EPL 2018/19 Game Week 38
Just one match left to go for all and curtains. Manchester City is likely to retain the crown but the coronation has to wait as they go down to the wire. Liverpool's great season may end up with no trophies even with 94 or 97 points. That is like what Klopp said - destiny. Sir Alex Ferguson at his best had only 91 points in his best season in 28 years. Klopp did it in 3.5 years with 94 now with a match to go but kudos for the fight till the end. All matches will be played at the same time on Sunday and we all need the break thereafter and await the next season.
Destiny meant that all teams are facing different issues - celebrations, disappointments, renewed confidence, challenges and or a bleaker future. Some teams will be broken up and never be the same again. Jose Mourinho is wrong and right about Guardiola, Klopp and Pocchetino. That Guardiola could get any player he wants at Manchester City, he is right but Guardiola plays positive attacking soccer to win matches. He is a genius, a sort of Bruce Lee of soccer where he develop concepts and new ways to play. Look at Raheem Sterling under his tutelage. He is also right that Klopp has no problems after what he has done at Anfield even if he did not win a trophy. Klopp was there for the long term revival of Liverpool. Mourinho himself looks for big clubs with money to spend, not develop young players so he puts that pressure on himself and he has hardly played positive attacking soccer. Pochettino is the same as Klopp at Tottenham. Plus none of these managers blamed the players when things go wrong.
Next season, the dynamics will change. It may not be true that the next champions must hit more than 90 points or a 100 to win the title as other teams may grow stronger or in some cases weaker. Not all that glitters is gold.
Champions League
Moving over to the Champions League, I made the right decision to stay up at that ungodly hour to catch Liverpool attempt to reverse a lost cause. I took a day off for it is not often you get to see Liverpool play Barcelona with Lionel Messi. No chance everyone said because Barcelona are multiple champions in the champions league and also La Liga and the current Spanish champions and they have Lionel Messi, the best ever player to grace planet earth. The Reds only hope was that they played really well at the Nou Camp and that result did not reflect the scoreline. Messi was the difference and that the return leg would be at Anfield where even Mourinho said one of the places where the impossible can be possible. Liverpool need three goals to be level and four to win and they could not afford to concede a goal, a clean sheet is absolutely necessary as if Barcelona score, they would need two more and Barcelona is not an ordinary team. Nobody believe it could happen except Liverpool and their true supporters.
Then there were no Salah, no Firmino, no Naby, no problem. Walk on. Then I remembered Istanbul. They had 45 minutes. Now Liverpool have 90 minutes but by half-time, Andrew Robertson the effervescent left back did not return. He got clipped by Luis Suarez's boots when they tangled. Old man James Milner now has to go to left back. Gini Wijnaldum replaced Robertson and took Milner's position. I knew an early goal was very important which they got through Divock Origi (7th min). I was thinking they had better score again early in the second half and Wijnaldum did it in the 54th and 56th minutes all within two minutes. May may have forgotten he has previously scored four for Newcastle in one match. and did you see how he was surrounded by three Barca players when he toggled with the ball out of the situation with the mother of all dummies to leave them for dead. That may have been the reason Klopp put him in to play in Firmino's place in the first leg. Wijnaldum was not even in the starting eleven perhaps for tactical reasons and Origi was not even in the first XI this season. The last and fourth goal was genius from Trent Alexander-Arnold. He placed the ball for a corner kick and appeared to be walking away as the Barcelona defence were organizing themselves. Then suddenly he ran back and sent a quick low swerving ball to Origi who swept it in between a desperately diving Ter Stegen and the onrushing Gerard Pique to the roof of the net in the 79th minute. This was what we did when we were in our school days. Catching opponents unawares. TAA used to leave huge gap in defence but in this match he was solid and he is merely 20. Liverpool still needed to survive another 11 minutes plus 5 minutes of added time. The genius of it all could actually be the ball boy in that hole at the Expedia signboard. He immediately threw another ball to TAA once the ball went out of play. Divock will have a new life at Liverpool as he is now a legend. He is tall and very good in the air. He is strong and runs at defenders and as he runs his hairstyle and the way he runs reminds me of the big strong alien in Predator.
