Another exciting and full of goals weekend of Premier League football as the teams try and gather maximum points prior to the world cup break. Here's a review of match day 9.
Arsenal were the better team in the game particularly in the second half. Not a surprise as they were playing at home and are the team in form leading the league table. Liverpool were better than what they had been and very unlucky. The first half handball incident was a penalty in my book and if given would have changed the scenario of the game. The penalty awarded to Arsenal in the second half was very soft as well. Having said that based on performance Arsenal deserved to win but based on tactics Klopp was way superior to Arteta. For the time being Arsenal are managing to stay top but the jury is still out on their inexperienced manager who relied on a red card to beat Spurs, and some really favorable decisions to beat Liverpool at home.
Next up is the premier league version of El Classico as Man City head to Anfield. With 6 minute hat trick Salah back in form and full of confidence; can we expect Liverpool to spring a surprise and derail city? The answer is NO. Liverpool are playing with Henderson and Thiago. That leaves a gap between midfield and back four. Arsenal exploited that gap but City are the masters of exploitation of space in behind. Jesus, Xhaka, Saka and Odegaard all missed good chances but Haaland, Silva, Foden and Debruyne won’t miss such golden opportunities. I expect City to demolish Liverpool with both teams scoring. 4-1 to City is the likely outcome. Arsenal on their way to Leeds who are a first half team. Leeds show a lot of energy in the first 45 minutes and seem deflated in second half and they cant afford to do that against this Arsenal team. Both teams should score but Arsenal should come away with a 3-1 win.
Easy as you like. City are a scoring machine and improving defensively. Southampton didn’t even bother to put up a fight. The only surprise was Haaland only scoring once when he should have scored 4. City could afford to rest Haaland for the champion’s league game and should be rearing to go against Liverpool. Pep knows that a win against Liverpool will practically push Klopp’s men out of the title race with only 10 games gone and that’s a big incentive. Southampton are on a slide and things don’t get any easier with a visit from West Ham who are slowly and surely gathering momentum. I expect the hammers to score atleast 2 and win 2-1
Football is known as a beautiful game worldwide and has the biggest audience globally of any sport. If most football managers played like Conte then it wouldn’t have been an attractive sport and the fans would prefer watching golf over football. Conte’s Spurs are mega boring and have Kane and Son to score a goal and win the game for them. That’s what they did against Brighton who are adapting to life under their new manager. Brighton play Brentford next who are having a lean patch of their own. Should be 1-1. Spurs are at home to Everton and should easily win. 2-0
Another weekend and another 3 points for Manchester United. Ten Haag is showing promise and his team is producing results. I am still not convinced and don’t see United finishing in top 4 but they will contest the 4th position till the end of season. Everton have definitely improved and were good till United scored the equaliser. Lampard knows that his team has to earn points elsewhere and shouldn’t lose any sleep over a defeat against Manchester United. Next up they go to Spurs and will lose again. United has a tricky fixture against the Saudi giants Newcastle United. I expect Newcastle to earn a 1-1 at old Trafford.
Chelsea had an easy match against manager less wolves who have struggled to score all season and that struggle is continuing. The game sandwiched between a home and away victory over AC Milan and Potter is up and running. Auba is scoring again and Chelsea are making a claim for top 4. Wolves are concerning for their fans and they need a manager as soon as they can manage to find one. Chelsea are away to Villa and I have a feeling that with Gerrard’s job online Villa lads will play with intensity and a draw might be the result. 2-2. Wolves are at home to Forest and have to win. 1-0 to Wolves
Good result for the hammers and with Mitrovic not playing Fulham struggled. West Ham are on the up and should win next weekend as well. Fulham have had a few bad results but they have enough in the tank to keep going. They will host Bournemouth now who are unbeaten in last 5 but I expect the Craven Cottage crowd to rare Fulham to a win in this one. 3-1 to Fulham.
Magpies are looking good for a top half finish. They are probably the best team out of top 6 and will be competing for champion’s league places next season. A hammering for Brentford who are still content with their season and should manage a point against Brighton. Newcastle are off to old Trafford and should manage a draw of their own.
O’Neill is doing miracles down south at Bournemouth. After parker’s sacking everyone feared for their safety but now they are unbeaten in 5 and came from behind to beat a miserable and clueless Leicester. They wont manage the same against Fulham and one feels their run comes to an end next weekend. Leicester host Palace and I fear they might lose again which surely will cost Rogers his job. Palace to win 2-1
Palace has played some really good football without the rewards and they deserved to win. Leeds are falling down a bit and I can not see their manager keeping his job by the end of the season. Leeds face league leaders Arsenal and I can not see them getting a point in that one. Palace are off to bottom team Leicester and should manage back to back wins.
I am not sure if Forest will manage a win in the rest of the season. They are going down and with multiple sackings of back room staff there is a turmoil behind the scenes. Villa played like a team belonging to relegation zone and on paper they are a lot better. Its between rogers and gerrard as to who loses the job first. Forest have to win against Wolves but they wont. Villa are hosting Chelsea and if they don’t get anything out of that game then Gerrard’s job is in danger.
