The Premier League Week 19- preview

 The tie of the round takes place at Stamford Bridge

The Christmas and the New Year period in the Premier League gives us extra games and extra goals every year.And this time,the Holiday period is turning out to be a crucial one for nearly all the sides,after all the title race has seemingly etched closer than ever. Only 3 points separate first placed Arsenal and fourth placed Liverpool,who were edged out 2-1 by Manchester City two days ago.Experts also believe that even eight placed Tottenham Hotspur stand some kind of chance to somehow win the title this season.And this weekend of the Premier League guarantees all the excitement and drama which perfects your day as some very crucial games are scheduled to be played.Let's take a look at the game by game guide-

Cardiff City v Sunderland

Goals have been meagre and far and few for both these sides.Both of them have scored 4 goals in their previous six matches and with Cardiff having sacked Malky Mackay yesterday,it will be tough for the interim manager to get the combinations right.But lack of goals looks set to provide an extra spark to this intriguing game as both teams look to avoid relegation.Cardiff suffered a 3-0 loss to the Saints in midweek following a 3-1 loss to Liverpool ,while Sunderland picked up 3 crucial points on Wednesday by upsetting 5th placed Everton,only to see other relegation battlers pick up their victories.The game would be a tough one to predict and chances will be quite evidently pretty less,considering their goalscoring records in the past few weeks

Prediction -Cardiff 0-1 Sunderland

Newcastle United v Arsenal 

This game has produced 11 goals in the last 2 meetings and who can possibly forget Arsenal's 7-3 win over the Magpies last season.Alan Pardew's side desperately need to win this tie as if they succumb to a loss,then the likes Manchester United and Tottenham will overtake them ,if they win their games.The same is the case with the Gunners,who also need to win to ensure the fact that other title rivals are kept at bay.Newcastle have managed to beat Chelsea,Spurs and Manchester United this season and they would definitely look to earn another big scalp by beating Arsenal ,come tomorrow.Yohan Cabaye has been a key figure for the Magpies,who had hammered Stoke City 5-1 in the midweek even after going 1-0 down.Arsenal recovered  from a goal down against West Ham to beat them 3-1 day before yesterday,thanks to a brace from Theo Walcott.The game would be open and chances will come both ways,but conversion rate will be a key factor for the sides,who will fight out a close game at the St.James' Arena.

Prediction -Newcastle United 1-2 Arsenal 

Norwich v Manchester United

We have already seen these two face off this season in the Capital one Cup when United emerged victorious after trouncing the Canaries 4-0.That was at Old Trafford,but this time both of these sides will meet at Carrow Road in Norwich and at a time when both have differing fortunes and fates.Manchester United came back from 2-0 down to beat Hull City 3-2 day before yesterday,following an own goal from youth product James Chester.Norwich City have seen Fulham beat them 2-1 in their previous game at Carrow Road and will look to bounce back and jeopardise David Moyes' position as a Manchester United manager.United will have to replace their full right side as Valencia is suspended following a red card and Rafael is out injured.Nathan Redmond can be a threat for the centre backs as he possesses the ability to cut inside towards the final third and make runs like those of Gareth Bale.

Prediction -Norwich 1-3 Manchester United

Chelsea v Liverpool 

When the Blues host the Reds on Sunday afternoon, both sides will want to finish the year with a big statement.A defeat on the hands of Chelsea will mean something bad for Liverpool and the title race and Chelsea will certainly look forward to pick up much needed 3 points.Chelsea come into the match on the back of a hard fought 0-0 at the Emirates and 1-0 victory against Swansea. Liverpool, meanwhile, have lost their first spot in the table after the 2-1 defeat in an exciting encounter at the Etihad Stadium. But,Liverpool have looked a much better side than Chelsea this season and Chelsea have their strikers like Samuel Eto'o and Fernando Torres to blame for this.Brendan Rodgers is likely to feature the same starting XI which impressed at the Etihad Stadium and will hope his on-form striker, Luis Suarez, can score his 20^th goal of this campaign. Liverpool has won three out of their last five games at Stamford Bridge and only lost one.

Prediction - Chelsea 2-2 Liverpool or Chelsea 1-2 Liverpool

Other matches and their predictions-

Everton 2-1 Southampton

Manchester City 4-0 Crystal Palace 

Tottenham 2 -0 Stoke City 

West Ham United 2-1 West Brom

Hull City 1-1 Fulham  

Aston Villa 1-2 Swansea 

Blues Boss Defends Misfiring Strikers

Jose Mourinho had to once again defend his strikers on Thursday when Samuel Eto'o  squandered a number of chances against Swansea. Belgian Playmaker Eden Hazard's first half strike earned Chelsea a hard fought 1-0 win against Swansea.

