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Real Madrid 3–1 Atalanta Real Madrid came into this game with a 1–0 advantage over Atalana. La Dea would have to score at least two goals without Real Madrid responding.  In a back-and-forth game, Real Madrid got the job done. Los Blancos’ defense didn’t have a lot on their plate tonight, but their attack was extremely lively all game long. I noticed how they used Atalanta’s relatively frail defense to their advantage, sweeping blow upon blow on the counter attack. The Madridistas were also able to capitalize on some of the Atalanta errors, which led to goals. Luca Modric was fantastic today, setting up the opening goal with a smart pass, and creating other plays with his exquisite technique. I am on the fence regarding how Thibaut Courtois played today. On the one hand, the Belgian made some good saves late in the game, when Atalanta piled on the pressure. But I also believe he should have saved the only goal that he conceded. Vinicius Jr. also was a mixed bag. The twenty-year-old made some outstanding dribbles to get into great areas, but he just couldn’t score. Could he get tips from a returning legend… maybe…Ronaldo? The first Real Madrid goal came from an Atalanta screw up. Marco Sportiello was under no pressure when playing out from the back, but he played it right to Modric. The Croatian squared it to Kareem Benzema from 5 yards, who doesn’t miss from there. Great pressure from Real Madrid caused that goal. On the hour mark, Jr. was clipped by Rafael Tolói just inside the penalty box, after being through on goal. Sergio Ramos never misses penalties, and smashed the ball into the net. It wasn’t the best penalty, to be honest, as the goalie almost saved it. The nail in the coffin was just after they had conceded, when another counterattack allowed Lucas Vasquez to lay the ball to Marco Asensio, who struck it into the near post, just past Sportiello’s feet. Zinedine Zidane will be relieved that they were able to win fairly comfortably.  Atalanta did put up a decent fight in Madrid, but they couldn’t overcome the first leg deficit. They did have their fair chances, but they weren’t as clinical as they needed to be. Coming into this game, I honestly wasn’t expecting them to be able to win, and I'm sure most everyone else thought the same. However, they should have taken their chances better, like Zapatas’s effort which was hit straight at Courtois’s feet. These kinds of missed opportunities can only bring up questions. My question is this: What happened to the Atalanta of only a year ago? What happened to the Atalanta that beat Valencia 8–4 on aggregate, in the UCL? Yes, I’m aware that Real Madrid is a much tougher opponent, but I just don’t get that flair and excitement from watching Atalanta anymore. It’s a real shame, because at their peak, they were everyone’s second favorite club. When they played, you knew there would be loads of goals. Atalanta’s only goal of the night came when Luis Muriel hit an excellent free kick over the wall to beat Courtois. Admittedly, it was really well placed, but there wasn’t a whole lot of power behind the shot, so I believe that Courtois should have palmed it away. That goal kept the game interesting, until not a minute later, some poor defending allowed for Asensio to seal the deal with a goal. THIS is the main issue with Atalanta right now. They can’t defend, or score. They used to be like 2016/17 AS Monaco, where they couldn’t defend, but they could outscore the opponent. However, Atalanta can’t score now, and they still haven’t really invested in a solid defense. Until they do, they could be heading for a real downward spiral. I sure hope not. Anyways, Atalanta are now out of the UCL, and solidifying their back four should be the only thing on Gian Piero Gasperini’s mind right now.  Real Madrid march on! They will find out who they play in the Champions League quarter finals when the draw is made on Friday. For Atalanta, they can still look towards silverware in the Copa Italia, when they play Juventus in April. Arsenal 2–1 Tottenham Spurs knew they needed a win, or else they would have missed a chance to get into the Europa League spot, and even close down Chelsea in the race for the top four. Arsenal’s long-term goals aren’t as direct, being currently 8 points from Tottenham, nowhere near a European place.  Spurs were expected to put up a great display against the Gunners, but they never looked like they could.  Spurs sat deep for much of the game, which was weird, considering that Jose Mourinho knows how much firepower Arsenal can have. Sideways passing was a mainstay for much of the 90 minutes for the Lillywhites, and the usual creative thinkers that are Lucas Moura, Gareth Bale, and Harry Kane, were uninspiring. Bale was especially disappointing tonight, as he didn’t create ANYTHING notable. Their only goal of the game was completely against the run of play, and even after the goal, you could feel that Arsenal would be earning their leveler soon after. Tottenham were also laced with some bad luck, as early on in the first half, Son Heung-min went down after what seemed like a hamstring issue. Could Son have been the difference in the game? I think he very well could have been. However, his substitute didn’t do a half bad job covering for him… Eric Lamela must have thought coming into this match that tonight wouldn’t have been one to remember for him, as he found himself on the bench like in many games. However, he produced one of the best goals of the North London Derby (and maybe in Premier League history!) tonight. When Lucas Moura received the ball in the box from a cross, he dinked it to Lamela, who had two players in front of him. Somehow, he managed to RABONA the ball into the far left-hand corner, giving Bernd Leno no chance. Imagine the scenes if there had been fans in the stadium….that was their only good chance of the first half, but they did try and fight back late on in the second half after going two goals down. Harry Kane almost produced another incredible Spurs goal, when he curled an effort around the wall from a free kick, striking the post. In the end though, Arsenal walked away with the three points, and you would be hard-pressed to find anyone that would argue that Tottenham deserved even some of it. Arsenal never looked back from kick off, and really put Tottenham in their place. The Gunners’ attack was full of hunger, and their defense was just as formidable. Arsenal lined up with a statement midfield three. Bukayo Saka, Emile Smith-Rowe, and Martin Ödegaard are all under the age of 23, and they used that to their advantage, outpacing Spurs’s fullbacks. Arsenal’s defense was a brick wall today as well. You couldn’t have blamed them much for Lamela’s goal, as nobody could have seen him take the shot, because it seemed too outlandish. Kieran Tierney helped on the attack as well, making good runs and pressuring the Spurs defense. David Luiz and Gabriel continue to strengthen their center back partnership. They didn’t have much to do today, but they stopped every attack they were faced with. That being said, David Luiz is 33, so I can’t see him being in Mikel Arteta’s long term plans. He should look for a new center back in the summer transfer window. After going a goal down, Arsenal answered brilliantly. They kept their heads up, found the equalizer in only a matter of minutes. Tierney was the one who created the goal. The Scot weaved his way past Matt Doherty on the byline, and then put a tempting cross into the box.  Ödegaard met the ball and smashed it towards goal. The ball flicked off of Toby Alderweireld, and into the net. If it hadn’t been deflected, Hugo Lloris would have saved the shot. Arsenal went on to win the game through a penalty. Nicolas Pepe put in a sensational through ball to Alexander Lacazette, who was then chopped down by Davidson Sanchez. Some may dispute whether it actually was a penalty, because Lacazette had let the ball get past him before he was brought down. Lacazette coolly rifled the ball into the far corner of the net, sending Lloris the wrong way, and sealing all three points. It's no less than what Arsenal deserved. North London is Red! Arsenal fight back from a goal down, to come within touching distance of Spurs on the table. Spurs will be looking over their shoulder now, but must stay calm, and remain focused in their fight to stay in Europe.

