Hi everyone! Soccer Sunday sees 3 games being played out at 3 different timings. The first game sees 2 Londont teams in Spurs and West Ham battling it out, followed by Everton hosting Nigel Pearson's Leicester City and lastly the most interesting battle of the 2 teams aiming for the coveted 4th spot: Liverpool travelling to Saint Mary's Stadium to take on Southampton, with the return of the 3 L Musketeers: Adam Lallana, Dejan Lovren and Rickie Lambert.
Spurs (6th) vs West Ham (8th) SingTel TV 102, StarHub TV 227, 8pm
Form
|
|
Spurs
(13-4-8)
|
West
Ham (10-8-7)
|
Last 5 games: LWWWL
Last 5 home games: WWLWD
|
Last 5 games: DWLDD
Last 5 away games: DWLDL
|
Injuries/Suspensions
|
|
Spurs
|
West
Ham
|
Injuries: None
|
Injuries: Carroll (knee)
Suspended: Amalfitano
|
Spurs should have Harry Kane, Ryan Mason and Moussa Dembele
return to the line-up after all were rested for the midweek Europa League game
agaisnt Fiorentina.
West Ham will welcome back defensive duo Winston Reid and
James Collins back into their squad, with both back in training after missing
with hamstring problems. Nene, signed earlier in the week isn't match fit as of
yet.
This game could be closer than what people make of it. Spurs, with their recent good form, would be every bookmakers' favourite to win this tie. But, this being still a matchup between 2 London teams both fancying their chances of playing European football next season, will be gunning to take this game. As usual Harry Kane would be the focal point of spearheading Spurs' attack, with the youth academy product now being deemed as being the club's top striker, having been benched in the midweek Europa League match against Fiorentina. West Ham, on the other hand would seek to bounce back from that shocking 4-0 mauling in the hands of West Bromwich. Enner Valencia, having been a revelation in West Ham's surprising league position, is now a possible transfer target for Chelsea. He and Diafra Sakho would be the focal points for West Ham's attacking play, given that Andy Carroll is out for the rest of the season. I expect a tight game, with Spurs to nick it 2-1, and Harry Kane to add on tho his burgeoning reputation as possibly England's best striker currently.
Prediction: Spurs 2-1
Key Player: Harry Kane, Enner Valencia
This game could be closer than what people make of it. Spurs, with their recent good form, would be every bookmakers' favourite to win this tie. But, this being still a matchup between 2 London teams both fancying their chances of playing European football next season, will be gunning to take this game. As usual Harry Kane would be the focal point of spearheading Spurs' attack, with the youth academy product now being deemed as being the club's top striker, having been benched in the midweek Europa League match against Fiorentina. West Ham, on the other hand would seek to bounce back from that shocking 4-0 mauling in the hands of West Bromwich. Enner Valencia, having been a revelation in West Ham's surprising league position, is now a possible transfer target for Chelsea. He and Diafra Sakho would be the focal points for West Ham's attacking play, given that Andy Carroll is out for the rest of the season. I expect a tight game, with Spurs to nick it 2-1, and Harry Kane to add on tho his burgeoning reputation as possibly England's best striker currently.
Prediction: Spurs 2-1
Key Player: Harry Kane, Enner Valencia
Everton (12th) vs Leicester City
(20th)
Form
|
|
Everton
(6-9-10)
|
Leicester
City (4-5-16)
|
Last 5 games: DDWDL
Last 5 home games: LDDDD
|
Last 5 games: WLLLL
Last 5 away games: DWLLL
|
Injuries/Suspensions
|
|
Everton
|
Leicester
|
Injuries: McGeady (knee), Pienaar
(knee), Osman (ankle), Oviedo (hamstring)
Suspended: Barry
|
Injuries: Wood (foot), Schmeichel (metatarsal)
|
Everton welcomes back Leighton Baines after missing the past
3 games with a minor knee problem. He should replace Bryan Oviedo, who is
having a slight hamstring strain. Gareth Barry will be suspended for this game,
but Aaron Lennon should return after being cup-tied in the Europa League tie. Leicester City will have Robert Huth back in the squad after
he was cup-tied for the FA Cup defeat to Aston Villa.