Allison Becker could have also been man of the match too as he repelled Messi, Alaba, Suarez and several others which were of great importance. He is not spectacular but he made goalkeeping look easy just as Van Dijk makes defending look so simple. Van Dijk was majestic as usual and Joel Matip was effective. Henderson had a captain's game as he saved shot led to the opener. Milner was unflappable even at left back. Fabinho won the balls, harried Messi and kept him quiet while carrying a yellow card and held the middle. Xherdan Shaqiri who had hardly featured this season lacked competitive sharpness but it was his cross from the left that led to Wijnaldum's powerful headed goal. Sadio Mane was a night mare for the opposite defenders.
Liverpool's display was Klopp's Gegen-pressing style. Heavy Metal soccer at its brilliant best. Barcelona players had no time to breathe. The Reds were almost always first to every ball. Barcelona were rattled like never before. Many times, they only have half a second instead of one. It was a bit like bullying at Anfield. Never had there been a team who was 0-3 down in a champions league semi-final and recovered to win it to get through. It was such a huge spectacle, electrifying atmosphere, such a great contest. I was just sharing with a few friends that sometimes when all odds are against you, something great could happen like players rising to the occasion and playing above themselves, stepping up to be counted but not everybody and every team can do this. You need character, balls of steel and a bloody great team. What you have seen is Klopp's personality and the trust built into his team. These are stuffs that legends are made! Faced by Liverpool's intensity, Barcelona crumbled with the constant pressing and relentless tempo. It was a most complete performance. This is what football excellence is all about never mind winning cups and titles. A magnificent performance! No words can describe. Supreme belief! Do not blame Barcelona. Just that Liverpool were too good.
Tottenham inspired by Liverpool did their own miracle. 0-1 down at home, they conceded and were 0-1 down in Amsterdam and by halftime it was 0-2 and overall 0-3. They only have 45 minutes or more left. With uncanny timing, Lucas Moura scored a brace in the 55th and 59th minute (Wijnaldum scored for Liverpool in the 54th and 56th minute). Moura completed his hattrick in the 96th minute with the last kick of the match to book a date with Liverpool in Madrid on 31 May. It was a very good contest in a very exciting game. Kudos to Tottenham!
Meanwhile, in the Europa, Arsenal went to Valencia and won 4-2 with a Aubameyang hattrick while Chelsea were held 1-1 by Eintracht Frankfurt and won on penalties (6-5). Sp again it will be an all English Final like the Champions League. This is the first time in history that both Finals will be contested by all English teams, all from the same country.
Champions League
Moving over to the Champions League, I made the right decision to stay up at that ungodly hour to catch Liverpool attempt to reverse a lost cause. I took a day off for it is not often you get to see Liverpool play Barcelona with Lionel Messi. No chance everyone said because Barcelona are multiple champions in the champions league and also La Liga and the current Spanish champions and they have Lionel Messi, the best ever player to grace planet earth. The Reds only hope was that they played really well at the Nou Camp and that result did not reflect the scoreline. Messi was the difference and that the return leg would be at Anfield where even Mourinho said one of the places where the impossible can be possible. Liverpool need three goals to be level and four to win and they could not afford to concede a goal, a clean sheet is absolutely necessary as if Barcelona score, they would need two more and Barcelona is not an ordinary team. Nobody believe it could happen except Liverpool and their true supporters.