MANCHESTER UNITED VERSUS MANCHESTER CITY This is a huge fixture in the race for the Premier League title. I knew that mixing it in with another game wouldn’t have done it justice. Here is my full game analysis! Coming into this game, Manchester City were practically untouchable. In first place with 65 points, they are 14 points above second-place Man United, and could go 17 points clear if they win. Manchester United know they are the only hope of stopping City’s title celebrations, so this game is a must win. Manchester United are looking confident in the early proceedings of the match. Their passes are sharp and they are penetrating the Manchester City defence. Manchester United are suddenly in the penalty box after dispossessing City in their own half from a throw-in. Rashford cuts across goal, and is brought down!! IT'S A PENALTY AFTER 35 SECONDS! Gabriel Jesus is the culprit here! God knows why he attempted the tackle from behind, as there were defenders covering Rashford in front of him! Guardiola must be FUMING. A careless few seconds could cost them an early deficit.  Bruno Fernandes is the one who will take the shot, as always. Ederson is standing tall, trying to distract Fernandes by slapping his gloves together. Fernandes looks focused. The referee blows his whistle— Fernandes steps up , AND SCORES! GOOOOOOOOOOAAAAL!!! It's not the most confident penalty ever, as Ederson dives the right way and gets his hand on it, and while he may feel he should have saved it, Fernandes and Manchester United won’t care! Their directness in the early seconds has paid dividends.  Manchester City are now settling into this game, and after being pressed into their own half, they are making more passes and looking ever more dangerous. I do feel bad for the Manchester United defense, as they will have one seriously hard time keeping out the likes of Raheem Sterling and Riyad Mahrez. However, we have seen in past Manchester Derbies how Manchester United’s defense can go from a flammable mess to a brick wall against their crosstown rivals. We haven't seen Wan-Bissaka in a while, but he is one of the fastest players around, and can go toe to toe with Raheem Sterling. Just like many predicted, Manchester United would be finding it very difficult to continue to push Manchester City, who are basically machines. It's all Manchester City at the moment. The Sky Blues are pinning the Red Devils in their own half at the moment. The Manchester United defense looks tired already, which is concerning, because we are still in the first half. However, they are still putting in the tackles when they need to. For now, they are holding off the Citizens. Just barely. The question is, will Manchester City be able to take their chances?  Great chance for Manchester United! Daniel James makes a good run up the field, after winning the ball back in their own half. He links up with Marcus Rashford, who passes the ball to Fernandes. However, when trying to put in a through ball to Martial, his pass is too strong, and goes out of play. This is a warning to Manchester City. They need to be careful about putting too many players up the field, because Manchester United have arguably the faster team overall, and one counterattack is all it takes to do some serious damage. The halftime whistle blows! HALFTIME: MANCHESTER UNITED 1–0 MANCHESTER CITY Manchester City start the second half just like they ended the first: in complete control! They move the ball up the field with ease, always being first to every open ball. An equalizer is surely coming for the Blue side of Manchester. Here come Manchester City with another trademark passing masterclass! Mahrez collects the ball after dispossessing Rashford, plays it to Jesus from just inside the box, then lays it off for Rodri to strike!! OFF THE BAR!! Wow, how much more does Manchester City need to do to level the score? They have been so dominant for so long in this match, it feels almost cruel. They really do deserve an equalizer. Here comes Manchester United. Henderson in goal, throws a long pass to Luke Shaw, sparking yet another United counterattack. Shaw now skips past Rodri and Kevin De Bruyne. This is looking like a good opportunity for Manchester United, who have many players up for this attack. Shaw feeds in Rashford, who creeps in past John Stones. Rashford tees the ball back to Luke Shaw, who takes on the shot! AND IT'S IN!! GOOOOOOOOAAAAAL!!!! Completely against the run of play! 2–0 United!! After seemingly having nowhere to shoot from his position, Shaw slides the ball low into the corner. No chance for Ederson! It's insane what these derbies can do to teams, and individual players. This goal really came out of nowhere! However, I did mention how deadly United can be if they put enough bodies forward. On the other hand, It didn't seem like Shaw even needed them! The City defense looked to be all out of sorts based on that passage of play. They DEFINITELY should have done better. It was far too easy for Shaw to get past Rodri, and the fact that he found ANY room for the shot is poor in City’s point of view. City are looking increasingly desperate for anything at this point. They were so close to beating their own win streak of 21, but their run of wins looks like it could be coming to an end. City are still moving the ball up the field, but they’re not as precise as in the first half. Kevin De Bruyne puts in a cross, Sterling’s  marker falls over, leaving him open! MISS! The cross was just too high for Sterling to get a good head on it, and he knocks it over the bar. So many chances are going begging for City! If Pep Guardiola had hair, I'm sure that he would be tearing it out right about now. For all of City’s attacks, nothing has come from it. Yes, many of those chances should have been put away, but much needs to be said of the Manchester United defense. It must be exhausting trying to keep up with City’s attacks, but they have matched them excellently. The back four’s heroics must not be understated. If they hadn't put up the performance that we saw from them today, Manchester City would be taking the three points. However, that's not the case. There goes the full time whistle! FULL TIME: MANCHESTER UNITED 2–0 MANCHESTER CITY What a derby the football gods had in store for us today! The quality, the drama, the goals--so delicious, it was decadent to watch. This result still leaves Manchester City with a massive 11 point gap with United in second place, but you never know…

Who Is Son Heung-min?  Son Heung-min is in my opinion, the most underrated player in the world right now. Even though he performs week in and week out, he isn’t talked about much beyond English football. Today, I will dive into a deep analysis about the South Korean, hitting on three big ideas. How Does Son Play? Son is most devastating when he plays left mid, but he can also play as a right winger. Jose Mourinho has normally stuck with the 4-2-3-1 formation for much of this season, which gives Son complete freedom on the left wing. It also allows for Son to link up well with his teammate, Harry Kane. The two provide assists for each other, and this has resulted in some great chances. However, it's mainly Harry Kane who does the most assisting of the two, as he has liked to drop deeper this season. I believe that Son should practice playmaking a bit more, because his crossing quality can be suspect. That being said, they are still a devastating duo. While Son may not be perfect passing, his dribbling is world class. You don’t have to look much further than his 2017 goal against Chelsea, or his 2019 effort against Burnley, where he weaved his way past 7 defenders to score the Puskas goal of the season. Son is an outstanding attacker, but he’s also a great presser. When defending, Mourinho likes to zonal mark. This means that instead of directly marking opposition players when Tottenham are without the ball, the Tottenham players each spread out and guard a certain space on the field. This is great for Son, as it allows him to use his pace a lot more rather than be stuck guarding one player. Even though it's beneficial for Son as an individual, I don’t like zonal marking. This is because there could be a lapse in communication if nobody is directly assigned to a person. They have lost 4 out of their past 5 games, showing that this method has leaked goals. Tottenham could improve their goal conceded ratio of they used the man-marking technique. How Influential is Son? To put it simply, Tottenham's firepower would be cut in half without Son. Nobody has been more lethal at Tottenham, and yes, I'm also talking about Harry Kane, who is frequently injured. In all competitions, Son has been a part of 30 goal contributions, including 6 Europa League goals this season. In the Premier League, he’s scored 13 of Tottenham's 37 goals this season, level with Kane. Any club would do whatever they can to keep a player with that much end product, never mind a club which has been struggling as of late. The thing is, he has been putting up these stats for many seasons in the past, showing his consistency. There are also some things that can’t be put down on paper. Son is one of the most respectable players, and sets a huge example for so many people. He may not be a natural leader, but having a model for your teammates is an underrated quality that any team needs. Where does Son’s future lie? Success brings signatures. Son is 28, and in his prime. If I were his agent, I would be looking to find a club that could win silverware. The last time they won a serious trophy was in 2008. In 2019, they won the  Audi Cup, but it isn’t the most prestigious trophy ever. Heck, it’s named after a car. However, Jose Mourinho is a serial winner, and his presence could promise trophies. Tottenham are still in the Europa League, and must be huge favorites to win. Manchester United are also in the Europa League, so we could be in store for an all-English final. Spurs really need to win it, because they are currently in 9th place in the Premier League, and winning Europa would send them straight into the Champions League. Tottenham are still in the EFL Cup, but their next game is against Manchester City, who are practically untouchable right now. Bottom line, they need to lift a trophy this season for Son to stay at the club. Many clubs are looking for his signature: Real Madrid have shown a lot of interest in signing him, after it became quite evident that Eden Hazard has flopped in the Spanish capital. With more star players over 30 years of age (Kroos, Benzema, Ramos), Real Madrid have been preparing for its future by buying younger talents, and Son could be a perfect piece to their puzzle. PSG are impressed by Son’s speed and efficiency; Angel Di Maria is 33, so it’s no wonder that they are looking for a pacy, adaptable winger. Talisman Kylian Mbappe is looking to be on his way out of PSG as well, due to his immense tallent. Therefore, it makes only more sense that they would buy Son. The final team that is seriously considering putting pen to paper for Son is Juventus. Cristiano Ronaldo is without a doubt one of the best players in history, but he’s 36, so you couldn’t blame the old lady for seeking a replacement when Ronaldo eventually hangs up his boots. Son Heung-min is a fantastic player at the peak of his powers. He’s too dangerous to be unmarked, and will punish any side that isn’t concentrating on him. Only the future knows what his next move will be. Hopefully, the South Korean will continue to shine.

