EPL - 2018/19 Season - Game Week 2

Game Week One was dusted and done. The top three most outstanding teams in the season opener were Crystal Palace, Chelsea and Liverpool. Palace too have the most shots followed by Liverpool and Manchester City. Liverpool have the most passes with the highest pass succession rate of 90% followed by Fulham and Chelsea. Fulham proved they could pass/play with possession of 66.4%, Liverpool with 64.8% and Bournemouth with 62.9%. 26 goals were scored on opening weekend. Some players started on the bench after returning from the World Cup. 

Cardiff v Newcastle - Neil Warnock and Rafa Benitez renews their rivalry. Cardiff had a good last season in the Championship one level down and as predicted they found the going tough when they went down 0-2 to Bournemouth away. Their struggle will continue even as they host the Magpies. Though Newcastle lost 1-2 at home to Spurs last week , I thought they played really well and could have salvaged a point. Even so early in the season, this lunch-time kick off in the UK is an important match for both sides. Cardiff will make it very tough for the visitors at home. Newcastle need the points after a home loss but lack resources and Cardiff may sniff a chance here. 1-1. 

Everton v Southampton - Richarlison proved his worth as a new signing having scored a brace but it wasn't enough as they got dominated by Wolves (57% possession) who fought back. The Toffees played well and showed their renewed intention. The Saints struggled at home to Burnley (0-0) last week. Everton must win such matches and under the circumstances, they should win. 2-0. 

Leicester v Wolves - Jamie Vardy is a top striker and will always score. He has already got his first away to United last week. The Foxes will catch opponents on quick counter attacks. James Maddison is an excellent player with a great future as he has shown against United. Wolverhampton Wanderers are one of the oldest clubs around and founded in 1877 and plays with their kits in gold and black. Do you know about Billy Wright, Kenny Hibbitt, John Richards and Steve Bull. The last three players I remember well. I watched Hibbitt and John Richards played regularly and well in my youth and later Bull was so prolific beating Richards' record in goal scoring. I have said the Wolves and a few of their players could surprise and I thought they did well coming back twice to equalise against a good Everton. I was most impressed with Reuben Neves. There will be goals. If the Foxes played like they did United they could win. 2-1. 

Tottenham v Fulham - Will Harry Kane end his goal drought in the month of August? He is like Carl Lewis in a century sprint. Slow off the starters and then once he took off could not be caught. It is time for him to score and he has a great record scoring against Fulham. Fulham are a good passing team. They have spent and added and could play good soccer but welcome to the Premier League where it is really ruthless. Looking pretty is not enough. The key things is you really do not want to start the season with two defeats but this is a London derby. So it gets tougher for everybody. The Cottagers lost 0-2 to Palace at home so it is going to be difficult to cope with Tottenham who have been playing together for a long time. 3-1.

West Ham v Bournemouth - The Hammers had a most difficult start against Liverpool but Pelligrini is a good manager and has made some astute signings. They conceded goals that were manufactured by Liverpool and not given away. Hosting the Cherries who won at home but were not really that impressive presents West Ham an important chance for victory. 2-1. 

Chelsea v Arsenal - Sarri's Chelsea got a better result last week (3-0) than they expected. The Gunners were disappointing. Chelsea have always been compact even when they were not playing well and are difficult to overcome especially at Stamford Bridge. Unai Emery's Arsenal were disjointed, lack confidence and even seemed uncomfortable like Petr Cech playing with his feet and holding the ball for too long. I mean the manage gives instructions but players must think on their feet. An insistence against your instinct could be detrimental. The Gunners have two tough starts. Last season they drew twice in the league, once in the League Cup where Arsenal won in the return leg at the Emirates (2-1). The Gunners should give an improved display. Time for Aubameyang to score too. 2-2.

Burnley v Watford - Sean Dyche has built Burnley into a fine team that is difficult to beat but they are playing in Europa and just won 1-0 over Istanbul Basaksehir after extra-time. Watford gave me the biggest surprise with their performance and result. Do they flatter and deceive? Burnley have a solid defence and could block out the Hornets to get a narrow win. 1-0.

Manchester City v Huddersfield - City as predicted romped past Arsenal 2-0 even when they played away. Raheem Sterling scored a brilliant individual goal after weaving his way a few opponents. Why didn't he do that for England at the World Cup? Huddersfield were smoldered by Chelsea 0-3 at home. What chance Huddersfield at the Etihad? Life for David Wagner is difficult. However, news of Kevin De Bruyne being out for three months could offer them some relief but City have enough resources. Still it is a blow for the Citizens. Could the Terriers even surprise here? In their last four meetings the results were: (H) 0-0, (A) 1-5, (H) 1-2 and (A) 0-0. In soccer, it does not mean that if Chelsea won 3-0 at the Terrier's home City would score 5-0. Can Wagner devise a plan to stop City marauding? I think it is too early for surprises. Comfortable City win at the Etihad. 3-0.

Brighton v Manchester United - I would not say Brighton were the worst team on opening weekend but they were the most disappointing. They were disjointed, clueless and without fight. So Jose Mourinho is again a lucky man. However, the Seagulls sometimes pulled off surprises against the big teams. In their last two Premier League encounters, the Red Devils won 1-0 at home and lost 0-1 away. In his darkest hour, Eric Cantona once said: "When the seagulls follow the trawler, it is because they think sardines will be thrown into the sea". United are too strong for this match and should win but they play an extremely cautious game and it probably may not be much. Just enough. He does the same even if he is playing a bunch of elderly folks. So will the Seagulls (Brighton) follow the trawler (United)? Do you think sardines will be thrown? The Red Devils today seem to be lacking an identity. 0-1.

Crystal Palace v Liverpool - Selhurst Park will be rocking but it is a week day game at 0300 hours here where I must be sleeping but it would probably be quite a game. Palace won confidently against Fulham away and Selhurst Park is a tough place to visit but Liverpool started where they left off and were quite irresistible against the Hammers. This will be a big game for Liverpool because Manchester City and the rest would have already played over the weekend. You must win these games if you are going to land the title. When the both met last season, Palace gave Liverpool solid contests but lost both home and away 1-2 and 0-1. Palace have started strongly and should do well this season but Liverpool is even a better side than last season with a few key players that greatly improved the team and a deeper squad with more options to offer but soccer sometimes smack you in the face. Most would go for a Liverpool win. That is just an expectation. 1-3.