EPL 2019/20 - Game Week 20

This is the halfway mark. It does not mean anything yet but it is a very good indication of what is to come. When the league is so tough, playing through winter and the festive period will take its toll. Its like the walking wounded or even walking dead. The doctors, medics and physios are all to busy. Like a hospital everywhere. The sinews are being stretched and the mind play tricks on you. This is being human. So when Leicester City hosted Liverpool on Game Week 19, there was hope that they could get something and I believe even Manchester City were hoping for the same. If like me you have awaken at 4am to catch the game, you wouldn't have regretted it. Liverpool dominated and controlled the game from the beginning to the end. They played like proper World Champions! This was an away game and against a very good Leicester team mind you. 

Simply put, Liverpool are the masters of the game. They led with a Firmino planted header and then from the 71st to the 78th, they hit three times and it was game over. It was an outstanding team game. Liverpool now leads 2nd place Leicester City by 13 points with a game in hand and lead 3rd place Manchester City by 14 points exactly at the halfway mark of the season. You would have realised by now Liverpool have not been playing particularly well this season but this latest show of intent was a huge statement. Leicester deserved the plaudits this season but they had no answers. Liverpool have not put on such a complete performance all season. Many expected the Reds to struggle after being crowned Club World Cup Champions in Qatar especially with five possible starters injured and oh they are tired. Liverpool were hungry and relentless. Complacency? Nah. Checked. This was Liverpool's best performance of the season! Are they peaking now?

Its' not over yet as there is the second half of the season to go. You just have to keep going. As Kasper Schmeichel said - it is Liverpool's title to lose. Before the match Leicester boasted a defensive record equal to Liverpool - 14 goals conceded and only conceded 5 goals at their King Power Stadium. Liverpool kept a clean sheet and hit them for four in their own den and now has a superior goal difference of 32 even more than City's 30. Leicester wee only allowed 3 shots at goal none of which bothered Allison Becker. Liverpool's high press was very impressive especially from the front three. They pressed with such ferocity. The fact that no one noticed that the fabulous Fabinho was missing was due to the great works of skipper Jordan Henderson who by now must have won over all doubters and oh those 40-50 yards passing range was a sight to behold. Joe Gomez is truly back. His pace was there for all to see, blocking shots and clearing danger. 

Trent Alexander-Arnold has reinvented the fullback's role and he was unstoppable. He didn't looked like that at the beginning. ROberto Firmino's doubel confirmed he is back to his mercurial best. The next five months till May will be tantalizing and agonizing to heal 30 years of hurt for Liverpool fans. That long wait for the Premier League title could be over. Liverpool FC is currently the World's and Europe's best team. They have been comfortably the finest in England too. All they have to do is to win it game by game and wait till May where the crown awaits them. Liverpool now leads Leicester by 13 points and Manchester City by 14 points with a game in hand as City lost 2-3 to Wolves at the Molineux and if they beat Wolves at Anfield on Sunday the gap will be increased to 16 points and 17 points respectively.

Brighton v Bournemouth - Brighton are physically still going strong while Bournemouth are like the walking dead with their spate of injuries with many of their key players out - Adam Smith, Charlie Daniels, David Brooks (so wonderful last season), Harry Wilson, Lloyd Kelly, Nathan Ake and Steve Cook. It's like half the team is out. Brighton played so well against Tottenham and even took the lead but Harry Kane equalized shortly after the restart before Dele Alli showed his ability with a classy goal by floating the ball over Matt Ryan perfectly into the tight corner. Bournemouth did not disappoint as they gave a solid outing with Arsenal where they also took the lead before Aubameyang levelled. Games like these are really hard to predict. I thought both teams played well in their previous match so a draw here is likely. 1-1.

Newcastle v Everton - Newcastle have 4 key players out - Captain Jamaal Lascelles, Matt RItchie, Paul Dummett and Allan Saint-Maximin. Everton's options are limited with injuries to Alex Iwobi, Theo Walcott, Andre Gomes and Morgan Schneiderlin. The Magpies were trounced 1-4 by Man Utd while Carlo Ancelotti celebrated his first match in charge of the Toffees with a slander 1-0 win over Burnley at Goodison Park. EVerton have not lost their last 5 matches and the old fox Ancelotti may just conjure something to get full points. 1-2.

Southampton v Crystal Palace - Southampton are fortunate with not too many injured. Palace do mis the services of the injured Andros Townsend, Jeffrey Schlupp and Gary Cahill. The Saints are on Cloud 9 and registered not only their second win in a row but both away games and were highly impressive against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge and won 2-0 and rose to 14th while Palace had their own sweet victory as Jordan Ayew scored a brilliant individual goal in the 90th minute over West Ham. Kind of goal that makes you go "Ayew serious". Though Palace play better away, the Saints have been really good in their last two matches. I see them continuing their good form with another win. 2-1.

Watford v Aston Villa - Watford have at least four to five injured and Doucure is suspended. Villa are not too and with injuries but the absence of John McGinn and Tyrone Mings must have weakened them. The Hornets held on to a draw at Sheffield United and remained second last and Villa had Jack Grealish to thank for the creation of the winning goal to go 5 points clear over Watford. Watford had two good results and with home advantage could get something here but Villa are also fighting for survival so this may be an open game as sharing the spoils is not good enough for either. 2-1.

