TEAM: WOLVES
I had to think long and hard about this one. However, I gave it to Wolves on a wafer-thin decision.
Spurs had injuries but were looking to bounce back from their defeat to Chelsea, though they came out of it with much credit. When they took an early lead, you feared the worst for Wolves without their star man Neto.
However, they were much the better team, with just the finish missing. But to their credit, they never stopped, and in the end, got their rewards with two stoppage-time goals to win it.
Well done also to Everton. Liverpool. Aston Villa. Arsenal. Man Utd and Bournemouth, who were extremely close to winning this.
GOALKEEPER: NICK POPE (Newcastle)
Although he was beaten twice, Bournemouth had to work hard to get past him. Before they scored, he was in top form, saving everything and keeping his team in it.
Newcastle was poor, but for much of the game, the keeper saved their blushes and was unlucky he didn’t get help from his teammates to at least save a point.
Shout out also to Liverpool’s Alisson. Luton’s Kaminski. Sheff Utd’s Foderingham and Villa’s Martinez. Utd’s
DEFENDER: OLEKSANDR ZINCHENKO (Arsenal)
It was touch and go with his teammate. However, you could see he was up for it from the first whistle with some lovely touches, passes and link-up play.
Not only was he more aware of his defensive duties, but he played the midfield pivot to perfection, starting attacks and keeping the ball.
He was involved in the opening goal. Then topped off his performance and sealed the game with a superbly executed volley.
Well done also to his teammate Saliba. Liverpool duo Van Dijk & Tsimikas. Chelsea duo T.Silva & James. Man City’s Akanji. Aston Villa’s Konsa. Brighton’s Gross. Everton’s Mykolenko. Man Utd’s Lindelof. Luton duo Lockyer & Mengi. Bournemouth duo Zabarnyi, Aarons.
MIDFIELDER: COLE PALMER (Chelsea)
Although this was a tough decision, I couldn’t ignore the young lad from Manchester who played a blinder against his boyhood club.
In what could be the game of the season, against the treble winners and the team he left just a few short months ago. It looked like he was playing with something to prove.
He had an inspired game against the likes of Rodri, Foden and Bernardo, who were all good. But he showed no fear and a cool head to dispatch the penalty to earn a good point.
Shout out also to his teammates Sterling, & Gallagher. Man City trio Foden, Bernardo & Rodri. Villa duo McGinn & Tielemans. West Ham trio Paqueta, Ward-Prose and Soucek. Spurs’ Johnson. Wolves’ Lemina. Arsenal’s Rice Burnley’s Brownhill. Crystal Palace’s Eze. Everton duo Doucoure & Gueye, also Bournemouth duo Cook & Christie.
FORWARD: DOMINIC SOLANKE (Bournemouth)
This was another very difficult decision, especially as several strikers notched two goals. However, I went with the Bournemouth man whose goals take him to seven, surpassing his last season tally.
He notched two against a Newcastle team, who beat Arsenal last week, and is usually very stingy in defence.
His first showed great awareness, movement and finishing ability. His second showed anticipation, instincts, and improvisation to contort his body and finish from a yard out.
Well done also to Man City’s Haaland. Liverpool duo Salah & Jota. Aston Villa’s Watkins. Fulham’s Jimenez. West Ham’s Bowen. Forest duo Elanga & Awoniyi. Arsenal’s Trossard. Crystal Palace’s Edouard and Wolves’s Sarabia.
MANAGER: GARY O’NEIL (Wolves)
This was another tough one, and, I would have given this to the Bournemouth manager, who would deserve it. However, I was swayed but the inspired substitution.
Wolves were much the better team against Spurs, but just could not finish. Without Neto, you weren’t sure if they would find a way. But he introduced Sarabia on 85 minutes, and a few minutes later, he had scored a stunning equaliser.
But this prompted the team to go for broke, and they won the game a few minutes later.
Shout out also to Liverpool’s Klopp. Everton’s Dyche and Bournemouth’s Iraola was very close to winning this.
UNSUNG HERO: PABLO SARABIA (Wolves)
There were several candidates for this, but I had to go for the super-sub in every sense of the word.
With his team bossing the game but missing the finishing touch, he was introduced in the 87th minute with his team a goal down.
By the 91st minute, he scored a stunning equaliser. Then in the 97th minute, he threaded a lovely ball in for Lemina to win it.
Well done also to Everton duo Doucoure & Gueye. West Ham duo Ward-Prowse and Bowen. Arsenal duo Rice and Saliba and Luton’s Lockyer.
GAME: CHELSEA 4-4 MAN CITY
In the game of the season, Man City got a dubious penalty from Cucurella’s slight tug on Haaland, who made no mistake from the spot (25). However, Chelsea were soon level when Silva headed in Gallagher’s corner at the near post (29).
Chelsea then took the lead when Dias failed to cut out a pass, allowing James to square for Sterling to tap into an empty net (37). Man City then equalised from a well-worked short corner that saw Bernardo’s cross from the left expertly headed home by Akanji (45+1).
In the second half, Man City went ahead after good on the right. Foden fed Alvarez, who squared for Haaland to bundle home (47). But Chelsea then equalised from Gallagher’s vicious shot from outside the box, which was parried by Ederson, for Jackson to control and finish (67).
Man City took the lead once again after Kovacic’s blocked shot came back to Rodri, whose rasping drive was deflected in (86). However, Chelsea got a late equaliser when Dias fouled Broja, and Palmer coolly slotted the penalty (90+5).
GOAL: SIMON ADINGRA (Brighton) vs Sheff Utd
Gilmour picked up the ball just inside the opposition’s half and played a ball to the left touchline for Adingra.
He then went on a mazy run, gliding past two Sheff Utd’s players until the edge of the box, where he slipped the ball past another defender to Buonanotte.
Just inside the Sheff Utd box, Buonanotte, flicked the ball behind him to play a lovely one, two with Adingra, who collected the ball and beat the keeper at the near post.
There was also a great goal from Wolves’ Sarabia.
FOOL: TOTTENHAM FC
Though Spurs were crippled by injuries and suspensions, they did well to score early at Wolves, who lost to the bottom club last week.
However, Wolves were clearly the better side, as Spurs only had one shot on goal in each half. But just when you thought they were going to hold on for a win.
They snatched defeat from the jaws of victory with an embarrassing capitulation, conceding two goals in stoppage time. FOOLS!