Manchester United 3–1 Newcastle  Man United know that a win will help them overtake Leicester and return to 2nd place, behind runaway leaders and rivals Man City. Newcastle, on the other hand, are starting to feel the pressure from 18th place Fulham, who have taken 7 out of 9 possible points after beating Sheffield United. While United may have won the game, they had to work for it. Steve Bruce’s side were surprisingly resilient, but the Red Devils managed to unlock Newcastle to a fairly comfortable scoreline. The usual stars that are Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford shined yet again, while other players such as Daniel James and David De Gea stepped up as well. De Gea was tested for much of the game, but managed to be equal to it with a number of smart saves. I hadn’t seen much of Daniel James in recent weeks, and Solskjaer’s  inclusion of him proved to be the right one, as he scored and was effective on the wing. The way Manchester United played today was interesting. I know they don’t like to keep possession and hit on the break, but they seemed to give Newcastle one too many chances. De Gea wasn’t as protected as he would have liked by his back four, and I think that’s something that they just need to sort out. Besides that, it was a great all around performance. Man United’s first goal was a solo effort of immense quality. Rashford was handed the ball on the wing, with three defenders in his way. He first managed to skill past one with a nutmeg, and then cut inside on his right foot, inside the penalty box. Then he rifled the ball into the near corner, squeezing it underneath Karl Darlow. While many would say that Darlow should have gotten there, I believe the ball was simply too fast and direct for him to react in time. The second goal came when James, unmarked on the edge of the box, was picked out by Nemanja Matic. The Englishman fired the ball right past an outstretched Darlow to restore their lead. The nail in the coffin was a penalty, after Joseph Willock clipped Fernandes. The 25-year-old speared the ball into the bottom corner, sending Darlow the wrong way. Manchester United are looking good for a place in the top four. Many positives can be drawn from Newcastle’s performance, despite what the scoreline suggests. The Magpies looked confident on the ball, and played lots of progressive football which led to a host of chances. Had they taken those opportunities, I believe the scoreline could have been much different. Jonjo Shelvey was a superb player on the night, putting in some delicious crosses that put United’s defense under some serious threat. And of course there is Allan Saint-Maximin. His consistency is to be reckoned with. While their attacking force may have been well oiled, Newcastle needs to fix their defense. They continue to leak goals every game, and that could be costly in the long run. Currently, they have a -16 goal difference, compared to Fulham’s superior -11 goal difference. When the margins get thin, everything matters. Newcastle's sole goal of the game came from yet another piece of magic by Saint-Maximin. Willock curled a cross into the box, following a corner. The initial ball was headed away, but not cleared, by Harry Maguire. Saint-Maximin was on the end of the rebound, volleying the effort into the roof of the net: no chance for De Gea. Saint-Maximin was no doubt the Baggies’ best player tonight (and for the whole season). If they are to survive, it will be largely due to him. His speed and creativity are dangerous for any defense, and he can light up whatever play he is part of. However, football is a team sport, and he and Shelvey aren’t enough to get the job done. No matter the amount of silver linings they may take from this game, it's still silver. There continue to be many glaring issues they haven’t addressed, and if they don’t soon, Newcastle could be in for some serious trouble. Manchester United take all three points, and move back into second place. It was a performance of individual quality, as well as team effort. For Newcastle, they will be looking over their shoulder nervously, as the gap between them and the relegation zone continues to shrink. West Ham 2–1 Tottenham Hotspur West Ham come into this game knowing that a win would propel them into the top four, which would be huge, because never in their history have they secured a European place. Tottenham, on the other hand, are looking increasingly likely to miss out on a top 5 finish, as they set their eyes on the Europa League prize. West Ham have played so consistently in 2021, and they did well again today, this time against top opposition. Every chance they created was dangerous, so much so that it looked like they could score from every attack. Jesse Lingard has truly been a godsend for the Hammers; his role as a number 10 helps with their creativity and adds more firepower to an already balanced side. In fact, basically every West Ham player was amazing today: Michail Antonio was again a thorn in his opponent’s side, Tomáš Souček worked like an ox to provide cover for the defense, and Lukasz Fabianski was well positioned all game long. Almost every player on West Ham’s starting 11 and bench have a purpose, and there isn’t much dead weight. What's even better for West Ham is that many of their players are in their mid 20s, so this is a side that could be a menace for seasons to come. The first West Ham goal came early on in the game, when Jarad Bowen crossed the ball into the danger area, from the edge of the box. Antonio nicked the ball towards goal, but it was blocked by Lloris. However, the World Cup winner didn’t collect it, and the rebound fell to Antonio again, who smashed it into the back of the net. I believe the Spurs defense should have done much better. None of the back four reacted fast enough, and if they had, they could have cleared it. They doubled their advantage literally seconds after the start of the second half, when Pablo Fornals received a clipped pass by Antonio. Fornals then layed it off to Jesse Lingard, who, after taking a smart touch to get around two defenders, smashed the ball into the far corner of the net. It was an excellent finish by an in-form Lingard, who is loving his stay in East London. This team is so promising, composed, and smartly managed, who knows where they can go from here? Tottenham didn’t play horribly; it’s just that they couldn’t keep up with a rampant West Ham. Their issues mainly stemmed from a lack of communication within the whole team. I noticed that Eric Dier was in the center back partnership with Davidson Sanchez, to compensate for a dearth of defenders. Dier usually plays midfield, and he didn’t look very convincing for much of the match. I can let that slide though, because Liverpool are having the same issue with a lack of defenders, and they have lost four straight home games in a row. A positive to this game was definitely the return of Gareth Bale. The Welshman looked like a proper attacker, and had lots of time to prove himself, being subbed on at half time. He added a touch of inventiveness that you don’t usually see in a more defensively minded Tottenham midfield. If he continues like he did on the night, he could really help Spurs going forward. Spurs’ only goal of the night came as a response to going 2–0 down. In the 64th minute, a pin-point cross from Bale was met by Lucas Mora’s head. He was at such a tight angle, you wouldn’t be laughed at for guessing it would hit the side of the net. However, Mora was somehow able to lash the ball right into the corner. There wasn’t much Fabianski could do about it, simply because there was too much pace on the ball. During the second half, the Lillywhites really sprung to life. In fact, they almost equalized with 10 minutes to go. Following a Tottenham attack, Harry Kane fizzed in a pass to an unmarked Bale on the edge of the box. Bale gave it the laces, but it agonizingly hit the bar, thanks to Fabianski’s prayers. Tottenham feel like they could have gotten something from this game, but luck wasn't on their side. A fantastic performance from West Ham’s point of view sees them enter unknown territory: the top four! Moyes and his men are setting the Premier League alight, surely a season never to forget. For Tottenham, they know they could have won this game, but a whole host of circumstances stopped them from getting points.

