EPL 2021/2022 - Game Week 3

Liverpool are back for now with two solid wins but those are over Norwich and Burnley. Manchester City made light work out of Norwich. It appears that City seems to have an easy way with teams like Norwich and Burnley, etc. Was it the way they play that make things look so easy? Manchester United have stumbled at Southampton and fortunately salvaged a point. Tottenham have quietly gone about with two 1-0 wins. Chelsea showed their credentials as European Champions with an easy 2-0 win over Arsenal away from home but the team of the moment to me has been West Ham who twice came back to beat Newcastle 4-2 away and convincingly had Leicester City  thrashed 4-1. The whole team has been brilliant especially Coufal, Soucek, Rice, Fornals with Benrahma with Antonio the hottest! The Hammers' long-suffering fans can now shout "Come On You Irons"! I have always like West Ham since the days they supplied the England greats and continue to do so with their youths to the England team. Singapore's Farrer Park was like them. It is still early days but Game Week 3 can continue to serve a treat.

Manchester City v Arsenal - The champions bounced back with an emphatic 5-0 win over Norwich. You feel sorry for such a  gruelling schedule for the Canaries. Life has been very tough for the Gunners. A second defeat this time at home to London rival Chelsea and visiting the champions. You must fear for them and I assure you that you do not wish to be in Arteta's place. City have won 8 in a row against Arsenal and unbeaten in 10 games and in the last 7 games, the Gunners scored just once. This is cold comfort for their visitors who after 2 games are in 19th, just above Norwich. Another defeat without scoring would be a nightmare come true and how are they going to feature their goal of the month? However, we must live with some hope and their 6-0 romp away to Championship leader WBA with Aubameyang scoring a hattrick, Pepe, Saka and Lacazette among the goals may have suggested that they have gotten over some covid situation. However, the Baggies fielded many debutants and teenagers so Arsenal will need to be at their best here. Will City give them a hammering? Not so easy as Arsenal could field Martin Odegaard and Aubameyang is back with goals. A defeat will be a great setback for City yet City should still win. 2-1.

Aston Villa v Brentford - Villa came good and what a fantastic goal from Danny Ings!!! Had he also taken the penalty he would have two. He will be a great signing for Ings is deadly and means goals if he is kept injury free. Look at Ings' goal:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qG1_p_iZREA (Ings)

Brentford remained unbeaten as they held Palace and were the better team. Villa have not beaten the Bees since the 50s but they hardly met except during their time spent in the Championship. The Bees have kept two clean sheets in two but Villa are no slouch as they have scored four times from just four shots. So an interesting contest awaits. Ivan Toney, scorer of so many goals in the championship have yet to score, maybe he will in this match. 2-1.

Brighton v Everton - Brighton have finally played to their potential with another win, this time 2-0 at home to Watford and have not lost to the Toffees at home since their return to the Premier League and now they are a stronger team. They were actually brilliant. Everton led twice at Elland Road but allowed Leeds to come back twice. The Seagulls has scored two goal in the last two matches and also kept two clean sheets, something they could hardly do the previous seasons but Everton have started well under Benitez. They are scoring goals but Brighton won't let them score so easily. Everton may be slight favourites here for many but I think Brighton could share the points. 2-2.

Newcastle v Southampton - Newcastle did not play badly at Villa. They had more possession and equal to their opponents in many ways but just did not score. Southampton were brave and fought tooth and nail to deny Manchester United and deserved the point. They even had the cheek to score first with the effort by Che Adams going in off Fred and was credited as an own goal. The Magpies have won 4 in a row at St. James Park against the Saints. Although they have conceded 6 goals in 2 games, I thought Newcastle played well. Then they crashed out to Burnley on penalties in the EFL Cup at the first hurdle despite dominating proceedings. Steve Bruce has a gigantic task ahead. Meanwhile the Saints inspired but holding United 1-1 at the weekend went to Leagues 2 Newport and hammered then 8-0. That was a nice reverse for their past suffering with such score line. The Magpies will win when you least expect it. They may be due some better luck now but you saw how the Saints did it against United so why not Newcastle. 2-2.

Norwich v Leicester - Some times, life can be cruel. Newly promoted Norwich had played and lost to Liverpool (0-3 home) and City (0-5 away). Now they have to host Leicester and after this visit Arsenal. The Canaries played quite well against Liverpool but were poor at City but hammered Bournemouth 6-0 in the EFL Cup. Leicester were stunned and obliterated 1-4 by West Ham last week so they either bounce back strongly here or Norwich may raise their game and take a point or three here. NOrwich are just like Brentford in that they get their players from the lower divisions and trained and built them up only to have to sell them later to the bigger clubs. What else could they do but yet they play good soccer. The Foxes will be like a wounded animal after that 1-4 thumping by West Ham last week. Everyone is expecting Norwich to fold again but I think the Canaries may get something here if they exploit some glaring weaknesses in the Leicester defence. 1-2.

West Ham v Crystal Palace - Come On You Irons! Two wins - 4-2 away to the Magpies and then 4-1 at home against the Foxes means come man, bird or other beasts, the Hammers are ready to climb the next steps. Michail Antonio has been so good from last season and now he has scored in both matches with a brace against Leicester and thus a new record as he overtook the enigmatic Paolo Di Canio as West Ham's top Premier League scorer. His form is sensational and he is doing things that are special. Just look at his goals. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYTwdnYqovk (Antonio, West Ham v Leicester)

West Ham have the goals in them and the Eagles have not scored a goal for a very long time. In fact, if you search the stats and in many areas, West Ham are currently the best team in the league! Patrick Viera's baptism of fire continues and he must find a way to be at least difficult to beat if not to win. 3-1.