Then there were no Salah, no Firmino, no Naby, no problem. Walk on. Then I remembered Istanbul. They had 45 minutes. Now Liverpool have 90 minutes but by half-time, Andrew Robertson the effervescent left back did not return. He got clipped by Luis Suarez's boots when they tangled. Old man James Milner now has to go to left back. Gini Wijnaldum replaced Robertson and took Milner's position. I knew an early goal was very important which they got through Divock Origi (7th min). I was thinking they had better score again early in the second half and Wijnaldum did it in the 54th and 56th minutes all within two minutes. May may have forgotten he has previously scored four for Newcastle in one match. and did you see how he was surrounded by three Barca players when he toggled with the ball out of the situation with the mother of all dummies to leave them for dead. That may have been the reason Klopp put him in to play in Firmino's place in the first leg. Wijnaldum was not even in the starting eleven perhaps for tactical reasons and Origi was not even in the first XI this season. The last and fourth goal was genius from Trent Alexander-Arnold. He placed the ball for a corner kick and appeared to be walking away as the Barcelona defence were organizing themselves. Then suddenly he ran back and sent a quick low swerving ball to Origi who swept it in between a desperately diving Ter Stegen and the onrushing Gerard Pique to the roof of the net in the 79th minute. This was what we did when we were in our school days. Catching opponents unawares. TAA used to leave huge gap in defence but in this match he was solid and he is merely 20. Liverpool still needed to survive another 11 minutes plus 5 minutes of added time. The genius of it all could actually be the ball boy in that hole at the Expedia signboard. He immediately threw another ball to TAA once the ball went out of play. Divock will have a new life at Liverpool as he is now a legend. He is tall and very good in the air. He is strong and runs at defenders and as he runs his hairstyle and the way he runs reminds me of the big strong alien in Predator.
Allison Becker could have also been man of the match too as he repelled Messi, Alaba, Suarez and several others which were of great importance. He is not spectacular but he made goalkeeping look easy just as Van Dijk makes defending look so simple. Van Dijk was majestic as usual and Joel Matip was effective. Henderson had a captain's game as he saved shot led to the opener. Milner was unflappable even at left back. Fabinho won the balls, harried Messi and kept him quiet while carrying a yellow card and held the middle. Xherdan Shaqiri who had hardly featured this season lacked competitive sharpness but it was his cross from the left that led to Wijnaldum's powerful headed goal. Sadio Mane was a night mare for the opposite defenders.
Liverpool's display was Klopp's Gegen-pressing style. Heavy Metal soccer at its brilliant best. Barcelona players had no time to breathe. The Reds were almost always first to every ball. Barcelona were rattled like never before. Many times, they only have half a second instead of one. It was a bit like bullying at Anfield. Never had there been a team who was 0-3 down in a champions league semi-final and recovered to win it to get through. It was such a huge spectacle, electrifying atmosphere, such a great contest. I was just sharing with a few friends that sometimes when all odds are against you, something great could happen like players rising to the occasion and playing above themselves, stepping up to be counted but not everybody and every team can do this. You need character, balls of steel and a bloody great team. What you have seen is Klopp's personality and the trust built into his team. These are stuffs that legends are made! Faced by Liverpool's intensity, Barcelona crumbled with the constant pressing and relentless tempo. It was a most complete performance. This is what football excellence is all about never mind winning cups and titles. A magnificent performance! No words can describe. Supreme belief! Do not blame Barcelona. Just that Liverpool were too good.
Tottenham inspired by Liverpool did their own miracle. 0-1 down at home, they conceded and were 0-1 down in Amsterdam and by halftime it was 0-2 and overall 0-3. They only have 45 minutes or more left. With uncanny timing, Lucas Moura scored a brace in the 55th and 59th minute (Wijnaldum scored for Liverpool in the 54th and 56th minute). Moura completed his hattrick in the 96th minute with the last kick of the match to book a date with Liverpool in Madrid on 31 May. It was a very good contest in a very exciting game. Kudos to Tottenham!
Meanwhile, in the Europa, Arsenal went to Valencia and won 4-2 with a Aubameyang hattrick while Chelsea were held 1-1 by Eintracht Frankfurt and won on penalties (6-5). Sp again it will be an all English Final like the Champions League. This is the first time in history that both Finals will be contested by all English teams, all from the same country.
