EPL 2020/21 - Game Week 15

Champions Liverpool are back on their perch at the top of the Christmas tree! When they lost 2-7 shambolically to Aston Villa early on, all knives were out about their demise. When one of their most important players Virgil Van Dijk had a serious knee injury followed by a string of other injuries to Joel Matip, Joe Gomez, Jordan Henderson, Andy Robertson, Thiago Alcantara, Trent Alexander-Arnold with Firmino off colour, Salah and Mane having Covid and even Alisson Becker was injured etc. it was all gloom and doom. The Reds are in a huge crisis! Most teams would panic and rush to go on a buying spree for a goalkeeper, defender, midfielder and striker but instead Klopp and his coaches knew their players and team and the dynamics well and brought in their youngsters. 

How have, Rhys Willaims, Nathaniel Philips and Curtis Jones shone! Unbelievavle! Even fabulous Fabinho who is a midfield linchpin switched so comfortably into a centre half and still excel there. Last week, Crystal Palace obviously a tough team was supposed to be their banana skin that would trip them out but not only did Liverpool ate the banana, they swallowed the skin whole. They won away, kept a clean sheet and scored 7 times! Each of the 7 goals were things of beauty. They were ruthless and made it looked so simple. This is Liverpool in crisis mode. 

Just when many are touting Tottenham as the biggest challenger, along came a much maligned Manchester United who put on an awesome display in that 6-2 win over Leeds bringing them up the ladder to 3rd, 5 points behind Liverpool with a game in hand. This impressive win makes them proper challenger if they keep up that performance. 

But let us not get carried away. Its a long way home and you every team will have to survive Christmas and the New Year where so many games will be squeezed in. Well, they including the sports journalists are saying Liverpool will win the title again while a few others are throwing in Chelsea, Tottenham, City and Manchester United into the fray. You can see why United fans are sometimes in despair and other times jubilant. If Liverpool win again, the Reds would have won the title 20 times and level with United. United winning it means 21 times. That rivalry will go on and on.

If you look at the tables around Europe, Juventus is in 4th. Real Madrid in in 2nd and Barcelona 5th. PSG is in 3rd. Only Bayern Munich and Liverpool are in 1st. Meanwhile Lionel Messi has overtaken Pele's record of goals scored for only one club. His goal against Real Valladolid was his 644th, one ahead of Pele's 643 for Santos. What a player!

Leicester v Manchester United - Leicester are in a proper place - 2nd in the table, 4 points behind Liverpool. 33 year old Jamie Vardy was the chief trouble-maker at Spurs - scoring from the spot and sending his header onto Alderweireld for an own goal. Much maligned OGS now seems like a tactical genius in one game. His Red Devils soared with an emphatic 6-2 win over Leeds. Although Scott McTominay created history of scoring twice in the 2nd and 3rd minute it was Bruno Fernandes who continues to shine since last season. He was already Europe's best before he came and just that he cost too much for many other clubs. His qualities are there for all to see. This will be the match of the week as the London derby between Arsenal and Chelsea would not be the same now. Don't get me wrong, United when in this devastating form can trouble any team but league games are not cup games and you have to maintain that form throughout. Also, Leicester in this season is not the same as Leeds who play with abundantly wild freedom. Both teams are in good form so a good game is to be expected and this match is the top billing for the week. Just note that Leicester City do not do draws. They either win or lose and after 14 matches they have won 9 and lost 5 and the only team without a draw. So United should beware or rejoice. United could win if they play like they did against Leeds but Leicester are not Leeds and if they play like they did Spurs, they too can get full points. 2-2.

Aston Villa v Crystal Palace - Dean Smith and his team were kept alive last season and now they have been a brilliant team, so enjoyable to watch led by the thrilling Jack Grealish. Villa have now registered 3 clean sheets. That was why Sam Allardyce's first game in charge at the Hawthorns ended up 0-3. Crystal Palace have been competitive and tough to beat but the mauling by Liverpool last week may have dampened their spirit. So how they respond is important but Villa are too good now. History stacked heavily against Palace as they have not beaten Villa for the longest time. Home win. 2-1.

Fulham v Southampton - Fulham battled to a 1-1 draw away to Newcastle. It is good to note that they remained unbeaten in 3 matches including a draw with Liverpool. You cannot fault Southampton's defeat to City as they continue to be very good even in defeat. Few teams get 48.3% share of possession, had 9 v 11 shots and created 7 v 10 chances against City. City were better but the Saints gave them some trouble and with some luck they might have gotten at least a point. Southampton's chief striker Danny Ings is out again with a hamstring injury but they do not just rely on him and have done well without him. Fulham have been threatening to break out of relegation zone but I feel the Saints may just nick this one. 1-2.

