TEAM:LEICESTER CITY
After beating Arsenal away, they followed it up by taking Leeds and their rock and roll football apart in their own back yard. Leicester seemed right at it from the first whistle, with their energetic, attacking football that Leeds were previously praised for. But Leicester showed that experience counts, as they had too much in all areas of the pitch to overwhelm & outplay Leeds to run out comfortable winners and move upto second in the league. Well done also to Chelsea, Southampton, Newcastle, Wolves, Fulham, Man City, Liverpool and Arsenal who were close to winning this.
GOALKEEPER: AARON RAMSDALE (Sheff Utd)
There wasn’t many candidates for this award and that is reflective on the winner. It’s not often I go for a losing keeper, but a combination of the lack of competition and a a very good performance, albeit in a losing effort by the Sheff Utd keeper takes it. Man City had most of the play and the chances, but only managed to beat him once as he kept his team in the game right the end and could have got a point if the attackers were at it. Shout out also to Southampton’s McCarthy, West Ham’s Fabianski, Newcastles’ Darlow and Leicester’s Schmeichel.
DEFENDER: KYLE WALKER (Manchester City)
Whether he is playing as right back in a back four or on the right side of a back three, he is an asset at both ends of the pitch. His blistering pace and eye for sensing danger often allows him to recover and close to the door on attacks when the attackers think they are in. That pace also helps him going forward, where he has an eye for a goal which he showed with a superb strike to settle the game at Sheff Utd. Well done also to his team mate Cancelo, Fulham duo Aina & Anderson, Newcastle’s Lascelles, Arsenal trio Holding, Gabriel & Tierney, Wolves’ Kilman, Southampton’s Vestergaard, Spurs’ Regulion, Liverpool duo Robertson & Philips also Chelsea Zouma who were both close to winning this.
MIDFIELDER: JAMES WARD-PROWSE (Southampton)
The newly appointed Southampton skipper has really been putting in some top performances of late and his set pieces or becoming, dare I say, of the Beckham levels. This was again on show with one assist from a free kick and two superb strikes from free kicks to help his team to a very impressive away win at Villa. Shout out also to his team mate Armstrong, Fulham duo Cairney & Decordova-Reid, Wolves’ Ait-Nouri, Liverpool’s Wijnaldum, Leicester trio Tielemans, Maddison & Barnes Man City’s Rodri, Arsenal duo Partey & Elneny, Spurs duo Hojbjerg & Bale and Villa’s Grealish.
FORWARD: JAMIE VARDY (Leicester City)
It was yet another display of exceptional forward play. Started it off with an unselfish assist to put it on a plate for this team mate for the opener. It was his superb movement in front the defender and diving header that the keeper had to save which allowed Tielemans to tap in for Leicesters second. He then was in the right place at the right time to notch the third, all three goals demonstrated his movement, sharpness, running off the ball and superb forward play. Well done also to Wolves duo Podence & Neto, Southampton’s Ings, Liverpool’s Jota, Chelsea duo Werner & Ziyech, Newcastle’s Wilson, Everton’s Calvert-Lewin and Fulham’s Mitrovic.
MANAGER: BRENDAN RODGERS (Leicester City)
He is turning into a master tactician. Last week was an old smash and grab job at Arsenal. This week, was a tactical and intelligent display of sucking Leeds in then hitting them on the counter attack, with energetic and willing runners off the ball and the necessary quality on it. Although it wasn’t as decisive this week, his subs again made an impact with Maddison and Under assisting the third and Maddison getting fouled for the penalty for the fourth.
UNSUNG HERO: DIOGO JOTA (Liverpool)
Obviously not really unsung for his recent exploits but definitely deserves a mention. You have to be a real special player to come to the Champions who destroyed the league last season and make an instant impact. Although Liverpool have not yet hit the heights of last season, you still have to be a special player to break into that front three. This is exactly what he has done and now scored three goals in his first three games at Anfield, including the winner this week against West Ham off the bench.
GAME: ASTON VILLA 3-4 SOUTHAMPTON
Southampton opened the scored when Ward-Prowse, just outside the right side of the box swung in a free kick which Vestergaard rose highest to power in a header (20). Southampton then got a second when Ward-Prowse curled in a free kick from just to the left of the box, 20 yards out (33). On the stroke of half time, Ward-Prowse, little closer and a little more central, curled another free kick into the same corner of the net to make it three (45). In the second half Southampton got a fourth when Armstrong payed a ball out to the left for Ings, still outside the box, cut inside and thundered an effort in off the underside of the bar (58). Villa then got a goal back following good work from Barkley and McGinn who fed the ball out wide to Grealish and his cross was nodded in by Mings (62). In stoppage time Villa got a penalty when Diallo fouled Grealish and Watkins made no mistake from the spot (90+2). Villa then got a third goal back when Grealish tried his luck from outside the box and his low effort unsighted the keeper and crept in at the near post (90+7).
GOAL: OLA AINA (Fulham) v West Brom
Aina picked up the ball on the right touchline from Anderson and played a ball down the line for Mitrovic, who turned and played a ball square to Decordova-Reed on the edge of the box. With his back to goal, he flicked a ball back Aina who was following play and as the ball bounced, he hit an unstoppable drive with his left foot, that flew into the top far corner of the net.
FOOL: PAUL POGBA (Man Utd)
I must say I am doing everything in my power not to give this to English officials every week, as I could so easily do this. However, although this could have gone to any number of United players and the team as a whole, I opted to give it to the man who needlessly conceded the penalty. Already not having the best of seasons, which caused him to be dropped previously. He showed the lazy side to his game as his clumsy challenge on Bellerin gave away the penalty, when he could have just shielded. After that, I saw no real desire to correct his mistake and get his team back in the game. It was just a very poor all around performance and not one that will win his starting place back. FOOL!