Liverpool v Chelsea - Match of the week that will give us a clue if either team could usurp City at the end of May. Both sides are playing very well with 2 wins, scored 5 goals and conceded none. It will be an intriguing match - Klopp v Tuchel, Van Dijk v Lukaku, one-upmanship to whoever wins. Last season, the Reds lost 0-1 at Anfield but won 2-0 at Stamford Bridge. Former European Champions v current European Champions. Both with the defensive nuance and fire power to excite. Jorginho has just ben named UEFA player of the year for his exploits with Chelsea as European Champions and with Italy as Euro 2020 Champions. Chelsea may have an upper hand here as Liverpool have not replaced Wijnaldum and Klopp must name a midfield to nullify and counter it. 

Konstantinos Tsimikas was good at Norwich but even better at Anfield against Burnley where he even assisted a goal. He was so good that you forgot that Andy Roberton was not playing. There is none like Robertson and to do that, it showed Tsimikas has been nothing but brilliant and was arguably the best player on the pitch. His badassery knows no bounds when he hurt his shoulder and waiting to be replaced when Van Dijk passed the ball to him he had two opponents battling him and even as he fell to the ground, he won the ball and release it. Awesome! It is a nice dilemma for Klopp when Robertson is fit again. Elsewhere, Joel Matip and Trent Alexander-Arnold were equally outstanding. Van Dijk's return showed how much he was missed the whole of last season. Jota got his second goal of the season and that was 2 in 2 and a brilliant total of 15 in just 21 games. Mane has also netted and all four front men including Firmino and Salah has scored. A week a go I shared with you what 18 year old Harvey Elliot could bring to the team and you saw how he played in the match. I have also mentioned that he could be the "Jack Grealish" for Liverpool. 

Lukaku needed only 15 minutes to score on his return and paid his first instalment of his 98 million pounds transfer. That was what exactly Chelsea needed. He was a menace and oh did you see how Reece James performed? He was excellent and even scored at Arsenal. This should be a really tight game as both are defensively strong and sharp in attack. A win for either will be a massive statement but it is going to be so close a draw seems logical. It may take a moment of magic to win this. Liverpool at Anfield can give them the boost as the Reds would like to erase their horrible time last season. 1-1.

Burnley v Leeds - Burnley put out a battling performance against Liverpool at Anfield and have been beaten twice. They have not won a league match for a long time now. They will do battle again and their aggressive and physical forward line can trouble their visitors. Leeds need to re-examine their centre back partnership and review their defensive organization as they have been conceding too easily. Patrick Bamford will be inspired after being called up to the England squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifying matches. Burnley have often times turn around at some point. Bielsa's Leeds will play the same way whoever they are meeting as they do not change. Last season, Leeds won both home and away at it was a 4-0 win for Leeds here at Turf Moor. Leeds seeking their first win may get it here. 1-2.

Spurs v Watford - Spurs have quietly scored two wins with two clean sheets to boot and without Harry Kane who made a cameo with Dele Alli player of the match. Both were 1-0. Nuno Espirito Santo is the master of 1-0 wins. Watford fired blanks at Villa and their first win inspiration has come to nought. Be warned that Spurs had only beaten Watford once in 5 games. However, the rerturn of Harry Kane has already got them the goals needed. After bein gdowned 0-1 to Pacos de Ferreira in the Europa, Harry Kane fired them through with two goals for a 3-0 win and overall 3-1 aggregate. The saga has ended, lets get on the Kane and Son show once again. Spurs are looking good but too often when they were doing fine, they may just take a dip and have some strange results. It will be tough for Watford, just like it will be for Norwich and Brentford. Spurs to win here with Harry Kane playing again and everyone's favourite Son (pun intended), both likely to score too and continue that awesome Kane and Son magic. 2-0.

Wolves v Manchester United - Wolves dominated Spurs at the Molineux last week with 58% of the ball, a 1.66 xG and 25 shots to Spurs' 8 and created 23 chances to Spurs' 5 and yet lost 0-1. They have one of the most shots and chances created (just behind Liverpool) and yet lost both games so far by 0-1.  The Red Devils won't be any easier especially when the were held by Southampton but then if the Saints could do it why not Wolves? Wolves need to work on their finishing. Adama Traore, powerfully built and a speed demon almost destroyed Spurs but like his team is quite awful with his finishing. Still United need to keep a keen eye on him. The good thing is that Wolves are creating chances and at some point soon they will score especially with a good forward like Raul Jimenez. Southampton may just be a blip for United as they have the squad to compete but I think it depends on what Solskjaer does and now he will soon see that Cristiano Ronaldo is coming home after 12 years and as a 36 year old. I expect United to win their head to head results in the past suggest it won't be easy. I 2019, Wolves won 2-1 in league and cup at the Molineux, 1-1 away. 2020 were 0-0 and 0-1 and in 2021 was 1-2. Unless the Red Devils so something special they may find themselves surprised by Wolves. 1-2.