Arsenal v Chelsea - Arsenal are seriously in deep trouble. They have won only 4 times, drawn 2 and lost 8 times lying in 15th and that is just 4 points above relegation zone and this is relegation form. How did it become so bad? I do no think that the Gunners's problems are just on field or tactics. It is more serious than that and it could be that they have unhappy players. Arteta could have lost the dressing room. Of all times, they have to host Chelsea now in a London derby. The battling Blues are back after being down and out in their last two. A triumphant 3-0 win over West Ham has put them back as title contenders again just 5 points behind the leader? Arsenal's 1-4 exit from the EFL Cup by City only exacerbated their situation. The fact is they have not wo in 7 matches in in their last 5 home games. If they can conjure a win it will be a huge morale booster. I think they have to wait for their next matches with Brighton, WBA and Newcastle. Its a London derby so how low will Arsenal go? 1-2.

Manchester City v Newcastle - City are now in 8th with 23 points with a game in hand 8 points from the leader. Their 1-0 win over Southampton was hard earned. They also battled Arsenal into submission in the EFL Cup (4-1), a strong suggestion that they are back. Newcastle may offer little resistance and shall be pegged back most of the game and rely on quick counters. City have won all their last 11 home matches in this tie. City may boost their goal difference if the Magpies are not careful. 3-0.

Sheffield United v Everton - 10 men Sheffield United almost won their first game against Brighton. Brighton was a good opportunity for the Blades but Everton are in form so a home win looks unlikely and they may have to wait longer. Everton wer so good they have beaten Arsenal. Leicester and Chelsea but crashed at Goodison Park to Man Utd in the Carabao Cup. The Blades have not won a single game out of 14 and you feel that based on probability it has to come some time but the odds certainly favour Everton. 1-2.

Leeds v Burnley - Leeds United will play like Leeds under Marcelo Bielsa. Even in the thumping by United last week, they are still a very exciting team. If you are not having this DNA with courage, Bielsa won't want you. 5-2 win over Newcastle, 2-6 whacking by United. Contrast that to Burnley's fortunes and you can see Sean Dyche's fortunes have changed as his Clarets are now unbeaten in four. 1-1 against Everton,  1-0 away win over Arsenal, 0-0 away to Villa and now a 2-1 home win over Wolves. None was an easy game. Leeds attacking qualities cannot be questioned but it has been their failure to prevent goals that has been their weakness. Bielsa will have to do some fixing here for any Leeds games are interesting. They either got caught or they will catch their opponents. Burnley might just hold them with Nick Pope in consistently superb form between the sticks. 1-1.

West Ham v Brighton - Brighton have been pretty but so wasteful and that has been their story so far. West Ham have a reality check by Chelsea but still they should have a good season. The Hammers have never beaten the Seagulls in the Premier League era. Their last 4 outings also indicated a slight drop in their results. West Ham are capable of winning this simply because Brighton have been making small mistakes at the back and lacking goals upfront despite playing well and that is unfortunately trouble. 2-1. 

Liverpool v WBA - Did you see the 7-0 win? Liverpool were at their irresistible best when they hammered Palace 7-0 away at Selhurst Park. All 7 goals, every one of them were brilliantly crafted and were very good. Even Salah who came in the second half got a brace the second was a thing of beauty as he curled it in from outside but to me the best of the seven was by Firmino. He got the ball and passed to Robertson who then went on a trademark run and delivered an inch perfect cross to find the feet of Firmino who was running into position. With one touch, he brought the ball under control then poked it in with the outside of his right foot. Wow! Mane showed an unhappy face when substituted and rested as he has just have his best game in recent time with a great goal and an assist. 

Slaven Bilic got the Baggies promoted one year ahead of target. They played well but the results didn't come. He was sacked by his management after WBA held City 1-1. Aston Villa huge amount of money and they escaped relegation by the skin but now flourishing. Big Sam came in and promptly lost 0-3 to Aston Villa. Sure he will try to frustrate Liverpool but facing the Reds at Anfield and who had just dispatch Crystal Palace 7-0 may be jumping from the frying pan into the fire. His job as a Messiah to keep the Baggies up will not start from here. Probably they will sit very deep to frustrate Liverpool and the Reds will patiently build up play and probe. No problem if Liverpool repeat last week's performance. Mane is hungry after tasting blood and Salah was so good coming in as a sub. 3-0.

Wolves v Spurs - "The best team lost" again. Spurs' display was rather limp. With the team and players at their disposal, shouldn't Spurs be more adventurous? The Foxes had 17 shots and created 15 chances to Spurs' 8 and 6 chances but of course Mr. Mourinho has said before statistics are like badly cooked meat. With 2 straight defeats, he has to come up with a new menu real quick to get tasty again. Wolves can get stubborn but this season they looked off the pace. Spurs have history on their side as they have won in their last 3 visit to the Molineux. For the way both sides play, it could end up as a dull game. Jose Mourinho cannot afford another "best team lost". Spurs may lose Argentinian midfielder Lo Celso who has been a very important player to them.  Will Dele Alli play? He was such a brilliant player who has been repeatedly benched by Mourinho. Will it be a chance to resurrect  his career. He has to play and show his is the best team and win and will need to rely heavily on Kane and Son again. They just might. 1-2.

Wishing all friends and readers a Merry Christmas! Keep Safe! May you experience love, peace and joy!