🏆 PL Awards: Player, Team, Goal and Surprise of the Weekend | OneFootball

The Premier League was on fire this weekend with goals galore and narrative aplenty.

We’ve picked through our best bits to hand out the weekly awards.

Player of the Weekend

Brighton ended their barren run of five games without a win this weekend and what a win it was.

The Seagulls went to Nottingham Forest but must have feared the worst just five minutes in thanks to Anthony Elanga’s neat header.

But thanks to a fine individual performance from the ever-consistent Pascal Groß, the south coast club turned things around.

The Germany international has become Mr. Brighton thanks to brilliance over the past six years and at the City Ground he showed exactly why the club’s fans’ love him so much.

Tactically intelligent, always making the right choice with the ball and willing to run for 90 plus minutes.

Groß also provided two assists as Brighton came away with a 3-2 win, much to the delight of boss Robert De Zerbi, who sprinted towards the away fans at full time.

Team of the Weekend

Goal of the Weekend

The goal of this weekend. The goal of any weekend this season. Perhaps the goal of any weekend ever in the Premier League.

Alejandro Garnacho has been a lively if inconsistent presence in the Manchester United side up to this point.

But on Sunday, he turned into prime Pelé, Ferenc Puskás and Cristiano Ronaldo all rolled into one.

The atmosphere for United’s trip to Everton was arguably the most hostile we’ve seen so far this season with the home fans showing their ardent fury at the club’s 10 point deduction for breaking the league’s financial rules.

But they were understandably silenced just three minutes into the game when Garnacho, watching the ball come across to the edge of the area, bicycled kicked back across the goal and into the far corner.

It was a Premier League all-timer and probably the best bicycle kick we’ve ever seen.

Result of the Weekend

Newcastle, deep in the midst of an injury crisis, welcomed Chelsea to St James’ Park on Saturday with the Blues fresh off the back of a confidence-boosting draw with Manchester City.

It would be a huge test of just how far Mauricio Pochettino’s side have come if they could get something from their trip to the north east.

But instead, the result showed just how far they have to go.

Newcastle were ruthless in their dismantling of the capital club and netted three unanswered goals in the second half to ultimately win 4-1.

Even with Reece James’ red card late on, Newcastle were by far and away the better side.

Surprise of the Weekend

Not a surprising result but a surprising lack of urgency from both these sides on Saturday lunchtime.

Manchester City’s clash with Liverpool was supposed to be the game of the season so far.

Instead, it was like two heavyweights dancing around the ring, trying to find an opening and failing to do so.

Perhaps it was the early kick-off, perhaps it was the fact it was immediately after the international break.

Whatever the reason, the 1-1 draw failed to live up to the enormous hype with both sides settling for a point.

Stat of the Weekend

Aston Villa will end matchweek 13 of a Premier League in the top four.

That’s the first time that has happened since 2009 and it’s almost inarguable at this point to say that Unai Emery has been the best manager in the division in 2023.

When he arrived just over a year ago, Villa were in danger of going down under Steven Gerrard.

Now, after their win at Tottenham this weekend, the midlands side are two points off the top.

Quote of the Weekend

“It’s a joy, as a manager. to see his reaction. Courage. He has big courage and big personality and that’s what we need.”

Mikel Arteta was full of praise for Aaron Ramsdale after the goalkeeper’s performance in their 1-0 win at Brentford on Saturday evening.

The situation surrounding Ramsdale’s place in the team has arguably detracted from the club’s performances this season, with plenty of pundits focusing on who’s between the posts rather than their place at the top of the Premier League.

But with David Raya unavailable to play on Saturday due to the conditions of his loan from the Bees, Ramsdale was named in the XI.

Despite a shaky start, the England international kept a clean sheet with the rest of the Gunners XI surrounding the keeper at the end of game in congratulations.