Category: Matches

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Analysing clubs Matches Players Premier League/LaLiga/ Serie A/ Erdivisie

WHY Liverpool’s loss to Watford was inevitable

Image result for watford 3-0 liverpool

As a LFC fan, it was dissappointing to see our 44 game unbeaten streak turn to dust after a 3-0 defeat to Watford. However, this was definitely going to come. Why?

Winter Break

Like all leagues, the EPL consists of a winter break from end of Jan to Early February.

However, Liverpool’s Winter break was just one factor on why a loss this season was inevitable.

Here is our form after the Winter Break (Top: Newest, Bottom: Oldest)

WAT 3-0 LIV

LIV 3-2 WHU

ATM 1-0 LIV

NOR 0-1 LIV

LIV 4-0 S’TON

3 wins and 2 losses. However, in each of those 3 wins, Liverpool were sub-par.

Southampton dominated Liverpool at Anfield in the first half. A 20th placed Norwich gave Liverpool some struggles here and there. West Ham were leading at Anfield for 20 minutes or so.

As you can see, the winter break broke Liverpool’s momentum.

Complacency

You could see this in our previous match. Anfield was quiter, and the play and passing was more relaxed and played at a slow pace. Only after West Ham started leading was when LFC put up the pressure.

A wake up call?

After their confindence shriwelling after that loss to Atletico, Liverpool need to bounce back. Hopefully, this loss will motivate them to do well in all competitions.

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Leicester (City) Matches Players Premier League/LaLiga/ Serie A/ Erdivisie Uncategorized

Chelsea dominates Spurs and City edge Leicester- EPL Matchday 27 (Saturday)

Matchday 27 of the EPL contained tasty fixtures Saturday. Here is the breakdown.

Chelsea Dominate Tottenham despite late goal

Image result for chelsea 2-1 spurs

  Chelsea took the lead when Jorginho released the run of Giroud and the Frenchman created room for a low strike, but was stopped by the leg of Lloris. The rebound falls to Ross Barkley, but he hits the bar. The second rebound would fall back to Giroud, who scored a half-volley from 10 yards. Chelsea dominated throughly still, but were caught off-guard when Alderwield released the run of Tanganga, who took a heavy touch. The ball went out and Chelsea escaped from that chance.

Marcus Alonso doubled the home side’s advantage three minutes after the second half kicked-off. Barkley found and unmarked Alonso, who netted home a low drive from 20 yards. VAR then stole the limelight after Lo Celso escaped a booking after dangerous challenge on Azpilicueta, it should have been a red card. Tottenham started the be more of an attacking threat in the last 10 minutes, and Lamela’s shot deflected of Rudiger to gove a nervy ending at Stamford Bridge.

Image result for leicester 0-1 man city

City claim first back-to-back cleen sheet since October after Jesus goal

Leicester had a huge chance in the first half when Tielemans found Vardy, and hit the bar with just Ederson to beat. City dominated in possession and were wasteful with their chances, Gundogan missing the best of the bunch. Leicester should have gotten a penalty when Ederson crashed into Iheanacho. Aguero had a goal disallowed of a offside (rightly) and missed a penalty after a handball. The Argentinian also missed an effor from close range a few minutes after that. Mahrez finally found Jesus who scored his 10th EPL goal.

Image result for southampton 2-0 villa

Villa Outclassed at St. Mary’s

I chose this match just to praise Southampton. An amazing turnaround, especially after that 0-9 loss to Leicester. They beat the same team 2-1 away, gave Liverpool a lot of struggles and overall, more than a mid-table team as of now. Southampton should have won by 4 or 5, had it not been Pepe Reina’s night. Shane Long tapped in from a cross and Ings missed 2 chances. With their 28 shots, it seemed inevitable that they would just win by 1. Pepe Reina went forward in an attempt to equalize, but it goes all wrong. Southampton counter attack and Stuart Armstrong scored into an open net from 25 yards. Good job, Southampton.

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Matches Premier League/LaLiga/ Serie A/ Erdivisie Uncategorized

EPL Predictions- Matchday 21

Earlier Match: SHU 1-0 WHU

Crystal Palace 1-2 Arsenal

Everton 2-0 Brighton

Leicester City 3-1 Southampton (not 9-0)

Man Utd 2-1 Norwich

Chelsea 0-1 Burnley (if they continue poor home form, if not 2-1)

Wolves 3-0 Newcastle

Tottenham 1-2 Liverpool

Bournemouth 0-2 Watford

Aston Villa 1-4 Man City

 

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EURO Matches

The Year when Denmark won the EUROs

13 November 1991. Heartbreak. The Danish do not qualify for next year’s EUROs as Yugoslavia edge them by 1 point. Although they defeated Ireland 2-1, the Yugoslavians also won their final game. Here is the table:

Euro92

(Note that before 1994, a win was worth only 2 points.)