Norwich v Spurs - Norwich did not suffer too much from injuries so by right should be faring better but then the squad is thin as they have not added much. Spurs' have not been helped by the long term injury to Hugo Lloris and also injuries to Erik Lamela and Ben Davies but with Son Heung-Min suspended, one main threat has been removed. The Canaries played reasonably well but went down by a goal to Villa and now host Spur who led by Kane fought back for a 2-1 win over Brighton. Even as Son Heung-Min and Harry Winks are suspended, Mourinho could still count on the in-form captain Marvel Harry Kane and Dele Alli to count on. 1-3.

West Ham v Leicester - The Hammers have few injuries, only Jack Wilshere but the absence of Lanzini may have affected them. Leicester have a full squad to choose from except the injured Harvey Barnes. West Ham are just a point above relegation zone and have hardly any more margin. Leicester have to regroup after a sound spanking by Liverpool. I fear for West Ham as Jamie Vardy shall continue with his goal-scoring here. He may just be the one to give the Foxes a lift. 1-2.

Burnley v Manchester United - Burnley are largely unaffected as all key players are mostly available. United too have no excuse as the only absentees are Eric Bailly and Marcos Rojo. The Clarets fought bravely away to Everton  but were defeated by a narrow 0-1. United won handsomely against Newcastle and for now can forget that Watford defeat. Problem is they are visiting Burnely who like Watford can give them a bruising encounter. The Red Devils are so inconsistent they could defeat City and but lost to Watford. The resounding win over Newcastle could propel them even as Burnley could spring a surprise. You just do not know which Manchester United is going to turn up. So I shall give my Man U friends a lift and bring them out from the caves. 1-2.

Arsenal v Chelsea - Already haveing some problems to be sorted out, Arsenal's options are limited with those out of action including - Daniel Cabellos, Gabriel Martinelli, Hector Bellerin, Kieran Tierney. Msetu Ozil, Rob Holding, Sead Kolasanic and Calum Chambers suspended. Chelsea are more fortunate having only Cezar Azpilicueta out but long term injury to Reuben Loftus-Cheek and Oliver Giroud while Kovacic is serving suspension. Arsenal's performance at Bournemouth summed u p their season as they chased a 0-1 deficit to save a draw and remained at 11th. Chelsea are in a better place than Arsenal as they sat in 4th but have been rather inconsistent for some time now as their last 7 matches results have thrown out - LWLWLWL and their second home defeat to lower sides. Arsenal are winless in four and I watched them struggle and labour against Bournemouth. They are a bit fortunate to be playing a yo-yo Chelsea and Arteta may have the chance to make a statement. Chelsea too are looking to return to winning ways. This is a big London Derby and I think it is going to end as a draw. 2-2.

Liverpool v Wolves - It is Liverpool's title to loose. Anything can still happen so can the Reds keep going? The Red's injury list includes Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (so unfortunate having just fully recovered, played some good games and scoring and then now injured again), Dejan Lovren, Fabinho, Joel Matip. There are 2 more if you include Rhian Brewster and Nathaniel Clyne. Wolves are pretty good with only Willy Boly injured. I think it was Jose Mourinho who said that Klopp's teams are only Cup finalist not winners, that Klopp can get 400 hugs from the fans but everything has been thrown at Klopp's Liverpool including the kitchen sink but each time Liverpool scaled the  heights and each time they go one better. That comprehensive 4-0 win at Leicester was really something. Wolves are not an easy side to beat but Liverpool have a few players who have been exceptional recently - Trent Alexander-Arnold is unstoppable. Jordan Henderson has been playing a captain's game, making Gerard-esque long rang passes and has made Fabinho's absence unnoticed. Naby Keita has scored 3 with an assist in 4 matches. His defence splitting passes and close control Zidane-like dribbles have been a revelation and finally Roberto Firmino is back at his best. On goal against Monterry, one against Flamengo and two versus Leicester showed he is red hot at the moment. 

Wolves have shown they could beat anyone, anywhere. The Double over City are the evidence. Beating City 2-0 at the Etihad and again 3-2 at the Molineux have to be very impressive records. Last season the Reds won 2-0 at Anfield. It will not be an easy game for both but a Liverpool win will see them 16 points ahead of 2nd place Leicester and 17 points ahead of City. Anfield in particular is a fortress. Will they do a Leicester here? I think for the way Wolves play, it will be closer. Oh and you need to watch out for Adama Traore - strong, powerful and one of the quickest around. What a match he had against City. WOlves were 0-2 down and came back to win. It's going to be a good game. 2-1.

Manchester City v Sheffield United - City must win as many game as they could and hope Liverpool drop points along the way. City themselves have been badly affected by injuries - Aymeric Laporte, David Silva, Ilkay Gundogan, Leroy Sane and John Stones. All very important players for them and depleted. Sheffield United are the best of the best with zero injuries. Was it they way they train or play? They are top of the table for staying injury-free! Will this be the Kevin De Bruyne show again as he has demonstrated against Arsenal and Leicester City. He again had an assist but this time City crashed 2-3 to Wolves. This is disheartening and Sheffield United are a difficult team to overcome. They have lost a game fewer than City but City are still a an excellent team and should bounce back here at the Etihad. 2-1.