EPL 2019/20 - Game Week 8

Liverpool are still leading the way with Manchester City in hot pursuit. Leicester City are third with West Ham fourth. The rest on eleven points after seven games are Tottenham (5th), Chelsea (6th), Bournemouth (7th), Arsenal (8th) and Crystal Palace (9th). The bottom sides on six points are Brighton (16th), Norwich (17th), Aston Villa (18th), Newcastle (19th) and Watford (20th).

Watford are the only team without a win while Wolves who were second last moved up to 13th with just their first win last week over Watford. Mid-week Champions League action could inspire or cause insipidness. You really do not know becuase they are also really different types of games.

The top scorers till now - Sergio Aguero (8 goals), Tammy Abraham (7), Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (7), Teemu Pukki (6), Raheem Sterling (6), Harry Kane (5), Jamie Vardy (5), Callum Wilson (5), Mohamed Salah (4), Sadio Mane (4), Bernardo Silva (4), Ashley Barnes (4).

Brighton v Tottenham - The Seagulls toiled hard but still went down 0-2 at Chelsea. Another tough match awaits them as they host Tottenham who were made to play out of their skins to beat Southampton 2-1 at home after Serge Aurier saw red in the 31st minute. However, Spurs were soundly thrashed 2-7 by Bayern Munich in mid-week Champions League action at home. Is this the end of the road and era for the Hotspurs? Is this the curse of their under investment and over achievement of the last few seasons? They have an excellent team that have beaten the best in the EPL and Europe but having won nothing and with some players at their prime seeking move away, it has caused disruption? Harry Kane has 10 goals and 2 assist for club and country so far this season and will be key for their hope and recovery. Bayern coach Kovac described Kane as sensational and one of the best strikers in the world. Brighton has no clean sheets at home and not won in five matches. I would have easily say a Spurs win but now their fortunes are somewhat different. How would they respond? Brighton will see an opportunity to hit them or will they get a backlash? 1-2.

Burnley v Everton - Burnley showed remarkable spirit with a fight back at Villa Park last week after twice going down to draw 2-2. Chris Wood has been in fine form when he scored in the 81st minute. Everton played well when they hosted City and were level at 1-1 but crumbled when City ended up 3-1 winners at Goodison Park. As of now, Burnley seem better than Everton and playing at Turf Moor should give them a little advantage. Ashley Barnes and Chris Woods are the most old fashioned centre forwards and very effectively. Burnley's defence also seemed more stable this season. This will leave Marco Silva chewing his finger nails as Everton are playing without rhythm and conviction. 2-1.

Liverpool v Leicester - The Reds have 70% of possession but lived on tenterhooks for their seventh straight wins of the season and their 16th continuous straight premier league win. Shefffield United were very good and gave Liverpool problems as the Reds also failed to convert their chances. When all else fails you need a measure of luck and it came in the 70th minute when Gini Wijnaldum's shot from a clearance slipped through the hands and then legs of Dean Henderson and trickled agonizingly into goal. Poor Henderson. Leicester City have been increasingly impressive and they showed it by thrashing Newcastle 5-0 with 69% possession. Brendan Rodgers' boldness and philosophy is paying off. Saturday will be a tricky test for the Reds as their former boss Brandan Rodgers returns for the first time to Anfield where he will be warmly welcomed for producing Liverpool's finest season when he was at the helm and could have won the title and now credit to him for transforming Leicester. This gives this match an extra edge and story.

Jamie Vardy will be a main threat as he bettered even Cristiano Ronaldo's record. Vardy has 85 goals in only 183 PL matches with Ronaldo having 84 goals in 196 PL matches. He has 5 goals now. Leicester are one of the most in form team at the moment. Liverpool were poor last week and have to do more against in-form Leicester. A win would be their 8th straight win and 17 wins in a row. The difference is that Leicester may attack a bit more and play a bit more open and that is when Liverpool are dangerous. Last season, Liverpool won 2-1 at Leicester but were held 1-1 at Anfield. That win could have given the Reds the title. So it is a good opportunity for Liverpool to correct the situation which will help them for the season. If the Foxes play to their best they could trouble but being more attacking means the host could kill them off too. 

Then you look at Liverpool's 4-3 win over RB Salsburg and you wonder. The Reds led by 3-0 by the 36th minute with awesome goals, ended the first half 3-1 and crumbled for Salsburg to level at 3-3. Liverpool's defence was alarming. How could it have happened when you are leading 3-0? Were Liverpool complacent or tired or both? Fortunately Firmino nodded Salah through to score in the 69th minute. Salah got two making it his 12th in 13 Champions League games. Salsburg are a magnificent team like Ajax were last season. They were young and fearless, full of energy and attack. Liverpool played like European Champions in the first  half only. Erling Braut Haaland took only four minutes to score when he came on. Son of former Leeds, Man City midfielder Alf Inge-Haaland, Erling has scored 17 goals in 10 matches for his club and in the FIFA U-20 for Norway, he scored 9 in their 12-0 win over Honduras. He is a monster of a striker. Cheque books are getting ready. Meanwhile, Virgil Van Dijk has not been at his best this season. He was at fault for not preventing the first Salsburg goal. Joe Matip needs to be back, he is the real deal now. The Foxes are certainly capable of scoring but if Liverpool are not jaded by their mid-week European night then their fabulous front three could hurt Leicester real bad too like they did Slasburg with that 36 minutes blitz and were unstoppable. Real big test for both sides. Vardy scores against anyone and the Reds can blitz an attacking team when in the mood. 3-1.

