Matchday 17 Awards

This was the last matchday before Christmas and we were treated to some interesting results, plenty of goals and some proper Premier League spectacles.

Should it still surprise us that Manchester City lost a game against Aston Villa? Or that Bournemouth beat Manchester United 3-0 at Old Trafford again? Probably not.

We are surprised, however, that Chelsea did not manage to beat Everton. And outright shocked at how hard Tottenham and Liverpool went at each other in a goal-filled game (more on that later).

As usual, you can also click here to check out all our reports from this weekend’s action.

So who earned our Premier League matchday awards this time? Read on to find out.

Best Player

Quite a few worthy candidates this week thanks to some crucial results. We could go with Bournemouth centre-back Dean Huijsen, who opened the scoring against United and then didn’t put a foot wrong all game. Alexander Isak’s hat-trick to down Ipswich was also a fantastic performance, while Morgan Rogers netting and setting up a further goal against City also made for a great outing.

However, this one goes to Mohamed Salah.

His relentlessness in the pursuit of records (more in the Best Stats section) despite the Liverpool contract situation is truly commendable. We’re seeing an all-time great in action and we’re hoping that the Premier League leaders will be able to keep hold of him past the summer.

Best XI

GK – Jordan Pickford (Everton)

RB – Ola Aina (Nottingham Forest)

CB – Dean Huijsen (Bournemouth)

CB – Murillo (Nottingham Forest)

LB – Vitaliy Mykolenko (Everton)

CM – Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa)

CM – Dominik Szoboszlai (Liverpool)

CM – Ryan Christie (Bournemouth)

RW – Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)

ST – Alexander Isak (Newcastle)

LW – Matheus Cunha (Wolves)

Best Goal

We loved a lot of this weekend’s strikes and there were plenty of worthy contenders for this award, but it ultimately goes to Isak’s third, not least for the backheel assist from Jacob Murphy (also a man in a purple patch).

The Swedish striker’s composure for this goal was a sight to behold and once again confirmed for us and everyone else that he is truly the world-class talent that Eddie Howe claims.

Ipswich Town 0 Newcastle United 4 | Premier League Highlights | Isak Hits a Hat-Trick!

Best Game

Everton and Chelsea played an absolute classic on Sunday, treating us to a —

Nope. We tried, but couldn’t keep a straight face. Of course this one goes to Tottenham vs Liverpool. Nine (9!!!) goals, a total xG of 5.85, 33 shots, with 17 of them on target and all around a great game that will live long in the memory.

A Liverpool fixture gets this one for the second week running, showing everyone that you can play in style, attack with plenty of gusto, have a couple of entertaining slip ups and still be top of the table at Christmas.

Here are the highlights of a match that we’re sure delighted football fans everywhere.

Highlights: Tottenham 3-6 Liverpool | Salah & Diaz double as Reds ensure Christmas number one

Best Stats

Villa’s Morgan Rogers has scored and assisted in the same Premier League game for the first time in his career. Interestingly enough, he’s done it against his former team, Manchester City.

And from a player who has done this for the first time, we go to the record holder for netting and setting up a goal in the same match. Mohamed Salah is now the first-ever EPL player to reach 10+ goals and 10+ assists in a Prem season BEFORE CHRISTMAS! What’s more, he has now reached double figures for both in four consecutive seasons (also a first) and sixth campaign in total, overtaking Wayne Rooney’s five.

Manchester City have now conceded the first goal of a Premier League game nine times this season. Only relegation candidates Leicester, Southampton and Wolves have done so more times.

Bournemouth have beaten United at Old Trafford for the second season in a row. Both wins were in December and both 3-0.

Wolves’ new boss Vitor Pereira has already provided a lift to his relegation-threatened squad. His team had never been 3-0 up at halftime in an away EPL game until they faced Leicester City on Sunday.

We’re ending this section with Manchester United, who have never been in the bottom half of the table at Christmas in the Premier League era. They sit 13th, just below Brentford, and with a -1 goal difference.

Best/Worst VAR Decision

Once again we’re whining about the time taken to reach a decision. A little over three minutes passed between Isak’s shot going into the net and the referee validating Newcastle’s first goal against Ipswich.

We really hope that improvements can be made so that these downtimes are reduced to a more acceptable amount of time.

Best Substitution

As December is arguably the toughest month for Premier League teams schedule-wise, sometimes a nailed on starter might find themselves on the bench for a game or two.

A goal and an assist was Declan Rice’s way of reminding his coach just how vital he is to Arsenal’s setup. Or maybe he was just fuming that he didn’t start the game and took it out on an already beaten Palace side?

Funniest Moment

Never doubt it when you hear that goalies are a little on the nutty side. Aaron Ramsdale is back in goal for Southampton after a broken finger has kept him off the pitch for six games.

Based on the type of glove he needed to wear, we would say he should have maybe taken a bit more time off.

Still, hats off to the lad for doing everything he can to play.