EPL 2021/2022 - Game Week 4

Much ado about nothing. Tottenham Hotspurs are top of the Premier League. Nuno Espirito Santo and his Spurs are masters of efficiency. 3 wins, 3 clean sheets and a goal in each game that is all you need. Their London neighbour Arsenal are languishing right at the bottom of the table in last place despite spending much. City made light work of the Gunners. Was City really good or Arsenal really bad? Benitez is enjoying himself despite not being too welcomed at Everton. Liverpool bombarded 10-men Chelsea with an xG of 2.80 with 24 shots and 16 chances created but could only earn a draw against Chelsea's master class in defence. Wolves put on a gallant display at the Molineux with an xG of 2.25 to United's 0.58 and yet lost to an 80th minute Mason Greenwood goal - his third in three games, a goal in each and the boy is only 19! The last time a teenager did that was Liverpool's Robbie Fowler. Talking about being 19, Liverpool's Harvey Elliot was a surprise when Klopp started him and it showed why Klopp did that. The boy was brilliant and he is only 18! The way he payed you might have thought he is 28. Such composure and confidence  and he was as good as the best players on the pitch. Like Greenwood, Elliot is going places. The next Gen of English players to join the ranks of Phil Foden, Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Mason Mount. Consider this - Tottenham at the top of the table and Arsenal at the bottom. This may not have happened before I think. 

Meanwhile, a host of Brazilian players will be missing in this weekend's action due to a row between Premier League clubs and the Brazilian F.A. who imposed a controversial 5-day rule as they were angered by players who were withdrawn from their World Cup qualifiers. 

***Latest new (Ma Piu Poh - for those who understand what this is) -  South American have been cleared to play after FIFA reached an agreement with those South American FAs.

Three interesting and key matches to look out for this weekend will be Manchester United v Newcastle for just one reason - Cristiano Ronaldo. Then the Champions City's visit to Leicester City and finally Liverpool's trip to Elland Road to play Leeds. Premier League is back. Bring it on!

Crystal Palace v Spurs - The Eagles have improved much which explained why they held West ham 2-2. They have finally scored and had more possession than their opponents. While Michail Antonio and Forals shone for West Ham once again, it was Palace's Conor Callagher who was King of the Match. This was a performance a long time coming for him as I watched him do the same thing week in and week out last season and he topped it up with two fine goals! He is also English and only 21. If Spurs continues to win 1-0 what is there to complain? And Son Hueng-Min did it again with the only and winning goal! The sole problem is holding on to a lone goal cannot be a long term plan as you can be susceptible to an equaliser or even lose a match but Son may not feature due to an injury. Spurs have yet to concede a goal this season and are 12 times unbeaten against Palace. Spurs to win and remain top of the table. Oh, Harry Kane is back and has just scored against Poland with a wonder strike from 25 yards to be on 41 England goals. 12 more to equal Rooney's and England record and at 28, should go on not only to equal but to be the undisputed goal king of England. 0-1.

Arsenal v Norwich - 19th versus 20th teams. Guess which is in 20th position? Arsenal are at the bottom in 20th place, 9 goals conceded and not scoring even once in 3 games and are one place below their visitors Norwich. This is relegation form. What was Granit Xhaka smoking when he lunged two-footed and saw red? They are in a dismal situation never before since maybe the 50s achieving a new low. Normally this would be a match where the Gunners win and by a bigger margin but not anymore as I think the Canaries are playing better. They were the better team against Leicester and should have won. Arteta has said Arsenal should be in a better place and I think this "better place" translation is wrong. If the Gunners do not win here it could be the final nail in the coffin for Arteta. Both have a goal difference of minus 9. It has to be nail-biting. If Arsenal cannot win this one at home against the weakest team when will they? Arteta has spent 145 million pounds with nothing to show. Anything that is not a win spells great doom for Arteta who is on thinnest ice. For my long suffering Gunners' friends' sake.  2-1.

Brentford v Brighton - Brentford have been good. They battle and are hard to beat and Ivan Toney has scored. Brighton were equal to Everton and even dominated possession but once again let down by their finishing. They lost because they do not score and Everton did ending their great start of a two-match winning streak. You can say that often the Seagulls do not get the points their football deserves. As both sides do not score a lot and not conceding a lot too, a draw is on the cards. 1-1.

Leicester v Manchester City - I told you that Norwich would cause Leicester problems. Leicester need to improve much when the best teams come a calling and this one does not come any bigger than the champions. They have yet to truly convince so far. City will have a goal keeping crisis as Ederson has been barred by Brazil F.A. while his deputy Steffen has been ruled out after being tested positive for Covid while on international duty. Gabriel Jesus will also miss out. Leicester have proven capable of upsetting City in the past. City have missed out on Harry Kane and Ronaldo and if Jesus is barred what do they bring with them? They must hope for Jack Grealish to bring them joy because Jamie Vardy is still scoring. This match is about making an early statement. City may just ride this out to secure a win. 1-2.

