TEAM: NEWCASTLE
This was another close-run thing, as there were several very good candidates for this. However, I went for the Geordies who are flying at the moment and scoring bags of goals.
Brentford thought there were in the game at 2-1, but Newcastle stepped on the after-burners with some scintillating forward play with intensity, work rate and pressure to force Brentford into mistakes and score three more goals for a rout.
Well done also to Man City. Bournemouth. Chelsea. Man Utd. West Ham. Tottenham and Arsenal, who were very close to winning this.
GOALKEEPER: HUGO LLORIS (Tottenham)
It wasn’t exactly a weekend for goalkeepers, so almost by default, it goes to the Spurs man.
Not that he didn’t play his part in claiming an important away clean sheet, which helped his team to an important three points, in a game they were second best for most of it. However, Brighton just couldn’t get past him.
Well done also to Bournemouth’s Neto. Fulham’s Leno and Wolves’ Sa.
DEFENDER: JOAO CANCELO (Man City)
He is a full-back, but in truth, he can play anywhere on the pitch. Such is his quality and vast abilities.
Such a gifted footballer, and his considerable talents were again on show against Southampton as he scored a superb goal for the first and assisted the last. He was as good going forward, as he was comfortable in defence.
Well done also to his teammate Akanji. Palace’s Andersen. Arsenal’s Tomiyasu. Man Utd’s Martinez. Leeds’ Struijk. Villa’s Young. Newcastle’s Tripper also Spurs duo Dier and Romero.
MIDFIELDER: BRUNO GUIMARAES (Newcastle)
It seems when he plays well, Newcastle are absolutely at their best. He is the heartbeat of the team, and had a superb game, which led to Newcastle being rampant.
He started the scoring, then his second, and Newcastle’s third took the game away from Brentford, and it was plain sailing after that.
Shout out also to his teammate Murphy. Palace’s Eze. Leeds’ Aaronson. West Ham’s Paqueta. Fulham’s Andreas. Arsenal duo Saka & Odegaard. Everton’s Iwobi. Man Utd’s Casemiro. Bournemouth duo Billings & Christie. Chelsea duo Mount & Gallagher. Man City trio Foden, De Bruyne & Mahrez. Forest duo McKenna & Gibbs-White also Tottenham’s Sessegnon.
FORWARD: GABRIEL MARTINELLI (Arsenal)
Admittedly I am cheating a little, as I usually put players who technically have a striker ahead of them in midfield.
But he deserves to be here for the way he played, literally from the first minute. He ripped Liverpool’s right side to shreds for the majority of the game and is now really is coming into his own, playing with maturity and a real cutting edge.
Well done also to his teammate Jesus. Liverpool trio Diaz, Nunez & Firmino. Palace’s Edouard. West Ham duo Scamacca & Antonio. Man Utd duo Antony & Ronaldo. Leicester’s Daka. Chelsea duo Pulisic & Havertz. Man City’s Haaland and Newcastle’s Almiron.
MANAGER: MIKEL ARTETA (Arsenal)
Once again, he is up here as he is making everyone believe. They are top of the table, with almost a quarter of the season gone, and are playing with flair, confidence and most of all belief.
Although some may say they got fortunate in the game against Liverpool, they were well worth the win for the constant attacking play, running at and committing players, which was demonstrated mostly in the second goal. Shout out also to Newcastle’s Howe.
UNSUNG HERO: BUKAYO SAKA (Arsenal)
Naturally, he is not unsung, but he deserves some acknowledgement for scoring two against Liverpool.
Another who is playing with maturity, with a cutting edge. At the tender age of 21, his performances and influence is way beyond his years, which he showed throughout on the pitch.
But no more than when he stuck away a pressure penalty to win the game. Well done also to West Ham’s Scamacca and Man Utd’s Ronaldo.
GAME: ARSENAL 3-2 LIVERPOOL
In a blistering start, Arsenal took the lead inside a minute when Xhaka picked up the ball in his half and played it to Saka on the right.
He ran at Van Dijk, then played it, squad, to Odegaard, who threaded it in the box for Martinelli’s run and swept home, first time past Alisson (1). Liverpool got back into it when Diaz ran onto a long ball, took a touch and squared for Nunez to slide in from six yards (34).
Arsenal went back ahead after a Liverpool free kick which was defended, and they sprung forward with Martinelli, who ran at two Liverpool players into the box, cut back and squad for Saka to tap in at the far post (45+1).
In the second half Liverpool equalised again when Jota played a nice ball to Firmino, who took a touch with his right foot, which took him away from the goal, but expertly finished with his left foot, low in the far bottom corner (53).
Arsenal won it after a flurry of shots and blocks, then Thiago was adjudged to have fouled Jesus, and after a long wait, Saka coolly slotted in the penalty (76).
GOAL: JOAO CANCELO (Man City) v Southampton
Foden picked up the ball just inside the Southampton half with his back to the goal and played it left to Cancelo.
The ref played a good advantage after a bad foul on Foden, which allowed Cancelo to gallop forward.
As he got to the edge of the box, then cut inside onto his right, jinxed to shoot, but cut back onto this left, fooling two defenders. Took a touch a fired an effort into the far bottom corner.
FOOL: TRENT ALEXANDER-ARNOLD (Liverpool)
Once again, several candidates for this including Brentford, who were terrible. But its important to say I feel Klopp has to take a lot of responsibility for constantly playing him, and in this same formation.
However, as a professional, you also have to take responsibility for yourself. Now, this could be due to the fact that last season Liverpool played every game available to them, and Trent played in most of them.
But this season, he seems to have lost the idea of defending, and even worse, doesn’t seem to want to run or trackback. It’s so bad that teams are blatantly targeting Liverpool’s right side and getting mountains of joy.
He got hauled off at half time, and even that was too long. FOOL!
