TEAM: EVERTON
There were several candidates for this award, so when it’s tight, I go with the most unlikely result, and Everton smashing Brighton away was as unlikely as they come.
Sitting second from bottom and the lowest scorers in the league, nobody expected them to turn up as they did at Brighton, who are on a charge for Europe.
But at a place where Man Utd lost just a few days ago, Everton was on it from literally the first minute and never let up for their biggest away in in five years to move out of the relegation zone.
Well done also to Arsenal. West Ham. Fulham. Forest. Chelsea. Liverpool. Wolves. Tottenham and Man City.
GOALKEEPER: AARON RAMSDALE (Arsenal)
Anyone who goes to Newcastle this season knows they have been in a game. To come away with a win, let alone a clean sheet, not only have to defend well, but their keeper has to be in form, and that is exactly what happened with Arsenal.
Although they had to ride their luck and were good forward, Ramsdale was called into action a few times, and every time he was equal to everything and made two superb saves that left Newcastle scratching their heads.
Shout out also to Chelsea’s Kepa. West Ham’s Fabianksi. Fulham’s Leno. Leeds’ Robles. Liverpool’s Alisson. Brentford’s Raya and Everton’s Pickford.
DEFENDER: JAKUB KIWIOR (Arsenal)
I was really impressed with his performance. This was a pressure game for Arsenal with the absence of Saliba, and Gabriel not 100%.
But he performed admirably against the likes of Wilson and Isak, who had been terrorising defences recently. However, he showed a calmness and composure of a veteran, not someone in just their second league start.
Well done also to his teammates Gabriel and White. Liverpool duo Van Dijk & Alexander-Arnold. Everton duo Patterson and Mina. Spurs Porro. Chelsea’s Badiashile. Bournemouth’s Vina. West Ham duo Kehrer & Aguerd. Also, Wolves’ Toti who was close to winning this.
MIDFIELDER: DWIGHT MCNEIL (Everton)
This category had several candidates, and it was touch and go with his teammate. However, I went with the Everton man who scored two, created two and was involved in another as his team got a crucial and unlikely away win to move out of the relegation zone.
Shout out also to his teammates Doucoure and Gueye. Man City’s Gundogan. Chelsea’s Gallagher. West Ham duo Rice and Benrahma. Arsenal duo Odegaard & Jorginho. Fulham duo Willian and Cairney. Leicester duo Barnes & Maddison also Forest duo Danilo & Gibbs-White.
FORWARD: TAIWO AWONIYI (Notts Forest)
He was the only forward to notch more than one goal this week. His two early first-half goals against Southampton were important to help his team to three valuable points and move them out of the relegation zone.
It was a timely return to form after his last goal came in January. Well done also to Liverpool’s Salah. Spurs’ Kane. Leeds’ Rodrigo. Chelsea’s Joao Felix. Fulham’s Vinicius. Brentford’s Toney. Chelsea’s Maduake. Everton’s Calvert-Lewin and Southampton’s Alcaraz.
MANAGER: SEAN DYCHE (Everton)
Again, it was touch and go for this, but Dyche is looking to make it a miraculous survival act, and this was the start.
Not sure how he got his team so up for a trip to Brighton, but somehow, he did. I was sceptical at him leaving the likes of Coady, Keane, Onana and Grey on the bench, but it worked a treat as they did something no team has done this season to Brighton and at such a crucial time of the season.
Shout out also to Arsenal’s Arteta, who was close to winning this.
UNSUNG HERO: WILLIAN (Fulham)
I have been wanting to give him this award for a while. To be fair I am in awe at his form and commitment.
I thought he was finished when he left Arsenal a few years ago, but since his return, he has been a revelation at Fulham, and even more impressive, he is doing it at 34 years of age. He scored two this week against Leicester and was instrumental in his team notching five goals.
Well done also to Forest’s Gibbs-White. Arsenal’s Odegaard. Everton’s Doucoure. Wolves’ Toti and West Ham’s Rice.
GAME: NOTTS FOREST 4-3 SOUTHAMPTON
Forest opened the scoring early when Lodi played a diagonal ball from Johnson to run down the right and square for Awoniyi to sweep home (18).
It was soon two after Awoniyi swivelled to volley home Danilo’s touch in the box (21). Southampton pulled a goal back after they won the ball in midfield, and it found its way to Armstrong, who squared for Alcaraz to control and finish (25).
Forest got a third just before halftime when Maitland-Niles fouled Johnson in the box, and Gibbs-White made no mistake from the spot (44). In the second half, Southampton pulled another goal back when Lyanco rose highest to nod in Ward-Prowse’s left-sided corner (51).
Forest then scored a fourth with a lovely move when Johnson crossed for Gibbs-White, who neatly flicked for Danilo to run in the box and finish (73).
Filipe got a goal disallowed by VAR for offside before Southampton made it a nervy finish when Surridge fouled Lavia in the box, and Ward-Prowse made no mistake from the spot (90+6). There was also a good game at Craven Cottage where Fulham beat Leicester 5-3.
GOAL: MATIAS VINA (Bournemouth) v Chelsea
Viva started the move on the left touchline. He played it inside to Christie, who played it first time, forward to Solanke, who touched it back to Vina.
He then squared it to Christie and continued his run to the edge of the box. Christie controlled and played it back to Vina on the edge of the box, who cut inside with his left, then curled a lovely effort with his right foot into the top far corner.
There were also good goals from Everton duo Doucoure & McNeil. Fulham’s Willian and Forest’s Danilo.
FOOL: DAVID DE GEA (Man Utd)
Although there was a lot of football to play in the game and his team could have easily got him out of jail.
At the business end of the season, as one of the senior players in the team, to make such a mistake for a goal cannot be excepted.
Especially as he got a full hand to the ball from what looked like Benrahma’s tame shot. But somehow, it seemed to go through De Gea’s hand, and unfortunately for him and his team, it cost them a goal and, the game. Which now adds more pressure on Champions League qualification. FOOL!
