EPL - 2018/19 - Game Week 7

Last week the Manchester City romped to a 5-0 rout while I predicted only 2-0 but I was in top form as I got 100% perfect score of predicting Liverpool 3 Southampton 0, Manchester United 1 Wolverhampton Wanderers 1 and Brighton 1 Tottenham 2. I also got it right having stated draws for Fulham v Watford (2-2) though it ended 1-1, Palace v Newcastle (1-1) though it finished 0-0 and West Ham v Chelsea (1-1) though it ended 0-0. I also indicated a 2-goal margin win for Leicester over Huddersfield (result was 3-1). I told you that Burnley would not be defeated and their game would come around and it did with an overkill having won 4-0. I have also said Arsenal would be back. Very few would analyse that United could not beat Wolves. 

Liverpool are top for now by two points with City second and having scored the most goals  (19) with the highest goal difference (16). Chelsea have just surrendered their 100% record after being held by the Hammers. Tottenham and Arsenal seemed to have turned a corner while United's struggles continued. All teams are seeking to conquer new heights but some are struggling with their own set of problems. How will they fare this week?

West Ham v Manchester United - The Hammers are certainly back on track. An impressive 3-1 away win at Everton followed by a 0-0 home draw with Chelsea are clear evidence. Manchester United were held 1-1 by Wolves after which Pogba said they should attack at home has caused new friction as he has been stripped of the vice-captaincy. Then they hosted Derby who were a great team in their hey days and now led by former Chelsea and England legend Frank Lampard. Despite an early 3rd minute lead, they allowed Derby to come back at 2-2 and finally lost 7-8 on penalty kicks. You should see the free-kick goal from Liverpool's Harry Wilson on loan to Derby. It was from so far out and he made the goal looked so easy. Incredible! There was a curl and dip and the goalie hardly moved. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhhoMkqrsPw (Harry Wilson)

This is too embarrassing for  Jose Mourinho. The Red Devils could come out with guns blazing or with fragility with their own house not in good order. Alexis Sanchez was a big star at Arsenal and he claimed he made the switch to United to win titles. He is currently not even half the man he was at Arsenal. Arsene Wenger built his team around Sanchez. This is not the case at United. Or it is the curse of Wenger. Whoever Wenger let go do not do well after departing. Maybe Wenger is a Master of knowing who and when to let go. He should be singing the Beatles' Yesterday. "Suddenly I'm not half the man I used to be. There's a shadow hanging over me..." Pogba could join in the chorus with ''I said something wrong now I long for yesterday''... 

Pelligrini and West Ham must fancy their chance at home. Mourinho may be losing the dressing room and that spells trouble for United fans as he reached his three year itch for destruction. The Hammers are well-oiled by Pellegrini and had a very good outing in the EFL Cup as they put 8 into Macclesfield's net. Though Macclesfield are two rungs lower, it was sure good to score goals. West Ham can exploit United. Arnautovic will be back! 1-1.

Arsenal v Watford - The Gunners are on a roll. Even Petr Cech was awesome again. Five wins on the trot with 14 goals scored confirmed that Unai Emery's methods are fully in place. The Hornets 100% winning start was shattered by United and then they were held by Fulham and now they have to face an improving Arsenal. Besides, they have failed to win their last two matches. Problem is Arsenal are struggle a bit in defence so it could be a game of high score line. Watford is back to where they were last season. So brilliant and yet less reliable. 3-2.

Everton v Fulham - The Toffees are melting a bit from the heat of action. In their last two games t hey have conceded five times and scored just once. Some how Everton felt that Marco Silva was going to be their saviour. For awhile at the beginning it appeared so but now there are reports of unhappiness of his training methods. Success in soccer teams and we must say generally in business or in life is about happiness as a team. Fulham are how you expected them to be - not playing badly and not winning a lot. This is an equal chance game. Everton have not won for some time with their last two ending in defeat. Fulham won away against Millwal in the Cup. Draw. 2-2.

