EPL 2018/19 Game Week 34

Five weeks left to the end of the season, just five weeks. It is the tightest race ever and not for the faint-hearted. Manchester City is hoping to win another league title while Liverpool after coming very close a couple of times are hoping to end their 29-year wait. Others are fighting for survival against relegation which has huge implication for their future. Is this the most exciting season in EPL history in recent years?  

Before yet another important week of EPL action, the Champions League took centre stage where Liverpool hosted Porto at Anfield, Tottenham welcomed Manchester City to their new stadium meaning Tottenham have to play City three times (two in Champions League home and away and then visit the Etihad in the EPL). Ajax take on Juventus, Manchester United play Barcelona. These tough mid-week European nights could make teams weary from the exertion come the weekend.  

Liverpool having kept many clean sheets did not keep a single one in their last five matches (they kept five in all their previous five) and did that against Porto (2-0) with goals from Naby Keita and Roberto Firmino. Keita never really delivered his best but has now scored against Southampton last week and then Porto while Firmino is coming back to his best. By no means is the game over but 2-0 is a good result. If they score again at Porto then Porto have to score four. Tottenham had City beaten 1-0 a their new stadium and even if City win 2-1 at the Etihad they will be out due to the away goal rule. Tottenham have an excellent chance but Harry Kane who played well may be injured but it was without Kane that Son Heung-Min scored and it has happened this season that they could win without Kane. It was also fortunate that Aguero had his penalty saved by Lloris. The hero and villain have switched place. Meanwhile at Old Trafford, Manchester United managed to keep Messi quiet but still lost 0-1 to a Luke Shaw own goal. It will be tough for United when they visit the Nou Camp but they have done it at PSG remember? 

This weekend, Sunday could be the pivotal day this season as Liverpool and City have crucial games to win. City start two and a half hours earlier than the Reds. Two intriguing games. City travel to Crystal Palace while Liverpool welcome Chelsea at Anfield. Which is easier? None. There are no easy games in the EPL. Then the rest challenging for top four comes in for their final laps. The survival game may also see its final victim.

The top scorer race has also been the closest in years. Aguero leads with 19, Salah comes in next with 18, Aubameyang, Kane, Mane all have 17. 

Leicester City v Newcastle - Brendan Rodgers has lifted the Foxes with four straight wins and scored eleven goals. There is now a clearer purpose and direction it appears. The players have responded especially James Morrison and Jamie Vardy. I think it has got to do with liberation and playing to strength and as a result, Leicester are now in 7th, ahead of Wolves by goal difference of one goal. The Magpies' fortunes has gone a bit sour despite some spirited displays but they have now not not won and suffered two defeats in their last three. It is precarious because Brighton two points behind has two games in hand, Southampton two points behind has a game in hand and Cardiff in 18th (relegation zone) are five points behind with a game in hand. To be quite sure to survive the dreaded drop, Newcastle could play for an important point in an away game but Leicester City have been in a good moment and should win. Two ex Liverpool managers will be plotting. 2-1.  

Tottenham v Huddersfield - Tottenham are currently 4th, two points behind Chelsea with a game in hand. The Terriers have long been relegated with only pride left to play for. Spurs were stunned at Southampton  then defeated by Liverpool but came back to beat Crystal Palace and then won their first leg in the Champions League against Manchester City. That has been very impressive and this is the match they could win at home against the poorest team even without Harry Kane who was injured and may miss the rest of the season. 3-0.

Brighton v Bournemouth - As long as Cardiff could win all their remaining games and the rest lost theirs, you could get relegated so those teams form below 10th position with 42 points or less are involved. The Seagulls revival was short lived and now quickly lost their last three matches including the narrow 0-1 F.A. Cup defeat to City. The Cherries can be a good team playing good soccer but seemed never able to maintain or sustain and are without a win in three matches and losing twice. They are likely to share the spoils. 1-1.

Burnley v Cardiff - A home win for the Clarets and defeat for Cardiff will push them farther apart in the table with Burnley inching upwards and towards safety and Cardiff slipping towards relegation. after three losses Burnley have redeemed themselves with two impressive wins - 2-0 over Wolves (home) and 3-1 over Bournemouth (away). Although lost their last two, they were against top teams - 1-2 to Chelsea and 0-2 to City and still have something to fight for. It may just be a narrow home win. 1-0. 

Fulham v Everton - The adventure for Fulham has been over for some time. Everton in 9th are just a point behind 7th place Leicester. Fulham could score but they just could not defend and that have been their problem. The Toffees are flying - they have beaten Chelsea 2-0 (home), West Ham 2-0 (away) and Arsenal 1-0 (home). Three in a row with three clean sheets and certainly very impressively! 0-2.

