EPL 2020/21 - Game Week 20
The half-time report after 19 games in this pandemic season reads: (1) Manchester United - 40 points, (2) Manchester City - 38 points with 2 games in hand, (3) Leicester - 38, (4) Liverpool - 34, (5) Tottenham - 33 with 1 game in hand, (6) Everton 32 with 2 games in hand, (7) West Ham - 32, (8) Aston Villa - 29 with 2 games in hand, (9) Chelsea - 29, (10) Southampton - 29 with 1 game in hand. Arsenal are in 11th.
Liverpool are off their perch and have their 68 game unbeaten run at fortress Anfield ended. They have not won in five matches and have not scored a goal in four league games. However, not too many point separates them all. A couple of wins, defeat or draws is enough to toss things up just like the case of Liverpool who now have 7 draws which is the highest and showed where the points were lost. There are still plenty to play for so it is what each team make from here that is to determine their season.
This is a season of Snakes and Ladders where sometimes throwing a dice for six ends up worse than before as you slide down the ladder. It is going to be a test of more than football. Just throw in a slice of luck.
Crystal Palace v West Ham - Palace's last match was a 0-4 thrashing by City while West Ham are having a stellar season - they drew twice and won three in their last five. They are not just playing well but have become difficult to beat. However, Palace won the last 2 times they met but only once in 8 games. The Hammers are 7 matches unbeaten and have won 5 including in the Cup. This season, the Hammers and defensively sound and are scoring which points to a West Ham win especially when Palace are firing blanks. 0-2.
Newcastle v Leeds - Since their stout game in a 0-0 draw with Liverpool, Newcastle have lost all their last 3 league matches without scoring and if you add the FA Cup it is 4. In their last nine matches they have scored just once. Steve Bruce may soon be taking a staycation to join Frank Lampard since one could not go overseas if results are not better. Leeds were slightly better but they have also lost their last three without scoring. While Leeds are going through a lean spell but are so much better and I will take them to take full points. 0-2.
Southampton v Arsenal - Southampton are quite the real deal and this is a repeat of their F.A. Cup at the same venue which they won 1-0 ending Arsenal's revival of their unbeaten streak of 5 league games. The Saints have outperformed themselves and their foot ball is so good they need not fear anyone. Mikel Arteta just need to look over his shoulders to see what happened Frank Lampard as similarly he started so well with the Gunners. I think the Saints will give the Gunners a difficult game but I feel Arsenal may not be defeated. Somehow they kept 5 clean sheets before the defeat to the Saints in the cup. So it looks like a draw for me but for me it seems Southampton more likely to win. 2-2.
WBA v Manchester City - Everybody seemed to only get points off Liverpool and WBA were the same and after that they were trounced by Leeds (0-5) and Arsenal (0-4) but they came back to life and won 3-2 away to Wolves. City are in incredible form as since that 0-2 defeat to Spurs in November they have won almost every match in all tournaments and with stretches without conceding goals. They are to me playing a their best again and should be strong favourites for the title but remember the Baggies have held both City and Liverpool. It is interesting to note that WBA were the last team to score against City. Even if City were to be without De Bruyne, Ilkay Gundogan has been excellent and scoring. WBA could score though a set piece. 1-3.
Burnley v Aston Villa - Burnley are strong right now. After narrow defeat to United and the Hammers, they came storming back first by ending Liverpool's 68 match unbeaten run at Anfield and trounced Fulham at Craven Cottage 3-0 in the F. A. Cup. Nick Pope has been their hero on many occasions and will be required to do so again. The Villans are having a great season. Narrow defeats to Manchester United and City ended their 5 match unbeaten run but they last return with a 2-0 win over the Magpies. Villa can get a win here but Burnley are in true form so I believe they will cancel one another. 1-1.
Chelsea v Wolves - Considering the depth and quality of their squad 9th is not enough.
Frank Lampard
The sacking of Frank Lampard exemplified the ruthlessness of the business and the hire and fire style of Roman Abramovic. Chelsea were top of the table earlier this season. Former Borusssia Dortmund and PSG manager Thomas Tuchel is poised to take the reins. Lampard was a very intelligent player, Chelsea's greatest goal scorer even as a midfielder. When they were banned from signings, he boldly brought in many young players and played an attractive attacking style but football business is brutal and all about results. If anything, Lampard was brought in too soon from Derby. However, this baptism of fire will serve him well into the future. Being a manager is different as you have to manage players, people, politics, etc. For all you know, he ,ight have left earlier on his own if not for his passion for his beloved club. It mirrors life where people demand for everything to be delivered or achieved by tomorrow.
