EPL 2019/20 - Game Week 12

Game Week 11

What drama unfolded in Game Week 11! Beginning with Bournemouth's 1-0 win over Manchester United moving them up to 7th. It was not unexpected but it would not look nice if I predicted the Red Devils' demise every week and I thought they might have turned the corner recently. To add salt into wound, goal-scorer Joshua King was once with United. How did he find all the time in the world when he chested the ball, lifted it over Aaron Wan-Bissaka and did a half bicycle kick to smash home and thus sending the Red Devils to 10th and mid-table mediocrity. Arsenal have real problems and they are not solving it quite soon as they allowed Wolves to find their way back. New captain Granit Zhaka was not even named in the squad let alone the first XI. There are rumours swirling that the Gunners are in talks with Jose Mourinho. Unai Emery has not been better than Arsene Wenger at his worst. 

Leaders Liverpool and champions Manchester City showed they are humans after all but they are definitely the main teams and rivals for the title. City conceded early in the 13th minute against a Southampton side crushed 9-0 at home by Leicester City a week ago while the Reds allowed Villa to lead in the 21st minute from a poorly defended free-kick. Roberto Firmino converted Mane's cross but was ruled offside by VAR when he was onside. They judged that his armpit was ahead of Tyrone' Mings knee. How ridiculous! In the 37th minute, Mane was yellow carded for simulation. He was accused of diving. From photos that zeroed in, there was actually contact made. Whether he made a mountain of a molehill was another matter.  

City dominated with 73% of the ball and took 26 shots with half on target but could not score till the 70th minute when Walker's low cut back found Aguero with a first-timer. Leaders Liverpool's six point lead at this point was cut down to three as they trailed Villa despite 74% possession, 25 shots at goal, 22 chances created and 16 shots on target. Kudos to Villa who played without their captain Jack Grealish. By the 86th minute, Kyle Walker turned assist hero to match winner when he scored putting City firmly in the driving seat. Liverpool looked a gone case and perhaps even the hardest core Reds fans were feeling this was finally their unlucky day. Then in the 87th minute, they struck. Mane was shifted to the right. He received a harmless ball, cut in to the left and with his weaker left foot floated a cross to the far corner and you saw a darting Andrew Robertson surging forth to meet that cross with a thumping bullet header. 1-1 and game on. With 5 minutes added and the last minute to go, Liverpool won a corner. Trent Alexander-Arnold curled in to the near post and Mane ghosted in bravely ahead with a low, glancing header with a defender's foot nearly smashing his head and amid a sea of defenders and it hit the net! Delirium!!! How was this possible? The Mentality Monsters are back!

Frankly, Liverpool were poor. Defence was not that good, midfield was ordinary and pedestrian without Fabinho who was probably rested as he was carrying a yellow and kept safe for next week's biggest game versus City. Henderson was poor really. The front three were not sharp and not connecting as usual. In came Divock Origi who has been a talisman and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain both together in the 65th minute. OX made quite a difference with his direct running and powerful shots. This is a Liverpool that has forgotten how to lose! Kudos to City too for their own fight back. Liverpool retained a six point lead. Next week's meet will be huge where if either team wins, it could be a nine point lead for the Reds or for the Sky Blues to trail by only three. 

Sheffield United moved up to 6th with great mastery and confidence as they smashed Burnley 3-0.  West Ham are back to being West Ham as they crashed 2-3 at home to Newcastle. Chelsea and Leicester remained the two most happening and exciting teams after Liverpool and City. Chelsea won away once again, took an early lead as usual and conceded late in the second half again. Leicester gave a Brendan Rodgers master class away to Palace where the elegant Turkish Caglar Soyuncu showed why Rodgers was calm when Harry Maguire left., where James Maddison gave a MOTM performance and proved that he should be playing for England with his range of impressive forward passing and Jamie Vardy leads the goal-scorers chart with another goal. 

Finally, Everton played Tottenham to a dull 1-1 draw where the highlight was when Son lunged at Andre Gomes from behind causing him to fall forward got his ankle caught as Serge Aurier came forward. It was a horrific injury to a very good player and Son was in tears for causing the accident and was red carded.  Before that Dele Alli made a statement of his return when he got a pass after a mistake by Alex Iwobi. Alii use the space intelligently, turned the Everton defence and scored. Marco Silva brought in Genk Tosun who later equalised which left us wondering if he could stay in his job as Everton lie is 17th. Spurs themselves have not gotten over their poor form and are now in 11th. 

