SEASON AWARDS
Taken from the accumulative weekly award winners throughout the season
TEAM: MANCHESTER CITY
The season awards always provide surprises but there were no surprises in this result. City won the Premier League, and although Liverpool pushed them to the last day, they were streets ahead in winning this with nine weekly awards.
This broke their own record by one, which occurred in 2019. Liverpool came second with five awards and Tottenham third with three awards. This season five out of the twenty Premier League teams failed to win a weekly award.
GOALKEEPER: DAVID DE GEA (Manchester United)
Maybe it was an indication of United’s season that their goalkeeper won so many awards but he has done it before. De Gea’s six awards won this season equals his own record from season 2014/15.
It’s crazy to think their season could have been even worse if it wasn’t for him. Everton’s Pickford came second with four awards and three keepers finished joint third with three awards Tottenham’s Lloris, Wolves’ Sa and Liverpool’s Alisson.
DEFENDER: ANDREW ROBERTSON (Liverpool)
This was typically one of the most closely contested categories. Only five defenders won multiple awards this season. Of those five, only two finished with three a piece. In the end, I gave it to Liverpool’s Robertson, as he also won an unsung hero award this season.
The other defender to win three awards was Wolves’ Coady. The three defenders who finished with two awards each this season were Southampton’s Livramento, Liverpool’s Alexander-Arnold and Brighton’s Cucurella.
MIDFIELDER: JARROD BOWEN (West Ham)
As per usual, the midfielder category was the hardest to decide and as per usual, this category had the most individual award winners (30). But only four midfielders finished with two awards.
However, the West Ham man won it as he also claimed two unsung hero awards this season, so was a clear winner in the end. The three other midfielders who won two awards were Man City duo Foden & De Bruyne also, Crystal Palace’s Gallagher.
FORWARD: MOHAMED SALAH (Liverpool)
This category wasn’t as tight as the others. Liverpool’s Salah picked up some early weekly awards and was out in front from the beginning of the season until the end. He finished on six awards to equal the record held by Luis Suarez who claimed six awards twice.
In second with a late flurry was Tottenham’s Son with four awards. Man Utd’s Ronaldo and Leicester’s Vardy finished third with three awards each.
MANAGER: PEP GUARDIOLA (Manchester City
This category went much like how the Premier League season went with Man City and Liverpool going toe to toe.
In the end, Man City’s Guardiola won it via one award, finishing on four, winning a manager award on the last day of the season with his team’s miraculous comeback victory to win the title.
Liverpool’s Klopp finished second with three awards. There were multiple managers who finished third on two awards. Brentford’s Frank. Man Utd’s Solskjaer. Villa’s Smith. Leicester’s Rodgers. Watford’s Ranieri. Villa’s Gerrard. Tottenham’s Conte and Newcastle’s Howe.
UNSUNG HERO: THIAGO SILVA (Chelsea)
Traditionally, this is always one of the most difficult decisions to make, as there are always very few multiple award winners.
This season, there were three players to win more than one award, although you could make a case for all three.
I gave it to the 37-year-old Chelsea as he also won a defender award this season and continues to defy logic. The other two players to claim multiple awards in this category were West Ham’s Bowen and Newcastle’s Joelinton.
GAME1: LIVERPOOL 2-2 MAN CITY
After an intense first half where City was much the better side and should have scored. Liverpool came alive in the second half and took the lead with a blistering counterattack.
Salah initially collected the ball in his own half, then received it back from Fabinho on the right touchline still inside his own half, he skipped over Cancelo and went running down the right channel, then slipped a ball in for Mane who swept the ball past the on rushing Ederson (59).
However, ten minutes later, City was level when Jesus collected the ball from De Bruyne, ran from right to left just outside the box then slipped Foden in on the left, who controlled and expertly finished into the bottom far corner (69).
Liverpool then went back in front when Salah used his strength to collect the ball on the right of the box, and used a bit of skill to roll the ball past B.Silva to get inside the box, then turned Laporte before slotting a right-footed effort in the far corner (76).
However, City was back left 5 minutes later when De Bruyne found Foden on the left of the box, his cutback was missed by Walker & Robertson, but De Bruyne was arriving late to see his left-footed drive deflected in off Matip (81).
