EPL 2020/21 - Game Week 1

Welcome back to the New Normal. Its still new and anything but normal. When the EPL returned near the end of last season, many players and teams were affected, at least psychologically. A new condensed season is soon underway and we can be happy. As we aged, we experienced new things as I could see among friends. We gave up playing soccer, some gave up golf. Heck, some even gave up following and watching soccer. We need hobbies don't we? Things that we can be passionate about. What are you going to do when old and retired? Pay bills and die? The  lock down and months of WFH has changed everything. The entire world need a new reset. Well, at least we have some distraction by way of a new season of soccer league even as we live the life of a hermit in a cave.

Gareth Southgate's England over-achieved at the World Cup. Then he was bolder but now way too conservative. Jack Grealish had a great season but was originally overlooked. Selected ahead of him were Phil Foden (City) and Mason Greenwood (United). Their talents are undoubted but Grealish played out a whole great season. He is the type that carve out chances, assists and scores. What I like about him is his audacity with the ball much like Paul Gascoigne. He only got 15 mins as Southgate named like six defensive players against Denmark. Denny Ings too just had his best season over and got not much play time. Two steps back for England.

The 2020/2021 EPL season gets underway come 12 September. Welcome back Leeds United, Fulham and WBA. With much uncertainties still ahead, it is going to be quite a different season as most teams became more conservative in the transfer market save for a few. Liverpool had a stellar season as Champions and as title holder, Jurgen Klopp was asked about defending the title which he said that Liverpool will not defend the title but attack it. Haha, what a man. Was he being arrogant? No! If you truly know the man, he is all about ethics and real work. He is all humble and was just being humourous. I say things like that all the time too. The truth is that it is easier to win the title than to do it again. As it is, all teams would love to beat Liverpool as the League Champions, an European Champions and World Champions. The Reds' advantage is that they have about the same team and players for some years and the understanding and team spirit will be there. They have added steel and experience in the EPL and Europe as champions. Manchester City are still favourites as they have the finest players and a deep squad. Chelsea have boosted their squad with some exciting players having been back to spending the most. Manchester United's pedigree and history comes with added ambition. Arsenal and Tottenham are going through a phase of change.

Many other teams are striving to better themselves or at least to challenge for European spots or merely to survive and especially the promoted teams must hope to do well and avoid the drop. There will be only 8 matches in Game Week 1 as Manchester City, Manchester United, Aston Villa and Burnley will not feature yet. No big match of the day for the opening weekend but its always a big match being the opener for every team. We should be looking for the new kids on the block - Leeds, Fulham and WBA.

Meanwhile, do also look at the new kits on the block. Are the new kits getting uglier or prettier? I feel most of the third kit are really ugly. Go check them out.

Fulham v Arsenal - I remember Fulham in the days of Allan Mullery. Their unique kit of just black and white that resembles Germany and when Kevin Keegan was their director of football when they played really neat football. Fulham in South West London was founded in 1879 and they are London's oldest football club. It has been since 2017 when Arsene Wenger left Arsenal, the North Central London club so an immediate London derby gets underway in the first match of the new season. Fulham has only signed Anthony Knockaert from Brighton while Arsenal added Pablo Mari from Flamengo, Ganriel Magalhaes from Lille and a very good free transfer of William from Chelsea. The Gunners are still capable of flowing soccer and they will score with Aubameyang and Lacazette. They were quite good towards the end of last season. So welcome back Fulham but Arsenal to win. 0-2.

Crystal Palace v Southampton - Palace usually start slow, peak in the middle and then dwindle but they have since only added an interesting player from QPR - Eberechi Eze. Southampton are also slow starters and peak towards the end of the season and have added Kyle Walker-Peters (Spurs) and Mohamed Salisu (Real Valladolid). Looks to me like a draw here unless Wilfried Zaha or Danny Ings take things into their own hands. 1-1.

