EPL 2017/18 - Game Week 33

After the mid-week European night excitement, City and Liverpool are back to the Premier League challenges and after such high level intensity and high energy performances, it may be hard especially for Liverpool to play again on Saturday in the earliest match. No wonder Klopp was fuming. It was a massive result and this performance must be the culmination of good works over a long period of time and a high level of trust and belief. Liverpool are now the top scorers in Europe surpassing PSG, Barcelona, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich.

Their now famous lightning raids must have also raised eyebrows all over Europe. Klopp gave us an example about belief. Believing in others and self. Knowing what have to be done. Even when nobody else is believing. This is a walk of faith. Keeping a clean sheet against the best attack in England and one of the best in Europe showed Virgial van Dijk's value. He could lead and gave everyone around the confidence. Even Dejan Lovren was good and did all simple things with excellence. Enemies of Liverpool or those who do not appreciate or know their soccer would say, ''ya but you have been saying that for years''. The evidence is in the way they play. Anything other than a win this weekend at Goodison Park would provide doubters more ammunition but all neutrals would love Liverpool and the way they play.

Not only that, their fans the Kops (except for a minority of idiots who stoned a bus), have the best anthem of a song in "You'll Never Walk Alone"! It is something that should not just rouse you to victory in soccer but one could apply it to life as well. Here it goes:

You'll Never Walk Alone

When you walk through a storm. Hold your head up high. And don't be afraid of the dark. At the end of a storm. There's a golden sky. And the sweet silver song of a lark. Walk on through the wind, Walk on through the rain. Though your dreams be tossed and blown.

Walk on, walk on. With hope in your heart, And you'll never walk alone. You'll never walk alone. Walk on, walk on. With hope in your heart. And you'll never walk alone. You'll never walk alone

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OV5_LQArLa0 (You'' Never Walk Alone - Gerry and the Pacemakers)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l82kv52MklE (Kops at Anfield)

This song has inspired me. It will inspire you too.

Everton v Liverpool - It is hard on Everton to have to face City and now Liverpool though both matches are home games but only the Red side of Merseyside would feel hard done from Champions League action in mid-week. The computer predicted a 3-1 win at Anfield but I felt 3-0 would be better to take the game to the Etihad but nobody would believe that was the result. Liverpool have kept kept a clean sheet against the highest scoring side with a defence depleted by injuries to Matip and Gomez just to name a couple. Klopp signed Virgil van Dijk not because he was the most expensive defender in the world but because he was the type needed to lead his team at the back. He played Trent Alexander-Arnold who is only 19 and recently did not have his best of games and he secured a 10-million pound left-back from Hull in Andrew Robertson who no one knew and transformed him into the best left-back in the premier league.How many would love him to be English. Even Dejan Lovren played a flawless game. So he was right and knew what he wanted from the beginning. In the 3-0 mauling of City on Wednesday night, City did not have a single shot on target. Trent did not put a foot wrong and rendered Leroy Sane, the best out and out winger on the left ineffective and some of you were fearing for TAA. So Karius did not have any problem. James Milner is no spring chicken and often chastised while playing for England and played some bit part for City but Klopp wanted him and believed in him. He delivered yet again on Wednesday night. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain laid to rest the ghosts at Arsenal. He repeated with another goal against City, this time a n unstoppable scorcher that left Eberson with a half-hearted dive. The 3-front men are the best attacking trio in soccer. Salah got his 38th goal and another assist as he floated a cross for Mane to head home. Firmino chipped in with an assist. The only problem now is Salah is injured. He should be the rightful top scorer and Player of the Year. He deserved to recover quickly and score a few more to get his record haul. If not it would be such a shame! He has not been injured thus far.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mbm6ZaS8ORo&feature=share (Liverpool v Manchester City) 

Even if Salah recovers, he would probably be rested. This is a very passionate Merseyside Derby where you take no prisoners. Liverpool need players for the return leg at the Etihad and City are also capable of putting in a few goals so Klopp was right that the tie is not over but 3-0 by half-time against Man City is simply awesome and was unthinkable. Meanwhile for the Toffees, their main threat Gylfi Sigurdsson will be out. SO Walcott, Bolasie and Tosun and perhaps Rooney will carry their flag. For Liverpool, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andrew Robertson will play important roles. TAA produced a masterclass performance against City and Robertson was again excellent. The pair may have solved some of the old problems. They now lead the charts on crosses from open play in the EPL with 4.5 per 90 minutes each. Tottenhma's Ben Davies and Kieran Tripper were next at 4.4 and 4.2 respectively. Chelsea's Victor Moses is at 4.0, United's Ashley Young at 3.6, Chelsea's Marcos Alosno at 3.1, United's Antonio Valencia at 2.8, Arsenal's Hector Bellerin at 2.0 and Spur's Kyle Walker at 1.80. Surprised? Liverpool are good enough to win but with an eye on the Champions League return leg, they may just do enough. Will Danny Ings or Solanke be fielded and Wijnaldum fielded? 0-2.

