TEAM: CHELSEA
This was really close, and I could have given it to Brighton. However, for their scoring prowess and constant ability to score early, I have given it to the West Londoners.
Chelsea took Bournemouth to the sword, and although they had plenty of warning from the games so far this season, they still couldn’t stop Chelsea scoring early, and they did it twice with two in a minute. They continued their assault by bagging three more in the second half.
Very well done to Brighton. Also, Man City. Crystal Palace. Coventry. Arsenal and Ipswich.
GOALKEEPER: GIANLUIGI DONNARUMMA (Man City)
In the cauldron of Anfield, especially after the last few weeks. Even with a weakened Liverpool side, it was always going to be a tough game, especially with the home fans expecting and spitting venom.
Liverpool started better and, before the red card, had chances, but City’s world-class keeper showed his talent with several top saves to thwart Liverpool, which proved to be vital as City got a lifeline with the red card and then cruised to victory.
Shout out to Crystal Palace’s Benitez. Brighton’s Verbruggen. Brentford’s Kelleher and Arsenal’s Raya.
DEFENDER: LUKA VUSKOVIC (Brighton)
I am still scratching my head, wondering why my Spurs let this colossus of a young defender go. I am also still scratching my head, thinking about how he is only 19.
Mature beyond his years, he was a rock alongside his more experienced centre-back partner. Then Struijk got sent off; he elevated his game with an even more mature performance to help shut out Sunderland for a superb away win.
Well done to his teammates Kadioglu, Dunk and Hadjam. Arsenal’s Calafiori. Brentford’s Ajar. Ipswich trio Ouattara, Diop and O’Shea. Coventry’s Thomas. Leeds’ Justin. Everton’s Tarkowski. Palace duo Lerma & Richards. Newcastle’s Botman and Fulham’s Sessegnon.
MIDFIELDER: JORDOAN HENDERSON (Chelsea)
Chelsea’s new 36-year-old midfielder rolled back the years and led by example, to orchestrate his team’s dominant victory with two goals and an assist.
He opened the scoring early in the first half with a neat finish, then assisted the second just a minute later. Then topped it off with a wonderful free kick to make it five.
Shout out to his teammates Rogers, Palmer and Caicedo. Arsenal duo Bruno Guimaraes and Rice. Brighton duo De Cuyper and Gross. Palace trio Kamada, Pino and Wharton.
Villa’s McGinn. Man City trio Cherki, Anderson and Doku. Brentford’s Yarmoliuk. Spurs duo Savio and Gallagher. Hull duo Gelhardt and Belloumi. Everton’s Dewsbury-Hall and Coventry’s Rudoni.
FORWARD: JOAO PEDRO (Chelsea)
He is currently on fire for Chelsea and had a great start to the season. He has scored or assisted in four of his last six games.
This week he notched two league goals for the first time this season, to make it five for the season already. Both were typically clinical finishes from a striker in full confidence.
Shout out to Aston Villa duo Jackson & Manzambi. Everton’s Barry. Man City’s Haaland. Tottenham’s Solanke. Coventry trio Cherif, Simms and Mfuni. Man Utd’s Mbeumo. Forest’s Ndoye and Bournemouth’s Evanilson.
MANAGER: FABIAN HURZELER (Brighton)
His team was close to winning the team award and arguably should have, due to their superb away performance, playing much of the second half with 10 men.
It was demonstrated how hard it is to play against ten men this week, and Sunderland proved last season that not many teams win their way back. So, for them to win and score after going a man down is a massive credit to the manager and what he is doing.
Well done to Chelsea’s Alonso. Arsenal’s Arteta. Coventry’s Lampard. Ipswich’s O’Neil. Palace’s Sage. And Man City’s Maresca.
UNSUNG HERO: ABDUL OUATTARA (Ipswich)
I have to say this was possibly the hardest decision this week, with several in the running to win this award.
In the end, I went with the young Ipswich full back. Although his teammate won the game, his superb left-footed strike from outside the box, clawed his team back, which allowed them to win the game two minutes later.
Shout out to his teammate O’Shea. Man City’s Anderson. Brighton duo Kadioglu and De Cuyper. Also, Palace’s Benitez.
GAME: ASTON VILLA 2-2 BRENTFORD
Yarmolyuk opened the scoring with a clinical strike from the edge of the box (10), but it was cancelled out when Jackson was alert to nip in after a deflected shot to score from close range (12).
In the second half McGinn’s deflected shot from just inside the box bounced up and in (77), but was soon cancelled out when Ajar played a neat one-two with Anthony to slide home at the near post (79).
There were also good games at Hull, who drew 2-2 with Everton and Ipswich, who got a late victory over Fulham.
GOAL: JEREMY DOKU (Man City) vs Liverpool
There were several good goals this week but I gave it to the Man City winger. To be fair, he came on in the best of circumstances and certainly made his presence felt as he galloped down the left flank, cut inside two players and unleashed a wonderful effort that nestled into the top far corner.
There were also very good goals from his teammate Cherki. Chelsea’s Henderson and Newcastle’s Botman.
FOOL: CHRIS KAVANAGH (Referee)
The man from Manchester did nothing to allay the fears, conspiracies and rumours of bias towards the Manchester team with a very questionable performance.
Although the two yellow cards for Gravenberch will be the main talking point there were several decisions you could question. Mainly, how he managed to give Araujo a yellow card after Guehi blatantly grabbed the ball on the floor and got away with nothing. FOOL!
