The fact that Harry Kane still hasn’t scored a goal this season is certainly another worrying factor.
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West Ham United has played above their pay-grade beating Arsenal FC; Tottenham Hotspur have crushed Manchester City at home; and the top-scorers table is ablaze with unfamiliar names that are anything but household.
On Saturday, the Chelsea boss stuck by his “not ready” comments leaving the former Kotoko and Augsburg player out of the Chelsea squad that travelled to play Newcastle in the English Premier League.
Yet they outplayed Chelsea for much of this game and probably deserved to take all three points. “Between these matches, we can not recover all the time“. Although Lamela began the counter-attack that saw Spurs score, it was Christian Eriksen who played the final pass. It was the Dane’s first touch after being introduced as a substitute, and it earned him his second assist of the campaign.
Some of the wounds from one London derby were washed away from the victory over Tottenham in the league cup.
Trailing 2-0 at the interval, Mahrez dragged the Foxes back into the game having scored from the penalty spot, and the 24-year-old, who embarked on a matchday-high 11 dribbles, then assisted Jamie Vardy for the equaliser at the Britannia Stadium.
City lost captain Kompany to injury in their recent Champions League loss to Juventus and gave a first start to new defensive signing Nicolas Otamendi.
Arsenal also suffered consecutive defeats in Europe and at home.
Norwich City stunned third placed West Ham at the Boleyn ground when they took the lead in the 9th minute through Robbie Brady.
Claudio Ranieri is one of the few Premier League managers who has been praised by his opponents for the way he reacts to Leicester’s results, whatever the outcome. Kevin de Bruyne angled in an effort to put leaders City in front before Eric Dier equalised with a 25-yard shot.
This is one fixture that Manchester City do extremely well. They fought well, they had character, it wasn’t just flamboyant Arsenal.
Arsenal are the narrow 4/5 favourites to win the game but if you want more tempting odds them my predicted score of 1-2 is on offer at 15/2.
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While focused on improving that record, Pellegrini says the Champions League should not be prioritised at the expense of getting their domestic form back on track.