Top Scorers 

After 11 matches, the top scorers and assist leaders are:

Jamie Vardy - 10 (very good for an old man at 32)
Sergio Aguero - 9 (not bad for a shorter guy)
Tammy Abraham - 9 (young and excellent for a rookie)
Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang - 8 (still strutting the stuffs)
Raheem Sterling - 7 (good for a winger)
Teemu Pukki - 6 (good from lower division but goals have dried up)
Harry Kane - 6 (perennial favourite but still chasing the pack)
Sadio Mane - 6 (not even a striker, very hot!)
Marcus Rashford - 5 (young and probable Man U's top)
Mohamed Salah - 5 (can he repeat last season's? Seems not in form)
Callum Wilson - 5 (depends on how his team performs)

Assist Leaders

Kevin De Bruyne - 9 
Harvey Barnes - 4
David Silva - 4
Emiliano Buendia - 4
Callum Hudson-Odoi - 3
Lys Mousset - 3
Riyad Mahrez - 3
Anwar El Ghazi - 3
Son Heung-Min - 3
Felipe Anderson - 3

Well, if you are playing in the Fantasy Premier League, the above figures may be of help to improve or make you miserable. Good luck!

Game Week 12

Match of the week could be the match of the season so far. The long awaited top of the table clash between Liverpool and Manchester City at Anfield. While it may not decide the title race, it could define it. Both came back from behind last week to win. Meanwhile, a Leicester City in top form and third place will host Arsenal who are without a win in their last three matches. 

Norwich v Watford - This is the battle of the current bottom two. It was not expected to be such before the new season. Norwich were the top team of the Championship before promotion. Watford are still without a single win this season and propping up the table. There is no team that present the Hornets their best chance for a win even if the match will be held at Carrow Road. As after this, the Hornets face Burnley (H), Southampton (A) then travel to Leicester. Who knows if they could get 3 good results. Norwich suffered "the curse" after the upset of Manchester City having lost 5 and drew one match since. It is their chance to get 3 points and climb up. Watford themselves lost twice after three draws. This will be close and could be a win either way or may probably end as a draw. 2-2.

Chelsea v Crystal Palace - Chelsea are a joy to watch these days. The boys are having fun under Frank Lampard. Chelsea are a winning team and even playing away is of no problem at all. Palace have not won in their last three but they were all tough matches - Manchester City, Arsenal and Leicester. Their visit to Stamford Bridge is no easier. Chelsea will continue their winning run unless Palace put in an army of resistance. Chelsea just did a Liverpool in a stunning match against Ajax at Stamford Bridge when they drew 4-4 after being 1-4 down. They could score against the best but can't defend for their lives and Tammy Abraham can score against anymore including against his own team. Haha. It will take some team to beat Chelsea really. So I do not fancy a Palace win here. Chelsea are too good right now but may have been worn out by the Champions League match and a possible Mason Mount injury but they still have Willian, Abraham and Christian Pulisic. 3-2.

Burnley v West Ham - Burnley are in a bit of free fall of late and the 0-3 trouncing by Sheffield United last week could have been worse. West Ham are in worse form at the moment - zero win in their last five. Their home defeat by Newcastle was a bit of a shock for the way they played and were 0-3 down before ending 2-3. The early promise of a better season has fizzled. The Clarets' attacking and shots at goal have been poor and the Hammers do not look inspired yet both sides are unpredictable. This is one where few dare to predict where either team could win yet most likely to draw. It shall be a draw. 1-1.

Newcastle v Bournemouth - The Magpies may be limited but they have been battling as they have lost narrowly to better teams and the last win away to the Hammers was a great achievement. I like Allan Saint-Maximin. He's named as a Saint but plays like the devil. Did you see the audacious rainbow flip he attempted (rainbow flip - using both feet to flip the ball from behind and over his opponent) against Sebastian Haller who stands all of 6 ft. 4ins. Haha. This is how I love to play too. The Cherries themselves must be inspired with their own 1-0 win over Manchester United with that glorious goal from Joshua King. Steve Bruce's Newcastle are not that bad even with limited resources. I feel they should at least stop Bournemouth from winning. If you saw Newcastle winning away last week, you know they could win this. 2-1.

