EPL 2018/19 Game Week 37

What a season! Manchester City held firm as favourites from the beginning and are leading by a point going into the last two matches of the season. When they won the title last season they were said to be the best team ever assembled in the history of the EPL and rightly so. City only first won in 2012, followed by Manchester United (2013), City again in 2014, Chelsea (2015), Leicester City (2016), Chelsea (2017), City (2018) and maybe now in 2019. 

Meanwhile, Manchester United remained the most successful English club as they have won the most titles - 20. Followed by Liverpool with 18, Arsenal with 13, Everton - 9, Aston Villa - 7, Sunderland - 6, CHelsea - 6, Manchester City - 5, Newcastle - 4, Sheffield Wednesday - 4, Blackburn Rovers - 3, Huddersfield Town - 3, Leeds United - 3, Wolverhampton Wanderers - 3, Burnley - 2, Derby - 2, Portsmouth - 2, Preston North End - 2, Tottenham - 2, Ipswich - 1, Nottingham Forest -1, Sheffield United - 1, WBA - 1 and Leicester City - 1. 

This explains why Manchester United fans wanted their hated City neighbours to win rather than Liverpool since City need many years to catch up from five to twenty while Liverpool just need two more to equal or three to overtake the bragging rights to lay claim to be England's greatest club. Though City could be probable champions if they win their remaining two matches, stranger things have happened but there is nothing Liverpool could do except win theirs too and only hope. Liverpool have to strengthen and be more ruthless form next season. 

While City are maintaining their standard, Liverpool have progressed rapidly and pushing City. The year before last they lost an Europa final. Last season they have lost in the Champions League final. This season they are still in the Champions League semi-final and pushing City to the limit in the EPL. They have recorded their highest point tally, lost only one match (although drawn a wee bit too many). They also have the most clean sheets meaning Allison Becker could win the Golden Glove, Mo Salah has 21 goals while Sadio Mane has 20 goals - two among the top scorers that included Sergio Aguero (City) with 20, Pierre Americk-Aubameyang (Arsenal) with 19, Jamie Vardy with 18, Raheem Sterling with 17 and Eden Hazard with 16. Harry Kane (Spurs) would have been up there probably if not for his injuries so Salah and Mane could be in contention here. Who will be the top scorer?Virgil Van Dijk has been named PFA Player of the Year and Raheem Sterling Football Writers' Footballer of the year! Whether the bigger prize of EPL Champions will elude Liverpool we shall know soon. If they do not, it will be 30 years in the desert. 

This is the best EPL season yet as not only the champions but the 3rd and 4th place has become a great battle. Tottenham are third with 70 points, Chelsea fourth with 68, Arsenal fifth with 66 and Manchester United sixth with 65 points. 

The thing to note here is City and Liverpool are more then twenty points more than the next best third placed team and sixth placed Manchester United are 27 points adrift of leaders City. The gap will provide some clue to the next season or so. 

Meanwhile, in the Champions League, there were four English teams in the quarter-finals and now only two remained in the semi-finals. Tottenham has gone down 0-1 at home to resurgent Ajax and while it is not over yet it shall be tough. Can Spurs conquer Ajax away? Liverpool were 0-3 down from the Camp Nou. I did not watch the game but from what I have read and told by neutral fans that Liverpool played well and the only thing lacking was Lionel Messi and I have said since the first time I watched him play that he is and has been the best player ever!  The English teams still lack a clinical edge in their game where and when it matters. No doubt the scoreline did not reflect Liverpool's performance and dominance, I have said that they have to be ruthless. It is difficult to overturn a tie against a team like Barcelona with Messi but Roma has done it before. Liverpool themselves did it in Istanbul with 45 minutes and now they have 90 at Anfield. They just can't let Barcelona score. Will Anfield next week be the longest 90 minutes of Barcelona's life? If Liverpool triumph it will be the greatest fairy tale. It is real that Liverpool could be so good and end up with nothing. 

Everton v Burnley - The Toffees struggled at Crystal Palace in their 0-0 draw.  Burnley did very well when they hosted City but could do nothing when Aguero flicked the ball just centimetres past the line after the ball got tangled in a goal mouth melee. Burnley have been in fine form so a draw here can be likely. 1-1.

Bournemouth v Tottenham - The Cherries played an epic game at Southampton with an admirable fighting spirit. It is not a good sign for visiting Spurs who struggled and lost at West Ham. Spurs have only won once in their last five in all competition and their only win was a scrappy 1-0 over Brighton. Still they will be too good for Bournemouth. 1-2.

West Ham v Southampton - The Hammers did everything right and when they do so are quite a team. Michail Antonio was awesome with the solitary goal that had Spurs beaten. The Saints are safe and should be even better next season. Ralph Hassentuttl has transformed them even with so little time. The Saints are a different opposition for West Ham. 2-2.

Wolves v Fulham - Wolves are he best of the rest. They could hold their own even against the best in the top six. Wolves are back to winning and at home at the Molineux they are formidable. Fulham have left it too late. They have won their last three matches scoring four without conceding. Why didn't they do these earlier? Wolves should win this to anchor their position. 2-1.

Cardiff v Crystal  Palace - Cardiff must win their next two matches and hope for Brighton to drop points. Anything less than a win here will confirm their status of going down. Palace can beat anyone on their day and they have beaten Manchester City and Arsenal away. They shall win this one. 0-1.

Newcastle v Liverpool - The Magpies have been impressive and should have won at Brighton. Earlier in the season nobody would believe they could survive so Rafa Benitez have done tremendously well but will he be the undoing of Liverpool? Liverpool have to win both their remaining matches and hope for City to drop points. It is do or die. Will they be exhausted after  Nou Camp? Virgil van Dijk seemed to have dropped off a level. Liverpool need a solid and impressive win here. 0-2.

Chelsea v Watford - Chelsea played a dramatic game at Old Trafford and were lucky to be get their gifted goal. They have drawn both previous matches. Watford have also lost some glitter lately. Though Chelsea are home they would have just returned from their Europa semi-final with Eintracht Frankfurt and their from has been erratic. 1-1.

Huddersfield v Manchester United - As you can see, The Terriers were once three time champions of England. Their 0-5 drubbing by Liverpool showed the gulf. It is an opportunity for United to get their win. The Red Devils have not won a single time in their last four matches. Huddersfield must present them with an opportunity for Solskjaer and his team to get some relief. I do not know what will happen if they lose this one. 1-3.

Arsenal v Brighton - The Gunners crashed badly with a 0-3 defeat to Leicester. They are like falling apart. They have lost all three previous matches and conceded three goals in each. They are hosting the Seagulls who are fighting for survival after hosting Valencia in the Europa semi-final. Brighton will be tough for Arsenal right now but the Gunners may just nick it. 2-1.

Manchester City v Leicester City  - City will go all out to seal it with three big points but former Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers is now Leicester manager. He almost landed the title with Liverpool but City took it away that season. If Rodgers could lead Leicester to take away at least a point with a draw and if Liverpool win the title, they may erect a Brendan Rodgers statue at Anfield. Haha. The Foxes were highly impressive when they trounced Arsenal 3-0 last week. From Kasper Schmeichel to Marc Albrighton to James Maddison to Harvey Barnes they were superb especially Jamie Vardy who scored a brace. On paper, City will be too strong but Leicester do not play like Burnley so there will be goals. Who knows if Leicester play like last week how things will turn out. They are in good form but can they even match City? City could possibly win this but you will never know. 2-2.