WEEKLY AWARDS

TEAM: NEWCASTLE 

Searching for a first away win of the season, they got it emphatically with a drubbing of Everton at their home ground. 

They scored as early as the first minute, and it was an onslaught from then on. By half-time, they were three up and were in cruise control in the second half to see out the game. 

Well done to Man Utd. Brighton. Liverpool. Fulham. Sunderland. Brentford, Man City and Aston Villa. 

GOALKEEPER: EMILIANO MARTINEZ (Aston Villa)

There weren’t many candidates for this, but the Villa keeper had to be on his game as Villa got a narrow victory against Wolves. 

It wasn’t an onslaught, but on a few occasions, he had to be on his game to show exactly why he is regarded as one of the best in the world to earn a clean sheet. 

Shout out to Brighton’s Verbruggen, Chelsea’s Sanchez, and West Ham’s Areola.

DEFENDER: MALICK THIAW (Newcastle)

His first goal in senior football was quickly followed by his second, which coincided with Newcastle’s first away win of the season. 

He was literally head and shoulders above everyone twice, scoring the first and the last goal to add to his impressive defensive display to help Newcastle to a deserved first away win. 

Well done to his teammates Liveramento, Burn & Hall. Brighton trio De Cuyper, Dunk  & Van Hecke. Liverpool’s Gomez. Chelsea duo Fofana |& Chalobah. Brentford’s Collins. Man City’s Gvardiol. Fulham’s Tete and Aston Villa’s Torres. 

MIDFIELDER: PHIL FODEN (Man City)

In a very frustrating game and one nobody expected, he had to twice to pull his team from disappointment to victory. 

He first opened the scoring with a pinpoint finish. Then, when the game was heading for an unlikely draw, he pulled it out of the bag and did it all on his own to score a stoppage-time winner. 

Shout out to Chelsea’s James. Brentford duo Damsgaard and Henderson. Sunderland’s Le Fee. Newcastle’s Miley. Man Utd duo Fernandes & Mount. Villa’s Kamara. 

Fulham duo King & Wilson. Spurs’ Kudus. Liverpool’s Wirtz. Arsenal’s Saka. Burnley’s Flemming. Bournemouth duo Adli and Adams. 

FORWARD: IGOR THIAGO (Brentford)

I don’t think anyone would have predicted, especially at this stage, that he would be the second top scorer and the only other striker, along with Haaland, in double figures. 

He notched two late goals, which is becoming a theme. The first was a pen, then the second, with typical predatory instincts to put Brentford on the way to another home victory. 

Well done to his teammates, Schade and Ouattara. Sunderland duo Traore and Brobbery. Liverpool duo Gakpo and Isak.

Newcastle’s Woltemade. Arsenal’s Merino. Leeds duo Calvert-Lewin and Nmecha. Brighton’s Tzimas and Crystal Palace’s Mateta. 

MANAGER: EDDIE HOWE (Newcastle)

His persistence has finally paid off as his team notched a first away win, and it was surprisingly against Everton, who were on a high. 

Although aided by a goal in the first minute, he was justified in giving Miley a first start as he scored the second, adding to his new star striker, who notched an excellent third. 

Shout out to Man Utd’s Amorim. Fulham’s Silva. Brentford’s Andrews. Brighton’s Hurzeler. Liverpool’s Slot and Sunderland’s Le Bris. 

UNSUNG HERO: COADY GAKPO (Liverpool)

A much maligned member of the squad, clearly loved by the manager as he gets so many minutes, but the fans seem to have a love-hate relationship with him. 

However, one thing is for sure: he gets numbers. On a day when Liverpool desperately needed a win, he produced an assist and a clinical finish to seal the game. 

His teammate, Gomez. Newcastle’s Miley. Sunderland’s Brobbery. Man Utd’s Fernandez. Fulham’s Teta. Chelsea duo Chalobah and James. 

GAME: MAN CITY 3-2 LEEDS UTD 

Man City raced into an early two-goal lead with Foden scoring in the first minute, then Gvardiol notching on the line from a corner (25). 

However, in the second half, Calvert-Lewin took advantage of some poor defending to slip home |(49) then Nmecha had a penalty saved but finished the rebound to equalise (68). 

Just when you thought the game could end in a draw, Foden produced a bit of magic to win it (90+1).

There was also a good game at Sunderland, who came back from two down to beat Bournemouth 3-2. 

GOAL: TYLER ADAMS (Bournemouth) vs Sunderland 

Just outside the Bournemouth box on the left, a Sunderland player won the ball and tried to play it back; however, it was a poor pass, and Adams anticipated and latched onto it. 

He took two touches into the semi-circle, then just inside the Sunderland half, saw the keeper off his line and went for an audacious attempt, executed to perfection, that saw the ball sail over the keeper into an empty net. 

There was also a good goal from Villa’s Kamara. 

FOOL: LUCAS PAQUETA (West Ham)

I mean, just what can you say? A goal down, just received a yellow card, and for some odd, unknown reason, Paqueta decided to remonstrate with the ref. 

What made it worse was that not only did his teammates try to stop him, but some of the Liverpool players did too, but he continued arguing until he got a second yellow. It was almost like he had a bet on. FOOL!