Southampton v Everton - The Saints' jitters could be over and put to rest even as they have lost. They nearly surprised City or could have secured a point at the Etihad with a solid outing. Everton's flow chart looks like a roller-coaster - going up and down. It does not augur well for them. They have lost a very fine player in Andre Gomes through injury. Both managers - Ralph Hasenhuttl and Marco Silva respectively may be favourites for the sack and must be hoping for a win. Probably a tight game where both may struggle to find a way. 1-1.

Tottenham v Sheffield United - The truth is Tottenham are struggling this season and the Premier League is relentless. They have not won in their last four league matches and they do not look convincing. Their visitors are the opposite, they have not lost in four and was all conquering over Burnley last week and are in 6th by merit having won twice and drew twice in their last four but this is Spurs but Spurs at their worse in some time. It will be proof of their true mettle for the following week they welcome Manchester United, also United at their worst. The optimistic will see a silver lining and they have just returned from Crvena Zveda (or Red Star Belgrade) with a big 4-0 win with Son scoring twice, Lo Celso and Erikssen. Sheffield United will prove a tough test for any team as they are able to keep clean sheets and are very organised. Spurs need to be really good to win it. This is the 12th league game and they must catch up now. 2-1.

Leicester City v Arsenal - This is not a good time for the Gunners to visit Leicester. Arsenal could still try to get a result here but it is not encouraging, not with the way they have been playing and certainly not with the way the Foxes are playing. Leicester have won 7, drew 2 and lost 2 scoring 27 goals and conceded 8. They are the second highest scorers and joint best defence. You should think that they will be challenging for honours and the way they have been playing is the evidence. Unai Emery's job may be on the line under mounting pressure and will be desperate for an important win. A defeat here is not an option but it may be likely. The Foxes are a very settled side brimming with confidence while the Gunners are unsettled and looking unconvincing. Further bad news is that Jamie Vardy has scored 19 goals in 21 matches under Brendan Rodgers and Rodgers has liberated Vardy to do maximum damage. Vardy has scored against every other team and he is a specialist in scoring against top six sides over the years especially against Arsenal where he has hit them 8 times. To stop Leicester Arsenal have to stop Vardy and James Maddison from supplying as Vardy has five goals in four matches versus Arsenal. Leicester have a solid back four of Ricardo Pereira, Johnny Evans, Turkish Delight Caglar Soyuncu and Ben Chiwell adding clean sheets and they will be a serious contender for top four. Even die-hard Gunners' fans are careful to pick and Arsenal win in a wager. I pick Leicester to win. 3-2.

Manchester United v Brighton - The Red Devils are now left with more questions than answers. The rumours are rife that OGS will be out and also they are associated with signing almost everybody. Maybe the latest they should sign is Joshua King who scored a beauty against them. The Seagulls are flying as they soared to 8th with quite an emphatic win albeit over Norwich but they had 59% control and 21 shots with 12 on target. United at home should win this but only if their front line is firing because Brighton can be really tough and could play good football. United's showing last week was woeful. Brighton have never won at Old Trafford but I believe United can't afford another shock. Mason Greenwood, Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford are back with goals as United won 3-0 against Partizan Beograd (Serbia in case you do not know). I am most impressed with Rashford. He could develop into a top player. He could be a scorer here again. United need to use this opportunity as after this they will be facing Sheffield United (away) and Aston Villa (home) before hosting Tottenham and then visit Manchester City. You see what I mean. 2-1.

Wolves v Aston Villa - Wolves are have drawn too many games this term. They aren't terrible but not as good as last season perhaps  Nuno Espirito Santo has become too pragmatic as lost a bit of adventure. Aston Villa on the hand haven't been too bad with their play but found themselves mired in 16th place and Wolves in 12th are just really two point better. If Villa can play like they did to Liverpool they could get a result. Wolves have won in the last two meetings between them in the midlands derby but before that they have not won. Wolves have just won won 1-0 over Slovan Bratislava and doing well in the Europa but this may also take off some shine from there in domestic league. Wolves have been winning a few by small margins and have drawn too many times. Villa have been steadily improving and they have beaten Wolves in the Carabao Cup so they can be  a threat to their host. 1-1.

