Premier League Awards For Matchday 26: Best Game?

Matchday 26 Awards

As we predicted in one of our YouTube shows, this weekend did turn out to be, if not decisive, at least very significant in the title race. We did tell you to stay away from an outright win for Arsenal. Don’t believe us? Here, see for yourself.

Everyone is probably aware by now that Arsenal lost and Liverpool won, making it a gap of 11 points at the top of the table and a position from which it’s very hard to see the Reds lose their grip on the trophy.

In the tussle for the European spots, Villa came back from behind to win against Chelsea, while Bournemouth somehow managed to lose at home against Wolves, who will be very happy to know that they are now five points above the drop zone.

Speaking of the teams below the line, it’s ‘as you were’ for the bottom three sides, who all played at home this weekend and lost. It feels particularly hard to pick which one was the more damning defeat, with all of them conceding four goals each. Maybe the slightest bit of credit can go to Ipswich, who at least scored once in their fixture against Spurs.

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

And you can visit our YouTube channel for previews of each matchday, as well as predictions and hot takes on current EPL topics.

But back to the task at hand: who earned our Premier League awards this time? Read on to find out.

Best Player

For his now customary goal-plus-assist contribution, consistency, work rate and everything else, this one just has to go to Mohamed Salah.

The type of performances that the Egyptian is putting in every week this campaign is really awe-inspiring and it feels inevitable that it’s exactly this consistency that is dragging Liverpool to their 20th English title.

The question does remain though: how will the Reds’ fans react if the club fails to tie him down to a new contract, letting one of their best players ever walk out without even cashing in a transfer fee?

Best XI

GK – Alisson (Liverpool)

RB – Aaron Wan-Bissaka (West Ham)

CB – Ibrahima Konate (Liverpool)

CB – Maxence Lacroix (Crystal Palace)

LB – Djed Spence (Tottenham)

CM – Mikkel Damsgaard (Brentford)

CM – Lewis Miley (Newcastle)

CM – Dejan Kulusevski (Tottenham)

RW – Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)

ST – Jean-Philippe Mateta (Crystal Palace)

LW – Brennan Johnson (Tottenham)

Best Goal

Both goals from Manchester United were beautiful, but Bruno Fernandes’ free-kick was one of the smoothest looking strikes of the season. It was an important goal from United’s most important player, taking it upon himself to drag his team to what has to be seen as a positive result given their turmoil.

All Square At Goodison | Everton v Man Utd

Best Game

This one’s easy: Newcastle vs Nottingham Forest entertained us to no end this matchday.

The hosts roaring back from one goal down to score four (FOUR!) times in 12 minutes, the never-say-die attitude of Espirito Santo’s team to put Newcastle under pressure for the entirety of the second half, the total xG of 5.23, the seven goals, the 30 total shots, the… all of it.

Oh, and a centre-back scoring with a backheel. Proper classic game, this one!

Newcastle United 4 Nottingham Forest 3 | Premier League Highlights

Best Stats

Let’s start with Mo Salah. His opener against City was his 30th goal of the season in all competitions and, with his now 21 assists, he now has over 50 goal involvements for Liverpool in 2024-25.

In the Premier League alone he now has 41 goal contributions (25 goals and 16 assists) and it’s the second season in his career that he reaches the 40 mark. In fact, he is the only player to ever manage that in two different campaigns.

There’s more from him: he is the first player to score 25+ goals and register 15+ assists in a single EPL season. The fact that we’re still in February is shocking.

Palace’s 2-0 win at Craven Cottage was their fourth successive win by this scoreline away from home. It is also the first time in their history that the Eagles have strung together a run of four victories on the road without conceding a single goal.

One last one: Arsenal’s Miles Lewis-Skelly is now the youngest-ever Premier League player to be sent off more than once in his career, at 18 years and 121 days of age.

Best/Worst VAR Decision

How and why exactly did the late call for the Everton penalty get overturned? There was a clear fistful of shirt, the initial call was 100% the correct one and then, after what felt like an eternity, referee Andy Madley decided to chalk off the spot kick.

We are absolutely baffled.

And since we usually tackle refereeing decisions in general in this section, we have a bone to pick with Craig Pawson too. Sure, in the end it was the correct decision, but why did he need a VAR review for what was obviously a red card for Arsenal’s Myles Lewis-Skelly? Did not look unintentional, did stop a clear goalscoring opportunity (especially given where the Gunners’ keeper was), so why exactly did we need to wait for him to review the footage? This should have been a sending off straight away.

Best Substitution

Unai Emery and his Villans were 1-0 down at home against Chelsea when he introduced Marcus Rashford from the start of the second half. To say that his faith in the Manchester United loanee was repaid in full is an understatement.

Rashford provided not one, but two assists (both to fellow loan signing Marco Asensio) to put Aston Villa in the driver’s seat of their game against Chelsea and seal three points that might prove crucial in their pursuit of UCL football next season.

Funniest Moment

The lads over at Squawka had to use a disclaimer after raving on and on about Salah and the records he has toppled in the win at the Etihad.

We feel the same way, guys, we do.