Alex Keble looks ahead to the weekend games and predicts that Man City and Liverpool will produce at least four goals…
“The battle between Thiago and Kevin de Bruyne, in the same half-space, will prove decisive in a high-scoring game.”
Everton v Man Utd
Saturday, 12:45
Live on BT Sport 1
Frank Lampard is doing a very poor job as Everton manager and Wednesday’s 3-2 defeat to Burnley suggests they will get relegated. Dreadful in every department, there isn’t usually a standout tactical feature to talk about, although for the visit of Man Utd it is worth paying attention to just how little Lampard changes game to game.
Aside from the 1-0 defeat to Manchester City, whose slow possession forced Everton to be camped in a defensive formation, Lampard will always push the line up and – without any tactics to speak of – allow opponents to cut through those decompressed lines around central midfield. The 5-0 defeat to Tottenham is a good indication of how this game will go.
Lampard might be saved by how amorphous and ponderous Man Utd have been under Ralf Rangnick, but given so much room to make use of attacking transitions the runs of Jadon Sancho and Anthony Elanga should easily be found by Paul Pogba and Bruno Fernandes.
Aston Villa v Tottenham
Saturday, 17:30
Live on Sky Sports Premier League
Three consecutive defeats for Aston Villa has made it clear Steven Gerrard’s 4-3-2-1 formation needs some tweaking. Throughout this run they have found attacking spaces blocked off by opponents that have come to terms with Villa’s narrow shape and packed the middle – negating the dual number tens – while Gerrard’s high line has left Villa a bit exposed on the break.
Tottenham are just the team to take advantage. Antonio Conte’s 3-4-2-1 is particularly solid through the middle of the pitch, rarely giving away chances to number tens, while his use of high wing-backs – found with long diagonal passes – should be fruitful against a narrow Villa team that are leaving their full-backs exposed to late runners like Matt Doherty and Emerson Royal.
What’s more, Heung-Min Son and Dejan Kulusevski running ahead while Harry Kane drops is becoming a devastating partnership in the attacking transition. It is unlikely Villa’s aggressive defensive line will be able to cope.
Norwich v Burnley
Sunday, 14:00
Live on Sky Sports Premier League
Rejuvenated by their late winner against Everton, Burnley fans can anticipate a return to some classic Sean Syche football: puffed out chests, winning the 50-50s, and repeating their old-school tactical patterns until the opposition is bullied into submission. They can expect that to work against such a timid and meek Norwich City team.
They key battle is down Burnley’s left flank, where Maxwel Cornet – whose goal and assist against Everton marked a return to form – comes up against Sam Byram, deputising for the injured Max Aarons. Cornet’s trickery adds a much-needed element of unpredictability to Burnley’s play, turning hopeful punts up to the strikers into meaningul goalmouth action.
He should get the better of Byram in a one-on-one, leading at the very least to numerous set-pieces for the visitors. Leandro Trossard and Solly March were dominant on this side in the recent 0-0 draw with Norwich, creating six chances, while Leeds’ left winger Ranfinha hit the bar twice the weekend before. Cornet ought to pick up where he left off.
Man City v Liverpool
Sunday, 16:30
Live on Sky Sports Premier League
In the 2-2 draw at Anfield, Manchester City dominated the first half and should have been out of sight; Pep Guardiola’s side swarmed the hosts with their pressing, pinning Liverpool back. The situation wasn’t helped by Jurgen Klopp’s insistence on long balls over the top of City’s high line, which only left Liverpool more spaced out and unable to get a grip of the game.
That should not happen this time because Thiago Alcantara is fit. His control of possession and reading of the game makes him arguably Liverpool’s most important player, and certainly his press-resistance from the base of midfield should allow Klopp’s team to keep hold of the ball for longer. Nevertheless, Liverpool will – as ever – go the long and direct route to hurt Man City.
Consequently the match will, at some stage, descend into a chaotic end-to-end battle as Liverpool’s counters break down and give City a chance to break back (Guardiola allows his players to play with greater verticality than usual in this fixture). The battle between Thiago and Kevin de Bruyne, in the same half-space, will prove decisive in a high-scoring game.
Source: BetFair Tips
