EPL 2021/2022 - Game Week 10
Humiliation of the greatest order! Only a couple of weeks ago I wrote about Newcastle United's famous 5-0 win over Manchester United but this was worse when Liverpool humiliated their biggest rival - the famous Manchester United in their own backyard at Old Trafford, the Theatre of Dreams. Four goals down by half-time and the game was already over with fans seen leaving in droves.
Paul Pogba was sent in to help stem the tide but he saw red after a bad and dangerous tackle that saw Naby Keita who is in a rich vein of form stretchered out. There was nothing else to play for as the Red Devils sat back with a man less. Six yellow and one red and the endurance of a second half which will feel like ten hours before they can hide and knowing that they will be paying the high wages of the famous Cristiano Ronaldo who cut a sad lost and forlorn figure. He should have been red carded instead of seeing yellow for his petulance. A lesser player must have been walking to the tunnel. Norwich and Watford were frankly better teams.
Liverpool fans were singing "Ole's at the wheels and Ole must stay". Poor Solskjaer for it was to me never his fault. The thin ice he was treading on has turned into an avalanche. It was a no contest. 5-0 was a let off as it could easily have been more. Salah's hattrick meant that he was the first Liverpool player to do so at Old Trafford since 1936! And it was ten games in a row he has scored! Plus he added with an assist! This was achieved even as Liverpool were without Fabinho, Joel Matip and Sadio Mane. Even old man James Milner was later injured! Ibrahima Konate making a rare appearance did not affect them as he was calm and composed and showed his potential. Jota justified his selection ahead of Mane and it was a shame for Keita to be injured as he has been superb for some matches now. Liverpool ran rings around them and pressed them to pulps when they do not have the ball. If you by now are still arguing which is better - a team or a collection of individuals, just go watch this game. Maybe the four horse race is now a three horse race. Chelsea, City and United all spent big and all pundits have written off Liverpool's chances. United's lavishly paid superstars did not just lost a match but did so without much dignity an the club's Twitter account managed to master only one word - "Defeat". Do not blame Solskjaer. He did not employ himself and he has been doing his best. Fish always rots from the head down and this is a fact.
Just a little side track. At Borussia Dortmund, Jude Bellingham continued his development where he is going to be a big star some day soon. His Messi-resque goal against Bielerfelder Alm was just so special and his age does not even allow to purchase a pint of lager. He slalomed and got past 4 players in a tight space to score. Audacious!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ilySiTZDmYs (Jude Bellingham)
All of his 18 years and playing like a veteran defies belief as he is so comfortable on the ball, even in tight spaces and he has this impeccable decision making in split seconds which truly is a gift. He is the perfect fit at Liverpool and Klopp must get him.
We are quickly into Game Week 10. Let's see some real numbers for you to crunch so that you could peek into the details. The number of shots will inevitably lead to the number chances and big chances created. Not surprisingly, Liverpool lead in both followed by City, United, West Ham, Arsenal, Leeds, Chelsea, Everton, Southampton, Wolves in terms of shots and shots on target. For big chances, and chances created it is Liverpool, City, Chelsea, United. City and Liverpool lead on touches. It was City, Liverpool and Chelsea on passes. Chelsea, Liverpool and City are level on six clean sheets followed by Brighton with four and on expected goals it is Liverpool, City, West Ham, United and Chelsea. There you have it. Bring on Game Week 10:
Leicester v Arsenal - Leicester are truly back. You saw how Chelsea nearly got hammered by Brentford yet the Foxes went there and knew how to win even when their possession, xG, shots and chances created were lesser. Jamie Vardy has scored seven in nine matches and has eleven against the Gunners. That is some record. He could be likely to score here. Once again Youri Tielemans scored another scorcher!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9KHLTi2Vg8 (Youri Tielemens)
Maybe the Gunners are also back as their win over Villa suggested. Both are showing some form of stability but Arsenal have yet to face a strong team. The 9th and 10th positioned teams sharing an identical 4W2D3L with 14 points and coming back to form at almost the same time with some really good football and goals in their last 2 or 3 league matches. 2-2.
Burnley v Brentford - Burnley may be still without a win but they showed that they can fight and score last week (at Southampton). Brentford continued to play like Brentford and caused problems to Leicester but unfortunately still lost but Brentford is exactly a fine team with great team spirit and ethics that Manchester United lack. Every Brentford game is worth watching and do not be fooled by the losses to Chelsea and Leicester both of which they should have won. They have been unbeaten away with two wins and two draws. Burnley have only four points, without a win and still finding their way. It is an away win for me. 1-2.
