EPL 2018/19 Game Week 30

Liverpool has handed over the lead at the top to City when they could have a ten point lead but now they are one behind after too may drawn matches. The brilliant 5-0 rout of Watford was not repeated at Goodison Park where Everton played so well and did City a favour. It was a somewhat tame and weak performance from a team trying to be champions. Last season's most fearsome trio has been reduced to a whimper especially Mo Salah who was unstoppable last season but could be the worst Liverpool player on the pitch on Sunday. Attack, their greatest strength has now become their weakest link. In exchange for controlling a game, the exhilarating attack were seldom unleashed this season. No more front foot attacking soccer with real intent. Opponents fear to play them last season and only defence was a let down. 

Klopp ought to be more attacking as attack is the best form of defence and Liverpool this season have the best defence. You could argue that if they attack more then they may not have the same points by now but conversely, the Reds could have secured even more points had they turn those one too many drawn games into victory. Liverpool have too conservative and too carefully even at Anfield. It has been Virgil van Dijk that carried Liverpool this far. With each game he gets better and on Sunday night, nothing could get past him. He was everywhere and doing everything. What a player! Such a joy to watch! He just makes everything seem so easy. Former United great Gary Neville called van Dijk a joke. The Red Devils legend said: "I though van Dijk's performance was a joke. He was absolutely outstanding!" Former Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher described Virgil van Dijk as a man playing a kid's game. Now the control is in City's hands and Liverpool could only hope and then win every other game to have a chance. Single points are of less use, you have to go get the wins. 

Meanwhile, my Manchester United friends are hoping their hated neighbours City win the title and not Liverpool. The reason is very simple. Liverpool dominated the English League from the 70s to the 80s and were also Champions of Europe. It was only during Sir Alex Ferguson's time that Manchester United dominated the scene from the 90s to 2000s. As is stands if Liverpool were to win this season and/or another couple more than United fans would have lost their bragging rights that they are the best. City have a long way to go to catch up on the total. 

Everywhere there will be a close fight to the finish - for the title, top four and relegation. Another season is so quickly going to be over. Time flies but try not to blink from now. It's anybody's game at every quarter. For the remaining nine games, sometimes the weaker teams could spring a surprise here and there but the obviously tough matches for both City and Liverpool are:

Manchester City

Crystal Palace v City (14/4)
City v Tottenham (20/4)
Manchester United v City (25/4)

City crashed 2-3 at the Etihad to Palace and Palace can be very good at times. Tottenham may have lost recently to Burnley and Chelsea and held Arsenal 1-1 but before that they trounce Borussia Dortmund 3-0. They are still a very strong and good side. The visit to their neighbour at Old Trafford can be very tricky as the Red Devils have the momentum, its a derby and United need the points to ensure top four. 

Liverpool

Liverpool v Tottenham - (31/3)
Liverpool v Chelsea (14/4)

In the reverse tie in September, Liverpool won 2-1 away against Spurs. They are capable of doing some damage. Chelsea are a tough team to beat but thought they have limped a bit at times this season. So the king-makers are likely to be Manchester United (held Liverpool 0-0 at Old Trafford) and Tottenham as both of them get to play both City and Liverpool and their results have direct impact. This is the closest finish in years and is good for soccer.

Crystal Palace v Brighton - Palace were impressive when they went to Turf Moor and won 3-1 while the Seagulls are a team that could roll up their sleeves for battle. Both teams could score but Palace has the slight edge and when you include being at home then they could get a win. 2-1.

Cardiff v West Ham - The Welsh side have been in a bad moment having lost their last three matches, conceded ten goals and scored only once and drew blanks in their last two. The Hammers have been moving up after they drew Liverpool and played well only to have lost narrowly to City. It looks like West Ham and leave with full points. 0-2.

Huddersfield v Bournemouth - The Terriers need a miracle to avoid the drop. It came with some hope when they won against Wolves but was short-lived and only scored once in five matches. Bournemouth's last five result were crap, worse than Huddersfield as they have not won any but did well against City only to have lost 0-1. With nine matches left to play, Huddersfield are 3 behind Fulham in 19th and 11 behind 18th placed Cardiff. Mathematically, they could still be save so they will battle the Cherries. 1-1.

Leicester City v Fulham - Fulham lost all their last five matches, conceded 12 goals and scored only once. Claudio Ranieri was relieved. Scott Parker came in and did a reasonable job but his first attempt though not too bad still ended in defeat  to Chelsea (1-2). Leicester City's new boss Brendan Rodgers found himself defeated by Watford away. I feel Rodgers could make the Foxes better in terms of motivating the players and through improvement in their attacking play but their defence needed to be sorted out. 2-1.

