EPL 2018/19 Game Week 35

I have a Manchester United fan friend who has been complaining because City and Liverpool are making things so boring week in and week out, taking turns to head the table. It shall all come to an end soon. Nobody has been wiser to know the end and it surely beats last season where only half-way through and you probably knew City would be crowned champions. City win their remaining matches and there is nothing to say but they cannot slip. Liverpool must win every match too and must not slip. Maybe both will loose points but much will depend on the City v Spurs and United v City games. 

Meanwhile in Europe, Ajax are returning to greatness and where they should belong as their young team won 2-1 at Juventus ending Ronaldo's dream and made Juve's 100 million pounds investment futile. Ajax shall now be meeting Tottenham Hotspurs who sent City out winning on away goal rule in what was a most dramatic tie at the Etihad that City won 4-3.  Barcelona and in particular the genius Lionel Messi made mockery of Manchester United at the Nou Camp. All the tall, big, strong players that Mourinho selected and inherited by Solskjaer failed to overcome the smaller Barca team. In life, it is not the size that counts, it is how you use it. Liverpool quite easily cruised past Porto home (2-0) and away (4-1) to set up a mouth watering tie with Barcelona. Liverpool is the only remaining semi-finalists from last year. City's Champions League hope have crashed and in their next two matches in the next week, they could either end up celebrating or miss out again to retain the prestigious EPL title.

Manchester City v Tottenham - Match of the week. A solid away team result puts Liverpool in the driver's seat. City won again away last week against Palace. It was a hesitant Palace unlike the one that wreak havoc at the Etihad when they had City beaten 3-2. City were not that impressive. In the past seasons, whenever Harry Kane was injured, Tottenham suffered as he was their main talisman. This season, when Kane was injured, Spurs won and on his return, despite scoring, Spurs have lost. In short, Tottenham is not "that Harry Kane team". Lucas Moura came in and got a hattrick. Tottenham has already beaten City in the first leg home Champions League tie (1-0). In a strange way, both teams are meeting three times in a few weeks including twice at the Etihad in four days. City's key battles are the two matches versus against Tottenham and Manchester rival United. If City win this, they may have one hand on the title. Raheem Sterling scored from the 4th minute but Son Heung-Min scored twice at the Eithad in the 7th and 10th minute but Bernando SIlva equalized by the 11th minute.Wow! What a match! Can you wait for another rematch this weekend at the Etihad again. Will the heartbreak strengthens City's resolve? Or will their dejection affect their mood and morale? Tottenham's morale has been massively boosted. Like I have said this is yet another match that both sides could win. Both need to win. A great match with high stakes is in store. Spurs won the Champions League home tie 1-0 and lost 3-4 at the Etihad. Its a stay home Saturday. So will this be a low score or high score affair or could it be draw? I say draw. 2-2.

Bournemouth v Fulham - The Cherries must have recorded one of their best premier league results when they thumped Brighton (5-0) away last week. Fulham was fighting only for pride when they won against Everton (2-0). Now they are home and buoyed by the previous solid result we should not expect them to slip. Fulham are away and shall have a more difficult time. 2-1.

Huddersfield v Watford - Huddersfield have the toughest life all season. Their 0-4 mauling by Spurs was not surprising. The Terriers were toothless. The Hornets crashed 0-1 at home to Arsenal. They have the F.A. Cup final to look forward to and they need to play good games in preparation. 0-2

West Ham v Leicester - The Hammers put in a good shift at Old Trafford last week. At one point in the second half after Felipe Anderson's equaliser, you would surely think they will win. Not only him but when Michail Antonio came in the 73rd minute, he too tortured United and he ought to at least get a goal. He was physical and fast and his powerful shot rocked the crossbar with De Gea beaten and followed with a thumping header which hit the ground and was spiralling into goal but only saved by the agility of De Gea. The game would have changed and then they gave away another clumsy penalty. The Foxes were not better despite 72% possession they lost at home to Newcastle (0-1) without scoring. 1-1.

Wolves v Brighton - Wolverhampton Wanderers were stunned by the Saints at the St. Mary's. Wolves were unusually tame by their own standard going a goal down within 2 minutes. Boly's equaliser in the 28th minute was of no help. It was worse at the Arena stadium as the Seagulls were shockingly poor and were properly thrashed at home by Bournemouth (0-5). It might have been their poorest game and worst defeat for sometime. With two home matches in succession you would think Brighton have good chances to win or at least have a draw or two but they have promptly crashed at home again to Cardiff (0-2) leaving them just two points above Cardiff but they have a game in hand. This is precarious. Wolves, for how consistent they have been all season will pull one over their visitor. 2-0.

Newcastle v Southampton - The Magpies had only 28% possession when they played at Leicester but went away 1-0 winners. This is a Rafa speciality. As they host a fired up Southampton with red hot Nathan Redmond who scored a brace against Wolves, Ralph Hasenhuttl has every reason to be the Saints' new hero. Newcastle do not play as openly as Wolves so Southampton will find themselves in a very different type of game. 1-1.

Everton v Manchester United - The Toffees were so poor they could not do much to relegated Fulham at Craven Cottage and went down 0-2. Everton need to improve a lot more as they welcome the the Red Devils who returned to winning ways with two Pogba penalties. United worked hard and chased back to win but they rode their luck at times. Football as in life, sometime you need a little luck but as I told you long before, Solskjaer will face new problems - just look at their last few matches where they have not won and how easily they went down to Barcelona and another David De Gea howler. It is a big test of their character. They must bounced back as they still have a top four place to play for. Fortunately, Everton were rather poor in their last match that they may just allowed United to catch them. 1-2.

