EPL - 2018/19 - Game Week 8

Chelsea 1 Liverpool 1. What a gripping contest and advertisement for the Premier League! Both Chelsea and Liverpool deserve to win and a point each was a good result. Liverpool were impressive throughout and had they been more ruthless in the last third they could have won. Chelsea too had their chances and it is amazing how Sarri could in such a short time mould them into a very good team. I predicted a draw but 2-2 as I have expected goals and it could have been. Most of all, it is how a great soccer match should be like. Both teams wanting to win and it was full blooded. These two teams could be champions. Chelsea played a very good game but Liverpool was at them throughout playing fearlessly taking the game to Chelsea. Liverpool created more chances but their famed front three that was Europe's most prolific was wasteful and should have been more clinical. Mane could have scored but his shot brought a great save from Kepa. Firmino's header was cleard off the line by Luis and Salah's tap in was weak from his weaker right foot was cleared from the line by Rudiger and the worst miss was from Shaqiri when Robertson teed him up with an open goal.

Daniel Sturridge's goal was thrilling as it was simply pure magic! Klopp's faith in him has been repaid. How many sides have such a high quality striker to call upon? He may soon even start a game when the others drop in form. Liverpool need their front three that to play like last season and they will be unstoppable. Jordan Henderson, Gini Wijnaldum and James Milner are very good but they are not dribblers so they need Naby Keita's ability to play between the lines.

Alisson Becker has shown why he is worth so much when he made two great one-on-one saves from Willian and Hazard. It kept Liverpool in the game. That was a huge difference in decision making of a goalie. It makes his defenders feel confident. Virgil van Dijk was a mountain to scale with interceptions or clearances and he won all aerial threats. That was the leadership they were lacking in previous years. Young Joe Gomez is only 21 but he was completely unfazed and played with a calmness the belied his years and looked more like a veteran. He will be a jewel for Liverpool and England. Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson have been fantastic but in this match they were less so. Trent's failure to stop Hazard resulted in a goal. Robertson lost Willian too and was nearly costly. As a team it was a wonderful performance and they have been scoring late. Firmino's goal against PSG and now Sturridge. This is about the belief. Sturridge goal was exhibition stuff, exquisite in many ways.

He just came in with less than 5 minutes. The commentator said what I was thinking that he has little time to do something and unless something came his way he could try maybe something could come off. I supposed he has not warmed up yet. I do not know how many times he touched the ball. Perhaps one, tow or three but when he got a harmless pass from Shaqiri from 30 yards out with Kante, one of the world's best defensive midfielder near him, not many team mates around to receive a pass, with minimum backlift, he hit with power and unerring accuracy a swerving and dipping shot past Kepa, the world's most expensive goalkeeper at full stretch right into his top left hand corner! Magic! There are not many players in the world who could score a goal like that in a key moment in such a big match with very little time and space. Kudos to Chelsea too for playing. What a fantastic game of the highest quality! 

https://www.caughtoffside.com/2018/09/29/daniel-sturridge-goal-video-for-liverpool-vs-chelsea-2/

Brighton v West Ham - Fortunes have changed. Brighton plays a tough game that was why they restricted City's home win to 2-0 but the Hammers after a scary poor start are on a roll. It started from that 3-1 away win over Everton then a home draw with Chelsea and a thumping 8-0 win in the Cup over Macclesfield and last week's 3-1 win over Manchester United would have removed all doubts over Pelligrini's methods. It was a great team performance and individually as well and they were even dancing, flicking and back heeling the ball at United's defence but they need to come back to earth as Brighton are different fish to fry. Brighton play a good game and at home could get something perhaps a draw because the Hammers are in form. If West Ham play like they did United then they win. Oh and did you see the Felipe Anderson goal with a flip of his back foot? Just like the one Firmino scored for Liverpool last season. Its a Latin thing or more precisely a Brazilian. 1-2.

Burnley v Huddersfield - The Clarets have recovered. 2-1 win away to Cardiff cemented it. The Terriers fought hard at home to Tottenham but succumbed 0-2. They have not won for a very long time so every match is tough. Burnley are getting back to where they should be and what they should be doing. Huddersfield like Cardiff and Newcastle need to get something soon or big trouble awaits them. I see a home win. 2-0.

Palace v Wolves - Palace are still inconsistent but Wolves are going places. After 7 matches they have lost just once and three wins but they do not score much away. Funny though that despite a good last season, Palace are not getting better results and have not scored at home. It smacks of a draw game or either side winning one goal margin. Who is more likely to win in this case? I think Wolves. 1-2.

Leicester v Everton - The Foxes are flying again. The triumvirate of Harry Maguire, James Maddison and Jamie Vardy destroyed Newcastle at St. James Park. The Toffees just came back strongly to trounce Fulham 3-0. So this looks like a match of equals. A 2-2 draw is possible but to me it appears that Leicester is playing with a bit of swagger these days while Everton blow hot and cold. I go for a home win. 2-1.

