GameWeek 18 PL Preview

The next Game-week is upon us. Games are coming thick and fast, with the festive period truly set in. The season is almost at its half way stage with teams having to get a move on to pick up some valuable results. Let’s look at how the teams are setup for GameWeek 18.

Everton vs Arsenal

POSSIBLE FINAL CHAPTERS FOR THE INTERIM MANAGERS?

The first match of a crazy festive period kicks off with two teams desperately in need of wins. The Toffees under the new interim manager have managed to get a win and a draw in their last two matches but are not sure with Duncan Ferguson. With rumours floating around of Carlo Ancelloti ready to take the helm, this might probably be the last match for Duncan to show that he is ready for management.

On the other side Arsenal haven’t showed any form of improvement last time around when they were drubbed at the Emirates by the Champions. They were hopeless in play and really had no direction nor interest in playing for the interim manager. With Mikel Arteta being roped in it might be the farewell for Ljungberg as well. Both of them will be hoping to bow out with a win.

Mikel Arteta in his first press conference: “Football is about habit & angles. It’s much more simple for a player if you can process the image of where your team-mate will be before receiving the ball. If I am in the kitchen and I know the glasses are always in this cupboard, I get my glass of water more quickly.“

Bournemouth vs Burnley

VITAL MID-TABLE FACE-OFF TO AVOID THE DROP

As we did mention in the preview during GW 17 both these teams were in desperate need of wins and were able to get that last week. Bournemouth played well at the Stamford Bridge to get a win against Frank Lampard’s side while Burnley held off the Newcastle juggernaut last week to get the win. Both these managers know that a win doesn’t do them much wonders and would be kicking themselves for facing each other at the worst possible time. With Callum Wilson a doubt the onus is once again on Josh King to score the goals. The whole defense of the Bournemouth team seems to be in the injury ward now and will be interesting to see who Eddie Howe puts out on the 11. Burnley would like their forwards to keep firing and hope that the defense can put up some respite like they did last time around to get a valuable three points.

Aston Villa vs Southampton

BATTLE FOR THE DROP

The battle for the drop is getting intense as every GameWeek passes by. These two teams are rooted to the drop zone for a long time now and would love to get out and move up. Both of them lost last week to sink them further. Their performances were not convincing either. Jack Grealish missing the penalty adding to the wounds of the Villa team. They need to start clicking right away in order to stay in the Premier League beyond their first season back. After having a good run Southampton have again fallen back losing both their previous games. They are running out of ideas and look destined for the drop unless a miracle saves them from now on.

Brighton vs Sheffield

Brighton kicked of the last weekend last when they faced Crystal Palace on Monday night. They were unlucky to get a draw when Wilfred Zaha cancelled out Maupay’s opener. This time around they will be trying to get maximum points against the inform Blades team who are striking down opponents left, right and centre. The Blades sit pretty in 7^th place on the table only behind on GD to Manchester United. Their team has been the best apart from the big 6 this season. On every position in the team they have a match winner who can make a difference. Its hard to see them dropping any points this week. Brighton would have to force their way through the second-best defence in the league to create chances let alone scoring. It’s getting hard to figure whether Lundstram is a defender or a centre forward. He is constantly chipping in with goals every other weekend. This Sheffield team is a solid rock at the back and liquid metal when on the move.

Manchester City vs Leicester

VARDY VS DE BRUYNE!!!

Brendan Rodgers is up against the side that denied him the Premier League with Liverpool. But that seems like yesteryear now. He almost did hand Liverpool the title last time around only for Vincent Kompany to score a screamer and put the tie to bed. He will be looking to do a number this time around. Leicester themselves have a good shot at the title this time around but are 10 points behind the leaders Liverpool. Jamie Vardy doesn’t look like stopping and so do the Foxes, but they were held to a shock draw last week by the Canaries. That derailed their title shot a little bit but they would like to get back on track this week against City and will be looking to close the gap on the leaders who aren’t playing this week due to the participation in the Club World Cup.

The Champions absolutely dismantled the Gunners last week at the Emirates and are back primed with power and confidence after a few setbacks a couple of weeks before. Having made the semis again for the Carabao Cup setting up a Manchester derby with United they will look to get their season back on track in the Premier League still hopeful of having an outside chance at the title. Pep is on the lookout for a new assistant since the departure of Mikel Arteta is confirmed now. De Bruyne is in red hot form for the Cityzens who would love for him to maintain his form so that they could dismantle the Foxes and close the gap on the leaders. This match is set to produce fireworks!!

Watford vs Manchester United

WILL UNITED CONTINUE TO BE THE ROBIN HOOD?

Watford are all but hopeless and look destined for the drop. Nigel Pearson is an experienced candidate for these situations and the best man to have at this moment. If he does manage to pull Watford out of the drop zone it will be his biggest achievement in his career. They did show glimpses of good football last week against the leaders but lacked the finishing touches where Liverpool proved to be the better opponent. They will look to get something against United since this United team have found it easy to get points of the top 6 rather than against the lower table sides.

United fresh from the defeat of Colchester to progress into the semis of the League Cup will look to get back into the top 4 and matches like these are very important in getting there. Solskjaer will know that wins against the sides on the bottom half of the table matters as much as the wins against the top 6. Results going in favour of United and against Chelsea means that United are only 4 points of the top 4 with Spurs only a point above them. The race for the Champions league is getting exciting and United will need to win to keep their quest on track. Since Chelsea and Spurs play each other United have a good chance to close up on them both.

Spurs vs Chelsea

JOSE ON WHITE SIDE OF LONDON!

It only seems like a fortnight that Mourinho came into the helm at the Spurs stadium but already Spurs are challenging for the top 4 again.  He has turned tables once again and has set the ball rolling at Spurs. Last week they managed to get a scrappy win late on through Jan Vertonghen who headed a free header past the Wolves keeper. Molineux was always a tough place for any side and the win there will give Mourinho and his players much needed confidence. They face off against Lampard’s men who have dropped off the pace in the last couple of weeks.

Frank and his men have hit a roadblock and are not at their fluent best. Last week they were stunned by the Cherries side who did very little to win the game. Lampard will have to keep his side on their toes if they are gonna come out with something from the game. He will need Kane to step up and be the leader on the pitch with Son and the rejuvenated Dele Alli helping out. Can Mourinho get the better of his former employers?

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