WEEKLY AWARDS: April 1st – 7th 2025

TEAM: ASTON VILLA 

Only three teams picked up two wins this week, but from those three, Villa’s double was the most impressive to make it six straight victories. 

It began with a superb away victory, brushing Brighton aside with clinical finishing. Then, to boost their Champions League hopes, they followed it up with another impressive win against third-placed Forest. 

Well done to Wolves and Newcastle.

GOALKEEPER: ALEX PALMER (Ipswich)

By far, this was the most difficult decision this week, as no keeper had two above-average games, so I had to go with the best individual performance.

That went to the Ipswich keeper, whose heroics at Bournemouth allowed his team to come away with an unlikely away win. Although they sadly lost at home to Wolves a few days later. 

Shout out to Aston Villa’s Martinez. Everton’s Pickford. Man Utd’s Onana. Fulham’s Leno and Forest’s Sels. 

DEFENDER: MALO GUSTO (Chelsea)

There were only two teams to keep a clean sheet in both the games this week, and from the two, although it was touch and go with his teammate, Chelsea’s full-back was the most impressive. 

He put in a man-of-the-match performance at home to Spurs with energy up and down the right flank. Then at Brentford, he was equally solid, earning a point and a clean sheet which boosted Chelsea’s Champions League quest. 

Well done to his teammate Chalobah. Arsenal duo Saliba & Timber. Wolves trio Doherty, Agbadou and Toti. Man City duo Reilly and Dias. Villa’s Cash, Torres, Digne Konsa and Maatsen. Forest duo Murillo & Milenkovic. 

Ipswich duo O’Shea & Townsend. Newcastle foursome  Tripper, Burn, Livramento & Schar. Southampton’s Bednarek. Palace’s Lacroix, Fulham duo Anderson & Bassey. Everton’s Brainthwaite, also Man Utd duo Mazraoui and Yoro. 

MIDFIELDER: MORGAN ROGERS (Aston Villa)

In a crucial week for Villa, their young midfielder has hit form at the optimum time. He notched two assists in their away destruction of Brighton with his vision. 

He then put in a man-of-the-match performance and scored the opening goal in their victory over high-flying Notts Forest. 

Shout out to Forest duo Yates & Elanga. Wolves duo Andre & J. Gomez. Newcastle trio Tonali, Joelinton and Bruno. Ipswich trio Cajuste, Enciso and Broadhead. Chelsea’s Enzo. 

Man City duo Savihho & Grealish. Fulham duo Sessegnon & Iwobi. Bournemouth’s Franca. Spurs’ Johson. Liverpool’s Mac Allister. West Ham’s Wan Bissaka. Palace trio Eze, Lerma & Munoz. 

FORWARD: EVANILSON (Bournemouth)

Although his team did not win a game this week, he notched three goals and almost saved two points from losing positions in both games. Against Ipswich, it was his reaction finish to pull a goal back, which gave his team hope.

At West Ham, he showed more good reaction to open the scoring with a poacher goal. Then after West Ham scored two, he again reacted quickest to tap in the equaliser to save a point and make it four goals in three games. 

Well done Fulham’s Muniz. Palace’s Mateta. Arsenal trio Martinelli, Merino and Saka. Aston Villa trio Malen, Rashford and Asensio. Liverpool duo Diaz & Jota. 

Southampton’s Onuachu. Newcastle duo Isak & Barnes. Brentford’s Mbeumo Man City’s Marmoush. Brighton’s Welbeck. Ipswich’s Delap and Wolves’ duo Sarabia & Strand Larsen. 

MANAGER: UNAI EMERY (Aston Villa)

He is showing just how good a manager he is by transforming this Villa team. They are currently on a run of six straight league victories to put them in Champions League contention. 

Against Brighton, all three of his January signings scored then they toppled Forest, who are the surprise package of the season.

Shout out also to Wolves’ Pereira and Newcastle’s Howe. 

UNSUNG HERO: DONYELL MALEN (Aston Villa)

This was another quite difficult decision, however, I went with the Villa man who only arrived at Villa a few months ago. 

He was one of only three players to notch in both the games this week. He got the third to round off the game at Brighton, But his goal in the first half against Forest turned out to be the winner in a crucial game. 

Well done to his teammates Rashford and Asensio. Newcastle’s Murphy, Ipswich’s Delap. Wolves’s Larsen and Arsenal’s Merino. 

GAME1: BOURNEMOUTH 1-2 IPSWICH

Bournemouth naturally attacked early and Ipswich had to save one off the line before Ipswich took an early lead through Broadhead with their first shot on target (34)

Ipswich made it two in the second half from Delap, following a lovely one-two and thunderous finish (60), before Bournemouth pulled one back shortly after through Evanilson (67) but it was too late. 

GAME2: FULHAM 3-2 LIVERPOOL 

Liverpool opened the scoring when Gravenberch won the ball in midfield and Mac Allister picked up the loose ball to rifle one top corner (14). But Fulham were soon level when a cross bounced off Jones and Sessegnon was on hand to sweep home (23). 

It was soon two following several mistakes from Robertson who gave the ball away and Iwobi’s shot went in off the Scot (32). It was three a few minutes later when Muniz outmuscled Van Dijk to turn and tuck home (37).

In the second half, substitute Diaz pulled a goal back with a neat finish, but it was too little, too late. 

GOAL1: ANTHONY ELANGA (Notts Forest) vs Man Utd

From a Forest clearance inside the box, Elanga ran onto the ball just outside, controlled the ball with one touch and sprinted away from two Man Utd players. 

As he continued into the Man Utd half, Garnacho tried to tackle him but bounced off him. Elanga then continued into the Man Utd box, with two United players on either side trying to keep up, he coolly slotted a left-footed shot into the far bottom corner. 

GOAL2: AlEXIS MAC ALLISTER (Liverpool) vs Fulham 

After Gravenberch challenged for and just nicked a loose ball in midfield. Mac Allister showed nimble feet to pounce on the ball, outmuscle a player and surge forward. 

He then galloped towards goal and from about 20 yards out, steadied himself and hit a thunderous effort that arrowed into the top far corner. 

There was also a very good goal from Palace’s Mateta. 

FOOL: SOUTHAMPTON 

Leicester were lucky to not be here with their two defeats this week, but I sense they will be up here before long. 

However, it’s been a disastrous season for Southampton who have set an unwanted record of becoming the first team to be relegated with nine games to spare. FOOLS!