EPL 2019/20 - Game Week 24

Wow oh wow! Manchester City nearly lost at the Etihad! They trailed Palace till the 82nd minute before Aguero levelled and then took the lead in the 87th minute through Aguero again and what a player Kun Aguero is! It is hard to find another like him and the last time there was one it was the one and only great Romario from Brazil. Unfortunately for City, the game ended at 2-2 which meant they are 13 points behind Liverpool who now now have 2 games in hand at the time. So if only if the Reds won their next 2 games they could go up to 19 points ahead. I told you Palace are a good team that could surprise anyone on a good day. Roy Hodgson is quite a genius! And now Liverpool have gone on to do exactly that as they won 2-0 at Anfield against Manchester United! 16 points clear with a game in hand!

Elsewhere, Watford held Tottenham to a 0-0 draw at Vicarage Road, Arsenal allowed a later equaliser from John Fleck for Sheffield United to hold them 1-1 at the Emirates. Chelsea were defeated 0-1 by Newcastle at St. James Park. Wolves stormed back to win 3-2 after trailing 0-2 at Southampton. Game Week 24 is crazy because they are being played on a Wednesday, Thursday and Friday at God-forsaken hours and Asian, Chinese soccer fans have a New Year to catch. The weekend would be reserved for the F.A. Cup and then on the 30 January which is next Thursday morning West Ham will host Liverpool which was that game in hand for both teams before Game Week 25 begins on 1 February. The top six teams and slipping and if they continue in this manner then Liverpool could win the title even earlier.

Also sometimes when a player scores and then he takes off his shirt to earn a yellow card, it is bitter sweet for me. If he is on my Fantasy Premier League team he earns points for scoring but taking off shirts earns a yellow card and minus one point but I can understand the emotion of scoring especially when a player feels it is special. 

Aston Villa v Watford - Another fight for survival.Take note that Watford have not lost since a 0-2 defeat by Liverpool in December and recorded 4 wins and 3 draws. Villa have less of the ball than Brighton over the weekend but it was once again Jack Grealish to the rescue. Watford created and took almost the same number of chances and shots respectively against Spurs. Their 4 wins and 3 draws is a clear testament to their current belief. The Hornets can win this one but Villa are not too lame at home. I would pick a draw here. 1-1.

Bournemouth v Brighton - Bournemouth were outplayed by Norwich last weekend leaving them in 19th place three points ahead of last placed Norwich. Since they held Arsenal 1-1 they have lost all 4 games conceding 10 goals without scoring any. Brighton are not getting many good results themselves losing by small margins but they do not look too bad on the pitch. So common sense tells us an away win is possible but I think Bournemouth will have to show some teeth as there is not a lot of time left. 1-1.

Crystal Palace v Southampton - Palace have bounced back to have a very good season indeed! The Saints 6 match unbeaten run where they have won every game except one draw came to an end at the St. Mary's when Wolves bounced back to steal their joy. Any team that could beat or hold City should beat many other teams right? Southampton's form was highly impressive before their 2-3 defeat by Wolves having beaten both Chelsea and Spurs. The question is if this is the beginning of another loss of form like the previous one where they could not win in 8 and managed only 2 draws? Both sides are scoring so it could be an epic struggle to a draw. 2-2.

Everton v Newcastle - Everton did not do much at West Ham to draw 1-1 and now host a Newcastle side who upset Chelsea 1-0 and are level on points with Everton. Eevrton are Everton. They could not dominate West Ham the last match. They do win with small margins. Newcastle only had 30% of the ball against Chelsea but won 1-0. You may say its luck but they worked really hard for that result. So it won't be an easy game for the Toffees. Everton are quite a solid side but they lack a cutting edge to win games. Newcastle have been for so many seasons staying alive. 1-1.

Sheffield United v Manchester City - Sheffield United had only 39% of the ball against Arsenal but rained 12 shots at them albeit receiving 11 against them so they are capable of upsetting any teams on a given day. City ares till very good and Sergio Aguero is surging up the goal-scoring chart again. A hattrick previously and a brace last weekend has added 5 goals in 2 matches. City for all their superiority have become a bit too predictable. They will first pass you to death and in a moment find space and score, water polo style. They lost to City 0-2 at the Etihad. Chris Wilder is an excellent coach and he must have seen how first Norwich had beaten them (3-2), Wolves won (2-0), Liverpool conquered (3-1), United (2-1), Wolves again (3-2) and Palace held them (2-2). I do feel the Bramall Lane boys could score and give a tough game or an upset but a win for City because Pep Guardiola can't take another mishap. 1-2.

Chelsea v Arsenal - Is this match the known unknown or the unknown known? It no longer carry the same weightage of yesteryear. Arsenal are in 10th 30/32 Goals For/Goals Against but at least Chelsea are in 4th with a 39/30 GF/GA. It took the Gunners 5 matches without a win before they surprised Man Utd 2-0 followed up with 2 more draws. Chelsea are much better but their results are like a yoyo since November - WLDLWLWLWLWDWL. So this is going to be a very different London Derby, not a blast from the past but what the future holds. You have to feel somewhat more desperate now, Chelsea to bounce back from that loss and Arsenal to catch up on the gap to reach top four. The world's most expensive keeper Kepa needs to make amendments and show improvement. This is where Arsenal will attach them - at the middle of their defence but Arsenal themselves are rebuilding for the future. Though the results could have been better, I see Arsenal doing the right things and playing the right way under Arteta. Both are scoring sides and both are leaking goals so there could be goals aplenty here. 2-2.