Arsenal v Crystal Palace - The Gunners won 1-0 away to 10 men Watford in what was a below par performance and Aubameyang scored. Palace was rather meek at home to City and offered little. Surely their win over Napoli is no fluke and Napoli are a strong team. When Arsenal attack they can be very good and dangerous. How will Unai Emery play and that is the key. Aaron Ramsey has been the key. 2-1.

Cardiff v Liverpool - Cardiff are five points behind Brighton having played a game more and are the lowest team after relegated Huddersfield and Fulham. Neil Warnock was rightly fuming for the previous game's offside goal against his side. They had 54% possession away to Burnley but lost and this weekend they welcome the Reds from Anfield. No matter how remote, Cardiff will do battle so it will be no stroll in the park for their visitor. The Reds dominated at times up to 70% but have at least 62% of possession on average. Chelsea defended stoutly. Liverpool created chances but did not make them count but build up patiently and waited till the second half where they played with more urgency and in the 51st minute when their reborn captain Jordan Henderson playing a more advance position clipped the ball over the far post for Mane to head in. Within all of 2 minutes Mo Salah scored the important goal with what could be the goal of the season contender. Virgil Van Dijk delivered a long range pass which to Salah who with one touch with his left foot brought the ball to a complete standstill. Then, with two more touches - first shifting the ball outward with his left foot and another to lay out followed by an incredible thunderbolt from 30 yards to crash it to the top right hand corner of the world's most expensive goalkeeper. What a player! What a goal! You are not going to lose matches with such a glorious goal. In the 59th minute David Luis picked up Eden Hazard who crashed his shot onto the post as Alisson spread himself to pressure him. Within 2 minutes, Alisson denied Hazard again from close range. Why Liverpool allowed it was puzzling but Chelsea's response was very good as Hazard shifted from his central position to the left. In the 85th minute, Andrew Robertson slipped for no reason and Chelsea pounced and it was almost deja vu. 

Not every team will beat Porto 4-1 away as Porto lost twice at home the entire season and from last season's Champions League semi-finalists only Liverpool remains in the competition. Cardiff won;t let you walk over them and they will put up a good fight. Liverpool seems to be peaking now at the right moment. A win for Klopp and his boys. 0-3.

Chelsea v Burnley - Chelsea played well against Liverpool but two quick goals by the Reds killed off the game. Chelsea have played 34 matches and have 66 points. Tottenha0m have 67 and Arsenal have 66 and both have a game in hand. Manchester United have 64 with a game in hand. They could be in danger of missing out on Champions League action next season. Burnley's three win run ended with the last two defeats. Chelsea for all the three points. 2-0.

Tottenham v Brighton - I have always hailed Tottenham and rate them highly and even more so since the arrival of Mauricio Pochettino. Yes, they have some issues with their stadium, lost some matches but by and large they are an excellent team, playing attacking soccer and I hope they can keep this team together and with some interesting addition who knows what they could do. They can beat any team in the EPL and also in Europe. Haven't they done that to Manchester City and Real Madrid? So Brighton needing points are coming over at the wrong time. Can the Seagulls survive this match and the dreaded drop. Not here though and they need to depend on Cardiff too. 2-0.

Watford v Southampton - Watford have a good team that has performed very well this season. Keeping the team together with a few strategic addition will make them even better next season. The same could be said of Southampton under Ralph Hassenhuttl. It is a close fight and a draw would be fair result. 1-1.

Wolves v Arsenal - Wolverhampton Wanderers are having a wonderful season. They should get even better next season. They are also capable of getting results against the top teams. So will Unai Emery show the same guts like how the Gunners went to Napoli and won 1-0? Arsenal need to secure their top four position for European qualifications. Wolves' form has been patchy of late but at home at the Molineux, but they should ward off their opponent and get at least a point but do not underestimate this Arsenal team. 2-2.

Manchester United v Manchester City - A great Mancunian derby is in store. The unbeaten run under Solskjaer seemed so long ago. City's invincibility has taken its toll as both Manchester sides found themselves cast aside from Europe's elite football. That was something Guardiola and City wanted. To be EPL winners they need to negotiate successfully against Tottenham and then United. These should be their toughest matches and they are almost there. Drop any points and Liverpool will pounce as they have been doing all these time. Even Sir Alex Ferguson was said to have mentioned that Liverpool will win the title as he believe his United team could get something here. It is hard to say as United have not been in the best of form. Maybe some Solskjaer hair dryer treatment will work well. Their last five meeting were: United 1 City 0, City 0 United 0, United 1 City 2, City 2 United 3, City 3 United 1. Well, they have been close. The Red Devils did shocked PSG 3-1 away from home. The Unite players must surely be playing for their career next season or they knew it is likely the team will be changed next season. 2-2.

Liverpool have won their most difficult match (Chelsea) but they have drawn too many matches they should have won and lost only one match (to City). It is more comfortable from here - Cardiff (away), Huddersfield (home), Newcastle (away) and Wolves (home). Pep Guardiola will be assuming the Klopp's team may get 12 points and City will have to get 15 points from five matches to retain the title. Spurs and United could pose a real threat as both are also fighting to ensure Champions League qualification. This is going to be a thrilling end. 

Liverpool have the potential to be both EPL Champions and European Champions this season. They could be EPL Champions but miss out on the Champions League as they are playing a great team Barcelona. Or Liverpool could be Champions of Europe but only second in the EPL since City have a game in hand.

The worst case scenario which is also possible is that despite such glorious efforts they could end up with nothing - Liverpool could end up with nothing to show and it is very possible but for the way they have been playing as a team they have been terrific and deserve something and cannot be blame as for both competitions they are not the favourites but their application, their constant fight back, etc. they will be rewarded at the end. Sooner rather than later I suspect. It is about faith and belief and faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. A large part has been down to Klopp but it is not just Klopp but all the backroom staff, the players and the Kop. The momentum is flowing like water.