Leicester City 3-1 Liverpool Liverpool came into this game in very poor form. They knew that if they lost this match, their chances of defending the title would be next to nothing. Leicester City were in fine form coming into this game, and are looking to go 6 points clear of the champions. Liverpool’s horrific form continues as they were taken apart by Leicester City. Liverpool started very strong in this game. They showed signs of their 4–0 drubbing of the Foxes on Boxing Day last year, as tonight they dominated every part of the pitch for much of the opening stretch. Jordan Henderson may have been playing as a center back to fill in for injuries, but his natural midfielder instinct came out for much of the game. His astounding through ball to Mo Salah would have been one of the assists of the season, if the Egyptian hadn’t fluffed his lines at the last moment, burning the chance. However, I think that Salah was the best Liverpool player on the night. The 28-year-old scored again, for his 17th goal of the season. Such consistency should be celebrated, but unfortunately his side is losing every week. His goal of the night came after the hour mark, when Roberto Firmino freed up space in the box with some lovely footwork. Salah curled the effort into the corner; no chance for Kasper Schmiechel. HOWEVER: there’s a reason why they aren’t in third place. One of the worst collapses in Premier League history happened in this game—and within 7 minutes. Right after they had scored, a lack of concentration and another VAR screw-up caused Liverpool to concede from a free kick. Alisson was also to blame for the second goal. After a horrid game against Manchester City, he is again responsible for goals. A long cross from Youri Tielemans could have been dealt with by debutant Ozan Kabak, but Alisson went full sweeper-keeper mode and tried to get it first. Kabak and Alisson collided with each other, neither actually safeguarding the ball. The miscommunication allowed for the ball to slip under both of them, and roll to Jamie Vardy. The Englishman passed the ball into an empty net. A disastrous goal really broke the Reds’ spirits, and they conceded one more, surely the final nail in their Premier League coffin. The Foxes were flying high at the King Power Stadium. Brendan Rodgers FINALLY gets a win against his former club, and what a win it could prove to be. T he Foxes are now in third place, and their Champions League hopes could really come to life this year. Vardy was again a menace all game after coming back from his surgery. James Maddison was fantastic in his midfield role, he was able to disrupt plays with his high press and bring life into Leicester's attacks. That being said, the Foxes were pushed back for much of the first half. They weren’t able to create much, and that Liverpool pressure also transferred over into the 60th minute, when they conceded a great Liverpool goal. I personally believe that they should have closed down Firmino and Salah, because there were a lot more Leicester players than Liverpool players in the box. However, despite their shortcomings for much of the game, nobody can disagree about their will and tenacity to fight back. Right after falling behind Liverpool, in the 78th minute, a good run from Harvey Barnes won him a free kick on the edge of the box, after being sandwiched by Trent Alexander-Arnold and Thiago. Maddison whipped in a low shot, which found its way into the back of the net. Replays show that Alisson didn’t have a good view of the ball through the crowd of players, so he couldn’t get to it in time. The third goal happened only a few minutes after the Alisson calamity, in the 88th minute, when Harvey Barnes latched on to a great pass from Wilfred Ndidi. Barnes coolly rolled the ball under Alisson to make it 3–1. This time, Allison couldn’t do much about it. Rodgers and Leicester City go 6 points clear of Liverpool. Could this be the year they come back to Champions League football? Liverpool are yet again beaten in the Premier League, and for the 3rd game running. Their title hopes are definitely over, and now they must look to the Champions League for silverware this season, as well as cement a top four Premier League finish. Leicester, on the other hand, have just gotten a huge boost of confidence. Fulham 2–0 Everton Fulham NEED points, and they need them now. The gap between 17th and 18th places is continuing to widen, with Brighton putting up improved and much more consistent performances. Everton need points as well, but for European qualification. Fulham bossed this match for the whole 90 minutes. The Cottagers were able to push Everton back into their own half, and were just as good in defense. Alphonso Areola didn’t have a lot of work to do today, as his back four protected him nicely. Harrison Reed was sublime all game long. He pressed well, had accurate passes, and his shot from distance set up Fulham’s second goal of the night. Reed deservedly earned man of the match honors because of how influential he was today. What really amazed me was how strong the Fulham bench was. Players like Zambo Anguissa and Ivan Cavalireo, who would normally be in the starting 11, were subbed on fairly late in the match. I haven’t even mentioned Alexander Mitrovic, who was out due to testing positive for Coronavirus. This is really good news for Fulham, because now their squad has some depth to it, and I can actually see a source of goals.  Fulham may be known to squander their chances, but you wouldn’t know it by their performance on the night. Their new signing from Bordeaux, Josh Maja, was one of the shining stars on the field. The 22-year-old made quite the impact today, scoring both of Fulham’s goals. The first goal started on the left flank, when Ademola Lookman and Ola Aina did a one-two, freeing up space just inside the box. Aina then squared the ball right across goal for Maja to tap into the net, a real striker's instinct. The second goal happened when Reed took on the shot from 25 yards, only for it to smash off the post. However, Maja again was able to get past his markers, and tap the rebound into an empty net from close range. Now that Fulham have goals in them, they can actually win more games. Survival is the only thing on Scott Parker's mind. Could this win spark their fight to stay in the Premier League?  Everton were very poor all game long. They couldn’t hold onto the ball without being surrounded by Fulham players, who usually dispossessed the Toffees. Carlo Ancelotti's side was riddled with injuries, having Allan, Jordan Pickford, and goalscoring machine Dominic Calvert-Lewin out. That being said, they should have put up a much better fight than this. André Gomez, who normally is so efficient all over the field, was blunt, and didn’t produce much. I did like his movement off the ball, so that’s a positive there. On the other hand, this was a really bad performance from Robin Olsen, Everton’s backup goalkeeper. He looked to be unsure of every play he got involved in, which is a bad sign for any player, never mind the most important position on the team.  On the attack, there wasn’t much. Many of Everton’s best chances were long shots that were easily held onto by Areola. Seamus Coleman actually had the best chance of the game, when his shot from distance smacked off the post. Coleman also tried to get a header in from a free kick, but the cross was poor, and couldn’t generate enough power. Seamus Coleman is a center back. A CENTER BACK. What does that say about Everton’s attack? I don’t think I need to say much more. Speaking of center backs, Everton’s defense was only slightly better than their front two. Olsen, in my opinion, should have smothered the squared ball for the first goal. Or at least Mason Holgate should have, as he was supposed to be marking Maja. Holgate just let the ball roll across goal, and that mistake cost his team the game. Carlo Ancelotti knows that his team blew 3 points that were there for the taking. A disappointing night for Everton means that they stay in 7th, having wasted a chance to go level on points with Liverpool, and into a European spot. For Scott Parker and his men, they couldn’t have asked for a better performance.

