2019-2020 EPL Discussion Thread

[Jezza]

Midweek Matches:

Tuesday January 21 2020:
Aston Villa v Watford - 19:30
AFC Bournemouth v Brighton & Hove Albion - 19:30
Crystal Palace v Southampton - 19:30
Everton v Newcastle United - 19:30
Sheffield United v Manchester City - 19:30
Chelsea v Arsenal - 20:15

Wednesday January 22 2020:
Leicester City v West Ham United - 19:30
Tottenham Hotspur v Norwich City - 19:30
Manchester United v Burnley - 20:15

Thursday January 23 2020:
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Liverpool - 20:00

All local times.

[Jezza]

Midweek Results:

Tuesday January 21 2020:
Aston Villa 2-1 Watford
AFC Bournemouth 3-1 Brighton & Hove Albion
Crystal Palace 0-2 Southampton
Everton 2-2 Newcastle United
Sheffield United 0-1 Manchester City
Chelsea 2-2 Arsenal

Wednesday January 22 2020:
Leicester City 4-1 West Ham United
Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 Norwich City
Manchester United 0-2 Burnley

Thursday January 23 2020:
Wolverhampton Wanderers 1-2 Liverpool

The Ladder:
1. Liverpool 67 - Played 23
2. Man City 51 - Played 24
3. Leicester 48 - Played 24
4. Chelsea 40 - Played 24
----------------------
5. Man Utd 34 - Played 24
6. Tottenham 34 - Played 24
7. Wolves 34 - Played 24
8. Sheffield Utd 33 - Played 24
9. Southampton 31 - Played 24
10. Arsenal 30 - Played 24
11. Crystal Palace 30 - Played 24
12. Everton 30 - Played 24
13. Burnley 30 - Played 24
14. Newcastle 30 - Played 24
15. Brighton 25 - Played 24
16. Aston Villa 25 - Played 24
17. West Ham 23 - Played 23
-----------------------
18. Bournemouth 23 - Played 24
19. Watford 23 - Played 24
20. Norwich 17 - Played 24

[K]

FiveThirtyEight's predictions (Jan 23, 4:52pm.) -- win EPL:

Liverpool >99%
The rest <1%.

[K]

[K]

https://twitter.com/premierleague/status/1222723861302525957

"Liverpool have beaten every team they’ve faced in the #PL this season – the first time they’ve ever achieved this in a top-flight campaign #WHULIV"


Sky Sports writes:

"Jurgen Klopp’s side may not have been at their absolute best but they have now beaten every one of their league opponents at least once this season - a feat they last achieved 124 years ago."


I guess PL doesn't think 124 years ago there was "top-flight" football.


And after 24 games, Liverpool lead by 19 points (but lead GD by only 3 ).

[Jezza]

Mid-Week Result:

Wednesday January 28 2020:
West Ham United 0-2 Liverpool

The Ladder:
1. Liverpool 70 - Played 24
2. Man City 51 - Played 24
3. Leicester 48 - Played 24
4. Chelsea 40 - Played 24
----------------------
5. Man Utd 34 - Played 24
6. Tottenham 34 - Played 24
7. Wolves 34 - Played 24
8. Sheffield Utd 33 - Played 24
9. Southampton 31 - Played 24
10. Arsenal 30 - Played 24
11. Crystal Palace 30 - Played 24
12. Everton 30 - Played 24
13. Burnley 30 - Played 24
14. Newcastle 30 - Played 24
15. Brighton 25 - Played 24
16. Aston Villa 25 - Played 24
17. West Ham 23 - Played 24
-----------------------
18. Bournemouth 23 - Played 24
19. Watford 23 - Played 24
20. Norwich 17 - Played 24

[Jezza]

Weekend Matches:

Saturday February 1 2020:
Leicester City v Chelsea - 12:45
AFC Bournemouth v Aston Villa - 15:00
Crystal Palace v Sheffield United - 15:00
Liverpool v Southampton - 15:00
Newcastle United v Norwich City - 15:00
Watford v Everton - 15:00
West Ham United v Brighton & Hove Albion - 15:00
Manchester United v Wolverhampton Wanderers - 17:30

Sunday February 2 2020:
Burnley v Arsenal - 14:00
Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester City - 16:30

All local times.

