TEAM: LIVERPOOL
It could well be a significant week in the title race with Liverpool securing two very important 2-0 away wins to go a point behind Man City.
They were fully expecting to beat Brighton and did without a fuss. Then at the other form side in the league, Arsenal huffed and puffed, but Liverpool navigated them well, showed their professionalism, strength and their quality to get a very impressive away win.
Well done also to Wolves, Chelsea, Man Utd, Brentford and West Ham.
GOALKEEPER: VICENTE GUAITA (Crystal Palace)
Another possible significant moment in the title race as the Palace keeper performed heroics to keep the City team at bay.
It wasn’t for the want of trying, as City had their chances and were the better team, but just couldn’t get past him in a spirited performance.
Shout out also to Liverpool’s Alisson, Wolves’ Sa, Newcastle’s Dubravka, West Ham’s Fabianski, Brentford’s Raya and Everton’s Begovic.
DEFENDER: CONOR COADY (Wolves)
After a slight drop in form, Wolves have come back with two much needed wins in a week and two clean sheets.
First, a home demolition job of Watford, where they didn’t allow them to have a single shot on goal. Then a win at Everton where Coady got the winner with a lovely near post header, to add to all his efforts thwarting the Everton strikers.
Well done also to his teammates Saiss & Kilman, Villa’s Cash, Newcastle’s Burn, Spurs Romero, Arsenal’s White, Chelsea’s Chalobah, Everton duo Coleman & Keane, Palace duo Mitchell & Guehi also Liverpool’s Matip who was close to winning this.
MIDFIELDER: RUBEN NEVES (Wolves)
He played two games in four days and got man of the match in both of them. Scored one lovely goal and was involved in another against Watford.
Then it was his run and pinpoint cross that created the winner at Everton. Aside from that, he was a bag of energy, quality and endurance in both games.
Shout out also to his teammate Jonny & Ait Nouri, Man Utd’s Fred, Brentford’s Eriksen, Liverpool duo Fabinho & Thiago, Arsenal duo Partey & Odegaard, Southampton’s Elyounoussi, West Ham trio Fornals, Benrahma & Yarmolenko, Chelsea’s Mount, Villa duo Ramsey & Coutinho. Leeds duo Rodrigo & Raphinha, Norwich’s McLeean, Palace’s Gallagher, Spurs’ Kulusevski, Newcastle’s Guimaraes and Everton duo Iwobi & Gordan.
FORWARD: CRISTIANO RONALDO (Man Utd)
United were crying out for a hero and he really stepped up. He opened the scoring with a blockbuster of a finish, but Spurs equalised.
Then he showed his anticipation and awareness to be in the right place to get the second, but they were pegged back again. Then when his team needed him once more, he showed another quality to head in his hat-trick and the winner.
Well done also to Spurs’ Kane, Brentford’s Toney, Liverpool trio Diaz, Jota & Firmino, Watford’s Hernandez. Leeds’ Gelhardt. Newcastle’s Wood, Wolves’ duo Jimenez and Podence also Chelsea’s Havertz who was close to winning this.
MANAGER: JURGEN KLOPP (Liverpool)
After being 14 points behind Man City just two months ago, Liverpool have been on a run of nine straight wins.
Culminating in two wins this week and a very important win at the other form team Arsenal, who were on a five-game winning run and was well up for game.
Klopp shuffled his pack well and his team showed grit, experience, professionalism and quality to get through the early stages, then step their game up to score.
Klopp then surprised everyone by taking the scorer Jota off to bring on Firmino, who only minutes later got the second to seal the victory.
UNSUNG HERO: KAI HAVERTZ (Chelsea)
After coming in for big money in the summer of 2022, he had not exactly hit the ground running. The jury was out, and he really had to work hard.
But all of a sudden, that hard work is paying off and he is slowly becoming their main man, scoring for fun. He got a goal and assist at Norwich, then the decisive late winner at Newcastle.
He now seems to be their talisman and getting better with every week.
GAME1: MANCHESTER UTD 3-2 TOTTENHAM
In a pulsating game, it exploded to life when Fred, with his back to goal, flicked a pass from Varane around the corner for Ronaldo, who took a touch and let fly with a rasping effort from over 25 yards, that flew into the top corner (25).
Spurs then equalised from the spot when Kulusevski on the right, jinxed his way to the byline and his cross came off Telles’ arm.
Kane then made no mistake from 12 yards (35). Just a few minutes later, Maguire played Sancho in down the right channel, into the box and his cross was swept in by Ronaldo for his second (38).
In the second half, Spurs worked the ball well from right to left, Kane found Romero just outside the box, who found Son, who then slipped Reguilon in down the right. His cross was then turned into his own net by Maguire sliding in (72).
There was still time for a winner and it came when Telles’ corner from the right was swung in for Ronaldo, who rose highest to head home the winner (81).
GAME2: ARSENAL 0-2 LIVERPOOL
After an intense and intriguing first half with not much chances but plenty of action at both ends.
Arsenal started slightly the better in the second half, but got a warning when Mane scored but was slightly offside. Then Thiago’s poor back pass was picked up by Lacazette who laid it back for Odegaard, but his shot was saved by Alisson.
Just minutes later, Thiago played a slide rule pass for Jota to take in his stride down the left channel, and his powerful low effort beat Ramsdale at his near post (54).
Jota was then substituted for Firmino and a few minutes later, Robertson blocked Saka’s clearance on the left touchline. He then ran to the byline and put a low cross in for Firmino to nip in front of Ramsdale and touch home (62).
GOAL1: CRISTIANO RONALDO (Man Utd) v Tottenham
Midway through the first half, Varane picked up the ball and played forward to Fred in the middle of the park.
With his back to goal and the defender closing him down. He intelligently flicked it around the corner for Ronaldo, who controlled with his left, took a touch, then unleashed a powerful effort from over 25 yards out that arrowed into the far top corner, giving the keeper no chance.
Well done also Villa’s Chambers who was close to winning this.
GOAL2: BRUNO GUIMARAES (Newcastle) v Southampton
Newcastle had a corner that was swung in from the right by Shelvey to the back post. With several players fighting to get the ball, Burn rose highest above everyone else to nod back into the six-yard box.
As the ball dropped, with his back to goal, Guimaraes managed to adjust his body, then get enough power to hit a back flick with his heel, past the keeper, into the roof of the net. Shout out also to Wolves’ Neves who was close to winning this.
FOOL: SOUTHAMPTON FC
Brighton could have easily been up here as they lost two home games and are on a five game losing streak.
However, their two home defeats this week were against a title challenger and a European place challenger. Southampton on the other hand, lost two home games this week to Newcastle, although in revival, still in the bottom half and Watford, who are in the relgation zone.
This is off the back of getting destroyed 4-0 at Villa. Its fair to say they are in a very bad patch at the moment and in a few short weeks have gone from outside, albeit very unlikely Europe hopefuls, to mid table obscurity. FOOLS!
