EPL 2021/2022 - Game Week 11

Some unfathomable stuffs have happened. What a week of soccer from Game Week 10! After a pathetic start, Arsenal are roaring and are now level with Manchester United on points. Thanks to Aaron Ramsdale's many saves including a out of the world save that many will talk about years from now! Burnley finally won a match. Liverpool went to sleep at Anfield. Crystal Palace made the biggest headline dumping champions City at their own ground at the Etihad!!! Nuno Espirito Santo's days at Spurs may be numbered as they fared worse than Manchester United who bounced back with an important 3-0 win. Norwich continued to be bottom with no end in sight as Raphinha scored a beauty. Finally, West Ham are really so good they are level on point with City!

Chelsea are firm favourites to win the title with yet another win. Even without Lukaku and Werner, defender Reece James struck not once but twice with scorching shots. They had beaten Brentford with the slimmest margin even when they were outplayed. They have only conceded three goals and often looked impregnable and when it matters, they score. They are also winning when not playing as well. That is what champions are made of and that is why they are leading the table. Liverpool may still be the only unbeaten team but they drew too often when they should have won, even when they were clearly leading they let their opponents off by allowing to draw level and those were points lost. City are unbeatable when they are flowing but they have since lost twice - to an average Spurs and now at their home ground - the Etihad to Crystal Palace by 0-2. 

At the bottom, Norwich continued to work hard but with no positive result. Already ten matches have gone by. Newcastle are the other team without a win and just above Norwich in second last. The new owners have to put on their running shoes lest they start rebuilding only from a division lower. Burnley got their first win and must surely be in the race to go above Leeds, Watford and Aston Villa. Still early days we may say. Lots of changes are in store including changes in fate.

Southampton v Aston Villa - It was a close game for the Saints and the 1-0 away win was precious an helped them move up the table for only their second win to leapfrogged over Villa whose own heavy home defeat to West Ham (1-4) meant Villa was cursed with four straight losses after defeating Manchester United at Old Trafford plunging them into a crisis. Dean Smith's promising future will be more than compromised, he is in danger of getting fired. Suspension of Konasa and injury to Danny Ings only made things worse. It is quite a mess. The Saints' fortunes have been reversed. 7 points from 3 matches. Ralph Hassenhuttl was facing the same heat as Dean Smith is feeling now just like a month ago. 2-1. 

Manchester United v Manchester City - A historical 0-5 crushing home defeat to their bitter rival Liverpool meant the Red Devils will have to come out with the goods and they have delivered by trouncing Spurs 3-0 away from home. At least this will put them in the frame of things to come when they host the champions but was United that good as was it that Spurs were bad? A 2-2 draw at Atalanta where Ronaldo scored a brace meant they will definitely put a good fight and have always been competitive against City even beating them but probleim wit the Red Devils is that they just could not keep any clean sheet. It did not help City where they were expected to have won but on the contrary ended up with a 0-2 defeat at home to Palace. This match of the week will now have a different perspective. City bounced back in the Champions League with a big 4-1 win over Club Brugge. Funny thing with this Mancunian derby is that United tends to win at the Etihad and City tends to win at Old Trafford. Both have very good individuals but City are better as a team. 1-2.

Brentford v Norwich - The Bees impressive start have crashed a bit and have now been straight defeated three in a row. Where is their belief now. Both teams will be happy to meet each other as Brentford need to win again and there is no easy team to beat than Norwich and the Canaries may feel the same to visit Brentford at their lowest. Sometimes, the Canaries were not that bad but when chances were created there was no finishing and no matter how they defended they concede goals easily. Brentford dropped off with a sticky 3 game patch but they are still creating chances. They will bounce back here. 2-0.

Chelsea v Burnley - Chelsea can do no wrong no matter what was thrown at them up to this moment. When they were threatened by Brentford and defeat was imminent, the defence and goalkeeper Mendy rescued them. When Lukaku was out, Mason Mount came to the fore with a hattrick. When there was no answer to overcome Newcastle, Reece James scored twice. Tuchel must be smiling broadly. Burnely have just had their own comeback with a first win over the Brentford, the team Chelsea struggled against. They took quite long before overcoming Newcastle and Burnley would so the same here before Chelsea can try to find a way to breakthrough. 2-0.

Crystal Palace v Wolves - Patrick Viera and his boys are celebrating with the shock win over City at City's own fortress. They showed masterful control in the game as their xG (0.68) was almost similar to City (0.69) and won by 2-0. Impressive! Game by game these two teams are improving. Palace are unbeaten in 5 games with a W1D4L1 record while Wolves' W4D2L0 means this will be an interesting battle. Watch out for Conor Gallagher (Palace) and Raul Jiminez (Wolves). 2-2.