By their previous standard, Wolves are having a lousy season. In the last six games, Wolves have scored fewer points than Sheffield United and that must be worrying. Nuno Espirito Santo is an excellent coach but luck has deserted him this season. I expect Chelsea to roar back as players will have to play for a new boss soon. 2-1.
Brighton v Fulham - Brighton have continued to play well and the results are slightly better but still 17th is a danger but they have yet to win at home this season. In their last 7 games, they have 1 win, 4 draw and 2 losses. Fulham's was 0 win, 5 draws and 2 defeat. Almost identical and both playing quite well. Fulham were playing really well and are 5 unbeaten though all were drawn games. They lost their next 3 including 0-3 to Burnley in the F.A. Cup. A draw is on the cards. 1-1.
Everton v Leicester - Everton are back and doing quite well again and top scorer Dominic Calvert-Lewin was back on the score sheet in the 3-0 F.A. Cup win over Sheffield Wednesday. James Rodriguez was back with 2 assists and Richarlison scored too so all is well. The last time Leicester lost was 0-2 to Everton at home back in December. They have not lost a game since winning all 6 games (2 in the Cup). This should be a very good match but its a pity if Jamie Vardy is still out injured. I always prefer watching a game with both sides being able to field their best players. Both sides have been tenacious. Theri head-to-head results are pretty tight based on their last 16 meetings, Lecester won 7, Everton won 6 and they had 3 draw at 2-2. With both teams' ability to score I pick a draw with goals in it. 2-2.
Manchester United v Sheffield United - The Red Devils could do no wrong. They are not only leading the table, have just beaten Liverpool 3-2 in the F.A. Cup and are really playing well. Bruno Fernandes has been top of the chart and money well spent. Luke Shaw has ben really solid, Marcus Rashford and Mason Greenwood are young and exciting players. Now the media has been hailing OGS as a hero and a great tactician and motivator. Before that he was labelled as hopeless, clueless, out of depth and incapable. This is life. If United do not win this game, it will be a huge upset which is unlikely going by their current form. The good news for Sheffield United is that they have finally won a league match after 19 attempts and have also won 2 Cup games but I cannot find a reason that they could win this one. Rashford is injured but they still have Greenwood and Cavani. 2-0.
Spurs v Liverpool - The biggest match in Game Week 20. Liverpool won at Anfield in the reverse tie in mid-December. In their last 10 meetings Liverpool won 8 and drew 2 with Liverpool having won their last 5. Only history favours them. Spurs are in better form as after that 0-2 deficit to Leicester they have won 5 matches and drawn 2. Liverpool's rotten form makes it an even more interesting game. In their last 7 matches, Liverpool won only once and that was the F.A. Cup game at Aston Villa against children. You already know how Jose Mourinho is going to lineup (field defensive players) and his strategy is to soak and strike. Dombele, Kane and Son will carry the burden.
The number one problem for the Reds is that Klopp have no first choice centre backs to rely on. While Henderson and Fabinho have put in good shifts especially they are not natural centre backs. Putting them there also weakens their midfield as they would have been their defence even before the defence could be breached. It was like trying to solve a problem but creating others. Strangely, there are too many players off form at these moments. Even Alisson has not really been himself. TAA has been the worst hit. Now with Rhys Williams error in the miscued clearance that resulted in Rashford's goal, Klopp will be left thinking again. Having peaked in their performances in the last three years, this could be the fourth year syndrome. Liverpool will have to dig deep once again to find a way back. This is a difficult match but winning here will give them a great boost. The good thing we saw was Firmino was sublime with his assists to Salah especially the first through a crowded Man U defence and Salah scoring a brace. It is just kind of strange as Liverpool suffered this alarming drop off in their results just after that brilliant 7-0 win over Crystal Palace. If Mourinho has his way it would end as a draw but Liverpool need to use this to banish the ghosts of the last few weeks. 1-2.
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