Norwich v Aston Villa - The Canaries were effectively shut out at Crystal Palace and lost 0-2. Villa led twice at Villa Park but allowed Burnley a comeback to draw 2-2. They are now 17th and 18th respectively in the table and finding life tough. Teemu Pukki has been kept quiet for two matches but he has a good chance to score here at Carrow Road since Villa have been conceding two or three goals in their last three matches. The same can be said of Norwich. So, expect an open attacking game with goals. I favour the home team for a win probably high scoring by a one goal margin. 3-2. 

Watford v Sheffield United - The Hornets are having a horrible season when they once again crashed 0-2 at the Molineux to Wolves and remained without a win. The Blades showed how good they can be against Liverpool and are not a team with weakness nor do they cower. Wilder has fashioned a team that is very difficult to beat and can win games. Overlapping centre halves, have you heard of before? Watford badly needs a win and United won't be easy but at Vicarage Road, they should get at least a point. 1-1.

West Ham v Crystal Palace - The Hammers led at Bournemouth last week with a fine goal from Yarmolenko who has just returned from injury. Aaron Cresswell was very good once again when he rescued a point for West Ham with the equalizer. Palace's win over Norwich meant they are in 9th but level on points with fifth placed Spurs. The Hammers have climbed to 5th with 3 wins, 3 draws and only one defeat. Palace has been a bit better away from home but this is much better team for West Ham for awhile and they are scoring. Yarmolenko has been simply brilliant and there is Sebastian Haller. Home win in this London Derby. 2-0.

Arsenal v Bournemouth - The Gunners missed a great chance to defeat Manchester United last week and played to a lame 1-1 draw at Old Trafford. Meanwhile, the Cherries have been playing very well especially their 3-1 win over Everton and that away 3-1 win over Southampton before they drew 2-2 with West Ham. 8 goals in 3 matches with Callum Wilsion (5 goals now) and Joshua King hot. If they could stop Aubameyang they can stop Arsenal as Aubameyang scores all the time. He has 7 goals now! So you could see the goals are there. Only the Gunners' defence is suspect. Both play an open attacking game and Arsenal just hammered Standard Liege 4-0 in Europa action. I think this could be a high scoring game and if Arsenal do shoot themselves int the foot again then a draw is possible. At the Emirates, I think Arsenal will just nick it. 3-2.

Manchester City v Wolves - City continued their dominance over their opponents except for the glitch at Norwich. They have now scored 27 goals in 7 matches. They are also cruising in Europe. Seems like no stopping them. Wolves have just managed their first win last week (2-0 over Watford) but in 2017 they held City 0-0 at the Etihad in the League Cup, 1-1 at the Molineux in the league, lost 0-3 at the Etihad but held them again 0-0 in the off-season Premier League Asia Trophy. This time it looks like a bigger mismatch - Champions in fine form versus strugglers. City are easily scoring 3 goals each game but Wolves are showing signs of improvement as they drew 2 matches and won the last one. They have also just came back from Besiktas with a 1-0 win. Somehow City are just too brilliant and too good. They need to be on an off day and their opponent to be at their best to lose or drop points. It is a fact. They will also narrow the gap in case Liverpool drop points. Kevin De Bruyne as been unstoppable and Raheem Sterling should be back and of course he scored in the Champions League and likely to score again. Riyad Mahrez has been the one firing them recently. 3-1.

Southampton v Chelsea - The Saints went down 1-2 at Spurs and could have a better result as Spurs played with ten men. Chelsea were once again very good and won 2-0 over Norwich at Stamford Bridge with their first clean sheet. The Saints are scoring at least a goal per match so they could get something here at the St. Mary's. Lampard's boys will score but can they keep a clean sheet here? Tammy Abraham has scored away to Lille in the Champions League and was named n the England squad. Callum Hudson-Odoi made another assist while Willan also scored again. Of course they have Mason Mount who has been impressive but one outstanding player they have is defender Fikayo Tomori. This young man has huge potential! Tomori-san is not Japanese. He could represent Canada or England. If Chelsea has over exerted themselves in mid-week then perhaps a draw but I am impressed with Lampard and his boys. 1-2.

Newcastle v Manchester United - The Magpies have serious problems. In the past even if they could not score a lot, they could defend. To get a comprehensive 0-5 trouncing by Leicester has got their morale to an all time low. They are repeating their sad story despite having some of the most loyal and best fans in their Toon Army. The good thing is every team seems to have some hope when they are playing Manchester United these days. Maybe even old boy Steve Bruce sees a chance. United have not won in 3 matches so there is a chance Newcastle could frustrate them at St. James Park. Though United may still be good enough for a win playing a poor Newcastle, their Europa League away draw (0-0) to AZ Alkmaar where they were dominated and pounded left much to be desired. This could be the worst United team for a long time. Maybe Solskjaer is rebuilding completely and it will take a few years but the Magpies has no time and need the points. I wanted to say United win but if Steve Bruce plays correctly it could be a draw. United have not won away for a very long time even against mediocre opponents. 1-1.