TEAM: CHELSEA
For me this was only a two-horse race. Although City again looked irresistible and once again scored five. It was against a Palace team who are yet to win or score from six games. On the other hand, Chelsea went to Stoke who are the only team to take points off Man Utd this season. However, Chelsea looked strong, scoring two in either half to brush them aside with relative ease. As well as Man City. Well done also to Watford. Liverpool. Tottenham. Arsenal. Brighton. Everton & Man Utd.
GOALKEEPER: SIMON MIGNOLET (Liverpool)
Although he was beaten twice and gave away the penalty. He had one of his better games. He was hard done by for Leicester’s first goal, though he should have been stronger. He was fouled. He was unlucky for the second goal also as he saved the initial shot, but didn’t get help from his defenders to stop Vardy following up. However, he had his glory by saving Vardy’s penalty, only three minutes after they got their second to more or less secure the three points. Well done also to Huddersfield’s Lossl and Brighton’s Ryan who was close to winning this.
DEFENDER: PHIL JONES (Man Utd)
It was a strong, stern and solid display by the Man Utd man who typified their start to the season that has brought them five clean sheets from six games. He marshalled the back line very well and wasn’t afraid to put his head or body in where it hurts to tackle and block for the cause. He kept the Southampton front line relatively quiet and reduced to half chances. Well done also to his team-mate Bailly. Brighton’s Dunk. Burnley’s Tarkowski. Huddersfield’s Schindler. Chelsea’s Azpilicueta and Watford’s Femenia.
MIDFIELDER: BAYE OUMAR NIASSE (Everton)
There were obviously some very good candidates for this award. But I cheated a little by putting him in midfield. The so-called forgotten man at Everton came on for Rooney no less, 10 minutes into the second half with his team losing 0-1. And in his first league appearance of the season, managed to turn the game around by scoring two goals to save Everton’s blushes and win the game. Shout out also to his team-mate Davies. Brighton’s March. Spurs’ Eriksen. Bournemouth’s King. Man City duo Sterling and Sane. Chelsea duo Pedro & Bakayoko. Watford’s Richarlison and Liverpool’s Henderson.
FORWARD: ALVARO MORATA (Chelsea)
Naturally, there was only ever going to be one winner for this. Morata has really hit the ground running since joining Chelsea and this away hat-trick was yet another indication of this. He showed a combination of great movement, superb running with the ball, intelligence and clinical finishing to bag his first hat-trick in English football. Well done also to Liverpool duo Coutinho & Salah. Brighton’s Hemed. Tottenham’s Kane. West Ham’s Hernandez. Swansea’s Abraham. Watford’s Grey. Man City’s Aguero. Arsenal’s Lacazette. Man Utd’s Lukaku and Leicester’s Okazaki.
MANAGER: ANTONIO CONTE (Chelsea)
After a shock in the first game of the season. His team have well and truly weathered the storm and are looking strong. It was a confident and masterful away victory to stroll past Stoke, scoring two goals in either half. The most notable thing is his new signings have really settled in to the team with Morata banging in goals. Bakayoko forming what looks like a formidable partnership in the heart of midfield with Kante. Also, both Ruediger and Christensen have embedded into the back three with minimum fuss and look solid.
UNSUNG HERO: RICHARLISON (Watford)
After being hammered by Man City last week a positive result was very important and this young Brazilian was the spearhead for that, as he was positive throughout. I really l like the look of this young forward. Only 20 years old. First time playing out of his home country, he has surprisingly taken no time to settle in. Keeping the likes of Deeney out the team, he is positive, direct and has that element of the unexpected. He has already notched two in his six games. Both away which says a lot about him and it’s no surprise he’s been capped for the Brazilian U20’s team.
GAME: LEICESTER 2-3 LIVERPOOL
Liverpool took the lead in the half when Coutinho swung in a deep cross from the left for Salah who arrived at the far post to squeeze a header past Schmeichel from an acute angle (15). It was soon two when Moreno was fouled just outside the box and up stepped Coutinho to curl in a beautiful free kick from 20 odd yards. (23). Leicester pulled a goal back just before half time when Mahrez swung in a left-sided free kick that was missed by Mignolet. The ball came off Maguire’s head and fell invitingly for Okazaki to toe poke home (45+3). In the second half, Liverpool scored on the break when Henderson dispossessed Maguire in his own half, fed Sturridge and continued his run forward. Sturridge carried the ball to the edge to the box, fed Henderson on the left who cut back inside the defender and tucked the ball home (68). A minute later. Demarai Grey did good work on the right of the box to get a shot in. His effort was parried by Mignolet only for Vardy to head into and empty net (69). Three minutes later, Vardy burst into the box. Mignolet came out and got a touch on the ball but upended Vardy. A penalty was awarded which he blasted straight at the keeper who blocked with both fists (72).
GOAL: FABIAN DELPH (Man City) v Crystal Palace
Delph picked up the ball in the centre of the pitch and slipped a ball to David Silva, who was just ahead of him, and continued forward. Silva turned and slipped a ball square, back to Delph who was just outside the box. Delph then cut back between two defenders and with his weaker right foot. Curled and lovely effort with pace, that flew over the keeper and in off the underside of the bar.
FOOL: SERGE AURIER (Tottenham)
Over the years, there’s been a stereotype of African defenders being rash, reckless, not composed or trustworthy. Since this time, many African defenders have performed well and come a long way to change that stereotype, resulting in the likes Aurier being purchased. But every so often, there are incidents that keep that stereotype alive. On his first start for his new club, though his team were cruising, all game he was getting wound up by Carroll. On 64 minutes, he got booked for a silly challenge on Carroll. But worse still, knowing he had just been booked. Only six minutes later, he makes another silly challenge on the same player, resulting in a second yellow and red. He was very lucky his team held on for the win. Well done Serge. You really know how to kill a stereotype. FOOL!
