TEAM: NEWCASTLE
It’s been a promising few weeks for the Geordie’s, from inevitably being the biggest spenders in the January transfer windows. To getting back to back wins against two team with new managers and looking to impress.
They first put a stop to Lampard’s Everton revival to brush them aside then in a hard-fought game, they overcome Steven Gerrard’s Villa to move four points away from relegation. Well done also to Man City, Liverpool, Brighton, Arsenal and Southampton.
GOALKEEPER: ALISSON (Liverpool)
As usual, when there is a double week, it’s very hard to choose an outstanding player, as its often one good game one mediocre game.
So, when that happens, I have to stick with the facts which unfortunately benefits the keepers at the bigger teams. This week only Man City & Liverpool had two clean sheets in a week, however, the Liverpool man faced more shots in the two games so, he takes it almost by default, although he did earn it.
As stated, shout out also to Man City’s Ederson, also Burnley’s Pope and Wolves’ Sa,
DEFENDER: KEIRON TRIPPIER (Newcastle)
As full backs go, it’s been a bigger influence one has had on a team in such short a short space of time, possibly in history.
Even the manager had praised his impact. He waltzed into the team, bags of experience and maturity, so much so he was given the captains armband. Scored two goals in two games in a week to help his new team to two wins and four points from the relegations zone.
Well done also to his team mate Burn, Burnley’s Mee, Liverpool duo Van Dijk & Alexander-Arnold, Everton’s Coleman, Arsenal duo White & Gabriel, Man City’s Cancelo, Wolves trio Kilman, Coady & Saiss, Brighton’s Lamptey, Palace duo Mitchell & Anderson, Leicester’s Ricardo, Southampton’s Walker-Peter, Brighton’s Webster, Watford’s Kamara, West Ham’s Dawson & Leads’ Llorente.
MIDFIELDER: JARROD BOWEN (West Ham)
He is currently in the form of his life and seems like he can score every game. he was the only midfielder to score in both games this week.
Although the first was with the aid of a defection, it was him constantly threatening and shooting to deserve his goal. However, his second was extremely well taken and something you have now come to expect from him, showing excellent touch and clinical finishing from the now West Ham talisman.
Shout out also to Man Utd trio Fernandes, Pogba & Sancho, Liverpool’s Fabinho, Newcastle’s Fraser, Southampton trio Ward-Prowse, Elyounoussi & Perraud, Man City’s De Bruyne, Everton’s Gordon, Leicester duo Barnes & Tielemans, Norwich Rashica, Wolves’ Dendoncker also Villa duo Coutinho & Ramsey who was both close to winning this.
FORWARD: CHE ADAMS (Southampton)
Although there were a few strikers who had a single good game week, no striker scored in both games this week apart from the Southampton man and they were both very important goals.
His first was the winner at Spurs after his team came back from 2-1 down to win 3-2. Then his second was an equaliser at Old Trafford to earn his team a good away point. Both very well taken goals.
Well done also to his teammate Broja, Liverpool’s Jota, Leads’ James, Burnley’s Rodriguez, Newcastle’s Saint-Maximin, Spurs’ Son, Norwich’s Pukki, Palace’s Zaha, Brighton’s Maupay, Man Utd’s Ronaldo, Wolves duo Jimenez & Podence, Man City trio Foden, Mahrez and Sterling who was close to winning this
MANAGER: EDDIE HOWE (Newcastle)
Obviously, it was going to be tough job for him but obviously his fortunes were going to be improved after the January transfer window.
No doubt every manager wants money to spend but it’s what you do with that money that makes a difference and so far, he has done very well bringing in some faces that’s already made an impact and some yet to even play.
Two wins in a week with is team playing very well to pull four points away from the relegation zone is a great start, but he knows there is still a lot of work to be done.
UNSUNG HERO: FABINHO (Liverpool)
Not only is he ultra-consistent in that defensive midfield position, winning tackles, maintaining possession and allowing the full backs to bomb forward at every instance.
Since Salah and Mane went to the African cup of nations, he has been the top scorer in the team. At Leicester he was again that typical consistent brick wall in midfield.
Then in a tough away game at Burnley, not only was he consistent in his usual position, it was his goal that won the game and another three points.
GAME1: TOTTENHAM 2-3 SOUTHAMPTON
After an early disallowed goal, Tottenham took the lead, somewhat against the run of play when Hojbjerg was played in down the inside right channel and his low cross was turned into his own net by Bednarek under pressure from son (18).
Southampton equalised after a catalogue of defensive mistake by Spurs which started from Davies” slip when trying to clear the ball, it eventually was turned by in Perraud for Broja to prod home (23).
Perraud then hit the bar before the half ended, In the second half, Spurs went ahead when Royal won a header that left Broja on the ground. Kane fed Moura down the right channel and his first time cross was finished first time by Son (70).
But Southampton equalised when Ward-Prowse’s first time cross from the right was headed down and in by Elyounoussi in acres of space in the box (79). Just a few minutes later Southampton got the winner when again, Ward-Prowse’s first time cross from the right was headed in, this time by Adams to stun Spurs (82).
There was still time for Bergwijn’s last minute equaliser to be disallowed for offside (90+3).
GAME2: LEICESTER 2-2 WEST HAM
West ham came flying out the traps and took an early lead when Diop played a long searching ball forward, which Bowen went running onto in front of three Leicester defenders.
He controlled well with his left foot taking the ball into the box than lashed a shot into the far bottom corner (10). Leicester were back into it at the end of the first half when Maddison’s corner came off Cresswell’s arm and Tielemans made no mistake from the spot (45).
In the second half Leicester took the lead when Tielemans from right to left for Barnes who took the ball down with his chest on left side of the box, dug out a cross to the far post for Ricardo to come running in to beat is marker and head home (57).
West Ham got an equaliser in the dying seconds when Dawson rose high bundle in Bowne’s corner from the left which came off the top of his arm but adjudged to be legal (90+1).
GOAL1: WILFRED ZAHA (Crystal Palace) v Norwich
Olise picked up the ball in the centre of the pitch and sprayed it wide to Zaha on the left-hand side, hugging the touchline.
As he controlled the ball, he stood up a defender in front of him and slowly eased towards the corner of the box.
Then he suddenly burst into life, making a yard by jinxing onto his right foot, then unleashed an arrow like powerful effort, from just outside the box, with pace and curl that sailed into the far corner.
GOAL2 NEAL MAUPAY (Brighton) v Watford
Early in the first half, Veltman received the ball from Lallana on the right and fed Lamptey down the right flank.
He then looked up the played a cross to the edge of the box which bounced as it came to Maupay, just as the ball bounced up, he swung his boot at the ball, slightly misjudged, it come off a combination of this shin and boot to loop up and perfectly over the keeper into the top corner.
FOOL: TOTTENHAM FC
After Conte started his Spurs career promisingly, it has gone really sour really quickly having now lost three league games in a row.
If the first was now that surprising away to Chelsea, their two home defeats this week, going from 2-1 up to losing 3-2 against Southampton then getting humbled 2-0 at home to Wolves were both shocking and extremely disappointing.
Just a few short weeks ago they looked in pole position for fourth, to now struggling to stay in the top six. FOOLS!
