TEAM: BRIGHTON
Although this was a close decision, I had to give it to Brighton for their tremendous start to the season, with the debut of the youngest manager in the league.
They put Everton to the sword with a combination of slick, pass-and-move football and clinical finishing to destroy the Merseysiders.
Well done also to Man City, who were close to winning this. Aston Villa. Newcastle. Liverpool. Brentford. Arsenal and Man Utd.
GOALKEEPER: DAVID RAYA (Arsenal)
Although several goalkeepers performed well and faced more shots, the quality of the Arsenal keepers’ saves got him this award.
Wolves must be still wondering how they left the Emirates goalless, but Raya made two outstanding saves to keep them out.
Shout out also to Man Utd’s Onana. Brentford’s Flekken. Bournemouth’s Neto. Forest’s Sels. Leicester’s Hermansen. Ipswich’s Walton and Newcastle’s Pope.
DEFENDER: LISANDRO MARTINEZ (Man Utd)
The opening week of the season was not overflowing with great defender performances but the United man probably stood out the most.
United are a different team when he is in the side, he exudes confidence, composure, grit, strength, ability on the ball with that air of being an old-fashioned defender.
Well done also to his teammate Mazroui. Spurs’s Porro. Liverpool duo Alexander-Arnold and Konate. Arsenals Gabriel. Forest’s Boly. Bournemouth’s Zabarnyi. Newcastle trio Burn, Livramento & Kraft.
Brighton’s Dunk. Man City duo Lewis & Gvardiol, Brentford duo Collins & Ajar. Also, Villa duo Konsa & Torres.
MIDFIELDER: AMADOU ONANA (Aston Villa)
It took him just four minutes to make an impact on his debut, with a bullet header from a corner.
From then on he dominated the midfield and was every bit of the player Aston Villa thought they were getting in defence and attack. It was right up there for debuts.
Shout out also to his teammate Tielemans. Newcastle duo Bruno Guimaraes & Joelinton. Brighton trio Milner, Wieffer & Minteh. Arsenal’s Partey. Liverpool’s Gravenberch. Man City trio Kovacic, Bernardo & Doku. Spurs’s Maddison & Leicester’s Fatawi,
FORWARD: MO SALAH (Liverpool)
There were several forwards in the running for this but it has to go to the Liverpool man for his phenomenal consistency and record-breaking striking abilities.
Not only did he score for the ninth time on the opening day of the season to break the record. He also assisted one, to make an incredible 300 goal involvements in 350 games.
Well done also to his teammate Jota. Arsenal’s Saka & Havertz. Man City’s Haaland. Brighton trio Mitoma, Welbeck & Adingra. Villa’s Duran. Man Utd’s Zirkzee. Brentford duo Mbeumo & Wissa. Forest’s Wood. Bournemouth’s Semenyo and Leicester’s Vardy.
MANAGER: EDDIE HOWE (Newcastle)
This award was probably the most difficult this week. I could and maybe should have given it to Brighton’s youngest manager in the Premier League for his superb debut.
However, I went with the Newcastle man who, although playing at home against a newly promoted team. He had to play for over an hour with ten men and organised his team so well, they scored, kept a clean sheet and won the game.
As stated, shout out also to Brighton’s Fabian Hurzeler. Also, Man City’s Guardiola. Liverpool’s Slot. Villa’s Emery. Arsneal’s Arteta. Brentord’s Frank and Man Utd’s Ten Hag.
UNSUNG HERO: JOELINTON (Newcastle)
I had a few to choose from for this award. However, not only did he get the all-important goal, with ten men with a good finish.
But he put in tireless running, winning tackles, supporting his teammates, and showed great discipline and defensive awareness to help his team to a good opening day point.
Well done also to his teammate Guimaraes. Brighton duo Milner & Welbeck. Liverpool’s Alexander-Arnold. Man Utd’s Zirkee, also Arsenal duo Saka & Havertz.
GAME: WEST HAM 1-2 ASTON VILLA
Aston Villa opened the scoring very early when Onana powered in a near post header from Tieleman’s left-sided corner (4),
However, West Ham equalised in the first half when Rodgers fouled Soucek and Paqueta made no mistake from the spot (37).
But Villa won it late in the second half following a good move involving Ramsey, Diane and Tielemans whose cut back from the left was expertly finished, first time by Duran (79).
GOAL: MATEO KOVACIC (Man City) vs Chelsea
Kovacic picked up the ball just inside the Chelsea half and glided past two Chelsea midfielders to the edge of the box. Set himself, and from just outside the box, curled a lovely effort inside the near post.
FOOL: EVERTON FC
Once again, I had several candidates for this award. Chelsea got away with it playing Man City. Southampton was poor against ten men. Also, Ben Brereton’s atrocious play acting, getting Schar sent off, and ref Craig Pawson for allowing it to happen.
However, it’s another season but the same old Everton. Their hopes and dreams were crushed on day one, with another awful display in front of their fans at the hands of Brighton.
