EPL 2020/21 - Game Week 4

It was a stunning Game Week 3! Both Mancurian clubs put on horrific displays. Chelsea almost matched them but salvaged a point. "Daylight robbery!" a report shouted. Brighton had 53% possession, hit 18 shots at them against United's 7 and rocked their stanchion 5 times but lost 2-3 to a penalty after the final whistle was blown as called by VAR. Brighton were so good I thought United wore blue. Solly March - what a player! You should have watched Maupay's Panenka penalty. Super-cool! Here it is: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZM7G-_lFjj0

The Red Devils were actually the Lucky Devils. I have no worries for the Seagulls as they will not be easily beaten by others if they could carry on at this level but not many teams would be as fortunate as United. Bruno Fernandes' quote summed up United's attitude by saying that "the point is to score goals not hit the post or crossbar". Humility has gone amiss as Brighton outclassed their opponents that are worth maybe 4 or 5 times more in costs. Worse things may happen if they maintain that attitude. Solskjaer's honeymoon is truly over but was it his fault? Who appointed him? 

Everton went top of the table briefly as they won 2-1 away at Palace. Dominic Calvert-Lewin, its better for me to write down as DCL hit another after his previous hattrick and looks like fulfilling his potential as Ancelotti has described and writing his name in short will save me some ink. The Barcoders, I mean the Baggies (WBA) led Chelsea 3-0 at the Hawthorns and Lampard was rescued by three of his young English charges - Mason Mount, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Tammy Abraham to level at 3-3. Now we know WBA can score and Chelsea can't defend. Three goalkeepers were Man of the Match - Alex McCarthy's saves for Southampton led to Danny Ings' goal clinching their first win away at Burnley. Illan Meslier's saves at Bramall Lane and Patrick Bamford's goal was enough to seal Leeds' away win. Karl Darlow's saves also kept Newcastle safe with a point at Spurs. 

Manchester City's 2-5 defeat at the Etihad a the hands of Leicester confirmed a few things. It was a stunning defeat so bad it was the worst Guardiola defeat by such a margin. 33 year-old Jamie Vardy was the perfect storm to expose City as he ran riot with a hattrick adding to his two goals on opening day to lead the scoring chart once again. City dominated early proceedings but warning signs were there with lightning raids by Vardy and Harvey Barnes becoming a nightmare reality even though City led by a 4th minute goal beautifully taken by Riyadh Mahrez. Vardy's second showed how sharp he has been when he cleverly flicked a back heel to finish past Ederson from Tim Castagne's low cross almost similar to that wonder goal he scored for England against Germany's Neuer. Top class! Castagne has been a great signing so far. James Maddison came on in the 69th minute and by the 77th, hammered a wonder goal that was the final nail in the coffin that is worth repeated watching. Only two players have claimed a hattrick at the Etihad. One is Messi and the other is Vardy but Vardy has done it twice. Just a little shy of 34 years old, he must have been fully charged by Red Bull. Just why is James Maddison not playing for England?

When the ruling changed in that any hand ball in the penalty box means penalty, it is fair that it applies to all players and all teams. It takes the decision making and judgement calls away from the referees and render it emotionless. No human intervention. Hands have no place to hide and you get penalised regardless of intention. Frustrating and controversial. Do you believe that Aston Villa won 3-0 against Fulham in an away game at Craven Cottage. Rub your eyes, Villa have now won 2 cup and 2 league matches, that's four in a row and sitting in 4th position in the league table! 

Did you believe me when I predicted that Liverpool will win 3-1 at Anfield against Arsenal? Few believed me, even some Reds fans. There will be haters and doubters but Liverpool is a machine that never stops, superb players, great team, fantastic mental strength. Even when Robertson's miskick led to the Gunners' goal, he came back with one himself at the other end. Alisson's saves, Trent's assist, the fabulous Fabinho switching back to his original midfield mode, Wijnaldum's class in retention and possession and Naby Keita's  potential can be quite frightening. Once again, Firmino linked up play and Mane got his goal but it was Mo Salah playing a key role and looking as sharp as when he got his hattrick against Leeds. New boy Diogo Jota came on in the 80th minute and took only 8 minutes to get his first goal. Jota is technically as good as Mane, Firmino and Salah and he can play left, right or centre. He is already a Premier League veteran of several years at Wolves, scores quite a lot and also provide quite a bit but he is only 23 and has great potential. Liverpool only sign players that fit them not because they are famous or expensive and then develop them. The management is top class and Michael Edwards is a genius when he signed Jota who is not exactly cheap but the Reds need only pay 10% of it possibly by instalment in the first 12 months and they sold Ki Jana Hoever to Wolves for about the same amount so that like getting Jota for free. During a pandemic, this is pure wisdom!

