TEAM: LIVERPOOL
Although not everyone played two games this week, some did and only two teams got maximum points from their two games. Due to their disastrous defence of their title, Liverpool are scrapping to get into the Champions league and this week they played like it. An efficient and professional display to dispatch Southampton. Then at Old Trafford, they came back from a goal down to blitz Man Utd where they could and should have score five or six. Well done also to Arsenal, Newcastle, Leeds, Wolves and Burnley.
GOALKEEPER: FRASER FORSTER (Southampton)
This week, with all the games played it was almost impossible to pick an outstanding keeper and to be fair no keeper really deserved it. So mostly by default, I am going for the Southampton man. He couldn’t do much about the two goals at Liverpool, but still played well. Then against Palalce, probably the most pivotal moment for a keeper this week, he saved Milivojevic’s penalty when the game was deadlock at 1-1, which enable his team to go on and get the victory. Well done also to Leeds’ Messlier, Spurs Lloris, Villa’s Martinez, Everton’s Pickford, Arsenal’s Leno and Liverpool’s Alisson.
DEFENDER: NATT PHILLIPS (Liverpool)
This was another tough one. However, in both the games this week I thought the inexperienced defender played brilliantly. I’m not his biggest fan but credit where credit is due. Against Southampton he didnt put a foot wrong. Then after diverting the ball in for Man Utd’s opener after only 10 minutes, you were fearing the worst for him, but he dusted himself off and put in an inspiring performance, even creating the equaliser. Shout out also to Alexander-Arnold who was close to winning this. Also, Chelsea’s Azpilicueta, Leed’s Struijk, Palace’s Cahill, Arsenal duo Saka & Tierney, Newcastle duo Murphy & Dummett, Everton duo Godfrey & Keane, West Ham’s Coufal, Villa’s Konsa, Burnley’s Lowton & Mee, Southampton’s Walker-Peters and Leicester duo Thomas & Soyuncu,
MIDFIELDER: EMILE SMITH-ROWE (Arsenal)
As usual, this was another tight, close and difficult decision with no clear and obvious front runner, but plenty candidates. However, the Arsenal youngster was the only midfielder to notch two goals in two game this week. His first the opening goal against WBA and the second was the winner at Chelsea. Its crazy to think he is only 20 and already becoming a talisman in the team. He has already got the individual ball skills, if he is adding goals to his game then he is destined to be a superstar. Well done also to his team mates Pepe & Willian, Leeds trio Harrison, Dallas & Rodrigo, Liverpool duo Thiago & Fabinho, Newcastle duo Willock & Ritchie, Chelsea trio James, Alonso & Ziyach, Palace’s Eze, Spurs’s Son, Wolves duo Traore & Gibbs-White, WBA’s Pereira, Burnley’s Westwood and Everton’s Allen.
FORWARD: ROBERTO FIRMINO (Liverpool)
In keeping with this weeks theme, this was a tough one to call and I really had to take everything into consideration. Although there were some other players fully in contention, I went for the Liverpool man who in two must win games, came off the bench against Southampton, ran, harried in the last few minutes and assisted the second goal. Then at Old Trafford, got two really vital goals, either side of half time to help his team to a very important away win at Man Utd. Shout out also to his team mates, Mane, Salah & Jota. Palace’s Benteke, Man Utd trio Greenwood, Rashford & Cavani. Leeds’ Bamford, Newcastle’s Wilson, Man City’s Sterling, Everton’s Calvert-Lewin and Southampton duo Adams & Ings.
MANAGER: JURGAN KLOPP (Liverpool)
I have given him real stick this season and I am not ashamed to say it as I feel it’s fully deserved, however, credit where credit is due. Although he still has work to do this season, this two wins this week was huge, not just for the points but for morale and confidence. He’s had a terrible time with injuries, especially to defenders and who would have expected them to go to Old Trafford with Phillips and Williams as your CB pairing, plus missing Henderson with Mane on the bench and still come away with a 4-2 victory.