P.S. - Did you hear the one about a man getting arrested after getting into fight with a prata stall employee? Reason: It was said that the prata seller was a Man City fan and the man asked for 3 kosong.

Bournemouth v Crystal Palace - The Cherries are in better shape with their results having lost only  once in their last five matches and they have scored in every match. Palace can play but they are often found just a little short. They have been unfortunate as their last four matches were very tough - v Liverpool 1-2, v Chelsea 1-2, v United 2-3, v Tottenham 0-1. Bournemouth are a decently good team but not at the level of the other four. I believe Palace could surprise or at least steal a point. 1-1. 

Brighton v Huddersfield - Frankly, both are having wretched form. Brighton have not scored in their last three matches while Huddersfield have not scored in their last four. So in a sense one should them to now score but they could just simply go on and play to a goalless draw. 0-0.

Leicester City v Newcastle - The Foxes are where they belong in the top ten and are in 8. The Magpies fought back to 12th in the table and have been good in winning their last 2 matches albeit at home. Jamie Vardy is in a very good moment. Last week he scored to achieve a record of having scored against every team in the Premier League doing his England World Cup chance no harm. Can Newcastle stop Mahrez and Vardy? Leicester have scored in every game in their last 5 matches. Leicester have found a certain balance and with Mahrez and Vardy at their best could find a win. 2-1.

Stoke City v Tottenham - Stoke City have been poor this season and may well go down unfortunately having lost their last three matches. To now face a rampant Tottenham who just whacked Chelsea 3-1 away will be asking too much. The further bad news is Harry Kane is back. Tottenham have scored ten goals in their last 3 matches. Kane is fit and should feature as he catches up on goal scoring. Dele Alli is back to his brilliant best. Now you know why Pochettino said Alli is the best player in the world for his age. Then there is Erikssen who is easily one of the best players around and son is having a fabulous season. Besides, Klopp and other than Guardiola, Pochettino is on of the best around by a long shot. Like Klopp he always give young players a chance and develop all players. With their right concept, I must wish managers like Klopp and Pochettino great success for their excellent approach and commitment to attacking soccer. 1-3.

Watford v Burnley - The Hornets finally scored again! Burnley are back to their best  though and won their last three in a row. Watford could prevent defeat as  host but Burnley are a team that do all the basics with excellence. They are a very well drilled team by Sean Dyche. Burnley may just eke out a narrow win. 0-1.

WBA v Swansea - The Baggies should be preparing to go down and to rebuild. Swansea should be planning to reward Carvalhal whom his countryman Mourinho praised. Swansea lost their last 2 matches because they played Tottenham and United. 1-2.

Manchester City v Manchester United - Match of the week. This tie can be intriguing. City are all goals but have been halted by Liverpool and were inflicted a painful defeat in the Champions League. A Mourinho/United win is possible or are City made of sterner stuff? But Mourinho is no Klopp but being defensive against City could be suicide. Confidence can be a strange thing, will City have doubts about themselves? City's bruised ego may be what Mourinho needs so it is a test of character for them to come back and win this in front of their own fans as a dress rehearsal for Liverpool's visit in the return leg but City have points to spare and need need go all out to win this match as they could still wrap up their title next week. Still it is hard to fancy a United win because they are not going to be built up for that. Draw. 2-2. 

Arsenal v Southampton - The Gunners seemed to be thriving in European football in the Europa while they struggled in the domestic league. Another awesome result saw them conquering CSKA Moscow 4-1 with Aubameyang rested. 2 apiece from Aaron Ramsey and Lacazette with Ozil as man of the match was more than enough to take the tie over to Moscow. Arsenal's only realistic passage to next season's Champions League is to win the Europa League. The Saints have been poor for too long and based on current form Arsenal will walk away with a win. 2-0.

Chelsea v West Ham - Chelsea are no longer the same force even if they are still a strong team. They will have to re-calibrate for next season. The Hammers ended three straight trouncing from different opponents with their own thrashing of Southampton last week. But today there is a sadness at Stamford Bridge. The demise of former England player Ray Wilkins who played for Chelsea, Manchester United and AC Milan. He was such a technically gifted midfielder. 61 is too young. RIP. Back to the match, West Ham have gotten better but to expect them to win at Stamford Bridge would be too much. 2-1.