EPL Matchday 17: Everton vs West Ham United, And Manchester United vs Aston Villa.
The new year begin in the EPL with cracker ties involving Everton vs West Ham United, and Manchester United vs Aston Villa. What a way to start the new year I must say.
Everton vs West Ham United:
It's another journey to Goodison Park by another London team as Everton welcome the hammers having welcomed both Arsenal and Chelsea in their last 5 games. Another daunting trip for the hammers I must say.
If I am to choose a side, I will definitely go with Everton, and here are my reasons:
Performance: Leave it or take it, Carlos Ancelotti's men have been superb this season. They' have really showed that they deserve the position(3rd with a game at hand) that they are currently, and their last 4 EPL games says it all, winning all 4, scoring 6 goals and conceding just 1. You really don't want to face them at this moment. West Ham, on the other hand, look to be struggling. Although, they are 6 points behind Everton(the EPL has really been tough this season with just 10 points separating the 1st and 11th placed teams unlike in previous seasons), they are a far cry from the Merseyside team as they are winless in their last 4 games, managing 3 draws and a loss.
Head To Head/Goodison Park Worry For Another London Side: In their previous last 7 games, the toffees have gotten the better of the hammers on 4 good occasions, whilst the hammers have won just 2 of these 7 games. And just like their(West Ham) fellow London sides(Chelsea and Arsenal), visits to Goodison Park have not always been pleasant as they have lost 3 of their 4 previous visits. I bet this will be a huge psychological boost for Ancelotti's men no doubt.
Well, with no disrespect to West Ham, I feel a draw is the best they could get from this game, but this is football, and anything can happen.
Manchester United vs Aston Villa:
After a hard earned but deserving victory over Wolves, the red devils will now welcome Aston Villa to the Theatre of Dreams. This is another daunting game for the red devils considering the amazing form Villa are in this season.
If both teams are to win all their outstanding games, Villa will just be a point behind United, this is to show how difficult this fixture is. Even their last 5 games in the EPL buttress how close they are with both teams having equal numbers of wins and draws(3 wins and 2 draws). Another factor that shows that Villa can stand toe to toe against United is the way they easily dispatched big teams like Liverpool, Leicester City and Arsenal.
However, if I am to choose a side, I will go with the red devils and here is my reason:
- Head to Head: Although Villa have been able to avoid defeat against United in their last 2 meetings(winning 1 and drawing 1)they have not really been a huge worry for United in their last 8 games, with the latter winning 4, drawing 3, and losing 1. I bet this should give a bit of a psychological boost for the red devils.
Another funny, but very huge advantage to United is the in form Bruno Fernandez. If villa are really looking for a way to stop or get the better United, they should try and get Fernandez out of the game first. This will be very difficult though.
In all, I think we will get an entertaining game between both teams, and I feel a draw will be a fair outcome for them.
These are the first games of the EPL this year. Let us enjoy them.
Feel free to drop your opinions and comments, they will be greatly appreciated.
Much Love.