TEAM: LIVERPOOL
In another two games week, although only two teams managed two wins, it was somewhat of a tough call as in any other week this award would have gone to Leeds, however, with not much to play for and Liverpool having everything to play for, and playing under pressure, their two wins just takes this award. They can thank Alisson, as his last minute headed win set his team up with confidence to go on and breeze past Burnley to put Champions League qualification in their own hands. As well as Leeds, well done also to Sheff Utd and Brighton.
GOALKEEPER: ALISSON (Liverpool)
As just mentioned, Alisson miraculously scoring a last minute winner for Liverpool was just extraordinary, but it wouldn’t sit right if he got a goalkeeper award solely for scoring a goal. At the weekend, West Brom still had chances that he had to thwart and Burnley actually had more shots on goal than Liverpool in the week but he was equal to everything they had. However, no doubting the headed winner was the highlight. Shout out also to Sheff Utd’s Ramsdale, Leeds’ Meslier, Villa’s Martinez, Fulham’s Areola, Arsenal’s Leno and WBA’s Johnstone.
DEFENDER: NAT PHILLIPS (Liverpool)
If last week was a tough one, this was slightly easier. He seems to go from strength to strength with every week and is looking mature beyond his years. It’s crazy to think at the start of the season he wouldn’t have dreamt of being anywhere near the starting eleven, now he is ending the season as a vital component in the Liverpool team. After another solid game at West Brom, he followed it up with his first goal and saved one off the line in a man of the match performance at Burnley. Well done also to his team mate Alexander-Arnold, Leeds duo Struijk & Alioski, Sheff Utd’s Egan, Chelsea duo Rudigar & Silva, Brighton duo Burn & Webster, Fulham duo Ream & Adarabioyo, West Ham’s Ogbonna, Fulham’s Bryan, Palace’s Mitchell, Villa’s Mings, Newcastle’s Krafth also Everton’s Keane.
MIDFIELDER: JOE WILLOCK (Newcastle)
Undoubtedly, he has been a revelation since he went to Newcastle on loan and if I was them I would do everything in my power to keep him. He must be upset the season is coming to an end as he’s in a rich vein of scoring. He is now the youngest player ever (21) to score in six consecutive games in the Premier League and is playing full of confidence. Shout out also to West Ham duo Benrahma & Soucek, Southampton duo Tella & Walcott, Leeds’ Harrison, Liverpool duo Thiago & Oxlade-Chamberlain, Spurs’ Hojbjerg, Palace’s Townsend, Chelsea’s Mount, Villa duo El Ghazi & McGinn, Man City duo Gundogan & Foden, WBA’s Pereira, Southampton’s Ward-Prowse, Arsenal’s Pepe and Spurs’s Bergwijn,
FORWARD: FERRAN TORRES (Man City)
As usual, with two games in a week, it was always going to be hard to pick out an outstanding player throughout the two games, so I was swayed by an exceptional performance from one game. The Man City forward is now the third youngest player in Man City’s Premier League history to score a hat-trick. Originally bought as a winger, he is slowly showing signs of being a clinical striker and took all three of his goals like an experienced goalscorer. Well done also to Brighton’s Welbeck, Southampton’s Adam’s Fulham’s Cavaleiro, Sheff Utd’s Jebbison, WBA’s Robson-Kanu, Liverpool duo Salah & Firmino, Spurs’ Kane, Palace duo Benteke & Zaha, Leicester’s Iheanacho, Leeds duo Bamford & Rodrigo, Man Utd’s Cavani, West Ham’s Antonio, Villa’s Watkin’s and Everton’s Richarlison.
MANAGER: MARCELO BIELSA (Leeds Utd)
Although it seems they are not playing for much, they do now have an outside chance of qualifying for Europe. As a newly promoted team, they have been exceptional this season and on-course for a top ten finish. They are also undefeated against all of the so called big six teams at home. Everyone was expecting their rock and roll football to die out in the last few months of the season, but instead they are finishing strong. This week his team again showed some scintillating free flowing football to score some lovely goals as they brushed past Burnley 4-0 and Southampton 2-0 in their own backyards.
