TEAM: CHELSEA
They were one of three teams to win two games this week. However, both their games were away, scoring a combined nine goals.
They destroyed lacklustre Southampton, hitting them for five in midweek. Then, after conceding two early goals, they came roaring back to score four at Spurs and move into second place in the league.
Well done also to Bournemouth and Aston Villa.
GOALKEEPER: BERND LENO (Fulham)
It is always hard to pick an outstanding individual from a double-game week of football, and even more so for a goalkeeper in a top league full of attacking quality.
But overall, the Fulham keeper, playing against two attacking teams in Brighton and Arsenal and feared well, conceding just a set-piece goal and one rocket.
Shout out also to Arsenal’s Raya. Everton’s Pickford. Tottenham’s Forster. Palace’s Henderson. Leicester’s Hermansen and Chelsea’s Jorgensen
DEFENDER: ANTONEE ROBINSON (Fulham)
I have become increasingly impressed with this full-back, who is possibly in his prime, and no disrespect to Fulham, but he could play at a higher level.
He was influential in both games this week against good wingers. In this modern time of football, it’s rare to say that he brings as much in attack as he does in defence.
Well done also to Bournemouth duo Huijsen & Kerkez. Everton foursome Young. Tarkowski. Branthwaite. Mykolenko. Arsenal duo Timber & Saliba. Chelsea’s Disasi. Brighton’s Lamptey.
Liverpool’s Alexander-Arnold. Villa duo Cash & Digne. Palace duo Lacroix & Guehi. Newcastle’s Schar. Forest duo Milenkovic & Murillo. Man City’s Dias. Coady’s Leicester and Brentford’s Collins.
MIDFIELDER: COLE PALMER (Chelsea)
Although there were several candidates to choose from, the Chelsea man scored in both games this week and was the driving force in what now looks like a title challenge.
He was involved in one and scored another in their drubbing at Southampton. Then in his team’s comeback victory, he made one and scored two very cool penalties, the second a panenka.
Shout out also to his teammates Madueke, Sancho and Enzo. Bournemouth duo Tavernier & Samenyo. Everton duo Mangala & McNeil. Man City trio Bernardo, De Bruyne & Doku. Villa’s Rodgers. Fulham’s Iwobi. West Ham trio Bowen, Soucek & Summerville. Ipswich’s Chaplin.
Brighton duo Baleba & Minteh. Newcastle’s Gordon. Liverpool’s Jones. Leicester trio El Khannouss, Buonanotte & De Cordova-Reid. Forest’s Gibbs-White. Brentford’s Damsgaard. Palace tiro Eze, Mitchell & Eze. Southampton’s Aribo & Arsenal’s Rice and Wolves’ Doherty.
FORWARD: JAMIE VARDY (Leicester)
He was one of only two forwards to score in both games this week and it’s amazing to think he is still doing it at the age of 37.
In midweek, he bagged the first to set his new manager on the way to a debut victory. Then, at the weekend, while two goals down, he notched in the 86th minute and then assisted in stoppage time to rescue a point.
Well done also to his teammate Daka. Liverpool’s Salah. Newcastle’s Isak. Chelsea’s Nkanku. Villa duo Watkins & Duran. Crystal Palace’s Mateta. Fulham’s Jimenez.
Everton’s Calvert-Lewin. Bournemouth’s Ouattara. Tottenham’s Solanke. Brentford trio Mbeumo, Wissa & Schade. Man City’s Haaland. Man Utd’s Haaland. Forest’s Wood. West Ham’s Fullkrug and
MANAGER: ENZO MARESCA (Chelsea)
Although they have spent over a billion in three transfer windows’ and effectively have a squad worthy of mounting a title challenge, nobody was sure what they would get.
However, Maresca has got the squad looking like a force and with two impressive away wins this week, playing good football and scoring plenty of goals, the most in the league, they must now be taken seriously as title challengers.
Shout out also to Everton’s Dyche. Fulham’s Silva. Palace’s Glasner. Villa’s Emery. Leicester’s Van Nistelrooy and Bournemouth’s Iraola who was close to winning this.
UNSUNG HERO: MAXENCE LACROIX (Crystal Palace)
In his first season at the club, he has fit into the team seamlessly and is already looking like a very good signing.
He has performed consistently, showing his defensive qualities this season and wasted no time settling into the Premier League. This week, he picked the best opponents for his first Palace goal against Man City, which in the end, got them a point.
Well done also to Chelsea’s Enzo. Arsenal’s Saliba. Newcastle’s Isak. Leicester’s El Khannouss. Fulham’s Iwobi and Forest’s Wood.
GAME1: NEWCASTLE 3-3 LIVERPOOL
Newcastle took the lead with a thunderous Isak effort (35) but cancelled out in the second half with a neat Jones finish (50).
Gordon restored Newcastle’s lead (62), but just minutes later, Salah pulled Liverpool level again with an instinctive finish (68).
Liverpool then thought they won it late from Salah’s neat touch, turn and finish (83). However, in the 90th minute, Kelleher misjudged a free kick to allow Schar to steal in at the back and somehow squeeze in from virtually the touchline.
GAME2: TOTTENHAM 3-4 CHELSEA
Spurs took a crazy early two-goal lead, capitalising from two Cucurella slips, to allow Solanke (8) and then Kulusevski (11) to score. Chelsea then pulled a goal back from Sancho’s run and finish (17).
In the second half, Bissouma fouled Caicedo, and Palmer made no mistake from the spot (61). Chelsea then took the lead when Enzo smashed in after Palmer caused havoc in the box (73).
Palmer made it four from the spot with a penenka (84), when Sarr fouled him, before Son got a late consolation (90+4).
There was also a good game at Old Trafford where Forest beat Man Utd 3-2. and At Brentford, who beat Newcastle 4-2.
GOAL1: MORGAN RODGERS (Aston Villa) vs Brentford
The move started with a lovely turn by Kamara in his half. He then fed Rodgers who moved forward into the Brentford half unchallenged.
Rodgers then fed Watkins on the left, just inside the Brentford box. He held up play, then laid it back for Rodgers to set himself and curl an unstoppable effort over the keeper into the far corner.
GOAL2: TARIQ LAMPTEY (Brighton) vs Leicester
Baleba played a cross-field pass from right to left for Estupinan. He then galloped down the left and put a cross into the box that eluded everyone.
Lamptey then picked up the loose ball just to the right of the box. He cut inside, took another touch, then curled a superb left-footed effort into the far corner.
FOOL: TOTTENHAM FC
Wolves’ Dawson and Southampton’s Stephens’ can count themselves lucky not to be here. As should Man Utd, who lost both games this week, although they can have the excuse of still warming to their new manager.
But Spurs are in their second season. Before this week, they had already lost five out of thirteen. In midweek they were poor at Bournemouth, losing 1-0. Then worse, against their fierce London rivals to let a two-goal lead slip for a 4-3 home defeat to Chelsea. FOOLS