Huddersfield v Tottenham - The Terriers are not biting. After six league matches they have managed to score only three times conceded 14 times. They are fighting for their status and future right from the beginning. Tottenham have some question marks of their own but looked like they are back to where they belong with last week's away win (2-1) over a battling Brighton. Tottenham drew 2-2 with Watford in the Cup but won on penalty kicks (4-2). This will be a very difficult tie for Huddersfield and Dele Alli is back. This is a must win game. Harry Kane must back to scoring lots of goals to catch up with the rest leading the chart. 0-2.

Manchester City v Brighton - City are back doing their stuff. After a shocked loss at home to Olympique Lyonnais, they went to Cardiff and won 5-0 and now just two points behind Liverpool and ready to pounce should Liverpool slip. Then they went to Oxford and won 3-0 in the EFL Cup. The player I have been praising and telling you about made two and scored one goal. 18 year old Phil Foden is the best I have seen since Paul Gascoigne. This boy can be a world star if he works hard and with the right attitude and with Pep Guardiola's tutelage he is going places. He could one day be in the class of Iniesta, Xavi or who knows even Messi for he is only 18. Playing for England, he was named the Best Player in the Under-17 World Cup. The Seagulls are battlers as they have shown last week and all their previous games. City are destroying teams like what they did to Cardiff. Brighton will have to be at their best to deny them. 2-0.

Newcastle v Leicester - The Magpies are tied at the bottom but above Cardiff and Huddersfield as they conceded less goals. They were unfortunate to have lost their last three matches to Chelsea, City and Arsenal all by 1-2. They must fancy their chance at home as the Foxes are not at the other three's level. Vardy may be back and scored but Wolves kept him quiet in the Cup. Newcastle just could not win games somehow. If they can keep the Foxes at bay, they may steal a point. They are still without a win. 1-1.

Wolves v Southampton - Wolverhampton Wanderers are a very good team as I have been telling you. Manchester United can tell  you that too. The Saints are not playing too badly. In fact, they have won away to Brighton and Palace. Southampton are better than they were last season. They are able to counter Wolves but Wolves are really strong and playing with great belief. They have held their own against both Manchester teams. At home, they will just be able to nick a win. 2-1.

Chelsea v Liverpool - Chelsea may have lost their 100% record when they were held 0-0 by West Ham but they came back to win 2-1 at Anfield in the Carabao Cup. This was Liverpool's first defeat for the season and the first at home for the longest time. It was a different game with different players but you have to loose sometimes. If you to keep working and fighting for it and yet could end up with nothing. This is a repeat of the cup clash but this time with their best teams. This is the toughest test yet for both teams. 

Mohamed Salah may play a crucial role cutting in from the right facing Marcos Alonso who is very good going forward but can be caught defending. Though Salah has not been eye-popping this season so far 3 goals from 6 matches is still a good return. He always remain a major threat. On the opposite end Eden Hazard could create havoc to any one when in the mood but it depends on how Chelsea's midfield cope with Liverpool's high pressing. How will Jorginho fare? It is also important whether Virgil van Dijk plays as he has been a rock. Klopp got some mulling to do if he should play Joe Gomez as his partner or play Joel Matip who scored against Southampton last time out. This is a big match and matches like this can be decided by one mistake or a moment of magic from a player. Last time Liverpool won away to Spurs, I wanted to say a 2-1 win but decided to pick a 2-2 draw. It is the same here. 2-2.

Cardiff v Burnley - Cardiff have yet to win a game. The fixture has been unkind to them too as their last three matches were 2-3 to Arsenal, 1-4 to Chelsea and 0-5 to City. Burnley got out of there poor form when they surprisingly whipped in-form Bournemouth 4-0. Cardiff could do enough in battle but Burnley can be vulnerable as they just got beaten Burton Albion in the Cup. It is a chance for both sides to win. 1-1.

Bournemouth v Crystal Palace - The Cherries bounced back from the 0-4 whipping by Burnley with a 3-2 win over Blackburn Rovers  in the EFL Cup. Palace have been hits and misses but they trounced WBA away in the Cup. This is to me a high scoring draw. 2-2.