Weekend Digest: A look at some of the matches of GW8

The second international break is almost upon us and the table is starting to take shape as the usual suspects have occupied the top half of the table and those expected to struggle are indeed finding life very hard at this point in time. However, teams like Manchester United and Everton have massively underachieved and the likes of Sheffield United and Bournemouth have surpassed expectations. Anyways, that is for another day, lets now look at what’s in store for us this matchday!!

Easiest three points of the Gameweek:

SPURS VS BRIGHTON

If ever a team wanted an easy way out of a catastrophe, then playing Brighton at the Amex Stadium is as winnable as it can get for an opponent. Spurs would certainly see this fixture as an opportunity to salvage some pride at the very least after a pretty somber night in North London against Bayern Munich.

The Seagulls have just scored 2 goals at home all season, only Newcastle have scored fewer. Add to that, Graham Potter ‘s men have the second worst home record in the league, it’s been 8 games since Brighton last won a home game in the league, which is still better win-less streak than their opposition as Spurs haven’t won any of their last 9 away league games. Staggering!

Key Player: Son Heung Min

The South Korean registered more shots on target than any other Spurs player in midweek, he would however though, looking to make amends for several missed opportunities against the Bavarians, this Saturday.

Prediction: Brighton 0 Spurs 2

Game of the weekend:

Liverpool vs Leicester city

Brendan rodgers back in anfield is surely going to be an exciting fixture to watch this weekend!

At the start of the season, if someone had told you Liverpool’s first real test of the season would come at home to Leicester, you’d have plausibly said ‘You’re jerking my chain’. But Leicester’s fabulous start to the campaign means that the league leaders may find the task to maintain perfection a little bit more arduous than on first viewing.

Jurgen Klopp’s men will definitely have to defend better than what they did against Salsburg in the Champions League, otherwise the foxes may well prey on their hosts. The ‘would be’ champions though would be boosted by the long awaited return of their first choice goalkeeper-Allison Becker. Coincidentally, Leicester were the last side to prevent Liverpool from taking all three points at Anfield, back in January.

Key Player: Jamie Vardy

Liverpool’s defense was shambolic midweek in the absence of Joel Matip, who Klopp described as his best signing ever last week. The Cameroonian will once again be absent this weekend and the foxes would look to exploit that. Who better to do it than Jamie Vardy? The Striker has a phenomenal record against the Reds, he has scored 7 league goals against Liverpool, only Thierry Henry(8) and Andy Cole(11) have scored more.

Prediction: Liverpool 3 Leicester 1

MUST WIN GAME:

Everton vs Burnley

After last week’s defeat to the champions, Everton are just glaringly 2 points clear of the drop zone. The Toffees have now lost their last three games in the league and that has put Marco Silva under a huge amount of pressure. The last team he would want to face in this kind of situation is Sean Dyche’s Burnley at Turf Moor. The Clarets have won 2 and drawn 3 of their 7 games so far this season, with defeats coming against Liverpool and Arsenal.

On a positive note, Everton would take a lot of heart from last week’s performance against Manchester City, they will also be uplifted by the fact that they beat these opponents 5-1 last time out.

Key Player: Lucas Digne

The left back has been Everton’s best player ever since the start of the 2018-19 season. The Frenchman would be looking to bounce back after he was given a run around by Riyad Mahrez a week ago. Notably, he scored twice in the aforementioned 5-1 victory.

Prediction: Burnley 2 Everton 1

Potential Goal fest

ARSENAL vs BOURNEMOUTH

Wherever you are on Sunday, make sure you tune into the Arsenal V/S Bournemouth fixture at the Emirates, it promises to be an absolute belter!

Arsenal have conceded at least 2 goals in their last three home games in the league. Only two teams have conceded more goals than the Gunners (11) in the top half of the table, one being Chelsea (13) and the other, obviously Bournemouth(12). That puts the Cherry on top for neutrals, if you’d ignore the pun.

Edie Howe’s men are the only team to have both scored and conceded in every game thus far this season. The Cherries though, have pretty poor record at the Emirates, losing all their 4 games. Add to that, they have conceded at least 5 goals in each of their last three visits to London.

If the all the above stats are anything to go by, we could be in for an open and entertaining game.

Key Player: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

The Gabonese international has been Arsenal’s savior over and over again this season, the striker has won 10 points for Arsenal on his own, which is more than any other player.

Prediction: Arsenal 5 Bournemouth 2

Game to overlook

NEWCASTLE UNITED VS MANCHESTER UNITED

Look away Manchester United fans…

The Red Devils failed to register a single shot on target in a match on Thursday night against AZ, a pretty damning stat for a club of Manchester United’s stature. It has been 10 games(all comps) since they last won an away game, their worst run since September 1989.

As for their opponents, Newcastle, well it never rains when it pours. After their mauling at the hands of Leicester, the Magpies’ boss Steve Bruce has said that ‘ It is a wonderful time to face Manchester United’. The former Manchester United player though, has failed to win any of 21 games( lost 16 drawn 5) as manager against United.

Key Player: The Fans

As both teams lack players who provide inspiration on the field, the fans have to act as 12th man to help someone produce a moment of magic from somewhere to lighten up this fixture.

Prediction: Newcastle 0 Manchester United 1

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