Liverpool v Brighton - Salah was the first-ever player to score an away hattrick at Manchester United. Liverpool have now score three or more goals in all nine straight away games in all competitions. Liverpool are not unbeatable but there is something about this team and when they are playing at their true level they relentless and an irresistible force. Salah has been making a habit of making others bow down or...
go down on their knees. Dejection to his opponents when he plays.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLxmuh6wCVY (Man U v Liverpool)
Brighton played quite well but City were too good for them in their last outing. Bear in mind the Seagulls were undefeated against the Red last season but Liverpool look quite irresistible at the moment even more so Mo Salah but be warned that Brighton can do damage and you will have to work your socks off. For Brighton to get something at Anfield, they have to play a perfect game and hope the Reds have an off day. Lately Brighton only score every 2 or 3 games so if Liverpool contain them by pressing high successfully they will find it hard to score. The Reds' average goals per game is 3.67. It would be interesting to find out if Mo Salah will score in his eleventh straight game. Meanwhile, other Liverpool players like Andy Robertson have that similar attitude. They do not care if you are Messi or Ronaldo. Listen to Arrigo Sacchi, the most respected soccer coach (once of AC Milan's all conquering team): “This Liverpool team is a masterpiece. A fantastic team without any real superstars. A true team. You see one playing for eleven, while other teams are eleven playing for themselves." "80 per cent of the time, they are moving when they have the ball. If they were an orchestra they would always be in perfect tune and in perfect time.”
Anfield welcomes back a favourite son - Adam Lallana who during his time with Liverpool were often injured otherwise he would have been one hell of a player as he is great technician, more Brazilian than English. 3-0.
Manchester City v Crystal Palace - City were again very good and eventually broke Brighton's resistance. City did what City do al the time. Phil Foden playing as a striker in the middle showed how versatile their players are and he not only scored twice but also provided an assist. Watch how Phil Foden scored against Wycombe in the cup. That is the reason you see goal keepers diving even when a shot is looking a wee bit wide or why goalies punched the ball away instead of trying to catch it. The modern ball is wicked. Pep has helped the undoubtedly talented Foden to another level not just to replace David Silva but eventually Kevin De Bruyne. Then there is another 19 year old English boy you should watch and his name is Cole Palmer. He too scored against Wycombe and you can watch it below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YK96XfaAdD0 (City v Wycombe)
However good you are, City got KO by penalties to West Ham in the EFL Cup after a 0-0 draw. EFL champions in the last four seasons have ben KO cold. You never know which players Guardiola will play which shows an embarrassing depth of talents at his disposal. So the only question begging is how will Palace cope. Palace have been playing reasonably well but have only won once this season. They will draw some matches, occasionally win but against the best teams will not. A baptism of fire here for Patrick Viera and his boys. 3-1.
Newcastle v Chelsea -Newcastle under care-taker manager Graeme Jones' play was as expected - defensive. Besides Allan Saint Maxima, they should do well to also keep Callum Wilson who has always been a superb goal scorer. Watch his goal v Crystal Palace:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fbMrUlTSdxQ (Callum Wilson)
Chelsea are like from another planet. They were without Lukaku and Werner. In came Mason Mount and Callum Hudson-Odoi. The latter contributed a goal and his other shot became Norwich's own goal but Mount got an impressive hattrick. He will continue to be a Chelsea and England star. This boy is all quality and if dislike him, you have not open your eyes. That 7-0 win was even bigger than when Lukaku and Werner were playing. So the only question is when will the Magpies kick start their season and get their first win with their new owners? Chelsea have only won three in ten visits to St. James Park. Still it is scan consolation and hard to see Newcastle getting something here. 1-3.
Watford v Southampton - Watford showed Everton that not every team can beat them. They were not weak when they lost 0-5 to Liverpool. Claudio Ranieri has immediately worked his magic! The Hornets were down twice but found equalisers and not only that, they went on to score 3 times in the 80th, 87th and 91st minutes. They outplayed Everton and that was incredible. To put 5 past the Toffees was quite a mean feat. The Saints dominated Burnley but trailed initially, came back leading only to have conceded. When I first saw Valentino Livramento played for the Saints, I thought his name is not English and he could be either Italian, Spanish or Portuguese but he is English and only 18 years of age. I have watched him and he has been really good but his best came last week against Burnley. Just a minute after crashing his shot against the post he headed an unstoppable header to the top of Burnley's net. Watch this boy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=719SpPCDlno (Valentino Livramento)
Southampton has been renowned for producing talented young players for so many years now. If they had not sold all their top players they would have been a force to reckon with. Just see these names: Vrigil Van Dijk, Pierre Emerick Hojbjerg, Dusan Tadic, Adam Lallana, Sadio Mane, Gareth Bale, Danny Ings, Jose Fonte, Luke Shaw, Calum Chambers, Angus Gunn. The Saints have only lost once to the Hornets in 14 clashes. If Watford play like last week where they blitzed Everton they would win but Southampton have been hard to beat. 2-2.
