TEAM: LEICESTER CITY
There weren’t many candidates this week and from the few that were, Leicester were easily the most impressive.
Although it was against a Newcastle team who are languishing at the bottom of the table having only won just the once this season, Rodgers’s men did exactly what they were supposed to do to a team like this by overwhelming them and cutting them apart at will to score four goals and all while Vardy was on the bench.
Well done also to Arsenal, Crystal Palace, Man Utd, Brentford, Liverpool, Chelsea and Man City.
GOALKEEPER: DAVID DE GEA (Man Utd)
This was quite a close-run thing and I had to debate for a while who to give this to. However, although a few keepers got man of the match this week, non-more got their team a win than De Gea’s performance.
With his team below par, Norwich threatened to win it but literally, just couldn’t get past the Man Utd keeper, which allowed his team to go on and win the game with a penalty.
Well done also to Aston Villa’s Martinez, Palaces’ Guaita, Wolves’ Sa, Burnley’s Pope and Arsenal’s Ramsdale who was close to winning this.
DEFENDER: CONOR COADY (Wolves)
I know his team lost the game, but I was really impressed with not just his defending, but his organising and motivation of his teammates.
It’s not often, if ever, teams go to Man City and play whole half with 10 men and only concede a penalty goal. Much of this was down to his positioning, blocks, headers, last ditch tackles and a superb goal line clearance.
Shout out also to his teammates Kilman & Saiss, Liverpool duo Matip & Van Dijk, Chelsea’s Rudiger, Palace’s Tompkins, Brentford duo Jansson & Janelt, Norwich duo Kabak & Giannoulis, Man City’s Cancelo, Burnley duo Mee & Taylor, Leicester’s Ndidi, and Arsenal’s Gabriel who was close to winning this.
MIDFIELDER: CONOR GALLAGHER (Crystal Palace)
This young midfielder continues to impress on loan and has become a focal point in Palace’s new, exciting looking team.
He again was at the heart of everything Palace did with this his infectious running and enthusiasm. But as usual showed his quality with one well taken goal and one superb finish to win the game.
Well done also to Chelsea duo Mount & Jorginho, Leeds Gelhart, Liverpool’s Fabinho, Arsenal trio Saka, Odegaard & Martinelli, West Ham’s Rice also Leicester duo Tielemans and Maddison who were both close to winning this.
FORWARD: MO SALAH (Liverpool)
With was probably the toughest decision this week as there really wasn’t much to choose from. However, in a real tight game, when you need you star players to step up and do something, more often than not the Liverpool man turns up.
His run and willingness to commit players created and made the penalty, then took the responsibility to dispatch it perfectly to give his team all three points.
Shout out also to Arsenal’s Lacazette, Man Utd’s Ronaldo, Brentford’s Mbeumo, Watford’s Dennis, Man City’s Sterling, Everton’s Rondon, Palace’s Ayew and Leicester’s Daka who was close to winning this.
MANAGER: BRENDAN RODGERS (Leicester)
You have to admit his team has found hit hard to juggle the Premier League with Europe and although he played against the bottom club and was supposed to get the victory, he had to shuffle his pack and use his squad.
An early injury meant Ndidi had to play as a makeshift centre back, but more importantly, he can use his squad with the likes of Daka and Dewsbury-Hall getting valuable minutes. Tielemans, Maddison and Barnes playing well and it’s not often Leicester score four with Vardy playing no part in the game.
UNSUNG HERO: FABINHO (Liverpool)
He is the type of player this award was made for. He has gone about his business in typical efficient manor, shielding the back two when the full backs fly forward, wins his fair share of tackles and aerial duels.
But also gets involved in attacks and can pick a pass. There are not many defensive midfielders in world football playing better at the moment.
GAME: CHELSEA 3-2 LEEDS
Leeds took a surprise early lead when Alonso dived in on James in the box and the ref pointed to the spot where Raphinha made no mistake (28).
Chelsea then equalised when Harrison lost the ball deep in his half, the ball was then fed to Alonso down the left who picked out Mount in the box to sweep home, first time at the near post (42). In the second half, Chelsea took the lead. Rudiger, just inside the box on the left, controlled the ball by the touchline and Raphinha went diving in.
After ref checked video, he gave the pen to which Jorginho made it 2-1 (58). Leeds got a late equaliser following a good move down the left which involved Harrison, Firpo and Klich, who fed Roberts down the left channel and his low cross was tapped in by Gelhart, who got in front of Silva (83).
Chelsea won it with virtually the last kick of the game when Klich was adjudged to have kicked through Rudiger, just inside the box allowing Jorginho to win it from the spot (90+4).
GOAL: ALEXANDER LACAZETTE (Arsenal) v Southampton
A move that started from the goalkeeper who almost got caught on the ball. However, he found White who played a first time ball to Gabriel, who played it out to the right for Tomiyasu.
He played it first time inside to Oedegaard who controlled, turned and played it back to Tomiyasu down the right flank. Now just in the Southampton half he played a ball down the line for Saka to run at his marker.
As just got just inside the box on the right, he played a low ball in the Lacazette by the penalty spot to finish, first time into the top corner. This week there was also a decent goal from Palace’s Gallagher.
FOOL: RAUL JIMENEZ (Wolves)
Will definitely be one of the dumbest red cards or two yellows in the Premier League this season, or maybe ever. Just 38 seconds between to two yellow cards.
After getting his first yellow for a foul in the centre circle, for some reason, he was transfixed on blocking the free kick. It was no longer a quick free kick, there was hardly any threat as it was in the centre circle, but instead of dropping off, he stupidly blocked the ball, causing him to get his marching orders.
What made it worse is, his team only lost to a penalty. It could have been so much different if he had just used his brain. FOOL!
