EPL 2017/18 - Game Week 34

The superlatives that came from all quarters following Liverpool's 3-0 downing of Manchester City need not repeated. However, friends sent me something that looked like a newspaper clip with photo attached with the caption: "Man arrested after getting into fight with prata stall employee. It is said that the prata seller was a Man City fan and the man asked for 3 kosong". Very Singaporean humour. In the UK, there was one that said "England has been set betting odds of 12:1 to win the World Cup. For those who do not understand betting, it means if yo bet 10 pounds on England at 12:1, you will lose 10 pounds. 

Then I have friends who believe Manchester City will slaughter Liverpool and go on to qualify. I think it was possible as you could see Roma doing just that to of all teams Barcelona even with Messi and Suarez in the fray but they insisted on betting with me. When City led 1-0 within the 2nd minute, the blue side had their hopes raised for sure. Liverpool is going to collapsed. Mo Salah is the hottest new song on Merseyside as he once again scored to equalise on 56 and the great Bobby Firmino hit that final nail in the coffin on 77. The Reds have now broken a new record of the most goals scored by an English team in the Champions League. All 33 goals till now with at least two more matches to go if they fail to win the semi-final. The overall aggregate of 5-1 over City over two legs must be something their European opponents will be wary of. Mo Salah now has 39 goals in all competition in his debut season. Liverpool are well and truly back where they belong. If you have survived this far, you fear nothing. I should know. Perhaps you too. City were brilliant in the first half. Liverpool fans may have chewed away their finger nails and would have proceeded to chew toe nails in the second half and must be grateful when Salah scored. Firmino's finish was quality as he placed his shot that grazed the far post and into the net. It was a brave second half and Liverpool have beaten City three times this season. One of the things I said before was when Coutinho was around, everything goes through him and he actually slowed things down by holding the ball too long. Liverpool is playing better without him.

Back to the Premier League. City can wrap up the title at a second attempt after their lost to United last week delayed their celebration if they beat Tottenham at Wembley on Saturday and United lose to WBA on Sunday. The crowning will probably be delayed as Tottenham is very strong and City have now lost thrice in a row. Things are going a bit flat for them. 

Southampton v Chelsea - West Ham was famous for their supply of top English players and other non-English ones. Frank Lampard, Rio Ferdinand, Joe Cole, Michael Carrick, Glen Johnson and the maverick Paolo Di Canio just to name a few. In the World Cup in 1966, there was none other than Bobby Moore, Martin Peters and Geoff Hurst. It was said that West Ham won the World Cup but they finished 12th in the league. Today Southampton is that team that supplies many excellent players to England and other bigger clubs. There were Gareth Bale, Sadio Mane, Theo Walcott, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Nathaniel Clyne, Dejan Lovren, Calum Chambers, Luke Shaw, Jason Puncheon, Victor Wanyama, Morgan Schneiderlin, Adam Lallana and Rickie Lambert. Had they kept all these players they will be fighting at the top end of the league. The Saints are now 18th and in grave danger of slipping away. They have six matches to rescue themselves. Otherwise, they may end up like Singapore's Farrer Park, our birth place of soccer. They gave Arsenal a good scare last week but still fell short (2-3) and now host Chelsea at St. Mary's. They need every point from now. Chelsea have not been at their best surrendering to Tottenham (1-3) and held by West Ham (1-1) at Stamford Bridge. In all probability Chelsea could still win but never underestimate a club fighting for survival. 1-1.

Burnley v Leicester City - Burnley are certainly back to their very best after a long lull like wakening from a nightmare - unbeaten for awhile and with four wins in a row scoring 2-3 goals each match. Leicester can play a good game and get results but there have been reports of unhappiness with Claude Puel. Of course Riyadh Mahrez and Janie Vardy are worth goals at any time but current form should see them snuff the Foxes out for a win. 2-1.

Crystal Palace v Brighton - Palace at three points above the Saints but having played a game more. They play a good game and are not whipping boys but are always a little short losing marginally even to the best teams. Palace will score and Zaha is often ready to pounce. 1-1.

