EPL 2019/20 - Game Week 11

Game Week 10 was quite dramatic. It began with something special. Only done once before - a 9-0 victory but Leicester made it one better as it was the biggest away win ever in the Premier League. When was the last time you heard of two players in the winning team that each scored a hattrick? Jamie Vardy and Ayoze Perez did that! The Foxes are on Cloud Nine! Either Southampton was terrible or Leicester were very good. Probably both. Aston Villa did very well to hold Manchester City 0-0 at half-time. Raheem Sterling continued his hot streak for club and country when he scored just after the beginning of the second half. Then the same old thing happened. City cruised to 3-0.

Chelsea got their seventh win in all competition. Playing away is no problem for Lampard's boys as they hammered Burnley 4-2. They were leading 4-0 but their bad habits of conceding late returned. Christian Pulisic who struggled to adjust the the league not only came good. He was stupendous and deservedly scored the perfect hattrick - one with the right foot, left foot and then a header. Though they were Burnley mistakes, he was not presented with open goals but worked his way with jinking runs to score and his header was almost like with the back of his head. What a player! Chelsea is going to do very well. Manchester United got a fine win over Norwich at Carrow Road but they fluffed tow penalties or rather they were well saved by Tim Krul. Rashford, Martial and James looked good as the front three.

Tottenham came to Anfield with a plan and got a perfect start.  Son Heung-Ming to pin back Trent ALexander-Arnold and  Eirksen to pin back Andrew Robertson. Liverpool took off but Henderson lost the ball at midfield and Son raced through but hit the crossbar after deflecting off Lovren and Harry Kane headed the rebound into the yawning goal. Son hit the crossbar again later. He would be an ideal Liverpool player actually and he could go on either wings! It was only 47 seconds. Liverpool's defence was suspect at times. While Virgil Van Dijk is still excellent, he has not been his imperious best this season. Maybe he has been distracted by the once impeccable Joe Gomez and/or Joel Matip. Andrew Robertson as always was running non-stop. Trent Alexander-Arnold perhaps played his most matured game ever. He was excellent with his ball control and his passing and crosses were out of this world. He plays like a winger but he does not need to go to the bye-line as he is so good with his angles and he whips in wicked crosses just like David Beckham and any position and they were often very dangerous. Boy, he is only 21! Fabinho was simply fabulous and incomparable. He just won every ball with consummate ease and floated some forward passes that could have been goals and one found Henderson who scored to redeem himself.

Liverpool had 68% possession and hit 21 shots with 16 chances created and 13 shots were on target. Spurs have their goalie Paul Gazzaniga to thanks with his 12 saves! From the 25th to 31st minuet Liverpool had 94% possession and had 6 shots that could have been goals. It was remarkable that the score was only 2-1. Firmino had 3 chances snuffed just in time, Van Dijk header was flipped over, Mane glanced over with a close header, Salah's shot was saved and TAA powerful drive was going for the throat but Gazzaniga saved. What a comeback! To do a thing like that against a very strong side like Spurs takes faith and belief - in each other and in the coach's plans. What an awesome match. No wonder no team likes to play Liverpool because it is quite like hell to play them. Also, I like the way Leicester City and Chelsea are playing. 

Bournemouth v Manchester United - United are in high spirit after having won in the away Europa tie, their first away win for some time and the 3-1 win at Norwich so it has to be a morale booster. When the Cherries hosted Norwich they drew 0-0 so it may lead you to think that United will be walking all over Bournemouth. For a start Bournemouth are a better team than Norwich. United have done better recently and showed glimpses of brilliance but each game is different. After 10 matches, Bournemouth have scored 13 and conceded 13 while United have scored 13 and conceded 10 with a similar tally of 3 wins, 4 draws and 3 defeats. United are 7th and Bournemouth 9th on goal difference. They also have Callum Wilson, Joshua King and Ryan Fraser who could hurt you. United did very well at Norwich especially Scott McTominay, Rashford and Martial but it may be deceptive as they were playing a porous Norwich. United have just beaten Chelsea (1-2) at Stamford Bridge in the Carabao Cup, further evidence of their recent recovery and Marcus Rashford is leading the fight. He is exciting again. Bournemouth's form and results have dwindled. Recently, some of the time, United could falter in such a game but I am picking them to win having been impressed with their form and play plus they are looking dangerous again. 1-2.

Arsenal v Wolves - The Gunners have lost just once in their last eleven games but they have led Palace 2-0 early on within 9 minutes last week and crumbled to finished 2-2. Captain Granit Xhaka has issues with supporters when taken off and told them to f*** off and threw his jersey. They are having a problem or two at Arsenal. Wolves, meanwhile are unbeaten in their last five away matches in all competitions and only recently beaten City 2-0. So beware Arsenal. If Xhaka is out then Lucas Torreira may be back or could it be long forgotten Mesut Ozil? Arsenal have dropped points when they lost at Sheffield United and could not hold their own against Palace when leading 2-0 after 9 minutes. Problem with Wolves this season is that they are drawing too many games but they have hardly lost and they are a good side. It will not be easy for Arsenal and Wolves know and can get a point. Aubameyang and Pepe could make a difference but right now Arsenal are a little out of sorts.  1-1.

