With a Friday fixture to give you more time I’m writing this before Thursday’s European games ….
**Brighton 2-1 Saints**
It might be harsh to be too critical given they pushed Liverpool closer than most assumed but Southampton’s tactics in the second half did confuse me on Sunday.
At 2-2 they kept failing to play out of trouble with them constantly losing possession and the ball coming back. The pressure meant that a goal was inevitable.
Russel Martin needs to decide at which point (if ever) he needs to adapt his principles. While he clearly feels his team are learning his ethos with every passing game, with only 4 points on the board he needs some results soon.
**Brentford 3-1 Leicester**
As I write this Leicester still have not confirmed who is their new manager, which is odd as I thought the only reason to harshly sack Steve Cooper would be because they had someone better lined up.
The Foxes have been competitive in most fixtures and are out of the bottom 3, surely their objective for the season?
Early talk is they made the change because they want David Moyes or Graham Potter, and I think their chances of survival increase with either. As this is being submitted though Ruud Van Nistelrooy is the bookies favorite to land the vacancy.
Prediction might change if they make an appointment in time for Saturday.
**Palace 1-0 Newcastle**
Despite being at the bottom there are signs that Palace are improving. Some of their youngsters really stepped up at Villa Park, the likes of Eze might be available again and there is talk of serious investment in January.
**Notts Forest 2-2 Ipswich**
Out of the promoted sides Ipswich looks like the side with the clearest identity.
They have drawn over half of their games meaning (as their manager pointed out) they manage to mostly compete and stay in games.
The question is long term do they have enough quality in the final third to turn draws into wins?
**Wolves 3-1 Cherries**
I’m happy for Gary O’Neil that he was given time to turn around Wolve’s fortunes. Other owners may have panicked after the start they had but suddenly the club are unbeaten in 4 fixtures, winning their last two.
They are now getting lucky they were not getting previous. One of them, Semenyo being suspended for this game.
**West Ham 0-3 Arsenal**
For Arsenal it all comes down to their attitude being spot on. They have left themselves zero room for error unless Liverpool blink before us.
Law of averages says there will the odd day where we don’t show up (maybe a Fulham, Brentford away)
Under those circumstances that makes the London Stadium an ideal place to visit.
Get an early goal and the ground gets soulless very quickly.
**Chelsea 3-1 Villa**
Earlier In the season I would have argued Villa had the confidence to get a result at the Bridge, but the two teams are at a different level of self-belief right now. Villa have not won in 7.
Suddenly a good time for Chelsea to be having this fixture?
**Liverpool 3-0 Man City**
Even the best versions of Man City have struggled to win at Anfield. Pep Guardiola only has managed it once when the stadium was empty, only one of 2 times the Champions have won at the venue in 26 visits!
Common sense would say if they can’t get 3 points in front of the Kop when things are going well, they are not going to when their confidence seems rock bottom and all the pressure is on them to get a result.
This fixture has arrived at the perfect time for Liverpool. They will go 11 points clear of their opponents with a victory. That’s without even playing that well.
**Man United 3-0 Everton**
Ruben Amirom is smart enough to already know this, but the Ipswich game showed us that there won’t be a quick fix at Old Trafford. The team already benefitted by his use of wing backs but the longer the Portuguese can work with his team in training the better. That’s hard to do with the current schedule.
If the 39-year-old could handpick a first league fixture at home though Everton would be near the top of that list. The Toffees struggled to take the initiative even when having a man advantage against Brentford at Goodison.
Their ambition on Sunday might not include much more than parking the bus.
**Spurs 3-2 Fulham**
This isn’t banter but you can’t get more Spursy than one week being defeated at home to Ipswich then the next week scoring 4 goals at the Etihad.
Ange Postecoglou might have finally found a way to get the best out of Madison playing him in the Pirlo position where he can conduct play from deep. The challenge for the midfielder is to do that consistently.
Tottenham get strange results after playing on Thursday nights, but Fulham play in a manner where this will be an open game which suits the home team.
LAST WEEKS TABLE
Adeski 103 NT Gunnerz 100 JRA 95 Terra 94 Holes 93 That’s 92 Solwills 91 Okobino 89 Akeem 89 Ackshay 88 Baron 87 Antivirus 86 QB 85 Gunnerstew 85 Guñnersmoke 84 Only A 83 J Gunner 81 Stephanie 81 Tom 80 Sue P 79 Its 78 Edu 77 Matthew 77 Kenya 77 Sagie 76 Prince 76 GB 75 Dendrite 73 Zeekseeso 72 Drayton 71 MTG 71 NOAH 70 Me 70 JS7RG 67 Admin 66 Bang bang 65 O Achiel 63 Dragon 62 Edward J Small 62 I 62 Achizzy 60 Amir 55 Babalosa 54 J Legend 53 Taiwo 52 Big slim 50 Ba Thea 46 J Bauer 46 Lupilus 45 J gunz 45 Williamrick 43 Splendid 40 Oluseyi 20-36 Bertie 33 And kit 30 Makers 30 Famochi 30 Illiterate 28 Labass 27 Rich Royal 25 Jacob lerang 25 Gabriel 24 IGL 22 Acts 20 Kobin 18 Lovely 17 Elvis 16 SWS 16 to Ralph 15 Oslogunner 65-12 Barry 11 Isaac 11 Alex 9 Mulu Fidel 9 Gunner 4 life 8 Dotash 7 Mon August 7 Terry 5 Dunchirado 5
Alwattan 3