TEAM: EVERTON
This was a close run thing as Southampton do deserve a lot of credit. However, Chelsea were on a 17 game unbeaten run in all competitions and Everton were missing their midfield maestro in James. Everton got an early penalty and did ride their luck at times, but had their own opportunities and were really good for a much needed first win in three games. Well done also to Southampton, Leicester, Burnley, Aston Villa & Newcastle.
GOALKEEPER: VICENTE GUAITA (Crystal Palace)
Although it was close with a few very decent goalkeeper performances, there was only going to be one winner. I did say after the game that it’s so 2020 that he made the mistake that cost his team three points, but was also the reason why his team got a point. I lost count the amount of saves he made and not just regular saves, some spectacular ones, the save from Dier’s free kick was particularly superb but there were a few you could choose from in a game where he more than made up for his error to earn his team a valuable point. Shout out also Fulham’s Areola, Liverpool’s Alisson, Aston Villa’s Martinez, Leicester’s Schmeichel and Burnley’s Pope who was close to winning this.
DEFENDER: MICHAEL KEANE (Everton)
To be fair, the whole back four can be commended but Keane seemed to be the best of a very good bunch who restricted a previously free scoring Chelsea to just three shots on goal and none after the second half. Keane was absolutely everywhere and seemed to have the knack of being in the right place at the right time on every occasion to thwart everything Chelsea had. Well done also to his team mates Holgate, Mina, Godfrey, Southampton’s Vestergaard, Fulham’s Andersen, Burnley duo Tarkowski & Mee, Man Utd’s Lindelof, Man City’s Stones, WBA Furlong, Newcastle’s Murphy, West Ham duo Ogbonna & Cresswell and Aston Villa’s Mings.
MIDFIELDER: JAMES MADDISON (Leicester)
It was a vintage midfield performance by a player who now seems over his injury and fitness issues and back to his menacing best. Last week he put in a cameo performance the set up the winner for Vardy, this week, he took it up another level by scoring twice in a game in the Premier League for the first time, the second was an absolute beauty to add to this his superb all around display, neat touches and probing passes for a man of the match performance. Shout out also to his team mate Justin, West Ham duo Rice & Soucek, Everton duo Sigurdsson & Iwobi, Newcastle’s Almiron, Villa’s McGinn, Liverpool’s Jones, Burnley’s Westwood, Fulham’s Reid, Palace’ Schlupp also Southampton duo Armstrong & Redmond.
FORWARD: JAMIE VARDY (Leicester)
This wasn’t a very hard one to choose this week, as the Leicester man was the only forward to record both a goal and an assist, to which he had two of them, as his team brushed Brighton aside. His running off the ball was just too much for Brighton which was demonstrated when he finished off a superb move for his 12th of the season. If that wasn’t enough, he also had a hand in the other two goals for Maddison. Well done also to Southampton’s Adams, Newcastle’s Gayle, Tottenham’s Kane, Fulham’s Lookman and Liverpool’s Salah.
MANAGER: RALPH HASENHUTTL (Southampton)
What a difference a year can make. This time last season Southampton were struggling with question marks on his job. Sheff Utd were thriving, sitting fifth. This season Southampton are striving, winning games comfortably and have moved to the lofty position of fourth in the table. Sheff Utd are now struggling sitting bottom of the league. This award is more for the progress they have made, Since losing to Spurs, they have gone 7 wins, 2 draws and 1 defeat and playing fluid, exciting, attacking football and brushed Sheff Utd aside with ease. Shout out also to Everton’s Ancelloti.
UNSUNG HERO: CHE ADAMS (Southampton)
I really dont think he has been recognised enough for his contributions thus far this season. Took him a while to get going last season but since he has he’s really been on a roll. This season he has started will with 4 goals and 3 assists and has formed a real strong partnership with Ings who has gotten most of the plaudits but Che has more than played his part in Southampton’s impressive start to the season with his running off the ball, hold up play, link up play, goals and assists.
GAME: CRYSTAL PALACE 1-1 TOTTENHAM
This was literally a game of two halves. Spurs were the better side in the first half and took the lead midway through it when Ndombele played a ball into Son, who touched it to Kane about 30 yards out, with nobody closing him down his let fly, cutting across the ball that caused his low drive to swerve and deceive Guaita who could only get a hand to ball but could stop it from going in (23). Palace improved and Eze hit the post in the first half. However, in the second, there were several chances for both but Guaita performed heroics to keep Spurs out. Late in the game Zaha won a free kick where Eze swing in from the right that Lloris failed to hold and Schlupp was on hand to poke home (81). There was still time for Guaita to make the save of the game from Dier’s free kick that he tipped over the bar.
GOAL: JAMES MADDISON 2nd (Leicester) v Brighton
Ndidi played a ball through midfield to Maddison who touched back for Perez. He then played a ball into the box for Vardy’s run, as he got to the ball he cut it back for Maddison just outside the box on the right hand side. As he moved into the box, he took two step overs, jinxed to his right, then back onto his left, took a touch and curled a lovely effort with his left foot into the far corner of the net.
FOOL: GRANIT XHAKA (Arsenal)
Arsenal are really dominating this award, it’s four weeks in a row now and to be fair, each week its been easy. This one could be the easiest of the lot. Xhaka, who has history and someone you would have thought should be treading on egg shells, committed the unforgivable. After a drab first half, with Arsenal on a three home game losing streak, the signs seemed to be improving with Arsenal getting chances and on the front foot against Burnley who were in the bottom three. But just as you thought it was about to get better, a sudden, stupid, foolish and petulant rush of blood to Granit’s head caused him to violently grab Westwood by the throat to get an easy and deserved red card. What made it worse is that it was Westwood’s corner that caused the own goal and a fourth home defeat in a row for Arsenal. Well done Xhaka, that’s a three game ban and probably an end to your Arsenal career. FOOL!
