TEAM: LIVERPOOL
This was a real tough decision as some team’s played twice this week, which hindered and helped their prospects.
However, I really wanted to give this to Arsenal for their hugely unexpected away win at Chelsea, a place where nobody scores four goals. But Liverpool’s dismantling of Man Utd, playing outstanding football and scoring superbly constructed team goals, all barely into third gear just about takes this award.
Well done to Brentford, Brighton, Burnley, Arsenal & Newcastle who were both close to winning this.
GOALKEEPER: NICK POPE (Burnley)
There were not many to choose from and it was another that was helped and hindered by a few playing two games this week. But it’s the Burnley man that takes it for two strong and consistent performances in an important week for his team’s survival.
He was man of the match at West Ham, making a sting of decent saves. Then was steady and reliable against Southampton as his team secured a vital three points.
Shout out also to Schmeichel and Forster who was close to winning this.
DEFENDER: NATHAN COLLINS (Burnley)
Burnley are now at a place where they need big performances from every player in every game until the end of the season. Well, they got two big performances from their centre back this week,
He more than played his part to help hold West Ham to an away draw, only conceding from a set piece. Against Southampton, he scored the second goal and played his part defensively to get a clean sheet and three points
Well done also to his teammates Taylor & Tarkowski, Brentford’s Jansson, Newcastle duo Kraft & Burn, Liverpool duo Matip and Robertson, Man City’s Cancelo, Brighton’s Dunk, Southampton’s Bednarek, Everton’s Mina, Leicester’s Fofana, Arsenal duo White & Gabriel and Chelsea’s Azpilicueta.
MIDFIELDER: BRUNO GUIMARAES (Newcastle)
He scored two goals to win the game against Leicester, the winner a dramatic diving header in the dying seconds.
In the win against Palace, he was back to being in a more defensive role, winning the ball, starting the attacks and dictating play. Two games with two different roles, but equally effective, is proving why in such a short space of time he is already becoming a cult hero.
Shout out also to Brentford’s Norgaard, Norwich’s Dowell, Brighton’s Trossard, Man Utd’s Elanga, West Ham’s Soucek, Burnley duo Roberts & Brownhill, Liverpool duo Fabinho & Thiago, Leicester’s Dewsbury-Hall, Arsenal duo Smith Rowe & Saka.
FORWARD: CRISTIANO RONALDO (Man Utd)
Although there were a few very decent forward performances, obviously, Ronaldo’s superb hat-trick to drag his team to three points takes it.
I’m sure they dread to think how they would have feared without him this season. Not sure he would have made a difference at Liverpool, but they are much less of a threat without him.
Well done also to Norwich’s Pukki, Watford’s Dennis, Man City trio Mahrez, Foden and B.Silva, Burnley’s Weghorst, Newcastle’s Almiron, Liverpool trio Diaz, Mane & Salah, Everton’ Richarlison, Leicester’s Lookman, Chelsea’s Werner and Arsenal’s Nketiah who was close to winning this.
MANAGER: MIKEL ARTETA (Arsenal)
This was a very close one, however, as I failed to give Arsenal the team of the week award, he more than deserves this award.
After three straight defeats, nobody expected his team to go to Stamford Bridge and win, let alone scoring four goals. He tweaked his team slightly and it worked to good effect, as they probably had their best performance of the season to put themselves right back in the race to finish fourth.
Shout out also to Liverpool’s Klopp, Newcastle’s Howe and Burnley’s Jackson.
UNSUNG HERO: THIAGO ALCANTARA (Liverpool)
There are several candidates I could have chosen for this award, but the Liverpool man put in a midfield performance of the highest quality, with quality being the operative word.
He absolutely ran the show against Man Utd. But what made the performance so much better, is that it came a mere three days after he put in a similar top-class midfield performance at Wembley against Man City.
GAME: CHELSEA 2-4 ARSENAL
In a crazy London derby, Arsenal took an unlikely lead following a long ball from the Arsenal half, Christensen misjudged a back pass to allow Nketiah to run onto the ball, settle himself and tuck it in at the near post (13).
Chelsea were soon level when they capitalised on a loose ball in midfield. Werner picked it up, drove at goal and his deflected shot from just outside the box wrong footed Ramsdale (17). Arsenal went ahead again following a Chelsea attack that was thwarted and Xhaka brought the ball out of defence beating two players.
He fed Odegaard who fed Saka on the right. Saka then returned the ball to Odegaard just outside the box, who rolled a ball square for Smith Rowe to expertly, side foot a first time effort into the far bottom corner (27).
Chelsea were again level soon after. Mount curled a ball in from the left and Azpilicueta reacted quickest to get in front his marker to stab home from a few yards (32).
In the second half, Arsenal took a foothold in the game when Nketiah made a nuisance of himself in the box to put Sarr & Kante in all sorts of trouble, he then reacted first to instinctively hit a shot into the bottom corner (57).
The points was then secure in stoppage time when the ref said Azpilicueta fouled Saka and the England man made no mistake from the spot (90+2).
GOAL: MO SALAH (Liverpool) v Man Utd
Following a move of 22 passes where 9 outfield players and the keeper touched the ball. Matip picked up the ball and strolled forward into the Man Utd half.
He then played a ball forward to Diaz, who with his back to goal controlled and played it back to Matip, who then played a quick, sharp ball to his left to Mane.
With his back to goal, Mane played a lovely, first time reversed pass, with pace and spin, over the defender’s head into the run of Salah.
He controlled the ball neatly with his right foot, then coolly stroked the ball home with his left. There were also good goals from Newcastle duo Guimaraes & Almiron also Burnley’s Roberts.
FOOL: MANCHESTER UNITED
It was an absolute shambles at Anfield. Losing 4-0 to make it the biggest margin in the two games between these two teams in over century.
It’s worse that after the two early goals, Liverpool didn’t get out of second gear and you felt they could up the pace whenever they wanted. It felt like a training game. It also felt like many of the Man Utd players didn’t want to be there and just stopped trying.
That is a cardinal sin for a team as big as Man Utd, with the wages these players are on. They rightly got criticised by everyone and their uncle, especially the old legendary United players who were shocked, angry and embarrassed to see what these players have reduced their team to. FOOLS!
