TEAM: ASTON VILLA
After a superb start to the season, you would have been excused for expecting Villa to start dropping off, following two defeats in a row. However, they went Arsenal and gave them a right going over. From start to finish Villa were all over the gunners, outplaying, outrunning, outmuscling and was just better in every aspect, nook and cranny of the game for an extremely impressive away win. Well done also to Man Utd, Crystal Palace, Chelsea, Southampton, Leicester, Tottenham and West Ham.
GOALKEEPER: ALPHONSE AREOLA
It really says something of the times we are in that for a second week in a row a keeper on the losing side gets this award. However, the Fulham keepers man of the match performance deserved so much more. While his team were getting over run, he was on top form, in goal frustrating West Ham on numerous occasions to help his team stay in the game until added time when he was finally beaten. If it wasn’t for Lookman’s stupid penalty, his performance would have got his team a point which was the least he deserved. Shout out also to Burnley’s Pope, Leicester’s Schmiechel, Wolves’ Patricio and Spur’s Lloris.
DEFENDER: WESLEY FOFANA (Leicester)
I am still in amazement that this guy is still only 19 years of age. The maturity in his game is astounding. Not only that, but the boy can really defend. Not only that, but the boy can really play football, It seems he already has all the attributes, physical and mental which was on showed in a man of the match display to be a real top class player for many years to come. Shout out also to Villa trio Konsa, Mings & Targett. Palace duo Kouyate & Dann, Chelsea duo Chilwell & Silva, West Ham’s Creswell, Southampton’s Vestergaard also Man Utd duo Shaw & Maguire who was close to winning this.
MIDFIELDER: BRUNO FERNANDES (Man Utd)
By now everyone knows he is the man that makes United tick, ever since her arrived last season he has almost instantly been their talisman and if you stop Bruno you stop united. Unfortunately for Everton, they were unable to stop him, as he put in another inspiring, man of the match performance with two goals and an assist to lead United to a much needed away win. Well done also to his team mate Fred, Villa foursome McGinn, Douglas Luiz, Barkley & Grealish, Southampton duo Ward-Prowse & Armstrong, Palace’s Eze, Chelsea’s Kovacic, West Ham’s Soucek and Brighton’s Lallana.
FORWARD: OLIE WATKINS (Aston Villa)
He is certainly enjoying his first season in the top flight. A hat-trick against Liverpool, now two against Arsenal in their demolition job at the Emirates. For me, what was so impressive was his hold up play, every time the ball went up to him it stuck, which was important playing the lone striker. Then add that to his running off the ball, movement for both his goals and his clinical finishing for the second, made his performance a joy to behold. Shout out also to Man City’s Jesus, Tottenham’s Kane, Chelsea duo Werner & Ziyech, Palace’s Ayew, Southampton’s Adams, Leeds Bamford, Man Utd’s Cavani and Liverpool’s Mane.
MANAGER: DEAN SMITH (Aston Villa)
Despite what they had done already this season, nobody was expecting Villa to go to the Emirates and turn them over so emphatically. Smith has shuffled his team around this season and this time he opted for Watkins as the lone striker with Grealish and Barkely running riot behind them with the energetic work of McGinn, Luiz & Trezeguet behind them which worked an absolute treat with a comfortable away win that by no means flattered them.
UNSUNG HERO: HAKIM ZIYECH (Chelsea)
This is exactly the type of reason why this category was created. Ziyech lines up as part of the front three for Chelsea, so technically a forward, however, on the pitch he more plays from deep as a midfield. So unsure to put his as the midfielder or forward of the week but nevertheless, more than deserved a mention. It was a masterful performance, he dictated play and absolutely ran the show with his wand of a left foot to assist two and have a hand in another against Sheff Utd in a game where he created more chances then any other player in a Premier League game this season.
GAME: MAN CITY 1-1 LIVERPOOL
Although the second half didn’t quite match up to the first, for the quality on show, the share drama and tension from start to finish, this had to be the game of the weekend. After a blistering start, Liverpool took the lead when Mane’s turn tricked Walker and the Englishman tripped his for a penalty to which Salah cooly finished from the spot (13). City slowly began to come back into it and got their reward when De Bruyne fed a ball into Jesus with his back to goal, his touch behind him beat Alexander-Arnold, he then spun superbly to reach the ball first and toe poke past Alisson for the equaliser (31). City had more of the play in the second half and should have took the lead when De Bruyne’s cross his Gomez’ elbow for a penalty. De Bruyne stepped up and to everyone surprise missed the target to keep the score at 1-1 which is how it ended.
GOAL: EBERECHI EZE (Crystal Palace) v Leeds United
Following a foul on him just outside the box, about 20 yards out. Eze stepped up take it, just to left of the box, he took a few steps and whipped a powerful, curling effort, with bend and pace, that arrowed in off the underside of the bar, giving the keeper no chance for this first senior goal for Crystal Palace.
FOOL: ADEMOLA LOOKMAN (Fulham)
It really was a tale of two badly missed penalties. De Bruyne’s penalty missed the target, which could have given City a vital win against their rivals and champions Liverpool. However, the Fulham strikers miss was much worse. With the very last kick of a game where West Ham were peppering Fulham’s goal and finally made the breakthrough in stoppage time. Only for Fulham got a reprieve in the dying seconds with a penalty. I’m sure he knows now, but that was not the time to be cool or cheeky. Unfortunately for him it was one of the worst attempts at a panenka you could wish to see, which deprived his team of what could be a vital point come the end of the season. I dread to think what was said to him in the changing rooms. However, I doubt he will be taking any more penalties. FOOL!
