TEAM: NOTTINGHAM FOREST
This was a tough one as over the two games this week, five teams recorded maximum points. So it was always going to be a difficult decision.
However, from the five teams, I would say Forest had the harder fixtures. So, to come away with a massive win at Newcastle, then getting a win against a buoyant United after their win sealed this award.
Well done also to Liverpool. Chelsea. Man City and Wolves, who were very close to winning this.
GOALKEEPER: ALPHONSE AREOLA (West Ham)
He was the only keeper to get two clean sheets this week, which made it four clean sheets in a row.
Naturally helped by his defenders, but when he was called upon, especially at Arsenal, but equally against Brighton, he was equal to everything. He faced a combined 16 shots on goal in the two games.
Shout out also to Chelsea’s Petrovic. Burnley’s Trafford. Wolves’ Sa. Brighton’s Steele. Spurs’ Vicario. Newcastle’s Dubravka and Burnley’s Trafford.
Areola. Sa. Petrovic. Neto. Vicario. Trafford. Kaminski. Dubravka.
DEFENDER: JACK HINSHELWOOD (Brighton)
The teenager is really making a name for himself. More so that he is a midfielder but looks like a seasoned right-back.
He scored the opening goal against Spurs to set his team on their way. At West Ham, he defended well to help his team get their first clean sheet of the season in a man-of-the-match performance to earn a draw.
Well done also to his teammate Estupinan. Liverpool foursome Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk and Quansah. Sheff Utd’s Ahmedhodzic. Bournemouth’s foursome Smith, Zabarnyi, Senesi and Ouattara Forest duo Niakhate & Murillo.
Man City’s Ake, Chelsea’s Gusto. Palace duo Guehi & Mitchell. Wolves foursome Dawson. Kilman. Bueno & Toti. West Ham foursome Coufal, Ogbonna, Mavropanos & Emerson and Spurs duo Davies and Porro.
MIDFIELDER: PHIL FODEN (Man City)
Although there were plenty of candidates, the decision to move him central has really paid dividends, with two man-of-the-match performances in a week.
He seems more comfortable there and is starting to dictate games with his movement, touches and vision. In the two games this week, he recorded a goal and two assists.
Shout out also to his teammates B.Silva & Rodri. Villa foursome Dendoncker, McGinn, Diaby & Bailey. Liverpool due Endo & Jones. Man Utd duo Garnacho & Rashford. Chelsea duo Palmer & Mudryk. Sheff Utd’s McAtee. Luton Duo Barkley & Doughty.
Bournemouth duo Scott & Kluivert. Forest trio Dominguez Elanga & Gibbs-White Everton’s Harrison. Palace’s Eze. Wolves duo Lamina. & Belgrade. West Ham trio Ward-Prowse, Soucec & Kudus. Spurs’ duo Lo Celso & Sarr also Fulham trio Reid, Cairney & Palhinha.
FORWARD: MICHAEL OLISE (Crystal Palace)
Once again there were a few candidates, but he was the only forward to score in open play in both games this week.
He scored a lovely chest and volley at Chelsea, although in a losing effort. But after going a goal down. He equalised with a lovely controlled volley in midair from a yard. Then he weaved his way into the box to score Palace’s third to beat Brentford.
Well done also to Bournemouth duo Solanke & Sinisterra. Man Utd’s Hojlund. Liverpool foursome Salah, Jota, Nunez & Gakpo. Notts Forest’s Wood. Newcastle’s Isak. Man City’s Alvarez. Chelsea’s Madueke. Wolves duo Hee Chan & Cunha.
Spurs trio Son, Richarlison and Veliz. Villa’s Watkins. Luton duo Morris & Adebayo. Burnley duo Andouni & Foster. Brentford duo Wissa & Lewis Potter. Fulham’s Jimenez. Sheff Utd’s McBurnie. Brighton’s Joae Pedro and West Ham’s Bowen.