As you can see, Yugoslavia edge them 14 points to 13.  They also have much more goal differential then Denmark. However, due to the Yugoslavian war, UEFA banned them and Denmark qualified as they were second in the group. Little was expected of them to win the competition.

And their chances were slimmed even more when they were drawn in a tough group- England, France and Sweden, the hosts of the tournament.

Euro92

 

Denmark defeated France in a stunning 2-1 victory. They edged through to the semis along with Germany, the Dutch and the Swedes, with 3 points.

Denmark had a very tough tie against the Dutch, who were the favorites, along with Germany, to win the tournament. They surrendered a 2-0 half-time lead and the match, level at 2-2 after extra time, went to the dreaded penalty shootout.

Denmark weren’t dead. They would do the impossible.

In a dramatic penalty shootout, they won 5-4 on penalties. Meanwhile, in the other semi, the hosts lost to the Germans in a nail-biting 5-goal thriller. The Germans won 3-2, creating another fixture which seemed impossible for the Danish.

Ullevi, Gothenburg. 8.15 Swedish time. 26 June 1992. The Danish never knew they would be playing a crucial match in late June of 1992 when they did not qualify in 1991.

Denmark play the best game possible. They stunn the Germans 2-0.

They won it.

Until now, no other country/club has won a professional football tournament without actually qualifying for it.

#Euro92 #Denmark #Denmarkstunner

 

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Arsenal Leicester (City) Matches Players

Leicester win Arsenal in an excellent fashion

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Youri Tielemans scores for the foxes- a well deserved one considering how sloppy Arsenal were.

Youri Tielemans and Jamie Vardy scored for The Foxes with the first one being thumping header by Youri Tielemans from James Maddison’s excellent cross. 27 minutes later, goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel geets a rare assist after booting the ball down field, for Vardy to shoot. The first shot hits the bar, but the rebound allows Leicester to have a comfortable 2-0 lead after the same Englishman heads it in. Then, in injury time, Leicester threaten again, and it was worth the risk. Vardy nets another one making it 3 for Leicester. You honestly have to praise Leicester. Although Arsenal were 1 man down after the 36th minute, Leicester were just dominant. Possessing about 70% of the match against a top-six club is just incredible. Henrikh Mkhitaryan was just pathetic that when he got substituted, BBC quoted ,‘You may not have released he was even playing, but Henrikh Mkhitaryan is off for Matteo Guendouzi.’ Unai Emery was rather animated in the match (in a bad way), throwing his jacket off after Maitland-Niles was sent off after his challenge (second) on Maddison. He was already booked a yellow in the 8th minute. Leicester could have scored more but their finishes weren’t vital enough. Brendan Rodgers has given his all to the club since his hiring on 26 February. From 12th place, The Foxes now see themselves at a comfortable 8th position. Leicester have improved their attacking tempo, and are hoping to cause an upset at the Etihad and end their season with a win over Chelsea. If Wolves lose either 1 of their 2 remaining fixtures (vs Fulham or Liverpool), Leicester would end their season at a decent 7th place, being the best ‘ non-big six’ team this season.

Records/ Excellent performances

  1. Since his Premier League debut in August 2014, Jamie Vardy has scored 31 goals against the ‘big six’ (Arsenal, Chelsea, Man Utd, Man City, Spurs, Liverpool), more than any other player.
  2. Monaco loanee Youri Tielemans has played excellently since his debut in January, assisting 3 and scoring 5 for Leicester in 11 games.

 

 

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Matches Players

England 5-0 Czechia, Messi’s Argentina is Messy

France is pro unlike SPAIN
Mbappe and Griezmann shine against Moldova.

Back to the international break, England defeated Czech Republic 5-0, with Sterling bagging a hat-trick. Kane got on the score sheet and an own goal allowed England to lead by a five-goal margin.

Messi’s Argentina were in shambles after losing 3-1 to Venezuela. They played well, honestly, but due to weak midfield (Except Di Maria) and defense, they conceded 3. Venezuela had decent defense which neutralised Argentina’s good attacks.

Ronaldo’s Portugal drew Ukraine 0-0 in what would be a frustrating match for the Portugese.  Ukraine keeper Andriy Pyatov made two strong saves to deny Ronaldo and also kept out Andre Silva’s curling effort. There were appeals for a penalty in stoppage time when substitute Dyego Sousa appeared to be bundeled over in the box. Portugal had 16 shots compared to Ukraine’s 2.

Reigning World Champions France defeated Moldova with a comfortable 1-4 score. Griezmann converted Paul Pogba’s amazing pass to open the scoring for Les Blues. Varane headed in the second before Giroud netted the third for France. Mbappe scored the 4th and the hosts managed to bag a consolation goal in the 89′.

Other fixtures: Iceland defeated Andorra 2-0 away while Turkey won over Albania by the same scoreline. Netherlands thrashed Belarus 4-0 and Germany drew Serbia at home. Will the Germans ever rise back to the top?

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