EPL 2017/18 - Game Week 15

If Manchester City keep on winning it it their title to loose. Pep Guardiola in his second season has found the winning formula. He would not play his soccer any other way. He has this confidence and self awareness about what he is doing. He has the courage to admit his mistake such as in goal keeping with Claudio Bravo even as he shipped out Joe Hart. He sold some players and brought in what he needed and is already leading the red side of Manchester by eight points. 

Manchester United could only win 1-0 at home to Brighton and needed Ashley Young to come to their rescue at Watford. Chelsea came back and held Liverpool then won narrowly hosting Swansea. Liverpool held Chelsea and won 3-0 away at Stoke. 

Arsenal seemed to be back with vengeance. Having beaten Burnley away (1-0) they hammered Huddersfield 5-0. Nobody beats Huddersfield 5-0. Tottenham has suddenly been in a slump - held 1-1 by at home by WBA and lost 1-2 to Leicester City. Will they disappoint again after showing so much promise? Are Liverpool past their bad defending like going to Sevilla who was undefeated at home and led 3-0 in less than 30 minutes and then crashed to hold a 3-3 draw? Then held Chelsea 1-1 and travelled to a difficult place to play Stoke and won 3-0? What other surprises are in stall this weekend?

Chelsea v Newcastle - Chelsea are a difficult team to beat and they are certainly going to challenge City to defend their title. I thought they are good enough to beat Swansea with more goals but they could manage only one and after holding Liverpool 1-1. It is the wrong time for the Magpies to visit fortress Stamford Bridge. Newcastle were properly spanked 0-3 by Watford at St. James Park but made many changes to their lineup when they secured a 2-2 draw away to WBA. Chelsea will need more than their Swansea performance f they hope to keep pace with the leaders as Benitez cold design his team to stifle. At this moment, it is hard to imagine anything but a home win. 2-0.

Brighton v Liverpool - The Reds have lately kept a few clean sheets and scoring goals. Leading 3-0 within half an hour against Sevilla undefeated at home this season was plenty to shout about but the second half collapse with the match ending 3-3 made for soccer case study of how not to crash. But then they bounced back to hold Chelsea 1-1 at Anfield and again seemed to have players at the back who took turns to make mistakes. This time Mignolet were to far off his line allowing a Willan cross to be a pretty flute goal. Then they visited Stoke and trounced them 3-0. Mohamed Salah is definitely the signing of the season and if he goes on the whole season he will be top scorer and player of the year. He chases after the ball, provide assists, crosses, scores with his left foot, right foot and head and he has serious speed. You expect something to happen when he is around. What a player! Watch Salah and Mane here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oke4cP7Px-w (Stoke v Liverpool)

With Adam Lallana returning, possible reinforcement by January, it could still be an interesting season for them but they have to keep on till then. Brighton are no easy meat as Manchester United found out. So Liverpool will have to be at their sharpest. Liverpool should continue with another win as their form suggested. 1-3.

Everton v Huddersfield - Big Sam Allardyce is back. I do not think he will be here for the long term and when it comes survival and avoiding the dreaded drop, there is none better. Credit should be given to David Unsworth who was a fine defender for Everton and successful youth coach there who dared to take the risk of being care-taker manager in their mess out of love for his club. The Toffees crashed big time at Southampton (1-4) but surprised all when they crushed West Ham 4-0 at Goodison Park led by Rooney's hattrick. Watch Rooney's goal from the half way line. 

https://www.footbie.com/video/everton-vs-west-ham-4-0-all-goals-highlights-29-11-2017 (Rooney scored from own half)

Sam Allardyce is the man to save the day for Everton and keep them up. Huddersfiled have struggled of late. 2-1.

Leicester v Burnley - Nobody expected the Foxes to beat Tottenham. You must watch both all the goals especially Jamie Vardy's and Riyadh Mahrez's goals. Vardy's goal is incredible from Albrighton's cross, he hit it first time with a looping shot and Mahrez''s curler was another beauty. If they continue with such confidence then Burnley will find it tough but it will not be a stroll for Leicester but they may just get the win. Just. 2-1.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3orfz8BKbU0 (Leicester v Tottenham) (watch the goals)

Stoke v Swansea - Stoke are on a losing streak. Having lost to Palace they crashed at home to Liverpool. Swansea have improved but the results have yet to show. They held Bournemouth at home and lost narrowly to Chelsea away. This may be Swansea's chance to get full points. 1-2.

Watford v Tottenham - Marco Silva has done a good job for Watford. They won 3-0 at Newcastle and fought so well against United despite a 2-4 defeat. Tottenham are tottering. They have been one of the best teams. Beating Real Madrid was a curse just like a golfer having a birdie and then his next hole is cursed. They were held 1-1 by WBA at home and lost 1-2 to Leicester away. They have to rebound quickly before their title hopes dissipate. The good news is Harry Kane is still scoring. Dele Alli must bring his ace game and Erikssen must score again. Watford won't be easy so Tottenham must be at their best and must have belief. 2-3.

WBA v Crystal Palace - The Baggies have halted their losses and drew their last two including Tottenham away but let slipped to concede two goals to Newcastle. The appointment of Alan Pardew brings new hope and also controversy as Pardew does not seem to last long. Roy Hodgson was a well travelled and experienced manager but many are saying he is negative. However, he has improved the lot at Palace. 2-2. 

Arsenal v Manchester United - This is the match of the week and should be a pulsating game. Arsene Wenger has not beaten Jose Mourinho for a long until recently. Somehow United would raise their game against Arsenal. It wasn't easy but the Gunners got full points at Turf Moor and crushed Huddersfield 5-0 in rampant fashion. They must be jubilant mood except the Lacazette is ruled out but Ozil, Sanchez and Giroud are dangerous. United have their own problems as Lukaku has stopped scoring, Matic may be out. Only the not so young 32 year Ashley Young has been a revelation and Jesse Lingard must be on fire scoring that wonder goal at Watford. Watch:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qHFRZOkME-E (Watford v Manchester United)

Both sides need to win to keep pace with City. This is a great opportunity for Wenger to pull one over Mourinho but will he? 2-2.

Bournemouth v Southampton - Eddie Howe's Bournemouth are back in business after a miserable start. Having won 1-0 at St. James Park they followed up with a thumping 4-0 win over Huddersfield. The Saints also registered a thumping 4-0 win over Everton after drawing 0-0 at Swansea. Southampton won't be easily beaten so a draw seems to be  likely. 1-1.

Manchester City v West Ham - If you consider City the best team by a mile it was because of the philosophy of Pep Guardiola. He has magically coached Raheem Sterling into a superb player. He has been scoring late winning goals and important goals for City and his last one in mid-week was a thing of great beauty. If we look at the Hammers this season, even their own fans are seriously frustrated. The ultimate may have come in their last match when they totally crashed at Goodison Park to Everton (0-4). A team leaking goals to average or below par teams visiting free-scoring City at the Etihad. What do you think? We must feel for David Moyes often taking on the wrong jobs. We say nothing venture nothing gain but Moyes should have stayed at Everton. 3-0.

https://www.mancity.com/citytv/match-highlights/2017/november/man-city-v-southampton-extended-highlights