TEAM: CRYSTAL PALACE
Although there were several very good performances, all worthy of winning this. I went with the Palace team, who sadly has shown the positives of changing your manager.
They have won two in two games since the change and have gone from a team struggling for goals to scoring at will. They destroyed Leeds with a second-half demolition, playing quality, free-flowing, attacking football.
Well done also to Newcastle. Man City. West Ham. Bournemouth. Wolves. Man Utd. Aston Villa and Tottenham.
GOALKEEPER: AARON RAMSDALE (Arsenal)
This was probably one of if not his best or most influential performances in an Arsenal shirt.
Although his team were comfortable early in the game, in the second half, when Liverpool came on strong and had several chances, he made four huge saves to earn what could be a valuable point in the title race.
Shout out also to Newcastle’s Pope. Leicester’s Iverson. Everton’s Pickford and Palace’s Johnstone.
DEFENDER: ANGELO OGBONNA (West Ham)
Although Fulham are missing Mitrovic, which makes a difference. The West Ham man still had to be on top of his game, which he was as he shut down everything Fulham had to offer.
He read the line well and, with the help of his teammates, reduced Fulham to half-chances and scraps, which has been unheard of for them at home.
Well done also to his teammate Zouma. Man City’s Ake. Wolves’ Dawson & Semedo. Brighton’s Dunk. Arsenal’s Gabriel. Newcastle’s Trippier. Liverpool’s Konate. Bournemouth duo Stephens and Mpham. Villa’s Young & Konsa. Man Utd’s Martinez and Palace’s Geuhi.
MIDFIELDER: MICHAEL OLISE (Crystal Palace)
He put in one of the most complete 45-minute displays I have seen this season. After not getting much in the first half, he was unplayable in the second, making a superb impact with three assists.
His decision-making showed his improving maturity, and his movement, running with the ball, balance and vision demonstrated just how much of a baller he is.
Shout out also to his teammate Eze. Brighton duo Mitoma & March. Wolves’ Nunes. Bournemouth’s Billing. West Ham’s Bowen. Man Utd duo Sabitzer & McTominay and Man City due De Brune & Grealish.
FORWARD: ERLING HAALAND (Man City)
Back in the team after being injured and not missing a beat. It is eleven goals in his last four games and bagged two very different goals this week, but both showed his exceptional qualities in front of goal. He is a goal-scoring machine whose tearing up all the records.
Well done also to his teammate Alvarez. Arsenal duo Jesus and Martinelli. Liverpool’s Firmino. Tottenham duo Kane & Son. Newcastle’s Isak. Brentford’s Toney. Villa duo Watkins & Traore. Southampton’s Mara. Man Utd duo Martial & Rashford. Newcastle’s Joelinton. Leeds’ Bamford also Palace duo Ayew & Edouard.
MANAGER: ROY HODGSON (Crystal Palace)
I am not one to advocate for managers to lose their jobs, especially someone like Patrick Vieira but, at least initially, it seems Palace have made the right decision.
Palace seems revitalised in the two games Hodgson’s back. Against Leeds, especially in the second half, they kicked into gear, playing some of their best football of the season as they destroyed and dismantled Leeds on the road.
Shout out also to Newcastle’s Howe. West Ham’s Moyes and Bournemouth’s O’Neil.
UNSUNG HERO: PHILIP BILLING (Bournemouth)
I have long been an admirer of this player, and no disrespect to Bournemouth, but I think he can go on to bigger and better things. He has all the attributes and often proves it in the midfield for his team, who is Bournemouth’s top scorer with seven goals, and three winning goals this season.
He is a presence in midfield and provides energy up and down the park, both footed, can put his foot in, pick a pass and takes free kicks. Many teams could do much worse. Well done also to Newcastle’s Joelinton. Man Utd’s McTominay and Villa’s Traore.
GAME: LIVERPOOL 2-2 ARSENAL
Arsenal started the game brightly and took a deserved lead when Saka found Odegaard, who then tried to thread a ball back, which was cut out by Van Dijk.
But he only managed to pass it to Martinelli, who ran through on goal to poke home (8). Arsenal powered on and made it two when Martinelli’s cross from the right, was easily headed in by Jesus (28).
Liverpool got a lifeline just before halftime Jones ran into the left side of the box. He back-heeled for the overlapping Jota, whose low cross was deflected by Henderson, into the path to Salah at the back post to stroke home (42).
In the second half, Liverpool had a chance to equalise from the spot, but Salah put his penalty wide (54). Liverpool finally got their equaliser when Alexander-Arnold beat Zinchenko on the right touchline and put a cross in for Firmino to stretch at the back post and nod home (84).
There was still time for Ramsdale to make two big saves at the death to save a point for Arsenal.
GOAL: MATHEUS NUNES (Wolves) v Chelsea
Lamina picked up the ball in midfield and drove forward. He then laid it off the Podence, who played a ball into the box with the outside of his boot, which was flicked on by Diego Costa and then headed out by Koulibaly.
Still inside the box, just to the left of the goal, as the ball dropped. Nunes adjusted his body and hit a thunderous volley, cutting across the ball, which saw it fly in and nestle just inside the far post, There was also a very good goal by Spurs’ Son.
FOOL: CHELSEA FC
Several escaped this award. Leeds, linesman Constantine Hatzidakis for his elbow on Robertson.
Referee Stuart Atwell and VAR official Michael Salisbury whose performance was so bad the Premier League had to apologise for it.
However, multimillion-pound spending Chelsea are in disarray. They are on a run of four games without a win, not scored in their last three, and after this defeat to Wolves, sit in 11th in the league. To add to it, they just hired previously sacked Lampard to sort it all out. Good luck. FOOLS!
