TEAM: MANCHESTER UTD
This was an extremely tough decision for two very different reasons. However, if you had to choose, a united away win, although they have been brilliant away this season, was more unlikely then Fulham’s win, although the London teams achievements was equally superb. But United’s win was more impressive seen as they stopped City’s 21 game unbeaten run as opposed to Fulham continuing Liverpools home losing streak. That said, though United had to ride their luck a bit, they were disciplined, well drilled, organised and clinical when it mattered to record a memorable derby win. As well as Fulham, well done also to Chelsea, Tottenham, West Ham, Leicester and Southampton.
GOALKEEPER: EMILIANO MARTINEZ (Aston Villa)
What can you really say that hasn’t already been said about this man? What a signing he has been, it was another important performance between the sticks. Although he didnt have to do that much, it was another game where Villa were not really at their best, however, their keeper was, which included one point blank save from Coady to salvage a point when they should have got nothing. Shout out also to Man Utd’s Henderson, WBA’s Johnstone, Arsenal’s Leno and
DEFENDER: LUKE SHAW (Man Utd)
This season he’s been slowly but surely playing like the player United thought he would be when they signed him almost seven years ago. However, better late than never, as he is having a superb season and there was no more emphasis on that point then putting a top class performance at both ends of the pitch against your city rivals, while stopping their 21 game winning steak and bagging a very well taken goal to boot. Well done also to his team mate Wan-Bissaka, Fulham foursome Tete, Andersen, Tosin & Aina, WBA’s Bartley, Newcastle’s Lascelles, Brighton’s Burn, Leicester’s Amartey, Chelsea trio Azpilicueta, Christensen & Zouma, also West Ham duo Dawson & Cresswell.
MIDFIELDER: GARETH BALE (Tottenham)
Is it too early to say he seems back to best, or at least a level of best? It seems Mourinho has worked and timed his comeback to perfection and now everyone at Spurs are reaping the rewards. His two goals against Palace made it six in his last five games. The first, simply being in the right place at the right time and the second, showing his anticipation, eye for a goal and heading ability to put the league on notice. Shout out to his team mates Moura & Hojbjerg, Brighton’s Lallana, Leicester’s Tielemans, Southampton’s Armstrong, Arsenal duo Partey & Saka, Man Utd’s Fernandes, WBA’s Townsend, Fulham duo Lookman & Lemina and West Ham’s Lingard.
FORWARD: HARRY KANE (Tottenham)
You can forget him at your peril, he has been quiet in recent weeks but he will always put in numbers season after season. This week he helped to rip palace to shreds, two goals and two assists, where he is getting close to a record numbers of assists, in a game where Palace just couldn’t cope with his running off the ball, vision and finishing. Well done also to Leicester’s Iheanacho, Arsenal’s Aubameyang, Palace’s Benteke, Southampton duo Adams & Tella, Man Utd’s Martial and Chelsea’s Havertz,
MANAGER: SCOTT PARKER (Fulham)
Half way though the season they looked a certainty to go down. Now with 10 games to go they are level with 17th and have given themselves a real chance at survival, Parker has really sured up the defence with five clean sheets in seven, Fulham are now organised, disciplined and hard to break down, with some threats on the break going forward. This all combined and came together to get a very important win at Anfield
UNSUNG HERO: JOACHIM ANDERSON (Fulham)
He is only on loan, but has come in and made a real impact to Fulham. He took the captains armband and has really led by example. At Liverpool, he put in a captain’s performance and seemed to be everywhere, making endless amount of blocks, last ditch tackles and headers to preserve another clean sheet. He marshalled the backline very well and you could see/hear him barking out orders and organising the defence to great effect.
GAME: BRIGHTON 1-2 LEICESTER
Brighton opened the scoring early in the game when a towering heard from just inside the Leicester half from a throw, fell to Maupay, outside the box with his back to goal. He then tried to turn towards goal and as the defender tried to make a tackle he slide it through for Lallana unmarked to finish (10). In the second half, Leicester got their equaliser when Ndidi fed Tielemans and he threaded a lovely no look ball through for Iheanacho to steady himself and coolly finish high into the net (62). With the game heading for a draw, Leicester got a winner when Albrighton swung over a corner from the left, Sanchez came out but flapped and missed the ball, allowing the ball to go in off Amartey (87).
GOAL: HARRY KANE (Tottenham) v Crystal Palace
After some good play just inside the Palace half where it seemed almost every Spurs player touched the ball, Moura found Son, who then played a ball out to the right for Doherty, just by the corner of the box, he took a touch, then rolled the ball back for the oncoming Kane who hit a superb, first time effort that curled away from the keeper and nestled into the top corner. Shout out also to Che Adams for his goal against Sheff Utd.
FOOL: LIVERPOOL FC
Granit Xhaka can count himself lucky for his howler, as well as Brighton keeper Sanchez for his flap that allowed Leicester to get the winner. But you just cant ignore the alarming slump of the champions. They have gone from champs to real chumps, and have a very unenviable record of losing six home games in a row for the first time in Liverpool’s illustrious history. Yes, Klopp has been having a nightmare tactically but the players still have to take responsibility as they are on the pitch but they are just not performing. After all the good things they have done, they will also forever be known as the team that recorded six home defeats in a row in one of the worst title defences in Premier League history. FOOLS!