Tottenham v Cardiff - Tottenham won three in a row with hard fought victory over teams like Cardiff (Brighton/Huddersfield) and Harry Kane is back to scoring with a brace. Cardiff have lost five on the trot and are in dire straits. Certainly not an ideal time to visit Wembley. Kane scored against Barcelona in the Champions League but enough as his side lost 2-4 at home as Messi destroyed them. Erik Lamela is playing an important role of late especially in scoring. These are the games that Tottenham must win and they should. 3-0.

Watford v Bournemouth - The Hornet's early fiery form has not only ended but they have not been able to replicate a win in four matches. Seems like last season all over again if they do not pick up soon. The Cherries are just slightly better but their results of WLWLW showed inconsistencies. Watford's wins seemed so long ago and Bournemouth are playing with confidence. 2-2.

Manchester United v Newcastle - The Red Devils, ah! Their season is sadly over with so much turmoil. It is clear that Mourinho or Pogba has to go maybe both. Mourinho will get paid off handsomely again. A bad workman quarrels with his own tools. He has spent hundreds of millions, played negative football and it could have been the last straw when they were duly outplayed by West Ham. This followed being dumped out of the cup by Derby. They must be thankful to be facing the awful Magpies at home. What happens if they do not win again here? Benitez has big problems of his own but he could organise a highly defensive game. I think United players did not want to win so Jose will get the sack sooner. Newcastle may steal a point. 1-1.

Fulham v Arsenal - Fulham's 0-3 loss at Everton was a surprise. The Gunners' visit to Craven Cottage will provide more concerns as Unai Emery's methods seemed to have been fully in gear. All wins in their last five shows a team in confidence. London derbies can sometimes throw up surprises. Both are passing teams but Arsenal are in great from. Aubameyang, Lacazette, Ozil and Welbeck are all scoring. Arsenal after losing their first two matches have not lost again. Can Fulham steal a a point here? 1-3.

Southampton v Chelsea - The Saints have lost twice without scoring 0-3 to Liverpool and 0-2 to Wolves. Chelsea have drawn their last tow league matches - 0-0 at West Ham and 1-1 versus Liverpool at Stamford Bridge. I have said that Chelsea are playing so well with very good soccer of Sarri-ball that they could even win the title. It will be difficult for Southampton even at home. Chelsea are hard to score against and they shall close their opponents down. Hazard is leading the scoring chart and Morata is back to scoring. If Chelsea win and Liverpool and Manchester City play to a draw, Chelsea will be level. Away win. 0-2.

Liverpool v Manchester City - That 1-1 draw with Chelsea was an awesome match. At Anfield, Liverpool now host Champions Manchester City in a top of the table clash that promises to be mouth-watering as both Klopp and Guardiola are great attacking masters of the game. This is likely to be another end to end stuffs. Their teams are built to score many goals. History favours Liverpool who have won many of their contests since 2014. Except for a couple of draw and the 0-5 thrashing due to Mane's sending off in Sep. '17, City were then beaten 4-3 in the returned leg followed by two Champions League defeat, 3-0 at Anfield and 2-1 at the Etihad. This is a match where both side could win and the fact they will try to win is worth the ticket price. City have been excellent again this season but Liverpool are also not only unbeaten but scoring late on to win like vs PSG and draw v Chelsea. This means a team with great belief and fight. 

There is even more intrigue now that while City won away against Hoffenheim (2-1), Liverpool toiled to a 0-1 defeat at Napoli in what was described as their worst display. To make it worse, they conceded in the 90th minute. City too have an extra day of rest. This is where tiredness, injuries may play a part but each of them have strength in depth to cope and both have ball playing Brazilian goalkeepers. Liverpool's front three have not been as prolific as last season and Salah need to clear his head. His decision making has been tentative. There is little to choose between them. City have Ederson, Kompany, Walker, Mendy, Laporte, Silva, Mahrez, Gundogan, Aguero, Sane, Jesus and Sterling while Liverpool have Alisson, van Dikj, Gomez, Keita, Milner, Wijnaldum, Firmino, Salah, Mane and Sturridge.

Liverpool have solved their defensive issues with a solid back line and goalie but unfortunately they prolific front three have not been at their greatest. Otherwise, it would be hard for anyone to stop them. In fact, they have suddenly not won in three matches. Losing to Napoli may have taken away the myth of invincibility. City may have their finest player Kevin De Bruyne back. Even if he is fit he may not be match fit after quite a long lay off. Either team is capable of grabbing a win here or it could end a high scoring draw. Another loss would dampen their belief so Liverpool will have to be bold and be at their best to win and bring their season and belief back. 3-2.

I don't know about you but I am staying home to watch.