TEAM: MANCHESTER UTD
This was a close one, although united was the only team to claim maximum points over the two games this week.
However, it has been a quick turnaround since they got battered by Brentford with three straight wins. In midweek they completed a professional job to get an important away win at Leicester after beating Liverpool.
Then at home, against a rejuvenated Arsenal who was playing well and looking good. They played to their strengths to catch Arsenal cold with two blistering counter-attacks to win the game. Well done also to Southampton, Man City, Brighton, Brentford and Bournemouth, who were close to winning this.
GOALKEEPER: JORDAN PICKFORD (Everton)
He did well in the midweek game at Leeds, where he made a few saves, one very good one very late in the game, and was only beaten when he was unsighted. Then in the Merseyside derby, he was a one-man wall.
Liverpool threw everything at him, but he was not to be denied with a string of saves to earn a clean sheet and his team a moral boosting point.
Shout out also to Southampton’s Bazunu. Tottenham’s Lloris. Newcastle’s Pope. West Ham’s Fabianski. Wolves’ Sa. Bournemouth’s Neto. Palace’s Guita. Fulham’s Leno. Liverpool’s Alisson and Man Utd’s De Gea.
DEFENDER: NATHAN COLLINS (Wolves)
Maybe somewhat of a surprise, but I think he has gone under the radar this season. It’s certainly not easy to replace such a stalwart like Conor Coady, but the 21-year-old has done extremely well and has impressed.
He was an integral part of the defence that claimed two clean sheets in a week, and he really has a bright future if he continues the way he is.
Shout out to his teammate Kilman. Man Utd foursome Verane, Martinez Dalot & Malacia. Everton’s Patterson. Liverpool’s Gomez. Bournemouth duo Kelly & Mephan. West Ham duo Zouma & Cresswell. Man City duo Stones & Cancelo. Fulham’s Hickey. Newcastle’s Burn. Villa’s Mings and Southampton’s Bella-Kotchap
MIDFIELDER: CHRISTIAN ERIKSEN (Man Utd)
It’s crazy to think where he was just over a year ago. He has now come back, and is looking as good as ever with two back-to-back man-of-the-match awards.
He is really pulling the strings for United and making them tick with his vision and pinpoint pass and movement.
Shout out also to his teammates Sancho & Antony. Southampton’s Lavia. Man City trio Bernardo, Foden & De Bruyne. Arsenal duo Martinelli & Saka. West Ham’ Soucek. Villa duo Luiz & Bailey & Ramsey. Spurs duo Hojbjerg & Sessegnon. Bournemouth’s Billing & Fredricks. Brighton duo Mac Allister & Caicedo. Liverpool duo Elliot & Carvalho. Wolves duo Neves & Nunez. Chelsea’s Chilwell. Palace duo Doucoure & Schlupp and Leeds Sinisterra, who was close to winning this.
FORWARD: ERLING HAALAND (Man City)
He is absolutely on fire at the moment. 10 goals in his first six games, to equal a record.
He scored a perfect hat-trick in the week against Forest, then got his team’s only goal at the weekend, although it wasn’t enough for the win. But the way he is playing, it feels like he will score every game.
Well done also to his teammate Alvarez. Brentford trio Toney. Mbeumo & Wissa. Chelsea’s Sterling. Spurs duo Kane & Richarlison. Liverpool’s Firmino. Southampton’s Armstrong, Newcastle’s Isak. Everton’s Gordon. Leicester duo Iheanacho & Daka. Arsenal’s Jesus. Wolves’ Podence. West Ham’s Antonio. Chelsea’s Havertz. Fulham’s Mitrovic. Bournemouth’s Solanke and Anthony also Man Utd’s Rashford.
MANAGER: GARY O’NEIL (Bournemouth)
It’s only two games, but considering where they were before, he’s done wonders. After the drubbing at Liverpool and Parker being shown the door, he needed to get a performance from his team and a clean sheet was the best thing, although they didn’t win the game.
