Liverpool edging Arsenal this Friday Night !!!

Arsenal welcomes Liverpool to the Emirates Stadium this Friday night for the crunch clash that winner most probably have edge on top four position. Arsenal could leapfrog Liverpool to the fourth position.  One points separates both teams.

 On the recent meetings , Liverpool may fancy on taking 3 points from the emirates stadium. But Arsenal are in a great form apart from losing to Manchester United. No one has scored more goals at home second to Manchester City. Ozil is having a form of his life despite the contract edging out. Whereas there is more concern on the form of Chilean forward Alexis. 24 goals to the previous campaign in all competitions, this season Alexis has scored only 3 on the open play. We have to wait till January whether he will stay with Arsenal or move to the most probably future club Manchester City. 

But in the recent games, there is revive in the form from the old home grown boy Jack Wilshere. He is being pivotal in the past two games being man of the match the win over Newcastle. His ability to hit long pass, ball through has been brilliant in the recent game. In the game against Liverpool , I would fancy Wilshere notching the winner. Since Ramsey is injured, Wilshere would probably start against Liverpool.

Coming to Liverpool, they have been brilliant in the front and midfield. And in last 4 games they have been brilliant at the back also with Lovren in the heart of defense. Mohammad Salah most probably will notch Player of the Year with recent forms, having tough competition from City's De Bruyne. Coutinho , also having issues regarding the transfer saga to Barcelona, is being more devastated in recent Liverpool games scoring and also creating chances. He is a sensational footballer (let me remind you that also). Although having more criticism of rotation policy by Klopp, Liverpool are being gel at the moment. With the pace of salah, Mane and firmino with Coutinho behind all three would create more threat to Arsenal.

My prediction would Liverpool edging Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium. We have to wait till friday. Lets enjoy the match whoever wins it.

 

Why Manchester United Lose to Manchester City

The major highlight to the Sunday game was Manchester Derby. Unbeaten on 13 games with all of those, Manchester City traveled to Manchester United for the most probably title decider of the premier league in early December. City were 8 points ahead without defeat in previous 13 games.

With Sane, Silva , De Bruyne all starting for the Manchester City, Paul Pogba was one of the major absentees for the Red Devils. The winner of the match was Manchester City with 2-1  !! Silva, Otamendi to Rashford for the Red Devils. The major points that I analyzed that United loss to City may be because of the following reasons :

Long Ball Strategy

The major failure to win the match was based on long ball strategy. City were not even at their best to win this encounter and gain a 14th successive league victory, a Premier League record. the united strategy was based only with the intention of trying to spring quickly on the counter-attack. It did not work as United were under constant pressure, hurried into playing the ball long and spending most of their time trying to track the movement that city were in the front in the form of Jesus, Raheem Sterling and Leroy Sane.

Striker Low Confidence

Lukaku low confidence seems to have harm their team performance also. Lukaku is the type of player who would like to play the ball to him to slot the goal into the net. But the linkup play with mid field player and the striker is not so good which have harm his confidence while not getting the goal. The major miss in the later stage with double good save from Ederson was the only chance Lukaku really had in the whole game. And the two mistakes that he made leads to the goal to the Manchester City

One Man Midfield

Last but not the least the major problem is the playmaker. Manchester United is relying on Pogba from the beginning of the season. Manchester United lacks player that have dynamic dribbling movements and cover large amounts of space while maintaining strength and balance as Pogba runs at opponents. If Pogba is not playing United strategy is based on long ball. No one was able to dictate the midfield in Manchester Derby in which De Bruyne and Silva outclassed and bossed against united midfield.

These are the points that I analyzed after the game. If you have any other views do comment ! Thank you !!