EPL 2020/21 - Game Week 35

The Manchester clubs are back, in the driving seat and very impressive. First and second in the Premier League, City are in the Champions League Final for the first time after an impressive 2-1 away win over PSG and a home 2-0 win for a 4-1 overall win and United took it farther with a 6-2 thumping of Roma and even as they lost 2-3, made it to the final on 8-5 aggregate. Arsenal on the other hand took a small tumble when they lost 1-2 at Villareal but have a valuable away goal but failed could only earned a 0-0 draw at the Emirates. City will now meet Chelsea who likewise overcame Real Madrid with a 1-1 away game and a 2-0 win at home for a overall 3-1 win to set up an all English Champions League Final. 

There is a 13 point gap between City and United which is probably too big to close even as United have a game in hand. City have already won the League Cup a record four times and still chasing the rest except the F.A. Cup. When they won at PSG, Pep Guardiola fielded Phil Foden, Kevin De Bruyne and Riyadh as his front three. None of them are pure strikers. Then he repeated it and won again.

As for the rest, the battle for top four and to avoid relegation is now a big scramble. Go big or go home. Sadly, the pandemic has not gone away yet and soccer is nothing without the fans. Everything is going for a big reset. Even normal life is not normal for a long time now. Simple things in life and even many lives have been taken away. The pandemic has made life like a soccer league. You have to last the long haul. To do that you need to be consistent with the management of the Covid. Do it wrongly and you get a thrashing. Taking a lead over it does not mean you win the game. Everyone can just do our best and hope to return to and yearn for just normal life. 

Even though the Super League debacle is over, the ripples are still being felt like the fans protest at Old Trafford. Protest can be a good thing but during a pandemic it is not. Worse, there were some violence too and we could not get the match going. I respect the fans' right to protest but I take umbrage at it and getting the match postponed. 

We even have a Singaporean being charged for threatening a Brighton player and his family's life for injuring Arsenal goalie Leno and is now being charged here. It was in all probability and empty threat but why? 

Now with four matches left to play and five matches for six clubs and the season is over. Hang on tight.

Leicester v Newcastle - Leicester were on a 3-win run but a 1-1 draw at Southampton was surely not in the plan. Newcastle's 4-match unbeaten run came to a meek end when they lost 0-2 at home to Arsenal but Allan Saint-Maximin is always a joy to watch. With James Maddison back, Vardy scoring and Iheanacho scoring for fun, the Foxes should strengthen their case for top four. 3-1.

Leeds v Spurs - Leeds six-match unbeaten run surprisingly ended with a 0-2 defeat to Brighton while Spurs came back in style with an impressive 4-0 romp over Sheffield United where Gareth Bale showed his world class talent with an impressive hattrick and a Son Heung-Min special. There is speculation that it could be Harry Kane's final season with his childhood club. Spurs' care-taker manager Ryan Mason was an ex Spurs player who retired early due to injury and was a Spurs player since his youth. It seemed he had liberated the team to play the Spurs way. If that is the case, this could be an exciting game with goals galore where you could expect Patrick Bamford, Stuart Dallas and jack Harrison and Harry Kane, Son, Bale and company to score. 2-3.

Sheffield United v Crystal Palace - Sheffield United's season was long over with the only motivation left being pride of playing for the club and the preparation to bounce back after going down. Palace are safe an yet another season in the lower part of mid-table. 1-1.

Manchester City v Chelsea - This is the match of the week and the preview for the Champions League final. While City hardly lost, they were beaten by Chelsea in the F.A. Cup 0-1 and after that continued their 100% winning streak in all competition. Chelsea's undefeated streak of 6 games including knocking Real Madrid out have been nothing but impressive. While Aguero and Mahrez have been awesome they have been scoring from all over the pitch which is what made them so good. For Chelsea, Werner, Pulisic, Havertz have come good and peaking at the right time while Mason Mount to me has been their top player of the season. Chelsea have also been keeping clean sheets. So this makes it a mouth watering contest. 1-1.

Liverpool v Southampton - It will be tough for Champions Liverpool to even make it to top four and qualification to the Champions League. They were leading Leeds and conceded in the 87th minute for a 1-1 draw. Then they got a dream start with a 3rd minute sublime Salah goal but yet again conceded in 90+5 minute to be held 1-1. They had 22 shots and created 17 chances. Their woes are not just at the back but the fame front three are just not converting their chances. The Saints ended 3 straight defeats and held Leicester 1-1 so they could do the same at Anfield. Liverpool must just win every game and hope for the best. 2-1.

