EPL 2020/21 Game Week 6

EPL is like K-Drama with its plot twists and turns, drama, controversies, surprises and all action. Everton came back twice to draw at Goodison Park and showed that this could be their special season under Ancelotti. They will take points from the rest of the teams so they had better watch out. Liverpool played on the front foot and dominated the ball and the early Mane goal was the evidence. They looked shaky at the back at times but the midfield was solid and Thiago was all class in his first full game. Oh, that pass to Mane. The front three were sharp especially Mane who is back with a vengeance and what a strike from Salah who got his 100 goals becoming the 3rd fastest 100 goals in a Liverpool shirt. Both sides showed that they are very good. 

But the VAR and the refereeing were bad. So was Jordan Pickford's thuggish two footed knee-high career-ending tackle on Van Dijk rendering out of action with a serious ACL injury that could see him out for many months or even the whole season. Even more shocking was the focus on offside and even if it was, Pickford should see red! In such cases, those that caused serious harm to others should be banned for the same period of time the victim is out. Just saying but its not gonna happen. Worse was to come when Mane was ruled offside as he created Jordan Henderson's winning goal. What is VAR's obsessions with body parts and armpits? Just watch the feet. Mane was clearly onside. Richarlison's tackle on Thiago was equally bad in which he rightfully saw red. Pickford did make two good saves from Joel Matip's darting header and Trent's free-kick but he is going to be a liability to Everton and England. So too Richarlison's temple. 

Chelsea had a great start. Timo Werner demonstrated why Liverpool wanted him and he wanted Liverpool but was undone by the pandemic so it did not materialised. He was receiving a pass and dummied his opponent then he dragged the defence wide right before unleashing a low diagonal to his left. The second was equally brilliant as he received a bouncing ball and lifted it over the goalie and rushed forward to head in with two defenders closing in. Unfortunately their defence once again caved in and credit to the Saints. Spurs have been left fuming after leading 3-0 by the 16th minute and many thought it would be a blood bath. How good is Harry Kane and Son and when both combined? Kane's 60 yard pass that curled and landed to the feet of the onrushing Son would have studio commentator Glenn Hoddle smiling. It was Hoddle-resque. HIs second was stunning and he got the a ball with a sea of defenders around him. He nutmegged the first and shot quickly through all. He leapt high and glanced in the second. However, it was shocking that they let West Ham back to level at 3-3 with gola in the 82nd, 85th and 90+4 minutes. You just have to watch the scorcher from Lanzini. What a goal! 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4PMzZVNqzE (Spurs v West Ham)

Aston Villa who were almost relegated is not the only team with a 100% record when they beat Leicester away with a Ross Barkley goal in the 90+1 minute. What a signing he has turned out to be as I have told you. Two goals in two games. Meanwhile, Leeds dominated Wolves and yet lost 0-1 at Elland Road. The Wolves are back. The Champions League is back and there will now be mid-week distractions. It is gonna be a crazy season! Total unpredictability. 

Aston Villa v Leeds - Unbelievable! Just unbelievable that Villa is the only team that has 100% wins 4 out of 4! Last season the Villans spent a lot and were not a bad team but somewhere could hardly win and barely escaped relegation but Dean Smith has recruited astutely this time. Emiliano Martinez has been putting some great shifts between the posts. Ross Barkley as I told you previously was deemed surplus to requirements at Chelsea and was snapped on a season-long loan. Ollie Watkins was the lower division top scorer and signed from Brentford. You must be thinking the bubble must burst some time soon. Leeds United are Leeds the way they are under Marcelo Bielsa. Even when they lost at home (0-1) to Wolves, they have played well. Villa now wins all the time so far and conceded few goals to be the best defence. 2-2.