Leicester 2–0 Chelsea  Leicster come into this game knowing that if they win they can temporarily go to the top of the Premier League. Frank Lampard knew that the blues needed a win soon, or else his job would be on the line. Leicster were by far the better team throughout the game. The Foxes were ruthless in midfield, with Wilfred Ndidi putting in a great shift, shutting down the likes of Kai Havertz and Mateo Kovacic for large parts of the game. James Maddison was the creative force in Leicester’s engine room, able to find pockets of space while also being a goal-scoring threat. However, I don’t think that enough has been said about Wesley Fofana. The Frenchman has taken the place of Calgar Söyüncü in the center back role, and made it his own. He was one of the main reasons why the Foxes were able to keep a clean sheet, as he managed to position himself smartly every single time for every play. For a 20-year-old, he is very mature. I'm sure that we will be seeing more of Söyüncü in the coming weeks, but what is wrong with a healthy dose of competition? All in all, the whole team was on the same page, and that’s what got them the three points.  The first Leicester goal happened soon after kickoff, when Leicester capitalized on a corner kick. Marc Albrighton picked up the ball and dribbled to the brink of the goalkeeper line, then fizzed a low cross back outwards. Harvey Barnes tried to connect with the ball, but missed. However, Ndidi was right outside the penalty box. The ball came to him and, striking the ball with the outside of his foot, crashed it off the post and into the net. Luck maybe, but it sure looks like it was worked out on the training ground. The second Leicester goal came when Albrighton launched an accurate cross from midfield to Jamie Vardy, who went down after contact with Antonio Rüdiger. However, an unmarked Maddison was able to pounce on the end of the cross, steering the ball past Edouard Mendy. Things are looking great for Brendan Rodgers and the Foxes, who continue their hunt. Frank Lampard's team went from bad to worse today as they humiliated themselves once again. The Blues look a complete shadow of their former selves from just a few months ago. There doesn’t seem to be any improvement from week to week, which is very concerning. The only Chelsea player who I can find any positives from was probably Mendy, which is saying something, considering that he conceded two goals on the night. Ben Chilwell was decent going forward, but didn’t add much defensively. And of course, we need to talk about Timo Wener. The German set Chelsea back a reported 53 million euros, and he sure hasn’t paid back what he cost. The striker looks to be out of confidence right now, once again appearing useless in the final third. Someone needs to straighten him up, or he may become a benchwarmer. Chelsea’s defence was slow and unreliable once again. Reece James was at fault for the second Leicester goal, as he failed to track his marker Maddison. James was again put under the spotlight as, only a few minutes later, he failed to keep an eye on James Justin. An incoming cross was met by the Englishman who had loads of space but this time failed to score, missing the goal by mere inches. On the other side of the field, Chelsea’s attack had determination, but lacked conviction. Their finishing could only be described as rushed. Tammy Abraham had a few decent chances, all of which were hit straight at Kasper Schmeichel. Werner actually was able to put the ball in the back of the net, only for the goal to be ruled out as offside. Yet another poor performance from the Blues leaves Frank Lampard on the ropes. Leicester at least temporarily go top of the league with a convincing win against Chelsea, and Brendan Rodgers knows that these could be three priceless points, against a top team. Frank Lampard’s next game is against Luton Town in the FA Cup, as he looks to at least try to win the competition. However, you wonder if he will still be around to see it out…  Manchester United 2–1 Fulham Man United entered the game in impressive form, challenging for the top spot. On the other hand, Fulham came into the game still in the relegation zone, but have been picking up important points that could save them from the drop.  Fulham may have lost the game, but they continue to play the way Scott Parker wants them to. That's what impresses me most. They never forget their playing style even under pressure. Ola Aina was great for the whole 90 minutes, causing disruption through the passing lanes, running up and down the field, and going for every ball. Zambo Anguissa was great in the middle of the park, and played a great pass for the only Fulham goal of the night. However, Alphonso Areola made a mess later on, fumbling a low cross from Bruno Fernandes and allowing Edinson Cavani to tap in the equalizer. Even though Areola made the mistake, he still had a great game, making some stunning saves, such as a point blank stop against Cavani’s header. Fulham's only goal of the night came early in the match, when Anguissa spotted Ademola Lookman making a run into the box. He pinged a through-ball past the defense, straight to the Englishman. Lookman took one great touch, and then rifled it low past David De Gea. It was a smart finish from Lookman, for his third goal of the season. However, that’s not to say that that was their only opportunity to score. If Fulham had taken their chances, they may have even won this game. Ruben Loftus-Cheek no doubt was one of the best players on the field, but after Fulham hit United with a counterattack, and Loftus-Cheek was handed an opportunity to score, he lost his composure and skied the ball over the bar. Scott Parker should be proud that his team not only competed, but almost came away with points.   Man United, yet again, won another game on the road. The Red Devils looked lively all game long, and when they needed people to step up, step up they did. Bruno Fernandes was excellent throughout the match, creating chances and threatening the defense. After a poor pass allowed him to dispossess Kenny Tete, he put in a stinging cross that Areola could not handle, freeing up Cavani to score the leveler. In my opinion, the first Manchester United goal came from a number of factors—sheer will, a mistake, and luck.  As great as Fernandes was, the star of the game was undoubtedly Paul Pogba. Pogba was simply phenomenal, using his intelligence to break down blocks, and making everything look easy. It doesn't look like he wants to leave, regardless of what his agent claims. When his team needed him most, he delivered the goods. On the edge of the box, he picked up the ball, took one touch, and rocketed it from a tight angle. It nestled into the far corner of the net, no chance for Areola. Most would not have seen the opportunity to shoot, let alone make the attempt. This is the kind of dimension that Pogba brings to any team. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will be delighted that his team gave it their all, and brought them back to the top of the table. Manchester United are now 13 games unbeaten in the league, and talks of a serious title attempt should no longer be scoffed at. However, it remains to be seen if Solskjaer has what it takes to make sure that his team is consistent throughout the rest of the season. For Fulham, they know that if they can continue to keep their chins up, they may have a chance at Premier League survival.

Everton 2–1 Wolves Everton had already made an impressive start to the Premier League season, winning 5 away games before the new year. On the other hand, Wolves hadn’t won in their last 5 games, so they knew that a win against Everton would be a great place for a new start.  Everton were probably a slight favorite coming into this game, and they pulled through. Even without their main man Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who was out injured, they still managed to find goals through their creativity. Gylfi Sigurdsson looked very lively throughout his time on the field, creating channels of space which his team exploited.  Abdoulaye Doucoure also looked very good today. His passes were accurate, and each one had purpose. His movements on and off the ball were excellent. I think that Everton did a great piece of business in signing him from Watford. However, I feel that James Rodriguez is lacking something. After a blistering first few weeks of the season, he has sort of dropped off. He is undeniably talented, but for all the money that Everton paid for him, he needs to make more goal contributions.  The first goal for Everton came when Sigurdsson linked up brilliantly from a James cross, laying it across the edge of the box for Alex Iwobi, with acres of space around him. The Nigerian sidefooted the layoff into the bottom corner with a smart finish. The second goal originated from an Everton corner that was headed away. However, no Wolves players were able to repossess the ball. André Gomes recycled the ball and put in a perfect cross for Michael Keane to head into the far corner. Keane is superb from set pieces, and he is starting to put in more and more goals with every new season. Everton move into fourth place after the win. Europe is definitely calling for them. Wolves may have lost, but they were actually very good today as well. Just like Everton, Wolves were without their main man. With Raul Jimenez injured, Wolves relied on Fabio Silva to lead the line. Silva may not be scoring much, but he looks very dangerous all throughout the field. He is only 18 years old, so he still has lots to learn. Personally, I think that Ruben Neves was the best player on the field overall. He looked so dangerous from every position, and almost scored a goal-of-the-season contender, where he controlled and volleyed the ball from 25 yards out, missing the goal by mere inches. Neves also scored the only goal for Wolves on the night. Leander Dendoncker had two great opportunities, though he missed both; he hit the ball wide when he was on the edge of the box, and headed the ball high from a set piece.  