EPL 2017/18 - Game Week 25

Game week 25 kick off on 31 January and 1 February 2018 respectively with 'live' telecast at an ungodly hour. Most of us may have to sleep over it unfortunately. Chelsea began last week with a solid result and Arsenal became better Gunners with a convincing win while Manchester United played like United under Mourinho with a slim away win. Manchester City continued their march unabated albeit a less exciting win while Tottenham were less convincing gaining only a point though once again Kane came to their rescue. Liverpool having ended top gun City's unbeaten record in spectacular style, ended their own unbeaten record through a defeat by bottom club Swansea despite 72% possession. A major contrast in consistency. This is where the Reds need to do what Mourinho's team do by winning 1-0 games. 

Game Week 25

Swansea v Arsenal - Swansea's fortunes may have turned around. They have not lost in 4 matches and won their last 2 including a great and unbelievable 1-0 win over F1 Liverpool ending their 18 match unbeaten run. This is a great confidence booster but they need to be careful as Liverpool themselves inflicted City's first defeat of the season and ended their unbeaten run too and ended up flat in their next match. Arsene Wenger's Arsenal need to take note. However, against an improving Palace, the Gunners needed just 22 minutes and were leading 4-0 ending the match 4-1 winners. Did the Alexis Sanchez's saga led to it just like Liverpool were fired up without Coutinho against City? Perhaps Arsenal have been over reliant on Sanchez.

Now that Sanchez has chosen the red of United, Wenger got a jewel in his hands when the Armenian captain Henrikh Mkhitaryan came the other way from United to Arsenal. Here is a most coveted player once from Borussia Dortmund who on his final season there, scored 23 goals and had 32 assists. Incredible! Moreover he is an intelligent man with an economics degree and just like me, he also speaks many languages - English, German, French, Russian, Italian, Portuguese and of course Armenian. I speak English, Mandarin, Teochew, Hokkien, Cantonese, a spluttering of Malay and a few other expletives #$@!. Add a little Japanese, French or Italian for ordering food! I thought that Mkhitaryan was not a happy man at United because he may not have the total freedom to express himself. Wenger and Arsenal may be the perfect place for him other than playing for Klopp or Guardiola. It was to me an astute signing. Sanchez is an excellent and explosive attacker but Mkhitaryan is intelligent and creative. If the  Gunners managed to sign Pierre Emerick Aubameyang, Arsenal could be on to something really good. Will Mkhitaryan make an immediate impact? Or can Swansea do another Liverpool? 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yMZMZzeuVSA (Henrikh Mkhitaryan) 

Arsenal have been on the upswing lately undefeated by Chelsea at Stamford Bridge (0-0) they won 2-1 at the Emirates and Chelsea, their London nemesis is a good barometer making this an interesting encounter. Not every team can be so easily beaten like Liverpool so Arsenal may just have what it takes to pip their host for full points. 1-2.

West Ham v Crystal Palace - Whatever happened to Palace last week? So subdued and 0-4 down to Arsenal inside 22 minutes. The Hammers are now undefeated for some time and playing with some measured confidence. Kudos to David Moyes. From relegation zone to 11th has been an achievement. With Lanzini out for six weeks and Arnautovic facing a spell on  the sidelines, the goals may dry up. Will they have enough momentum?  There is that chance for Palace to steal at least a point. 1-1.

Huddersfield v Liverpool - Huddersfield's fine first half season are under threat. Even a Stoke City that looked dismal had just beaten them 2-0 but you must not forget just what Swansea has done to Liverpool with only 28% of the ball. Liverpool must be wary but at the same time not repeat their mistake. Has Liverpool's defence been cursed? Virgil van Dijk's headed clearance went to a Swansea player but otherwise VVD acutally had a good game. Liverpool may have been somewhat wasteful in front of goal when they should have been more ruthless. Klopp is a faithful and loyal man as he played Wijnaldum, Can and Chamberlain who helped him defeat City, Nothing wrong but Swansea was a different question that perhaps needed a different answer and I feel that answer and the key could have been Adam Lallana. All three have qualities but Lallana is the type that is creative and could navigate through tight defences and cause different problems. 

When the Reds line up for their F.A. Cup tie with WBA at Anfield, it was only a couple of changes perhaps to rest players? In came Mignolet and Moreno. So despite the presence of Virgil van Dijk, Liverpool flustered and flopped badly at home to another bottom team and promptly lost 2-3 at home. Have they given too much on the City game? After having beaten the champions elect in a pulsating match, they have lost twice to the 20th and 19th team. There is some serious problem here. It is scary how often both Mignolet and Moreno have flopped. Or is it partly that the midfield did not provide sufficient protection. Mignolet has been flapping in thin air while Moreno has never been able to defend. Let Liverpool be warned, Huddersfield are 14th and by that better than WBA and Swansea. David Wagner's side's early season form has evaporated. After facing Liverpool, they get to play United and Tottenham. They may see that chance with Liverpool.

Is the old Liverpool back? Or will they bounce back immediately from the next game? Will there be a backlash? Huddersfield have not won a league game for a long time so will they get lucky? Liverpool need to win this one badly to restore confidence and order for they host Tottenham at the weekend at Anfield. It is a headache for Klopp as in two matches, he found that half the team are not performing and must waste no time in wielding the axe. Liverpool is an enigma, so powerful, exhilarating and exciting and then in a moment crash. 1-3.