MANAGER: NUNO ESPIRITO SANTO (Notts Forest)
You can say it’s about that new manager bounce that’s helped Forest to two wins in a week.
But it seems more to it than that. Nuno has only been in charge for three games, and Forest are already looking like a new team with more of a pressing and front-foot attacking style of play.
The manager got his reward with a superb away win at Newcastle with a Wood hat-trick, then toppling Man Utd at home.
Shout out also to Liverpool’s Klopp. Chelsea’s Pochettino. Man City’s Guardiola and Wolve’s O’Neil who was close to winning this.
UNSUNG HERO: COLE PALMER (Chelsea)
This was another tough one due to the multitude of possibilities.
However, although he only played in one game this week, it was not only about his influence in that game but on the team in general this season.
He has been the one bright spot in a dark season for Chelsea. Against Luton, he again demonstrated his immense quality to be the difference with two goals and an assist.
Well done also to his teammate Madueke. Forest duo Wood & Gibbs-White. Luton’s Doughty. Bournemouth’s Scott. Liverpool’s Jota and West Ham duo Ogbonna & Mavropanos.
GAME1: MAN UTD 3-2 ASTON VILLA
Villa took an early lead when McGinn curled in a left-footed free kick from the right touchline, which evaded everyone and inside the far post (21).
Villa then made it two following a corner from the right by McGinn that was nodded back at the far post by Lenglet and back-heeled in by Dendoncker (26).
In the second half, Garnacho got a goal disallowed (48). Before Fernandez won the ball in midfield and threaded it to Rashford on the left, who squared for Garnacho to score (59).
Onana made a good save from Bailey, before Garnacho equalised with his left foot, just inside the box. After adjusting his body when the ball came back off a defender (71).
Man Utd then won it following a corner from the right. The ball bounced off a defender for Hojlund to instinctively volley in with his left foot (82).
There was also a good game at Bramall Lane where Luton beat Sheff Utd 3-2.
GAME2: LIVERPOOL 4-2 NEWCASTLE
Liverpool thought they had an early lead, but Diaz’s goal was disallowed for on offside (18). Dubravka then saved Salah’s penalty (22). Burn then had a goal disallowed for an earlier offside (36).
In the second half, Liverpool took the lead when Nunez found space on the right and squared for Salah to score (49). Newcastle equalised when Gordon slipped in Isak, who expertly finished over Alisson (54).
Liverpool then went ahead when Jota exchanged passes with Salah on the right and squared for Jones to tap home (74). Minutes later, Gakpo scrambled in Salah’s lovely outside of the boot cross from the right to make it three (78).
Newcastle pulled a goal back when Botman rose high to power in Longstaff’s corner from the right (81).
But the points were sealed when Jota through on goal went down under a Dubravka challenge, and Salah made no mistake this time from the spot (86).
There was also a good game at Villa Park where Aston Villa beat Burnley 3-2.
GOAL1: PERVIS ESTUPINAN (Brighton) vs Tottenham
Milner took a short corner to Estupinan, outside the box, just to the left of the goal.
He took one touch to steady himself and from 20 yards out, hit a thunderous effort, cutting across the ball that sent it swerving from right to left and crashing into the far corner of the net.
There was also a good goal from Bournemouth’s Sinisterra.
GOAL2: COLE PALMER (Chelsea) vs Luton
Jackson collected a pass with his back to goal, turned neatly to beat his marker and played a ball through the middle for Palmer to run onto.
Running towards the goal, the keeper came out to close the angle. Palmer rolled his studs over the ball to take it past the keeper. He then jinxed back to the left to evade a defender, and as another defender closed in, he quickly adjusted his feet to tap in with his right foot.
FOOL: ARSENAL FC
They were top on Christmas day. But just a week later on New Year’s Day, they sit fourth.
Two crippling defeats, at home and away at a crucial time of the season, have left them five points off the top.
With just one win in their last five league games, they have all rival fans bringing up that dreaded “B” word again. FOOLS!
