TEAM: MAN CITY
As usual, another tough decision, and it depended on what you prefer. However, I went with the current champions as they put in a professional job at Leicester after losing twice in a row to them and reduced them to just one shot on target.
How often does that happen? City should have and could have had more, but the one was enough to record a hard fought but impressive away win.
Well done also to Chelsea, Man Utd, Wolves, Everton, Crystal Palace, Brighton, Arsenal and Liverpool who were close to winning this.
GOALKEEPER: EDOUARD MENDY (Chelsea)
Since last season he has proved his worth and this has continued this season. He did excellent in his last outing to thwart Liverpool.
This week, when Chelsea were a little lacklustre and Villa were really threatening, he made several decent saves to frustrate Villa, allowing his team to go on and get a victory that seemed much more comfortable than it was.
Shout out also to Southampton’s McCarthy, Palace’s Guaita and Leicester’s Schmeichel.
DEFENDER: TRENT ALEXANDER-ARNOLD (Liverpool)
It’s crazy to think he has recorded his 35th Premier League assist at only 22 years old, only Fabregas, Giggs & Rooney have done it younger but none of them were defenders.
Speaking of which, defensively he was sound, seemed to know when to get forward and when to hold his position, matched Leeds’ energy and apart from a few crosses, barely any Leeds attacks came down his side. Was also involved in all three goals.
Well done also to his team mate Matip, Chelsea’s Thiago Silva, Leicester’s Vestergaard, Southampton duo Livramento & Salisu, Man Utd’s Shaw, Arsenal duo Gabriel and Tomiyasu, Norwich’s Williams, Man City duo Dias & Walker, Brighton’s Dunk, Palace’s Anderson and Everton’s Keane.
MIDFIELDER: ANDROS TOWNSEND (Everton)
Basically, his involvement turned the game around. He was full of running all game but when his team went behind, he grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck.
First, he created some space just after his team went behind to put a lovely ball in for Keane to equalise. Then, minutes later, he put his team ahead with an absolute wonderstrike to turn the tide in his teams favour.
Shout out also to his team mate Doucoure, Liverpool duo Fabinho & Thiago, Man City’s B.Silva, Palace’ Gallagher, Arsenal’s Lokonga, Brighton’s Bissouma, Man Utd trio Fernandes, Pogba & Longard also Chelsea’s Kovacic.
FORWARD: ODSONNE EDOUARD (Crystal Palace)
Although he came on against 10 men, you couldn’t ignore the fact that he scored with his first two touches in the Premier League, to become the fastest goal scorer on a debut (25 seconds).
If that wasn’t enough, he doubled his tally in stoppage time. Both goals were well taken finishes and showed signs of a real top striker.
Well done also to his team mate Zaha, Chelsea’s Lukaku, Man Utd’s Ronaldo, Liverpool duo Salah & Mane, Arsenal’s Aubameyang, Everton duo Townsend and Gray, Brighton’s Trossard and Wolves’ trio Hwang, Traore & Trincao also Southampton’s Broja.
MANAGER: RAFA BENITEZ (Everton)
Typically, the master tactician strikes again. With the loss of Calvert-Lewin, Rafa changed the shape. However, Everton and Benitez were on the ropes when Burnley took the lead after 53 minutes.
Although they got a quick equaliser, other managers would have let them play it out. But Benitez went on the offensive, taking off a defender to bring on a midfielder and just five minutes later, Everton had scored two more goals to seal the victory.
UNSUNG HERO: JOEL MATIP (Liverpool)
It is not often Van Dijk gets upstaged by another defender and it wasn’t something that was blatant, but I thought Matip was excellent again and has looked superb so far this season.
He doesn’t often get the plaudits due the abilities of Van Dijk and the Liverpool full backs terrorising defenders. But his solid defending, composure, pace, positioning and forays forward with the ball, which created the first goal has been an important feature in Liverpool’s game.
GAME: MAN UTD 4-1 NEWCASTLE
Man Utd took the lead on the stroke of half time when Greenwood collected a pass from Pogba on right.
He cut inside and hit a low effort from 20 yards, which took a faint touch off the defender, where the keeper could only parry out for Ronaldo to tap in from two yards (45+2).
In the second half, Newcastle equalised when Almiron went sprinting down the left with space, he then crossed in for Saint-Maximin just outside the box, who touched forward for the run of Manquillo outside him and he hit a first time effort across the goal into the bottom corner (56).
Man Utd went back in front when Shaw played a ball down the left channel for Ronaldo to run into the box and fire a straight, low effort, literally though the keeper (62).
It was three from a wonder strike when Fernandes picked up the ball from 25 yards out and hit a thunderbolt that nestled into the top corner (80).
Lingard made it four following good work from Pogba, who exchanged passes with van de beek, then fed the ball into Lingard, who controlled in the box and neatly jinxed past the defender to fire home (90+2).
GOAL: ANDROS TOWNSEND (Evert0n) v Burnley
Doucoure picked up the ball in midfield and played a ball to his right for Townsend. He took a touch, run at the defender, then cut back inside onto his left foot.
Then from fully 30 yards out, he looked up and let fly with a powerful, side footed effort, that flew over the keeper and into the top corner.
There were also decent goals from Man Utd Fernandes, and Man Utd’s Lingard.
FOOL: JAPHET TANGANGA (Tottenham)
Although there were a few candidates for this, you couldn’t really look past the Spurs defender and it’s clear to say his sending off changed the game.
After receiving a yellow for a cynical challenge on Zaha that sparked a mini brawl. Just two minutes later, naturally tensions and emotions were still high. He lost control of the ball and recklessly lunged in for a clear second yellow, to get his marching orders.
It was then downhill from there as Palace went on to destroy Spurs 3-0. It’s fair to say the lad lost his head. FOOL!