Spurs v Manchester United - Spurs were quite poor at West Ham and the result reflected as they lost 0-1 but they will take heart the the Red Devils are in a much worse situation. Two things can happen and that is United will come storming back or they may wallow in their despair. They could ill afford another defeat or worse another poor display. At the moment, both teams are going nowhere. To me Spurs made the biggest mistake when they sacked Mauricio Pochettino when there was no reason to. He made them fly and played the best football, was among the top four (2nd or 3rd) and was in UCL final. That was great folly. The Red Devils' mistake was not to have signed him. The irony for United was that they brought in OGS so that he could bring back the Man Utd way but what we saw was the opposite way. In fact, United's demise was a long time coming which I have pointed out years ago even when Sir Alex was in charge. At the tail end of his career, his team was already in rapid decline. There was no succession plan. David Moyes appointment was bad timing. He never has the money to splash like Ole Gunnar Solskjaer did. He was not a United legend. He is doing really very fine now at West Ham. So it went on and on. It is not Solskjaer's fault. He did his best but as James Ingram sang: "I did my best but I guess my best wasn't good enough". So, in life you have to know oneself even when someone can knocking at your door to appoint you to something too big for you. A meteoric rise is often fraud with dangers for a simple reason - you have yet to learn the ropes. Its the same everywhere and anywhere.
Signing Ronaldo was a bad move. He maybe the best in the world with his records and he will still score but he will just wait to be fed. He does not do any pressing and that is one man lost. Ronaldo is the damning indictment that added to their failures. OGS should now bring in a few fringe players like the costly Donny Van De Beek who is now like an expensive golf club that you bought but put aside. Bring in Jesse Lingard. Drop Ronaldo and play Edison Cavani as he offers more even when they do not have the ball. For goodness sake, play Jadon Sancho and play him on the right. Ring in the changes as you cannot play the same players and do everything the same way and expect a different outcome. How will the Red Devils react? Spurs have their own demons to overcome after the West Ham defeat. How will fate deal a hand here? Just finding out United's lineup is intriguing. I guess not much will change. Nuno Espirito Santo has not found the right way to play and Kane has often been isolated. It is a good time for Spurs to get a result here but then I think not but it should be a good game as they both need to go for it. 2-2.
Norwich v Leeds - The Canaries are already in relegation battle from the start. Their plummet was not unexpected but the manner in which they have fallen has been rather drastic and hard to watch, even cruel. Maybe they could do something here as Leeds themselves are having a hard time and needed a 94th minute Rodrigo penalty to save their skin for a draw at Elland Road to Wolves. Both sides are having a nightmare season so far especially for the Canaries. Norwich played and defended well against Burnley and Brighton but once they got past the Bs, they failed at the C and collapsed at Chelsea. Leeds' dismal form gives them a big chance here. 1-1.
Aston Villa v West Ham - Aston Villa's early season promise wilted at the Emirates as Arsenal overwhelmed them. West Ham are riding on the crest of a wave led by Michail Antonio's goal once again to beat Spurs to rise to 4th place. Just when we thought Dean Smith has done well at the beginning despite selling Jack Grealish, it appears to be untrue. Villa have crash landed after shocking United 1-0 and that was about all. The Hammers have risen to 4th and what they have been doing since last season seems to be very effective till now. Topping their Europa table with a fine win recently, beating Spurs and dumping City in the EFL Cup. Just wow! And they have Michail Antonio who has been the most amazing among others. West Ham may just give them a Hammer blow. 1-2.
Wolves v Everton - Wolves were once again unbeaten but could have won at Leeds and have their new hero, new Korean Hwang Hee-Chan to thank. Everton need to go back to their drawing board. They were leading the game but crashed so badly in the second half versus Watford and got a 2-5 spanking. Shambolic! Because Everton looked so bad and got over ran last week and Wolves can be full of surprises and that make the game more interesting. Most are going to go for a Wolves win at the Molineux. Bruno Lage knows his stuff outplayed Manchester United and Spurs, were really good against Leicester but lost. maybe be close but Wolves are good to win. 2-1.
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