Taken from the accumulative weekly award winners throughout the season
TEAM: LIVERPOOL
Unlike the season, this was a close-run thing. It was a three-horse race, but surprisingly, only one of the three finished in the top four of the Premier League, the Champions, Liverpool, who ended the season with six individual weekly awards.
In joint second place, with five awards each, were Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth. In third place with four awards was Chelsea.
GOALKEEPER: JORDON PICKFORD (Everton)
The Everton keeper was the runaway winner in this category, winning two more awards than his competitors, to end the season on six individual awards, an all-time joint record.
Arsenal’s David Raya was second with four awards. In joint third came Crystal Palace’s Henderson. Notts Forest’s Sels. Fulham’s Leno. Brighton’s Verbruggen. Bournemouth’s Kepa and Ipswich’s Palmer both have two awards each.
DEFENDER: DEAN HUIJSEN (Bournemouth)
There were only six defenders who won multiple awards this season. From those six, the Bournemouth defender was the only player to win three, which was one more than his rivals.
In joint second place were Man Utd’s Martinez. Liverpool’s Konate. Arsenal’s Gabriel. Crystal Palace’s Guehi and Notts Forest’s Milenkovic.
Twenty defenders were in joint third place, with one individual defender award this season.
MIDFIELDER: COLE PALMER (Chelsea)
Winning the season midfielder award in back-to-back seasons, the Chelsea man has made a statement. However, this season, it was his early form that secured it, as he ended the season with four awards, three of them coming in the early part of the season.
In joint second place, each received two awards: Aston Villa’s Onana. Notts Forest’s duo Hudson-Odoi & Elanga. Tottenham’s Maddison. Bournemouth’s Kluivert and Liverpool’s Szoboszlai.
There were eighteen other midfielders who finished joint third with one award each.
FORWARD: MOHAMED SALAH (Liverpool)
The forward award was surprisingly close; however, it will come as no surprise that the Liverpool man, Mohamed Salah, takes this with four individual awards for the season. He also claimed two unsung hero awards.
In second, on three awards was last season’s winner, the Aston Villa forward Oliver Watkins. In joint third with two awards each was Man City’s Haaland. Notts Forest’s Wood. Tottenham’s Solanke. Brentford’s’ Mbeumo ‘ and Wolves’ Cunha.
Seventeen other players claimed an individual forward award this season.
MANAGER: NUNO ESPIRITO SANTO (Nottingham Forest)
Due to how the season transpired, it may or may not come as a surprise to see the Forest manager claiming this award for the season. He ended with six awards, two more than his competitors.
In joint second place on two awards each were Bournemouth’s Iraola. Brighton’s Hurzeler and Liverpool’s Slot. In third place, on three awards each were Arsenal’s Arteta and Chelsea’s Maresca.
This season, five managers failed to claim a manager award.
UNSUNG HERO: DEJAN KULUSEVSKI (Tottenham)
The Unsung Hero award is always one of the most difficult decisions, as there are always very few multiple-award winners.
This season was no different, as only two players claimed multiple awards in this category. In the end, I give it to the Tottenham man who finished the season on two awards, along with Liverpool man Salah, but as Salah had already claimed the forward award and Kulusveski’s two awards were more widely spread, he claimed the award for the season.
GAME1: EVERTON 2-2 LIVERPOOL
In the last Merseyside derby at Goodison. You knew there was going to be drama. Beto opened the scoring from a controversial free kick, with a well timed run and finish. However, Mac Allister quickly equalised with an equally good, timed run and header.
In the second half, Salah scored to give Liverpool the lead, following up play to score a rebound. After a thrilling back and forth half, in the 90+8 minute, Tarkowski found space in the box and volleyed into the roof of the net to send Goodison into raptures.
GAME2: 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.
GAME3: MAN CITY 2-2 ARSENAL
In a game with almost everything Haaland scored his 100th goal equalling the record for the quickest to it with a good finish (9). However, Calafiori marked his debut with a lovely finish from the edge of the box (22).
Gabriel then powered in a header to put Arsenal 2-1 up (45+1). But the game turned when Trossard’s barge then booting the ball away saw him get a second yellow and red (45+8).
Just when you thought Arsenal were going to hold out for a memorable victory, Stones got a very late equaliser following a corner (90+8).
GOAL1: KAORU MITOMA (Brighton) vs Chelsea
From a long goal kick from Verbruggen that cleared everybody and set Mitoma chasing towards goal with a defender.
He watched the ball all the way and let it drop, to control expertly on the in step. He then then took a touch, cut inside the defender and curled a low effort into the bottom far corner.
GOAL2: OMAR MARMOUSH (Man City) vs Bournemouth
Marmoush picked up the ball on the half turn, just a yard from the centre circle and moved towards the goal.
As he got to about 30 yards from goal, unchallenged, he decided to let fly. He hit a thunderous effort that arrowed into the top near corner, smacking off the inside of the post and in.
GOAL3: JHON DURAN (Aston Villa) vs Everton
In a pulsating game, Everton took a two-goal lead only for Villa to peg them back.
In the 76th minute, Duran picked up the ball 25 yards from the goal. With nothing on and nobody pressuring him, he let fly with an unstoppable, rasping drive that thundered into the top corner of the net for fitting winner to a tremendous game.
FOOL: SOUTHAMPTON FC
It was three horse race for this unwanted title this season with three teams finishing the season on five awards. From those three, only one were relegated so, I was forced to give it to Southampton who ended the season rock bottom and just avoiding record low points.
However, the two other teams who finished the season with five fool awards were Everton, where three of these awards came in the first three week’s of the season and Tottenham who finished the season with a European trophy.
I am sure you will not be surprised to hear that in third place with four awards came Man Utd.
