TEAM: FULHAM
This was a real tough one to call as there were several teams this week who recorded impressive victories. However, out of all them, Fulham’s came as the most unlikely. Sitting in the relegation zone while Everton were needing to go above Liverpool in the table, but Fulham surprised all with two second half goals and even more surprisingly, a stern and very competent defensive display to earn three very valuable points. Well done also to Man City, Burnley, Leicester, West Ham, Arsenal, Wolves and Chelsea.
GOALKEEPER: EMILIANO MARTINEZ (Aston Villa)
What a signing he is turning out to be, I am not even sure Villa expected it to turn out this good. He put in another very decent performance at Brighton, where his team were out of form and running on empty, however, as Brighton peppered the goal, Martinez stood strong making save after to save, to earn a 12th clean sheet of the season. Shout out also to Man City’s Ederson, Fulham’s Areola, WBA’s Johnstone, Burnley’s Pope, West Ham’s Fabianski and Chelsae’s Kepa.
DEFENDER: MATTHEW LOWTON (Burnley)
At Palace, where to be fair they have shipped a few goals, the Burnley fullback was like a man possessed. He was constantly marauding up and down the right flank, giving energy all game, providing telling passes and dangerous crosses. When it was needed, he also made challenges and held his position defensively to help earn a clean sheet and to top it all off he scored a superb goal. Well done also to his team mate Tarkowski, Man City duo Zinchenko & Stones, West Ham duo Dawson & Diop, Arsenal’s Bellarin, Fulham duo Anderson & Aina, WBA duo Bartley & Ajayi, Leicester’s Soyuncu, Villa’s Mings & Brighton’s Dunk.
MIDFIELDER: ILKAY GUNDOGAN (Man City)
Last season he notched 5 goals in 50 games, this season its 13 in 26 games already. Without Aguero and more recently De Bruyne, the city players had to step up and he has really upped his game and carried a lot of the goalscoring load. He bagged another two against Spurs and his all around game, with his new found goalscoring abilities, has made him an early candidate for player of the year. Well done also to his team mates Foden, B.Silva & Rodri, Burnley trio McNeill, Westwood & Gudmunsson, Fulham trio Reed Lookman & Loftus-Cheek, West Ham’s Lingard, Chelsea’s Hudson-Odoi, Man Utd’s Fernandes, Arsenal’s Saka, Leeds’ duo Struijk & Costa also Leicester duo Maddison & Barnes,
FORWARD: PIERRE-EMERICK AUBAMEYANG (Arsenal)
After virtually the first half of the season producing nothing, he has returned and hit form at a crucial time with the European games starting up. In a way, it was perfect to play a Leeds team who are open and let you play, which he took full advantage of using all the space to get into spaces and show his lethal finishing with two well taken goals and a cool penalty. Shout out also to Fulham’s Maja, Burnley duo Rodriguez & Barnes, Leicester’s Vardy, WBA’s Diagne, Southampton’s Ings, Everton’s Richarlison, Man City’s Mahrez, Chelsea duo Giroud & Werner also Wolves’ Neto.
MANAGER: SCOTT PARKER (Fulham)
Although they have spent most of the season in the relegation zone, Parker has really worked on his team and managed to pick up points here and there, to give them a chance at escaping the drop. However, as good as they’ve been doing, nobody expected them to get a win at Everton. What was more impressive was the way he has really made them tight and solid at the back, where they are not being overwhelmed by teams and have picked up a few cleans sheets, but none more impressive then this one at Everton.
UNSUNG HERO: JOSH MAJA (Fulham)
Not exactly unsung obviously, but he missed out on the forward award due to Aubameyang scoring a hat-trick, so it was only right he was recognised. Being a former football reality tv star, the expectations and pressure will be high coming into the Premier League, but he eased at least some of those fears by showing his movement, intelligence and instincts with two goals at Goodison Park to settle the game and help get Fulham their first ever win at Everton.
GAME: LEICESTER 3-1 LIVERPOOL
After a stalemate of a first half, the game burst into life when Tieleman’s gave the ball away which was picked up by Alexander-Arnold, whose shot from outside the box was blocked, but picked up the rebound and his low cross found Firmino, who expertly dragged the ball back then flicked it for Salah to hit a first time, side footed effort into the far corner (67). Leicester equalise when Barnes was fouled on the edge of the box, which was first given as a penalty, then corrected to a free kick on the line where Maddison curled the ball in, where it looked like Amartey was offside and impeded the keeper as the ball went in but it was ruled a goal (78). Leicester took the lead when a nothing long ball was played forward and when it seemed like there was no danger, Alisson had a rush of blood to the head to rush out and clatter his centre back, leaving Vardy to run the ball into an empty net (81). Leicester then sealed the victory when Ndidi played in Barnes on the inside left channel and he ran in on goal and hit a low, powerful effort past Alisson (85).
GOAL: BRUNO FERNANDES (Man Utd) v WBA
Fred picked up the ball in midfield and played it left to Maguire, half way in the WBA half, he moved forward and played a ball down the line for Shaw to run onto. The United left back let the ball run to the byline, then whipped a cross in for Fernandes. The ball was slightly behind him, so he quickly adjusted his feet, then body, and swung a left foot out to connect with a volley, from near the penalty spot, that saw the ball rocket into the corner.
FOOL: ALISSON BECKER (Liverpool)
Not again Alisson, not again. This had nothing to do with the young defender Kabak, this was all about the so called experienced goalkeeper Alisson. Liverpool were cruising the game for 70 minutes, credited Leicester got back into it with possible offside that VAR overruled. However, at 1-1 they were still good for a win. But one harmless long ball up field, saw Kabak running back to goal, seemingly in control, with no Leicester player on his shoulder. But for some reason Alisson gets a rush of blood to the head, comes steaming out, slicing the ball, clattering his player and leaving Vardy to score in an empty net. Alisson Blunderland indeed. FOOL!