Everton will realy hope to replicate their decent Europa League form in the league as well as they seek to climb up the table and avoid being dragged into a possible relegation fight, which I'm sure Everton fans would not have seen it coming at the start of the season. Romelu Lukaku needs to start scoring, and start scoring asap as Everton do really need their target man to start banging the goals from the chances that they create. As for Leicester, well they just need to start winning points, as they are a staggering 5 points away from safety so far. Nigel Pearson would really have to rally his team together, considering that they were my favourite amongst the 3 promoted teams NOT to get relegated this season. However, Everton's strength in their squad would mean that they are most likely gong to get the 3 points they need.
Prediction: Everton 2 Leicester 0
Key Players: Romelu Lukaku
Everton will realy hope to replicate their decent Europa League form in the league as well as they seek to climb up the table and avoid being dragged into a possible relegation fight, which I'm sure Everton fans would not have seen it coming at the start of the season. Romelu Lukaku needs to start scoring, and start scoring asap as Everton do really need their target man to start banging the goals from the chances that they create. As for Leicester, well they just need to start winning points, as they are a staggering 5 points away from safety so far. Nigel Pearson would really have to rally his team together, considering that they were my favourite amongst the 3 promoted teams NOT to get relegated this season. However, Everton's strength in their squad would mean that they are most likely gong to get the 3 points they need.
Prediction: Everton 2 Leicester 0
Key Players: Romelu Lukaku
Southampton (5th) vs Liverpool (7th)
Form
|
|
Southampton
(14-4-7)
|
Liverpool
(12-6-7)
|
Last 5 games: WWLWD
Last 5 home games: WDLLD
|
Last 5 games: WWWDW
Last 5 away games: WDWDW
|
Injuries/Suspensions
|
|
Southampton
|
Liverpool
|
Injuries: Alderweireld (hamstring),
Mayuka (groin), Rodriguez (ACL)
Suspended: Bertrand
|
Injuries: Gerrard (hamstring)
|
Southampton's Morgan Schneiderlin and Shane Long are available after both were missing with an abductor injury and fractured ribs respectively. Matt Targett is back after missing with a head injury. Raheem Sterling will be aiming to start for Liverpool after returning from a foot injury.
This match promises to be an intriguing affair between 2 teams aiming to get the coveted 4th spot. Southampton amazingly is still in the mix for a Champions League spot after 26 games. This has gone to show how with a good coach at the helms, mixing it with a top-notch scouting network and a youth academy that keeps on churning out quality youngster after another, a team can mix it with the big guns who spent millions of dollars on expensive players. Ronald Koeman's men must now have the belief that they can go on and get the Champions League spot, and what more a greater opportunity to do it than to win against the club that triggered the exodus of key players from your team? Adam Lallana, Dejan Lovren, and Rickie Lambert all left Southampton for Merseyside, but find themselves 2 places below their previous team. That being said, Liverpool is now on an amazing run of 1 defeat in the past 17 matches. Additionally, Southampton have been facing a bit of an wobble at home, having only won 1 of their past 5 home games. Graziano Pelle needs to start scoring, having not scored in the past 8 league games, and 2 in the last 17. For Liverpool, I think the key player here would be Raheem Sterling, and that it would be interesting to see whether Rodgers would start with the trio of Daniel Sturridge, Raheem Sterling and Mario Balotelli, as I honestly think that if all 3 was to start (along with the exciting Jordon Ibe) they would be more than a handful for opposing defences even as good as Southampton's (league best of 17 goals conceded) This could well be the start of the end of Southampton's push for Europe or a sudden halt to Liverpool's resurgence in the league. I would go with the former and predict a 2-1 win for Liverpool, with potentially a possibility of Lallana scoring the winner.
Prediction: 2-1 to Liverpool
Key Players: Graziano Pelle, Raheem Sterling
So that's it for this week! I will be back next week for more Soccer Saturday/Sunday, where the pick of the week would be the clash between Liverpool and Man City, and Arsenal taking on Everton. Until then, have a good week ahead!
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