Brighton v Newcastle - I have said that if Brighton play a almost perfect game and Liverpool were just a bit off, they could get a result. They have been an underrated team with Graham Potter a great manager. Newcastle need to take urgent steps while they are still in the Premier League but it will again be difficult as they have not beaten the Seagulls in 8 games. It appears former Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe may get appointed by Newcastle. He is a seasoned campaigner in fighting relegation when with Bournemouth but he is a very good coach who is forward looking with his ideas and way to play. Newcastle had better make it quick. So it looks for now that the Seagulls will overwhelm the Magpies. 2-1.

Arsenal v Watford - Aaron Ramsdale!!! He almost single-handedly save Arsenal for their impressive 2-0 win away to Leicester! Leicester had 64%v possession, xG of 1.87 to their 0,69, 16 shots to 9, 10 chances to 8 and 4 big chances to 1 but they do not have Aaron Ramsdale. Ramsdale made a strong of important save. One where he dived full stretch across to his right and the other one where James Maddison and all asunder knew that it was a goal even before it hit the net. Somehow, he made an impossible save which must have been the best you have ever seen in the longest time. Even Peter Schmeichel agreed to that. When Arteta splashed 24 million pounds to sign Ramsdale from Sheffield United, it raised eyebrows. Now you know and he has already paid a huge chunk of the instalment. It was just in this game but he has been brilliant in many games. Form the poor start in the beginning, the Gunners has lcibed up real fast to 6th level with United on points and undefeated in nine games. Arsenal and Arteta are really back!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GD-P_3ZbVk4 (Arsenal v Leicester)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ieNfc-yMjz0 (Ramsdale's save)

Watford was nowhere near where they were when they thumped Everton 5-2 away just a week ago. Perhaps it was just Ralph Hassenhuttl's clever work to negate them. In this transition period under new coach Claudio Ranieri, it will take a bit longer and expect another Arsenal win. here. 2-0.

Everton v Spurs - Everton have now lost three games in a row. It may not be a good time to face Spurs who sacked Nuno Espirito Santo and appointed Antonio Conte. It could give Spurs a much needed boost. Conte has won trophies, he is a tactical genius but he will spend money and can be abrasive. Let's see how Daniel Levy deal with Conte or vice versa. Spurs were sometimes in the past my second favourite team when Keith Burkinshaw was manager  or when the manager was David Pleat, Terry Venables, Glenn Hoddle, Harry Redknapp and Mauricio Pochettino. Their style of soccer have always been different to others and under those managers I have named played their teams in that certain style. Conte can win but can he play the Tottenham way? Still Spurs have won 3 and drawn 5 then they visited Goodison Park the last 8 times. Not good news for the host. Without the presence of Dominic Calvert-Lewin Everton looks lame upfront. Their defence was also weak like Spurs. Conte already got a win over Vitesse and he used his most favoured 3-4-3 formation. I see Spurs having a slight edge as the players will be playing for their career under the watchful eyes of Conte. 2-3.

Leeds v Leicester - Raphinha - what a player! He helped Leeds to an important win yet again. The problem with Leeds now is that they are nowhere near the team they were last season and though they beat Norwich at home, they looked fragile even against the Canaries. Leicester's impressive three game run has gone flat. They would have a better result against Arsenal but for Aaron Ramsdale. Leciester also failed to win at home against Spartak Moscow (1-1) but still they a just a bit more potent than Leeds at the moment. If Leeds could top their game they could get a draw. 1-2.

West Ham v Liverpool - West Ham are all quality and exciting! Everyone in the team is good. Keeping their 4th position and level with City on points, they are just two behind Liverpool. This is a game they could win if the Reds play like they did against Brighton. When skipper Jordan Henderson scored by the 4th minute and Mane in the 24th they have a very good lead but Liverpool went to sleep after that. They were sloppy! They have to rectify that and learn quickly not to repeat such sloppiness. Things are made worse now with Naby Keita out after only 20 minutes just when he was in very good form. They need Thiago and Fabinho to recover in time to face the Hammers, if not the Reds will some real worries. Still Liverpool are the only unbeaten team this season and have gone on to equal Bob Paisley's 1982 record of 25 games unbeaten in all competition but Salah 10-game scoring feat has ended and has not scored in two. But to beat Athletico Madrid twice (3-2 away and now 2-0) was no mean feat. They are a top team and one of the best out there with a mean defence and yet Liverpool carved out a fine win even against the dark arts. The Hammers will do well and this will be another real test for the Reds but Liverpool are in the zone at the moment. It could be close. 0-2.