TEAM: MAN UTD
This was a tough one and maybe a tad bit unfair on some teams who had good performances, because Man Utd benefited from having two games in a week, where they picked up two wins to secure Champions League football.
A comfortable 1-0 away win at Bournemouth was followed up by crushing Chelsea at home 4-1 to return to Europe’s elite competition. Well done also to Notts Forest. West Ham. Newcastle. Man City and Brentford who should have won this.
GOALKEEPER: DAVID RAYA (Brentford)
After getting beaten by a screamer from Kane, Spurs threatened to run away with it but couldn’t get the second, which had a lot to do with his heroics.
That allowed his team to slowly gain confidence and in the second half, they took over, and the difference in the game was Brentford took their chances, and Spurs were unable to beat Raya for a second time.
Shout out also to Man Utd’s De Gea. Villa’s Martinez. Leicester’s Iversen. Everton’s Pickford. Man City’s Ortega and Bournemouth’s Neto.
DEFENDER: YERRY MINA (Everton)
There were several candidates for this and some who may have deserved it more, but the significance of his performance cannot but overlooked.
Playing in only his third game since January, Everton has missed him. He was excellent throughout the game defensively, but his key contribution was scoring a 99th-minute equaliser to leave their fate in their hands on the final day for survival.
Well done, also to Villa duo Mings & Konsa, Forest trio Worrall, Felipe & Niakhate. Man Utd duo Verane & Shaw. Palace’s Ward. Newcastle duo Trippier & Burn. Leicester duo Faes & Castagne also Man City’s Walker who was close to winning this.
MIDFIELDER: CASEMIRO (Man Utd)
This was another tough one as until the final match of this game week, the award was going elsewhere, but at the business end of the season, when the pressure is on the top players step up, and he did exactly that.
He scored a lovely acrobatic goal to win the game at Bournemouth, then scored the opener in a man-of-the-match performance as they crushed Chelsea to cruise into the Champions League.
Shout out also to his teammate Fernandes. Newcastle’s Guimaraes, Brighton duo Mac Allister & Gross. West Ham foursome Bowen, Rice, Lanzini & Paqueta, Villa duo Ramsey & Luiz. Southampton’s Elyounoussi, Man City’s Foden. Notts Forest’s Mangala, Lodi and Gibbs-White who was close to winning this.
FORWARD: BRYAN MBEUMO (Brentford)
Another category that was a close-run thing, with three forwards in the running for this, all with great reasons. However, all things considered, it was a superb away performance without their talisman Toney, someone had to step up to the plate, and he did just that.
He was full of running, energy, and ingenuity, which allowed him to score two away goals and assist a third to sink Spurs away and put them in an outside chance of European football.
Well done also to his teammate Wissa. Newcastle’s Wilson. Notts Forest’s Awoniyi. Liverpool’s Firmino, Leeds’ Rodrigo, Man City’s Alvarez, Tottenham’s Kane, Crystal Palace’s Eduardo. Wolves’ Hwang. Brighton duo Enciso also Ferguson and Fulham’s Mitrovic were both close to winning this.
MANAGER: PEP GUARDIOLA (Man City)
There were managers whose team’s had better performances this week, but in the week where they won their third Premier League title and fifth in six years, there was no better time to give it to Pep.
Yes, he has had an endless amount of cash to assemble one of the best club sides ever, but he still had to assemble that team and get them playing, which is not as easy as everyone thinks, just look at Chelsea. He has continued to be innovative in tactics, and I have always admired how he has continued to keep the opposition guessing with his change in formations and tactical approach.
The win against Chelsea made it eight on the bounce in a relentless title run in. Shout out also to Man Utd’s Ten Hag. Notts’ Forest’s Cooper. Brighton’s De Zerbi. Brentford’s Frank and Newcastle’s Howe.
UNSUNG HERO: ROBERTO FIRMINO (Liverpool)
This was another tough one, and the other candidates should and would be ahead for this in any other game week.
However, this was not an ordinary game week. In his last league game at Anfield, with his team losing and seemed not destined to score, he came on and with just ten minutes to go to write a fitting end to his Anfield career by scoring the equaliser to save a point for his team.
It would have only been topped if it were a winner, but salvaging a late point seems apt for his career of unselfish contributions that helped his team to the summit of the sport. Well done also to Forest’s Gibbs-White. Man City’s Walker and Fulham’s Mitrovic.
GAME: FULHAM 2-2 CRYSTAL PALACE
Palace took the lead when Eze picked up the ball from inside his half and ran into the Fulham half.
e then threaded a ball down the inside left channel for Edouard to run onto and thunder a left-footed effort past the keeper, high, inside the near post (34). Fulham equalised when Mitchell upended Wilson, and Mitrovic slammed in the penalty (45+5).
In the second half, Fulham took the lead when Willian swung in a right-sided freak kick, and Mitrovic powered in a near post header (61).
Palace then equalised when Olise swung in a free kick from the left, which fell to Ward, whose first effort was saved, but he managed to touch the rebound in (83).
GOAL: JULIO ENCISO (Brighton) v Man City
From almost out of nothing, the ball found its way to Colville inside the Man City half on the left. He slipped it inside the Enciso, some 30 yards out.
He took a touch forward, ran onto it and hit an unstoppable, thunderous effort that curled out to in and perfectly nestled in the top far corner giving the keeper no chance. There were also good goals from Tottenham’s Kane. Man Utd’s Casemiro. Palace’s Edouard.
FOOL: ARSENAL
This was another close one. London rivals Spurs and Chelsea could be here. Some may say harsh on Arsenal, who have been good all season.
However. Having led the league for 93% of the season, in the run-in, they won two from eight games, for a title challenge, that’s terrible, and it could be a concerning pattern as they had a similar collapse end of last season that saw them miss out on top four.
Although there is progress this season, the manor of the defeat to Forest that ended their challenge and handed Man City the title without them having to kick a ball is a disappointing climax and got the “bottlers” label out. FOOLS!
