EPL - 2018/19 - Game Week 20

While I was travelling, I have to miss Game Week 18 but just in time to catch up with Game Week 19. Wow! A lot has happened during this time. 

Jose Mourinho was sacked. Manchester United under interim manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer started winning in style. I said from the beginning it was wrong for United to have appointed Mourinho. Mourinho never groom young players, plays negative football and never lasted three years anywhere. Next time, he lifted up three fingers, it would not be about the three title he won but to indicate that he never lasted three years and he got the sack three times. 

In this time, Liverpool increased their one point lead at the top of the table to now have a six point lead over second placed Tottenham as Champions Manchester City floundered twice in a row (2-3 to Palace at home and 1-2 to Leicester away).The Reds have even levelled City's goal difference having scored eight goals less but conceded eight goals less. 

Tottenham have been flourishing having beaten Everton 6-2 at away, not an easy feat at Goodison Park and then crushing Bournemouth 5-0! They are looking so good they may even win the title away from the radar. Why would Pochettino leave his own project to clear others' mess? Sir Alex  Ferguson and Arsene Wenger stayed so long because they were given the freedom to build their own project with trust and belief. That was why I stayed so long too.

It is really Liverpool's title to lose as they now lead with six points. If they could remain unbeaten to match Arsene Wenger's invincible Arsenal team but it is not easy as the season wears on. They do not have to but they just have to keep going. This Christmas and New Year period is perhaps the toughest period in the Premier League. How will this weekend unfold?

Brighton v Everton - The Seagulls have always been able to give anyone a game but three previous defeats made them look easy prey for the Gunners but they were solid despite having conceded an early Aubameyang goal they found their way back to level 1-1. You could say the same about Everton who were dismally defeated 1-3 by City and then 2-6 by Spurs (at home) but bounced back to win 5-1 away to Burnley. So this makes it intriguing as they become opponents here. If Brighton could hold Arsenal then they could do the same with Everton and they are much better than Burnley this year. Their counter caused Arsenal problems. Everton could win this one 2-1 if their players like Digne, Richarlison and Sigurdsson repeat their performance. 1-1.

Fulham v Huddersfield - This is an extremely important match for both as they are in 19th and 20th respectively with a single point separating them. The South West London club has somewhat improved under new manager Claudio Ranieri with two draw, the Terrier's boss David Wagner is in dire straits having lost all their last five fixtures. Southampton and Fulham have changed managers and improved so the pressure is on for nice man Wagner. Huddersfield are right at the bottom and they must save their season now. 1-1.

Leicester v Cardiff - The Foxes are in a good place. They held Manchester City 1-1 in the EFL Cup only to be out on penalties. Then they travelled to Stamford Bridge and defeated Chelsea 1-0. As if not enough, they welcomed City and avenged their cup defeat by winning 2-1! Cardiff on the other hand were on the 1-5 receiving end of the Red Devils before stealing a point at Palace. It would be hard to fathom the Welsh club winning here but they could play for a draw. Leicester are in fine form and should ace this one. Cardiff were actually better earlier in the season. Leicester to win. 2-0.

Tottenham v Wolves - Spurs are flying at the moment. In their last two matches, they have scored eleven goals. 6-2 away to Everton and then 5-0 at home versus Bournemouth. No team should like to face them now. Why would Mauricio Pochettino leave to join Manchester United? He has a new stadium, a team built and trained so well by him. He gave many youngsters their chances and made them stars just like Arsene Wenger did. This is his own project. He would be wise to stay put. Wolves won't be easy opponents but Tottenham are just too good right now. It was the first time this season their Fab Four all scored in the same match. Kane, Eriksen, Alli and Son. Hard to stop them. 3-1.

Watford v Newcastle - Watford have many interesting players as they have this ability to hunt and get little known players who are very good. It was no shame to have lost to Chelsea. Rafa Benitez returned to Anfield where he has won them the biggest prize and was made to feel welcome save for the 0-4 thrashing by his old team. The Magpies has been dismal and the Hornets have the players to get full points here. 2-1.

