TEAM: CHELSEA
In a turbulent season, Chelsea seems to be turning the corner finally. They benefitted from playing two games in four days, scoring seven and conceding none.
Against Spurs, it was a rare professional performance in a comfortable 2-0 victory. Then, full of confidence, they steamrolled West Ham in a 5-0 romp.
Well done also to Newcastle. Man City. Arsenal. Crystal Palace. Liverpool. Brighton and Notts Forest.
GOALKEEPER: ROBIN OLSEN (Aston Villa)
It was a losing effort, but it was not for the want of trying, as his team, possibly suffering from a Europen hangover, had a rare bad game.
Brighton enjoyed much of the game and all of the chances. However, they couldn’t get past the Villa keeper and only won the game following a penalty he saved but Pedro converted the rebound.
Shout out also to Eveton’s Pickford. Fulham’s Leno. Brentford’ Flekken. Chelsea’s Petrovic and Forest’s Sels.
DEFENDER: ANDY ROBERTSON (Liverpool)
He has scored in back-to-back games after getting the second against Spurs. Also, he started the move with great defending that led to the third goal.
He was solid as ever throughout and it should be mentioned after he came off, Spurs got their two consolation goals.
Well done also to Chelsea’s foursome Chalobah, Badiashile, Cucurella & Silva. Arsenal’s Saliba. Palace’s Richards. Man City’s Gvardiol. Forest duo Boly & Murillo and Fulham’s Diop.
MIDFIELDER: DECLAN RICE (Arsenal)
As usual, there were several candidates for this, and it was the most difficult decision this week. However, I went with the Arsenal man driving his team to the title.
He demonstrated majestic box-to-box ability with his tireless running. Created the second goal, with a depth touch to calm the nerves. Then he sealed the victory with another lung-bursting run to get himself into position and a clinical finish at an angle.
Shout out also to Chelsea’s foursome Caicedo, Palmer, Gallagher & Madueke. Forest duo Hudson-Odoi & Yates. Palace trio Munoz, Mitchell & Wharton. Liverpool’s Elliot. Arsenal’s Odegaard.
Newcastle foursome Murphy, Longstaff, Guimaraes & Gordon. Man City’s Foden. Brighton’s Adingra and Luton’s Chong.
FORWARD: ERLING HAALAND (Man City)
This was a pretty easy one, four goals against Wolves to make it six Man City hat-tricks in just two seasons.
Yes, it was two penalties, but one of those he won himself. The other two were typical clinical finishes, and such is his thirst for goals, he was livid at being taken off before he could make it five.
Well done also to his teammate Alvarez. Chelsea’s Jackson. Palace duo Olise & Mateta. Arsenal duo Saka & Trossard. Liverpool duo Salah & Gakpo. Newcastle duo Isak & Wilson.
Luton’s Adebayo. Everton’s Calvert-Lewin. Spurs duo Son & Richarlison. Wolves’ Hwang. Sheff Utd’s Brereton and Brighton’s Pedro.
MANAGER: MAURICIO POCHETTINO (Chelsea)
He has been under fire for most of the season, and he must know it has not worked for him, but the last few weeks may buy him another crack at it.
From looking out of any hope of salvaging the season, their four wins in their last eight games and back-to-back victories. Combined with their rivals faltering, he has moved them right back into European football contention.
Shout out also to Palace’s Glasner. Arseanl’s Arteta. Man City’s Guardiola. Newcastle’s Howe. Liverpool’s Klopp. Brighton’s De Zerbie and Forest’s Espirito Santo.
UNSUNG HERO: NICHOLAS JACKSON (Chelsea)
He benefitted from playing two games in four days. However, he is another who has been hit and miss this season but may have changed some minds in the last few weeks.
Although he still needs to convince, scoring three goals in his last two games, with good runs & finishes, added to his tireless work rate and link-up play, shows he has something.
Well done also to his teammate Maduake. Palace duo Olise & Mateta. Forest’s Hudson-Odoi and Liverpool’s Elliot.
GAME: LIVERPOOL 4-2 TOTTENHAM
Liverpool opened the scoring early after several chances where Romero saved off the line from Elliot. However, Gakpo received the ball on the left, cut inside and put a lovely right-footed cross to the back post, where Salah’s header beat Vicario at the near post (16).
On the stroke of half-time, it was two when Robertson tapped in from a yard following Salah’s shot that was saved after being set up by Robertson (45). In the second half, Gakpo made it three, heading in Elliot’s cross from the right again at the near post (50).
Elliot then made it four, collecting a ball from Salah and riffling an unstoppable effort into the top corner (59). Spurs made the scoreline respectable when Richarlson touched in Johnson’s cross from the right (72).
Five minutes later, Richarlison touched the ball back for Son in acres of space in the box, who made no mistake (77). There was still time for Allison to make a good save from Richarlison and Gomez to save off the line to maintain their two-goal lead.
GOAL: HARVEY ELLIOT (Liverpool) vs Tottenham
Alexander-Arnold played a cross-field pass from his half to Robertson on the left. He then played it back across to Salah on the right, just inside the box.
As he held up play, Elliot joined and received the ball from Salah just outside the box. He skipped past a player, set himself, and from just outside the dee, curled a thunderous effort into the far top corner.
There were also a good goal from Forest’s Hudson-Odoi.
FOOL: MANCHESTER UNITED
West Ham, Sheff Utd & Spurs were close. However, although injuries were a factor in their poor performance, the missing players should not be an excuse, and pride should also come into play.
But the United players who were on the pitch, and still some very experienced players, showed no pride, fight, or passion and didn’t even seem bothered by Palace doing the double over them for the first time with an embarrassing 4-0 drubbing. FOOLS
