EPL 2020/21 - Game Week 11

What do we talk about this time? 

VAR

VAR is a nuisance which is slowly killing the game we love. They have surely got it wrong. It is a good invention and introduction but when wrongly applied has taken much joy from the game. Common sense tells us that the referees must decide and when in doubt could consult. Viewing VAR in slow motion? I do not have more to say. A slow-mo replay of parents playing with their children could look like child abuse. 

Arsenal

Mikel Arteta changed things and was looking the part but since then what has happened? The latest 1-2 defeat at the Emirates to Wolves was not only the third successive home defeat but the Gunners now sit 14th with 13 points from 10 games making it the lowest ever at this stage in the competition. The honeymoon is indeed over but the Europa 4-1 win over Rapid Wien with  2,000 returning fans gave them some belief back.

Chelsea v Tottenham

That was an anti-climax. I was expecting more. Lampard was bold and all attacking and Mourinho of course parked his bus but still I think these two could be challenging for honours. 

Edison Cavani

There are few players so creative and effective with their head to the ball as the 33 year-old Uruguayan Edison Cavani. He has done these all along in his career. He could really jump and leap like a salmon. Straight header into goal, onto the ground and in, glancing headers, left or right of his head, diving headers even those low to the ground, stooped headers and he always do so with great power and deadly accuracy and in a thousand different ways and angles. He could contort his body and direct and plant his headers. It is all about his movements and instincts. Perhaps he could even be the best in the world for that - the Maradona of headers. He is actually quite unbelievable. Form is temporary but class is permanent. Please watch:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0sm_QcP6Rs 

Aston Villa v Newcastle - Villa are the better team here but their last result were contrasting. The Villans lost 1-2 to West Ham away despite 66% possession and 16 shots with 15 chances created whereas the Magpies went to Palace and won 2-0. Jack Grealish has been Man-of-the-Match for both club and country for the umpteen times and he seems unstoppable and he scored a fine goal last week at West Ham. He is the most fouled player in the league and a very talented lad. Unfortunately, this game has been cancelled due to Coronavirus.

Burnley v Everton - Burnley have serious problems. Defence was once their forte but they crumbled under bombardment by City last week. Everton were good when they played Leeds but because Leeds were very good they lost 0-1 at Goodison Park. Burnley won this tie last season by 1-0. If the Toffees play up to form, it will be tough for the host. I expect Rodriguez, Richarlison and Dominic Cavert-Lewin to cause some damage. Leeds made it tough but Burnley may not be able to withstand if Everton play on the front foot. Burnley have just secured their first win over Palace (1-0) but offer little resistance to City (0-5) an it could have been worse with 20 minutes left. 0-2.

Manchester City v Fulham - City looked back to their best. Did anybody expect Fulham to win at Leicester? That was a great result if they look for inspiration but Fulham visited City 4 times and lost all of them without scoring with a total score of 0-13. A daunting task awaits. The positive is that Fulham are playing better. Will City do a Burnley here? How good was Riyadh Mahrez with his hattrick last week. He was unstoppable. City are now 11th after 9 games and shall be eager to build on. 3-1.

West Ham v Manchester United - The Hammers are having a stellar season. Dominated at home by Villa, they still got their win which was hardly the case in past seasons. Manchester United had a huge comeback at the St. Mary's where the Saints were leading 2-0 before their great comeback with big contributions from Bruno Fernandes and Edison Cavani. Cavani especially made a huge impact. After defeat by Liverpool the Hammers have won 3 in a row and are sitting in 5th while United are in 9th an have just lost 1-3 to PSG at Old Trafford in the Champions League. That is not a good way to prepare for this visit. Marcus Rashford scored against PSG and remains a great prospect. You may also think that with Bruno Fernandes and Cavani they may wreak havoc here to continue their great away record this season. Jarod Bowen is having a big season and Sebastian Haller has scored and with Michail Antonio back they could make things uncomfortable for the Red Devils especially if they could keep it tight at the back. United are the comeback kings of this season. Will it be another like last week? David Moyes would love to prove a point and the Hammers may provide an upset. 2-2.

Chelsea v Leeds - Chelsea will be another big test for Leeds but Leeds are also a big test for Chelsea. Leeds were excellent at Goodison Park and won 1-0 against a very good Everton and I saw that Kavin Philips was outstanding and why he is called the Yorkshire Pirlo. Leeds play against every team the same way - on the front foot. Leeds are a team that can beat anyone anytime for the way they play. It will be an entertaining game to watch. Chelsea have been bold and quite awesome. They have just returned from Sevilla in the Champions League and won 4-0 courtesy of Olivier Giroud who scored all four! Giroud has scored some great goals for Arsenal in the past but has been a bench warmer at Chelsea though he plays and scores for France regularly. His 4 goals here made Champions League history for being the oldest player to have scored a hattrick as he is just short of being 34! With their deep squad and rich attacking talents in Kai Havertz, Christian Pulisic, Timo Werner, Mason Mount and Hakim Ziyech, they are spoilt for choices but they have yet to meet Leeds United, official dentist of the EPL. They are not visiting the dentist but the dentist comes calling. Leeds held Arsenal 0-0 and had Everton beaten away (1-0). Chelsea are soaring at the moment and tends to get the early goal. If Leeds could hold them long enough, they could get impatient. It looks a home win but Leeds can surprise. In their last two games they have recorded 48 shots and played at a blistering pace but Leeds have to watch the attacks down the flanks. 2-2.