Liverpool v Leeds - Meeting of two champions, Liverpool of the Premier League and Leeds United from the Championship. Do you remember the great Leeds team under Don Revie who would later become England manager and that Charity Shield match where Kevin Keegan and Billy Bremner got sent off? Such were the fiery competitiveness of both sides. Leeds had a stellar season and won promotion. They have added Helda Costa, Rodrigo and Robin Koch but their star player who got called up for England duty - Kalvin Philips may be out. 

Liverpool have really added only Kostas Tsimikas as cover at left back. The lack of signing worried some Reds fans as unforeseen injuries may throw them off track. Their squad may proved to be thinner than a few of their main rivals. Their biggest strengths now are their togetherness for a few years, their winning mentality and great experience. Klopp needs to also inject new ways as all their opponents now know better how to handle them and all wants to beat the Champions. They need to be better than ever from the start. Their midfield may be solid but has to find a different way. The front three are still among the best anywhere but the lack of a high quality player to come in is a concern. 

Mikel Arteta said that playing Leeds is like going to the dentist as they are a nightmare for every team. Marcelo Bielsa is now a legend at Leeds and loved by their fans. Liverpool will control this match. Leeds will battle. But this is Anfield so a home win is realistic. How Liverpool will play is more important. 2-0.

Tottenham v Everton - Jose Mourinho should be happy starting with a home game but having Everton as visitors may not be as fun. His Spurs side have somewhat lost a bit of mojo and cutting edge. They have only signed Holberg from Southampton. Harry Kane was very good after his return from injury towards the restart last season. Son Heung-min will always be a threat to opposing defence. Everton have signed Allan (Napoli) and James Rodriguez (Real Madrid). The latter costs them 25 million pounds where he once was valued at 50 million pounds. He could light up Goodison Park some day. EVerton has fine attacking talents in Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison. Based on what I have seen of them last season, it would be a tight match. 1-1.

WBA v Leicester - WBA has a good signing from West Ham - Grady Diangrana. Leicester have only signed Belgian Tim Castagne from Atlanta. So both have settled squad but the Foxes have last season's top scorer Jamie Vardy at 33 still doing wonders. The teams from past seasons who were promoted after play-offs usually struggle unless they are going to have goals in them. 0-2.

West Ham v Newcastle - West Ham has only signed Czech Tomas Soucek. They were almost destined for the drop the last time but was saved by the goals of Michail Antonio. Sebastian Haller was out for most part and is back. The Hammers may struggle again after selling Grady Diangrana. Steve Bruce and Newcastle were surprising good at the end any may have added goals in them by signing Callum Wilson and Ryan Fraser from relegated Bournemouth. A draw is on the cards 2-2.

Brighton v Chelsea - Brighton has only a very good signing with the Adam Lallana from Liverpool. Chelsea have been the biggest spender. Hakim Ziyech for 36 million pounds from Ajax, Timo Werner from Leipzig for 48 million,  Kai Havertz from Leverkusen for 71 million and Ben Chiwell from Leicester for 45 million. Brazilian Thiago Silva at 35 joined them to help bolster theri backline from PSG. The previous three were once rumoured Liverpool targets. Frank Lampard never spent last season and now with such huge investment the pressure is truly on. Chelsea's problem was in defence but this attack with Tammy Abraham, Mason Mount, Oliver Giroud and Christian Pulisic could mount a serious challenge no doubt but if they gel. The Seagulls can play tough but I see an away win. 1-3.

Sheffield United v Wolves - Sheffield United were good last season despite being just promoted. They paid 19 million pounds for goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale from Bournemouth after United brought back Dean Henderson who had a great season. Wolves have been very good for a few seasons now and have broke a club record signing Fabio Silva from Porto for 35.6 million pounds. Both teams did not fare that well after the lock-down. Expect them to come back strong again this season. The Blades do not score a lot but also let in fewer. At Bramall Lane, they can hold their own against many teams. 1-1.

Hopefully, we will start with lots of goals. I feel the favourites for 2020/2021 season are Manchester City. It would be tough for Liverpool to continue in the same manner but they have been defying the odds for a few seasons. Chelsea have spent big and Manchester United have potential especially in attack like Chelsea. Arsenal and Tottenham would love to better themselves for a title shot or be among the big four. Let the season begin!