UNSUNG HERO: JACK HARRISON (Leeds United)
He is the type of player this award was made for. It seems although he has been mentioned, I still think his performances and influence this season has been underrated. No English player has had more goal involvement than him in the Premier League and he was at it again getting a goal, an assist and being fully involved in most of what Leeds do well going forward with his array of passing, endless running on and off the ball and intelligent forward play. Shout out also to Fulham’s Cavaleiro and Sheff Utd’s Jebberson both teenagers scoring on their full debuts.
GAME1: NEWCASTLE 3-4 MAN CITY
In a real unexpected thriller, Newcastle took an early lead when Krafth rose highest to power home Shelvey’s corner from the left (25). Shelvey then hit the bar before Man City got an equaliser when Cancelo’s deflected drive from just inside the left corner of the box nestled into the far bottom corner (39). Just three minutes later City were ahead when Torres excellently back flicked Gundogan’s left sided free kick over the keeper (42). On the stroke of half time Newcastle were level when Ake fouled Saint Maximim and Joelinton dispatched from the spot (45+6). In the second half, Willock was fouled in the box, missed a penalty, slipped, but put in the rebound (62). Just two minutes later Man City was level when Jesus drove down the right side of the box and put in a low drive for Torres to stab home (64). Torres then completed his hat-trick and won the game just two minutes later when Cancelo, just outside the box, cut in a curled a shot that came back off the post and Torres was on hand to react the quickest to acrobatically volley into an empty net (66).
GAME2: BRIGHTON 3-2 MAN CITY
Man City opened the scoring very early when Mahrez on the right, jinxed back and forth just inside the box then swung a cross to the far post for Gundogan to nod home from a yard out (2). Then more early drama when Cancelo miss judged a high ball just outside the box, then brought down Welbeck as he was racing past him into the box to get a straight red (10). In the second half City doubled their lead when Foden picked up the ball in his own half, showed a lovely change of pace down the left flank all the way into the box and fired a goal into the far corner (48). Brighton then pulled a goal back when Rodri gave the ball to Trossard, he ran towards goal, as he got into the box he cut back past one, two, then three defenders and fired the ball into the roof of the net (50). Brighton then equalised when Webster rose highest to nod in Gross’ cross from the left (78). Then pandemonium as Brighton won it when Lallana fed Mac Allister just outside the box and he slipped a ball through to Burn who managed to sort his feet out to shoot, which was saved by Ederson but the ball fell invitingly for Burn to turn in the rebound (76).
GOAL1: FERRN TORRES 2nd (Man City) v Newcastle
From a free kick that was taken by Gundogan, on the left hand side of the pitch, just a few yard from the touch line. The ball was swung in low, towards the six yard box, where Torres made his run. The ball came to him just as he was trying to get in front his marker, so with his back slightly towards the ball, he improvised, stuck out a boot and with his back to goal, flicked the ball off his boot and looped the ball over the keeper and in.
GOAL2: EDINSON CAVANI (Man Utd) v Fulham
Straight from De Gea’s deliberate pass along the ground, from his own box. The ball traveled through the centre of the pitch to Fernandes, where he motioned to flick the ball on, but didn’t touch it, for Cavani, just inside the Fulham half. The attempted flick deceived the on rushing defender, allowing Cavani to run onto the ball unchallenged. A full 40 yards out, he saw the keeper off his line and executed a picture perfect chip, with pace and direction that flew over the keepers head and into the net.
FOOL: TOTTENHAM FC
It’s truly unbelievable that just two years ago, they were contesting a Champions League final. They also topped the Premier League just in December. Now, just five months later with a home defeat in front of their fans against Villa in midweek, they are in threat of not even finishing in the top six and missing out on Europe all together. With Mourinho gone, Mason caretaking and not doing particularly great. The wait for a trophy since 2008 goes on after losing the League cup final. The Bale experiment not quite working and he will no doubt go back to Madrid, its a real shambles at the moment. It’s no surprise the only good thing they’ve had in a decade, Harry Kane wants to leave. FOOLS!
