SEASON AWARDS

Taken from the accumulative weekly award winners throughout the season

TEAM: LIVERPOOL

This was an extremely surprising outcome, considering Liverpool’s limp defence of their Premier League title, which saw them have several entries on the fool of the week category. However, after a good start to the season, then playing most of the season with makeshift centre backs, looking out the Champions League places, then somehow making a late fight back to finish the season in third. It prompted a few late team of the week awards, which allowed them to end the season ahead of everyone with six awards. This was two ahead of Premier League Champions Man City and the surprise packed of the season Aston Villa in second. In joint third were two more surprising teams Everton and Burnley with three awards each. Only 13 teams last season picked up a team of the week awards.

GOALKEEPER: EMILIANO MARTINEZ (Aston Villa)

If the team of the week outcome was surprising, this was definitely not. The Villa keeper played an integral part in his team’s superb season and this was reflected in the season awards as he was out in front with five goalkeeper of the week awards. This was two ahead of three keepers in joint second on three awards. Crystal Palace’s Vicente Guaita, WBA’s Sam Johnstone and Brighton’s Robert Sanchez. In joint third with two awards each were Fulham’s Alphonse Areola and Newcastle’s Martin Dubravka.

DEFENDER: LUKE SHAW (Manchester United)

This is usually the tightest category and there was no change this year. Only six defenders ended the season with more then one award but no defender amassed three awards. In the end, it went to the Man Utd left back as he also won an unsung hero award during the season. The five other defenders who finished on two awards were Southampton’s Vestergaard, West Ham’s Coufal, Arsenal’s Tierney and Liverpool duo Alexander-Arnold and Phillips.

MIDFIELDER: BRUNO FERNANDES (Manchester United)

This was easily the hardest decision as only three players won two midfielder of the week awards over the season. It was a very difficult decision but after much deliberation, I gave it to the Man Utd man as his two awards were more stretched across the season, in addition, he also won a two goal of the week awards. The other two midfielders to win two awards this season were Everton’s Rodriguez and Tottenham’s Bale. The midfield category also had the most individual award winners, with 28 players winning this award over the season.

FORWARD: HARRY KANE (Tottenham)

This was again a very tight one as two players were out in front winning three awards each. The deciding factor that gave it to the Spurs man was the fact that he also won an unsung hero award. This saw him just pip Leicester’s Jamie Vardy from winning it in back to back seasons after he won three awards also. There were five players in second winning two awards each. Liverpool due Salah & Firmino. Aston Villa’s Watkins also Everton duo Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison.

MANAGER: DEAN SMITH (Aston Villa)

It wasn’t a huge surprise the Aston Villa manager takes this. Villa was the surprise package of the season. Nobody expected them to rub shoulders with the big boys not to mention putting in some eye opening performances. He was the only manager to win four awards. In second with three awards each came Leicester’s Rodgers. Leeds’ Bielsa and Liverpool’s Klopp. In third with two awards each were Everton’s Ancelotti. Tottenham’s Moutinho. Southampton’s Hasenhuttl. Man City’s Guardiola. Fulham’s Parker and Burnley’s Dyche.

UNSUNG HERO: EMILE SMITH ROWE (Arsenal)

Traditionally this category is the most fiercely contested and hardest to decide, which was no different this time around. There were only three players who won two unsung hero awards. Out of those three, two also won a midfielder of the week awards, so it was extremely difficult to decide. However, I opted for the Arsenal man as his awards were more evenly stretched across the season. This just edged him ahead of team mate but Newcastle loanee Joe Willock. The other player to win two unsung hero awards were Liverpool’s Wijnaldum.

GAME1: ASTON VILLA 7-2 LIVERPOOL

The goals flowed from early when Adrain made a poor pass across the six yard box which Grealish pounced on then played across for Watkins to slide home (4). It was soon two when Grealish played Watkins in down the left and he turned inside Gomez and lashed into the top corner (22). Liverpool pulled a goal back when Keita’s run into the box caused confusion and the ball fell to Salah to lash home (33). However, it was soon three, from a corner when the ball was headed out to McGinn on the edge of the box and his shot came off Van Dijk and in (35). It was then four, when Villa broke the offside trap from a free kick and Trezeguet crossed for Watkins to head home for his hat-trick (39). In the second half, Villa made it five when Barkley picked up the ball on the edge of the box, and his deflected shot looped over Adrian and in (55). Liverpool pulled a goal back when Firmino fed Salah who fired in at the near post (60). But Villa restored their four goal lead when Grealish’s deflected effort from the edge off the box wrong footed Adrain and went n (66). The rout was soon complete when McGinn played a cross field ball to beat Liverpool’s high line again, which allowed Grealish to run through with the ball and easily slip past Adrian (75).

