TEAM: EVERTON
Although Liverpool have been really struggling lately, Everton had not won a derby in a decade and not won at Anfield this century. They was never going to get a better opportunity and took their chance with a very tactically astute performance, packing the defence, closing the spaces and getting runners upfront to trouble the newly formed Liverpool backline, to come away with a well deserved victory. Well done also to Wolves, Fulham, Crystal Palace, Leeds, Man City, Man Utd, West Ham and Leicester who were both close to winning this.
GOALKEEPER: RUI PATRICIO (Wolves)
The experienced Portuguese international was in top form against Leeds, in a game his team really needed him. His team wasn’t quite in form and Leeds threatened to overrun them with attack after attack, however, the Wolves’ keeper performed superbly to thwart any and everything Leeds threw at him, making save after save to help earn a clean sheet and three points. Shout out also to Fulham’s Areola, Everton’s Pickford, Sheff Utd’s Ramsdale, Man Utd’s Dea, Palace’s Guaita and Leeds’ Meslier.
DEFENDER: KYLE BARTLEY (WBA)
With Ajayi being sent off after only 30 minutes, you really was fearing the worst for West Brom. Although it was Burnley, who are not renowned for goals, you was still expecting WBA to lose. However, Bartley really stepped up to lead, with endless amount of blocks, headers, clearances and was forever barking out orders to help earn a valuable away point. Well done also to his team mate O’Shea, Furlong & Townsend, Wolves’ Coady, Leeds’ Dallas, Fulham’s Anderson, Everton’s Keane, Southampton’s Vestergaard, Man Utd’s Shaw, Man City duo Stones & Dias and Leicester duo Thomas & Evans.
MIDFIELDER: HARVEY BARNES (Leicester City)
For me, he has definitely been one of the most improved players in the Premier League, he’s gone from fighting for a regular start to being one of main men, scoring three goals in his last five games and two in two now. He was a joy to watch with his endless running of the ball, attacking play and well taken goal secured another win at Aston Villa. Shout out also to his team mate Maddison, Fulham duo Loftus-Cheek & Lookman, Everton’s Davies, Chelsea duo Kante & Mount, Man Utd duo Rashford & James, Man City’s Fernandinho, Villa’s Traore, Southampton’s Minamino, Spurs’ Lucas, West Ham’s Lingard, Brighton’s Veltman and Leeds’ Raphinha who was close to winning this.
FORWARD: RICHARLISON (Everton)
This was a pretty tough one as there were not many outstanding forward performances this week, however, the Brazilian, with Calvert-Lewin on the bench, not only scored the opening goal that set Everton on their way, but was full of running all game and kept the Liverpool backline all over the place. It was his running off the ball in a breakaway and pass that also set up the penalty for the second goal that sealed the game. Well done also to Man City’s Sterling, West Ham’s Antonio, Palace trio Mateta, Benteke & Ayew, Newcastle’s Saint-Maximin, Leeds’s Bamford also Wolves duo Traore & Neto.
MANAGER: CARLO ANCELOTTI (Everton)
Everton waited a long, long time to get a derby win and even longer to win at Anfield. Ancelotti has not even been there two seasons and has already broken that long duck. His tactical awareness out thwarted Klopp, getting bodies behind the ball to close all spaces, then smartly used energetic runners up front to cause trouble to a shambolic Liverpool team and defence lacking confidence.
UNSUNG HERO: JESSE LINGARD (West Ham)
Obviously not unsung, but I felt he deserved to be recognised. He has barely been in the club two months but has played four games and scored three goals. He notched the winner against London rivals Spurs and his all around man of the match performance was full of joy, freedom, fun and quality, which is more like the Lingard of old. Although West Ham were doing ok before him, with him, they are real contenders for a European finish.
GAME: BRIGHTON 1-2 CRYSTAL PALACE
Crystal Palace opened to scoring early in the first half when Mitchel played a ball down the right channel for Ayew to run onto down the right touchline, he continued his run towards the byline, then whipped a low cross in for Mateta. With his back to goal, he expertly swivelled and flicked the ball into the net (28). In the second half, after several attempts, Brighton finally got the equaliser following good work on the left. The ball then found its way to Gross, about 20 yards from goal, his deflected shot fell to Wellbeck inside the box, where Kayoute made a desperate tackle, only for the ball to fall to Veltman who adjusted his body and hit a first time left footed effort in off the post (55). Brighton then had several chances to win it, but as this game was heading for a draw, with seconds to go, Townsend ran down the left wing and put a hopeful ball into the box, for Benteke to swing his foot at it and hit a first time low effort into the bottom far corner to break Brighton hearts (90+5).
GOAL: MARCUS RASHFORD (Man Utd) v Newcastle
Rashford, hugging the left touchline, picked up the ball fed into him by Maguire, he instantly nutmegged his marker and charged down the left wing. The Newcastle defender Kraft then caught up to Rashford, just at the side of the box, for a second bit at the cherry. However, Rashford stood him up, then checked back onto his right foot, made two yards then hit a powerful low effort into the bottom corner, beating the keeper at his near post.
FOOL: JURGAN KLOPP (Liverpool)
It is really embarrassing now, four home defeats in a row. Of course he has not been helped and massively hindered by injuries. But you still have to make the best of what you got and recognise when a change is needed. Every manager seems to outwit and out tactic Klopp this season, mainly because everyone and their uncle knows how they play. Against Man City, Pep changed his formation at half time, although Alisson’s howlers helped, the change gave City momentum and City won. At Leicester, Rodgers changed his formation at half time, although Liverpool took the lead and Alisson again made a howler, Leicester won. Ancelotti changed his system to face Liverpool and guess what, Everton won. All the while Klopp has played the same way, same formation, same system and has gotten no joy. Something has to change, the penny has to drop Mr Klopp….It has to. FOOL!
