Chelsea. If this do not inspire them what will? The Magpies are improving and have some level of confidence what more when playing at St. James Park. Fair for a draw. 1-1.

Stoke v Bournemouth - Stoke City were destroyed 2-7 by City last week. They have been inconsistent at best but on home ground and hosting Bournemouth they have a chance for three points. The Cherries played well at Wembley, temporary home of Spurs but lost 0-1 which is no shame. Both sides seemed to be having difficulty going up to another level. Draw. 1-1.
Swansea v Leicester - The Swans clearly won well by 2-0 over Huddersfield last week. Paul Clement need to inspire and plot another win.The problems at Leicester started before Craig Shakespeare became manager. It was Shakespeare who brought them back up the table last season and just after eight games, having lost all against last season's top four (Arsenal, Chelsea, United and Liverpool), it became clear the harsh reality is ridiculous. Without a manager and away from home, they will need something more. Both sides are still picking up the pieces and at this point, a draw seems likely. 2-2.

Southampton v WBA - A point separated both teams with patchy form. Both were better last season. Both seemed to lack confidence that is why they are not converting to win. While they struggle to find their feet, a draw is most suitable for this match. 1-1.
Everton V Arsenal - The Toffees have gotten from bad to worse. A fine manager in Ronald Koeman married to a decent to good team, splashing some good cash to land some good players but Everton are anything but with their poor showing and results in the League as well as in Europa where they are anchored at the bottom with a draw and two losses including a home defeat by Lyon recently. He may be close to being sacked based on premier standard these days. Two wins in twelve games may cost him dearly and now he has to host Arsenal. He should have stayed at Southampton. The Gunners are in sixth but have already lost three times with the last defeat by Watford last week but recovered to win 1-0 away to Red Star Belgrade with an ingenious goal from Alain Giroud but will he start or come in late for Lacazette? If you saw Jack Wilshere starting and making the goal, you can imagine what a fit and motivated Wilshere can do for club and country. It is still puzzling how Everton turned up this way this season. Sadly, the pressure is piled on Koeman so can his team respond with a great upset. Arsenal may be a bit too much for the, at this point. 1-2.

Tottenham V Liverpool - What a game this will be! Tottenham are on a winning streak such that even a visit to the Bernabeu yielded a 1-1 draw with Real Madrid. The Reds while not winning for sometime were undefeated and the respect Mourinho showed when his United visited Anfield spoke volumes of Liverpool's incredible attack which tore Maribor apart in an away game that set a new record for Liverpool and English teams in an awesome 7-star display for a 7-0 win. So this could be the reason for Klopp not wanting to have a main striker like Kane or Lukaku due to the system and also the belief that if they play like this they are defending at the farthest point in front from Firmino. These are tow managers that command great respect for their attacking philosophy and for grooming young players and making them play brilliantly as a team. 

Mauricio Pochettino is one of the finest managers today. Though Kane did not score in mid-week versus Real Madrid, his Septemeber goal haul of 13 goals matched Ronaldo and Messi and the world took notice. Christian Erikssen will have a key role here and they have Dele Alli. Eric Dier led the defensive line well at the Bernabeu and Lloris was in fine fettle. Even young Harry Winks played so well against the giants of Europe after featuring for England. It will be hard for Liverpool to breach. At the same time, Liverpool must show up with the defensive display like they did against United and Maribor. They have suddenly kept clean sheets!

Tottenham will face Liverpool and Real Madrid and Manchester United. Such fixtures can make or break a season. Wembley, their temporary home is still not their best ground and Liverpool exploits wide spaces. James Milner was impressive so should captain Jordan Henderson return? Joe Gomez should return as his speed and power is needed. Tottenham are favoured to win here but the result is dependent on which Liverpool turn up. It is a match that both could win and unfortunately a draw may be quite a possibility. 2-2.

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