Brighton v Manchester City - Brighton almost got relegated but you saw what they did to Arsenal despite the fact the Cardiff was going down. The Seagulls' Arena stadium is not an easy place to go to but they are hosting champions Manchester City. Everybody will say 2-0 or 3-0 to City but Brighton remain one of two teams that could change the fate of who would be champions. Realistically, the title should go to the marvellous City team as they held a one point advantage with a game to go. It is theirs to lose but strange things have been happening so we never know. It is possible may take something off City here but City have been winning 1-0 in their last couple of games. Will they do it again to clinch the title? 0-1.
Burnley v Arsenal - Burnley were good and held their fort against City previously till late. The Gunners were brilliant with their two legged win over Valencia but they have no chance to qualify for top four and a champions league spot as Tottenham are three points ahead and have eight more in goal difference. They could still get there by winning the Europa though. Burnley won't be easy at Turf Moor but as the last game, the Gunners should be on fire to redeem themselves. 1-2.
Crystal Palace v Bournemouth - Palace and Bournemouth are 12th and 13th respectively separated by a point. Both are currently playing well and the Cherries have the taken the scalp of Tottenham (1-0) last week. What Roy Hodgson and Eddie Howe have done should be considered very good this season. I would think a high scoring draw. 2-2.
Fulham v Newcastle - Fulham were on a three match winning run with clean sheets. The Magpies with nothing to gain or prove gave Liverpool an extremely tough time. Scott Parker came in too late to arrest Fulham's fall and this is Fulham's last match and at home in the Premier League and they should wish to make it memorable. It may also spell the end of Rafa Benitez's involvement in future for Newcastle. They should keep him for he has done a great job. 1-2.
Leicester City v Chelsea - Brandan Rodgers has made the Foxes a more exciting team and they gave City a good fight. Chelsea have made it to third and qualified for the Champions League. Things may not be the same for them next season as there are uncertainties everywhere from Sarri to Hazard. Leicester should make this a memorable one as some of their key players may be bought like Harry Maguire, James Maddison and Yuori Tielemans. 2-2.
Liverpool v Wolves - Liverpool are on 94 points, one behind City so this is a must win but unless City slip. Otherwise, they will just have to start all over next season to try again. 7th placed Wolves are very good and have good results against the top six. They have beaten all the teams in the Champions League and Europa final. Liverpool's super win over Barcelona have inspired them. In fact, they have inspired Tottenham too. Will Shaqiri and Origi team up with Mane again?Or should it be Daniel Sturridge? Will Wijnaldum feature in the first XI? Who takes Andrew Robertson's place? Wolves will be tought but this is Liverpool' last match and they owe it to themselves to get full points and this is Anfield! 2-0.
Manchester United v Cardiff - The Red Devils have been complete shambles. Their away 1-1 draw at Huddersfield may be the last straw. In both their last five matches, Cardiff actually have more points than United. The depth of United's despair is serious. Now Solskjaer have to start all over. Then to gel at team together for next season. It may take years to return to their glorious past. They must have some pride for their home fans at Old Trafford but will Cardiff allow them to? 2-1.
Southampton v Huddersfield - The Saints are safe with two places above relegation. In particular for the Terriers, this may be the last time the team are together. They should go enjoy their match but the Saints should win 2-1.
Tottenham v Everton - As long as Chelsea do not win at Leicester and Tottenham win here they go third. For three years now, I have said that Spurs have an excellent team with Mauricio Pochettino as their manager and with the miraculous win over Ajax and as they have proven so many times over including beating Real Madrid, Spurs can beat any team on their day. It was especially sweet for Spurs as they have lost all three matches prior to that great match. Everton cannot overtake Wolves even if they win here. 2-1.
Watford v West Ham - Watford have slumped while the Hammers are on a revival. Both sides have improved from the previous season and should built on from here for a better challenge next season. The Hammers have been impressive. 1-2.
From here, I wish every team all the best regardless and I wish all soccer fans and fans of the EPL a good break and wishing your team all the best for the new season! Ciao!
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