TEAM: TOTTENHAM
Although Spurs seem to be Man City’s bogey team and have a good recent record against them, after the opening day fixtures, most were still expecting a City win.
However, though they had to defend for much of the game, they did it stoutly and hit City with the old “smash and grab” on the break, twice, for another monumental victory.
Well done also to Brentford, Arsenal, Burnley, Everton, Bournemouth and lastly Chelsea, who were close to winning this.
GOALKEEPER: JORDAN PICKFORD
Despite there not being many standout goalkeeper performances this week, the Everton man still stole the show, particularly with the penalty save.
To add to that, he was steady and reliable and had to make two good saves when called upon to make it a very comfortable opening game win in their new stadium.
Shout out also to Tottenham’s Vicario, who was close to winning this, as well as Brentford’s Kelleher and Chelsea’s Sanchez.
DEFENDER: JURRIEN TIMBER (Arsenal)
Not only for his two goals from set pieces, where Arsenal are so dangerous, which swayed this decision.
But he once again proved to be a solid full-back, who is competent on the ball and difficult to beat. Adding goals to his impeccable defensive qualities made this an easy one.
Well done also to his teammate Calafiori. Chelsea duo Chalobah & Cucurella. Spurs foursome Spence, Van de Ven, Romero & Porro. Liverpool duo Van Dijk & Szoboslai.
Brentford duo Collins & Lewis-Potter. Burnley duo Walker & Esteve. Everton’s Garner. Man Utd’s Yoro and Fulham duo Anderson & Tete.
MIDFIELDER: JAIDON ANTHONY (Burnley)
The Burnley midfield took centre stage in the second half, and he grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck to get his team their first three points.
Starred with a lovely flick on the edge of the box to set up his captain to curl one home. Then he sealed the game late when he rounded the keeper, kept his nerve to finish from just inside the box.
Shout out to his teammates Cullen and Ugochukwu. Spurs foursome Johnson, Kudus, Sarr & Paulinha. Chelsea foursome Caicedo, Enzo, Neto, and Estevao. Liverpool duo Gravenberch & Szoboslai. Newcastle’s Bruno Guimaraes.
Brentford’s Damsgaard. Bournemouth Tavernier & Semenyo. Arsenal’s Rice. Palace’s Sarr. Forest’s Hudson-Odoi. Everton’s Grealish, also Fulham duo Iwobi & Smith Rowe.
FORWARD: JOAO PEDRO (Chelsea)
One goal and two assists in his second Premier League game for his new team is not bad going.
It helped that he had the World Club Cup to embed into the squad, and West Ham paid the price with the Chelsea forward at the centre of most they did well.
Well done to Brentford’s Outtara. Arsenal duo Gyokeres & Saka. Bournemouth’s Evanilson. Newcastle’s Osula and Liverpool duo Ekitike and Ngumoha.
MANAGER: THOMAS FRANK (Tottenham)
The Spurs forward joined a small, unique but very special group of two other managers to defeat Man City away with two different clubs.
His team set up very well to defend deep and hit City on the break. Their high pressure caused all sorts of problems, and they were clinical when the rare chances came for a memorable victory.
Shout out to Chelsea’s Maresca. Arsenal’s Arteta and Brentford’s Andrews.
UNSUNG HERO: DOMINIK SZOBOSZLAI (Liverpool)
A difficult decision as there were a few candidates, but I went with the Liverpool player, who started the game at right back and performed admirably in difficult circumstances.
He moved further forward later in the game and made the most telling contribution without touching the ball with that intelligent step over to allow 16-year-old Ngumoha to win the game.
Well done also to Everton duo Grealish and Ndaye. Chelsea’s Esevao. Brentford’s Outtara. Burnley’s Cullen. Spurs duo Sarr & Paulinha and Newcastle’s Bruno Guimaraes.
GAME: NEWCASTLE 2-3 LIVERPOOL
Liverpool took the lead against the run of play when Gravenberch fired inside the near post from outside the box (35). The game took a turn on the stroke of half-time when Gordon got a straight red for a terrible challenge on Van Dijk. (45+3)
Early in the second half, the game looked over when Ekitike’s pinpoint finish made it two (46). However, Newcastle rallied as they first got a goal back through Bruno Guimaraes’ header (57), then sub Osula stole in at the back post from a deep free kick to equalise (88).
However, just when you thought Newcastle were going to earn a dramatic point, sub Ngumoha was left unmarked following Szoboslai’s brilliant dummy, to slam home, first time to win the game in dramatic fashion (90+10).
GOAL: RIO NGUMOHA (Liverpool vs Newcastle
All 11 outfield players contributed to this goal. Starting from the keeper and then the back line. The triangle on the right between Elliot, Gravenberch and then Chiesa found the ball to Salah.
His first-time ball with his right foot sent it low across the box to Szoboszlai, who showed tremendous awareness to dummy, for Rio Ngumoha to hit a crisp, first-time effort that curled into the far corner.
There was also a good goal from West Ham’s Paqueta.
FOOL: ANTHONY GORDON (Newcastle)
There were several candidates, West Ham again, also, Bruno Fernandes for that embarrassing penalty miss, but I went with the Newcastle man, whose tackle was as scandalous as it was dangerous.
He deserved a red card in a game where Newcastle were the better side, even when they went down to 10 men. He left everyone thinking what could have been. However, Gordon has this in his game; it’s not the first time he has let his team down, and I suspect it won’t be the last. FOOL!
