EPL 2020/21 - Game Week 18 (RIP Gerry Marsden)

"You'll Never Walk Alone!" Or simply "YNWA!" is the anthem of Liverpool FC and the words became famous in the 60s till now. The iconic song is the most famous in the football world. The original tune was written for a musical called Carousel in the mid-40s and have seen various cover versions that followed.

The one dearest to Liverpool FC was released by Gerry and the Pacemakers in 1963. The band/group was led by and named after their lead singer Gerry Marsden. Those days the music scene was dominated by Liverpool. Think the Beatles. Gerry and the Pacemakers found themselves in the UK charts Top Ten for ten weeks and four of it at number one. LFC played it for the first time in a 1963 match against WBA and since cemented in the hearts of the Kops all over the world. This is a song to turn to during the darkest storms, when you look to triumph over adversity and these are words to live by in life as well!

Of course Gerry Marsden was a Scouser and lifelong Liverpool fan. It is therefore a sad day when we found out about the passing of Gerry Marsden. Thank you Gerry. RIP and YNWA! 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OV5_LQArLa0 (Gerry and the Pacemakers)

Liverpool are leading the table level on point with Manchester United but with superior goal difference but Manchester United now have a game in hand after the Reds stumbled yet again in 0-1 defeat to Southampton at the St. Mary's. After the earlier two draws against WBA and Newcastle, they have only two points to show out of a possible nine. This is terrible form. United will leapfrog them to top the table when they visit Burnley on 13 January if they win which looks quite likely unless the Clarets have other ideas. Then by 18 January, Liverpool host the top of the table clash with United at Anfield and if United can win again they will stretch their lead not forgetting Manchester City have two games in hand and four points behind both Liverpool and United after a poor start are now firmly back in the thick of things and they may even be the league leaders soon if United do not seize the opportunity. Liverpool have lost some mojo since that impressive 7-0 hammering of Palace. They have not corrected the situation since that WBA draw, dominating with high percentage without the incisiveness they used to have.

Liverpool's performance was poor all over and they will need to improve a lot and improve fast. Trent Alexander-Arnold was the poorest in fact, almost throughout this season and he was culpable to let Danny Ings through to score though Ings was brilliant with that goal to beat his former team and I thought it was one that Alisson could save but he seemed caught out of position and is bizarre decision to come so far out of his line late on to try to intercept a ball almost left him red-faced. TAA became the worst in the premier league as he gave away the ball 38 times, more than any player this season. Liverpool did have a couple of decisions against them - one was a handball that should have been a penalty and the other was when Mane was hauled down. It left me wondering why Klopp tinkered by breaking his midfield to fix his defence. Surely Nathaniel Philips or Rhys Williams could have another good game. Klopp needs a massive motivation to his team as Manchester United awaits and the rest ready to pounce. Liverpool are slow starters yet again as they allowed the Saints to score within 2 minutes and chased the entire game thereafter without success. WBA packed a 10 men defence, Newcastle had goalkeeping heroics but at Southampton, Liverpool just lack the final ball as they pumped it too high, too heavy or too soft. What used to be their forte of chasing lost causes even when trailing or losing to winning has gone. Liverpool have squandered it. The rest are smelling blood. 

Leicester are 3rd, a point behind United having played a game more. Tottenham bounced back to claim 4th, 3 points behind Leicester. City and Everton are level on 29 points as Spurs but City have a game in hand. Southampton have gone up to 6th after a fine win over Liverpool and kudos to Ralph Hassenhuttl and his team also on 29 points. After that comes four teams on 26 points with Aston Villa in 7th followed by Chelsea and West Ham. Even Arsenal bounced back quickly by winning their last 3 and are just 2 or 3 wins to go up to 4th if others slack. That is how tight and open this season is. 

Liverpool have been faced with major setbacks with their injuries especially at Centre back but they are still leaders but have lost twice, having scored the most goals and having the best goal difference but have now drew blanks in their last two. Manchester United are the most in form team. Leicester have the hitherto to pose some challenges. Tottenham have the Kane and Son show back on track. City are still in with a shout as they have games in hand which if they win will be at 32 and 35 points. Everton and Aston Villa shall be hopeful of top 4 or top 6 but Chelsea have stumbled. Their great start, the promise that they have shown have gone flat. In their last 3 matches they have lost twice and drew once dropping to 8th on 26 points. If you stretch it back a bit, they have lost 4, drew 1 and won 1. Suddenly, Frank Lampard is finding himself in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's situation. Surely, he knew that a few good ones will bring him back, just like United.

