TEAM: CHELSEA
This week there were some really good performances, a few who on another day would have won this award.
However, I couldn’t ignore Chelsea’s demolition at Southampton, especially on the back of a devastating defeat in the Champions League. That definitely gave them a spark as they were four up within the first half an hour.
They really could have or maybe should have scored more as they hit the woodwork four times during game. Well done also to Tottenham, Leeds, Brighton, Brentford, Norwich, Everton, Newcastle and Leicester.
GOALKEEPER: HUGO LLORIS (Tottenham)
It was a straight shoot out this week as two keepers performed out their skin, which went a long way to their team recording vital wins for their respective seasons.
That said, I went for the Spurs man who faced more shots and really had to perform heroics as Villa peppered his goal, which could have been forgotten as Spurs won it comfortably.
Shout out also to Everton’s Pickford, Norwich’s Krul and Leicester’s Schmeichel.
DEFENDER: MICHAEL KEANE (Everton)
This was a tough one as there were no real outstanding performer, but some real good ones. In the end I want with the Everton man due to a number of circumstances.
After a horrible last week, causing him to miss the defeat at Burnley, which left his team under pressure and in a precarious position just above the relegation zone. Then having to play Man Utd, although a struggling United, but still fighting for fourth place.
He led by example and put in a mature and inspiring defensive display to help his team to a clean sheet and vital win.
Well done also to his teammates Godfrey, Coleman & Mykolenko. Norwich duo Hanley & Gibson. Man City’s Cancelo. Brighton’s Dunk. Newcastle duo Schar & Burn. Tottenham’s Romero. Leeds’ Cooper. Also, Brentford duo Henry and Pinnock.
MIDFIELDER: ENOCK MWEPU (Brighton)
He really put in an impressive performance to lead his team to their first win in seven games. He scored the winner with a superb effort to round off a good move.
However, his all-around game showed energy, desire and defensive awareness to track back, make tackles and blocks. On the ball he was a joy to watch, with his silky skills, calm passing and vision to create chances including an intelligent cut back to assist the opening goal.
Shout out also to his teammate Bissouma. Spurs Kuluveski, Newcastle’s Guimaraes, Leeds trio Raphina, Rodrigo and Harrison. Everton foursome Gordan, Delph, Allan & Iwobi. Man City’s De Bruyne, Norwich’s Lees-Melou. Also, Chelsea trio Alonso, Loftus-Cheek and Mount who was close to winning this along with Leicester’s Dewsbury-Hall.
FORWARD: HEUNG-MIN SON (Tottenham)
Obviously, this was a pretty easy one. He is red hot form at the moment and that partnership with Kane is absolutely lethal churning in goal after goal.
His intelligent runs from deep, pace and quality finishing showed the misfiring Villa forwards how it’s done, as his hat-trick moved him up into second, just two goals away from being the league’s top scorer.
Well done to his teammate Kane, Newcastle’s Wood, Chelsea duo Werner & Havertz, Man City’s Jesus, Liverpool duo Jota & Mane, Brentford duo Mbeumo & Toney, Leicester’s Lookman and Norwich’s Pukki.
MANAGER: GRAHAM POTTER (Brighton)
This was a pretty tough one as there were several obvious choices. However, I went for the Brighton man as his team had been struggling with no win in seven and had only scored one goal in that time.
Potter changed his formation last week, now second week into the new formation, it paid dividends as they got an unlikely victory at fourth place chasing Arsenal, who were expecting a reaction after their defeat at Palace.
But Brighton were easily the better team and fully deserved their victory
UNSUNG HERO: DEJAN KULUSEVSKI (Tottenham)
It may be an exaggeration to say Spurs’ whole form and fortunes has been transformed since he came into the club in January, but it’s not far off.
He has fitted into the team like a glove with an instant impact. He was again a factor at Villa, with the important second goal and an assist for the fourth. In what is becoming an impressive catalogue of stats, and performances in his fledgling Spurs career.
GAME: MAN CITY 2-2 LIVERPOOL
The most important game of the season lived up to all the billing and hype and got off to an early start when Sterling had a key chance that was saved by Alisson.
Then De Bruyne picked up a short ball from Silva’s free kick, glided around Fabinho with ease and his left footed shot deflected off Matip and in off the far post (4). Liverpool were level a short time later when Robertson picked up the ball just outside the box.
He floated it to the back post where Alexander-Arnold touched back for Jota to finish (13). Later in the half City took the lead when Cancelo, just outside the box crossed in from left to right with his right foot for Jesus to steal in at the back post and control a side footed volley over Alisson (36).
Just seconds into the second half, Alexander-Arnold found Salah on the right, he cut in and played a lovely through ball for Mane to run onto and finish first time high into the corner (46).
There was still time for Sterling to see his goal ruled out by VAR for a tight offside an Mahrez to sky his shot in the dying seconds.
GOAL: ENOCK MWEPU (Brighton) v Arsenal
The move started on the left-hand side when Mac Allister found Cucurella on the touchline.
He fed a ball inside to Caicedo, who turned a flicked it into the box for Trossard, whose first-time flick sent Caicedo down the inside left channel.
Caicedo ran onto the ball and cut it back first time, with his left foot to the edge of the box, for Mwepu to run onto and hit a first time, powerful effort off the half volley, that few into the bottom corner. There was also a good goal from Leicester’s Dewsbury-Hall.
FOOL: SOUTHAMPTON FC
For some reason, in the last few seasons it seems Southampton get at least one annihilation per season.
o matter how good or bad they are playing, or where they are in the league, once a season they get a mauling. Although Chelsea are European and World club champions, it’s certainly not a good trait to have.
It’s even worse that conceding six goals faltered them, as Chelsea hit the woodwork four times in the game, so it could have been a much heavier defeat. FOOLS!
