EPL 2020/21 - Game Week 22

At its breakneck pace, I got knee injury just for writing. There is no time. Mai Tu Liao. So I shall give for tonight's games then up-date if I could the next day. 

Sheffield United v WBA - Sheffield United has the unglamorous record of being the worst team in the Premier League without a win un 19 games. Are they really that bad when you could go to Old Trafford and won 2-1? Played Man City away and gave them a hard time but lost 0-1. Sam Allardyce has been a mixed bag. I think its a Blade's win. 2-1.

Wolves v Arsenal - Wolves has been having a hard time while Arsenal have been improving. Somehow I think the Gunners could just get something here with full points. 0-1.

Manchester United v Southampton - United are facing a small blip - winless in two games. They will be somewhat happy that Southampton are in a bit of a slump. In life you need a bit of luck and timing is everything like the stock market. Both teams have some doubts about themselves. Draw. 2-2.

Newcastle v Crystal Palace - Nobody gave the Magpies a chance. They were so bad and Everton were so good and yet the Toffees were Wilsoned. Callum Wilson was brilliant. Palace have been on the decline and they could only beat Wolves. 2-1.

Burnley v Manchester City  - Burnley were on 3 straight wins including a famous one over Liverpool before their Chelsea defeat. City are on 8 straight wins conceding only once in a great run. Looks like Nick Pope at his best may not be enough to stop them unless they play like they did Liverpool. City have learned how to win 1-0. City are now hot favourites for the title. 0-2.

Fulham v Leicester - Fulham improved tp draw many games followed by 2 narrow defeat to Chelsea and United then came back with 2 draws. Leicester's fine run of 4 wins and 3 draws ended in a surprising 1-3 defeat to Leeds.

Leeds v Everton - Leeds' back to back wins especially in the impressive 3-1 win over Leicester suggest the worst is over and now have a good chance to beat Everton who slumped to a 0-2 home loss to Newcastle. That performance was a bit shocking, not the Everton at the beginning of the season. If they play the same way, Leeds to win but Carlo Ancelotti would have made some adjustment by now. Draw. Patrick Bamford and Dominic Calvert-Lewin to score. 2-2.

Aston Villa v West Ham - 3 points separate them in 9th and 5th position but Villa have 2 games in hand to overcome the 3 points difference. The Hammers 4 game winning streak came to an end against Liverpool. It does not take way the fact that West Ham are very good and having a stellar season till now. Villa have tapered off a bit but still a good team. Their biggest stars from both sides - Jack Grealish and Tomas Soucek will have a big say as they have been so far. 2-2.

Liverpool v Brighton - If you thought Liverpool were very good in the 3-1 away win at Spurs then they were even more ruthless away against a strong West Ham side. Young Curtis Jones immediate impact when he came on gave Salah the opportunity to acore a brilliant first as he cut in and let fly a curler to the top corner. The second will be one of the best you will see all in 10 seconds, 6 touches, 4 players, 4 passes . Robertson cleared a corner toTrent who sent a 60 yard diagonal pass to a galloping Shariqi who instead of holding sent a first time high cross lob over a West Ham defender onto the path of Salah running in. Salah was pacing himself not to be offside and with a deft touch with his weaker right foot from a difficult ball to receive brought it under control before flicking it pass a onrushing Fabianski. The third goal saw the Reds passing the ball around 34 times before Firmino release to Chamberlaon who returned with a back flip and Firmimo selflessly lay up for Wijnaldum for a tap in instead of shooting. This means Liverppol are back to the level where they were and should be. With the astute signings of Ozan Kabak and Ben Davies they can better navigate through the season without all their centre-backs. Thanks to Michael Edwards is a genius!

Watch: West Ham v Liverpool

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTasz3U3KnI 

Brighton have their own success story with a draw and 3 wins including a fine 1-0 win over Spurs. They can give the Reds a good game but if Liverpool play like they did in their last two matches, not stoppable. 3-1. 

Spurs v Chelsea -  Spurs are not just in a slump with 2 defeats with the laat one 0-1 to Brighton. They have been playing poorly. Without the talismanic Harry Kane who will get the goals and the wins? Tuchel has avoided defeat in his first 2 games. Mourinho need to be bold and get the right players into the team. 1-2.