Chelsea were again guilty of failing to finish the game off, with Samuel Eto'o twice denied by Swansea keeper Gerhard Tremmel when presented with a clear opportunity to score. Mourinho's three forwards - Eto'o Fernando Torres and Demba Ba - have scored just five goals in 18 Premier League games, but the Blues manager insists their wider contribution has helped the team progress.

 Mourinho also refused to criticise Cameroon forward Eto'o, who failed to convert after being sent clear on Tremmel's goal immediately before the break and then again when his volley was saved at point-blank range by the keeper. Mourinho said "Today I can say the biggest person responsible for the lack of goals was their goalkeeper because he made three or four big saves," 

"Today I'm saying their goalkeeper played very well. We didn't miss. The goalkeeper made fantastic saves: Eto'o in the first half, the first minute save in the second half.

Mourinho singled out Hazard  after the Belgian turned in a man of the match performance, capped by his ninth goal of the season, confirming him as the club's leading scorer this season.

"He gave everything, so I'm happy," Mourinho said. "His last action in the game was defending our box.

"The kid was tired. He plays a high intensity game. He was exhausted."

Chelsea's Brazilian midfielder Ramires picked up a yellow card that will keep him out of the meeting with Liverpool at Stamford Bridge on Sunday and Mourinho had no complaints as the foul disrupted a threatening Swansea attack.

"He had to stop the game. If he doesn't stop, there's a risk of a dangerous counter-attack," Mourinho added.

"It's the kind of card I don't complain. It wasn't a silly action.

"I don't want to cry. I just want to think about the solutions we have. That's life. You lose players by injuries and cards.

"If I'd not played him today, I wouldn't have forgiven myself if we lost points.

"He doesn't play against Liverpool, but that means he'll be fresh against Southampton."

The Red Devils in pursuit of Spanish youngster

Manchester United's long search for a quality player would possibly now come to an end as Moyes is set to buy Atletico Madrid's midfielder - Koke. After former ManU and England player, Paul Scholes left the team, Red Devils have finally found a talented player to fit into his position. Mirror says that Moyes personally checked the 21-year-Spanish International along with the other members of the team.

Moyes will possibly bid for the Spaniard in the first week of the Transfer Window for about 30 million.

It is a fact that Moyes was interested in Koke in the last season for Everton.
But now the United boss will be bidding for the Spaniard before the other big clubs like Arsenal, Bayern Munich and Liverpool get a chance.

Rumors also suggest that Real Madrid might bid for Wayne Rooney as United are struggling to tie him down to his new contract.
The Italian giants - Juventus are seriously interested in Luis Nani and are reportedly chasing him.

These two reasons mainly force the United boss to bid for the Atletico Madrid mid-fielder.


 Central midfield and mid-fielders have been a serious problem this season, even after the addition of Marouane Fellaini from Everton.

Koke recently has gained popularity in Europe because of his passing and versatality and he played a central role in Spain's U-21 championship win at Israel. He is dubbed as the " New Xavi Of Spain"He has managed to become an integral part of Diego Simeone's side and has scored 3 times this season.

6 of the worst:Misses of 2013

 Take a look at the worst misses of 2013

 

 

The year of 2013 has given us moments to savour and remember forever and Luck is something which nearly everybody requires when practicing his/her discipline but it doesn't always favors one.And things start to look funny when footballers run out of luck during crucial situations.So,we take a look at the 6 worst misses of 2013

6.Gervinho

Gervinho misses a open goal against Catania  in the match which As Roma won 4-0.However,he later made amends for the miss by netting the final goal.

5.Wellington Nem

Brazilian club Fluminense may have beaten Chilean team CD Huachipato in the Copa Libertadores on Wednesday night, but the result is no thanks to the usually reliable Wellingtom Nem. Nem shows a decent turn of pace as he races into the box to meet his team-mate's cross following a clever long ball which beat the offside trap. After doing everything right though, Nem smacks the ball against the post from two yards out.

4.Elias

Elias missed an goal for flamengo vs nautico from one yard.

3.Willian Ribero

Brazilian striker Willian Ribeiro misses an open-goal chance as his team, Campinense, play Atletico-PB in the regional Paraibano league. Ribeiro is completely clear through on a gaping open goal, after racing past Atletico's defence and rounding the stranded goalkeeper, but he still manages to pull his shot wide of the post. Campinense went on to win the match 1-0, despite Ribeiro's finishing.

2.Ali Sami Yachir

Yachir misses for MC Alger vs CR in the Algerian ligue.

1.Adam Barrett

As far as the worst miss is concerned, we have , a player for Gillingham Adam Barrett, of the English Football League One, who manages to miss an open goal from two yards.