Chelsea v Crystal Palace - Frank Lampard is badly in search of a win. It has been disastrous so far. He must be credited for developing youngsters like Mason Mount, Tammy Abraham and Callum Hudson-Odoi but after a 1-1 draw with Spurs in the EFL Cup but losing 4-5 on penalties, the pressure is mounting as they host a resurgent Palace side. History favours Chelsea who won 3 in a row at Stamford Bridge in the same tie but Palace have conceded half of Chelsea and  are 2 points ahead in 6th to Chelsea's 9th in the new season. His new charges Havertz and Werner have scored and Mount and Abraham also opened accounts. Chelsea have enough quality all round to win but Palace have been defending stoutly and sucker-punched you with a fast counter. I think Chelsea should win but also feel that the Eagles could steal. 1-1.

Everton v Brighton - The Toffees are on a hot streak. The Seagulls have been brilliant. If Brighton repeat their Man U performance then Everton will find it hard to win but they will find themselves nothing short of confidence as their stout midfield and prolific attack with DCL, Richarlison and Rodriguez. How good is Dominic Calvert-Lewin? Ancelotti has developed and improved him beyond belief. Hattrick on opening day, another goal in the second match and now another hattrick in the EFL Cup against West Ham. Everton look like they could do a Leicester this season. Brighton have never won here in 8 attempts and drew only twice. Both teams have been impressive so far but only Everton got the points but the way Brighton have been working and playing, the hard work should replace the lack of luck so far. Maupay is looking hot too. Ancelotti seemed to have finally converted them to be free-scoring winners. I like this Everton side but I also like the looks of Brighton. A high scoring draw perhaps? DCL to score again to celebrate his England call up looks a strong possibility too. 2-2.

Leeds v Manchester City - Marcelo Bielsa always sits on a bucket during matches. Few knew that he has a bad back since his playing days and that he walks to the four miles from his home to the training ground daily. His intense walk about during games and his crouching on a plastic bucket is his way of dealing with it. Leeds supplied the bucket complete with a cushion on top. City's new addition of players seemed to become part of the problem than solution. The big money signing of Portuguese international Rueben Dias alone will not immediately solve their problems. When they were trailing Leicester they did not respond but crumbled. Leeds offer a completely new challenge to City's game but it is also the moment of truth for Leeds. Another bad game and City may be in trouble. Leeds hit 3 against Liverpool and City's defence are a lot worse. Leeds go for the jugular and if they score first and early like they have done a few times within 15-20 minutes they have a chance at Elland Road especially against an uncertain defence that has just leaked 5 goals to Leicester. City have always bounced back after a defeat in all the seasons, sometimes in big ways. This is going to be an interesting match. A visit to the dentist for City. Patrick Bamford is doing well. He already has 3 goals to his name, a goal a game. Wow! Will City produce their style to tame Leeds? 2-3.

Newcastle v Burnley - The Magpies started surprisingly well,  disintegrated at home to Brighton, bounced back with a 7-0 thrashing of Morecambe in the cup and luckily got a draw at Spurs. Still not bad at all for a team often languishing but for their die-hard Toon Army fans, they deserve more. Burnley have not won a single league match and are immediately in early relegation form. Sean Dyche also deserve better. He is after all an elite coach of the non-elite clubs. How often has he come out with the goods despite scarce resources. When they lost at home to the Saints, they were probably without 7 or 8 of their first team players. I read that Burnley have not won at St. James Park since the 70s, around the year the VHS video tape was released. Newcastle could prosper if Callum Wilson scores again as he now has 2 goals while Burnley have not scored in their last two. 1-1.

Leicester v West Ham - Brendan Rodgers and his players had a plan for City last week and though they looked overwhelmed by their opponents early on, they never wavered and were very focus. The last time Leicester were so good, Jamie Vardy was go good, they led the table and won the title. Deja Vu? Can Leicester do a Leicester that they did the last time with that 5,000 to 1 odds? The Hammers started the season in disarray but what a comeback with the 4-0 hammering of Wolves that nobody saw coming but then they immediately fell 1-4 to Everton in the Cup. In the previous 8 meetings, the Hammers won just once but if West Ham can hammer Wolves 4-0 then anything is possible. David Moyes has Covid-19 and being isolated. He has proven that it can still be a success while Working From Home. The Foxes are looking so good that you could surely win unless David Moyes could devise a plan to stop Harvey Barnes who would be celebrating his England call up and red hot Jamie Vardy. Vardy is an extraordinary striker. Do watch his goal against Ederson, a top goalie for City which reminded me of his other similar great goal against Neuer and Germany. Very in-from. 3-1.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ha0d6ng5Ns (Vardy and James Maddison goals v City)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dCvPPGY8aUY&lc=Ugik-U9GMq0d2HgCoAEC (Vardy v Neuer, Germany) 

Southampton v WBA - After recording their first win at Burnley, the Saints have the opportunity to build on that with another win hosting WBA. The Baggies only win was a 3-0 victory over Harrogate, a team you have probably never heard of. However, be warned that they hit 3 against Chelsea in a 3-3 draw. WBA have not beaten the Saints since the late 70s. The irony is WBA have no problem scoring but they have big problems leaking goals. Danny Ings is continuing is hot scoring form from last season and 3 goals but there is an over reliance on him to score and that is not enough. 2-2.

