Kop attack City unbeaten record
PREMIER LEAGUE
Liverpool 2-2 Man City.
I believe Liverpool have excelled in the January transfer window, bringing in Virgil van Dirk, who is potentially the world’s best defender for half the money they’ve sold Phillipe Coutinho to Barcelona. Van Dirk’s physical presence and organisational prowess will allow Liverpool to take points off champions elects Manchester City.
Man United 2-0 Stoke City.
Jesse Lindgaard’s exponential rise into a Red Devils talisman is evidence Jose Mourinho can actually nurture talent. However, the key to unlocking Manchester United’s full creative potential is in playing Paul Pogba just ahead of Ander Herrera and Nemanja Matic. He’s monumental when freed up.
Chelsea 2-1 Leicester City.
Juggling two games per week is as trying to Antonio Conte’s Londoners as finding a support striker for Alvaro Morata. For Michy Batshuayi has failed to live up to his billing. Leicester City have the players to push Chelsea all the way but I can only imagine one winner.
OTHER MATCHES
Bournemouth 1-2 Arsenal
Crystal Palace 1-1 Burnley
Huddersfield 1-1 West Ham
Newcastle Utd 1-0 Swansea
Tottenham 2-1 Everton
West Brom 1-0 Brighton
Watford 1-1 Southampton
BUNDESLIGA
Leverkusen 1-2 Bayern Munich
2002 Champions League losing finalists Bayer Leverkusen were in tremendous form before the winter break but Bayern Munich are a different kettle of fish to anything they faced. Such is the embarrassment of talent available to coach Jupp Heynkes, who also welcomes German striker Sandro from Hoffenheim. Leverkusen will give a good account of themselves before the Bavarians prevail.
Frankfurt 2-1 Freiburg
I have an affinity for Frankfurt because they were one of the first European clubs to give African players a chance. Ghanaian legend Tony Yeboah and Nigerian dribbling wizard were both once on their books. This season Frankfurt are playing with zest. They should discuss Freiburg with minimum fuss.
Others
Dortmund 2-1 Wolfsburg
Cologne 1-1 M’Gladbach
Bremen 1-1 Hoffenheim
Stuttgart 1-1 Hertha Berlin
Hannover 2-1 Mainz
Augsburg 2-1 Hamburg
RB Leipzig 1-1 Schalke
LA LIGA
Real Madrid 2-1 Villareal.
Gareth Bale reminded manager Zinedine Zidane of why he splashed a world record fee for him by notching a brace in last Sunday’s 2-2 draw with Celta Vigo. The Wales forward will once again be a man to watch as champions Real Madrid welcome a Villareal side tired by a gruelling Copa Del Rey duel with Leganes. Madrid will prevail in a tight encounter.
Sociedad 1-2 Barcelona.
This fixture has come a week too early for Barcelona’s record signing Phillipe Coutinho. Real Sociedad are reputed for giving Blagruana a good run for their money. However, Paulinho has given Ernesto Valverde’s side excellent physical and athletic balance. I think the league leaders will prevail.
OTHER MATCHES
Getafe 2-0 Malaga,
Girona 2-1 Las Palmas,
Eibar 1-1 Atletico Madrid
Deportivo 1-1 Valencia
Levante 1-2 Celta Vigo,
Alaves 1-1 Seville,
Real Betis 2-1 Leganes,
Espanyol 1-1 Atletic Bilbao
LIGUE 1
Strasbourg 2-1 Guingamp
Rennes 1-1 Marseilles
Caen 1-0 Lille
Dijon 1-0 Metz
Montpelier 1-1 Monaco
Nice 2-1 Amiens
Troyes 1-1 Bordeaux
St Etienne 1-1 Toulouse
Lyon 2-0 Angers