Leicester City v West Ham - Leicester are somewhat wretched now. That aura of invincibility is gone. Their last 3 games were a home draw with 18th placed Villa (1-1), a home defeat by 13th placed Southampton (1-2) and just over the weekend an away defeat to 14th placed Burnley (1-2). Now they are hosting 16th place West Ham who shall surely fancy their chances as the Foxes are really not too convincing now but I do feel they should bounce back from here. Just. 2-1.

Spurs v Norwich - Watford were not easy as they are in form and were unbeaten but frankly Spurs were a far cry from the team that Mauricio Pochettino built which is a little sad as I enjoyed his team then and he and his team deserved to have won something in those years. Spurs plodded and were heavy laden and now welcome bottom team Norwich who finally won a match in their 10th attempt. I thought Spurs were unrecognisable but do not think they could get any worse. 3-1.

Manchester United v Burnley - The Red Devils did make it tough for Liverpool but Sean Dyche has shown that his Burnley can be up to the task as they came from behind to beat Leicester. I do not wish to say too much about United as I have many friends who are United fans. The truth hurts, always. Without Marcus Rashford and a few others, United are not getting better. There is no longer that cutting edge, that incisiveness to win. Physically Burnley are up to it. With home ground advantage United must win. No excuses. 2-1.

Wolves v Liverpool  - Raul Jimenez and Adama Traore were excellent as Wolves stormed back to win 3-2 away against in form Southampton. Before that Wolves have not won for for 6 matches. Traore is the one Klopp fears most and you saw the reason why. He is built like like Bison and is certainly the fastest player in the league if not the fastest. Wolves have now beaten Manchester City twice - 3-2 at the Molineux and 2-0 at the Etihad. What a team! So Liverpool cannot afford to take the feet off the pedal even for a second. We all know about Salah and Mane but Roberto Firmino has been absolutely important for all his attributes of ball winning, running, assists and goals and he has scored so many important goals. Just look at his goal against Spurs which was absolute class. If you play a lot of soccer as a forward, you will know why it was not easy and that it was a beauty. Japhet Tanganga who was himself a revelation was just so close to Bobby when Bobby received the ball but instead of trapping it with his right foot which would have given Tanganga a split second to win or block it, he allowed the ball to move to his left and hammered in. This is instinct! 

Wolves would be the latest to try to stop this rampant Liverpool side whom they host at the Molineux after they have lost 0-1 at Anfield. Liverpool were again not at their best at Anfield against United. Andrew Robertson has an off day which is rare and so too Mane but Joe Gomez and in particular Virgil Van Dijk were imperious. When Van Dijk scored I saw the funny part of it - what was United doing having 4ft tall Williams against 11ft tall Van Dijk. You got my point? Trent was not too bad but was not as incisive. Henderson and Wijnaldum were their usual self and Alex Chamberlain provided some energy. Mo Salah finally got the elusive goal against United but was a bit wasteful. I thought Firmino was fabulous for the work he did, winning the ball, creating, attempting to score. In fact, his goal should have been allowed. Van Dijk's challenge for the ball was legit as he was going in watching the ball and it was De Gea who clattered into him and as United lost the ball, Mane relayed it to Firmino who scored a beauty only to be ruled out wrongly. Wijnaldum goal was good but was correctly offside but Salah blast away from the goal mouth. Henderson shot hit a post and may more. The front three clicked very well at times but were not as clinical but there was a period where Liverpool were running rings all over United with slick one-twos and inter-play and United were pegged back with their defenders looking lost and forlorn. I am serious as I saw their faces. I knew Solskjaer would like to help with sagging morale but what he said was United were excellent while Liverpool were nervy. The Salah goal was an exorcism, his first against United in a Liverpool shirt and what an volleyed assist from Alisson Becker. United's Daniel James their fastest player gave chase but Salah is no tortoise and James could not shake him off as Salah showed his strength and buried it past De Gea. Game over.

The Reds should have wrap up the game by the hour with the chances created and made the win even more comprehensive but that has been Liverpool and they now have an unbelievable 30 point lead over 5th placed United, have the best goal difference of 38 and the best defence with only 14 goals conceded and now have 7 clean sheets in a row. Klopp has said that the fans could celebrate but not them as it is not over as they focus n Wolves and let the haters hate. Some ex United players are saying Liverpool are not legends yet until they win more league titles. Says who? Liverpool were serial and multiple winners way before United were. Liverpool lost an Europa final and next the Champions League final but won the Champions League the next year and in an excellent season with 97 points lost the title to an excellent City by a single point. Most players would be broken, most teams would be shattered, very often before recognition but Jurgen Klopp and his boys keep coming back - stronger and better. So if you are a manager anywhere, you have a very important role to play. Also, in life you must always write your own history and not seek the approval of others to please them. Walk On!

Meanwhile, Wolves could make any team sweat or even destroy them as City have found out - twice. They are about the same level with the Red Devils in position as well as ability. They held United 0-0 at the Molineux but lost 0-1 at Old Trafford in the F.A. Cup and drew 1-1 in the league (away). Liverpool will have to work very hard and play a solid game to get their chance. Fact is Liverpool have beaten every team in the Premier League this season except West Ham but that is just because they are not scheduled to play West Ham yet. That just sums up how good they have been all season. Mmm...let me see and hazard a guess for the Ultimate Winning Machine. 0-2. 

West Ham v Liverpool - This is the game in hand for both and and especially important one. For the Hammers, they are just a point above relegation zone and that is very little protection. For the Reds,  a win would stretch their record points haul to an even more unreachable chase for the rest. Liverpool have beaten every team in the Premier League this season except West Ham because this match was postponed due to Liverpool's Club World Cup in Qatar and were not scheduled to play yet. A win here will confirm the fact that they have beaten everyone and not only that - extend the lead at the top to at least 19 points provided they beat Wolves or that the other teams drop points. I have to go with a Liverpool win. 0-2.