Manchester United had a week to forget. The week started with a disappointing draw against high flying Leicester, that was followed up with what was arguably their lowest point of the season when they were dumped out of the Champion's League away to Wolfsburg. Just when things couldn't get any worse United lost to Bournemouth leading to increased pressure on Van Gaal and his players. That teams like Leicester and Bournemouth no longer fear United is a worrying trend for the United faithful. The ease with which they were exposed is even more disturbing considering this is supposed to be the best defense in the league. Although Van Gaal has had to contend with a number of injuries to his squad, you would still expect them to get a result against the so called lesser teams. Van Gaal did not help his case either choosing not to play the experienced Young for reasons best know to him instead choosing to select the inexperienced back line featuring Varela, McNair and Borthwick. Maybe he underestimated Bournemouth but he should have been told the Cherries were fresh from beating defending Champions Chelsea in their previous match. United's display was lethargic and lacking in any pace especially in the second half. United desperately need their first team players to come back from injury to stop the slide. It's now 5 games without a win with only a handful of goals scored. The dropped levels of performance even seem to be getting to the likes of Martial who had a poor game by his standards. The injury crisis has exposed a lack of depth in this squad and it is still a mystery how Van Gaal did not choose to buy an extra striker in the summer having let a number leave the club. Despite the indignity of having to play in the less fancied Europa cup, United need to start making things happen fast otherwise the gap between them and Arsenal and Manchester City(and Maybe Leicester) will only widen.
Arsenal continued their good run of form with a deserved win over Aston Villa who look set to be relegated. Mesut Ozil, Arsenal's player of the season so far continued his amazing record of providing assists as Giroud once again provided the goals for Arsene Wenger's side. The Gunners had a recent injury crisis of some sort but they look to have ridden the storm and are now in a good position going into the busy holiday schedule. Their morale has also been boosted by their impressive win against Olympiacos which saw them advance to the knock out stage once again having looked dead and buried early on in the group stage. With key players such as Chamberlain and Sanchez returning from injury, these are good times for Arsenal and they need to back it up with a colossal performance against fellow title favorites Manchester City in their next match.
Manchester City were perhaps a tad lucky against Swansea with a Yaya Toure winner in injury time. The Citizens have been inconsistent this season and have only remained in the title hunt due to poor form among their title rivals. City rely a lot on their talisman captain Kompany and they always seem to struggle when he is not playing. Injuries to their other key players, Aguero and Silva have not helped matters and the feeling is that if they can get their key men fit playing, the rest of their rivals would offer little resistance. They next face Arsenal in a key game that might have huge ramifications in deciding the destiny of the title this season.
Chelsea's bad form shows no signs of slowing down as they succumbed to another defeat this time to Leicester. Jose Mourinho this time must fear for his job as the Blues sit only a point above the relegation places after 16 games. The performance was woeful and Leicester were fully deserving of the three points. What is more worrying for the Blues is the manner of their play. None of the players look interested and it's so easy for teams to play against them. The games they have lost have not been due to bad luck but rather their poor play. It leads one to think that Mourinho might have a point when he says some of the players are 'betraying' him. It borders on sabotage. Mourinho has done everything to try and stem the tide of bad results. He has dropped players, criticized them, praised them, talked tough, changed the system but nothing seems to work. Chelsea next face Sunderland in what has now become a key relegation fight and a defeat for them might just be the final straw for Abramovic.
Liverpool inconsistent season continued with another lucky draw against West Brom. Klopp has steadied the ship somewhat but looking at The Reds first 8 games of the season when they were under Rodgers and the next 8 games when they have been under Klopp, there isn't any difference in terms of results. If Klopp is to turn this Liverpool side into a top four team and eventually a title contender then a few things are clear. The size of the task is enormous. Liverpool need to go into the market and acquire genuine quality players all over the pitch. The forward position for instance, there is Sturridge, Benteke, Ings, Origi and Firminho who is not really a number 9. Sturridge when fit has the potential to fit into any top side - but his fitness and injury issues look like they will never end. The other four would struggle to get into any topside. Liverpool have so many average players and that's where the problem lies. From the January window on wards Klopp and Liverpool need to slowly and systematically replace it's squad with quality so as to build a team that can challenge. This current squad is good enough for Europa league places.
Team of the week
Hart, Shawcross. Olsson, Nyom, Baines, Wijnaldum, King, Ramzey, Ozil, Giroud, Vardy
Player of the week
Olsson