Wolves v Brighton - Wolves have declined probably affected by the long term injury to their top scorer Raul Jimenez. Brighton do play well in most matches thanks to the method of Graham Potter but somehow do not get the results they deserved. Oh, did you see that Danny Welbeck? Wow! Brighton can win this one but just. 0-1.

Aston Villa v Manchester United - Villa have not been the same but still last week they won at Goodison Park. (2-1). The Red Devils have turned things around and in Edison Cavani, they have a great signing. A pure thoroughbred center forward which is now near extinction. Bruno Fernandes too and so they are having a fine season despite the early jitters. While Villa may not easily cave in, expect a United win even at they may be a little exhausted by Roma. 1-2.

West Ham v Everton - I take my hat off to David Moyes and West Ham for the season they are having. They are 3 points behind Chelsea and deserved a shot in Europe. The Hammers reversed two defeats with an away win over Burnley last week. Everton are in 8th 6 points behind West Ham with a game in hand but the Toffees results have been weak and the early season form and promise have fizzled and last week's home defeat by Villa has not helped. It looks like a draw here but I shall pick a home win. 3-2.

Arsenal v WBA - The Gunners just needed a 1-0 win over Villareal at the Emirates to go to the Europa final but it ended their hope and dream when they finished 0-0 and went out 1-2 on aggregate. Arsenal are mired in 9th with 49 points. With 4 games to play, WBA are 2nd from bottom and 10 points behind 17th place Newcastle. Several great displays and wins for Sam Allardyce and his team have not been enough but it is a fight till the end for big Sam and the Baggies who have not done too badly in even in their last 2 games being draw. Arsenal are expected win at the Emirate but I am going to pick a little surprise. 1-1.

Fulham v Burnley - We have to respect Scott Parker and Fulham for they they have played but their occasional win and many draw have not been good enough and their results took a a bad turn with 5 defeat and a single draw (at Arsenal). Burnley are 16th, 9 points ahead and have no time to relax. They have 2 wins and 4 defeats in their last 6 games. A draw is on the cards. 1-1.

Southampton v Crystal Palace - Southampton's record reads 2W1D3L and Palace's 1W1D4L. Both sides have slackened and not scoring a lot. You can say it's a mid-table struggle if you like and probably end a low scoring draw. 1-1.

Manchester United v Leicester - United have grown from strength to strength. They can be poor at times but mostly good as the season got by. Leicester are 4 points behind having played a game more. Even if they win here they are 10 points behind City who do not look like dropping points any time. The Roma defeat will not affect them. Both sides boast fine attacking players. Cavani, Rashford, Greenwood, Fernandes and Vardy, Iheanacho, Maddison so it depends which defence will be tighter, The Red Devils have a slight edge in attack so a higher win percentage but do not discount Brendan Rodgers and Leicester. Hopefully an exciting match. 2-2.

Chelsea v Arsenal - Chelsea are looking unbeatable. Even mighty Real Madrid could not take umbrage at them. They could have won bigger. Arsenal was the opposite of Chelsea as they crashed out of the Europa. With this Chelsea machine peaking so nicely under the expert tutelage of Thomas Tuchel it is hard for me to think the Gunners could outgun them. So it points to a Chelsea win. 2-0.

Aston Villa v Everton - Both these teams started the season brilliantly which led many to believe it is a special season for them. At this moment both slid to 10th and 8th respectively which is not too bad. For Villa, certainly a great achievement considering they just avoided relegation last season but the Toffees would feel somewhat disappointed. Fine improvement all over the team and with an ace manager in Carlo Ancelotti. Maybe Ancelotti needs another season to go higher. 2-2.

Manchester United v Liverpool - On current form, United should win. Liverpool could still pass around and dominate possession but besides their defensive frailties it has been their finishing that has been a huge problem. They are still creating chances but not banging them in. United are one of the most dangerous counter attacking teams around and are ready to exploit and punish any mistakes. But in this derby, it is always highly competitive with both sides having great respect for one another. Sometimes it could end as a boring game. So I think they will play to a draw. 1-1.

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