West Ham v Man City  - The Hammers hammered Spurs, coming from 0-3 by the 16th minute to hit back with goals from 82nd, 85th and 90+4 minutes. What a glorious comeback! Surely they have belief now. City dominated Arsenal and won 1-0 but did not looked all that powerful. Perhaps they missed Kevin De Bruyne. History favours City of course especially in recent times. West Ham thrashed Leicester and the awesome comeback against Spurs. However, City have just won their Champions League opener against Porto 3-1. Not easy for the Hammers but then can you rule out a surprise in these times? 2-3.

Fulham v Crystal Palace - Fulham have improved much. They dominated Sheffield United, something you do not expect. Ademola Lookman really look the man for a few games now so no surprise he got a really good goal. Palace were very lucky at home. Zaha scored from a controversially soft penalty given and that was their only shot at goal all game with zero chances created against Brighton's 20 shots and 15 chances created. It will be a total surprise if this match turns out high scoring. Probably a draw. 1-1. 

Liverpool v Sheffield United - The Colossus Virgil Van Dijk is now out for many months and maybe the whole season. Some quarters are writing off Liverpool. It did not helped the Reds are conceding goals even before that. While it is true that a player with such ability and importance goes missing it will affect any team. The aerial dominance during set pieces, the imperious defending, the long range launch for the ball to reach Salah, etc. You can sit down and cry all you like but nothing will change the situation, It is how you react to it that counts. This means an opportunity for the likes of Joel Matip and Joe Gomez to step up. Maybe even Nathaniel Philips, youngsters Rhy Williams, Billy Koumetio and Sepp van den Berg but they are inexperienced and too young. In a crisis, sometimes heroes appear. Or the Reds may be forced to sign another quality defender in January as Gomez and Matip seem injury prone. Otherwise Klopp may use Fabinho as a make shift since he has excelled in the role several times in the past. You simply cannot replace a player of Van Dijk's calibre as he oozes confidence and belief to players around him and is a great leader. 

Klopp may have to moderate and adjust his team without VVD but Liverpool's DNA is not expected to change much. The high defensive line, the pressing, etc. They just need to know that they will be without him for a long time. They have just proven it with an away 1-0 victory over Ajax in the Champions League where the much criticised goalie Adrian made a couple of crucial saves and Fabinho was again brilliant and was easily also MOTM. Maybe Klopp's faith in his men has paid off. Ajax is a very good team with many talented youngsters even when some of them were sold after the stellar season they had including in the Champions League. The world was watching how the Reds would cope. Adrian, Fabinho and Gomez showed it by stepping up. A very good result indeed considering Real Madrid lost 2-3 at home to Shakhtar Donetsk and Athletico Madrid got thrashed 4-0 away to Bayern Munich. Liverpool were without Alisson, Thiago and Van Dijk and the team especially rose to the occasion. Klopp could even changed his entire front three within the hour as Minamino, Jota and Shaqiri came in. 

The Blades just got their first point last weekend at home to Fulham and have only scored twice this season. It will be a tall task at Anfield. Liverpool kept a clean sheet at Ajax. Sheffield can make things difficult by defending in numbers so they are hard to break down. 2-0.

Man United v Chelsea - The bad stuffs said about Solskjaer has quietened down. If you go to St. James Park and had Newcastle beaten 4-1, you are good. Then you went to the Le Parc des Princes and had PSG with Neymar, Mbappe and Di Maria beaten 2-1 and not to lepak would have certainly brought back some real belief. Marcus Rashford is developing to be among the finest. Chelsea started on the front foot and looked like cruising against Southampton when leading 3-1 but ended up flat at 3-3. United will come into this match full of confidence but beware what happened when they met Spurs not long ago. Timo Werner may need some stopping but if the Red Devils could stop Di Maria, Neymar and Mbappe what is the problem. Aaron Wan-Bissaka showed no respect to Mbappe and especially Neymar and just recently scored his first goal for his team despite wearing a kit that resembled a zebra in prison uniform. Chelsea opened their own campaign in the Champions League with a 0-0 draw at home to Sevilla despite fielding Pulisic, Kavertz, Werner and Mount. Solskjaer walking the tight rope has become a hero again. Will he be hero or villain overnight? Lampard and Solskjaer are similar in that they were both thrusted to the front being former players of their respective clubs as legends. Managerial skill-wise it has been topsy turvy taking turns to be heroes one moment and villains next. So who will be the hero and who becomes villain here when the game is over? 3-3.