GAME2: MAN CITY 2-3 TOTTENHAM
Spurs took an early lead when Davies played the ball into Kane who, with his back to goal played a brilliant first-time pass for Son to gallop down the right flank, through on goal.
As the keeper came to the edge of the box, Son squared it for Kulusevski to side foot home, through Canelo’s legs from just inside the box (4). Gundogan then hit the post before Man City equalised when Sterling’s ball in came off Lloris and Gundogan was on hand to sweep home (33).
In the second half, Spurs went ahead when Kane played a ball out from the right flank towards Son, Dias messed up the header, and Sessegnon picked up the loose ball, played it to Son, he crossed into the box for Kane, who continued his run and finished, first time, into the top corner (59).
Kane then had a goal disallowed before Man City finally got an equaliser when Romero handled B.Silva’s cross and after a VAR check, Mahrez made no mistake from the spot (90+2).
But there was drama still, with seconds to go Bentancur played Kulusevki in on the right, he checked back on to his left and put a cross in for Kane to beat Walker in the air and power a header in for a dramatic winner (90+5).
GAME3: BRENTFORD 3-3 LIVERPOOL
After both teams saved goals off the line, Brentford opened the scoring with a goal straight from the training ground.
Janelt played a free kick halfway in Liverpool’s half, square for Norgaard, who played a first-time ball down right for Canos, he then drove it across the face where Toney back flicked on, for Pinnock to arrive at the far post to score (27).
Just minutes later, Liverpool was level when Alexander-Arnold played a ball down the right for Salah, who played it down the line for Henderson to put the first-time cross in for Jota to head home (30).
In the second half, Liverpool went ahead when Fabinho played a ball into the box for Salah to arrive and side foot home which was given after VAR overruled the linesman (54). Brentford was back level when Canos played a deep ball over from the right to the back post.
Three Brentford players challenged Alexander-Arnold for the ball who fell, and the ball dropped to Jansson, who swivelled and hit the bar, but as the ball bounced up, Janelt was on hand to beat Van Dijk & Matip in the air, at the second attempt to head home (63).
Liverpool then scored a third. Jones picked up the ball just outside the box on the left and his rasping drive took a slight deflection and flew in (67). However, Brentford again equalised when another cross came in from the right causing havoc, as bodies fell, substitute Wissa was on hand to cooly dink over Alisson and in (82).
GOAL1: MOHAMED SALAH (Liverpool) v Man City
Fabinho found Jones, who looked up and found Salah lurking just outside the box on the right. Salah first used his strength to get to the ball in front of Cancelo, then controlled and rolled him.
In a split second, as he stood in between three City players on the edge of the box, as B.Silva came to challenge, Salah rolled the ball from his left to right, leaving B.Silva on the floor.
He then sized up Laporte inside the box, cut in on his left, then checked back onto his right and slotted the ball home with his right foot in off the far post.
GOAL2: MATEO KOVACIC (Chelsea) v Liverpool
This began from a free kick on the right, just outside the box that was swung in towards the goal. Kelleher did very well to get the near post to punch away to outside the box.
However, as the ball dropped, Kovacic quickly moved his feet, back peddled a few yards and connected with a sweet volley with two feet off the ball from about 20 yards out, that lobbed back with pace, into the top right-hand corner in off the post.
GOAL3: ANDROS TOWNSEND (Evert0n) v Burnley
Doucoure picked up the ball in midfield and played a ball to his right for Townsend. He took a touch, run at the defender, and then cut back inside onto his left foot.
Then from fully 30 yards out, he looked up and let fly with a powerful, side-footed effort, that flew over the keeper and into the top corner.
FOOL: MANCHESTER UNITED FC
It probably comes as no surprise to see the red devils up here. They were the only ones to claim three awards in this category, in a season they really want to forget.
From sacking Solskjaer to bringing in Rangnick, who will be moving upstairs, but did not do any better than Ole did with the team. The players’ commitment, quality and form were all called into question throughout the season.
It was just a mess from beginning to end, and they fully deserved this. I guess the best, or most positive thing you can say for them is it can only get better. FOOLS!