Aston Villa v Liverpool - Villa made City sweat for the first half last week and could do the same to the Reds but last time they met at the same venue 2 years ago Liverpool won 6-0. Villa Captain Jack Grealish who has been outstanding may be injured. His performance earned the praises of Pep Guardiola. Liverpool may face injury problems to Virgil Van Dijk, Mohamed Salah too. It is a very important game to win for the league leaders as they host their title rivals City the following week. Villa could score as they have 15 now but they are conceding goals up to 16 now. Liverpool's defence have not been as imperious as last season. They have been impressive with 3 wins and a draw until City trounce them 3-0. Liverpool had better not concede early but instead should try to score early rather than concede and chase a game. Their second team have just played to a 5-5 draw with Arsenal in the Carabao Cup but won on penalties to advance to the quarter-finals. Oxlade Chamberlain got a goal and Origi two despite going down 1-2, 1-3, 2-4. With City breathing down their neck, the Reds have to make winning a habit. Villa could get a goal as they are good going forward but their problems are at the back. The full backs are key once again with their deadly overlapping and delivery of crosses. However, at the moment Liverpool are looking great. Villa may have a better chance in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals later.  1-3.

Brighton v Norwich - The Seagulls stunned Everton 3-2 just last week and two weeks ago shocked Spurs 3-0 while the Canaries have not won for a long time. Brighton scored early in the 15th minute, conceded an equaliser within 5 minutes and went down in the 74th minute but levelled in the 80th minute and got the winner in the 94th minute. That was a great fight. Norwich had to thank goalie Tim Krul for his heroics of saving two penalties but still went down 1-3 to the Red Devils. They are a shadow of the team that had City beaten 3-2. At this point, it is hard to imagine a Norwich win and a draw would be considered a good result. Norwich are knee deep in relegation waters despite a bright start. Brighton to win. 2-1. 

Manchester City v Southampton - This is a strange tie given that the same sides met at the Carabao League Cup on Tuesday. How dreadful it must have been for the Saints after being mercilessly crushed 0-9 at home by Leicester last week and now facing a free-scoring City. That is the team you do not wish to face but now have to do it twice in a week. That Southampton lost 1-3 in the Cup tie meant there was some improvement but City will return to their full team sheet this weekend. There is no relief for Ralph Hasenhuttl. Pundits will mostly make predictions of 4 or 5 goal win margin for City. I will just say City are surely  too good to win. 4-1.

Sheffield United v Burnley -  Sheffield United are 8th by merit. They are now unbeaten in their last 3 matches - they drew 0-0 away to Watford and 1-1 away to West Ham and had Arsenal beaten 1-0 at home. Good on their travels and strong at home. Bramall Lane awaits Burnley who after beating Everton at home have lost their last 2 matches away and home to Leicester and Chelsea respectively. I thought the Blades play like the Burnley that got promoted previously. This game will be typically British and old fashion as both teams play with intensity and work hard so it could go either way but I do not fancy lots of goals. Sheffield United is in a good position for a win. 1-0.

West Ham v Newcastle - West Ham allowed Sheffield United to score and ended 1-1 last week. The Magpies would not be easy to overcome for the Hammers as Newcastle have beaten Manchester United (1-0), lost to Chelsea away (0-1) and held Wolves at home (1-1). West Ham are not better than those 3 teams but should be better at home than away. Problem is West Ham have not won in their last five matches and Sebastian Haller is not getting any service. All this happened just when I thought the Hammers are going great this season. The Magpies play from back to front and so always keeping things tight tight, a draw is imminent as their away form is not bad. 1-1.

Watford v Chelsea - Chelsea have been awesome and now takes a short trip to Vicarage Road to face winless Watford who looks likely not to win their first match again as their visitors have been strong on their travels. Other than Liverpool, City and Leicester, Chelsea are the only other team that is very good and exciting. Chelsea's Carabao home defeat to United is but a blip played out with a different team. With the way Chelsea are playing, they will win. Watford's first win must wait. 1-2.

Crystal Palace v Leicester City - The Eagles are flying a bit and are not in 6th by coincidence. They are an unit fighting and grinding out results. They have recently beaten Norwich (2-0), West Ham away (1-2) lost to City (0-2) and came back from 0-2 at Arsenal to draw 2-2. Leicester now shared jointly with Liverpool the best defence having conceded only 8 goals so far and have been  a free scoring side with 25 goals helped by that 9-0 win at Southampton, second only to City and even 2 ahead of Liverpool. They way they have been playing since the beginning and till now there has been marked improvement everywhere. You can actually see the Foxes winning here except that Crystal Palace are a team that sometimes defy logic and spoil parties. It would depend how ruthless and clinical Leicester can be on the day. 1-2.

Everton v Tottenham - Spurs return to Merseyside this time to the Blue side at Goodison Park - another difficult game. Last season Harry Kane and his Spurs won 6-2 here and are unbeaten by Everton for 13 times in all competition but Spurs have been poor travellers having taken only two points on their travels and only Everton and Norwich have been worse. Both Everton and Spurs have their own sad stories this season with their results. The Toffees played quite well to defeat Watford 2-0. Spurs look very good on the attack against Liverpool though they lost and Everton have conceded 16 goals. Son Heung-Ming and Harry Kane are goal-getters but something is not entirely right at Spurs. Erikssen is not the same, Lucas Moura is not playing, Dele Alli who was once so delightful is not that same player and they are conceding goals. At Goodison Park, Everton may see points for picking and will attack and this should be an open game with goals. 1-2.