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TEAM: MANCHESTER CITY
There was no doubting who wanted the game more, but it was not just about wanting; Man City played Liverpool off the park.
They played their tactics to perfection, allowing Konate to have the ball and press high. When Liverpool tried it, they played through them with ease, scoring three goals.
Well done to Aston Villa. Brentford. Chelsea. Everton. Notts Forest and West Ham.
GOALKEEPER: EMILIANO MARTINEZ (Aston Villa)
Mainly for the crucial and superb penalty save in the second half, when Villa were two up but Bournemouth were getting back into it.
Had they scored, it would have been game on, but he produced a great save, and Villa went on to score two more for an emphatic victory.
Shout out to Newcastle’s Pope. Crystal Palace’s Henderson and Everton’s Pickford.
DEFENDER: DANIEL BALLARD (Sunderland)
It was almost the Ballard show as he was involved in everything and was the clear man of the match in a thrilling and tense affair.
He took his goal exceptionally well with the quality of a striker. Then assisted the equaliser in stoppage time and still had time to make a last-ditch block on the line to save a certain goal and earn his team a point.
Well done to Man Utd’s De Ligt. Spurs’ Van de Ven. Everton duo Keane and Garner. West Ham’s Walker-Peters. Chelsea duo Gusto & Fofana.
Villa’s Konsa. Brentford’s Kayode. Forest duo Milenkovic & Williams. Palace’s Canvot. Brighton duo Dunk and Van Hecke, also Man City duo Nunes & O’Reilly.
MIDFIELDER: JEREMY DOKU (Man City)
He was absolutely on fire against Liverpool and gave poor Bradley and Konate hell down Liverpool’s right side.
His direct running, link-up play and off-the-ball movement were just too much to handle, then topped it all off with a wonderful strike from outside the box to seal the game.
Shout out to his teammate, Nico. Chelsea foursome, Garnacho, Enzo, Neto & Estevao. Villa trio Buendia, Onana & Barkley. Everton trio Gueye, Iroegbunam and Dewsbury-Hall.
West Ham duo Fernandes and Soucek. Forest’s foursome, Sangare, Anderson, Hutchinson and Gibbs-White. Burnley duo Cullen & Flemming. Newcastle’s Barnes. Palace’s Mitchell.
FORWARD: IGOR THIAGO (Brentford)
It’s fair to say he has been one of the surprises of the season so far. After his injury woes last season, Brentford are glad to have him showing what he can do.
A neatly taken penalty and a late finish to seal the game make it eight for the season, with only Haaland ahead of him in the scoring charts.
Well done to his teammates, Ouattara & Schade. Man City’s Haaland. Chelsea’s Joao Pedro. Arsenal duo Saka and Trossard. Sunderland’s Brobbey.
Man Utd’s Mbeumo. Spurs duo Richarlison and Tel. West Ham’s Wilson. Villa duo Watkins & Malen. Leeds’ Nmecha.
MANAGER: PEP GUARDIOLA (Man City)
In Pep’s 1,000th game, he reminded all of his tactical nous as he brushed the champions, Liverpool, aside to put them firmly in the title race.
His team were at it from the first whistle, pressing and winning the ball high, staying on the front foot, playing through Liverpool’s press and showing quality when needed to beat Liverpool with ease.
Shout out to Villa’s Emery. Brentford’s Andrews and Chelsea’s Maresca.
UNSUNG HERO: MATTHIJS DE LIGHT (Man Utd)
He is obviously not unsung, but deserved to get his mention for salvaging an unlikely point and maintaining his team’s recent unbeaten record.
After squandering a goal lead, with only minutes or even seconds to go and down to ten men, he rose highest at the far post from a corner to power in a header and equalise to break Spurs’ hearts.
Well done also to Chelsea’s Garnacho and Crystal Palace’s Canvot.
GAME: SUNDERLAND 2-2 ARSENAL
Sunderland took the lead when Ballard latched onto Mukiele’s looped ball into the box to control first time and slam home (36).
In the second half, Arsenal equalised when Rice won the ball high, found Merino, who found Saka to finish with his right foot (54). Arsenal then took the lead from when Trossard’s thunderous effort from just outside the box (74).
With time ticking down, Sunderland got the equaliser when sub Brobbey outmuscled Gabriel to score acrobatically past the out-rushing Raya (90+4).
GOAL: JEREMY DOKU (Man City) vs Liverpool
A long ball was sprayed from inside the City half to the left flank inside the Liverpool half for O’Reilly to run onto.
He then slowed up play, waiting for Doku and rolled the ball to him 20 yards out. Doku then cut inside and curled a superb effort inside the far post.
There was also a good goal from Arsenal’s Trossard and Aston Villa’s Buendia.
FOOL: LIVERPOOL FC
It is only November, and the Champions have already lost five league games. Controversial goal aside, they were never in it at Man City.
They seemed tactically inept, out-fought, out-played, with a distinct lack of quality. It’s fair to say their title challenge has ended, and their top-four aspirations are under real threat. FOOLS!