WBA v Crystal Palace - The Baggies got their first win courtesy of Sheffield United who are now the only team without a win. Palace crashing at home to Newcastle was not something to build on but a wake up call for their second straight defeat. AFter a bright start Palace are languishing. On the other hand WBA are playing well as their result shave shown 0-1 defeat to Spurs and Man Utd. They deserve a little better so I think a home win here is not impossible. 1-0.

Sheffield United v Leicester - The Blades are having a disastrous season. The have scored only 4 times in 10 games and conceded 16 times. Leicester, once leading the chart have now not win for 3 games with 2 defeats and a draw and dropped to 4th. Both will be looking to reinstate themselves with positive result. Sheffield United scored just one goal at home this season while Leicester have scored 13 away. The only good things is that they are hosting the Foxes who have not won in their last 4 matches in all competition the last was a 0-1 defeat to Zorya in the Europa. Obviously, they need to put their season back and Sheffield United who have yet to win a game offers that opportunity. 1-2.

Spurs v Arsenal - The story of two London teams have gone separate ways at least where the current standings tells us. Although Kane and Son have not scored in their last two games they are still a deadly combination. Spurs have been winning and undefeated for sometime and now topped the league. Arsenal are in their worse position ever left behind in 14th. There is an urgent need for them to start winning and getting points, may I say even desperate need. Based on current form and result, it may be hard to fathom Arsenal to win here especially with Mourinho making things tough. Arsenal roared back to life with a good 4-1 win over Rapid Wien while Spurs stuttered a bit with an away 3-3 draw at LASK. Their talisman Harry Kane is a doubt and that is a real concern but Son found his scoring boots again. SPurs would love to maintain their standing while Arsenal will be under some pressure for a result. While Spurs have been very good with their results we cannot discount Arsenal and Lacazette is in form. This is also a London derby. Problem is Harry Kane in not a certainty to start. 2-2.

Liverpool v Wolves - Liverpool were really off-colour but then could still get full points against a spirited Brighton but were denied by VAR on at least an off-side and at the end a dubious VAR penalty that was awfully wrong. Danny Welbeck and Andy Robertson had a toe clip which should never even been an incident but VAR's slow-mo will make parents playing with their children look like child abuse. It has all gotten so silly and such a killjoy. The Reds' season has been been under threat and wretched from early on with so many ill and injured and the list continued to get longer including the latest casualty Alisson Becker. What happens when they run out of players? Yet, Liverpool have responded positively except for a couple of blips against Aston Villa and Atalanta. They are joint-top of the league behind Spurs on goal difference and top of their Champions League group. So far, quite a few have responded and stepped up like Rhys Williams and Nathaniel Philips. The versus Ajax in came Caoimhin Kelleher, a 22 year-old Irish who have not even played in the league but was Man-of-the-Match. Neco Williams then swung in quite an outrageous cross that fooled the goalie and somehow Curtis Jones keen anticipation paid off when he flicked in for goal with the outside of his right foot. Both are just 19 years of age and became the Champions League youngest pair for a goal. Meanwhile Wolves top goal getter Raul Jiminez is out due to a head injury but in their last game Neto and Podence have scored but they do not do so as regularly as Jiminez. Wolves may prove stubborn but the Reds should prevail. Caoimhin Kelleher is likely to start in preference over Adrian as Alisson Becker has a hamstring. He used to play as a striker and midfielder so he is very good with his feet and distribution. Gini Wijnaldum will play a key role. He is so excellent in protecting and redistribution but most under-rated excelling further in with goals when he plays farther forward with the Netherlands. Sadio Mane has been off form. It is time for him to strike.  2-0.

Brighton v Southampton - Brighton must feel strongly encouraged for their draw against Liverpool but so too Southampton who were so good against the Red Devils and yet lost. They do not deserve to lose. James Ward-Prowse' stocks will continue to rise. He had an assist and a goal and that free-kick goal against De Gea was out of this world. He scored at the near post from a difficult angle and yet his shot bent and squeezed through a small gap between the post and De Gea's fingers. Watch:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YmT9XzL6WHk (v United)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WeLdl2YvGzM (JWP)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXk-_LA0dCs (JWP)

Not since David Beckham have I seen such a talent so he is going to be very precious for Southampton and England. A lethal weapon. It will be a good game. I shall pick a draw. 2-2.