This episode starts with another game against Stoke. This time it’s a league game at the Emirates. Despite now being 6 points clear in the league the pressure is definitely still on as the run in is horrendous.
The lineup I have chosen is; Alisson (GK), Kolasinac (LB), Ajer (CB), Koulibaly (CB), Hysaj (RB), Tielemans (CM), Goretzka (CM), Sane (CAM), Bergwijn (LW), Thauvin (RW), Poulsen (ST). Highlights below.
A terrible defensive performance. To throw away the win right at the end was even more annoying. No-one covered themselves in glory in this match. The saving grace is that Everton also drew at home to Fulham, so in terms of the league table there was no harm done. Next up is an away fixture against 8th place Crystal Palace.
The lineup is; Alisson (GK), Kolasinac (LB), Ajer (CB), Koulibaly (CB), Hysaj (RB), Tielemans (CM), Goretzka (CM), Sane (CAM), Balde (LW), Williams (RW), Poulsen (ST). Highlights below.
Wow. Great game but woeful defending from both teams. 1-0 up, 2-1 down, 3-2 up, 4-3 down and I finally win 5-4. Despite some suspect performances we are now one step closer to the Premier League title! It’s now just the simple matter of Spurs away, Everton at home and then Man Utd away on the last day of the season. That is with a Europa League Semi final against Porto and FA Cup final against Man City thrown in for good measure. It’s going to be some end to the season!
Next up is Porto away in the first leg of the Europa semi. I have simulated all matches in this competition up until now but this feels like as good a time as any to take the bull by the horns and bring the trophy home. There are players tired from the Palace game so the lineup I have went with is; Alisson (GK), Kolasinac (LB), Ajer (CB), Koulibaly (CB), Toure (RB), Tielemans (CM), Goretzka (CM), Asensio (CAM), Balde (LW), Thauvin (RW), Poulsen (ST). Highlights below.
A 1-1 draw away from home in the first leg is a great result. We dominated the match and should have won, but it’s a good result and we’ll go again in the home leg. The Team of the Month for April is also in and shown below.
Three league games to go this season and one of the toughest run-ins you could imagine. First up it’s Spurs away and it comes just two days after the Porto game, forcing me into an almost complete change of starting lineup. Not confident at all going into this one. The lineup is; Ospina (GK), Lukaku (LB), Fosu-Mensah (CB), Mustafi (CB), Hysaj (RB), Tolisso (CM), Goretzka (CM), Sane (CAM), Bergwijn (LW), Williams (RW), Mbappe (ST). Highlights below.
Well that was a disaster. A 3-1 defeat and it could have been a lot more. Totally dominated for the first time this season. Everton also won 4-1 so they are now just THREE points behind me in second place. I have Porto in at home in three days, then only a two day break before Everton at home in the penultimate league game. I think I’m going to have to potentially sacrifice the Europa League with a make shift team and simulate that game so I have a strong lineup ready for the Everton game. Even a draw against Everton pretty much wraps up the title as I have +19 better of a goal difference. The current table is below.
Right. It’s roll of the dice time with the Europa League. It would be nice to win it, but we have bigger fish to fry so I’m going to simulate the home game against Porto. The away goal from the first leg give us a good chance of getting through, but I’m going with far from my strongest lineup. Ospina (GK), Lukaku (LB), Fosu-Mensah (CB), Mustafi (CB), Hysaj (RB), Tolisso (CM), Xhaka (CM), Asensio (CAM), Bergwijn (LW), Thauvin (RW), Lacazette (ST).
Well damn. The match ended 2-2, so we have went out on away goals. That was the risk, but hopefully it still pays off with a league and cup double. Bayern Munich slid past Schalke 5-0 on aggregate so they join Porto in the final.
That’ll do me for this episode. The remainder of the season will be steamed live on YouTube and then archived here on the website. I think it’s a better way to finish off the season. Plus it’s a hell of a finale at home to second place Everton, then a cup final against fourth place Man City and finishing off with a league game against third place Man Utd. See you guys on stream!
VdZe
