TEAM: LIVERPOOL
Although there were some good performances this week, nothing compares to Liverpool’s record-equalling victory over their bitter rivals.
This was added to their comfortable win in midweek over Wolves. Man Utd could argue that they were the better team for the first 40 minutes, but Liverpool got a vital goal just before halftime.
Then in the second half, they annihilated United with six unanswered goals. It felt like every time they went forward they would score, and it could even have been double figures. Well done also to Brighton. Wolves. Arsenal. Man City. Southampton. Aston Villa and Chelsea.
GOALKEEPER: JOSE SA (Wolves)
He played his part in an inspiring win against Spurs. In midweek, he did all he could to hold off Liverpool, especially in the first half.
But at home to Spurs, who did do their utmost to beat him, but their best was just not good enough as he was equal to everything they had, which in the end, allowed his team to go and get a late winner.
Shout out also to Arsenal’s Ramsdale. Fulham’s Leno. Leicester’s Ward and Bournemouth’s Neto.
DEFENDER: WESLEY FOFANA (Chelsea)
In an expensive squad with expensive forward players, it took a defender to win the game. Chelsea has been struggling with their forward line misfiring.
But their centre-back bailed them out and probably saved the manages job. Not only did he win the game, but looked the most assured at the back. After being out for months through injury, Chelsea will be happy he’s back.
Well done also to Liverpool foursome Van Dijk, Konate, Alexander-Arnold & Robertson. Southampton duo Bednarek & Bella-Kotchap. Wolves duo Dawson & Kilman. Arsenal duo Zinchenko & White. Brighton trio Veltman Dunk & Webster. Villa’s Cash. Bournemouth’s Senesi. Brentford’s Pinnock, also Man City duo Walker & Dias.
MIDFIELDER RIESS NELSON (Arsenal)
He became the unlikely hero in what could be a pivotal moment in the title race. After Arsenal surprisingly went two down at home, they got one back through Partey.
Then he created the equaliser with his run and cross from the left. But a point was not good enough, and in the dying seconds, he showed great composure to control on the edge of the box and finished superbly to send the stadium into bedlam for three extremely valuable points.
Shout out also to his teammate Odegaard and Partey who was very close to winning this. Southampton’s Alcaraz. Liverpool trio Fabinho, Elliot and Henderson. Brighton trio Mac Allister, Mitoma & Gross. Brentford’s Jensen. Bournemouth’s Billing. Man City duo Foden & B.Silva. Wolves’ Traore. Forest’s Gibbs-White and Everton’s Doucoure.
FORWARD: MO SALAH (Liverpool)
He scored one goal in midweek and two at the weekend to become Liverpool’s all-time top scorer in the Premier League.
It is now six consecutive seasons he has scored more than 20 goals, and in the last few games, he is looking sharp and back to his best. United will certainly be glad to see the back of him as he has scored against them for the fifth game running to make it 10 goals against United overall.
Well done also to his teammates Gakpo, Nunes & Firmino. Arsenal duo Saka & Martinelli. Forest’s Johnson. Everton’s Gray. Brighton’s Welbeck. Brentford’s Toney and Fulham’s Solomon.
MANAGER: JURGEN KLOPP (Liverpool)
This was a real tough decision, but how can you not give it to a manger who destroyed their closest all-time rivals 7-0? To make things even better, four of his front three scored, two of those were new players still bedding into the squad.
Salah became their all-time top scorer in the Premier League and young Elliot maintains his record of playing in every game this season and continues to impress. Shout out also to Arsenal’s Arteta and Brighton’s De Zerbi.
UNSUNG HERO: COADY GAKPO (Liverpool)
This was quite a difficult one, as there were several in the hunt for this. But I felt the Liverpool forward deserves to be recognised as Salah took all the plaudits.
He opened the scoring at an important time just before the break with a lovely finish. He then got another important third goal that settled the game, with an even better finish to round off a superb move.
That is four goals in his last five games, and after a difficult start, playing in that “Firmino” role is really starting to settle and show his quality. Well done also to Fulham’s Solomon. Forest’s Johnson. Southampton’s Alcarez and Brighton’s Mac Allister.
GAME: ARSENAL 3-2 BOURNEMOUTH
Bournemouth scored the second-fastest goal in Premier League history. From the kicked-off, the ball was played out to the right for Ouattara, who ran to the side of the box, and his deflected cross fell for Billings to side-foot home (1).
In the second half, Bournemouth made it two when Sesesi headed in Rothwell’s corner from the left. Arsenal then pulled a goal back following a corner. After Neto’s punch, Smith Rowe headed back in for Partey to finish from two yards out (62).
Arsenal then equalised when Nelson got down the left and crossed for White to make a good connection, which was too hard for Neto to keep out (70).
Arsenal then won it in literally the last seconds following another corner that fell to Nelson on the edge of the box, who coolly controlled and lashed in with his left foot (90+7).
GOAL: COADY GAKPO (Liverpool) v Man Utd
Man Utd attacked down the left with Fernandes, who put a low cross into the box, which was cut by Henderson.
He then played it out to Gapko, who controlled it with his thigh and turned in one motion. He then surged forward, held off a Man Utd player and played Salah in down the right, running into the Man Utd half. Salah then went one on one with Martinez.
Running towards the goal from the right touchline, he turned Martinez inside out before slipping a ball in the box for Gakpo, who continued his run.
Then from an acute angle, he dined it first time over De Gea, to bounce just inside the far post. There were also good goals from Notts Forest’s Johnson and Wolves Traore.
FOOL: MANCHESTER UNITED
Nothing much needs to be said. It is self-explanatory. Well, nothing that everyone connected to United will not hear for the foreseeable future.
It is bad enough to lose by seven goals for any team. But to lose like that to your bitterest rivals is blasphemy.
The second-half capitulation after a somewhat decent first half is alarming. And this is after a few good months, which culminated in their first trophy in six years.
However, this team conceded six against Man City and four at Brentford, so they have history. Maybe it wasn’t that much of a shock result after all. FOOLS!
