EPL 2022/2023 - Game Week 4

Surprises and excitement in Game Week 3. Tottenham worked hard and got full points thanks to Harry Kane once again who outscored everyone who plays for one Premier League club. Crystal Palace showed what a good team they are and Patrick Viera has a bright future as a manager. Everton saved a point at the brink of death and Fulham won a hard fought battle with Brentford in such an exciting game. Leicester's slump continued conceding a late goal that led to defeat by Southampton. Arsenal established their credentials that they are the real deal and are definitely a very strong contender for top four even if it is early days to say they could challenge for the title. West Ham are shockingly at the bottom of the table with three straight defeats this time at home to Brighton. 

Newcastle are a very good side built by Eddie Howe. He didn't go about buying the best players but crafted his team to play very good football. When Gundogan scored in the 5th minute you thought it was game over but the Mighty Magpies came back with such a performance that made City looked weak and they were even leading 3-1 but City stormed back in a classic game. What a joy to watch Allan Saint-Maximin. More players should be like that. He tormented City's backline relentlessly. What a player! The Red Devils bounced back with a very important win over arch rivals Liverpool. Liverpool's season is left in tatters now and still without a win. The Reds are in a mini crisis and if they still do not win their next game, a full blown one but Klopp is a great manager and his Liverpool team would have won a lot more but City somehow could win a point more. Klopp's philosophy is one to be admired even for neutral fans but rival fans will not admit but will have their knives out. He has actually won everything and has nothing to prove except to keep calm and carry on.

North London is doing well, especially Arsenal who are playing very good football. Gunners fans should enjoy it. Whether they could sustain their performances particularly when they get to meet the big six is for another time. City nearly lost at St. James Park but they showed they are still the team to beat. Leeds were awesome as they crushed Chelsea 3-0. Bielsa-ball back then was exciting but they could not defend to save their lives and now Jesse Marsch has shown what American football can do as his Leeds were organised into Marsch-ball. Tottenham won by an odd goal but that is what Conte and Kane do. Graham Potter may now have the best Brighton side ever playing brilliantly and with such confidence. Even Southampton are having a bright start with Che Adams in top form. Liverpool have been meh. Dismal, underwhelming and a bit shocking with too many players off form. Needless to say, another exciting week of soccer is coming so we could see how each team conquer their own demons. 

It is getting harder to predict with some shocking results so far that may become a ridiculous campaign and with the World Cup to come and with further disruption, this may be a season for a chance to see a surprise winner. City has spent, Arsenal, Chelsea and United will still be spending before the window closes and if Liverpool do not spend to fix some issues they may face a very difficult season with too many injuries unless Klopp and his team can conjure up major improvements. Whatever it is, the tide can suddenly change. That is what makes the Premier exciting. 

Southampton v Manchester United - The Saints despite trailing Leeds 0-2 came back to get a draw and trailing Leicester came back with any away win. No doubt the Red Devils with their tails between their legs in the first two games got an important win over arch rivals Liverpool. United die-hard fans were in hiding for a very long time are now back in force all over. Lisandro Martinez was thought to be very poor but now fans are saying he is Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic combined. How fickle. History is against Southampton as their record was seven draws and six losses but there is hope as United have lost their last seven away games but if the Red Devils maintain their ethics, they can edge this one and are probably favourites but Southampton could spring a surprise. 2-2. 

Brentford v Everton - Brentford hit Man U 4-0 here the last time but the Bees conceded a late 90th minute goal to Fulham's Mitrovic and lost 2-3. Everton are struggling and face daunting tasks ahead as they have to visit in form Leeds next then host Liverpool. They badly need to get something here but its not good news as Brentford did the double over Everton last season and Everton currently lacks finishing. 2-1.

Brighton v Leeds - Both teams have been really impressive so far. Graham Potter has been a really good coach and manager for a long time but often did not have the results to show. With the great start they have the Seagulls must maintain that edge. Nobody expected Leeds to mount this season's challenges but see how they have been playing and where they are now. Leeds were fantastic against Chelsea. So with both teams playing well they may just repeat last season's two games which ended in draws. It could be a cracking game. 2-2.

