EPL 2017/18 - Game Week 21, 22

While you were enjoying your Christmas parties, forgetting it is Christ the Lord's birthday and not yours, professional soccer players in the EPL were toiling for the challenges ahead and to entertain you. It is going to continue this weekend through New Year's Eve and the new year. Please spare a thought for these millionaire footballers some of whom earn more in a week than we earn in a year. Life is so unfair?

Arsenal finally saw victory after sometime at Palace thanks to Alexis Sanchez. Tottenham showed their enormous potential but overall are not as all-conquering yet. Liverpool shuttles between delight and anguish, otherwise, are as swashbuckling as City if not more. Chelsea's strength was typical and Manchester United were ordinary despite in 2nd position and needed Jesse Lingard to save their skin in the 92nd minute. Manchester City still won 1-0 at St. James Park and continue to run away. 

Jose Mourinho claimed that United have not spent enough when neighbours City could buy full-backs for the price of strikers. What an irony when they were lucky to escape defeat at their own Theatre of Dreams by Burnley with a small budget. Burnley took that game to them and scored by the 3rd minute in a goal mouth melee but when Steven Defour scored de second in the 36th minute, you will know why Sean Dyche and his Burnley are a great team! City spent near 200 million pounds in Guardiola's first year in charge and added some but Mourinho spent 300 million pounds since he took over last May, not much less. If I were to be a player, I would like to play for Guardiola because of his philosophy, ideas on soccer and how he improve players. 

Meanwhile, at Wembley, Tottenham's temporary ground, Harry 'Hurricane' Kane set a new record in the Premier League when his hattrick against Southampton was the most goals in a calendar year! The first was  his 37th of the year breaking Alan Shearer's 1995 record when he won the title with Blackburn Rovers. That was some 22 years ago where no one else has done it! This hattrick means he has 39 and will take some beating! This was after he had just hit three against Burnley before this match. He now has 49 goals in all competition! His overall total tally is 56 goals, two more than Lionel Messi, three more than Cristiano Ronaldo and Cavani. So this is a world beater! It was to me a complete striker's hattrick - first with a header, a side swipe and then pulling away a defender and goalkeeper, a deft flick from his left foot. 

Finally, though 75 million pounds is a lot of money, I like it that Klopp is a believer in Virgil van Dijk which was why he waited. I also like it that van Dijk was brave enough to want to play for Klopp and Liverpool given their situation. He must have seen something and believe he wanted to play for Liverpool and Klopp. I would like my team to play to win and play with passion in a free flowing way. 

Bournemouth v Everton - Asmir Begovic cost Bournemouth dearly giving away a goal as he turned and slipped when he received a back pass and later fumbled another. Big Sam Allardyce remained unbeaten since taking over the Toffees. Toffee as you know are made by boiling sugar and butter together with other ingredients and flavourings added. The Cherries should have won as host to the Hammers and they could have jumped to 13th instead of remaining 18th. That is how much a few points could cost you. Everton remained 9th. Everton are living on Big Sam's motivation alone and it's not enough. They need real fire power. Bournemouth must scrap for points to survive and this is a home game. Everton just had two goalless draw. They may be held. 1-1.

Chelsea v Stoke City - The Spanish connection saved Chelsea the blues when an Azpilicueta's assist helped Morata scored and a Cesc Fabregas's assist ended with a Alonso goal. Marcos Alonso is a full-back who scores all kinds of goals! Stoke are 13th and can easily go back down to the relegation zone if they are defeated here. Though they have improved recently, they won't be good enough to stop Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. 2-0.

Huddersfield v Burnley - Huddersfield have not won in two while Burnley have not won in their last three matches with both sitting proud in 11th and 7th position. Both have an identical points earned from their last five matches. Draw. 1-1.

Liverpool v Leicester City  - The Red ran riot versus Swansea. Liverpool are 4th and remain unbeaten for some time but they are drawing too many games they should have won. They were so magnificent when they led Arsenal 2-0 at the Emirates but sunk to a new low when they conceded three in a 5 minute spell. Mignolet was so culplable for the second goal - although so powerfully struck by Xhaka was savable. This is why Lovren and Mignolet are their worst and weakest link!! The Foxes were doing much better this season in 8th and have just held United 2-2 but have not won in four including three defeats. The Reds will be vulnerable if they allow Riyadh Mahrez freedom and can get caught by the pace of Jamie Vardy but Liverpool have too much fire power for any team and should run out winners. The signing of Virgil van Dijk for a world record price for a defender is a statement of intent to match the best and solve their defensive woes but 75 million pounds is really an incredible amount of money, good for Southampton to beef up their team for sure. I say sign a solid goalkeeper as well. If they solve the weakness at the back, they shall get to another level for sure especially with Naby Keita coming. Liverpool will be an even better team in 2018 next week.  3-2.

Newcastle v Brighton - The Magpies wings have been clipped for sometime as they  struggled but somehow won away against West Ham. They can stop Brighton as they almost did to City (0-1) and Brighton aren't scoring many. At St. James Park they should be bolder. Benitez need the points. So Newcastle must work hard for thier home points. 1-0. 

