EPL 2017/18 - Game Week 23

There is no place on earth more hectic and frenetic than in the English Premier League. It is also around this time that could make or break a team. Manchester City set a new record of 18 wins, just one shy of Bayern Munich both set by Pep Guardilio as an unlikely candidate Crystal Palace under Roy Hodgson who stopped their winning. Meanwhile Arsene Wenger also set a new record of being the longest serving manager beating Sir Alex Ferguson's old record but still Wenger Arsenal's stint can't catch me on my record. 

Meanwhile, rumours that swirled around Philippe Coutinho's record breaking move to Barcelona has come true. It could be a great match but the magician's mercurial skills may not necessary make him the same player he is at Liverpool. Though Liverpool are not interested to sell, money talks and eventually there is no point to keep someone who is bent on moving and with the big money expected, the Reds could then go on to get someone who is also excellent as replacement. Nobody is bigger than the club or the organisation. Torres, Suarez, Alonso have all come and gone. It is what you make of it after that. Liverpool must not sell and to attract players they have to be back to winning trophies.

Manchester United finally won with goals from with a goal each from Anthony Martial and Jesse Lingard and Paul Pogba contributing with 2 assists. Don't get too excited about it after they failed miserably to beat Southampton just previously. The reasons were as explained by me previously - Mourinho set up his team not to lose rather than to win. Nothing wrong with that except this is Manchester United. Quite often, despite his huge spending, United's best players were those left over from Ferguson's era. The Pogba, Martial, Lingard equation came in not by design, purpose or belief but due to injuries to Lukaku and Ibrahimovic. Mourinho is into his third season where problem usually begins. Will he last this one?

Manchester City's draw at Crystal Palace ended the record to surpass Bayern Munich but they still remained unbeaten. It shall be very interesting if it continues when they visit Anfield this week. Will Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk step in to shore up the defence? Liverpool led Burnley and once again let in a goal in the 87th minute and they failed to deal with a cross. Alex Oxlade Chamberlain has been increasingly looking an important part of the team and yes, Dejan Lovren of all players and turn from villain to hero when he nodded down the ball viciously for Ragnar Klavan to score the winner! Virgil van Dijk's dream debut with the winning goal in a F.A. Cup derby win over Everton have inspired. Will they be the first team to beat City? City are setting all kinds of records including their best home run in 100 years-16 wins in a row at home in all competitions. Liverpool could take a leaf from Bristol City from the lower rung who stretched City all the way in the League Cup to cruelly concede 1-2 with Aguero's late goal. No Premier League team has done so like Bristol. 

London clubs Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham have their own worries. Chelsea's squad may not have sufficient depth at they play on all fronts.  Ross Barkey's move from Everton is one of the steps. Arsenal have to contend with the ordeal of Sanchez and Ozil - are they leaving? Tottenham have a wonderful team and they must try to make it count as all parts of the team are in excellent condition. Otherwise there may come a day where changes will come and some players may be injured, sold, retired, lose their form and even the manager may be prised away. 

Philippe Coutinho's big money move to Barcelona has finally been confirmed. Money too good to refuse. Can Liverpool maintain top four or challenge for honours without him. Yes and no. He is a brilliant magician but Coutinho sometimes slow down play but compensate it with deadly effectiveness. The thing to think about is Liverpool must come to a point where the FSG group need not sell for any amount of money and that is when you can challenge the rest of the world and any clubs. Your attack is so potent and when you are about to build a solid defence, your attack is being taken apart. What if Real Madrid wants Mohamed Salah next?  Tottenham may face the same fate when Real Madrid pays top dollar for Harry Kane with Gareth Bale and a couple others thrown as rumours have it. Then again, there is no point in keeping someone who wanted to go elsewhere. Liverpool still need a good replacement for Coutinho perhpas in Monaco's Thomas Lemar or Leicester's Riyadh Mahrez, etc. Of equal importance, they need a reliable, dependable and superb goalkeeper. Jan Oblak (Athelitico Madrid) or Jack Butland (Stoke) and Alisson (Roma) are certainly upgrades. There are better goalkeepers. 

Meanwhile, the top scorers so far are: Harry Kane (18), Mohamed Salah (17), Raheem Stirling (14), Sergio Aguero (13), Romelu Lukaku (10), Alvaro Morata (10) Wayne Rooney (10), Roberto Firmino (9) Jamie Vardy (9), Gabriel Jesus (8) Alexander Lacazette (8) with the top assist leaders: (1) Kevin de Bruyne (9), Leroy Sane (9), David Silva (8), Riyadh Mahrez (7), Paul Pogba (7), Marc Albrighton (6), Dele Alli (6), Azpillcuetta (6), Christian Erikssen (6) and Aaron Ramsey (6). 

Chelsea v Leicester City - The Champions have dropped a notch in form, held 2-2 by Arsenal and 0-0 by Norwich in the F.A. Cup. The Foxes reversed their two previous defeats with an emphatic 3-0 win over Huddersfield but were held 0-0 by Fleetwood Town. The key stats suggest Alvaro Morata and Jamie Vardy are the likeliest to score. Morata has been a bit flat recently, missing some gilt edge chances. Vardy haven't been as prolific as that title-winning season but don't forget Riydah Mahrez and Albrighton. Chelsea have more potential winners and in the comfort of their own home, will have to fancy them for a win. Otherwise, Mourinho may enrage Conte even more with more jibes. 2-1.

https://www.footbie.com/video/arsenal-vs-chelsea-2-2-highlights-goals-premier-league-3-1-2018-crazy-ending

Crystal Palace v Burnley - Palace have gone up to 14th in the table and Burnley at 7th. While Palace have been a lot better, Burnley had very tough matches against United, Liverpool and City which explained the recent loss of points. The effervescent at Palace has gone a little flat. On better days, Palace could dazzle but Burnley won't play dead. It looks like a stalemate to me. 1-1.