[K]

https://twitter.com/OptaJoe/status/1223653483435433984

"Liverpool will end today 22 points clear of second-placed Manchester City in the Premier League table; this is the biggest lead any league-leader has ever had at the end of a day in English top-flight history. Gap."


[Yeah, okay, but they've now played one more game... Let's see whether Spurs shock Man. City tomorrow.]

[K]

^^^
Tottenham 2-0 Man. City

Red card: Zinchenko 60'

Man. City led shots 18-3, possession 68%-32%, passes 686-337, pass accuracy 87%-74%, corners 6-2.


(Zinchenko's red card was a second yellow for a professional push/foul.)

[K]

'Guardiola's team winning the league by 19 points prompted then-CEO Richard Scudamore to express a desire for "someone to get a little bit closer to Manchester City" while also praising the team's excellence.
...

"An owner from the Premier League said that cannot happen again, so it's not good for the Premier League (that) City win the title in that way with 100 points," Guardiola said, without naming Scudamore.

"So now it's Liverpool you have to be concerned, the owner of the Premier League."'

(AAP)

[Jezza]

Latest Results:

Saturday February 1 2020:
Leicester City 2-2 Chelsea
AFC Bournemouth 2-1 Aston Villa
Crystal Palace 0-1 Sheffield United
Liverpool 4-0 Southampton
Newcastle United 0-0 Norwich City
Watford 2-3 Everton
West Ham United 3-3 Brighton & Hove Albion
Manchester United 0-0 Wolverhampton Wanderers

Sunday February 2 2020:
Burnley 0-0 Arsenal
Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 Manchester City

The Ladder:
1. Liverpool 73 - Played 25
2. Man City 51 - Played 25
3. Leicester 49 - Played 25
4. Chelsea 41 - Played 25
----------------------
5. Tottenham 37 - Played 25
6. Sheffield Utd 36 - Played 25
7. Man Utd 35 - Played 25
8. Wolves 35 - Played 25
9. Everton 33 - Played 25
10. Arsenal 31 - Played 25
11. Burnley 31 - Played 25
12. Newcastle 31 - Played 25
13. Southampton 31 - Played 25
14. Crystal Palace 30 - Played 25
15. Brighton 26 - Played 25
16. Bournemouth 26 - Played 25
17. Aston Villa 25 - Played 25
-----------------------
18. West Ham 24 - Played 25
19. Watford 23 - Played 25
20. Norwich 18 - Played 25

[K]

"Are we witnessing the beginning of the end for Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City?

After back-to-back defeats without a goal scored — and with no signings in the January transfer window, despite severe defensive shortcomings — there is a sense of drift about the fallen Premier League champions.
...

His team won back-to-back titles in eyeball-pleasing style, with an unprecedented domestic clean sweep last season.

And they will make it six domestic trophies out of the last seven if they defeat Aston Villa to defend the Carabao Cup on March 1.

Guardiola has been the most influential, civilising import into English football since Arsene Wenger two decades earlier.

Yet to hear the tetchy City boss grunting his way through post-match media duties after Sunday’s 2-0 defeat at Tottenham was to wonder whether his race has been run here.

City are 22 points behind runaway leaders Liverpool.

And if they are to bridge that gap next season, their squad will need a major summer overhaul — four new defenders and something extra in central midfield at the very least.

Does Guardiola, however brilliant his mind, have the energy, drive and long-term vision to rip it up and start again at City?

At the end of this, his fourth season, Guardiola will have been at the Etihad for as long as he was in charge at Barcelona and for a year longer than his Bayern Munich reign.

This intense workaholic has suffered from a burnout in the past and his public demeanour suggests he may soon be due a break."

(D. Kidd, The Sun)

[Jezza]

^ Pep has been rattled by Liverpool's success. He's never experienced a gap as big as this at any of the clubs he's managed.

History says he will leave at the end of the season and join someone such as Juventus or PSG, but from my understanding he still has a year left on his current contract.

[K]

Yes, one of the parts of the article I didn't quote says there's a year left.

[Jezza]

Weekend Matches:

Saturday February 8 2020:
Everton v Crystal Palace - 12:45
Brighton & Hove Albion v Watford - 17:30

Sunday February 9 2020:
Sheffield United v AFC Bournemouth - 14:00
Manchester City v West Ham United - 16:30

All local times.