Southampton v Everton - This should be an interesting match as the Saints came back from the dead at Stamford Bridge. Everton were the same or even better when they came back twice against Liverpool. Dominic Cavert-Lewin could not stop scoring and now has 7 goals in 5 games. If you add hit hattrick in the EFL Cup and one for England and he has 11 in 7 matches. Wow! While not small he is not the biggest lad but he has a certain Ronaldo like hang in the air as the equalising goal against Liverpool has shown. He is so hot everyone expects him to score every game. How can he be stopped even if Richarlison will be sitting out for his thuggish tackle on Thiago. Ancelotti has his plans and the resources. The Toffees have won just twice in 10 visits to the St. Mary's. Southampton lack consistency but can always surprise. Everton have a great story to tell this season. The players to watch are Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Danny Ings.  James Rodriguez may have something to say too but he is apparently out for this tie due to an injury so with him and Richarlison missing, DCL alone wil find it tougher. 2-2. 

Wolves v Newcastle - Wolves were resilient at Elland Road when they had Leeds beaten. That was quite something to kick start their campaign. Wolves are experts in winning 1-0 but somehow the Magpies have a good record against Wolves at the Molineux. 2 wins and 4 draws. Their last 3 matches ended 1-1. There is a trend there but during pandemic times there seems to be no trend. 2-2.

Arsenal v Leicester - The Gunners have certainly improved under Arteta but Mesut Ozil seems doomed. I was surprised Lacazette sat out the match till he came in way late. Leicester suffered without Soyuncu and their top scorer Jamie Vardy and lost 0-1 at home to Villa. Their form have wildered after a scintillating 5-2 win at City. Arsenal have not lost to Leicester at home for the longest time. It keeps us harping on that they had City beaten at home 5-2. It could be an exciting match especially if Jamie Vardy is back. Though Arsenal emerged 2-1 winners over Rapid Wien away, their rise this season is a mixed bag and may not be so rapid. Thomas Partey did give them hope. The Foxes themselves started their Europa campaign with credit as 3-0 winners over Ukrainian side Zorya with Maddison, Barnes and Iheanacho getting a goal each. 3-2.

Brighton v WBA - Brighton have been playing well without the results to show. 15 chances created with 20 shots to Palace's 0 chances created and one shot and they drew 1-1. WBA have shown to be quite resilient. They actually dominated Burnley and Nick Pope saved Burnley in that 0-0 draw at the Hawthorns. The Seagulls have the 3rd highest number of shots this season just behind City and Liverpool. Brighton have been playing well often but just could not have the luck to win. This may be the time for them to keep going and be rewarded. 3-1.

Burnley v Tottenham - The Clarets are not having a good campaign like seasons before and are they going to leave it late again? They can't just rely on their keeper Nick Pope to save them now and then. Spurs are in a conundrum. 3-0 up against the Hammers by the 16th minute and making the match looked like a bloodbath, they totally collapsed and ended up 3-3. This is very unMourinho but Spurs have plenty of goals in them as they lead the table with 15 with 5 matches played. Son Heung-Min is now level with 7 goals with Calvert-Lewin and Harry Kane has 5 and running away with his 7 assists. Wow! Nick Pope will be a busy man. Last season at this venue, Burnley held Spurs but Spurs lost just once in the last 12 meetings. Spurs are playing great save for that late collapse at West Ham. Harry Kane and Son are having the times of their life. After all, Spurs cruised to a 3-0 win over LASK in the Europa with Son scoring again coming on only in the 62nd minute and Kane did not feature. 1-4.

Carpe Diem season.