TEAM: MANCHESTER CITY
After going a man down after just 23 minutes, even for a team like Man City, the writing was on the wall.
However, the sending-off seemed to galvanise City; with some outstanding individual performances and a controversial winning goal aside, they were far the better team and at times looked like they had the man advantage.
Well done to Arsenal. Brighton. Notts Forest and Ipswich.
GOALKEEPER: DAVID RAYA (Arsenal)
Although there were a few other decent performances this week, generally you couldn’t ignore the Arsenal man’s contribution.
Not only for the penalty save, but that fantastic save was vital, as just two minutes later, Arsenal opened the scoring and from there on eased to victory.
Shout out to Brighton’s Verbruggen, who was close to winning this. Notts Forest’s Sels. Fulham’s Leno and Brentford’s Kelleher.
DEFENDER: MARC GUEHI (Man City)
We already know how good a defender he is, but he has also been a revelation since his been at City is not an understatement.
The whole City team elevated their performances when they went a man down, but he led the way with a masterful defensive performance to totally snuff out Man Utd’s attack with a man more, reducing them to just one clear-cut chance at the end of the game.
Well done to his teammates, Gvardiol, Dias and Nunes. Ipswich’s Davis. Arsenal duo Gabriel and Calafiori. Fulham duo Affengruger and Bassey. Liverpool’s Jacquet.
Everton duo Braithwaite & Tarkowski. Tottenham Duo Van Hecke & Van de Ven. Brighton duo Dunk and Vuskovic. Hull’s Giles. Forest duo Murillo & Aina, also Leeds duo Justin & Muharemovic.
MIDFIELDER: MOHAMED BELLOUMI (Hull City)
He was very unlucky that his two goals did not earn a famous away win at Chelsea. After the West Londoners took another early lead, he equalised with a fine first-time finish.
Then, just a few minutes later, he shocked the Chelsea fans with a deflected effort that sailed into the net. Before the end of the half, he could have had an assist; in the second half, after he came off, Chelsea got their equaliser.
Shout out to his Man City trio Anderson, Enzo and Ndiaye. Arsenal duo Bruno Guimaraes & Rice. Brighton trio Gross, Yacouye and De Cuyper. Chelsea’s Rogers.
Bournemouth duo Kluivert & Tavernier. Ipswich’s Flemming. Fulham duo King & Charles. Forest’s Gibbs-White and Leeds duo Tanaka & Bogle.
FORWARD: KEVIN SCHADE (Brentford)
It’s sad to think his three goals this season have only earned his team two points in the league; however, he can only do what he can do.
This week he opened the scoring with a clinical header. Then, after conceding two goals, he earned his team a point when he took advantage of the keeper’s mistake and instinctively chippied him from outside the box. With his teammate Thiago yet to hit the net, his goals have been a lifeline.
Well done to Man City’s Haaland. Leeds’ duo Calvert-Lewin and Okafor. Forest duo Delap and Igor Jesus and Chelsea’s Joao Pedro.
Ipswich duo Villa’s Alysson. Ipswich duo Emersonn and Palace duo Khalalli and Larsen. Arsenal’s Saka. Hull’s McBurnie. Also, Brighton’s Kostoulas.
MANAGER: DANIEL FARKE (Leeds Utd)
The Arsenal manager’s name was here, but after Monday, the top-performing team was Daniel Farke’s men.
Leeds have become one of the most difficult away fixtures, and they have the joint fewest defeats since March. This week, the undefeated Newcastle were blown away at Elland Road and were happy to concede four goals.
Shout out to Arsenal’s Arteta. Man City’s Maresca. Forest’s Glasner, Brighton’s Hurzeler and Ipswich’s O’Neil.
UNSUNG HERO: DOMINIC CALVERT-LEWIN (Leeds Utd)
Not unsung, but he should have had two goals instead of a goal and an assist, but his header took a nick off his teammate, and the goal was sadly taken away from him.
However, he managed to get his legit goal just before half-time, showing composure and a neat finish, and it could have, and maybe should have, been more.
Well done to his teammates Justin & Bogle. Ipswich’s Davis. Brentford’s Kelleher. Arsenal’s Bruno Guimaraes. Brighton trio Gross, Dunk and Yalcouye. Man City duo Anderson and Haaland. Palace’s Emersson. Also, Forest’s Delap.
GAME: CRYSTAL PALACE 2-3 IPSWICH
Crystal Palace opened the scoring when Khalaili finished off a good move (14). Ipswich then levelled when Davis crossed for Emersonn to head home (23). The game then turned when Disasi got a straight red for a poor challenge on Clarke (34).
Just before half-time, Ipswich took the lead when Davis nipped in to nod home Emersonn’s flick (45). In the second half, Palace equalised from Larson’s lovely touch and finish (75). However, Ipswich won it when Flemming followed in after Davis hit the bar (90).
There was also a good game at Bournemouth, as they drew 2-2 with Brentford.
GOAL: LEWIS DUNK (Brighton) v Coventry
The ball was laid back to Dunk, some 25 yards out from goal; even being 3-0 up, I am sure the last thing everyone thought was he would take a shot.
However, the centre back took one touch, looked up and from about centre, hit a ferocious, arrowed effort that thundered over the keeper into the far top corner of the net.
Arsenal’s Bruno Guimaraes also scored a good goal this weekend.
FOOL: MANCHESTER UNITED
I could have given this to Coventry for their dismal start to the season and being crushed at home by five goals, but this award is about the differences in red cards.
Coventry showed how a red card can be detrimental; however, United got a man advantage and went backwards. They are one of the very few teams I’ve seen play against a team with ten men, and the ten men looked like they had a man advantage. FOOLS!
