Matchweek 28 Awards
Matchweek 28 saw a shocker: Chelsea scored before the tenth minute of their game!
Is Pochettino making progress, or is it because they were facing Newcastle whose defence is notoriously bad this season?
Whatever the case may be, that is definitely a moment worth noting, just like the many moments we witnessed in an entertaining gameweek.
Here are our matchday awards after week 28’s action.
Best Player – Son Heung-Min
It has been a while since the South Korean international took the spotlight in a Premier League match. However, he chose the best week to do it.
Tottenham Hotspur travelled to red-hot Aston Villa’s Villa Park and rubbished the football Unai Emery has played in the last few weeks, which has delivered so many points and goals.
The orchestrator of it all was Spurs’ captain Son, who wins our Player of the Week award.
Best XI
Arsenal are top of the table once again but this time, they did not do it by breezing past their opponents.
London rivals Brentford really pegged them back but they prevailed in the end. As such, only a few of their players make it into our Team of the Week, breaking a three-week streak of dominance.
On the other hand, Liverpool players, especially captain Virgil Van Dijk were also phenomenal in their game against Manchester City.
Here are our best XI from all across the games in week 28.
GK: Caoimhín Kelleher – Liverpool
DF: Virgil Van Dijk – Liverpool
DF: Rayan Aït-Nouri – Wolverhampton Wanderers
DF: Ben White – Arsenal
DF: John Stones – Manchester City
DM: Wataru Endo – Liverpool
CM: Alexis Mac Allister – Liverpool
CM: Cole Palmer – Chelsea
AM: Kai Havertz – Arsenal
CF: Son Heung-Min – Tottenham Hotspur
CF: Dango Ouatarra – AFC Bournemouth
Best Goal
David Datro Fofana, on seeing a path to a goal, tried to play a teammate through but the pass was blocked back to him.
Then, thinking on his feet, he chose to go through two West Ham United defenders and unleash a shot which rifled its way into the top left corner from 25 yards out.
Our Goal of the Week is a brilliant shot with little backlift and backspin, searing through the air and past Alphonse Areola in the West Ham goal courtesy of Burnley’s Datro Fofana. The Chelsea loanee has now scored three goals in only seven games for Burnley this season.
Nicolas Jackson, beware!
Best Game
Of course, Liverpool vs Manchester City is our Game of the Week.
Jürgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola delivered their masterpiece after seven years of going at each other. The media waxed lyrical, the fans were in awe and even the players congratulated each other for such amazing performances.
We are sad that we will not witness this again. Let’s hope that Liverpool’s next coach can keep up this tempo next season.
Best Stats
Cole Palmer scored and assisted in Chelsea’s revenge against Newcastle United in week 28.
That’s normal, no? But if you consider the fact that he has scored and assisted in five different games in the league this season, more than any other player, you will agree that this is a stat worthy of recognition.
Hats off to Palmer, who is flourishing since leaving Kevin De Bruyne’s shadow at Manchester City.
Best/Worst VAR decision
The best game of the week also produced the VAR moment of the week. The jury is still out on the call, but it is one that could decide the winner of the league come May.
Liverpool had a penalty claim denied after VAR and the on-pitch referees decided that Man City winger Jeremy Doku’s high foot challenge on Liverpool’s Alexis Mac Allister was not worthy of punishment with a penalty. The winger escaped without even a card and the match ended in a draw.
Will Arsenal go on to win the league as a result of this key decision that was not given? We will find out in May!
Best Substitution
West Ham United were on their way to losing to Burnley at home after a brilliant outing in the UEFA Europa League.
The fans were already fuming, then David Moyes played his hand. He brought in former Burnley striker Danny Ings, who scored a dying minute equaliser to save a point and their blushes.
This substitution wins our Best Substitution of the Week award.
Funniest moment of the match week
Danny Ings against Burnley will always be comical, not for comedic reasons but for the fact that he always causes them pain.
Since leaving them in 2015, Ings has always scored or assisted for all the teams he has played for against them. He did so again in week 28, that even Burnley fans had to laugh.
Is it hate or anger that drives the lad? We cannot say, but his cameo in the West Ham vs Burnley game, along with the resulting memes, is our Funniest Moment of the Week.