Then at a full of confidence Forest team, trailing by two at half-time. He changed his team around, and they started to play football. They got back into it via a superb goal, and a fortunate deflection to level the game.
He then threw on another striker who won it in the 87th minute, two minutes after coming on for a dramatic and unlikely comeback victory. Shout out also to Man Utd’s Ten Hag.
UNSUNG HERO: IVAN TONEY (Brentford)
This was another one where he’s not exactly unsung, but due to circumstances, he was unable to claim an award, so fully deserved this.
He could be playing himself into the England squad with his performances and goals. First, showed his flawless penalty technique to get his opening goal, then showed even better technique with his superb free-kick goal.
Then full of confidence, he sealed his hat-trick with a gem of a goal rounding the keeper and chipping two players for a lovely third.
GAME1: LIVERPOOL 2-1 NEWCASTLE
After an intense start, where Newcastle gradually came into the game. They took a surprise lead when Almiron occupied Van Dijk on the right flank, he played a ball down the line to Targett, who cut it back for Longstaff on the edge of the box.
His neat slide rule pass slipped Isak in, who let the ball run across his body and slammed home high into the net (38).
Liverpool got an equaliser when Gomez fizzed a ball into Elliot. He then played it out right to Salah to run onto, Salah then fed a ball into the box for the oncoming Firmino, to slide a first-time shot into the far bottom corner (61).
As time was running out, Liverpool got a corner. Robertson whipped the ball in in and from the penalty spot, Gomez nodded it to the far post, where Salah challenged twice to keep the bail alive.
As the ball dropped, Carvalho, from just under the bar, swivelled and slammed the ball home for a dramatic ale winner (90+8).
GAME2 NOTTINGHAM FOREST 2-3 BOURNEMOUTH
Forest started very well and took the lead early in the first half when Kouyate rose high to power in Gibbs-White’s in-swinging corner from the left (33).
It was two on the stroke of half-time when Kelly blocked a shot with his arm, and the ref pointed to the spot, even after VAR told him to check the monitor. Johnson then made no mistake to make it two (45+1).
In the second half, Bournemouth changed formation and pulled a goal back when Billing collected the ball from Cook and left fly from 25 yards with a shot that almost broke the net (51). Bournemouth then got an equaliser when Solanke’s scissor kick from Kelly’s nod back took a deflection, and in (63).
Bournemouth then won it dramatically. McKenna’s poor back pass was seized upon by Solanke, he then squared for the sub, Anthony to sweep home with his first touch of the game,(87).
GOAL1: WILFRED ZAHA (Crystal Palace) v Brentford
Deep in the Brentford half Schlupp won the ball in midfield, and it feed to Doucoure. He then looked up and fed to Zaha, running in from the left.
He controlled the ball, rolled it over his foot, Started left, then jinxed back to the right and before the defender could react, curled a lovely effort into the far corner giving the keeper no chance.
There was also a good goal from Man City’s Cancelo and Southampton’s Lavia.
GOAL2: IVAN TONEY (Brentford) v LEEDS
Deep in his half, Jensen drove the ball through the middle, which was missed by two Leeds defenders and sent Lewis-Potter chasing the ball in on goal.
This prompted Meslier to come rushing out of his goal, and just got to the ball before the Brentford striker. However, the ball fell to Toney, who did well to control the clearance, then sidestepped a Leeds defender and round Meslier in one movement.
He took two touches towards the goal, and from just over 20 yards out, chipped the ball over two defenders for a lovely hat-trick. There was also a good goals from Bournemouth’s Billing, Fulham’s Mitrovic and Brighton’s Mac Allister.
FOOL: ENGLISH OFFICIALS (VAR)
Although there were a few candidates this week, nothing was worse than the disastrous display of the English officials on VAR. Please use the term correctly.
Just saying VAR almost gives the officials behind the screen anonymity. We really need to start calling these officials out.
It’s not like it is one or two games. Almost every game at the weekend had horrible VAR decisions, and the weekend had some of the worst. They get several looks at an incident and still make the wrong decision.
How is it England has the best league in the world but the worse officials in the world? FOOLS!