I must say, however, that Wolves again looked fragile defensively, just like in their game against Burnley a couple of weeks back. Their defense was slow, and through-balls were their kryptonite. Alex Iwobi almost doubled the score after he was fed in by Rodriguez, only for Iwobi’s shot to be saved by Rui Patricio. For me, Nelson Semedo in particular is one of the big problems. Yes, he can put in a good tackle, but he is prone to dispossession in dangerous positions, mainly due to his thin frame compared to a strong, bulky defender like Conor Cody or Virgil Van Dijk. However, I think that the main issue with the Wolves defense is a lack of communication. All too often, attackers wind up surrounded by Wolves defenders, but when the pass comes, the attackers are able to split away from the group.  Wolves know that this was a great chance to move up the table, but they squandered it. However, they have an even better chance next week when they host West Bromwich Albion. For Everton, their fantastic away form continues. Things seem to really be clicking this season for Carlo Ancelotti’s side. Spurs 1–1 Fulham Spurs were huge favorites to win this game, despite their recent track record of underperformance. Fulham know they need to get points on the road in order to mount a challenge for Premier League survival. Spurs looked very sharp in the first half. The Lilywhites constantly pressed Fulham, and restricted their passing as well. Pierre Højbjerg was especially good, combining with Harry Winks to form a strong central defensive midfield. Another Tottenham player that I really liked was Sergio Regulión. The Spaniard has all the qualities of a modern fullback, using his pace to get high up the field. And just like a modern fullback, Regulión has incredible distribution. Tottenham's sole goal of the game came when Højbjerg launched the ball down the field for Regulión. The 24-year-old then controlled it, crossing it to Harry Kane who was inside the box. The striker never misses from there, heading it far into the low corner past keeper Alphonse Areola. However, one thing that I did notice about Spurs today was how wasteful they were. Not counting the goal, Spurs had three other golden opportunities which could have won them the game, had they taken them. The first great chance happened early on, when Regulión was blessed with two quick scoring opportunities, after Serge Aurier fizzed the ball to him in the box. His first shot was blocked by a Fulham defender, and his second attempt really should have been better, as he skyed it over the bar. The second of Spurs’ great chances happened when Aurier was released by Musa Sissoko on the edge of the box, to cross it into an unmarked Kane. Strangely, the Englishman wasn’t clinical enough, hitting the ball over from just a few yards out. The third great opportunity came when Heung Min Son was played in with a through ball by Tanguy Ndombele. The South Korean has so often stayed calm and composed under such circumstances but, in this instance, somehow fluffed his lines. His low shot across goal hit off the post, and back into the hands of Areola. Eventually, these missed chances came back to bite them, as Fulham equalized late on. José Mourinho will be furious that his team let two points drift by. Fulham are getting a reputation in the Premier League as a tough team to beat, and they showed that here. Scott Parker’s side was compact all throughout the game, but sprung to life when they needed to. A huge credit needs to be given to Areola. He made big saves that his team needed. His point blank save against Son in the box, where he was able to get his foot in the way of his low shot, helped to keep Spurs at bay. Another standout player who continues to impress me is Ademola Lookman. His creativity and persistence to find space is simply captivating; the late Fulham equalizer was a result of this. Lookman made a sharp turn to drive off Davidson Sanchez, and then played in a deadly cross for Ivan Cavaleiro to head past Hugo Lloris inside the box. Lookman is able to contribute to goals as well, making him the ideal playmaker and goalscorer for the Whites. Fulham may not have the most talented squad, but what I like about them is that Scott Parker knows how to get them to work together in unison. The two wingbacks Kenny Tete and Antonee Robinson played a great part in stretching the Spurs team with their quick passes, allowing for the Cottagers to move forward. Fulham may not be great at pressing, but the midfield three are always quick to intercept floating long balls and poor giveaways. Much of Fulham’s success stems from their great vision and coordination with each other, largely on display in this game. This may sound crazy, but, given their resources, I honestly don’t think that there is a more organized team in the Premier League. When each player fulfils their task, the sum is greater than its parts. I seriously hope that Fulham will survive relegation, because they are a real joy to watch in the Premier League. Seriously, go and watch them sometime. Fulham will be delighted that they came to the Tottenham Hotspur stadium and earned a point. This result still leaves them in the relegation zone, but they are only two points from safety. Spurs, on the other hand, will be looking to go back to winning ways when they travel to Sheffield United.

The Arsenal of late is a mixed bag with lots to unpack. While there are many aspects of the club to be positive about, there are also plenty of red flags. Thirteenth place is not what you would expect from a team that won the FA Cup just five months ago. Yes, they won back-to-back games for the first time since September (which is a terrible stat in and of itself), but they aren’t out of the woods yet. Let’s take a closer look. Tactical Style When Mikel Arteta first joined Arsenal, he had plans for their future laid out. His 3-4-3 formation allowed for overloads, which led to progressive football on the attack, and quick reactionary compression on the defense. Flash forward a few months, and his system has gotten out of control. First off, counterattacking seems to have consumed all of Arsenal's play, where it once was just a single aspect of their game. Every play is now just Arsenal trying to absorb the attack, and then countering. While it may work a few times, this approach usually has limited success. For instance, Manchester United were heavily reliant on counterattacks in the ’19–’20 season, and they only created 58 great chances all year. For context, second-place Manchester City created 108 great chances.  As effective as counterattacking can be, Arteta should know that it isn’t a sure way to score goals. I think that Arsenal should use their buildup from the back to their advantage. Kieran Tierney has stepped up a lot this season as a right mid/wingback, and we all know how good David Luiz is when he distributes. More focus on their passing will allow  the Gunners to take full advantage of the 3-4-3 system, because it can stretch opponents in certain areas. What Arsenal does in the final third, however, leads us into the next topic. Attack and Defense When Arsenal are on the attack, they don’t produce much. Arsenal currently have the third lowest expected goals of any team (1 per game), only beaten by relegation-destined Sheffield United and defensively minded Burnley. Those goals haven't exactly been convincing either. Until the game against Chelsea where they miraculously won 3–1,  Arsenal hadn’t scored from open play in SEVEN games. Funny enough, two of Arsenal’s three goals were from set pieces, meaning that they may have not won if they hadn’t been awarded the consequential free kick and penalty. Luckily for them, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is back from injury, meaning more threat from open play. However, the Gunners’ main man is 31, and it's in the team’s best interest to look for a young talent to become the new jewel in their crown. In the past, Arsenal were very vulnerable at the back. I'm sure that having David Luiz, Shkodran Mustafi, and Sead Kolasinac as the back three would have been a nightmare for any manager. But this season, Arsenal have made some good defensive choices, completing the signing of Gabriel and soon-to-be starman Thomas Partey. These two players are young and will be great options for years to come. If Arteta were to form a solid back four and create a system that takes advantage of his players’ talents, then they could wave their defensive issues bye-bye.  Transfers Obviously, if you were Arteta, you would look to buy someone in the transfer market who is a creator, because that is what Arsenal seem to need right now. The thing is, they already HAVE one. Mesut Özil has been on the sidelines for a long time now, and when he is played, it's either for a friendly or a meaningless Europa League match. Arsenal needs his great progressive passes and goal contributions. Unfortunately, due to his unwillingness to accept a COVID-era paycut, resulting in the laying off of many Arsenal staff members, Özil has fallen out of favor with Arteta and the Arsenal board.  If Arsenal aren’t going to bring Özil back, they need to find a really good midfielder. I would look into signing Dani Olmo from RB Leipzig. Olmo is a young, creative attacking midfielder who uses his vision and technical abilities to cut open defenses, much like Özil. We can already see how one great midfielder can bring so much to the table for a club—for example, Bruno Fernandes for Manchester United. Fernandes has completely changed the way Man U now plays. He is an established starter who scores or assists virtually every game. Arsenal NEED a player that will constantly contribute to goals, or they won’t challenge for Europe, let alone get out of their relegation fight. Arteta is a young manager with his whole career ahead of him. His style of play has yet to solidify, so that is why the board is being patient with his shortcomings. That being said, there are high expectations for this Arsenal team, and sooner than later, Arteta will need to produce.

