Man City vs. Liverpool
Man City started this game well and with energy to get off the mark in the league. Both Marcelo and Mukiele were doing well to get involved in the build-up, particularly Mukiele who combined with Bruno high up the pitch to create a few openings, but good defensive work from Zinchenko and de Ligt kept the scores level. Liverpool’s midfield struggled defensively in the early stages, with Kovacic looking a little unfomfortable playing as a regista and so deep in the build up as City’s home advantage and better balance helped control the games early stages. But Pool always looked dangerous in the moments when they did get Fabian and their front three involved and they did take the lead when Liverpool broke with Sancho who got past Marcelo, cut it back to Fabian who then put it on a plate for Kane to tap Liverpool into a 1-0 lead.
It wasn’t long though until City drew level with Pjanic picking the ball up from deep and finding Gnabry who ran direct at Zinchenko, crossed to Lewandowski who was foolishly pushed over by Sanchez, the Colombian was rash and VAR confirms the PENALTY and a yellow to Davinson. Up stepped Robert to take the penalty and he made no mistake. 1-1. For the remainder of the half, Man City were well on top as they took the momentum forward, Liverpool looked a little lost and disjointed.
Half-time: Man City 1-1 Liverpool.
The second half started with Liverpool making better use of their full backs, Zinchenko and Trippier getting high and causing problems for City’s FBs who also had Sancho and Sterling to deal with. That pressure ultimately told when Sancho got in behind, cut it back to Kane whose shot was blocked, it then fell to Rakitic who beat Mings to the ball and side footed past the keeper. 1-2.
The joy was again fairly short lived as the fresh legs of Lazaro drew Sanchez into another careless foul and the Colombian was sent off. Sancho made way and Castro came on for the visitors.
With 15 to go Lukaku came on for the hosts and City started to really cause problems, Pjanic again involved as he picked out Lukaku who nodded it down to Gnabry and the German thumped the ball in. 2-2.
Castro was struggling in central defence and with the presence of both Lewandowski and Lukaku, he was under severe pressure, a lofted ball from Mukiele found the chest of Lukaku who managed to push Castro aside (legally) and thump what appeared to be the winner into the roof of the net. 3-2.
Substitute Mertens added energy alongside Kane and Sterling as Liverpool went more direct, City started to become a little too defensive considering they had the extra man and they didn’t seem confident in holding their lead. With minutes to go Kane found himself in the box and threw himself against Mings, the ref checked with VAR but ultimately no penalty awarded. City held on for an important three points in an exciting game. The red card certainly played it’s part in this one, but City with better balance, subs, more specific tactics and the home advantage were probably worthy of the points overall – despite Liverpool having better personnel.
Full time: Man City 3-2 Liverpool
Man City: Lewandowski (pen), 24. Gnabry (Lukaku), 79. Lukaku (Mukiele), 87.
Liverpool: Kane (Fabian), 17. Rakitic, 51.
Red Card: Sanchez, 62.
Week 2
posted on 10/9/19
Bournemouth v Norwich
Two very young sides going at it today, both looking to take points off each other early in the season, two managers going down similar routes of going with youth this season. The game started brightly, both teams going for the early goal and both going very close, Marc Roca got to grips with Brooks early on and the young English man struggled a bit against the Spaniard. James however did have a bit more luck against Emerson, on a couple of occasions he managed to get to the bye line to get his cross in, however Dolberg was beaten to the ball by Romero. However, it was to be third time lucky, again James to the bye line, this time a low cross into the danger area and Dolberg got his toe to the ball first and poked it home.
The home side didn't let their heads drop and pushed for the equaliser, again Roca pimnching the ball from Brooks, he pushed it wide to the advancing Lodl, his powerful run down the left and a quick one two with Vargas allowed him to push into the box, he drilled it into the top right hand corner to draw them level just before half time.
