TEAM: CRYSTAL PALACE
Although it didn’t mean much, the way Palace saw out the season reflected how they have been since the new manager arrived.
You could argue Villa were still celebrating Champions League qualification. But Palace made them pay with a demolition job in a five-goal blitz.
Well done also to Man City. Newcastle. Fulham. Man Utd. Spurs, Notts Forest. Arsenal. Chelsea and Liverpool.
GOALKEEPER: JOSE SA (Wolves)
It was in a losing effort but, he was the only person that stood between a defeat and a hammering.
After going down to 10 men in the first half, then Liverpool scoring twice before the break. You were expecting an onslaught in the second half, but Liverpool didn’t add to their tally, and Sa was partly responsible for that due to several saves.
Shout out also to Man Utd’s Onana. Burnely’s Muric. Chelsea’s Petrovic. Fulham’s Leno and West Ham’s Areola.
DEFENDER: DIOGO DALOT (Man Utd)
On the final day of the season, in a season to forget. Dalot has been one of the better performers throughout the season and put in a man-of-the-match performance.
Overrun in the first half, he contributed with tackles and blocks to thwart Brighton. Then, in the second half, he somehow found himself the furthest forward to break the deadlock with a clinical finish to end United’s season on a high.
Well done also to his teamamte Casimero. Liverpool duo Alexander-Arnold & Quansah. Arsenal’s Tomiyasu.
MIDFIELDER: PHIL FODEN (Man City)
Some were debating if he deserved to be player of the season, mainly due to playing in such a star-studded team.
However, playing in such a team is why he deserved it, as, during the season, he has stood out. So, it was no surprise that his two early goals in the last game of the season, including one cracker, calmed the nerves and sent his team to victory and a record fourth Premier League title in a row.
Shout out also to his teammates Rodri & B.Silva. Arsenal’s Odegaard. Newcastle’s Guimaraes. West Ham’s Kudus. Brentord’s Janelt. Burnley’s Cullen. Chelsea trio Caicedo, Gallagher & Sterling.
Palace’s Munoz. Forest’s Gibbs-White. Newcastle duo Barnes & Murphy. Liverpool’s Mac Allister. Everton’s Gueye. Fulham duo Wilson & Traore. Luton’s Doughty and Spurs’ Kulusevski.
FORWARD: JEAN-PHILIPPE MATETA (Crystal Palace)
His transformation since the new manager arrived has been nothing more than a miracle. He has been the form striker in the league with 13 goals in his last 13 games.
This was summed up nicely with a superb hat-trick against Villa, showing pace, power, awareness and clinical finishing. He even had time to assist Palaces’s fifth.
Well done to his teammates Olise & Eze. Notts Forest’s Wood. Fulham’s Jimenez. Arsenal’s Havertz. Brentford’s Wissa. Newcastle’s Isak. Man Utd’ Hojlund. Chelsea’s Jackson and Luton’s Morris.
MANAGER: PEP GUARDIOLA (Man City)
On the final day, there were a few managers whose teams had better performances. However, no manager was happier than him at the final whistle.
His team typically calmed the nerves in the first few minutes with a goal, then a second in the first half. Even when West Ham got a goal back, they came out in the second half to score early and cruise to victory to win a fourth title in a row.
Shout out also to Arsenal’s Arteta. Palace’s Glasner. Newcastle’s Howe and Fulham’s Silva.
UNSUNG HERO: JARELL QUANSAH (Liverpool)
To everyone’s surprise, it was this 21-year-old defender that has the privilege to say he scored the last goal in Klopp’s Liverpool reign.
But that is not just the only reason. The young defender has impressed, earning Klopp’s trust, giving him several runs in the team, keeping out players like Konate & Gomez. He has come of age in this season and ended it with two goals in two games.
Well done also to Palace’ Eze. Man City’s Rodri. Arsenal’s Havertz. Spurs duo Kulusevski & Porro also Fulham’s Jimenez.
GAME: LUTON 2-4 FULHAM
Fulham took the lead when Wilson found Traore on the edge of the box, and his rasping low drive beat the keeper (43). Two minutes later, Bassy fouled Ogbene in the box, and Morris made no mistake from the spot (45+1).
Just two minutes after that. A ball was played down the inside right channel for Wilson to run onto. He cut the ball back in the box for Jimenez to sweep into the bottom far corner (45+3).
In the second half, Reed swung in a free kick on the right, and Jimenez glanced a header inside the bottom far post (49). Luton pulled a goal back when Doughty’s low-driven free kick from the right corner of the box beat everyone to go in (55).
Fulham sealed the points when Iwobi galloped through the centre of the park. Played it to Traore on the edge, who touched back for Wilson to expertly guide a left-footed effort into the top corner (68).
There was also a good game at Brentford, who lost 4-2 against Newcastle.
GOAL: MOISES CAICEDO (Chelsea) vs Bournemouth
From inside his half, Jackson turned and played a ball for Sterling to run onto. The keeper anticipated this and came rushing out to win the ball and clear upfield.
The ball then fell to Caicedo, inside his half. With the crowd shouting shoot, he let fly a yard into the Bournemouth half and lobbed a delightful effort over the keeper and a defender rushing back for a sensational first goal in Chelsea colours.
There were also good goals from West Ham’s Kudus. Brentford’s Wissa. Man City’s Foden and Tottenham’s Porro.
FOOL: SHEFF UNITED
Although several could have got this on the last day of the season. It’s fair to say Sheff Utd have been one of the all-time worst Premier League teams.
With their final day 3-0 home defeat, they end the season all-time joint 3rd worst for points. The all-time most goals conceded (107) and the all-time most goals conceded at home (57). FOOLS!