We had two enthralling games this weekend, with lots of drama packed into each one. Lets see what happened! Burnley 2-1 Wolves Turf Moor December 21st, 2020 Burnley know coming into this game that a win would put them out of the relegation zone for Christmas. On the other hand, Wolves are looking to change their recent poor run of form, and leapfrog West Ham United. Burnley was a well oiled machine. In order to counter the Wolves attack, they would need a very solid defense, something that they were lacking in previous games. Ben Mee and Charlie Taylor led the team at the back, and Nick Pope made some comfortable but necessary saves when needed. However, they can also thank their good fortune, because Wolves crashed the ball onto the Burnley woodwork a few times. However, goals are what define a game, and Burnley had the goods.  The first Burnley goal came from a good cross by Taylor on an overlap.   Ashley Barnes had a very tight angle on goal, but he managed to squeeze it in past Rui Patricio, who probably should have kept it out. The second goal came from a free kick from way outside the half. The ball was headed from Ben Mee to James Tarkowski inside the box, and the static Wolves defense couldn’t clear the ball when it came to Chris Wood, who smashed the ball into the net from one yard out. Sean Dyche’s team was simply able to grind it out on the day. Their attacking and defending were good enough to get past Wolves. Wolves could have won the game, if they hadn’t taken so many risks. Incredibly, Nuno Esperito Santo included three new young players into the starting lineup. Now, I’m not against giving Premier League debuts to inexperienced players, but I do know that Burnley are a tough nut to crack, and experienced players are what is needed to pose a real threat to a defensively minded team. Wolves looked to counter Burnley after set pieces, as Burnley tended to bring lots of players high up the field for corners and free kicks. Wolves were unlucky in this, as many of their shots off the counter hit the post, were close to going in, or were saved by Nick Pope.  Pedro Neto had the most chances for Wolves, but none of his shots were very threatening. Wolves’ defense, however, looked open and vulnerable. Wolves are known to have a resilient defence, so this was a huge surprise. For instance, the entire defence switched off as the ball was hit around the penalty box from player to player, leading to the second goal. However, not everything was bad for Wolves. Their record signing Fabio Silva scored his first goal late on, after being fouled in the box. His penalty kick was as cool as a cucumber, low and far into the goal. Still, there is lots to be done regarding Wolves’ consistency, which looks to be nonexistent at the moment.  Sean Dyche knows how important this game turned out to be. They are now out of the relegation zone. Wolves will be disappointed knowing that they could have pulled off a win had they been more careful with their choices.  Everton 2-1 Arsenal Goodison Park December 19th, 2020 Arsenal came into this game knowing that this game was a must-win. Their performances had been poor, and they needed a fresh start. Everton are enjoying a relatively good run; a win today will boost their confidence. Arsenal were very poor for the entire game. Again, they had problems everywhere, both up front and at the back. The issue that is plaguing Arsenal at the moment is that they don’t have a captain at the back. David Luiz had recently come back after an injury, and was expected to lead the back three with his experience. Today he put up a simply average performance, looking slow and having a poor time directing his fellow center-backs. Rob Holding was to blame for the Everton opener, scoring a much-preventable own goal from Alex Iwobi’s cross.  Up front, Arsenal looked to be out of ideas. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was out injured, having gone down during training--a massive blow for the Gunners. Arsenal’s only goal of the night was a penalty; Ainsley Maitland-Niles was fouled by Tom Davies in the box, and Nicolas Pepe converted. No matter their struggles, you would have expected someone with experience to step up, such as Willian. However, nobody had any desire to get an equalizer, even though they knew their team needed it. Now, Arsenal are in 15TH PLACE. If Mikel Arteta doesn’t get sacked soon, then the Gunners know that they could be in for a relegation battle. Everton continued their fine run of form. Something that I really liked about their performance was their passing and link-up play. The Blues played many quickfire passes that allowed them to open up space and turn away from defenders. It wasn’t the attack that won them the game, however. The Toffees’ defense and midfield caused the most problems for the Gunners. Michael Kean and Ben Godfrey put up really solid performances today. The first goal for Everton came from a lot of good luck, as a cross from Alex Iwobi that was latched on to by Dominic-Calvert Lewin bounced off Holding and into the Gunners’ net. Replays show that Calvert-Lewin’s header would have gone wide, so Everton can count their lucky stars for that one. The second goal came on the stroke of half time, when a quality cross from Gylfi Sigurdosson was pounced on by Yerry Mina who made an excellent run, sending the ball high and into the near post from a tight angle. Everton can earn another three points next week when they visit a helpless Sheffield United at Bramall Lane.  An injury ridden Arsenal side still should have shown more effort in this game, and their terrible streak continues. Everton will face Manchester United in the Carabao Cup, looking to prove that they can fight for some silverware.

Red Bulls Leipzig 3-2 Manchester United Leipzig and Man United come into this game knowing that it is a must win for both of them. A win for either team guarantees a place in the last 16 of the Champions League, while the loser will be sent packing to the Europa League. Man United won the reverse fixture a few weeks back at Old Trafford, by five goals to zero. , and with their astounding away record this season, know that they have what it takes to go through. Leipzig know they can go through as well, but a tie won’t cut it, as their goal differential is inferior to that of Man United.  Leipzig were extremely dominant in the first half of the game. They were too hot to handle for the Man United defense, maintaining great ball possession. Marcel Sabitzer continued his great run of form today, working as the metronome for the team in dictating tempo. Daniel Olmo was used to devastating effect, drawing in defenders to allow other players to move higher up the pitch. Leipzig’s first goal provided a great example. Sabizer put in a great cross, and Olmo, having dragged in two defenders, allowed Angeliño enough space to score a half volley. The second goal came just a few minutes later, Angeliño on the giving end this time with a brilliant cross for Amadou Haidara, easily headed down and into the net.  The goal that wound up sealing the win came from a lack of communication within the Man United defense, an uncleared ball from Harry Maguire allowing Justin Kluivert to clip it past David DeGea. However, Leipzig’s defensive issues almost let the win slip, with Man United scoring two late goals. Leipzig still managed to hang on for the win, securing a place in the round of 16. Leipzig manager Julian Nagelsmann must have been delighted. For most of the game, Man United didn’t put up a convincing fight. Being a must-win, you would expect lots of players to step up. However, the only person who looked to have any kind of spirit was Bruno Fernandes. The Portugese was the only player who put up forward passes constantly throughout the game. Again, their defense was extremely unorganized, and a lack of communication was what sealed their exit from the UCL. United pulled one back in the 77th minute, when a foul from Ibrahima resulted in a successful Bruno Fernandes penalty. Another United comeback somehow appeared possible when Paul Pogba headed United just a goal away from equalizing. However, this time it wasn’t to be another miracle. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will be in serious threat of losing his job now.  A thoroughly entertaining game resulted in Leipzig going through! The German side were able to stay firm long enough to get the reward that they probably deserved. For Man United, it is thoroughly disappointing. Another year in Europa League, and most likely finishing outside of the Premier League top four, will not sit well with owner Ed Woodward. The Manchester derby next week is truly a must-win for the Norwegian boss.  Juventus 3-0 Barcelona  Barcelona and Juventus have both already qualified for the knockout stages, but the winner of the group is yet to be decided. Juventus know that it is a must-win for them to go top of the group, while Barcelona know that only a win is needed to secure first place. Messi and Ronaldo clash again, and this mouthwatering prospect will have everyone on the edge of their seats. Barcelona have the upper hand coming into this game, having beaten Juve 2–0 in the reverse fixture in October. Barcelona were submissive the whole game. Their attackers had no bite in the final third.  Its crazy how a team that had actually won the champions league the only five years ago, doesnt have the determination to win at home. Nobody looked like they wanted to stand up when the team needed a leader, to encourage them and keep fighting. Messi was nowhere to be seen, but I guess you can’t blame him for having quiet games, when for the last two years, the entire club has relied on him. Two of the three goals that were scored on them were Cristiano Ronaldo penalties. In my opinion, the first penalty wasn't a foul, but Barcelona can be blamed for loosing concentration that would result in Ronaldo being in on goal. More damning that anything else, Barcelona weren’t able to keep Juve out of their penalty box. This allowed the Old Lady to have free range over the wide areas, which was how Barcelona conceded the third goal.  However, there were a few good things to take away from this game for Barcelona. Many of the young players are showing their talent, for instance, Sergino Dest, Rui Puig, and Pedri are all playing very consistently. However, Ronald Koeman knows there is a lot of work to do. Cristiano Ronaldo and Juventus came to the Camp Nou and pulled off a statement win. Juve’s midfield was able to easily unlock and stretch the subpar Barcelona defense. Juan Cuadrado was able to put together some great plays, and was the assistor for the only open goal of the night. Buffon, who had his critics going into this game asking if he was still able to play at a top level at his age of forty two, made some great saves to deny Messi and others. The first goal that Juve scored was a penalty, when Ronaldo was fed in by Cuadrado, and then pushed over by Ronald Araujo. Ronaldo stepped up and sent Marc-Andre Ter Stegen the wrong way. The second goal came courtesy of Weston McKennie, When the American found a large pocket of room right in front of goal. Juan Cuadrado put in another delightful clip for McKennie to scissor-kick the ball right into the net. The final goal was another penalty, when Clément Lenglet hit the ball with his hand. Cristiano Ronaldo sent Ter Stegen the wrong way again. Juve go top of the group, and could pose a real threat in the knockout stages as well. A dominant Juventus performance proves to be decisive,  as Juventus take all three points.   Barcelona didn’t look to be up for the fight, and in the end it was just a matter of Juventus wanting the win more than Barca. Andrea Pirlo will be ecstatic with his team’s recent performances, being unbeaten in Serie A and finishing first in their UCL group. It looks like it's back to the drawing board for Messi and his men, who look to put this game behind them when they host Levante in La Liga.

