TEAM: EVERTON
This was an extremely tough decision as there were several teams worthy of winning this. However, based on the vast circumstances, I went with the Merseyside club, who was sitting in the relegation zone and playing the high-flying league leaders.
Although they had to ride one or two moments, they were good for their win, showing tenacity and fight, with a bit of quality when it was needed to beat the league leaders and climb out of the relegation zone with three valuable points.
Well done also to Leicester. Brentford. Brighton. Notts Forest. Man Utd, also Wolves and Tottenham who were both close to winning this.
GOALKEEPER: KEYLOR NAVAS (Nottingham Forest)
This could be a masterstroke from Forest in their quest to stay in the league. In his debut, he demonstrated exactly what he brings to the Forest team, his experience and goalkeeping quality.
Although Leeds wasn’t exactly peppering the goal, they found him in inspired form, as he earned a clean sheet and first Forest win in his first Forest game. Shout out also to Spurs’ Lloris. Brentford’s Raya and Wolves’s Sa.
DEFENDER: JAMES TARKOWSKI (Everton)
This was another with several candidates. However, not only did the Everton man score the winner for his new, old manager.
He was solid at the back and strong in the tackle when needed but also showed levels of composure when his team were under pressure and excellent reading of the game to help his team to an inspiring win. Well done also to his teammate Coady.
Brentford’s Mee. Spurs duo Davis & Dier. Brighton’s Estupinan. Wolves’ Kilman, also Dawson. Man Utd’s Martinez. West Ham’s Aguerd and Fulham’s Tete were all close to winning this.
MIDFIELDER: RUBEN NEVES (Wolves)
His all-action style with constant energy, calmness and quality on the ball and box-to-box play was everything Liverpool lacked in midfield.
He ran the show, off and on the ball, and seemed to have freedom of the midfield. Picking passes, making tackles to win the ball, and starting the attacks. He put the final nail in the coffin with a typical lung-bursting run through the midfield to collect the ball in the box and calmly finish.
Shout out also to his teammates Lemina & Moutinho. Brighton’s Mitoma. Man Utd duo Fernandes & Rashford. Palace’s Schlupp. West Ham’s Paqueta. Brentford duo Jenson & Dasilva. Leicester trio Maddison, Barnes & Tete. Spurs’ Emerson also, Hojbjerg and Everton’s Onana were both close to winning this.
FORWARD: HARRY KANE (Tottenham)
What a way to break your club’s all-time scoring record. It had been on the cards for a while, and inevitable it would be broken this season.
But to do it by scoring what became the winner against the champions and most dominant team in the last five years, he couldn’t ask for any better. In typical Kane fashion, he took his goal with clinical precision and the instinctive finishing you have come to expect from the England striker. Next stop, the Premier League record.
Well done also to Newcastle’s Wilson. Brentford’s Mbeumo. Villa’s Watkins. Forest Johnson and Leicester’s Iheanacho, who was very close to winning this.
MANAGER: SEAN DYCHE (Everton)
This was probably the toughest decision this week. Again, several were in contention. I wanted to give it to the Spurs stand-in manager in Conte’s absence.
But in the end, I went for Everton man. He couldn’t have asked for a more difficult game to make his debut against the league leaders, who are playing with confidence.
However, his team looked well-drilled and battled for every ball, instantly looking much different to how they had been all season. As stated, shout out to Spurs’ Stellini and Wolves’ Lopetegui.
UNSUNG HERO: KELECHI IHEANACHO (Leicester)
He notched and goal and two very different assists to help his side to a good away win. His first assist showed his unselfishness to tee up Maddison.
He then scored, showing his movement and awareness to find space in the box. His second assist was a peach of a through ball for the debut man Tete to score.
In the second half, he was causing issues and should have had a second goal, but it was a very good day for the Nigerian forward. Well done also to Brighton’s Mitoma. Spurs’ Hojbjerg and Man Utd’s Martinez.
GAME: ASTON VILLA 2-4 LEICESTER
Villa took the lead when Bailey broke on the right, to the edge of the box, then squared for Buendia, who curled a lovely effort that bounced off the underside of the bar, and Watkins reacted quickest to acrobatically stab home (9).
Leicester drew level when Dewsbury-Hall robbed Kamara in his box, Iheanacho, touched it to Maddison, who sidestepped his man and swept home (12). Villa then took the lead again when Watkins’ low cross from the left deflected off Souttar and in at the near post (32).
Leicester equalised just before half-time when Iheanacho headed in Barnes’ left-sided cross from a few yards out (41). Leicester then took the lead just before half-time when Kamara again got caught on the ball, Tielemans picked it up and played forward to Iheanacho, who played a lovely through ball for Tete to run onto, round the keeper and score (45+2).
The points were sealed in the second half following good work from Barnes in his half, on the left with his back to the goal. He turned and played a ball forward for Praet to run onto after the defender missed the ball. He then rounded the keeper and finished (79).
GOAL: BRENNAN JOHNSON (Notts Forest) v Leeds
Johnson won a free kick by the right touchline. Gibbs-White then swung over the free kick, which evaded everyone and bounced just by the penalty spot.
As the ball came down, Johnson adjusted his body and ran onto it from the side, hitting a first-time volley from the edge of the box, with pace and power, that rocketed into the near bottom corner.
FOOL: LIVERPOOL FC
To think they were two wins away from a quadruple last season to being a laughingstock in less than six months.
The drop-off in such a short space of time is more than alarming. This crushing defeat at Wolves could be the worse in a string of crushing defeats this season. Who is to blame, FSG? Klopp? Or the players?
The fact that you can name any and everyone, is an indication of how rotten the club is from top to bottom, and everyone has to take the blame. What is worse, everyone seems to be devoid of answers, and there seems to be no light at the end of this long tunnel. FOOLS!