Liverpool v Arsenal - The Reds is sitting proudly on top now so they in a good moment. A siege mentality is what they need but they are now a team that is hard to score against and will get their goals. Even Dejan Lovren was in great form scoring with an unstoppable scorcher in the opener. Virgil van Dijk has made everyone around him play above themselves and with confidence and that is what leadership is like. Watford captain, the brawny Troy Deeney said of van Dijk - "he is too big, too strong, too quick, too good on the ball, loves fighting and a good head of hair. He even smells good." Then Garth Crooks compared Joe Gomez to England legend Bobby Moore saying "he is a beast of a player." Meantime, if you have seen Liverpool v Wolves, he should have seen how VVD took on Traore, the fastest player in the league, maybe the world. Adama Traore's top speed is 37km/h or 22.99mph. When Usain Bolt won the 100m sprint in 2009 he was running at an average speed of 23mph. Shane Long comes in 2nd at 21.94 mph, Kyle Walker is at 21.85, Jamie Vardy at 21.81 and Andre Gray at 21.66. Eric Bailly and Capoue at 21.64, Zaha at 21.61. This is the defence that the Gunners have to face (but Gomez is out). 

Arsenal do not possess the best defence out there although their attack have been potent especially Aubameyang. Last time they drew 1-1 at the Emirates. Arsenal conceded three goals at Southampton and lost 2-3 and could not win at Brighton. Before the last two weeks, Liverpool would have faced considerable pressure when they meet Arsenal and Manchester City next week but after City suffered two shocked defeats to Palace and Leicester, Liverpool have widened the gap to six points from second placed Tottenham and seven above City. This should see Liverpool less pressured and yet determined to keep the gap firstly at Anfield against the Gunners and later City. Liverpool must know that six points are nothing and what happened to the others of slipping could also happen to them. Enjoy the Christmas Reds but halfway there is nowhere at all. If they do not perform at the highest Arsenal and City could hurt their chances. The Gunners have an awesome counter attack which they must watch out but Liverpool should be primed for victory here. Such games could be tight but Arsenal may be missing quite a few players due to injury especially in defence. Even before that, they have conceded many goals. 3-1.

Crystal Palace v Chelsea - Palace are in great form and rose to 14th. They went to the Etihad and had the Champions beaten 3-2. Who would have thought that. Only Roy Hodgson and his boys believed. Even before that, they had Leicester beaten but then could not find a way past Cardiff. So soccer can be strange. Chelsea by their own high standards, have a few blips but they continued to win their last four matches by 1-0 and 2-1. but the wins were not dominant but they will be in the mix. Eden Hazard is back to his best and will be hard to stop. Palace is capable to spring a surprise. 1-1.

Burnley v West Ham - Burnley slipped into relegation territory. They have been abysmal. Everton tortured them into a 1-5 submission. Sean Dyche's fortune has changed and he need to get his team back up real soon. The Hammers are doing so well with four wins in their last five matches. Pelligrini has gotten his team playing and believing with Brazilian Felipe Anderson leading the charge. His two goals within 6 minutes won three points. They should at least make Turf Moor a difficult place. 2-2.

Southampton v Manchester City - Ralph Hasenhuttl has performed a miracle for two matches now. Was it simply a new manager with a new broom sweeping clean effect or is he really that good. I think it has to be the latter. First, he had Arsenal beaten 3-2 and repeated a victory with a 3-1 away win at Huddersfield. Coincidence? Not when they could not win before that. What then is wrong with City? Fernandinho. His influence was sorely missed perhaps or was it complacency? After all they could easily win any match too frequently. They have lost to Palace at home followed by Leicester away which suggested strongly something is not quite right. The Saints should fancy their chances though they have just lost 1-2 to West Ham at home. Or will they get a back lash from the Citizens? Pep Guardiola and his team are angry but Ralph Hasenhuttl has toughen the Saints. 1-2.

Manchester United v Bournemouth - Bournemouth were so good at one time they were above United. The Red Devils are on a revival under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer with two big wins 5-1 over Cardiff and 3-1 over Huddersfield. The Cherries are a better team than the other two. Before these, you could have read headlines that shout: "Cardiff in shocked defeat by United" or "Huddersfield upset by Man U". Haha, just kidding. The Red Devils are winning because they are playing to their natural strength and are feeling happy again. You do not need a rocket scientist to figure that out. Were they poor or were Tottenham just too good in their last match? Earlier in the season, Bournemouth could get a result against the Red Devils but now their form has changed opposite direction. It should be a United win here. In their last five matches the Cherries only managed to score in one game. United's defence is not good enough at the moment as they could not keep clean sheet. 2-1.