TEAM: CRYSTAL PALACE
With probably one of the hardest decisions this season, there were four excellent away wins this week, and it was extremely hard to separate one.
However, weighing up the options, of the four, the fewest people would have predicted an away win for Palace, which snapped Brighton’s unbeaten home record.
Well done also to Notts Forest & Newcastle. And, Manchester United. Ipswich and Tottenham were all close to winning this.
GOALKEEPER: JORDON PICKFORD (Everton)
There is no question that any goalkeeper going to face Arsenal at the Emirates will be busy and will have to have a good game for his team to get something.
Although Everton was not overrun, they still had to defend, and their keeper still had to pull off several vital saves to earn an impressive and valuable away point.
Shout out also to Villa’s Martinez, Leicester’s Hermansen, Man Utd’s Onana. Brentford’s Flekken. Also, West Ham’s Fabianski and Palace’s Henderson were both close to winning this.
DEFENDER: NIKOLA MILENKOVIC (Notts Forest)
Not only has the Forest defender been producing consistent performances this season at back. He has now notched back-to-back goals in back-to-back victories.
His goal against Villa came at a vital time, to equalise in the 87th minute, to allow his team to go on and win it in stoppage time. This is added to stifling Villa’s attack.
Well done also to his teammate Murillo. Fulham’s Robinson. Everton foursome Young, Mykolenko, Tarkowski & Branthwaite. Liverpool duo Gomez & Gravenberch. Man Utd trio Martinez. Maguire & De Ligt.
Arsenal duo Gabriel & Saliba. Ipswich’s O’Shea. Newcastles’ Hall. Palace trio Chalobah. Guehi & Lacroix. Spurs duo Spence & Gray. Chelsea’s Cucurella. Also, West Ham duo Kilman & Mavropanos.
MIDFIELDER: ISMAILLA SARR (Crystal Palace)
In what was a very surprising away win for this team, he was the difference maker with two goals and involved in the other.
He played like a man possessed and took both his goals very well. The first was a towering header at the back post, the second after great anticipation, awareness and a clinical finish.
Shout out also to his teammates Mitchell & Hughes. Everton’s Gueye. Ipswich’s Taylor. Forest’s Anderson. Newcastle’s Murphy. Man Utd duo Fernandez & Amad. Forest’s Elanga.
Spurs duo Maddison, Kulusevski & Sarr, Liverpool’s Gravenberch, Bournemouth duo Christie & Semenyo. And West Ham duo Paqueta & Kudus and Fulham’s Pereira.
FORWARD: HEUNG-MIN SON (Tottenham)
He only played 45 minutes, but it was the most impressive 45-minute performance of the week.
He notched one goal, with a clinical finish, assisted two and was involved in another in a first-half demolition of Southampton. Coming off at half-time was probably why Spurs failed to score in the second half.
Well done also to Liverpool trio Gakpo, Jota & Salah. Newcastle duo Isak & Gordon. Fulham’s Muniz. Ipswich’s Delap. Villa’s Duran. Chelsea’s Jackson. Wolves’ Cunha and Brentford’s Mbeumao.
MANAGER: RUBIN AMORIM (Man Utd)
In only his seventh game for the club, he became the first United manager to win their first Manchester derby, what’s more, he did it at Man City.
He went with the bold move to leave the likes of Rashford & Garnacho out of the team. After City’s early goal, they were heading for a victory, but Amorim made positive changes late and got his rewards with a penalty in the 88th minute and a stoppage-time winner.
Shout out also to Ipswich’s McKenna. Spurs’s Postecoglou. Palace’s Glasner. And Forest’s Santo Espirto.
UNSUNG HERO: RYAN GRAVENBERCH (Liverpool)
He has been a revelation for Liverpool, not only one of their best performers but one of the best in the Premier League and possibly in Europe.
But this week, he added another string to his bow as after Liverpool went down to 10 men, he was moved to centre back and put in a man-of-the-match performance, then was moved back to centre midfield on his own and never looked overrun in the game.
Well done also to Palace’s Henderson. West Ham’s Fabianski. Ipswich’s Taylor. Everton’s Young, Man Utd’s Amad and Spurs duo Spence & Maddison.
GAME: LIVERPOOL 2-2 FULHAM
Fulham took a surprise early lead when Iwobi crossed for Pereira, to stretch and get the ball in from a tight angle (11). Liverpool were dealt a blow when Robertson’s tackle on Wilson saw him get his marching orders (17).
Liverpool equalised in the second half when Salah crossed for Gakpo, who converted with a diving header (47). Fulham took the lead following good work from Robinson on the left, and his cross was turned in by Muniz (76).
However, Liverpool saved a point when Nunez found Jota, who expertly turned his marker and slotted home (87).
GOAL: JAMES MADDISON (Tottenham) vs Southampton
Son picked up the ball on the left and played a lovely outside-of-the-boot pass down the left channel for Maddison to run onto.
He got to the ball just on the touchline, expertly cut inside his marker and from an acute angle, fired a shot high into the roof, just inside the far post.
FOOL: RUSSELL MARTIN (Southampton)
Needless to say, although there were several candidates, including Wolves’ Gary O’Neil, & Man City’s Nunez. Rock-bottom Southampton fell to a crushing home defeat to Tottenham, and this ultimately cost him his job.
In his failure to change, he leaves Southampton with the joint second fewest points at this stage in Premier League history. So, he really cannot argue with his departure. FOOL!