Arsenal v Sheffield United - The Gunners wildered in the Anfield heat but under Arteta, the Gunners have more belief and ability by being more pragmatic. I personally think they will do quite well this season. Possibly the best of the rest like Manchester United, Chelsea and Spurs. Sheffield United's second season syndrome is in full view. So good were they last season. They are without a win even if you include cup games and have not scored a single league goal - the only team not to have scored. While they were winning by 1-0 margins often last season they have been losing by the same now. If y9u count from last season, the Blades have lost all 6 league games till now and have never beaten Arsenal way before VHS tapes were invented. Yu also wonder that since they have yet to score this season, which would be the probability - for them not to score or to score? Can they turn around like they have done before? Could it be here? Arsenal do have blips against sides like this sometimes so if they are not careful, Sheffield United could steal a point. 2-1.

Wolves v Fulham - Wolves were strangely subdued at West Ham. The 0-4 routing must have been a shock to them. The chance to bounce back strongly to rekindle their fire comes in the from of Fulham who are right at the bottom with ten goals conceded. Wolves have been very good for a few seasons so I do not think they are suddenly bad. Fulham will probably struggle to survive once again and they are bad in away games. They met Wolves 15 times but have never won. Destiny have brought them here but how different are their fortunes as they were promoted together in 2018/19. Fulham's consolation is that Wolves have not been up and running. This could be their chance for an emphatic win. 2-0.

Manchester United v Spurs - United's performance last week was atrocious. They were so average that the Seagulls dominated and you may have thought they were playing Bayern Munich and that United wore blue. Brighton had more than 53% possession, 18 shots against their 7, created 15 chances to their 5 and rocked their stanchion 5 times and had the gone in, United would have gone to the cleaners. They needed a penalty by VAR after the referee have blown the final whistle. Luck will not bring you through a long season. Paul Pogba, a world cup winner and highly touted star was forlorn. I think there are tons of players who could do better. Spurs were unlucky not to have won against Newcastle. They were not as fluent as they were against Southampton. The EFL Cup penalty win over London rivals and Jose's former employer is only temporary relief and Spurs are not consistent these days. Both need a convincing win here. United won 3-0 against Brighton in the cup but both were not their first teams. The Red Devils won 6 out of 7 meetings in the past at Old Trafford and Jose Mourinho was in charged of the singe defeat. It will probably all about Jose but both side will capitalize on gaining penalty to score. Harry Kane and Bruno Fernandes. Haha. Spurs have just beaten Chelsea 5-4 on penalties in the cup and followed with a 7-2 hammering of Maccabi Haifa in Europa where Harry Kane bagged a hattrick and even Lucas Moura scored. This could be a very good match and must be the match of the week. 2-2.

Aston Villa v Liverpool - Villa seemed to have turned around. Their start compared to the previous season have been amazing. 4 wins (2 cup and 2 league) with 3 clean sheets (2 in the league) was never heard of in a long time and now sitting proudly in 4th! Unfortunately, they are now hosting the Champions Liverpool who last week put Arsenal to the sword. So complete, masterful and powerful was the Reds' performance despite an error of going 0-1 down that it had the the fans, the press, even Roy Keane and Arteta purring. Someone wrote that Liverpool were so good they were chasing the Arsenal defence all the way to the team bus. Liverpool's campaign was not an easy start - Leeds United, newly promoted and crowned champions of the Championship (4-3), Chelsea having spent more than 200 million pounds (2-0) and Arsenal doing very well under Arteta (3-1). It is an arduous task for Aston Villa though last season they did make Liverpool sweat. Liverpool have won all 5 previous meetings. This is the biggest test for Villa to measure how they have improved. They have just added Ross Barkley on loan from Chelsea, someone with a lot to prove. Liverpool are favourites and Mane is hot but the latest news is that Mane like Thiago has tested positive for Covid-19. Both will be isolated and out for some weeks. What a pity as Mane has been unstoppable. Still Diogo Jota will get his chance to peddle his considerable wares. 1-3.