- Arsenal v Liverpool
Arsenal were the better team in the game particularly in the second half. Not a surprise as they were playing at home and are the team in form leading the league table. Liverpool were better than what they had been and very unlucky. The first half handball incident was a penalty in my book and if given would have changed the scenario of the game. The penalty awarded to Arsenal in the second half was very soft as well. Having said that based on performance Arsenal deserved to win but based on tactics Klopp was way superior to Arteta. For the time being Arsenal are managing to stay top but the jury is still out on their inexperienced manager who relied on a red card to beat Spurs, and some really favorable decisions to beat Liverpool at home.
Next up is the premier league version of El Classico as Man City head to Anfield. With 6 minute hat trick Salah back in form and full of confidence; can we expect Liverpool to spring a surprise and derail city? The answer is NO. Liverpool are playing with Henderson and Thiago. That leaves a gap between midfield and back four. Arsenal exploited that gap but City are the masters of exploitation of space in behind. Jesus, Xhaka, Saka and Odegaard all missed good chances but Haaland, Silva, Foden and Debruyne won’t miss such golden opportunities. I expect City to demolish Liverpool with both teams scoring. 4-1 to City is the likely outcome. Arsenal on their way to Leeds who are a first half team. Leeds show a lot of energy in the first 45 minutes and seem deflated in second half and they cant afford to do that against this Arsenal team. Both teams should score but Arsenal should come away with a 3-1 win.
- Man City v Southampton
Easy as you like. City are a scoring machine and improving defensively. Southampton didn’t even bother to put up a fight. The only surprise was Haaland only scoring once when he should have scored 4. City could afford to rest Haaland for the champion’s league game and should be rearing to go against Liverpool. Pep knows that a win against Liverpool will practically push Klopp’s men out of the title race with only 10 games gone and that’s a big incentive. Southampton are on a slide and things don’t get any easier with a visit from West Ham who are slowly and surely gathering momentum. I expect the hammers to score atleast 2 and win 2-1
- Brighton v Tottenham
Football is known as a beautiful game worldwide and has the biggest audience globally of any sport. If most football managers played like Conte then it wouldn’t have been an attractive sport and the fans would prefer watching golf over football. Conte’s Spurs are mega boring and have Kane and Son to score a goal and win the game for them. That’s what they did against Brighton who are adapting to life under their new manager. Brighton play Brentford next who are having a lean patch of their own. Should be 1-1. Spurs are at home to Everton and should easily win. 2-0
- Everton v Man United
Another weekend and another 3 points for Manchester United. Ten Haag is showing promise and his team is producing results. I am still not convinced and don’t see United finishing in top 4 but they will contest the 4th position till the end of season. Everton have definitely improved and were good till United scored the equaliser. Lampard knows that his team has to earn points elsewhere and shouldn’t lose any sleep over a defeat against Manchester United. Next up they go to Spurs and will lose again. United has a tricky fixture against the Saudi giants Newcastle United. I expect Newcastle to earn a 1-1 at old Trafford.
- Chelsea v Wolves
Chelsea had an easy match against manager less wolves who have struggled to score all season and that struggle is continuing. The game sandwiched between a home and away victory over AC Milan and Potter is up and running. Auba is scoring again and Chelsea are making a claim for top 4. Wolves are concerning for their fans and they need a manager as soon as they can manage to find one. Chelsea are away to Villa and I have a feeling that with Gerrard’s job online Villa lads will play with intensity and a draw might be the result. 2-2. Wolves are at home to Forest and have to win. 1-0 to Wolves
- West Ham v Fulham
Good result for the hammers and with Mitrovic not playing Fulham struggled. West Ham are on the up and should win next weekend as well. Fulham have had a few bad results but they have enough in the tank to keep going. They will host Bournemouth now who are unbeaten in last 5 but I expect the Craven Cottage crowd to rare Fulham to a win in this one. 3-1 to Fulham.
- Newcastle v Brentford
Magpies are looking good for a top half finish. They are probably the best team out of top 6 and will be competing for champion’s league places next season. A hammering for Brentford who are still content with their season and should manage a point against Brighton. Newcastle are off to old Trafford and should manage a draw of their own.
- Bournemouth v Leicester
O’Neill is doing miracles down south at Bournemouth. After parker’s sacking everyone feared for their safety but now they are unbeaten in 5 and came from behind to beat a miserable and clueless Leicester. They wont manage the same against Fulham and one feels their run comes to an end next weekend. Leicester host Palace and I fear they might lose again which surely will cost Rogers his job. Palace to win 2-1
- Crystal Palace v Leeds
Palace has played some really good football without the rewards and they deserved to win. Leeds are falling down a bit and I can not see their manager keeping his job by the end of the season. Leeds face league leaders Arsenal and I can not see them getting a point in that one. Palace are off to bottom team Leicester and should manage back to back wins.
- Forest v Villa
I am not sure if Forest will manage a win in the rest of the season. They are going down and with multiple sackings of back room staff there is a turmoil behind the scenes. Villa played like a team belonging to relegation zone and on paper they are a lot better. Its between rogers and gerrard as to who loses the job first. Forest have to win against Wolves but they wont. Villa are hosting Chelsea and if they don’t get anything out of that game then Gerrard’s job is in danger.