TEAM: MANCHESTER CITY
Although they are still four points behind the league leaders in the Premier League, this could be a pivotal week in the title challenge, if only for confidence and momentum.
City were the only team to win both of their games this week, with a late win at Anfield, coming from behind to score two in the last ten minutes. Then, they strolled past Fulham at home to cut the lead at the top to four points.
Well done to Brentford. West Ham. Man Utd. Bournemouth. Arsenal and Chelsea.
GOALKEEPER: EMILIANO MARTINEZ (Aston Villa)
As per usual, it is very hard to pick an outstanding performer from the two games. However, the Villa keeper maintained a high level of performance in both games.
At Bournemouth, he made a string of fine saves to help earn his team an away point with a man-of-the-match performance. Then at home to Brighton, he kept a clean sheet, with two good saves for a narrow 1-0 victory.
Shout out to Man City’s Donnarumma. Arsenal’s Raya. Brentford’s Kelleher. Crystal Palace’s Henderson. Man Utd’s Lammens and West Ham’s Hermansen.
DEFENDER: JAMES HILL (Bournemouth)
We can choose from an individual game from one of the two game weeks. However, collectively, he was the outstanding performer.
Against title-chasing Villa, he assisted the equaliser and was a solid performer at the back. Then at Everton, where they came from a goal down at half-time to score two in the second half, he put in a man-of-the-match performance.
Well done to his teammate, Senesi. Man City duo Guehi & Nunez. West Ham duo Wan-Bissaka & Disasi. Man Utd due Maguire and Shaw. Chelsea duo Chalobah & Fofana. Villa’s Mings. Burnley’s Humpreys.
Liverpool trio Szoboszlai, Van Dijk & Konate. Brentford duo Ajar & Kayade. Everton’s Keane. Newcastle’s Botman. Arsenal duo Saliba & Mosquera. Leeds duo Justin & Bogle. Palace duo Richard’s & Lacroix, also Brighton’s De Cuyper.
MIDFIELDER: COLE PALMER (Chelsea)
Though three of his four games in two games this week came from the penalty spot, he still had to convert those pens, and he also still scored another.
He has taken time to get up to speed after injury, but Chelsea needs him in these crucial times. Not only for his composed penalty taking, but also for his movement, creativity and finishing, which he showed for his third goal at Wolves.
Shout out to his teammate Andrey Santos. Man City trio Foden, Silva & O’Reilly. Brentford duo Janelt & Lewis-Potter. Bournemouth duo Scott & Adli. Liverpool’s Wirtz. Leeds’ Gruev. Forest’s Anderson, also Burnley duo Anthony & Mejbri.
West Ham trio Summerville & Soucek. Villa’s Rogers. Arsenal’s Zubimendi, Man Utd’s Fernandes. Newcastle duo Guimaraes & Ramsey. Everton’s Dewsbury-Hall. Fulham’s Kevin. Brighton’s Gross and Palace’s Sarr.
FORWARD: RAYAN (Bournemouth)
The teenager was only one of two players to score in both games this week, and both goals were taken very well, considering he has just played three games for the club.
His first against Villa was a lovely individual effort, taking the ball from the touchline to beat a player and slot it near post. His second was an equaliser at Everton, with a lovely far-post header.
Well done Leeds’ trio Okafor, Calvert-Lewis & Nmecho. Arsenal’s Gyokores. Palace’s Strand-Larsen. Brentford duo Ouattara & Thiago. Man City’s Haaland and Man Utd’s Sesko.
MANAGER: KEITH ANDREWS (Brentford)
There is already an argument for him to be manager of the year, although he will not get it, as Brentford will not win a trophy, but the achievement will be as good.
In his first managerial position, after losing several main men, Brentford were favourites to go down. However, at home in particular, Villa, Chelsea, Man Utd, Liverpool, and now Arsenal have dropped points, with Brentford sitting seventh and pushing for Europe.
Shout out to Man City’s Guardiola. Bournemouth’s Iraola and West Ham’s Espirito Santo.
UNSUNG HERO: AXEL DISASI (West Ham)
He has made a very good start to his West Ham career. When he signed in January, West Ham were six points from safety and desperately looking up, but two games later, they are now three points from safety and optimistic.
In his first two games for the club, he helped to earn a clean sheet as they beat Burnley away. Then there was a stoppage time goal away from getting another clean sheet and winning at home to Man Utd, who had been on a four-game winning streak.
Well done to Brentford’s Outtara. Man City’s O’Reilly. West Ham’s Summerville and Leeds’s Okafor.
GAME1: LIVERPOOL 1-2 MAN CITY
In a crazy and thrilling game that we have come to expect between these two teams. Liverpool took a late lead from Szoboszlai’s 3o yard thunderbolt free kick (74).
However, City were not done. Haaland flicked on for Silva to poke home (84). Then, in stoppage time, Alisson fouled Nunez in the box for Haaland to win it from the spot (90+3).
There was still time for a Cherki to score from the halfway line after Alisson went forward for a corner, in a moment where Haaland & Szoboszlai wrestled each other to the ground. However, the goal was disallowed, and Szoboszlai was sent off (90+10).
There was also a good game at Newcastle, where Brentford won 3-2.
GAME2: CRYSTAL PAALCE 2-3 BURNLEY
Palace opened the scoring when Stand Larsen ran onto Wharton’s ball over the top to score (17). It was two when Strand Larsen headed in Lerma’s cross from the right (33).
In the second half, Burnley pulled a goal back when Mejbri finished off a good move from just inside the box (40). It was 2-2 when Anthony cut inside and beat the keeper on the near post (44).
The comeback was complete in the first half when Humpreys’ header was put in his own net by Lerma after the ball came back off the keeper (45+2).
There was also a good game at Chelsea, as Leeds came from two goals down to draw 2-2.
GOAL1: DOMINIK SZOBOSZLAI (Liverpool) vs Man City
The Hungarian midfielder lined up a free kick some 30 yards from goal, fairly centre with City lining up and a two-man wall.
Szoboszlai took a few steps and laced the ball with ferocity that saw it arrow straight, then swerve to the right and rocket in off the inside of the post, leaving the goalkeeper standing.
GOAL2: NICO O’REILLY (Man City) vs Fulham
Haaland picked up a loose ball in midfield. He was fouled, but the ball fell to O’Reilly, so the ref played a good advantage. He played the ball to Semenyo, who galloped down the left wing.
O’Reilly continued his run, and as Semenyo stood up the defender on the edge of the box, O’Reilly made a good run outside him. Semenyo fed the ball through, and as the keeper came out, O’Reilly neatly dinked the ball over him from inside the box on the left.
FOOL: NOTTS FOREST
Spurs and Romero were lucky not to be here after his red card in the first game of the week and Tottenham’s sacking of their manager, Thomas Frank. However, in even worse circumstances, Forest is looking for a fourth manager of the season.
Owner Evangelos Marinakis has sacked a third manager of the season after Esparto Santo, Postcoglou and now Dyche, who, although he is sitting just one position above the relegation zone, had lost just one of his last six league games. Good luck to the new manager coming in; it’s no wonder Forest have been struggling. FOOLS!