Newcastle v Everton - The Magpies fine 4 match unbeaten run ended at West Ham last week. Everton had their 3 match losing streak ended and held Liverpool 0-0 after a fine away 3-0 win over Cardiff. At St, James Park, Newcastle are more capable with the Toon Army behind them. The vibes fore me would be a draw. 1-1.

Southampton v Tottenham - The Saints played well but lost to the Red Devils. They are in 17th with 27 points and not entirely safe. Ralph Hassenhuttl has made Southampton better but Tottenham were brilliant and resilient when they had Dortmund beaten. Harry Kane has been back and scoring even though they had a few forgettable games when they lost to Burnley and Chelsea but they are still an excellent team. Southampton will make them sweat for it. 1-2.

Manchester City v Watford - City are on a great run and remains the team to beat but alt least this time they are not running away early on like last season. Watford too are doing really well and have their own good run except for that 0-5 drubbing by Liverpool. This will be a tough one for them but they could do well if they play correctly as City while dominating a usual has not been as dominant or prolific of late. Chelsea held them 0-0 in the Cup which they won on penalties. They won 1-0 at home to West Ham and again 1-0 away to Bournemouth. With Laporte, Ferdinho and De Bruyne out they can be affected though I must say their squad is great and deep in strength. City are of course expected to win especially at home and they should. We should expect City to a have a lot of the ball and that they find a way to will. 2-1.

Liverpool v Burnley - At the beginning of the season I have mentioned that this season's Liverpool have become too conservative, seeking to control matches and not squander results and they have actually proven so with a solid defence led by the imperious Virgil van Dijk. They are still second in terms of goal scoring and the results are better than last year but to me there have been times when they should have won a few key games instead of a draw had they been a little more daring as they dominated the proceedings. Klopp could end up right at the end and I may be wrong. His substitutions in the Everton game puzzled many as he brought on James Milner and Adam Lallana but of course if he got the result there will be all praises but Naby Keita and Shaqiri would have been better bets. Now Liverpool must win every game as they trailed City by a single point and also City have better goal difference. 

After beating Tottenham, Burnley have crashed 0-2 away to Newcastle and 1-3 at home to Crystal Palace. This does mean the Reds need only to take a stroll at Anfield. They have to go get the full points as City plays ahead of them. I expect Liverpool to keep another clean sheet as Virgil van Dijk continues to display his majestic ability and I think he should be Player of the Year. Alisson has the most clean sheets (17) and could be the Golden Gloves winner while Salah with 17 goals is one behind Aguero. All these awards would have meant less if they do not land the title and be crowned champions. Usually when a team has all these attributes and possible awards they should be champions but this season is different. They could have been champions with their points in other season but not this. It has been unusually tough. Liverpool must score and they will. 2-0.

Chelsea v Wolves - Sarri and Chelsea are back. Held City 0-0 in the Cup but lost on penalties, beaten Tottenham 2-0 and won 2-1 away at Fulham. Wolves have been pretty consistent that is why they are on 7th just one position behind Chelsea though 13 points behind and can be tricky for any team against them. The Blues has a game in hand and a win will propel them to 4th, a point ahead of United. A draw would put them status quo even if level on points with Arsenal in 5th due to goal difference. Wolves are certainly capable of getting something here at least a point but I think the worse may be over for Chelsea and they will get full points at home. 2-1.

Arsenal v Manchester United - Match of the day! The result will greatly affect both and more from Tottenham (3rd) to Chelsea (6th). The Gunners are back to playing better but Manchester United are showing their character bouncing back from trailing Southampton to forcing a victory. You have to salute them that they have many injured players, 0-2 down to PSG in the home leg in the Champions League and then away to a top team like PSG and they won 3-1! Controversy or not, you must give praise when praises are due. Few teams under the circumstances could do that. It was and has been down to Solskjaer. What are you waiting for? Give the man the job!!! This will inspire them for sure and fire up this meeting even though PSG may have dominated the match with 72% possession but the fight back must be given credit.

The Gunners got their own problems to ix as they went crashing away to Rennes (1-3) in the Europa making life tough for themselves. The Red Devils could surely make it t a tough match for Arsenal at the Emirates but the fact that both are back from a mid-week European match means that limbs are a wee bit softer. Draw. 2-2.