TEAM: LIVERPOOL
There were certainly some very good performances this week, but none were as dominant as Liverpool’s, to extend their unbeaten home record. Wolves, coming off the back of a superb away win at Arsenal, were outplayed, outfought, out manoeuvred and overran from start to finish, as Liverpool strolled past them in front of, for the first time this season a few thousand delighted home fans. Well done also to Tottenham, Man Utd, Crystal Palace, Chelsea, Man City and Leicester.
GOALKEEPER: NICK POPE (Burnley)
Not for the first time, the Burnley keepers’ abilities has gone a long way to help his team get something from a game, and I’m sure it wont be the last. Everton did have the better of the play and more the chances, but at vital times Pope was on hand to make some telling saves to keep the score down and eventually earn his team a decent point. Shout out also to Man Utd’s Henderson, Fulham’s Areola, Tottenham’s Lloris, Liverpool’s Kelleher and Palace’s Guaita.
DEFENDER: JANNIK VESTERGAARD (Southampton)
I have been increasingly impressed with his performances and it is of no coincidence that Southampton’s fortunes changed since he was brought back into the team. He was again a towering figure at the back, winning challenges in the air and on the feet, to thwart the Brighton frontline. Then when his team needed him at the other end, he was on hand to power a header in for the equaliser to set Southampton on the way to victory. Well done also to Chelsea duo James & Zouma, Everton trio Godfrey, Keane & Mina, Burnley duo Tarkowski & Mee, Man City’s Cancelo, Liverpool duo Matip & Robertson, Tottenham foursome Aurier, Alderweireld, Dier & Reguilon also Leicester’s Justin.
MIDFIELDER: PIERRE-EMILE HOJBJERG (Tottenham)
This was probably his best performance in a Tottenham shirt. He was literally everywhere, in defence and midfield. Especially in the second half, where Spurs sat in and defended. He seemed to be a one man rock/wall in front the back four, keeping the Arsenal men at bay, winning tackles, headers, second balls and making clearances, for a deserved man of the match performance. Shout out also to his team mate Lo Celso, Man Utd duo Pogba & Fernandes, Chelsea’s Kante, Burnley’s Brady, WBA Gallagher, Leicester’s Perez, Liverpool duo Henderson & Wijnaldum, Palace duo Schlupp & Eze and Southampton’s Romeu.
FORWARD: WILFRED ZAHA (Crystal Palace)
Although Villa was helped by the aid of a dubious sending off, it was a timely reminder of what Zaha brings to Palace. In the two games he’s been out, Palace have not managed to score a goal, but on his return, they bag five with Zaha scoring two and having a hand in another. You could well call him Mr Palace because if he doesn’t play, Palace don’t play. Shout out also to his team mate Benteke, Leicester’s Vardy, Spurs duo Kane & Son, Liverpool’s Salah, Everton’s Calvert-Lewin, Man City due De Bruyne & Sterling, Man Utd duo Greenwood & Rashford, Sheff Utd’s McBurnie, Chelsea duo Giroud & Pulisic also Southampton’s Ings.
MANAGER: JOSE MOURINHO (Tottenham)
It was another good, old fashioned smash and grab job from the Spurs manager. Similar, well in the second half, to the win against Man City. He used the fearsome twosome, Kane & Son to good effect with their running off the ball and clinical finishing. Then Spurs showed their defensive abilities in the second half as they set deep, closed the spaces and forced Arsenal to put aimless crosses in the box, which they defended easily for a very comfortable derby victory.
UNSUNG HERO: GEORGINIO WIJNALDUM (Liverpool)
This is the exact type of player this award was made for. Unsung in every way shape or form. His contributions have not always been obvious and for that, he has not always been recognised. Its fair to say he has not been every Liverpool fans cup of tea over the years and opinions have been split. But more recently, he has really come to the forefront. With Liverpool’s abysmal injury record in the past few months, he has been the one stalwart, playing back to back games in a short space of time, mostly the 90 minutes and have still put in consistent performances. His engine is amazing, rarely loses the ball and this week against Wolves he showed he can still produce quality with a superb goal.
GAME: WEST HAM 1-3 MANCHESTER UNITED
West Ham started brightly and after getting a goal disallowed for offside, they then took the lead when Creswell’s out swinging corner from the left was flicked on by Rice then touched in at the far post by Soucek (38). Man Utd came out determined in the second half making two subs and got an equaliser. Following a clearance down the right touchline by Henderson, where the ball appeared to go out for throw. Nevertheless the officials (including VAR) missed it, Fernandes picked up the ball down the right, cut inside and played a ball square for Pogba to hit a sweet, first time, curling effort from about 25 yards into the corner (65). United’s tails were up and just three minutes later, they took the lead when Telles swung a low ball in the box from the left, Greenwood, with his back to goal, controlled the ball and turned in one motion, then hit an instinctive half volley into the bottom corner (68). United sealed the points when just outside his box, Maguire knocked a header down to Pogba, who turned and played a ball into Fernandes, who touched it square for Mata in his own half. He then played a lovely first time through ball for Rashford to run onto and dink over the keeper for the third (78).
GOAL: HEUNG-MIN SON (Tottenham) v Arsenal
Following a good header out the box by Alderweireld, Bergwijn then nodded on to Kane just outside the semi circle, still in the Spurs half. He then controlled the ball and with his back to goal, played a lovely, reverse pass with his left foot to Son, marauding down the left from inside his own half. Son moved down the left, then cut inside towards goal and as the Arsenal players backed off, he curled in a thunderous effort from about 25 yards out, into the far corner.
FOOL: ARSENAL FC
Three weeks in a row now this award has been connected with Arsenal. If it’s not a player getting stupidly sent off, it’s their manager making silly team selections and subs. This week, the whole team was just awful, in the worst possible game to be awful. Something is really off with Arsenal, I don’t know what it is, but if you cant get up, be determined and show some fight in a North London derby, then they might as well forget it. To be fair, it seems they already have, sitting in 15th, with no win in their last four games. FOOLS!
