TEAM: CRYSTAL PALACE
Although there were several this week who could have won this and would fully deserve it, I could not go with the only unbeaten team left in the league.
The scoreline and late win flattered Liverpool as they should have been out of sight by half-time, but it was a testament to them that after conceding a late equaliser, they won it late.
Well done to Brentford. Sunderland. Man City. Arsenal. Aston Villa and Brighton.
GOALKEEPER: ROBIN ROEFS (Sunderland)
The young keeper has put in some very good performances this season already, which has contributed to Sunderland’s good start.
At Forest, he was again exceptional with some excellent saves to keep the home team at bay and earn a very good clean sheet and a precious away win.
Shout out to Brentford’s Kelleher, who was very close to winning this. Also, Liverpool’s Allison, Crystal Palace’s Henderson and Bournemouth’s Petrovic.
DEFENDER: GABRIEL (Arsenal)
This was a difficult decision, but I went with the Arsenal match winner. Naturally, for the winning goal, but also for his temperament after a thrilling battle with the Newcastle forward.
He got away with raising his hands on the forward after losing to the forward for the goal, and must have felt responsible. However, after that, he gradually got the better of the forward and then had the ultimate last word with a thrilling last-second winner.
Well done to his teammate, Timber. Brentford duo Kayode & Van den Berg. Palace trio Guehi, Richards & Lacroix. Sunderland duo Alderete & Mukiele.
Wolves’ Bueno. Leeds’s Rodon. Man City’s Nunes. Brighont’s De Cuyper. Bournemouth’s Senesi, West Ham’s Diouf. Villa duo Konsa & Digne. Also, Everton’s Keane.
MIDFIELDER: JOHN MCGINN (Aston Villa)
With his team struggling for goals and performances this season, they needed their captain to pull them back, and that’s exactly what he did.
He scored the winner in Europe this week. Then, after Villa got an equaliser late in the first half, he put his team ahead early in the second and was involved in the third shortly after, for a first league win of the season.
Shout out to his teammate Buendia. Arsenal duo Rice & Eze. Man City’s Doku. Spurs’ Paulinha, Chelsea’s Enzo. Brighton’s Minteh, Burnley’s Anthony.
Sunderland’s Xhaka. Leeds’s Longstaff. Bournemouth’s Semenyo, Brentford trio Henderson, Yarmoliuk and Jensen, Wolves’ Andre and West Ham’s Bowen
FORWARD: IGOR THIAGO (Brentford)
I had to think about this for a while, but in the end, I went with the Brentford man who demonstrated some clinical finishing.
His first goal was a thunderous strike that hit the inside of the post. His second was more conventional but showcased his anticipation and awareness..
Well done to his teammate, Schade. Brighton’s Welbeck. Crystal Palace duo Sarr & Nketiah. Man City’s Haaland. Newcastle’s Woltemade.
Villa’s Watkins. Fulham’s Jimenez. Man Utd’s Sesko. Liverpool’s Chiesa and Bournemouth’s Kroupi,
MANAGER: OLIVER GLASNER (Crystal Palace)
It’s amazing to think how he keeps excelling and raising the levels of his Crystal Palace team, despite losing their best players.
His team ended Liverpool’s 100% record and looked more like the champions as they gave Liverpool all sorts of problems. Then, just when you thought all their hard work would end in a point, his sub Nketiah won it at the death to remain as the only unbeaten team.
Shout out also to Brentford’s Andrews, Arsenal’s Arteta and Sunderland’s Le Bris, who were all close to winning this.
UNSUNG HERO: CAOIMHIM KELLEHER (Brentford)
There were several candidates for this award, but I chose the Brentford man who just missed out on the keeper award.
In a memorable home win, he made several top saves, but his penalty save at 2-1 with 15 minutes to go from Fernandes was crucial and went a long way to his team getting the win.
Well done to his teammate, Henderson. Brighton’s Welbeck. Arsenal’s Merino. Sunderland duo Alderete & Xhaka. Also, Palace’s Guehi.
GAME: CRYSTAL PALACE 2-1 LIVERPOOL
Sarr opened the scoring early in the first half from a corner, taking advantage of indecisive defending (9). Palace should have made it two, but for some great Allison saves from Munoz and Pino, also Mateta hit the post.
There were further chances in the second half, but Liverpool finally got an equaliser through Chiesa (87). Just you thought Liverpool were gonna earn a point, Nketiah popped up to win it from close range (90+7).
There was also a good game at Leeds, where they drew 2-2 with Bournemouth and at Newcastle, who lost 2-1 to Arsenal.
GOAL: MATHIAS JENSEN (Brentford) vs Man Utd
Van den Berge won the ball on the edge of his box. Yarmoliuk then plays a first-time ball back to Janelt, who plays a first-time ball to Schade, who plays it first time for Yarmoliuk to run onto.
Yarmoliuk then expertly dinked the ball over the sliding defender and played a ball into Jensen, running into the Man Utdhalf. He steadied himself, cut inside, and hit a thunderous side-footed effort from outside the box that crashed into the net.
FOOL: RUBEN AMORIM (Man Utd)
Chelsea’s Chalobah & Burnley’s Esteve could have been here. Also, Fernandes and the Man Utd team. But the fact that Ruben has lost 17 of his 34 league games is abysmal.
To add to the fact that he is yet to win back-to-back games in 10 months in charge, and was outfoxed by a rookie Brentford manager with just eight professional games in his managerial career. FOOL!
