EPL 2020/21 - Game Week 8
Yet another great weekend of football last week and after 8 Premier League games, the Premier League table reads:
(1) Liverpool, (2) Leicester, (3) Tottenham, (4) Everton, (5) Southampton, (6) Wolves, (7) Chelsea, (8) Aston Villa, (9) Arsenal, (10) Manchester City. Among the Big Six, Manchester United are languishing in 15th place. Bottom three WBA, Sheffield United and Burnley are still without a win.
(1) Son Heung-Min - 8 goals, (1) Dominic Calvert-Lewin - 8, (3) Mohd Salah -7, (3) Jamie Vardy - 7, (5) Harry Kane - 6, (5) Patrick Bamford - 6, (5) Callum Wilson - 6, (8) Danny Ings - 5, (8) Wilfried Zaha - 5.
After this week's excitement it will be a slow burner as the EPL have an international break to steal our fun for a week. When you are winning, the stoppage halts your momentum but when your team is suffering injuries it is a welcome relief.
Finally, we say goodbye to Sir Sean Connery. Not only was he the best Bond ever, he made Bond his own and he played so many other roles with such distinction with his legendary screen presence. Did you know that he was once a footballer who would later love golf? Sir Matt Busby spotted him and wanted to sign him for Manchester United but he rejected it as he was already 23 and he reckoned that a footballer's career is short and his best days may be over by 30 so he became an actor instead. RIP.
With the mid-week games in the Champions League and the Europa thrown in, matches are coming fast and furious. Injuries, suspension and fatigue will set in. With no home fans yo give teams an advantage, games are going to be somewhat topsy turvy. More to come...
Brighton v Burnley - Brighton are in 16th place, probably the most undeserved of the lot to have only a win based on how well they have been playing where in their last match the Seagulls actually dominated Spurs with 57% of possession. Burnley are currently a pale shadow of themselves. Brighton must surely see this as a game to win but Burnley may see the same too. The Clarets used to be able to bruised noses even of the mighty and their next 2 matches may give them a chance for redemption starting from here as the big teams are coming for them after that. However, based on probability Brighton is due a win but history suggested otherwise as the Clarets remained unbeaten in their last four visits. May not be an exciting game to watch at an ungodly hour here. 2-1.
Southampton v Newcastle - Southampton were very good! Their giant 1.99m defender Jannik Vestergaard has already notched tow goals this season. James Ward-Prowse hit a brace of wonderful free-kicks. He was very good last season but this season, he has been promoted to be his team's captain and was selected for England. More to come from him for sure and he will be a key player for England especially on set pieces. Danny Ings continued his great form of last season. Boy, you should have seen his goal but he has an awkward knee injury and likely to be out. But allowing Villa to come back at them from 0-4 down to end at 3-4 posed a new question mark. Jack Grealish produced and outstanding performance for Villa. Previously, the Saints depended on Ings for the goals but now his team mates are chipping in especially James Ward-Prowse. You will have to adore Callum Wilson. He always gets the goals. The Magpies were smart to snapped him from Bournemouth. Did anyone saw it coming when Newcastle surprised Everton with a 2-1 win and were leading 2-0. It was a solid performance where they could build on as history favours them as they remained unbeaten by the Saints in 6 outings and won 3 of them but Southampton have won their last two home games 2-0. I pick a Saints' win. 3-2.
Everton v Manchester United - Everton were surprising poor when they got undone by Newcastle. With the absence of the aggressive Richarlison and the creative James Rodriguez, the cutting edge was gone leaving Dominic Calvert-Lewin almost on his own but yet he scored a face-saving goal at 90+2 minutes to bring his season's tally to 8 goals. Manchester United were even worse as they huffed and puffed but got their own house blown down by a solid Arsenal performance where their hoodoo of a winless streak against top six sides for 29 matches came to an end and nowhere was it sweeter than at Old Trafford. The Red Devils played very well and decimated RB Leipzig because their opponents play a high line but against teams that sits back they have problems. United have 7 points from 6 matches. United have been unpredictable but now so predictable as having lost 0-1 to Arsenal at home they imploded once again in Turkey when they were gunned down 1-2 by Istanbul Basaksehir. Poor defending, lack of precision and inability to get back into the game saw them defeated twice in a row. Suffering a third defeat at Goodison Park could be the last straw that broke the camel's back. There will be great pressure on United so how will they respond. Positively in a big way or succumb once again and be worse than their current 15th position. United are in wretched form and have twice at Goodison Park in 7 attempts but their away record has been 100%. Draw. 2-2.
Crystal Palace v Leeds - Both teams are level on points now. Palace drew a blank and lost 0-2 at the Molineux. Leeds were taught a 1-4 lesson by Leicester at Elland Road. Bielsa-ball has suffered a setback. This match could go either way because the Eagles will sit back and hit you with a counter while Leeds' gung ho style reminds me of Liverpool under Klopp when he started - breath-taking all-action attacking soccer but could be hit at the back. Leeds are good away having won 5 out of 6 games especially Patrick Bamford who has 5 away goals. I believe Leeds will bounce back to win. It is between Zaha and Bamford but Leeds have more ammunition and angles. 1-2.
Chelsea v Sheffield United - Chelsea and Lampard's stocks are rising. Just as he was criticised for leaking goals, the Blues have now not only stopped the bleeding but have done so continuously. They have kept 5 straight clean sheets in all competition. Not only that, they are also purring winning their last three games 4-0, 3-0 and 3-0 the first two were away from home. You will feel for the Blades who have been feisty but have nothing to show with just one point. Chris Wilder was offered by many as the best coach last season but Sheffield United made Arsenal (1-2), Liverpool (1-2) and City (0-1) sweat and only lost narrowly. A Sheffield United win would be a shock but Chelsea just could not beat them last season. 2-0.
