TEAM: LIVERPOOL
Whether it was a two game or a one game week, this was a pretty easy one. The champions assumed their dominance with two huge wins in a week, to give themselves daylight at the top of the table. In midweek it was the important and tough op of the table clash, where they dominated Spurs and eventually got a dramatic last minute winner. Then at the weekend, they got their biggest away win in their Premier League history due to some ruthluss and clinical finishing to put seven past Palace with seven different players assisting. That is a team in every sense of the word. Well done also to Man Utd and Everton the only other teams to get two wins this week.
GOALKEEPER: NICK POPE (Burnley)
He didn’t claim a clean sheet in both games, but he was only beaten by a penalty this week. This award is mainly for his performance against Villa, although the Villa strikers were off form, he did have to make some vital saves to preserve a clean sheet as Villa had 10 shots on goal. He then followed that up with a solid and steady performance against Wolves, who didn’t have an abundance of chances, but did have a few and still couldn’t beat Pope from open play. Shout out also to Everton duo Olsen & Pickford. Brighton’ Sanchez, Fulham’s Areola, Liverpool’s Alisson, Aston Villa’s Martinez & WBA’s Johnstone who were both close to winning this.
DEFENDER: YERRI MINA (Everton)
This was a difficult decision as there were a few in the running, however, with superb performances at Leicester to thwart the likes of Vardy & Maddison, then another solid display in the home win against Arsenal where he headed winner, the Colombian more then deserved it, this award was also a testament to his consistent form thus far this season. Well done also to his team mates Holgate, Keane & Godfrey. Villa duo Mings & Hoarse, Burnley trio Taylor, Mee & Tarkowski, Man Utd’s Lindelof, Southampton duo Bertrand & Vestergaard, Leeds duo Alioski & Dallas, Arsenal’s Tierney, Brighton duo Webster & Dunk, Leicester’s Justin, Liverpool trio Robertson, Fabinho & R.Williams, WBA duo Ajayi & O’Shea, Sheff Utdd’s Basham, Man City’s Dias, Fulham duo Anderson & Adarabioyo, Chelsea duo Thiago Silva & Azpilicueta,
MIDFIELDER: JORDAN HENDERSON (Liverpool)
This was probably the hardest decision, as no midfielder really excelled in both games, although some were superb in one, but in a two game week, this was more about the collective. It was a toss up between the two Liverpool men, but it was the Liverpool skipper who takes it being one of the few midfielders to play 180 minutes in a week. He showed his unselfish side in both games, covering for his marauding full backs. Helped to dictate play in both games with his passing, also never stopped running in both games and with the lack of fans, you could really hear him barking out orders and encouragement. He then topped if off with a lovely goal at Palace. Shout out also to his team mates Wijnaldum & Jones, Man Utd foursome Pogba, Fernandes, McTominay & Rahsford, Southampton duo Walcott & Romeo, Leeds trio Rodrigo, Raphinha & Harrison, Everton foursome Doucoure, Richarlison, Sigurdsson & Iwobi, Man City’s duo De Bruyne, Gundogan, Villa trio Grealish, Traore & El Ghazy, Arsenal’s Saka, Burnley’s McNeill, Chelsea’s Kante & West Ham’s Rice.
FORWARD: ROBERTO FIRMINO (Liverpool)
He had an excellent week. Scoring the vital and dramatic last minute winner in the top of the table clash against Spurs, must have given him a welcomed boost going into the Palace game. At Selhurst Park he assisted one, started then excellently finished the move for his first goal, then for his second goal, it was another equally exquisite finish in a game where his brilliance was really on show. Well done to his team mate who was close to winning this Salah, also Mane & Minamino, Sheff Utd duo McGoldrick & Bogle, Man Utd’s Martial, Leicester’s Vardy, Wolves duo Pondence & Neto, Leeds’ Bamford, Tottenham’s Son, Man City’s Sterling, Brighton’s Welbeck, Burnley duo Barnes & Wood, West Ham’s Haller & Chelsea duo Giroud & Abraham.
