TEAM: NEWCASTLE
As much as the World Cup was a good one, I am sure we are all happy to be back. But some more than others.
Particularly Newcastle, who picked up where they left off with another impressive performance. Although it was against Leicester, who are not having the best of seasons, it was the manner they went about their business.
They were on top from the first whistle, and didn’t let up. They are playing full of confidence, enjoying their football with all components of the team working in tandem, and that’s even with a few injuries. It’s not a fluke they are in third and within touching distance with the top two.
Well done also to Wolves. Liverpool. Brighton. Arsenal. Man City. Man Utd. Fulham and Chelsea.
GOALKEEPER: ROBERT SANCHEZ (Brighton)
This was a difficult one, as there were no real outstanding keepers to choose from. So, it was almost by default I went with the Brighton keeper, but it was very close.
He performed admirably at Southampton. Was unlucky with the penalty save and other than conceding the rebound. Southampton couldn’t get past him.
Shout out also to Kepa. Allison. Guaita. Leeds’ Meslier. Sa and Raya.
DEFENDER: ANDREW ROBERTSON (Liverpool)
Time and again, season after season, he has gone about his business in an energetic but efficient manner. He has constantly made a difference at both ends of the pitch, this was again on show at Villa.
He started it off with an assist for the opening goal, making him the all-time assist leader in the Premier League for a defender. But as usual, he was solid at the back, tracking back, making challenges, and locking down the left side.
Well done also to his teammate Van Dijk. Chelsea’s James & Silva. Man Utd’s Wan-Bissaka & Shaw. Wolves’ Semedo. Fulham’s Ream. Everton’s Mina. Leeds’ Struijk. Newcastle’s Trippier. Brighton’s Estupinan and Man City’s Lewis.
MIDFIELDER: MARTIN ODEGAARD (Arsenal)
There were several candidates in the running. However, the captain of the league leaders is certainly leading by example.
With his team trailing at half time, he grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck and dragged his team back into it with an assist for the opening goal, then an assist to seal the victory, with the third in a thrilling move.
He was prominent throughout and is now becoming the player Real Madrid thought they had at 16. Shout out also to Chelsea’s Mount. Man Utd duo Casimero & Fred. Brentford duo Norgaard & Janelt. Spurs’ Hojbjerg. Fulham’s Reid. Wolves’ Ait Nouri. West Ham’s Bowen. Newcastle’s Guimaraes. Liverpool’s Bajcetic. Brighton’s March & Lallana. Villa’s McGinn and Man City’s Rodri.
FORWARD: MARCUS RASHFORD (Man Utd)
This was probably the toughest decision this week. Admittedly, I am cheating, as technically he should be in the midfielder category, but I wanted to reward him.
He is in hot form, following on from the world cup and playing with confidence. He scored in the cup a few days ago, then followed it up with the opening goal for his team.
His running with the ball was electric, this was evident as he assisted the second goal. He gave the crowd a lift every time he touched the ball and looks back to his very best.
Well done also to Arsenal trio Saka, Martinelli & Naketiah. Newcastle trio Joelinton. Almiron and Wood. Man Utd’s Martial. Liverpool duo Salah & Nunez. Spurs’ Kane. Brentford’s Toney. Fulham’s Mitrovic. Wolves’ Podence. Villa’s Watkins. Chelsea’s Havertz. Man City duo Grealish and Haaland who was close to winning this.
MANAGER: EDDIE HOWE (Newcastle)
Again, there were several candidates for this, but I cannot ignore the Newcastle manager who took over at the club just over a year ago when they were second from bottom in the league.
After comfortably keeping them up, he has gone from strength to strength. Not with massive investment, but has spent well and even with the job in its infancy, he has already assembled and very capable team who brushed Leicester aside with ease and has people talking about them possibly challenging for honours. Well done also to Wolves’ Lopetegui.
UNSUNG HERO: JOELINTON (Newcastle)
He has been a revelation since moving to midfield. As a striker, he was not that convincing, but as a midfielder, he has been dominant in the tackle and capable on the ball.
However, he moved back to a forward roll this week and was a menace. Using all his recent experience in midfield to good effect and now looks like an all-round baller.
He reminded everyone that even though he is doing a job in midfield, he still can play up top and has an eye for goal, with Newcastle’s third in the first half that virtually sealed the game. Shout out also to his teammate Almiron and Wolves’ Podence.
GAME: ASTON VILLA 1-3 LIVERPOOL
In a thrilling game back after the world cup break, both teams had some early chances before the deadlock was broken following corner when the ball came to Alexander-Arnold, 10 yards outside the box.
He played a lovely outside of the boot pass to Robertson on the right, whose first-time touch inside rolled it across the box for Salah, to side-foot home (5). Liverpool was then two up from another corner which Villa failed to clear.
The ball eventually came to Salah by the post, who used his strength to hold off the defender and play it back for Van Dijk to hit a controlled, left-footed effort into the bottom corner with the aid of a slight defection (37).
Villa came back into it in the second half and got their rewards when Douglas Luiz curled in a delightful ball from outside the box to the back post for Watkins, between two Liverpool centre-backs to nod home (59).
Both teams again had chances but the points were sealed by Liverpool. Following a great take and run by Nunez down the left, his cutback from the byline was parried out by the keeper.
Only for the young teenager Bajcetic to coolly roll the ball past the keeper with his right foot, then finish with this left through the legs and of Mings, off his heel and in (81).
GOAL: SOLOMAN MARCH (Brighton) v Southampton
Veltman picked up the ball in his own half and marauded forward, unchallenged almost to the Southampton box.
He then played it out right to March, who controlled, cut inside his marker, and continued to run square, 20 yards from goal.
As he got fairly central, he took a touch to set himself, then let fly with a powerful, left-footed effort that arrowed into the top far corner, giving the keeper no chance. There was also a good goal from Arsenal’s Nketiah.
FOOL: FRANK LAMPARD (Everton)
There was a multitude of candidates for this. Leicester’s Amartey. Forest’s Henderson. West Ham’s Fabianski. Southampton’s Bazunu. Palace boys Mitchell and Tompkins, but the Everton manager is on the ropes.
Lampard’s men went a goal up against Wolves but managed to lose it in the last minutes of the game. They sit fourth from bottom, just a point above the relegation zone. They have lost five of their last seven games and have taken just four points from a possible 21.
Dare I say that is relegation form, and their next game is away to Man City. Good luck, Fool.
