Saturday 28 October 2017

Premier League GW 10 - Big Match Preview: Manchester United Vs Tottenham Hotspur

It's 2nd vs 3rd in the Premier League

Both teams are level on 20 points in the PL Table

United's 100% Home record stands ahead of Tottenham's 100% Away record


Old Trafford "The Theater of Dreams" is set to host it's first memorable fixture of the season in the Premier League as Manchester United welcome Tottenham Hotspur. Coming into this game, both teams have high stakes hanging in the balance hoping to win this mouth watering clash.

Head to Head:

Played: 50
Man United wins: 32
Draws: 11
Tottenham wins: 7


25 of these fixtures have been contested at Old Trafford, Manchester United have the edge with 20 wins and Tottenham with a couple. United won this fixture last season with a sole goal scored by Henrikh Mkhitaryan.

2017/18 PL Record

Manchester United:
Played: 9
Home Wins/Defeats: 4/0
Away Wins/Defeats: 2/1
Home Draws: 0
Away Draws: 2

Tottenham:
Played: 9
Home Wins/Defeats: 2/1
Away Wins/Defeats: 4/0
Home Draws: 2
Away Draws: 0

Teams so far:

Manchester United suffered a shock defeat last time out in the PL at newly promoted Huddersfield Town and are win less in their last 2 PL games. However, they were victorious mid-week in their League Cup clash against Swansea City and would want to build on it with another victory.

Spurs have a frightening league form coming into this fixture after they trashed Liverpool last time out. But in their mid-week League Cup game, their defense crumbled into pieces, throwing away a 2-goal lead to lose 2-3 against West Ham United.

Team news:

After a horror show in central defense last weekend, Man United manager Jose Mourinho would be happy to have first choice defensive partnership Eric Bailly ans Phil Jones fit to start alongside each other.

Absentees for this fixture include Michael Carrick, Paul Pogba and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

There's massive news for Tottenham who are set to be without their star striker Harry Kane who has suffered a Hamstring injury. After scoring his brace against Liverpool last week-end, the striker limped out and joins Victor Wanyama on the injury list.

Danny Rose could be set to make his first PL appearance of the season.

Tactics and Formation:


Tottenham have been dealt a huge blow with Harry Kane's injury and the manager would have to approach the game in a different manner. He should use Son Heung-Min in an advanced role or bring in a like-for-like replacement by starting Fernando Llorente.

Tottenham's woes could be joy for Manchester United as Harry Kane's absence has eliminated Tottenham's prime goal threat. But they too will have to approach the game in a different way and be prepared when Tottenham play counter-attacking football.

Prediction:
Manchester United (1-0) Tottenham

Manchester United can be given the edge just for Harry Kane's absence as well as now they have opportunity to grind out a result which can result into 3 points. They haven't dropped points at all this season, but on the contrary, Tottenham haven't dropped points on the road either.

But mid-week, it was seen that their defense can be easily exploited and Man United may be successful in accomplishing it and get their 5th home win of the season. All the best to both teams.

Thursday 5 October 2017

Man City win at Chelsea, Man United & Tottenham score four, Watford & Burnley get Away points, Merseyside clubs drop points as Matchweek 7 rounds off

Kevin De Bruyne scored the winner against Chelsea

Man United scored four for the 4th time this season

Spurs maintain their hundred percent record on the road

Watford remain unbeaten away from home with a last-gasp equalizer

Burnley make it 8 points from 4 Away games this season

Newcastle V Liverpool ends in a stalemate

Arsenal, West Ham & Stoke all pick up home wins

Matchweek 7

Before the Premier League went on its 2nd International break of the season, Matchweek 7 has brought surprising results across the 20 clubs, to intensify the race in the table. Across the 10 fixtures, 22 goals were scored; with 7 teams managing to pick up all 3 points. These 7 teams excluded the likes of Liverpool, Everton & Chelsea.


