EPL 2020/21 - Game Week 21

Manchester City are up where they belong! Manchester United and the other chasing pack should not be looking at Liverpool but Pep Guardiola's team. Game Week 20's opener saw West Ham went up to 4th with a 3-2 away win over Crystal Palace. Arsenal roared back with a 3-1 win away to Southampton - not an easy feat to go up to 10th but level on points with Chelsea in 9th with the latter under new manager Thomas Tuchel drew 0-0 with Wolves. Everton's 1-1 draw with Leicester and the shocker where in-form Manchester United lost 1-2 to bottom team Sheffield United who do not have a single win by the first half of the season. All this benefitted Manchester City the most as they went on a rampage at the Hawthorns with a 5-0 routing of WBA.

Some of my Manchester United fan friends  got carried away when Liverpool lost to Burnley. They ridiculed Liverpool with jokes of a lady asking online if anyone could recommend a quiet fan to use as the ones she has were noisy and a guy replied that "Liverpool fans are pretty quiet at the moment". This guy needs an update as the latest and most current quietest fans are Manchester United fans. Instant Karma. Hahaha.

Everton v Newcastle - Everton have  been good as they are in 7th with two games in hand which can easily translate to Ancelotti's men going up a few notches to top four. Newcastle are wretched with their sixth straight loss this time to Leeds. The Toffees lost just once in their last 8 games and have 6 wins. The Magpies have not won in 9 featuring 7 losses. Unless Newcastle do a Sheffield United over Man U, it is Everton to win. 2-0.

Crystal Palace v Wolves - The Eagles are not soaring. They have not won in 4 attempts and only manage a draw in that time. Wolves have not won since beating Chelsea in December and in 7 games lost four and drew thrice. In between they have beaten Palace 1-0 in the F. A. Cup in early January. Palace's good start has seen them past their peak. Wolves hardly got started this season. The way they play, a draw seems inevitable. 1-1.

Manchester City v Sheffield United - City are now leaders with a game in hand. They are back to their best and are favourites. It has been a really tough schedule for Sheffield United who have just played and beaten Manchester United and now has to visit the Etihad. Before the game, nobody would have wagered the Blades to defeat the Red Devils. So City have to watch out too in case of a surprise but they remained unbeaten in 11 games with 7 wins, keeping clean sheets and scoring for fun. What the Blades could do is to do the same as they did to United or WBA did to City earlier in the season. I supposed City are not United. 2-0.

WBA v Fulham - Having won away to Wolves followed by a defeat to West Ham and a sound spanking from City, Sam Allardyce will be back to fighting for survival points. Fulham  could not help themselves as they drew Brighton 0-0 and are just one position and two points better. So this is a crucial match for both to distance themselves for safety. You will feel that Sam Allardyce, Scott Parker and their teams work very hard and yet could do so little in term of results. A win will be huge but they are going to end up with shared points. 1-1.

Arsenal v Manchester United - How good is Bukayo Saka who is just 19? He has already played in six different positions and his goals and assists has propelled Arsenal back in contention. He did that again with the Man-of-the-Match performance with a goal and an assist against Southampton. The Gunners must draw a lot of positives from their recent run. United's shock defeat to Sheffield United puts things into perspective. Their talisman Bruno Fernandes also nicknamed Bruno Penandes has been quiet in the last few games. Even the penalties did not come. The last they met the Gunners won. Can Arsenal reproduce the performance against Southampton? Or will the Red Devils bounce back from the setback at Bramall Lane? 2-2.

Southampton v Aston Villa - Southampton so good for so long has dropped off a bit of late as their 11th position has shown and it has been the same for Villa in 10th. They are still playing very good football but result-wise have taken a hit. These are two of the most improved teams of the season. They deserve to climb higher for the way they play but at this point in time, they will probably cancel each other out with a high scoring draw. 2-2.

Chelsea v Burnley - Frank Lampard's belief in youth resulting in his commitment in bringing the likes of Reece James, Mason Mount, Tammy Abraham and Billy Gilmour all of whom have performed so well was his only vindication perhaps. Thomas Tuchel is next in the firing line. Whatever time he has, first impressions are important. The change will signal changes in their first XI. 

Thomas Tuchel

Tuchel is reportedly an excellent manager with fine philosophy and he was the one who replaced Klopp at Dortmund and did such a good job. He is in the same school of "gegen-pressing". A perfectionist like Guardiola, great in science like Wenger, gegenpress and believe in bringing through young players like Klopp, has a Brazilian soul, he is German, unlike Mourinho he is self-effacing and without the ego. On paper, Chelsea can win this one but look at their form and Chelsea is shaky while Burnley are on a high with 3 straight wins and 2 clean sheets. If Chelsea could not breach Wolves, can they do Burnley especially when they are on song and playing fearlessly? Welcome to the EPL Tuchel. 2-2.

Leicester v Leeds - Leicester will do very well this season and the fact they are 3rd is a testament for their resolve. Leeds are the best of the rest that got promoted and being 12th and very close to Villa and Southampton is not such a bad thing. In the reverse tie earlier this season, the Foxes won 4-1. Leeds stopped their bleeding with a 2-1 away win over Newcastle but Leicester are on a row. It may come a bit harder without Jamie Vardy but I still think Leicester are strong enough for a win unless Leeds are at their very best especially at defence. 2-1.

West Ham v Liverpool - How good is Tomas Soucek? He is one of the key reasons why the Hammers are firing. Increasingly, he has a huge influence on how West Ham perform and even more so with his assists and goals. He has just hit two against Crystal Palace. Liverpool have been poor with their end products but I said they would win this important match at Spurs and what a win it was for its execution and dominant display. The Reds did not score for too long and the one who has scored the least - Roberto Firmino stepped up to put them into the lead with the last kick of the first half. Trent Alexander Arnold who has been poor this season played probably his best game and added a second goal and later provide the assist with the final goal. How did he do that cross? When Spurs hit one back it left you thinking if Liverpool are going to buckle. Not only did Mane made it 3-1 on the night but Liverpool could have scored a few more and this despite the loss of Fabinho before a ball was kicked. Joel Matip who was gallant did not come back for the second half and was replaced by Nathaniel Philips. Liverpool have in 20 league games now played 16 different centre-back partnerships. They looked like Liverpool again. With Matip and Fabinho out, this means Liverpool will not only be without their first choice centre-backs and also their first choice replacement centre-back. While not wanting to sign a new replacement, their hands may now be forced. Former Man U great Rio Ferdinand said: "Is their season over? I think they answered that emphatically tonight." Liverpool played with swagger and hunted with ferocity. If Liverpool win at the London Stadium, huge confidence will build up that the second half is going to be a fight. Failure to win may be a dampener after such a fine victory over Spurs. The Hammers are good and will be tough but if Liverpool keep up the performance, they win. 1-2.

Brighton v Spurs - Brighton are better than their 17th position. Spurs could have been more ambitious especially with Kane and Son on fire but sadly I watched with horror as Harry Kane could not continue against Liverpool reportedly due to injuries to both ankles. He is always going to be my top scorer. The defeat to Liverpool left them railing in 6th with 33 points but with a game in hand. In Kane's absence, Tanguy Ndombele will be the key man as he has been brilliant whenever I saw him play. The Seagulls have not won at home this season. Spurs need a proper response to recoup some lost ground. Because Brighton can play some good football, Jose Mourinho have to be braver. 1-2.