Chelsea v Leicester - Chelsea will be determine to bounce back after the schooling they got at Elland Road. They must be feeling a bit easy they got this fixture with a Leicester in poor form but their problem are at both ends. Having lost Christensen and Rudiger they have not really come to terms with that and now also not scoring as much. Sadly. Leicester have been a pale shadow of themselves. The match will also probably see Wesley Fofana sitting out as reports suggested that Leicester have finally accepted a 90 million pounds offer from Chelsea. If true, he shall become the most expensive defender of all time. Money, money, money.  2-1.

Liverpool v Bournemouth - Liverpool are having their worst start in ten years. The knives are out and opposing fans are happy. Everything I have said was not adequately addressed by the Reds - that they have become too predictable and in the past where most of the players were at the top of their game, opponents still could not stop them. Losing Sadio Mane has an impact and Nunez absence, the spate of injuries and with too many players off form, things get complicated. Allison having been tops, Van Dijk made uncharacteristic mistakes, TAA has been harassed rather than usually harassing. Robertson's energy has disappeared and the midfield looks weaker. The previous three games were each a must win but faltered badly. Do not think that Bournemouth is a walk in the park despite their leaking 4 goals to City and 3 to Arsenal. What if they begin to play their best? The Reds have conceded first for 7 times in a row and left chasing a game and that is a no-no and that makes this game at Anfield the most important of the season. Anything but a win is a disaster. Not just a win, Liverpool need to play convincingly too. They have to start on the front foot and with a bang. If they could win their next few games and keep defeats and draws to a minimum then things will change. Liverpool have a great record versus Bournemouth but do not bank on it. Work for it from the very start. 3-0.

Manchester City v Crystal Palace - City win, we all say but the Eagles are a very good side who will not be intimidated. City failed to beat Palace even when they were at their best last season. They lost to Palace 0-2 at the Etihad and drew 0-0 at Selhurst park and those were not coincidences. Actually City have a poor home record against Palace recently. Only one win in four encounters with Palace taking two wins. Palace have a good squad and Viera used to play and coach there and in Wilfried Zaha they have a fabulous player that can hurt any team. The probability is a City win but Viera saw what Newcastle did last week and if his plans work to a T, he could get something. 2-2.

Arsenal v Fulham - Arsenal sitting proudly at the top of the table has shown Arteta has got everything right and yet last season he was often lambasted. Based on form, the Gunners should win but do not discount Fulham who are shades better than Leicester and Bournemouth whom they have conquered. It is also a London Derby. You saw their comeback last week. There is a joke going on that Arsenal is now like an elephant seated on top of a tree branch. You do not know how it got there but soon the branch will break and the elephant will fall. Arsenal have been big spenders this season and Arteta may add more firepower before the window closes. Fulham's Aleksander Mitrovic is an absolute menace to any opponents. Both Jesus and Mitrovic should score. 2-1.

Aston Villa v West Ham - Both sides seem to be struggling. Villa have not been convincing and West Ham have been surprisingly awful despite being so good last season. David Moyes and Steven Gerrard have to figure out very soon how to overturn their season. For now, a draw seems likely. A 3-0 win over Viborg will restore some confidence for the Hammers. 1-1.

Wolves v Newcastle - I thought Wolves did pretty well against Spurs but were downed by Harry Kane's goal. The Magpies are flying if their result and even more importantly the performance against City were an indication how far they have come under Eddie Howe who has been very good since his Bournemouth days. Newcastle gave City a cracker of a game and showed the rest how to play a dominant City. Problem is Wolves aren't scoring while Newcastle have been nothing but brilliant. Jimenez and Traore must play and score but Newcastle will win. Newcastle have just signed Swedish international Alexander Isak from Real Sociedad for 59 million pounds. They can only get better. 1-2.

Nottingham Forest v Spurs - Forest have been reasonably good but will it be enough to even hold off Spurs. Forest played with lots of heart and we saw Spurs struggled against Wolves. Son Heung-Min has not been the same players from last season where he was unstoppable. Steve Cooper is a good manager and Forest have spent with intent. Spurs have not been flying bit got away anyway with Chelsea and Wolves. This may be the game where they may hit form depending on how Forest strategize. Conte's Spurs ain't easy to beat. A Forest win would be a shock. So Spurs could be flying but they need Son to be back at his best. 1-3.