After their stunning victory over defending Champions Chelsea, Man City finished off GW 7 top of the table. Their neighbors Man United are in 2nd, still joint top on points but with a lesser goal difference. Tottenham move into 3rd after their 4th Away win of the season as Chelsea drop to 4th, level on points with Arsenal in 5th.

The bottom 3 all failed to pick up wins this weekend; Swansea conceded an injury time winner at West Ham, Bournemouth failed to win at home & Crystal Palace are still win less without scoring a goal this season with 7 straight defeats.


This weekend's goals have proven vital at an individual level; first for Man United forward Romelu Lukaku who has scored 7 this season, leading the race for the PL Golden Boot. Harry Kane's brace has taken him into 3rd, level on 6 goals with both Sergio Aguero & Alvaro Morata who are both currently injured.

 Matchday 1
(Saturday)

Fixture 1



Man City won the big game of the weekend at Stamford Bridge, edging past the PL Champions Chelsea. Kevin De Bruyne, the former Chelsea player scored a stunning goal to keep the Citizens top of the PL table.

The goal was a fierce left footed 20-yard strike after De Bruyne & Gabriel Jesus played a neat one-two to seal Man City's fifth straight PL victory. This keeps them top on goal difference but level on 19 points with rivals Man United.


Chelsea have now lost 2 games at home this season and suffered a further blow after striker Alvaro Morata picked up an injury early on in the game. They have now dropped to 4th with 13 points.

Man City welcome Stoke to the Ethiad, while Chelsea travel to face Crystal Palace.


Fixture 2


Manchester United have continued their impressive run in the PL with another 4-0 thrashing of Crystal Palace at home. This result has taken the Red Devils to 19 points in second place, level with rivals City. It was also United's 4th straight victory at home and the 4th time they've scored four goals in a PL game this season.

Juan Mata marked his 200th PL appearance in a fine way by scoring in the 3rd minute, finishing off Marcus Rashford's cross to hand United the lead.

Marouane Fellaini was United's star performer on the night, scoring a goal in either half. His first strike came in the 35th minute finishing off Ashley Young's cross.


He scored his second in the 49th minute, heading in Marcus Rashford's free-kick.


Romelu Lukaku added a goal late on in the game to take his tally to 7 PL goals for United in his first seven PL games. He has now scored 11 goals in all competitions for the Red Devils.

Crystal Palace's disastrous start to the season continues with their 7th straight defeat, keeping them bottom with no goals scored yet in the PL. They have one final daunting task against Chelsea at home next while United face a huge test when they travel to rivals Liverpool.



Fixture 3



Harry Kane continued his stunning form on the road this PL season after scoring twice to maintain Tottenham's perfect away record with their victory over Huddersfield Town. This was Kane's 6th PL goal this season, all away from home & came in fresh from his mid-week CL hat-trick.

Kane opened the scoring on the night after Kieran Trippier cleverly headed the ball clearer in the 9th minute.

Tottenham doubled their lead in the 16th minute after a brilliant one touch play was finished off by Ben Davies; the defenders 2nd PL goal of the season.

Huddersfield Town problems to clear their lines handed Kane the opportunity to score his 2nd on the night past Jonas Lossl.

Dele Alli struck the post & Laurent Depoitre struck the crossbar in the 2nd half, but Spurs added a late goal in injury time through Moussa Sissoko.

Spurs' 4th consecutive away win in the PL has taken them to 3rd in the table and Huddersfield's first home loss of the season brings them down to 11th.


Fixture 4


Watford remain undefeated on the road this season after scoring an injury time equalizer as they drew 2-2 at The Hawthorns against West Brom. This result has taken Watford into 5th & West Brom move into 10th.

The hosts were first to score as Salomon Rondon fired past Heurelho Gomes from a tight angle with the first shot of the game; the striker's first goal of the season.
Their lead was doubled as Captain Jonny Evans bundled from close range after Matt Phillips put in a delicious corner into the box.

Watford managed to get one back just before the interval as Abdoulaye Doucoure drove a fierce shot past keeper Ben Foster; the midfielder's 3rd goal of the season.

