TEAM: BRENTFORD
Although all their goals came in the first half, they absolutely blew Man Utd away. They played to their strengths but also played to Man Utd’s weaknesses.
If you then add the non-stop running on and off the ball, heart, desire and sheer quality football, it goes down as one of their best moments as a football club.
Well done also to Notts Forest, Man City, Arsenal and Aston Villa.
GOALKEEPER: DEAN HENDERSON (Notts Forest)
Quite unusually, this was a pretty hard decision as three goalkeepers got man of the match. However, only one of those keepers helped their team to three points.
But, that was not the only reason for this. Not only did the Forest keeper save a penalty, but he made two very good saves and one double save (although offside), to fully earn a clean sheet and three vital points.
Shout out also to Newcastle’s Pope. Wolves’ Sa and Southampton’s Bazunu.
DEFENDER: REECE JAMES (Chelsea)
I was really impressed with him. He started on the right of the back three and was solid as ever, not giving Spurs a sniff.
Tuchel then moved to wing back, where he scored what was almost the winning goal. He then moved to right back and was again solid, Spurs struggled down his side of the pitch and he looked comfortable throughout.
Well done also to his teammate Koulibaly. Forest duo Niakhate & McKenna. Villa’s Mings. Man City’s Cancelo, Southampton’s Walker-Peters. Fulham’s Ream. Palace duo Guehi & Anderson. Newcastle’s Botman and Brentford’s Mee.
MIDFIELDER: KEVIN DE BRUYNE (Man City)
It was a vintage performance from the Belgian, one that we have come to expect from him, especially against teams like Bournemouth.
He really had a field day, cruising past players at will, threading passes, controlling the game and scoring a lovely goal with a superb finish, with the outside of his foot on the run.
Shout out also to his teammate Gundogan. Forest foursome Williams, O’Brien, Mangala & Toffolo. Spurs’s Hojbjerb. Villa’s Ramsey. Arsenal duo Xhaka & Martinelli. Everton’s Onana. Leicester’s Maddison. Brentford duo Jensen & Da Silva. Southampton duo Mara & Aribo and Palace’s Zaha.
FORWARD: GABRIEL JESUS (Arsenal)
He seems to have settled into his new club very well and looks as though he is firing on all cylinders.
This was evident with the confidence of his first superb finish and showed his striking prowess with his second goal. He looks a really good fit for Arsenal and gave Leicester hell all game.
Well done also to Forest’s Awoniyi. Villa duo Ings & Watkins. Spurs’ Kane. Man City’s Foden. Brentford duo Mbuemo & Toney. Liverpool’s Diaz. Palace’s Eze and Leeds Rodrigo who was close to winning this.
MANAGER: THOMAS FRANK (Brentford)
He really gave Ten Hag a baptism of fire in the Premier League and a lesson of what English football is all about.
His team bullied, outplayed and outfought Man Utd and destroyed them in the first half, punishing Man Utd’s small team to the point where there was no way back for united in a humiliating defeat. Shout out also to Notts Forest’s Cooper.
UNSUNG HERO: RODRIGO (LEEDS)
Obviously not unsung, but seen as he didn’t get the forward award, he more than deserved this one. I predicted Leeds to have a difficult season, especially after losing arguably their two best players.
However, if they are to improve, players will have to step up, and in the first two weeks he has certainly stepped up. He scored a goal last week and a double this week, with goals that showed all his predatory instincts that should have given his team three points.
GAME: CHELSEA 2-2 TOTTENHAM
In the battle of the bridge two, Chelsea opened the scoring when Cucurella swung over a corner, for Koulibaly to volley in a beauty from the penalty spot (19).
Chelsea had much of the first half but couldn’t add to their tally. In the second half, Spurs equalised when Hojbjerg drove home from the edge of the box after Jorginho lost the ball in the box (68).
Chelsea were furious as it appeared Bentancur fouled Havertz in Spurs half 44 seconds earlier sparking a Conte & Tuchel clash. Chelsea then scored when Sterling found James all alone in the box and he stroked home (77).
Spurs scored a dramatic last-minute equaliser when Kane flicked in Perisic’s corner (90+6). Chelsea was again angry after it seemed Romero pulled Cucurella’s hair just before the corner which sparked another flash point between Conte and Tuchel at the final whistle.
GOAL: LUIS DIAZ (Liverpool) v Crystal Palace
Having just gone down to 10 men, the Colombian got his team back in the game as he picked up the ball on the left touchline from Milner.
He first shifted the ball from his right foot to his left while jinxing past two Palace players to the corner of the box. He then drove into the box and shifted the ball again while gliding past two more Palace players.
Then he checked back outside another player and just by the semi-circle, unleashed a powerful, curling effort that nestled in the bottom corner. There were also good goals from Arsenal’s Jesus. Brentford’s Mbeumo and Palace’s Zaha.
FOOL: MANCHESTER UNITED FC
They are here for the second week in a row, and this was even worse than last week. Following on from a dismal last season, united picked up where they left off.
Losing by four goals to Brentford, with them scoring all four in the first half, and they were lucky to lose by just the four goals, which is saying all it needs to say. FOOLS!
