EPL 2019/20 - Game Week 29

As I have said often, the EPL is the toughest league where the bottom teams could beat the top teams. It has happened for many bottom teams and top teams. It is even more so when there are eleven matches left and you need to give everything to stay up. That is the most dangerous times to play the bottom teams. Just over the weekend Norwich shocked Leicester City 1-0. Bournemouth held Chelsea 2-2 after leading and Watford stunned Liverpool 3-0 with a brilliant display! If they have played every game like this they will be fighting for honours! Not fighting relegation. Kudos to Watford. 

Liverpool's unbeaten run has been halted. At this stage, they have matched Manchester City's 18 game of straight wins, gotten as many points as Manchester United's treble-winning team at 79 points, equalled Arsenal's Invincibles' number of wins (26). They can now forget about all records and focus on each game. It was the Press that kept reminding them of each record. "44 games without a loss". "422 days unbeaten". "Best Points Per Game ever at 2.77". Blah, blah, blah. Then a local politician uttered Liverpool's theme of YNWA word for word in parliament for the first time and Liverpool lost! Lol. 

Now Liverpool players could just concentrate and worry no more about records for the club and the fans. That burden is over? The Reds have not been quite the same after the winter break. They have lost to Athletico Madrid, didn't play particularly well against West Ham but conceded two goals and won 3-2 and now this after 11 consecutive clean sheets 6 goals in 3 matches. Still it has been a stellar season for these players and great team. Nothing should be taken away. The other teams of course, their ex players and their fans are all hoping for Liverpool to fall for the longest time. Some are also hoping the CoVid19 will spread then Liverpool will not be given the title. All the knives are out just after "ONE" defeat. Liverpool and their fans are humble so they do not go around pointing out others failures. For example, some Man Utd fans including Gary Neville are celebrating as if they have won the title but they have to ask themselves about their 42 points after 28 games. Arsenal memes too pointing that only their special team of 03 that could go unbeaten forgetting their 10th position currently with 37 points but even the Invincibles did not win the the Champions League and were KO in the quarters and had never won the European Cup or Champions League. But it is all good fun. Understandable and acceptable. Walk On.

With ten more matches to go Liverpool need to win four more to wrap up. So who will Game Week 29 be?

Liverpool v Bournemouth - The Reds loss to a very good Watford at Vicarage Road was because of their embarrassing , dreadful and inept performance for the longest time. The entire team and almost every individual player were poor. The usually unbeatable Alisson conceded two. Robertson was okay bit they missed Joe Gomez as Lovren was very poor and the normally imperious Virgil Van Dijk allowed the ball to be crossed for the first goal and was caught somewhat flat footed for the second uncharacteristically. Was he looking out for too many? Trent Alexander Arnold was probably the second worst player. He was caught out of position, his crossed were awful, passes poor and was the culprit when his unnecessary back pass led to the third goal when Liverpool were 0-2 down and fighting to come back. Wijnaldum was missing, Fabinho was not his usual self after injury. Alex Chamberlain was over hitting. They missed the influence and inspiration of captain Jordan Henderson. The fame front three Salah, Mane and Firmino would have registered a rating of 5 upon 10 at best.  Adam Lallana did make some difference after he came on and could have scored a beauty when he chested a clearance and let fly a volley that hit a post. Most passes were under or over played. If they play the same against Athletico Madrid at Anfield in the return their Champions League progress will be over. But still this team is great and have achieved much breaking any records along the way. The Kops were still singing YNWA at the end. So perhaps the title in waiting may have to come in early April instead of end March instead. Liverpool need to beef up their squad to offer more element of surprise in the near future. 

This is their chance to have a quick comeback for a solid display and convincing win at Anfield. Bournemouth, fighting relegation threat found their mettle to hold Chelsea 2-2. So the Cherries are still a good team that could do battle and another debacle would be disastrous for the host especially after they also exited the F.A Cup after a 0-2 defeat to Chelsea. Do such a fine team become bad overnight? No. Confidence is a strange thing. Liverpool will have to bounce right back. Be warned, Bournemouth have a real relegation battle so they will give their all. Liverpool have conceded two to West Ham three at Watford and two at Chelsea (F.A. Cup) after so many clean sheets. Liverpool have to be at their best again.  3-1.

Arsenal v West Ham - Arsenal's fans are overjoyed over Liverpool's defeat by Watford as they keep the record of being the only club to be unbeaten for a whole season with 26 wins and 12 draws in 2003/04 under Arsene Wenger. That was a hell of a team with such great individuals especially when you watch them in full flow. Now the Gunners have their own demons to exorcise as they just got K.O. from the Europa and hanging in mid-table with mediocrity. 8 points from 4th place. They are tied with Everton on points after winning their last 2 league matches. Hey but this is a London derby and the Hammers played so well against Liverpool but lost and again were impressive in their 3-1 win over Southampton. I suspect the Gunners will not have their way. 2-2.