But with time running out, Watford left it until the 95th minute in stoppage time as Jose Holebas' free-kick was headed in by Richarlison; his 3rd strike for The Hornets.

Fixture 5


Stoke City finally ended their win less run of 4 matches after securing a 2-1 victory at Home over Southampton. Stoke and Southampton are both level on points in 13th & 12th places respectively. This result was Southampton's first away defeat of the season.

Mame Biram Diouf broke the deadlock just before half-time heading home Xherdan Shaqiri's corner to score his first PL goal for the season.

They had a chance to go into half-time with a 2 goal advantage but Sadio Berahino's penalty was saved by Fraser Forster.

Southampton's pressure in the 2nd half finally prevailed in the 75th minute as Maya Yoshida brought Southampton back on level terms with a superb half-volley.

But with 5 minutes remaining, Stoke scrambled a winner after Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting's found Peter Crouch who tapped in the winner; his 2nd PL strike of the season.

Fixture 6


West Ham United left it late, all the way into the 90th minute to score the only goal at The London Stadium as they managed to beat a resilient Swansea defense.


Substitute Diafra Sakho scored the winner after smashing home fellow substitute Arthur Masuaku' s cross, handing West Ham their second win of the season; both at home.

This result has taken West Ham out of the relegation zone into 15th & has dropped Swansea into 18th on 5 points.

Fixture 7


Bournemouth & Leicester City played out a goal less draw at The Vitality Stadium after both teams failed to finish off their chances.

Jermain Defoe was handed Bournemouth's best chance in the game but he hit the woodwork early on. Leicester City Striker Shinji Okazaki had their best chance on the night but fluffed his shot wide.

Bournemouth remain in the relegation zone in 19th place and have now picked up 4 points in their last 2 games at home. Leicester are in 17th after failing to win in their last 5 PL games.

Matchday 2
(Sunday)

Fixture 8



Liverpool suffered their 3rd draw of the season as they failed to win at Newcastle United despite taking the lead as manager Rafael Benitez avoided defeat against his former side.

Phillipe Coutinho's brilliant strike gave Liverpool the lead in the 29th minute. He has now scored in each of his 3 games in all competitions this season.

But Newcastle weren't behind for long after former Red Jonjo Shelvey put in a through ball which rebounded off Joel Matip's tackle, deflecting off Joselu to level the game.
In the second half, Liverpool had the better chances on the night with Daniel Sturridge, Mohamed Salah, Dejan Lovren, Dominic Solanke & Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. 

Jonjo Shelvey had a superb game against his former side, assisting the equalizer and also cleared a header off the line.

Liverpool have now fallen down into 7th & Newcastle's 10th point in their last 5 games have risen them to 9th.

Fixture 9


Arsenal maintained their perfect start at home this season with their 4th straight home win against Brighton. They are now unbeaten in their last 4 games with 4 consecutive clean sheets in the PL and have come up to 5th in the table while Brighton are in 14th.

Nacho Monreal broke the deadlock in the 16th minute, after Hector Bellerin's blocked shot fell into his path & he drilled home the opener; his first PL goal since March 2013.
Alex Iwobi scored his first PL goal of the season, finishing off Alexis Sanchez' delicious back-hell into the top corner to double Arsenal's advantage and cap off a fine home win.


Fixture 10


Burnley maintained their unbeaten away record for the season with a 0-1 success at Everton. They have continued their superb away form of winning 8 points in their last 4 Away games in the PL after drawing at Tottenham & Liverpool and winning at Chelsea and now Everton.

Burnley took the lead through Jeff Hendrick's composed finish inside the box after Stephen Ward's pass in the 21st minute. This was a brilliant 24-pass move which was brilliantly executed.
Burnley's win has taken them into 6th place, while Everton have further dropped down into 16th after their 4th loss in their last 5 PL games, putting the future of manager Ronald Koeman into serious doubt.

The PL has already begun it's second international break of the season, so action will resume on 14th October and what a way to kick it off; Liverpool Vs Man United. See you then.