Huddersfield v West Ham - Huddersfield have not won till the F.A. Cup win away to Bolton while the Hammers were held goalless away to Shrewsbury. The icing on the cake for them was the away 1-1 draw with Tottenham in their London derby. West Ham in 15th are just 2 points away from Huddersfield in 11th. That is how tight it is. Carroll's double against WBA especially that headed goal was something to behold. There is not a better header of the ball than Andy Carroll. Period. Obiang's goal at Tottenham was anything than "obiang''. It was one hell of a goal! Adrian has put in better shifts than Joe Hart which is not good for Hart's World Cup hopes. Draw. 2-2. 

https://www.whufc.com/news/articles/2018/january/03-january/highlights-west-ham-united-2-1-west-bromwich-albion

https://www.footbie.com/video/tottenham-vs-west-ham-1-1-highlights-04-01-2018

Newcastle v Swansea - The Magpies are on the mend. Having won away to Stoke that left Mark Hughes on the brink, they followed up with the F.A Cup win against Luton. At St. James Park hosting bottom club Swansea, they must surely fancy their chances with another win. Swansea's away win at Watford gave hope but they lost to Tottenham at home and held Championship leader Wolverhampton Wanders 0-0 away in the F.A. Cup. Not bad efforts at all. How will the new manager inspire them? Newcastle seems to be back fighting but have not been inspirational. Swansea may steal a point. 1-1.

Watford v Southampton - Both sides are going downwards with the Hornets (10th) and the Saints (17th) but both won their F.A. Cup ties - Watford at home to Bristol and Southampton away to Fulham. Their season has gone flat. How will Marco Silva revive Watford's early season form and how will Mauricio Pelligrini do the same? The Saints are an important club with their supply of young players or those they bought on the cheap and develop into fine players. So they deserve to do well to continue that trend.  2-2.

WBA v Brighton - WBA (19th) and Brighton (12th) are really only 7 points apart. The Baggies won their F.A Cup tie away to Exeter while Brighton had Crystal Palace beaten. Both teams may somehow find winning difficult but they are capable of keeping a point. The Baggies held Everton (0-0) and Arsenal (1-1) while Brighton held Newcastle 0-0 and Bournemouth 2-2. Points are getting precious especially for WBA and if they decide to give their all they could achieve a win before they have to contend with more tough games. 2-1.

Tottenham v Everton - If comparing their last 5 matches, Tottenham are unbeaten winning all except that draw with West Ham. "Hurricane" Harry Kane is still scoring for fun while Son scored a wonder goal against West Ham that rivals Obiang. However, Everton (9th) while safe have not own in 5 matches. After the initial spark of Sam Allardyce, they drew twice and lost their last three including two defeats by Manchester United and Liverpool. Except for that West Ham blip, Tottenham are back. Harry Kane are achieving all kinds of records and Son may actually be at his best ever. I see a home win here. 2-0.

https://www.footbie.com/video/tottenham-vs-west-ham-1-1-highlights-04-01-2018

Bournemouth v Arsenal - The Cherries have done better recently but are still barely above the relegation zone by a point. Facing the Gunners would be tough but Arsenal are not on a purple patch. They were held away to WBA, drew at home to Chelsea, lost to Forest in the F.A. Cup and held 0-0 by Chelsea in the League Cup semi and have not won in  four matches. Arsenal are under-performing and far from than real potential. The encouraging part is Bournemouth are scoring two goals in their last three matches. They could get one or two here the Gunners may still be too good for them. Lacazette has topped scoring so they may not get a lot. 1-2.

https://www.footbie.com/video/arsenal-vs-chelsea-2-2-highlights-goals-premier-league-3-1-2018-crazy-ending

Liverpool v Manchester City - In both their last five matches, Liverpool's DWWWW and City's WDWWW. Both are pure attacking teams which makes this tie salivating. A cracking game is on the cards. City are leading them by 18 points! The Reds have lost Coutinho but gained much in Virgil van Dijk and Mo Salah should be back from injury. Coutinho's loss was untimely. Liverpool won their last three matches 2-1 - at home to Leicester coming back from behind, Burnley away and Everton at home where VVD scored the winner. VVD is crucial to lead Liverpool's defence, protect their weakness from crosses and set pieces at the same time provide aerial threat upfront also from set pieces. They remained unbeaten for quite some time. Besides, Aguero, former Reds boy Raheem Sterling is having a stellar season becoming their top scorer with 14 goals. Liverpool have Salah, Firmino, Mane and City have Leroy Sane, Agero and Raheem Sterling. With David Silva, Fernandhino and Kevin de Bruyne, they may be facing Adam Lallana, Jordan Henderson and Alex Oxlade Chamberlain. The game may be won or lost in the middle of the park. 

Liverpool at their best will trouble anyone and their mauling at the Etihad due to Mane's sent off must be on their mind as this is an opportunity to put put things right. Pool have the best home record while City have the best away record. A 2-2 draw is possible in this potential classic. City have not won at Anfield since 2003 but such record counts for nothing. I am going for a Liverpool win. 2-1.

Manchester United v Stoke City - It  is hard to say if the sacking of Mark Hughes while inevitable has any impact on this game because they were doing so badly or will it have a reverse effect? United struggled themselves with 3 draw before that away win over Everton and the F.A. Cup over Derby. The final straw for Hughes came in the 1-2 defeat by Coventry City in the F.A. Cup, a team that played in the old first division when I was a boy. Anything less than a win will have serious implications for United and Mourinho. 2-0.