Huddersfield v Watford - Huddersfield are just a point ahead of Palace. They are in wretched form. The good news for them is that Watford are in equally wretched form and only their early season form have given them more points. They may just share the spoils with not many goals. 1-1.

Swansea v Everton - The Swans have miraculously climbed to a point above Huddersfield and with a game in hand. Carlos Carvalhal must be the reason as he came and arrested the slide. Similarly, Sam Allardyce came and help Everton to stop the rot. 2-2.

Liverpool v Bournemouth - It was a Champions League memorable win. Not just for the Reds but for me. What am I going to do with the beer I won? It was not just individual but team performance and a most valuable experience. Karius is getting more confident. Trent Alexander-Arnold has an unbelievable future ahead as he is only 19. He passed the sternest test against Leroy Sane with flying colours. Dejan Lovren often much maligned was colossal. Even his critics should raise a glass to him. Virgil van Dijk was a rock except for that single incident where he should have played to the whistle and it resulted in City's goal. Andrew Robertson was not at his attacking best but he was defensively good. Certainly a birllinat signing. Gini Wijnaldum has not played often and was said to be gone missing in away games was exactly that in the first half. He has not been playing so often but he was go good in the second half. James Milner was peripheral in the past but here, he has aged well and often excellent. Nobody saw that in him. He was at time sensational. Oxlade Chamberlain was not as sensational as in the first leg but still nobody believed he could be this player now. Mo Salah did not play his best game but heck, once again he just popped up and scored with a delicate chip - not easy in such tense atmosphere. 

Liverpool are in a good place. After the energy absorbing two legged wins over City, they go again. They have won win to ensure maximum points to be no lower than fourth for Champions Leagues qualification. While they are so offensively good as ever, they are now a more solid team and have solved their defensive woes. Bournemouth have improved much and have in the past cause them problems. Can Liverpool win without exerting themselves too much? Mane has been brilliant in the later part of the season and a constant menace. Firmino was not at his best recently but yet he worked his socks off. This is why he is a great player when he netted the winner with a slide rule placing and there in no one better than Mo Salah, the Egyptian King! 3-1.

Tottenham v Manchester City - Obviously the match of the week. Guardiola and City are in a strange situation. At one stage, the were the very best and no one could beat them. The runaway leader could still run away with the title when they win here. Problem now is they have since lost their last three matches in succession. All to their biggest rivals. There are now more questions than answers. Tottenham are strutting the same quality stuff. If Tottenham wins here they still have a game in hand to overtake Liverpool. City are no bad team overnight. They are still good enough to beat anyone. Only thing is that their morale have been dented and will they bounce back in style? You saw Spurs' quality when they had Chelsea beaten 3-1 and it was away. City are out of the Champions League and can now afford to go all out for redemption. 2-2.

Newcastle v Arsenal - The Magpies have been fighting for survival but their fortunes have changed with three consecutive wins and are just three points from 9th placed Everton with a game in hand. Impressive! Newcastle actually boast a better defensive record than the Gunners but Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is continuing his superb form and shall be the main threat. With several solid performances, Arsenal feared for their life in Moscow when they trailed 0-2. Fortunately, Danny Welbeck is the form of his life scoring consistently with crucial goals. The Gunners may be betting for Champions League qualification by winning the Europa as the focus. 1-1.

Manchester United v WBA - The Red Devils are in a strong position to finished second. 13 points behind City and 4 points clear of the next position and with Pogba in form they should have no difficulty to win at Old Trafford against canon fodder WBA who only has pride left if any. This will cement their postion to secure yet another win. 2-0. 

West Ham v Stoke City - West Ham are rather safe but have to ensure their own safety. They have stopped their losses with a win and last week's 1-1 draw at Chelsea was inspirational. Stoke are at their abyss even when they fought well have few games left to save themselves. The Hammers should be capable to win but a fight is on the cards. 2-1.