UNSUNG HERO: DANNY INGS (Southampton)
Once again, plenty of candidates for this but he just missed out on the forward award because, with all due respect it was Palace compared to Firmino’s goals at Old Trafford. However, he has has a superb season and not only Southampton but I feel any team would miss him when he is out. But as always, on his return from injury, he doesn’t need any bedding in period, he bags two opportunistic, classic striker goals to leave you in no doubt that he is a true goalscorer in every sense of the word.
GAME1: MAN CITY 1-2 CHELSEA
In a dress rehearsal for the 2021 Champions League final, Chelsea started brightly and had a few chances, before city took the lead when Dias played a high ball for Jesus to chase behind Christensen who panicked and missed his clearance, Jesus picked up the ball, squared it for Aguero with almost an empty net, he took a horrible touch but Sterling came in behind to tap home (44). Just seconds later, Jesus was fouled in the box and from the spot kick, Aguero produced a panenka that Mendy caught with one hand (45+3). In the second half, Chelsea got the equaliser when Ziyech fired in low from the edge of the box (63) Chelsea then had two disallowed goals before they won it very late when Hudson-Odoi threaded a ball down the right channel for Werner, who jinxed to the byline and cut the ball back for a combination of Hudson-Odoi and Alonso to somehow bundle the ball home for the winner (90+3).
GAME2: MAN UTD 2-4 LIVERPOOL
In the rescheduled league game, Man Utd, playing their third game in five days took the lead when Rashford who slipped a ball down the channel for Wan-Bissaka, who cut the ball back for Fernandes to control and shoot with the outside of his boot, as the ball travelled towards goal it was diverted in by Phillips’s shin (10). Liverpool then had a penalty overturned when Phillips was fouled. Before getting the equaliser following a corner, when Jota expertly flicked Phillips shot into the net (34) after Salah’ shot was block. Liverpool then took the lead just before half time when Firmino headed in Alexander-Arnolds pinpoint free kick at the back post (45+3). In the second half Liverpool started brightly and got a third when Shaw was robbed just outside his own box, Firmino played it wide to Alexander-Arnold Trent who fired at goal from the edge of the box, Henderson could only parry and Firmino was on hand to coolly slot in his second of the game (47). Jota then hit the post before Man Utd pulled a goal back when Rashford played a one, two with Cavani who slotted Rashford in and he slid the ball past Alisson (68). In a nervy ending, Liverpool made the points safe when Jones played a ball forward for Salah to run onto unattended and easily slot past Henderson for Liverpool’s fourth (90).
GOAL1: NICOLAS PEPE (Arsenal) v West Brom
Ceballos won the ball in midfield and played it to Chambers on the right touchline. He then touched it to Pepe hugging the line just in front of him. Pepe then drove towards his defender and as the got the corner of the box, cut back in onto his left foot then left fly with a powerful, unstoppable effort that flew into the far corner out of reach of the keeper. There was also a good goal from Villa’s Traore.
GOAL2: LUKE THOMAS (Leicester) v Man Utd
The ball was worked from left to right along the Leicester back four. Castagne then played a ball inside to Iheanacho coming deep, just inside the Man Utd half. He then played a ball to Albrighton on the right touchline, who played a lovely first time ball over the top for Tielemans to run onto down the right side of the box. He chipped a first time ball across the box for Thomas running into the box, who connected with a first time controlled volley, from the left corner of the six yard box, that flew into the far corner of the net.
FOOL: FULHAM FC
Brighton’s Dunk could have easily been up there for his silly challenge for a red card that changed game at Wolves. As well as Aguero. However, you have to say Fulham went down with a whimper. They had their moments, but sadly their moments were all too fleeting, You were hoping for some fight from Fulham till the end, however, after beating Liverpool in early March, they have lost six and drawn one. That’s hardly showing any fight or desire. Although a lot of the games were close, they were also on the wrong end of them and in the end it was a very poor season where not much resistance was really demonstrated. FOOLS
