Matchday 36 Awards
Quite a lot has happened this past weekend, with a full docket of Premier League games from which to draw conclusions and learn things.
This was a matchday that had a Monday evening game, which saw Crystal Palace take apart Manchester United and perhaps make the decision easier for the Red Devils to part ways with Erik Ten Hag this summer.
In other matches, the title race continues to fascinate, with both Arsenal and Manchester City winning, Liverpool beating Spurs 4-2, and the relegation battle almost coming to a conclusion thanks to Forest winning against Sheffield.
After following all the action, there are questions. Who impressed us? What were some of the best stats? Which goal will take our award this week?
Read on to find out!
Best Player
We simply have to go with Erling Haaland for this one.
4 goals in a single Premier League match is not something you see every day. Sure, 2 of them were penalties, but the Norwegian still needed to keep his cool and convert them.
He is now the 32nd player in EPL history to score 4 goals in one game, and will probably be pushing hard to score 5 whenever the next chance arrives.
Best XI
GK – Robin Olsen (Aston Villa) – 7 saves
CB – Thiago Silva (Chelsea) – clean sheet and an assist
CB – Josko Gvardiol (Manchester City) – great runs forward, won a penalty
CB – Murillo (Nottingham Forest) – outstanding defensive effort
CM – Declan Rice (Arsenal) – 1 goal, 1 assist
CM – Harvey Elliott (Liverpool) – 5 chances created, 4 shots on target, 1 goal, 1 assist
CM – Rodri (Manchester City) – 7 recoveries, 1 interception, 2 assists
RW – Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) – 1 goal, 1 assist
ST – Erling Haaland (Manchester City) – 4 goals
ST – Nicolas Jackson (Chelsea) – 2 goals, 1 assist
LW – Callum Hudson-Odoi (Nottingham Forest) – 2 goals
Best Goal
While we loved Haaland’s 4th goal and we think he did not score any better goal since joining CIty, our favourite strike this week was the banger scored by Harvey Elliott against Tottenham.
A curling shot from outside the box that goes right into the top corner? We just love that sort of goal here at EPLNews!
EVERY Angle of Harvey Elliott Wonder Goal! | Liverpool 4-2 Tottenham
Best Game
Liverpool vs Tottenham was a great game, with 6 goals, some great individual performances (even for the losing team), and a tempo that, as almost always with Premier League games, just left us wanting more.
In case you did not get a chance to watch it, do yourselves a favour and check out the extended highlights below.
Six goals in penultimate home game | Liverpool 4-2 Tottenham | Extended Highlights
Best Stats
We have a lot to cover here, so strap yourselves in.
Sheffield United officially became the most generous team in Premier League history, conceding 100 goals while they still have 2 games left to play. Their ‘century’ equaled the number that Swindon Town let in during the 1993-94 campaign, but that was a season with 42 matchdays.
Jürgen Klopp will end his stay in the EPL with the most league games without ever losing to the same team twice in the same season.
Tottenham have lost 4 consecutive Premier League games for the first time since November 2004. Safe to say that their Champions League spot pursuit is not going according to plan.
Only 2 players have scored against Liverpool in 5 consecutive league games: Jamie Vardy and Son Heung-min.
Haaland scored 4 goals against Wolves, but he had already made quite a bit of history with his 3rd goal on Saturday. It was his 6th hat-trick in the Premier League.
https://twitter.com/Squawka/status/1786807864381632942
Anthony Gordon’s 10 goals and 10 assists in the Premier League this season make him only the 3rd Newcastle player to reach double digits for both stats in a single campaign.
Best/Worst VAR Decision
If we assume it’s excusable that referee David Coote only brandished a yellow card, we must say that there was no reason for VAR to not send him to the pitchside monitor for a review.
Ryan Christie’s tackle on Bukayo Saka was certainly worth a red card. It was not just dangerous, it was harmful, judging by Saka’s gashed leg.
https://twitter.com/footballontnt/status/1786728933175529627
Best Substitution
Although it did not matter much in the grand scheme of things, Richarlison’s cameo for Spurs at Anfield gets our Best Sub award this week.
After coming on at the hour mark, the Brazilian managed to score and assist, giving Tottenham some hope going into the final 10 minutes.
It was not enough, but it was a good individual performance nevertheless.
Funniest Moment
The war of words between Sky Sports pundit Roy Keane and City’s Erling Haaland continued this week.
The Norwegian was asked about Keane’s comparison of him to a League Two player, and Haaland seemed to try to brush it off, saying “I don’t really care about that man”.
You would think that ends it, right? Well, no. The Irishman decided to stoke the flames by calling Haaland a “spoiled brat” for his anger at being subbed off against Wolves.
https://twitter.com/SkySportsPL/status/1787139997616763325
Looks like the former Manchester United captain is not willing to let things go just yet.