TEAM: FULHAM
This was probably the most difficult team award decision of the season, with several teams who, on another day, could have easily taken this. However, although Man Utd might feel hard done by, they were only good for 45 minutes. Fulham on the other hand, looked good for 90 minutes, in a game where nobody expected them to get anything from. Fulham got their game plan spot on to thwart Leicester’s free flowing football. A win would have seen them go second in the table but Fulham had other plans as their win takes them out the relegation zone. As well as Man Utd, well done also to Man City, Wolves, Newcastle, Leeds, Sheff Utd and West Ham.
GOALKEEPER: ILLAN MESLIER (Leeds United)
There were a few very decent goalkeeping performances this week but non impressed me more than the Leeds keeper at Goodison. I am not sure many were expected them to get a clean sheet and much of that was down to his excellent performance in goal, being solid, assured and pulling off the odd save when it was necessary to play his part in a superb away win. Shout out also to Everton’s Pickford, Newcastle’s Darlow, West Brom’s Johnston, Sheff Utd’s Ramsdale and Tottenham’s Lloris,
DEFENDER: THIAGO SILVA (Chelsea)
Even in his twilight years, in the tough, all action and physically demanding Premier League, he is showing his quality. You just cant beat experience, although ability goes a long way with that, he had both in abundance. Against Spurs and their fearsome front two of Kane & Son, he orchestrating the back four to limit them to just one shot on goal and an surprisingly uneventful clean sheet. Well done also to Spurs duo Rodon & Reguilon, Wolves trio Coady, Boly & Marcal, Leeds duo Koch & Dallas, Man City’s Mendy, West Brom duo Bartley & Ajayi, Arsenal’s Gabriel, Newcastle’s Fernandez, Southampton’s Bednarek, Fulham trio Reed, Robinson & Anderson, also West Ham’s Ogbonna.
MIDFIELDER: KALVIN PHILLIPS (Leeds United)
This is the type of performance that makes y0u realise and understand what all the fuss is about. In a midfield up against the likes of Rodriguez, Doucoure & Allen, he was the stand out player. Although he didn’t score the decisive goal, it was his all action, unselfish display and ability to get about the pitch, that really nullified Everton. He ran the game from the start, with the ball and dominated without it by constantly winning the ball and breaking play. His engine was impeccable and he seemed to cover every blade of grass in an extremely mature performance. Shout out also to his team mate Raphinha, West Brom duo Gallagher & Pereira, Man City’s De Bruyne, West Ham’s Bowen, Fulham duo Lookman & Anguissa, Man Utd’s Fernandez and Southampton’s Ward-Prowse who was close to winning this.
FORWARD: RIYAD MAHREZ (Man City)
This was not a particularly hard decision. The City striker really put Burnley to the sword with a superb hat trick that showed a combination of movement, lethal finishing, skill, trickery, heading ability and intelligence. Burnley just couldn’t do anything with him and it wasn’t unreasonable to say he could really have scored four. Well done also to his team mate Torres, Man Utd’s Cavani, Liverpool’s Jota, Wolves duo Neto & Podence, Newcastle duo Wilson & Joelinton, Fulham’s Cavaleiro also Villa’s Grealish.
MANAGER: OLE GUNNER SOLSJAER (Man Utd)
It seemed United were dead and buried at half time with little or no hope of getting back into the game. However, Ole had other ideas and must have let a fire under them at the break, as United came out for the second half full of fight, desire and determination. Losing their goalkeeper at half time did not make any difference but his other half time sub did. Cavani created the first for Fernandez, he then scored two headers, one in the 74th then a last gasp winner to seal a dramatic come from behind victory.
UNSUNG HERO: EDINSON CAVANI (Man Utd)
Obviously not unsung, but with not getting the forward award due to Mahrez scoring a hat-trick, it was only right he got this after his superb second half display, to assist one and score two to seal a tremendous come from behind victory. It really shows how valuable experience is in this game as he used all of his, along with that superb striking ability to snatch a United victory from the jaws of defeat.
GAME: SOUTHAMPTON 2-3 MANCHESTER UNITED
Southampton took an early lead when Ward-Prowse swung in a left sided corner and Bednarek got in front his marker to glance home (23). Southampton was then two up when Ward-Prowse expertly curled in a 20 yard free kick that De Gea got a hand to but couldn’t keep it out at the near post causing him to collide into the woodwork (33). In the second half, United came out with impetus and pulled a goal back when Cavani’s ball in from the right was controlled by Fernandes in the box and swept home (59). United was then level when Cavani showed his instincts to react quickest to Fernandes’ deflected shot from outside the box and nod home from 6 yards out (74). In the dying seconds of the game United won it when Rashford floated a ball in from the left and Cavani was on hand again to show his instincts to get in front of his marker, stoop low and head home (90+3).
GOAL: RIYAD MAHREZ (Man City) v Burnley
With some quick thinking from a quick throw from Walker, Mahrez pulled out onto the touchline to receive the throw, he then cut back onto his left foot, cut back inside past one defender, jinxed past a second, steadied himself and curled a lovely effort, off the far post and in.
FOOL: MIKEL ARTETA (Arsenal)
This really lacklustre display at home to Wolves made it three home defeats in a row, the most alarming thing is they seem to have no playing identity or plan B. Long gone are the days of Arsenal being entertaining and playing good football, they are now boring and seriously lacking in ideas going forward. Recently you thought Arteta had sorted out the defence, but they are shipping goal again and are languishing in 14th place with 5 defeats from 10 games already. Don’t even get me started on the Ozil issue, I swear, Emery got sacked for less. FOOL!