GAME2: CHELSEA 2-5 WEST BROM 

Chelsea looked comfortable early and took the lead when Alonso fired a free kick from 25 yards off the post, as the ball came back, Pulisic reacted quickest to stab the ball home (27). However, two minutes later, Silva got his marching orders for a second yellow following a lunge which I thought was harsh (29). WBA then equalised when Pereira ran onto Johnstone’s long kick to neatly dink the ball first time over Mendy (45+2). Two minutes later they got a second when Pereira weaved his way from left to right across the box, cut back and beat Mendy with the eyes to score at the near post (45+4). In the second half, WBA got a third when Robinson finished a good move with a superb first time volley from Furlong’s right sided cross (63). It was then four, following an even better team move that saw Townsend back heel to Pereira, who slide the ball across for Diagne to neatly side foot home into the bottom corner (68). Chelsea then pulled a goal back when Werner set up Mount to prod home to make it 4-2 (71). But WBA made it five when Pereira was again the provider when he slipped the ball through for Robinson to expertly dink the ball over Mendy (90+1).

GAME3: LIVERPOOL 4-3 LEEDS 

In a very surprisingly open game, Liverpool took the lead when Salah’s shot hit Koch’s arm in the box and the Egyptian rifled in from the spot (4). Leeds then equalised when Phillips played a lovely ball out wide to Harrison, who expertly controlled and cut inside Alexander-Arnold, then Gomez and hit a low effort in at the near post (12). Liverpool then took the lead again when Van Dijk powered in Robertson’s corner from the left (20). Ten minutes later, Leeds were level again when Van Dijk failed to deal with a high ball and presented the ball to Bamford who expertly slipped the ball past Alisson (30). However, Liverpool was again in front when Leeds cleared a ball into the box, which landed at Salah’s feet, who controlled with his right and lashed into the roof of then net at an angle, for a superb finish (33). In the second half, Leeds once again equalised when Costa picked up the ball on the right, then played a ball in the box for the onrushing Klich, who controlled and lashed a volley into the far bottom corner (66). Liverpool then finally won the match when sub Rodrigo fouled Fabinho in the box and Salah coolly slotted in the penalty for his hat-trick and the win (87).

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. He then cut back and played the ball inside right for Coufal, just inside the box, who runs onto the ball and plays a floated, first time cross in 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: ERIK LAMELA (Tottenham) v Arsenal

In the midst of a tight and tense North London derby, Bale played a high, cross field ball from the right touchline, to just outside the box, where Reguilon was waiting. As the ball dropped, he played a first time volley across the box, which fell to Moura, who controlled and touched back for Lamela. With the ball slightly behind him, he quickly adjusted his feet to execute a rabona, through the legs of Partey, with a little curl, that saw the ball nestle neatly into the bottom far corner.

GOAL3: MANUEL LANZINI (West Ham) v Tottenham

After going three goals down after just 16 minutes, West Ham somehow fought their way back to 3-2. Literally in the last few seconds of the game, Cresswell swung in a free kick from midway in the Spurs half, which was headed, to just outside the box. As the ball bounced, Winks got a toe to the ball just ahead of Snodgrass, but the ball then fell to Lanzini 25 yards out, who hit a first time, thunderous effort, slicing across the ball, allowing it to arrow to the top corner, just off the keepers finger tips and off the underside of the bar and in.

FOOL: LIVERPOOL FC 

In a highly unusual and unprecedented season. I am not the least bit surprised that the club who won the team award, also won the fool award. Not only is it fitting to the type of season we had, it was typical for the season Liverpool had. As a club, Liverpool ended the season on three fool awards along with Spurs. However, they also picked up four other separate fool awards with Alisson and Klopp winning two each, making the decision for this conclusive. Most of their fool awards came during a horrid few months midway through the season, where they lost their record home undefeated streak, and then just couldn’t buy a win. That’s where Liverpool’s title challenge really fell apart, and although after looking dead and buried, they fought back gallantly at the end of the season to finish third. Which helped them win a few late team of the week awards. The damage was already well and truly done. FOOLS!