Southampton v Wolves - The Saints are just five points above Cardiff with six matches left. They will be safe only if they get more points than Cardiff. Ralph Hassenhuttl, the Austrian is the Austrian Klopp and has been a superb appointment. They have beaten Tottenham 2-1 (home), Brighton 1-0 (away) and lost to Liverpool 1-3 (home) and they gave the Reds some trouble. I have been impressed with Wolves all season. They are such a good team. They have recently beaten Manchester United twice in a row to show they are no fluke. Unfortunately, they were leading Watford 2-0 but succumbed 2-3 in the end in the F.A. Cup semi. While Wolves are still very good, Southampton are home. A draw is likely. 2-2.

Manchester United v West Ham - United has played 32 matches and have 61 points and despite some revival are still sixth. With six matches left they could still do something to go up to fight for top four but the Red Devils have lost four in their last five games and won only once. The Hammers are safe in 11th but won only twice and lost thrice. Both sides are losing steam but West Ham have a good rest while United toiled at home against Barcelona in mid-week and lost. However, United will still have more in their squad and at Old Trafford should have an upper hand though West Ham should not be underestimated. 2-1.

Crystal Palace v Manchester City - Quadruple. The last time a team won the double of the English League and the Champions League was achieved by Sir Alex Ferguson. This will be City's start of three tough matches to bring on flawless performances. Crystal Palace had City beaten at the Etihad in the reverse tie (3-2) and shall be no easy opponent. City won 1-0 against with a  less than impressive display in the F.A. Cup and lost to Spurs in the Champions League. Not very good signs. Strangely, Palace have a strangely poor home record as they have won only three in sixteen attempts. Palace battled to win 1-0 at Newcastle last week and City played in mid-week and lost in the Champions League. Like Liverpool City could still end up with nothing (League and Champions League) but they have already won the League Cup and could go on to win the F.A. Cup. In recent weeks, City have not been scoring freely. They have beaten bottom clubs Fulham and Cardiff 2-0 and Brighton only 1-0. Palace will ask more questions than the other teams. City have not beaten Palace since end of 2017 when they drew 0-0 Selhurst Park and lost at the Etihad (2-3) at the end of 2018. How will it turn out in 2019? Surely City have the resources to win this one but Palace is at home and have not lost to City in their last two. It has got to do with the way they play that City found it hard to overcome. A bogey. There could be a surprise here. 1-1.

Liverpool v Chelsea - There are no team who came back from more losing positions to win than Liverpool. There are also no team who scored more goals in the last fifteen minutes of games than the Reds. Allison Becker has the most clean sheets and Virgil van Dijk has just not been the best defender but no one has come closer to be so colossal and commanding to be the Player of the Year. Salah has eighteen goals and Mane seventeen and are  among the top scorers. It will be such a shame if they do not become champions. Klopp's side has overcame great challenges and obstacles and won despite sometimes not being a their best. Liverpool have been answering questions and found solutions each game. Liverpool will look forward to erase the memory of the day Steven Gerrard slipped  against Chelsea. The Reds' 2-0 win over Porto with Naby Keita and Jordan Henderson outstanding will boost their belief farther. Chelsea have their own Thursday action in the Europa against Slavia Prague. Salah, Firmino, Mane, and now even Henderson and Keita are looking like they are back to their best. 

Liverpool have won all their last five matches including against some top teams - Bayern Munich (3-1 away), Fulham, (2-1 away), Tottenham (2-1 home), Southampton (3-1 away), Porto (2-0 home). Chelsea can be dangerous and if you saw Eden Hazard's goal v West Ham you will understand. Chelsea also scrapped an away 1-0 win over Slavia Prague on Thursday. They have one day less rest till Sunday than Liverpool plus Liverpool played at Anfield on Wednesday. It will be another game of belief. 2-1.  

Watford v Arsenal - Arsenal make a short journey to play in-form Watford. The Gunners were awful at Rennes in the Europa where they lost 1-3 but were great when they have beaten Manchester United 2-0. Then trounced Rennes 3-0 in the return leg and beat Newcastle 2-0 but were poor when they lost 0-1 to Everton. Watford are a battling team and have been doing well till now this season. They were unlucky to have lost at United, smashed Fulham 4-1 and came back fro 0-2 down to a strong Wolves to win 3-2 in the F.A. Cup to be in the Final. It was spectacular especially that goal by Gerard Deulofeu! Arsenal's 2-0 win at the Emirates over Napoli was quite something as Napoli are a very good team. Torreira and Ramsey combined effectively. The Hornets physicality and playing at Vicarage Road means it is a totally different type of game. 1-1. 

With five to six matches left for the season, things are getting clearer but by no means decisive whatever the outcome of this weekend's results.