Manchester United v Newcastle - The lucky Devils! Wolves actually outplayed United and they need to thank David De Gea for several key saves and Wan-Bissaka for that goal line rescue. Mason Greenwood saved the day and should feature every week even with Cavani around and Cristiano Ronaldo's return. Ronaldo at 36 is still very fit as he has always been a supreme athlete, a GOAT and will still have goals in him. Its a nostalgic return and may help to invigorate the team but it is very short term solution. A much lower transfer fee has helped but maybe a high salary of a reported 400 to 500 thousand pounds a week was what United could afford but Ronaldo is not the same Ronaldo who was strutting his stuffs at Old Trafford 12 years ago. Would it be better spent on a younger player with great potential that is up for debate but the euphoria is understandable for United fans. He no longer presses but waits for the ball these days so may not be everyone's cup of tea even for Man City but it suits United. They should have signed Paul Scholes or Roy Keane instead of Ronaldo. That's all. Anyhow, Ronaldo still outscored Romelu Lukaku in Serie A as the top scorer and he has just become the international goal-scoring record breaker with 111 goals for Portugal in 180 games surpassing every player that have played the game and there is still more to come. He was brilliant since young and started banging in the goals for club and country and at 36 still very fit and very good. He is a machine that perhaps could play on till he is 42. However, he may not necessary start the game here but may come on at some point. Steve Bruce is in a quandary. The Magpies are very watchable these days but somehow could not win even when they were leading Southampton 2-1 with a Allan Saint-Maxima goal in the 90th minute. They have to concede a penalty goal in the 96th minute. Now he has to lead his team to visit his old club. Maybe he could hope that since the Saints have held United to a draw, he may also devise a plan to achieve that. United were scintillating against Leeds but were short in the last two games. Jadon Sancho didn't made the impact against Wolves. All eyes are on Ronaldo if he could make the pitch in time. The Magpies will have to wait for another match to get something. If Ronaldo plays, it will be wait there and we get the ball to you to put it in. Only Bruno Fernandes may be affected if he will still be taking free-kicks and penalties. If Ronaldo plays, imagine the attacking third - Ronaldo, Sancho, Greenwood and Fernandes. 3-1.

Southampton v West Ham - The Saints are unbeaten in their last two games (both draw). They actually play better than their results. The Hammers slipped a little at home against Palace who were better in certain areas but they are still firing away and exciting to watch. West Ham have the biggest XG for goals and goals actually scored and are not Southampton's favourite team to meet as they have won 6 out of 7 games but West Ham are without a clean sheet. Southampton can win a match like this but I think West Ham are in the zone and Antonio is red hot! 2-3.

Watford v Wolves - Watford are a physical battling team. Wolves have been totally let down by their finishing. They have lost their three matches 0-1 and like the last game against United. They are basically a good team playing good soccer and have two excellent wingers in  Francisco Trincao and Adama Traore especially Traore. Whenever Traore has the ball, he could easily whizz past one, two or three players in a jiffy and leave them for dead with his electrifying pace. In other words, unplayable but often he has been let down by his poor crossing and shooting. With his ability he is worth quite a lot of goals and assists and be a really top class player. Wolves will continue to wonder how they have lost if they do not solve this end product - goals. 57 attempts in 3 games with nothing to show. If only they have a Mason Greenwood. Watford and Wolves tend to take turn to win each game. Wolves are just like Brighton - they are not getting the points that their football deserves. It wouldn't be easy but I expect Wolves to finally score a goal or two and win a game. 1-2.

Chelsea v Aston Villa - Chelsea showed at Anfield they are the masters of defence. Their goalie also made six saves. They looked impregnable so if Villa could score or take a point or more it will be an upset but Villa did draw this fixture last season. Villa will not lack effort but the Blues look too strong. Question is can Danny Ings and Ollie Watkins breach the Chelsea defence. 2-1.

Leeds v Liverpool - Leeds had lots of possession but Burnley were somehow equal to them. Burnley was tough and played to an almost perfect game plan but allowed Leeds an equaliser which they do not really deserve but who else scored in such a cruising encounter? Patrick Bamford and he can now celebrate his England call up. The Reds played a good game against Chelsea but could not break down Chelsea's low block when they went down to 10-men and will rue on two points dropped then a point gained. They should feel disappointed not to have won. Liverpool will have to bring their A game at Elland Road. Trent Alexander-Arnold is back to near his best. Andy Robertson is back from injury and Tsimikas has proven to be ready anytime. Joel Matip is very good with Van Dijk beside him and Van Dijk who was out almost for the entire last season does not look like he has been away. He alone has stabilized the Reds and is really a Rolls Royce of a defender. He just makes everything look so easy. He is so good that he hardly dirtied his kit and a few others who do not dirty their kits are like Franz Beckenbauer and Alan Hansen. Harvey Elliot is going to be the next big thing if he keeps his head screwed tightly on his neck and shoulders. His built is like Lionel Messi and he jinks around like Jack Grealish. Salah and Jota will score but Firmino and Mane need to up their game more. 

Liverpool are unbeaten in 10 games versus Leeds. The Reds are top for chances created, shots and shots on target. Leeds could still be dangerous but their own back line have been conceding goals first. All Brazilians will be missing and Liverpool will be without Allison, Fabinho and Firmino while Leeds will miss Raphinha. The Reds' weakest point may be at goal if Allisson can't play. It's either Caoimhin Kellher or Adrian at goal. Leeds have stuttered a bit but they will be back. They are a good side but they let in goals too easily. Fresh signing from United Daniel James may feature and the eloquent and erudite Patrick Bamford will renew his battle with Van Dijk. When at their best, they can win such a match. This tie ended 1-1 last season. Close and maybe nail-biting.  1-2.

Everton v Burnley - Rafa Benitez could be Everton's new hero with fine results so far so do be warned that Burnley won here last season. However, Everton have high number of shots and shots on target. Burnley will make it tough as usual but Everton are as competitive. With the way they have been playing and at Goodison Park with Brazilian Richarlison available and Dominic Calvert-Lewin continuing his fine form,  a home win. 2-1.