Crystal Palace v Watford - Palace not only survived Brighton's 23 shots and 67% possession, they found a goal in the 70th minute through Jordan Ayew. So  "Ayew" sure they they won't repeat it? But after last week should you doubt Watford? Hornets sting. Watford was awesome lat week! The entire Watford team was so good especially Troy Deeney and Ismaila Sarr and Doucoure. They can beat anyone. They had also beaten Manchester United earlier. I have to go for Watford. 1-2.

Sheffield United v Norwich - After missing a game last week, the Blades would be eager to play by hosting a resurgent Norwich who surprised Leicester 1-0. Sheffield United are unbeaten in 5 matches winning 4 of them including the F.A. Cup win away to Reading. I do feel that Norwich could get something here. Sometimes, a break may not be a good thing if you are red hot. Plus the Canaries held Tottenham away before beating them at penalties in the F.A. Cup. 1-1.

Southampton v Newcastle - Southampton ended last week with a surprised 1-3 defeat to West Ham. Ralph Hassenhuttl's concern would be that his charges did not look up to scratch. Newcastle was actually quite good at St. James Park last week but could not find a way past James Tarkowski and his defence. The Saints are quite safe but in indifferent form and have lost 4 of their 5 matches. I think the Magpies will stretch them to get a point. 1-1.

Wolves v Brighton - Wolves' 3-2 away win at Tottenham was huge! They leapfrogged Spurs by 2 points to go 6th and level on points with Manchester United. They went down and recovered twice to equalize and found the winner. Matt Doherty, Diogo Jota and Raul Jimenez were superb! Brighton played well and dominated Crystal Palace and yet fell to a 0-1 defeat at home. In soccer, you have to score that is all that matters. Wolves are in great shape. Not conceding easily, tough to beat and now scoring even more goals. They have scored 3 goals in 3 games and 4 in another one. Tough one for the Seagulls. 2-1.

Burnley v Tottenham - Burnley stretched their unbeaten run to 4 matches (winning 2 of them) and have every reason to be able to continue as they welcome a Spurs side who have lost their last 2 matches, 3 if you include the Champions League. So they are in decline and struggling. Burnley are really difficult to play at Turf Moor and their physical play will be their strength. Tottenham are also conceding goals. So the Clarets have a chance. Losing Harry Kane and Son Heung-Min have been a huge loss. Tottenham continue to struggle as they drew 1-1 at home with Norwich and worse lost out on penalty kicks ending their chance for a trophy here. It really has been a struggle for results. Draw. 2-2.

Chelsea v Everton  - Chelsea needed a defender Marcos Alonso to rescue them last week. Everton's opponent Manchester United were rescued by VAR in the 90th minute and it got manager Carlo Ancelotti red carded. Quite an injustice and I like how Everton played especially Dominic Calvert-Lewin. He even got a goal when he chased the ball and stuck out a foot when De Gea cleared onto that foot and rebounded into goal! This is why sometimes we chase after the ball. You never know. Lol. Everton could turn things around with a win and remain in the running for European hopes. Chelsea's one win in six outings will give the Toffees even more hope but they did have Liverpool beaten in the F.A. Cup. I am impressed with Ancelotti's Everton so Chelsea have a tough one here. Until Liverpool Chelsea have been quite poor at home. I do think they are even as Everton have two strong and powerful forwards in Richarlison and Dominic Calvert-Lewin. 2-2.

Manchester United v Manchester City - I thought the Red Devils were lucky to have held Everton to a 1-1 draw. Bruno Fernandes is a good player. 3 goals and 2 assists in 5 games. United are eyeing every good player on the planet. Maybe they would also like to buy Ismaila Sarr now. Some how in three matches against City, United have won twice. Very good record indeed. So United do have ground to be confident at Old Trafford. City are 2nd and  7 points ahead of Leicester with a match in hand as they had just beaten Aston Villa 2-1 to win the Carabo Cup. The amazing Kevin De Bruyne was rested and shall be ultra fresh for the important derby challenge. Aguero may be rested as City eye the Champions League. United are unbeaten in 4 matches and will be in for the battle. Despite Liverpool's dominance this season, City are still the team to beat. Only one key question left and that is which United will turn up? To me, City is a terrific team. United may sometimes rough them up successfully but this time I will pick City to win. 1-2.

Leicester City v Aston Villa - Leicester are in rapid decline. They have not won in 5 matches and lost 3 of them but have just won 1-0 over lower division Birmingham in the F.A. Cup. At the end of January Aston Villa have beaten Leicester 2-1 in the Carabao Cup but since then have not won a game but their last defeat was to Manchester City in the Carabao Cup Final by 1-2. Villa played with lots of grit and restricted City to only 4 shots on target. Leicester have not won since they have beaten West Ham in January so are in a bit of rotten form.  Villa must seized the day to get something. Draw. 1-1.