So we are past the crazy Christmas week when the games are coming fast and furious, 2 games a week and how in the world can anyone keep up with that. This darn work thing keeps getting in the way. Full time blogging sounds like a nice gig, there is just that cash flow problem…oh well… you just need to give me a chance to get caught up this week.
A few big developments over the past few weeks, first, the big news, Liverpool finally lost a game, and oh what a game it was. Liverpool lost to title holder Manchester City in an epic battle. It was a real edge of your seat type of game. I tried to stop watching a few times as I had things to do, but I could not walk away. It had that intensity that makes your nervous watching. Constant action, an energy about it, the players felt it, the coaches felt it and certainly the fans felt it. All the talking TV heads agreed, it was the best game in the Premier League this season…by a long way. The two best clubs in the league slugging it out. I was a bit drained afterwards. Never more than a 1 goal lead and scoring chances all the time. The result was in doubt right up to whistle. Check it out.
Spanish highlights just make the game more exciting, don’t you think. This game needed something special and it just sounds better when you here “goooooooooooaaaaaaaaal!
The second big development the past few weeks is the re-emergence of Manchester United. They’re Back! This was a season that was really falling apart. Jose Mourinjo was on watch to be fired the entire year. The 3rd season curse was alive and well. The team was flat, the fans were frustrated, and the results were not good. Sitting around 7-8th in the table all year with no real direction. Paul Pogba, the best midfielder in the world was not happy, lost his captaincy, and was benched multiple times. Something had to give, and give it did when Mourinjo was finally fired after their really poor performance against Liverpool, losing 3-1 and getting dominated. Replaced by a club legend who over 10 years scored 91 goals for Manchester United in his career, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was names Caretaker manager and has righted the ship. Players are loose, confident and playing their best soccer of the season. 6 straight wins have Man U now in striking distance of a top 4 finish. In a real teat last week, Manchester v=came up big against a Top 4 team Tottenham. It was really the GK that shone brightest. David de Gea put down his claim form the best GK performance of the season with 11 saves, many of them epic and amazing. A single counter attach strike gave Man U the lead and then it was the de Gea show. Check out this amazing GK performance.
Week 21-22 Recap
A strange few weeks with only three teams able to win back to back games. Other games/winner of note were:
Manchester City with 2 wins, over Liverpool and Wolves.
Burnely with two wins over Huddersfield and Fulham.
Manchester United with two wins over Newcastle and Tottenham
Race for the Title & Champions League Top 4
Win-Loss-Tie
1- Liverpool 18-1-3 57 Points
2- Manchester City 17-3-2 53 Points
3- Tottenham 16-6-0 48 Points
4-Chelsea 14-3-5 47 Points
5-Aresnal 12-5-5 41 Points
6-Manchester City 12-5-5 41 Points
Watford, Leicester City, West Ham United and Everton round out the Top 10. Bournemouth and Wolverhampton dropped out of the Top 10 with recent losses.
Relegation Zone
There are now 6 teams within 3 points of the 18th position and fighting to stay up. Burnley with two massive wins recently (21) ,Southampton (19) and Cardiff City (19) currently safe but sitting just outside the relegation zone. The new bottom three:
18. Newcastle United 4-12-6 18 Points
19. Fulham 3-14-5 14 Points.
20. Huddersfield 2-15-5 11 Points
Match Week 23 Preview
Game of the Week. #4 Chelsea vs. #5 Arsenal. A really big game for both clubs. Arsenal and Chelsea have both had nice moments this year, but both need 3 points desperately to maintain their Top 4 hopes.
Get ready for an exciting finish to the season. 16 games to go.