Tottenham Hotspur 2–0 Manchester City   Tottenham Hotspur Stadium November 21st, 2020 Spurs came into this game in fantastic form. They had only lost once all season, and had won three straight coming into the game. Manchester City were not in their best form, having tied three times and lost once. This would be a very important three points for City, as they were far behind the top four. They also knew Spurs would go top of the table with a win, so they needed to pull out all the stops. Even in a fairly even contest, Spurs seemed to have the longevity to beat out the Citizens. Yes, there were a few close calls—like the 8th minute, when Gabriel Jesus almost skipped past the entire defense before being tackled by Toby Alderweireld, but 9 out of 10 times Spurs had a response. As good as they were with their defensive work, Spurs were simply unstoppable going forward.  Spurs’ first goal came when Tangay Ndombele received the ball in City territory, clipping the ball over the City defense to Son Heung-Min. The South Korean did the rest, sliding the ball through the legs of Ederson. The second goal was crafted by Harry Kane, who seems to enjoy assisting this season. The striker eased a swift pass to Giovani Lo Celso—on the pitch for a matter of seconds—who rolled it through Ederson’s legs: two nutmegs, two goals. Jose Mourinho will be ecstatic about their win. Spurs are serious title contenders. Look out. Man City could argue that they were unlucky not to have won. Their midfield was persistent in intercepting passes. Rodri made some excellent tackles that kept Spurs out for periods of time. When it came to the final third, however, City would either be dispossessed or waste the chance altogether. City could have equalized with Aymeric Laporte’s goal, but VAR determined that Gabriel Jesus had made enough contact with his arm to rule it out.  Regardless, City’s defense was quite poor. Dias was supposed to help hold the back line, but he didn’t communicate as much as necessary. In fact City almost conceded a freak goal, where Steven Bergwijn singlehandedly tore City’s defense to shreds, putting a through ball to Son who easily squared it to Kane inside the penalty box—but Kane was offside. Half of City’s defense was separated by METERS from the other half. Definitely a concern going into the busy holiday schedule. Spurs will be convinced that they have a chance of winning the Premier League. Jose Mourinho is a serial winner, and it's only a matter of time before Spurs get their hands on a trophy of some sort. They are now top of the league, and will surely keep up this great run of form. Pep Guardiola just signed a new two-year deal, but this isn’t exactly the best way to announce it. He needs to focus less on attacking, and sort out his defensive issues. Liverpool 3–0 Leicester City  Anfield November 22 Liverpool came into this game in trouble; they’d been bogged down in injuries, and were playing against one of the best teams in the league. This would be a huge test of character for Jurgen Klopp's team. There was a lot at stake for Leicster coming in. They were enjoying a great run of form on the road, winning every away game. Brendan Rodgers was looking to get his first managerial win against Liverpool. But Liverpool took the game by storm upon kickoff, and never looked back. They  easily had the majority of the possession throughout the 90 minutes. Leicester would rarely dispossess Liverpool, and when they did, the Foxes were usually re-dispossessed right away. Fabinho was, again, superb filling in for the center back role, and James Milner did what James Milner does best—he deftly filled the gaps left open by injuries.  The first Liverpool goal came from a corner kick, when Sadio Mane and Jonny Evans tussled with each other, resulting in an Evans own goal. He certainly should have cleared it. The second goal came when Andrew Robertson let fly an incredible cross for Diogo Jota to head in. Jota has been an inspired signing. He is now the first Liverpool player to score in his first 4 home games. The third goal marked the end of Roberto Firmino’s scoring drought, heading in a cross off a corner.  Liverpool again showed why they are champions, confidently dispatching the Foxes, who were never truly in this game. Rodgers’s side were never first to any ball, and they rarely closed down the ball when the Reds were in possession. James Maddison and Youri Tielemans were a problem on paper for Liverpool, but in the end they were mainly reduced to more defensive roles to cope with Liverpool’s offensive pressure. Jonny Evans in particular was very indecisive. Kasper Schmeichel may have conceded three goals, but also made some great saves, and kept the scoresheet from becoming ridiculous. He made a wonderful save against Mane, stopping the striker on a one-and-one, tipping it over the bar.  Klopp’s side showed that they have what it takes, even when the team is depleted by injuries. Leicester will be angry that they gave the game up like they did, and know that they could have taken some points from Anfield If they’d tried harder. It's up to Rodgers to gather his team and put this loss past them.

Ligue 1: Eduardo Camavinga The 18-year-old is a hot prospect, the result of Rennes’ incredible youth academy. Camavinga is quickly earning himself a reputation as one of the best central defensive midfielders in the world, known for his decision making and wisdom. He has already been capped twice by the French national team, and has made 52 appearances for Rennes, scoring twice. Camavinga is heavily linked to Real Madrid and Liverpool. He is very calm on and off the ball, leading his midfield and keeping it in check. He is fast and can easily close down attacking threats.  Premier League: Mason Greenwood Greenwood is a teenage sensation in Europe. The 19-year-old forward has already scored some important goals, including a handful in the Europa League. He will get the occasional start, which is a big thing considering Man United’s plentiful attacking options right now. He is a right winger, with a deadly left foot, and can unleash beautiful shots from both sides. In his 31 Premier League appearances for the Red Devils, he has scored 10 times and assisted once. He may be young, but he is starting to score consistently, which is very important for any young attacker. La Liga: Ansu Fati A La Masia product, Ansu Fati is truly a gem in the Barcelona crown. The 18-year-old is already a starter in the Camp Nou. The striker has already scored 11 senior goals, two of which were in the Champions League, including one against Inter Milan. His most recent goal came against Real Madrid, showing that he won’t be a stranger to scoring in big occasions. He has already made 20 senior level appearances. His passing is superb as well. As Messi grows older, Ronald Koeman may change Fati’s position into more of a midfield role, to solidify the team before Messi leaves or retires. Serie A: Marash Kumbulla  The 20-year-old Kumbulla is a proper center back for AS Roma. Kumbulla is equally comfortable as a starter, covering the whole game, or as an impact sub who directs the defense and closes out matches. Kumbulla may be a defensive player, but can also chip in a goal when needed. He scored the winner against Young Boys in a 2-1 win, and also scored a Serie A goal against Sampdoria. Roma deploys either a back 3 or a back 4; Kumbulla has been terrific in adapting to these different defensive schemes. He is also an aerial threat, and be trusted to clear and score. Importantly, despite his youth, Kumbulla can also take charge of his side and organize them. Bundesliga: Gio Reyna Gio Reyna is just part of the new wave of American talent that is coming to Europe. The 17-year-old plays for Borussia Dortmund as an attacking midfielder, using his great footwork and speed to find space for the pass. Although manager Lucien Favre has many midfield options, Reyna finds himself a frequent starter. In this season alone, Reyna has made 7 appearances for the club, scoring once and assisting three times. For the U-18 team, he has yet to score or assist, but we are betting that he’ll break out soon, as he’s only improving.