TEAM: LIVERPOOL
As the Christmas period wrapped up with two games in quick succession. Only one team took full advantage to record maximum points. Jurgen Klopp’s men had two huge character building wins. The first, coming from a goal down against Leicester to score two in the second half to win. The second, after conceding a late equaliser at Burnley, they scored a 90th minute winner to help their Champions League chances. Well done also to Man Utd. Newcastle. Chelsea. Bournemouth. West Ham and Palace who was close to winning this.
GOALKEEPER: KARL DARLOW (Newcastle)
Although there were some really good individual displays from a few keepers. On the whole, out of the two games the Newcastle stand in keeper performed admirably to earn two valuable clean sheets in two days. At home to Brighton he was strong and steady. Then away, he shut out Stoke with a few superb stops to help earn four points in two days. Shout out also to Man Utd’s De Gea. Brighton’s Ryan. Swansea’s Fabianski. Palace’s Hennessey. Chelsea’s Courtois. Burnley’s Pope. Bournemouth’s Begovic and Man City’s Ederson.
DEFENDER: TIMOTHY FOSU-MENSAH (Crystal Palace)
The young Man Utd loaned defender did his reputation no harm with two inspiring performances. Most notably, a man of the match display to help shut out free scoring Man City, helping his team to a valuable point and clean sheet. He then followed it up with another strong and confident display to help his team to an away victory at Southampton. Well done also to his team-mate Tomkins. Southampton’s Hoedt. Chelsea’s Rudiger. Bournemouth’s Ake. Leicester’s McGuire. Newcastle’s Lascelles. Burnley’s Mee. Liverpool duo Lovren & Klavan. Arsenal duo Maitland-Niles & Bellarin also WBA Hegazy.
MIDFIELDER: RIYAD MAHREZ (Leicester City)
This was a real tough one, as although there were some individual good performances in one of the games. Nobody really put in two games of quality. So almost by default, the Leicester man takes it as he was involved in goals in both games. Though he didn’t have the most influential game at Liverpool, he did set up their only goal then was brought off while drawing. Against Huddersfield he was on top form scoring one and creating one. Shout out also to his team mate Albrighton. Watford’s Carrillo. Swansea’s Narsingh. Burnley’s Gudmundsson. Chelsea foursome Willian. Pedro. Hazard and Alonso. Spurs duo Son & Erikson. Bournemouth’s Fraser. Brighton duo Gross & Izquierdo. Arsenal duo Wilshire & Ozil. Man Utd duo Pogba & Lingard. Also WBA’s McClean.
FORWARD: ANDY CARROLL (West Ham)
This was another tough one as again. Collectively, over the two games there were not many to choose from. So in the end it was really a two-horse race and I opted for the West Ham man, who has not played much games this season but won the game for his team with two goals. The first, a typical towering Carroll header at the far post. The second, an untypical right footed finish, from an acute angle in stoppage time, to win the game at the death. Well done also to Liverpool’s Salah. Swansea’s Ayew. Leicester’s Slimani. Newcastle’s Perez. Man Utd’s Martial. Spurs’s Llorente. Southampton’s Long. WBA’s Rodriquez. Man City’s Aguero also Palace duo Sako & Zaha.
MANAGER: ROY HODGSON (Crystal Palace)
He has really had his critics. Me being one of them, but credit where credit is due. He came in when Palace had no points and no goals. And has worked wonders. So much so that he is cursing his luck that Milivojevic missed a late penalty to cap off a great game against Man City, where they should have come away with all three points. To top that off. two days later, they went to Southampton and came away with a win after being a goal down at half time.
UNSUNG HERO: JESSE LINGARD (Man Utd)
Another for this award who is not exactly unsung, but still deserved to be recognised for his recent form. In all competitions he has notched 7 in his last 9 games with two assists and some superb finishes. He is one that always seems to get stick, but recently, has been answering those critics and been United’s go to guy, especially and importantly as Lukaku’s been misfiring. Although he drew a blank against Southampton. He was back scoring another beauty against Everton to maintain his good run or scoring form.
GAME1: WATFORD 1-2 SWANSEA
Watford took the lead early in the first half when Okaka turned his man just inside the Swansea half and slid a ball down the inside left for Richarlison to run though on goal. His shot was parried in the air and Carillo was on hand to nod home from the six yard box (11). In the second half, Swansea eventually equalised late when Naughton played a ball out to the right to Narsingh. He floated a ball into the box for McBurnie to nod down for Ayew who tapped home from a few yards (86). Swansea then won it late in dramatic fashion when Ayew won a free kick on the left touchline. The ball was swung in by Sanchez. It was headed out to the edge of the box to Dyer, who fired in a first time shot that was saved by Gomez. Only for Narsingh, who reacted the quickest to fire in a winner at the death (90).
GAME2: ARSENAL 2-2 CHELSEA
Arsenal opening the scoring from a good move. Which saw Ozil play a ball across the box to Holding to tried to play a ball back to him. The ball then deflected off a Chelsea player into the path of Wilshire who lashed in a first time shot, at the near post off the post (63). But just a few minutes later Chelsea was back in it when Bellerin fouled Hazard in the box and the Belgian picked himself up and slotted in the penalty (68). Chelsea thought they won it late when Zappacosta fizzed in a low cross from the right for Alonso to beat his man to the ball and side foot home (84). Arsenal equalised at the death when Bellerin reacted quickest to fire home from just inside the box, when the ball was headed out (90+2).
GOAL1: DANNY DRINKWATER (Chelsea) v Stoke
Following Willian’s run and shot that was blocked. The ball then came out to Pedro on the left hand side of the box. He then attempted to cut inside and put a cross in but was blocked and ball spilled out to Drinkwater, 25 yards out. As the ball dropped, he controlled on his knee, let it bounce once. Then hit it on the volley, with the laces, that flew and looped into the far corner, leaving the keeper rooted to the spot.
GOAL2: PEDRO OBIANG (West Ham) v Tottenham
Quite simply. From all of 30 yards out and absolutely out of nothing. Obiang picked up the ball just on the inside left position, midway into the Spurs half. He took two strides to come inside past a defender, then unleashed a rocket like effort that arrowed into the top corner. Giving the keeper no chance, despite getting a hand to the ball on the way in.
FOOL: MARK HUGHES (Stoke)
There was no denying it was a make or break period for Hughes. Stoke had conceded seven at Man City. Five at Spurs, now another five at Chelsea. Hughes left all his stars on the bench at Stamford Bridge and tried to justify it by saying he was resting them for the home game v Newcastle. That was all good and well if they beat Newcastle, but the pressure he heaped on his players showed, as they went and lost 1-0. So the gamble didnt pay off. That affectively put both feet in the grave. The FA Cup defeat to Coventry slammed it shut. Bye bye Hughes. FOOL!