I always find it strange that most people who become successful or when they hit a purple patch or in a successful period become arrogant or think that they are God's gift to mankind or that they could do no wrong. Let me share with you a famous Mike Tyson quote: "Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth". This quote will serve every team well bit it Liverpool, United, City, Spurs, Chelsea or any team. It is open season so a very good team or one that makes the most of the situation or one that is very lucky could win it. My only concern is for Sheffield United who made top flight record by not having a single win after 17 matches, almost half a season gone. Due to the EFL Cup and the F.A. Cup this weekend, the Premier League continues from Wednesday for Game Week 18 staring with a match between Sheffield United and Newcastle. 

Sheffield United v Newcastle - The Blades are without a win after 17 matches and have lost 15 times. They do not lose by a lot and quite often by an odd goal and have created an unwanted record in the top flight. Yet they were so good just one season ago. Their 3-2 win over third tier Bristol Rovers still counted as their first win this season and could this spur them to their first league win at home? The visiting Magpies may be the perfect team for them to steal a win but Newcastle showed some steel by holding champions Liverpool 0-0 but they have not won in their last 6 matches and have only drawn twice. This looks like a draw all over but I think Sheffield United should finally win one. Nobody would have predicted this. 2-1.

Burnley v Manchester United - The Clarets have lost only once in their last 6 matches away to Leeds and have won 3 times and now hosting Manchester United in very good form and remains unbeaten in 10 games having won 8 and drew twice and suddenly found themselves up there and winning this match will put them at the top of the table toppling Liverpool. It is a chance too good to be missed what they and their fans have been clamoring for. Burnley were stubborn at the Emirates and had beaten Arsenal 1-0. They kind of repeated that performance with a 0-0 result at Villa Park where in both matches goalkeeper was Nick Pope the Man-of-the-Match. Can they be good enough to stop the now rampant Red Devils? United were a bit fortunate to register wins over Wolves and Villa but they looked confident again. A psychological boost if they win here but the 0-2 defeat to City in the EFL Cup Semi-final showed that United are not favourites for the title yet. Burnley had a good rest due to postponement of their last match. United are unbeaten away and unbeaten in 10 games. The motivation is there for United to win and go top of the table for the first time and what a game it will be when they next visit Anfield. 1-2.

Wolves v Everton - Wolves have been a far cry from the previous year. They have been inconsistent  having beaten Arsenal and Chelsea but lost to Burnley, Villa and Leicester. Everton are just a few points behind the leaders even in their last four matches they have WLWL. Everton have won 3 of their last 4 away games but Wolves are still a difficult team to beat. 2-2.

Manchester City v Brighton - City were leading Chelsea 3-0 at Stamford Bridge at half-time. Were City so good or Chelsea that bad? They did not even play with any striker and yet they were fluent and though they have surprisingly only 45% of possession they overwhelmed Chelsea. Brighton had a good game and fought back to draw 3-3 against Wolves. City are now back to their brilliant best and the 2-0 win over their neighbours in the EFL Cup Semi-final proved that they are still the one to beat. Brighton have not won in their last 8 games and that makes this a daunting task. 3-1.

Aston Villa v Tottenham - Two teams that impressed me most have been Southampton and Aston Villa especially from where they came and where they are now. Villa in 8th are just merely 3 points behind Tottenham in 4th and are playing a beautiful brand and blend of soccer. Spurs on the other hand are traditionally a beautiful attacking team are now playing typical Mourinho soccer. Villa have attacking players that can unlock any team especially the eye-catching Jack Grealish who has been so consistently excellent in every match. Villa also have a surprising solid defence that conceded just 16 goals - one of the best. Their goals for and against are almost identical with Spurs. Aston Villa have 29-16 while Spurs have 29-15. So it is going to be an interesting match featuring two good attacking and defensive sides. Spurs are very good this season but have an over reliance on Kane and Son. Villa then are even better. They are one of the most improved sides from last season and they are capable of defending and equally adapt at scoring. 2-2.

Arsenal v Crystal Palace - The Gunners are flying again. Fly Emirates! They bounced back with 3 straight wins and though in 11th are just 6 points behind 4th. The Eagles recovered from their 0-7 thrashing to Liverpool and a 0-3 trouncing by Villa to hold Leicester 1-1 and defeating Sheffield United 2-0. The Gunners have not beaten Palace in their last 4 meetings but lately have been flourishing again winning their last four matches. They have turned around. Another win. 2-1.