The second half produced an early goal, Berge and Sanches linking well in the centre to get beyond the Bournemouth midfield, however this time Roca was late with his challenge on Broooks which set them up with a free kick in a dangerous position. Wilson to take, and he floated it in, big Sander Berge was there to rise above Gabriel to give Norwich the lead again. The triple substitution for Norwich when winning disrupted the flow of their play for a bit, but it was long enough for Bournemouth to get back in it, Roca and Sanches clashed in the centre of the pitch, the freekick was awarded to the home side, they played it quickly out wide to Mendez, he got passed his man, he cut it inside to Arthur, he took one touch and blasted an unstoppable shot passed Muller, the game became a bit untidy after this, with subs struggling to get up to speed with the game, mistakes began to happen and really just quite messy. It finished 2-2, both managers will be both disappointed and happy with the point. They don't lose ground on each other early in the season which they could both struggle for points
Bournemouth 2 - 2 Norwich
Lodl(Vargas, 43) Arthur(Sanchez, 79)
Dolberg(D.James, 16), Berge(H.Wilson, 60)
MOTM - Marc Roca
posted on 10/9/19
Comment Deleted by Site Moderator
posted on 11/9/19
Southampton 1 - 1 Arsenal
Lo Celso(Pulisic, 33)
Pepe(Modric, 50)
MOTM - Pepe
Newcastle 2 - 2Portsmouth
Salah(Pen, 17), Firmino(Salah, 45+2)
Aguerox2(Sessegnon, Wan-Bissaka, 36, 68)
MOTM - Aguero
Spurs 2 - 1 Wolves
Icardi(KDB, 20), KDB(FK, 56)
Di Maria(Silva, 85)
MOTM - KDB
posted on 11/9/19
Chelsea v Leicester
Entertaining game with two top teams squaring off and the fixture certainly didn’t disappoint. Comparing the teams they are evenly matched across most areas of the pitch. Defensively they are both strong, hard to fault the Leicester back four who have a great balance and I feel would work well together. Chelsea I feel had a slightly stronger CB pairing but didn’t quite have the same balance at FB. With Walker’s strength lying in attack and Hernandez's in defence I feel they may have benefited from slightly more specific instructions for each player to get the best out of their strengths.
Both teams have strong CM trio’s which were hard to separate. I felt Leicester had slightly more technical ability but little to separate in overall quality. In attack I like the balance of the Chelsea front three with Lacazatte a nice foil to get the best out of Mbappe and Neymar. I feel the experiment to play Hazard at CF had mixed results for the away side. At times they lacked a focal point and Hazard was well shackled by the Chelsea CB’s with a fair amount of the game being spent with his back to goal. That being said operating him as a false 9 and interchanging with Ronaldo worked well in pulling the Chelsea defence out of shape and Ronaldo v Walker was at times a real mismatch. I felt Leicester had the edge in terms of game changers coming off the bench however Chelsea benefited from playing at home in front of an unusually raucous home crowd. All in all a tough game to call.
It was that man Ronaldo who gave the away side the lead, a combination of Walker being caught ball watching and great vision from Thiago presented the prolific forward with an early chance and he made no mistake with the finish. Credit to the home side however as they reacted well and hit back in a big way. Mbappe twice being slipped in behind Mendy, the first he smartly cut back for Lacazette to slot home before running on to a through ball from de Jong and driving past Neuer to put his side into the lead. 2-1 at half time.
The second half got under way with an intense spell of pressure from the away side as they really stepped things up and the introduction of Jesus reaped instant reward. Hazard free from his shackles picked the ball up in the AM role and drove at the heart of the Chelsea side, evading a number of challenges before laying off for the Brazilian to level minutes after his introduction. Both teams traded blows in the final 10 minutes as both pushed for a winner and in the dying seconds it looked as though Leicester had snatched it. An audacious Coutinho strike from distance looked to be flying into the top corner however a world class save from Oblak left the crowd in awe. A great game with both sides sharing the spoils.
Chelsea 2–2 Leicester
Lacazette (Mbappe, 37) Mbappe (de Jong, 42)
Ronaldo (Thiago, 14) Jesus (Hazard, 73)
MOTM - Mbappe
Reply |
posted on 12/9/19
2.
Aguero
1.
Lewandowski
Gnabry
Kane
Rakitic
Lukaku
Lodl
Arthur
Dolberg
Berge
Lo Celso
Pepe
Salah
Firmino
Icardi
de Bruyne
Di Maria
Lacazette
Mbappe
Ronaldo
G.Jesus
Mbappe
F.de Jong
Thiuago
E.Hazard
Modric
D.Silva
H.Wilson
D.James
Fabian
Mukiele
de Bruyne
Lukaku
Vargas
Sanchez
Pulisic
Salah
Sessegnon
Wan Bissaka