Matchday 3 Awards

The third round of games of the 2024/25 season is done and dusted, so naturally we are giving out our awards today!

We have witnessed some impressive goings on this weekend, with Arsenal and Brighton sharing the spoils in a fiery game, Everton collapsing in spectacular fashion in front of their own fans, Erling Haaland doing Erling Haaland things in City’s win at West Ham and Liverpool showing United who’s still boss in their rivalry.

You can also click here to check out all our reports from this weekend’s action.

So who gets our awards? Read on to find out.

Best Player

Last week we overlooked Haaland’s hat-trick to give this award to Madueke for his own three strikes, but this week it is indeed the Norwegian’s turn.

Back-to-back EPL hat-tricks means that now he is the top scorer of all big five European leagues, having netted seven goals in three matches. He has also scored 70 goals in 69 Premier League games since joining City.

The man really is inevitable.

Best XI

GK – Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace)

CB – Jan Paul van Hecke (Brighton)

CB – Ibrahima Konate (Liverpool)

CB – Lewis Dunk (Brighton)

CM – Ryan Gravenberch (Liverpool)

CM – Casemiro (Manchester United)

CM – Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City)

RW – Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)

ST – Erling Haaland (Manchester City)

ST – Bryan Mbeumo (Brentford)

LW – Luis Diaz (Liverpool)

Fooled you there, didn’t we? Of course Casemiro’s not in, but Aston Villa’s Amadou Onana sure is.

Best Goal

We had a couple of really solid contenders for this award this weekend. For instance, we loved Eze’s curling effort against Chelsea, as well as Bellegarde’s strike for Wolves against Forest. Another Really nice goal was Liam Delap’s opening goal for Ipswich against Fulham.

But the award goes to Yukinari Sugawara for his wonderful outside-of-the-boot shot versus Brentford. It could not have been placed any better, clipping the inside of the post on its way into the net. Unfortunately it was too little, too late for Southampton against the Bees.

Have a gander!

HIGHLIGHTS: Brentford 3-1 Southampton | Premier League

Best Game

For the sheer mayhem of the last 10 minutes or so, Everton vs Bournemouth was the most enjoyable game of the matchday in our view. The Toffees finally looked like they would seal a win after losing both of their first two games without scoring a goal.

However, to Sean Dyche’s despair, they conspired to have the most spectacular collapse in Premier League history (more on that below). The Everton manager said after the game that “you could smell it was going wrong” after Bournemouth scored a goal.

Unfortunately for his team, Dyche’s nose was right.

ALL-TIME CLASSIC comeback from two goals down 🤯 | Everton 2-3 AFC Bournemouth

Best Stats

Everton are the first team in Prem history to lead by 2+ goals in the 87th minute and lose. Beyond embarrassing and we really feel for the Toffees’ fans, having to witness that.

Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah has now scored 10 goals in nine games at Old Trafford. He is now the fifth highest scoring player at United’s famous stadium (2021 to present), despite not playing for the Mancunians.

Best/Worst VAR Decision

Nothing really dubious happened this weekend again. Keep it up, VAR!

Best Substitution

Luis Sinisterra’s introduction at Goodison Park proved decisive as he scored the winner and completed a memorable comeback for Bournemouth deep into injury time.

Funniest Moment

Another weekend, another Haaland hat-trick, another match ball and another message from a City teammate.

This one’s harsher, isn’t it?