West Ham v Fulham - The Hammers have been very good. 4-0 at home against Wolves, 3-0 away to Leicester and coming back form 0-3 t0 level 3-3 at Spurs and 1-1 against City only to lose 1-2 to Liverpool at Anfield means that West Ham are going to be very good this season if they can sustain the form. Though Fulham won for the first time versus WBA, it will not be enough to match their host. Pablo Fornals has been a revelation and they have the basis of a strong midfield with Declan Rice, Tomas Soucek and Jarrod Bowen. Once Michail Antonio is back they would be firing. Fulham finally won a football match! Sometimes, in this kind of game there can be a surprise but I am sticking with West Ham who should be full of confidence. 2-0.
WBA v Spurs - The Baggies are still without a win and fired blanks at Craven Cottage against a Fulham side leaking goals and now having to host Spurs who are leading the chart with 18 goals, the highest for any team but in recent games, they have slowed down winning with just one or two goals but still Harry Kane and Son have been firing away. Spurs went to Bulgaria and won 3-1 where of course Harry Kane got their first goal where they led the group now but be aware that SPurs have not won at the Hawthorns in their last 3 visits so they have to use their away form which has been 100% so far this season. Kane and Son to continue to prosper. 1-4.
Leicester v Wolves - Brendan Rodgers is working wonders again. There are no one like Jamie Vardy who at 33 is still unstoppable. He simply makes things look so simple and he is so effective against any kind of opposition. He scores often even against the top teams and the best teams but Wolves have slowly found their feet and now unbeaten in four winning three of them. Jamie Vardy was rested for their Europa tie with Braga which the Foxes easily won 4-0 and lead their group with 3 wins. In their last four meetings, Wolves have not lost but won only once. It will be more than Vardy versus Jimenez. 3-2.
Manchester City v Liverpool - City seemed to have lost their cutting edge. David Silva could be the reason. Or even Aguero, Jesus. While they could still dominate teams, the clear and big wins are gone. A win at the Etihad will be a huge boost.
Few teams are are master of responding to adversity than the Reds but the bad habit of conceding first is irksome simply because you then have to chase a game and some days when even your best diligence is not enough then you are done for. It has to stop. I have previously mentioned that with key players like Van Dijk and Fabinho out, the others will have to step up and respond and how have Liverpool responded. Klopp used 19 year old Rhy Williams in the Champions League and he played well but he surprised all when he named Nathaniel Philips against West Ham to chilling effect. He hardly put a foot wrong and was easily the Man of the Match. He completely nullified Sebastian Haller who could only matched him in height as both are 1.9m such that Haller was replaced later.
Rhy Williams played again against Atlanta in the Champions League. Atlanta was so good last season in the Champions League and now fourth in Serie A and they have been excellent in Serie A for the last 3 seasons. They also ahev scored 6 goals in 2 UCL matches. Even Curtis Jones played. The Reds were at their rampaging best as they put o a 5-star performance where TAA, Jones and even Joe Gomez each had an assists and the front three all scored with new boy Diogo Jota scoring a hattrick. How good was Jota? It was the biggest win ever for an English team on Italian soil. Just go look at his 3 goals - sheer brilliance. So was Salah and Mane. No matter how much we love to see Bobby Firmino, he has been below par and deserved a much needed rest. Bobby is still a brilliant player and he will be back but right now Jota is the man in great form. Jota has been a duck to water and seemed like he has been playing for Liverpool for years. In 10 matches, Jota has scored more goals than any other player since Robbie Fowler in 1993. The evidence was there that they are back to their brilliant best. They were aggressive, sharp and quick. Mo Salah while continuing his hot scoring streak is now a more connected player as he added an assist.
Now City lay in wait at the Etihad and who themselves got a fine 3-0 win over Olympiacos. A great match is on the cards. Hold your breath. Gabriel Jesus showed the killer instinct that City has been missing. City played Ake and Stones and resting Laporte and Dias perhaps keeping them for Liverpool. Whatever they have both done in the Champions League was over and here it depends on what they are going to do for the match. I just know that it could be mouth-watering. In the last 3 matches at the Etihad, City won. Occasionally, such a big game can be a dull affair. I hope not but let there be goals and I think a draw is probable but Liverpool seemed to have hit a purple patch and may even win this one. 1-2.
Arsenal v Aston Villa - The Gunners came back from a home defeat to Leicester to best Dundalk in Europa and away to Man Utd. They are hosting a Villa side that started the campaign by fling away but have since been knocked down to earth after suffering two home losses to Leeds (0-3) and Southampton (3-4). They were bullied by the Saints in the first half but came roaring back with 3 goals in the second. If they start like they did with Southampton then the Gunners are onto a joy ride. The Gunners now lead their Europa Group with 3 wins the latest being a 4-1 victory over Molde at the Emirates.
Jack Grealish, there in none like him. He has outclassed so many defenders and as he now operates on the left of Villa's front three, all right full back will hate playing against him. He is just phenomenal and his mesmeric footwork and audacious crosses and passes amid very tight spaces make him a joy to watch and opponents squirm but Arsenal's home form is good. Surprising Villa have more shots than the Gunners. I have watched Villa play and have been impressed and believe they could hurt Arsenal and cause an upset. 2-2.
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