TEAM: NOTTINGHAM FOREST
You never would have thought going into this game that Forest were in the bottom three. They attacked Man City from the start with confidence.
That confidence was rewarded with two early goals. And that confidence wasn’t dented when City pulled a goal back in the second half like everyone expected. They merely went up a gear to get the third to seal the win.
Well done to Liverpool. Sunderland. Everton. Bournemouth. Brighton. Leeds and Arsenal.
GOALKEEPER: ALLISON (Liverpool)
Especially as he has been questioned in recent weeks with some questionable performances, it was important that he put in a timely reminder of his quality.
However, it does say a lot about Liverpool that he needed him against a team in the relegation zone. But he pulled off three big saves to thwart Palace, which allowed his team to go and secure what seemed a comfortable victory but it was anything but.
Shout out to Hull’s Tzolakis, who was close to winning this. Also, Sunderland’s Roefs. Fulham’s Leno. Newcastle’s Hornicek and Leeds’ Trafford.
DEFENDER: CUNHA
Forest’s young Brazilian defender proved impactful at both ends of the pitch with an inspirational performance.
Not only did he open the scoring with the skill and composure of a striker. He was the standout defender in a strong back three that thwarted Haaland and for the most part, snuffed out City’s attack in a memorable victory.
Well done to his teammates, Murillo & Milenkovic. Everton’s Mykolenko. Leeds duo Muharemovic and Elvedi. Sunderland’s Mukiele. Arsenal duo Timber and Konsa. Brighton’s Vuskovic and Liverpool’s Jacquet.
MIDFIELDER: FLORIAN WIRTZ (Liverpool)
Although it has been a struggle, to his credit, he has persevered and, if I am honest, I still wouldn’t say his is firing on all cylinders, but he was the only midfielder this week to notch a goal and an assist.
His goal was well taken and came at a crucial time in the game, which eased the nerves for his team. His assist late showed his desire to get forward in a counter-attack while two up, and his unselfishness and vision to tee up his mate for the third.
Shout out to his teammates, Mac Allister, who was close to winning this, Szoboszlai & Nyoni. Forest duo Gibbs-White. Sunderland duo Le Fee and Ahoka. Arsenal duo Odegaard & Madueke. Brighton duo Gomez & Gross.
Everton duo Dewsbury-Hall & George. Aston Villa trio Alysson, McGinn and Goretzka. Leeds duo Ampadu & Tanaka. Man Utd duo Fernandes, Tielemans and Dorgu. Bournemouth’s Tavernier. Man City’s Cherki.
FORWARD: LIAM DELAP (Notts Forest)
With only one goal since his big-money move to Forest, he picked a perfect time to notch and double and looked the star Forest hoped they bought.
Both his goals were a thing of beauty. The first, a lung-busting run right through the middle and clinical finish. His second, he played a part in the blistering counter-attack that he finished superbly, slamming the ball in off the far post to seal the win.
Well done to Everton’s Barry, who was close to winning this: Liverpool’s Isak, Bournemouth’s Evanilson, Villa’s Jackson, Leeds’s Okafor, Man Utd’s Zirkzee, Fulham’s Muniz, Coventry’s Gboho and Sunderland’s Brobbey.
MANAGER: OLIVER GLASNER (Notts Forest)
This victory easily has to be his best performance yet. Despite sitting in the bottom three, his team looked fired up from the start.
They raced into a two-goal lead before the 20th minute, then showed their strength and concentration even after Man City pulled one back to kick on and get a third, which proved to be a sucker punch to City, confining them to third successive league defeat.
Shout out to Everton’s Moyes, Sunderland’s Le Bris, Liverpool’s Iraola, and Leeds’ Farke.
UNSUNG HERO: THIERNO BARRY (Everton)
Although he is probably playing regularly due to Everton not having anyone else, he has taken that stroke of luck with both hands.
He scored for a third successive game and even provided a lovely through ball for an assist. He is playing with real confidence and is currently the joint third-top scorer in the league.
Well done to his teammate Dewsbury-Hall. Man Utd’s Dorgu. Bournemouth’s Evanilson. Liverpool’s Mac Allister. Sunderland duo Mukiele and Brobbey. Also, Leeds’s Muharemovic.
GAME: MAN UTD 4-4 ASTON VILLA
Villa raced into a two-goal early lead from Alysson who slipped through the keeper’s legs (1), then Jackson, from a yard out after a shot was parried by the keeper (4). United pulled a goal back when Fernandes converted a pen (44), then Tielemans equalized with a deflected shot from the edge of the box after a Mazraoui cut back (44).
In the second half, Villa raced into another early two-goal lead through McGinn’s penalty, then Goretzka touched in from a yard out after Yoro’s header bounced back off the bar (53). United pulled a late goal back when Zirkzee touched in Dorgu’s cross (90+2), then Dorgu equalized dramatically as he headed in Fernandes’ corner (90+6).
GOAL: DIEGO GOMEZ (Brighton) vs Brentford
Following a ball in from the right that was headed out. The ball dropped to Gomez, who intercepted the header with his left, and as the ball bounced, he took another touch with his right to push the ball out of his feet.
He then steadied himself as he moved more centrally, and from just outside the ‘ dee’, some 25 yards out, he left fly with a rasping left-footed drive that flew into the top corner.
There were also good goals this week from Forest’s Delap, Newcastle’s Murphy and Man City’s Cherki.
FOOL: ENZO MARESCA (Man City)
Being handed a star-studded team with reinforcements in the summer is not as easy as people think. Although City have quality in every position, they have managed to make it a hat-trick of league defeats.
Maresca’s men never got going at Forest, who came out of the traps early. However, when City pulled a goal back in the second half, it was looking ominous, but it was Forest who upped their game to get the third. Now the talk is, could Maresca be out of his depth? FOOL!