Liverpool v Manchester City - This is humongous. A reds win puts them nine ahead and a City win narrows the gap to three behind. While it will not decide the title, it can be a huge morale booster for the winner over their main rival. If you are taking plenty of points from many other teams, then it is imperative to take points off each other which is crucial. Based on results so far and current form, Liverpool are slightly better. City were not at their best in their last three matches but they are such a good team. Liverpool are now unbeaten in 28 games domestically and have only lost once in their last 49 Premier League matches since the beginning of last season and have extended their unbeaten Anfield record to 44 matches. All of these means nothing and Liverpool will have to be at their best to win this. Last season at Anfield, both teams drew 0-0 in a cautious league match but Liverpool won 3-0 in the Champions League in 2018 and 4-3 in the league. The last time Liverpool lost to city at Anfield was in May 2003 and before that in December 1981 and from 2003 till now Liverpool have won 12, drew 6 and lost none at their Anfield fortress. 

Once the whistle blows, all these will be consigned to the dustbin of history as they each attempt to create their own. City overhauled a ten point deficit to Liverpool last season and went on to win the title so expect City to go out for an important win over their arch rival but Liverpool have not lost at Anfield since April 2017. The problem is that Liverpool have not been very convincing in the last couple of matches. They were winning on very late goals which is great due to their never say die belief but you cannot allow City to grab a lead but need to be at your best to take the game to them and have to be very clinical as chances may be few and far in between. So the team that takes it chances well and make less mistakes will win. Or could it be a cautious match as Klopp and Guardiola have too much respect for each other which may then end in a draw? 

Liverpool are the "mentality monsters" never knowing when to lose. They will make dead dogs tired. They will hound you and keep going at you. Look at their marauding fullbacks Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andrew Robertson. Trent will whip in those wicked crosses and from corners. Robertson can do the same and just scored a bullet header in the last outing. It is in midfield where it could be won or lost to whoever controls it. The front three are always  threat. Salah and Firmino were not at their best recently but Firmino is always a tricky customer. So Sadio Mane is going to be the real threat. He made a late goal to level and found the winner with a glancing header despite a boot going to his head. He is currently driving Liverpool. Mane has never lost at Anfield. 

For City, remember they have lost twice this season to minnows Norwich (2-3 away) and Wolves (0-2 at  home). They are still very good but laboured with wins over Palace (2-0 away), Villa (3-0 home) and barely clinched victory at the death over Southampton (2-1 home). In the last match, Ederson spilled the ball and gave away a goal. Their defence are missing key players, David Silva may be out, Kevin De Bruyne, Bernado Silva and Raheem Sterling laboured without impressing though Sergio Aguero and Kyle Walker scored. City are still a very strong side but they are not the same or as good as last season. At least from what I have seen so far.

If Liverpool want to win they must not allow themselves to always go down first and give their fans heart attack moments with late, late shows. Salah looks off the pace and I would bench him and replace him with Oxlade Chamberlain who is in the form of his life after his long term in jury comeback. He has scored when he played recently and even in his cameo appearances, he gave a different dimension to their game with his directness, power and shooting. Salah could always come in later but knowing Klopp Salah is like a talisman. Or Ox could replace Henderson who was poor recently but he was rested against Genk and Salah was good versus Genk too. Sometimes, when the top teams play they could end up as anti-climax with dull cagey affairs. Wile they may both try to win, a draw may just suit both and they hope each other drop points against other teams in the long run. Games like this can be 1-0 or 3-2. If Liverpool want to win they have to play like they did Barcelona and also City themselves previously. There have been a few prediction of a City win, many think it will be a draw with some picking a Liverpool win. City are still a top team but Ederson may be injured and Laporte's absence have weakened them but this would mean nothing if Liverpool could not turn on the style. A draw is very likely but if Liverpool turn it on, a Liverpool win at Anfield. Mane could be the key. The Mentality Giants would be Mythical Monsters. 2-1.