MANAGER: JURGAN KLOPP (Liverpool)
Just at the right time his team has put down a major statement to the rest of the league. In a hard fought game against their then nearest rivals, although rode their luck a bit, the mentality monsters once again found a way to win the game. Then in tricky looking game at Palace, especially after the tough fixture against Spurs, he shuffled his pack a bit to great effect, as they blitzed Palace with seven quality goals to go four points clear at the top,
UNSUNG HERO: TOSIN ADARABIOYO (Fulham)
When your team is sitting in the bottom three of the league, naturally it’s important to get wins, however, if you cant win, it’s equally important not to lose, and in order to do that you need your defenders to have good games, be solid, assured and confident. That describes exactly how this player has been, not in just the last two game this week, but even against Liverpool. Against Newcastle, when they went down to 10 men, he was one of the players that really stepped up and performed. That continued as they got a clean sheet against Brighton. Although they had not won in the last three, they have not lost and could see it as three valuable points with Adarabioyo at the heart of some solid defensive displays.
GAME1: LIVERPOOL 2-1 TOTTENHAM
Although there were a few other games with more goals, before the start of the midweek fixtures this was the game of the midweek and it remained it during and after. It was a classic case of attack versus defences. In boxing they say styles makes fights and this was evident here also as the two different styles made for an intriguing match. Liverpool took the lead when Jones collected a ball from Robertson, played a one, two with Firmino and wriggled into the box, as the ball bounced off him Salah pounced with a first time effort that deflected off Dier and looped into the Spurs net with Lloris stranded on his line (28). Just five minutes later, Lloris’ quick throw sent Lo Celso marauding through the middle, he sent a through ball for Son who questionably beat the offside trap to run through the sweep past Allison (33). In the second half with plenty of chances where Bergwijn hit the post and Lloris had to make several saves. Just as he game was heading for a draw, Robertson swung in a left sided corner and Firmino leaped to power in a header to win it at the death (90).
GAME2: EVERTON 2-1 ARSENAL
It wasn’t a great week for close games, although there were some draws but this game was probably the closest where a team actually won. Everton took an early lead when Davies in the midfield found Iwobi on the right and he was allowed to put a ball in unchallenged that went in off Holding, under pressure from Calvert-Lewin (22). Nketiah missed a golden opportunity, slicing the ball wide before Arsenal got a equaliser from the spot. Maitland-Niles played a ball into the box that was headed away, Maitland-Niles then reacted quickest to get to the ball and was fouled in the box by Davies. Pepe then made no mistake from the spot (35). Everton then took the lead on the stroke of half time when Sigurdsson swung in a corner from the left and Mina headed in at the near post (45).
GOAL1: SEBASTIAN HALLER (West Ham) v Crystal Palace
Coufal started the move down the right flank, he played a ball inside to Soucek, who ran to the edge of the box, then played it square to Lanzini, who then cut back and played the ball inside right for Coufal, just inside the box. He runs onto the ball and plays a floated first time cross into the air, as the ball dropped, with his back to goal, Haller adjusted his body and executed a picture perfect, overhead kick that rocketed into the top corner.
GOAL2: ROBERTO FIRMINO 1st (Liverpool) v Crystal Palace
To be fair, there were a few candidates I could have chosen from the game but for the all around aspect of the goal this was the one. Henderson won the ball in the right corner that was picked up by Trent, who chipped a ball forward to Firmino, still deep in his own half. With his back to goal, he turned and played a ball with the outside the his boot wide to Robertson, who galloped into the Palace half with two touches forward. He then looked up, steadied himself and crossed a ball in for Firmino, who continued his run. As he arrived in the box, he controlled the ball first time and nonchalantly tucked the ball into the bottom corner with the outside of his boot.
FOOL: CRYSTAL PALACE
Again there were a fair few candidates this week with Arsenal again featuring, but they will be relieved to not be here for a fifth week in a row, as Palace had a retched week. Firstly, there were leading at West Ham until Benteke got two yellow cards for two dubious elbows and received his marching orders. They had to witness Haller equalise with a goal of the season candidate. Then at home to Liverpool, although they were playing the champions, they got absolutely humiliated in their own back yard by conceding seven. No matter who it is against, you just cant get brushed aside seven nil at home. FOOLS!
