Premier League Awards: Derby drama and Arsenal agony
Premier League Awards: Derby drama and Arsenal agony Our Premier League Awards celebrate the best and worst of the weekend action, featuring a last-gasp Merseyside Derby winner and Manchester City’s massive win over Arsenal. Moment of the Week There was a historic first Merseyside Derby at Hill Dickinson Stadium this weekend as Everton hosted Liverpool at their new stadium for the first time. Though there were new surroundings, it was a familiar feeling for Everton, who suffered an all-too-familiar heartbreak late on.
The Toffees were stunned in the 10th minute of stoppage time, when Virgil van Dijk rose highest to head home a set piece. It’s the sixth stoppage-time winner that Liverpool have scored against Everton in the Premier League era, a record for one opponent against another. A sore one for the Blues, but their European dream remains alive.
Player of the Week Morgan Gibbs-White has timed his run of form superbly for the run-in to help lift Nottingham Forest. Vitor Pereira’s team is mired in the dogfight, but Gibbs-White’s goals are keeping them above the drop zone. The midfielder scored his first career hat-trick as Forest recovered from 1-0 down at half-time to beat Burnley, a result which moves Forest five points clear of the relegation places.
It’s six goals in six games for Gibbs-White, who is knocking on the door for an England recall. Goal of the Week Rayan Cherki is a special footballer. The Manchester City schemer skipped through the Arsenal defence to score one of the solo goals of the season, and put the Citizens on course for a massive win.
Cherki’s close control and fleet feet saw him dance into the box and fire home, a 10th goal of the season for the Frenchman, who is the only player in the Premier League to reach 10+ goals and 10+ assists in all competitions. Crucially, his latest intervention might just have swung the title momentum irreversibly in City’s favour. A win at Burnley in midweek can take City to the top for the first time since the opening weekend.