Chelsea v Bournemouth - Sometimes in life, you do not change what has worked before. Why change when it ain't broke? When the Blues stopped scoring and when Morata got suspended, out comes the different players - Batshuayi, Willian who teamed up with Hazard and they tormented Brighton for a 4-0 win. Had Brighton scored with their chances it would have been 2-2 and could have a different impact on the game. Now Chelsea have met Arsenal in the League Cup and not won with a 0-0 first leg at home they have just lost 1-2 at the Emirates. The Cherries meanwhile are getting better. Their problem is they could not kill off games they should have. Will they eventually stay up? I think Antonio Conte thrives on chaos and stress. He has been saying so many things sometimes too much for his own good but his team are still in the run of things. 2-0.

Everton v Leicester City - The Toffees are safe in 9th position right now but their fortunes and tenacity seemed to have faded rapidly. After five games unbeaten they have now not won in six. Big Sam has problems but he has never been relegated. The Foxes has gone up to a very respectable 7th in the table with Vardy and Mahrez in fine form. They have not been beaten in quite awhile. Based on their form and style of play, Leicester will not be easily overcome by Everton especially when you could see that Everton lacks pace. Leicester are playing better so no win for the home team yet. 2-2.

Newcastle v Burnley  - The Magpies did not play City and defended in numbers and were bound to lose but they managed to score one against the table toppers. Burnley, so strong this season is suddenly going through a barren patch. No win in 5 with 4 straight defeat. Frankly, Newcastle have a squad fit for the Championship a rung lower. They are actually keen spirited and well organised but just short of a few class players and to me has been one of the most boring teams in the league. They could possibly win this one as Burnley have lost form but because they are so average, I feel that even a below par Burnely could hold them. 1-1.

Southampton v Brighton - One point and 2 places separated them. The Saints surprisingly held Tottenham to a draw last week. It was not the draw that impressed me but the manner they went about it. In fact, there was a period that I thought Southampton was on top of the game and were troubling their hosts. Problem is their 11 game winless streak on their mind. Brighton also known as the Seagulls have been moping around without scoring. It reminds me of what Eric Cantona once said: "If the seagulls follow the trawler, it's because they think sardines will be thrown in the sea". While Southampton have not been getting results, they should be boosted by their F.A. Cup win over Watford and if Brighton follows that trawler, then a home win for sure as there will be no sardines. It was just a saying. 2-1.

Manchester City v WBA - The Baggies are in 19th level on points with bottom club Swansea. City can learn from Liverpool while WBA have learnt from Swansea. Do not be surprised that WBA could win a game like this no matter how unlikely. The problem with WBA is their lack of creativity and goal scoring, not defence but yet they defeated Liverpool 3-2 at Anfield! They should still be in a buoyant mood and in form and on the up. However, they are facing ruthless City in their den at the Etihad. Can Alan Pardew's WBA spring another major surprise and upset? Reported suggested that Daniel Sturridge is joining on loan from Liverpool. He could offer something here if in time to play. 3-1.

Stoke City v Watford - I told you that Paul Lambert is a good manager as he promptly dispatched Huddersfield last week with Stoke winning 2-0. Only one team in all these times that has shipped out 50 goals have survived the drop. Their next five games won't be impossible. They need to just tighten up at the back. Watford with a great start to the season with Marco Silva have parted company and now appointed Javi Gracia who previously managed a Russian club and Spanish outfit Malaga. The Watford players who could earlier do no wrong are currently doing nothing right. Can the Potters make a second win or will the team from Vicarage Road make a resurgence under the new boss? Garcia and not all Spanish managers are Guardiola just like not all Chinese are kung fu and martial arts experts. His speciality is defensive, the art of strangulation. They have just lost 0-1 away to Southampton in the F.A. Cup, perhaps more time is needed. I give them a draw. 1-1.

Tottenham v Manchester United - This is a big match! Both sides have fine players and United have just added Alexis Sanchez. Before that, they eked out a 1-0 away win over Burnley while Tottenham seemed to have lost some momentum that they displayed against Everton previously and led to a 1-1 draw at Southampton. Again in the F.A. Cup they were held 1-1 by Newport County and needed a Harry Kane goal to rescue them. 

The Red Devils are in better form and the addition of Alexis Sanchez means they have a real world class attacker in their ranks.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2dTHwz8RWqA (Alexis Sanchez)

In their last five matches which they won all, they have scored 12 goals and conceded none. Can Tottenham and Harry Kane breached that at Wembley? Of course, on their day Tottenham can beat anyone. Remember Real Madrid not too long ago? So, surely, a their peak they could win this. No question about that but United are in form, have added Sanchez and they have Mourinho who is an expert in strangulation. Which way will it go? It is a game United could win as they have won even when they were blunt. Perhaps Pochettino has to decide if Eric Dier should play in the heart of defence or anchor him at defensive midfield. to protect his back line. Harry Kane, Son, Eriksen and Alli could stretch and trouble United. 2-2.