Watford v Swansea - The Hornet's winless streak including 4 defeats in their last five ended with their 2-1 win over Leicester. Swansea was saved by Paul Clement last season but he has now been sacked. Having lost their best players and looking rudderless, Watford could pile more misery on them. With new Portuguese manager Carlos Carvalhal installed, can he save the Swans? 1-1.

Manchester United v Southampton - The Red Devils won narrowly at home against Bournemouth (1-0), also got lucky away to WBA (2-1), lost to Bristol City (1-2) in the League Cup and drew 2-2 twice - away to Leicester and at home to Burnley. Big shadows are looming at the Theatre of Dreams and Mourinho is under pressure to even convince their own fans. The Saints have not won for a long time and just got thrashed 5-2 by Spurs and now lying in a precarious 14th and urgently need to address the slide. United have not been at their best and not won in three matches so both sides will fancy their chances. United are too strong for the visitor plus the Saints are in poor form. 2-0.

Crystal Palace v Manchester City - Though Palace are in 16th they have avoided defeat with their last five matches being DDWWD, remarkable improvement under Roy Hodgson but now faced a relentless City who have been winning non-stop even though their last one was a 1-0 away win at Newcastle. Pep Guardiola has turned Raheem Sterling into a star and top scorer and made City almost quite perfect. This is where the habit of winning is important even as the legs are tired. 1-2.

WBA v Arsenal - The Baggies are hanging on for dear life in 19th and Alan Pardew was unfortunate not to get a point at Old Trafford, crashed at Stoke but held an improving Everton 0-0. The Gunners themselves are suffering with 3 draws and 2 wins including 2 away draw at Southampton and West Ham and struggled with 1-0 wins at home over West Ham and Newcastle. The 3-2 away win over Palace was therefore very important. The Baggies are in 19th and have to work on survival now. Will the Gunners be affected by the Sanchez saga? 1-2.

Brighton v Bournemouth - It was no shame for Brighton's 0-2 defeat by Chelsea but Bournemouth threw away a win for a point when they hosted the Hammers. It is not easy to perform consistently and get results as Bournemouth have found out. 1-1.

Burnley v Liverpool - Burnley deserved their 7th position and Turf Moor is a tough place to win. Free flowing Liverpool are freely scoring again. Except for Mane up front the rest are in good form - Coutinho, Firmino and Salah. They could take a leaf from Spurs 3-0 win there. Burnley will be inspired by their own performance in a 2-2 draw at Old Trafford where they could have won but Liverpool must be buoyed by future new arrivals of Naby Keita and the record acquisition and finalisation of the much coveted Virgil van Dijk. This will spearhead their challenge next year. It may be too late to catch City but they must have ambition to go to second but Klopp must eventually need a better goalkeeper. Burnley is capable of surprising Liverpool but I think recent indication suggest Liverpool could win narrowly. 1-2.

Leicester City v Huddersfield - The Foxes are still in 8th but have gotten to a slump recently. They have not won in their last four and drew only once. Their highlight was their 2-2 draw against United and did not deserved to have lost at Watford. Huddersfield have been more impressive. Klopp's good friend fellow German David Wagner has done well. It should be a tight game. 2-1.

Stoke City v Newcastle - Both teams are not in good shape. Stoke are too inconsistent and Newcastle lack conviction. 1-1.

Everton v Manchester United - Everton are unbeaten since Sam Allardyce took over and this is a potential banana skin for the Red Devils. Mourinho plays not to lose as oppose to Guardiola who plays to win. It is always difficult to beat a Sam Allardyce team. When I predicted a Leicester draw versus United, nobody believed me. 1-1.

Southampton v Crystal Palace - Palace are in much better shape than the Saints. Palace's most impressive win was away to Leicester. With VVD sold for a record price to Liverpool, expect Southampton to be better with the saga over. 2-2.

Swansea v Tottenham - Harry Kane is surely one of the world's best players not just one of the world's top goal scorer. He pointed out the great service and assistance given to him. He will go far this way with his humility. It was an awesome Tottenham display. Swansea with Leon Britton as acting manager, were overwhelmed at Anfield (0-5). It is too soon for Swansea's new manager to be playing Tottenham. How many would Kane score? 1-3.

West Ham v WBA - West Ham welcomes back their former manager Alan Pardew. While WBA struggle, the Hammers have their own problems to overcome this season. 1-1.

Manchester City v Watford - Can anyone stop City running away with win after win? A stronger Watford in form were thrashed by City the last time. City will seal a home win going for the the final stretch in the next five months. They are so good they could rest and change players without losing vigour or momentum. 3-1.

Arsenal v Chelsea - Undoubtedly, this London Derby is the match of the New Year. Their last five matches were quite similar and they are five points apart. Any result would favour United, Liverpool and Tottenham and be detrimental to Arsenal and Chelsea except a win. It shall be an intriguing match. 2-2.

Tottenham v West Ham - Another London Derby as derbies go can be tricky. While West Ham are still finding their feet, Tottenham have fully recovered from their slumber but such London derbies can throw up surprises. Tottenham must show their intent and prepare well for their European adventures. 2-0.