TEAM: LEEDS UTD
The unexpected start to the season continues with Leeds brushing Chelsea aside at home. Although Chelsea started the better, Leeds battled and fought with them every second then when they got their break for the first goal.
There was no looking back as they went from strength to strength to bag two more goals for a very convincing and impressive win. Well done also to Brighton. Arsenal. Southampton. Crystal Palace. Man Utd. Fulham and Tottenham.
GOALKEEPER: DEAN HENDERSON (Notts Forest)
Two weeks in a row now, this week his heroic’s almost got his team another winner but for Everton’s late goal.
However, throughout the game, Everton tried to beat him but time and again he thwarted their efforts with some very good saves to keep the scores level and as stated almost got them three away points.
Well done also to Southampton’s Bazunu. Leeds’ Meslier. Palace’s Guaita. Newcastle’s Pope and Everton’s Pickford.
DEFENDER: TYRELL MALACIA (Man Utd)
His first start in a Man Utd shirt will certainly be one to remember. Up against Salah for most of the game, although Salah did get a goal, he had the better of the Egyptian and barely gave him a kick for an hour or so.
It was a very promising home debut. Well done also to his teammate Martinez. Arsenal trio Zinchenko, Gabriel and Saliba. Leeds duo’ Koch. Brighton’s Dunk. Spurs’ Davies and Southampton’s Walker-Peters.
MIDFIELDER: JACK HARRISON (Leeds)
The saviour of Leeds last season is really growing in confidence and becoming a real leader or go-to man in the team.
Along with his teammate Rodrigo, he has taken the team on his back and put in a superb performance against Chelsea in midfield with an assist and the third goal to seal what was a memorable man of the match performance and victory.
Shout out also to his teammate Aaronson. Brighton duo Trossard and Mac Allister. Man City duo Gundogan & De Bruyne. Palace’s Eze. Everton’s Iwobi. Forest Williams. Fulham duo Pereira & Decordova-Reid. Leicester’s Maddison. Brentford’s Norgaard. Man Utd’s Sancho also Arsenal duo Xhaka and Odegaard who was close to winning this.
FORWARD: CHE ADAMS (Southampton)
Although there were a fair few candidates for this award, you cannot get any better than coming off the bench in an away game with 30 minutes to go, while your team are losing 1-0. Then scoring two goals, the second with just six minutes to go to win the game for your team in dramatic fashion with a scissor kick. Enough said.
Well done also to Leeds’ Rodrigo. Newcastle trio Almiron, Wilson & Saint-Maximin. Man City duo B.Silva & Haaland. Spurs’ Kane. Palace duo Zaha & Mateta. Villa’s Watkins. Liverpool’s Salah. Everton’s Gray. Forest’s Johnson. Brentford’s Toney. Fulham’s Mitrovic and Man Utd’s Rashford.
MANAGER: JESSE MARSCH (Leeds Utd)
After Chelsea’s strong but unlucky showing against Spurs last week, you may have been feeling sorry for Leeds this week expecting them to be on the end of a Chelsea backlash.
But far from it, Leeds matched Chelsea stride for stride, played attacking football, capitalised on mistakes and never looked back for a memorable and spirited victory. Shout out also to Arsenal’s Arteta. Brighton’s Potter and Man Utd’ Ten Hag.
UNSUNG HERO: ALLAN SAINT-MAXIMIN (Newcastle)
You hardly ever see a player have such a game against the might of Man City, but he was unplayable with the number of chances he created with his powerful and skilful runs.
He almost single handily got his team in front with his direct running with the ball. He assisted all three Newcastle goals and would have assisted more if it wasn’t for some poor finishing by his teammates. He was a joy to watch and gave City problems all game.
GAME: NEWCASTLE 3-3 MAN CITY
Man City opened the scoring when Bernado collected a ball from Gundogan, cut in from the right and chipped a ball into the box for Gundogan, unmarked to control with his left and sweep in with his right (5).
Newcastle equalised when the lively Saint-Maximin crossed a ball in from the left for Almiron, behind improvised diving in behind Willock to stoop low and bundle in off his knee (28).
Newcastle took the lead after Saint-Maximin’s piercing run and pass to Wilson, who took a lovely touch inside Dias then finished first time with the outside of his foot (39). In the second half, it was 3-1 when Trippier fired in a superb free kick from 25 yards out into the top corner (54).
A few minutes later City pulled a goal back when De Bruyne swung a deep ball to the back post, Rodri made a nuisance of himself and touched back for Haaland to volley in from a few yards out (60). City then quickly equalised when De Bruyne threaded a lovely ball in the box for Bernardo to neatly sweep past pope (64).
GOAL: WILLIAM SALIBA (Arsenal) v Bournemouth
Following a free kick on the right flank. Martinelli picked up the ball, ran down the line and swung in a cross that eventually found its way to Xhaka on the left side of the box.
He took it on his chest and touched it back for Saliba, who hit a lovely, first-time, left-footed effort from the edge of the box that sailed over the keeper and curled neatly into the top corner.
There were also good goals from Newcastle’s Trippier. Palace’s Mateta and Southampton’s Adams.
FOOL: EDOUARD MENDY (Chelsea)
Often in football matches, the first goal is vital and this was a perfect indication of that. Chelsea was on top in the game, and Mendy got away with one risky drag back, which should have been a warning sign.
But in the 33rd minute, he chanced his luck again and this time got it so wrong. It was an absolute howler that Aaronson took full advantage of to open the game, which arguably changed due to his terrible and avoidable mistake. FOOL!
