🏆 PL Awards: Rice brings Emirates to a boil, Szoboszlai stunner and more | OneFootball

It was another fascinating weekend in the Premier League with some great performances, top goals and big upsets.

It’s time to hand out our awards.

Player of the Weekend

Remember the name … Evan Ferguson.

The Brighton striker has been scoring Premier League goals for 12 months now but it finally seems about time to invoke that brilliant bit of commentary about Wayne Rooney.

Ferguson has the air of a young Rooney in his physicality, the way he moves around the pitch and in his emphatic finishing.

And all of those attributes were on show this weekend as the Ireland international scored his first hat-trick for the Seagulls.

The fact that it came against Newcastle, arguably a direct rival to Brighton this season for a European spot, made it all the sweeter.

The big question for Brighton and their fans now, is for just how long will they get to enjoy the teenager’s talents on the south coast?

Team of the Weekend

Goal of the Weekend

Aston Villa went to Anfield with a renewed sense of expectation after their early start to the season.

A chastening 5-1 defeat away at Newcastle looked like being an early blip with Unai Emery’s side then having scored 15 goals in their next four games in all competitions.

It took all of three minutes for Liverpool to burst the Villains bubble.

Dominic Szoboszlai, a brilliant new recruit from RB Leipzig, scored his first for the club with a stunning half-volley from the edge of the area.

Result of the Weekend

There were plenty of impressive wins this time around, with Tottenham’s hammering of Burnley and Manchester City’s drubbing of Fulham in the running for this award. But really nothing could compare to Arsenal’s late victory over Manchester United.

Up until the 88th minute, it had been a fiery but ultimately middling encounter that was heading towards a draw. And then the game burst into life.

Alejandro Garnacho had replaced the dire Anthony and immediately made an impact as he ran in on goal and slotted an effort past Aaron Ramsdale for what looked like the winner.

VAR however, had other ideas, with the assistant referee back in Stockley Park ruling out of the goal for the tightest of offsides.

Then, into the sixth of the extra eight minutes in added time, Declan Rice found himself all alone at the far post. The Gunners’ record signing took a touch, fired in a deflected effort past Andre Onana at his near post and saw the net ripple for his perfect moment at the Emirates.

Cue pandemonium in north London but it got even louder just a few minutes later as Gabriel Jesus raced in and finished with aplomb for a third.

What an end to the game.

Surprise of the Weekend

Chelsea’s remarkable summer transfer window has been well-documented.

The Blues, with American owner Todd Boehly in charge, have attempted to game the market by offering inflated wages over a long period of time to young stars.

A whole host of new talent has come through the doors at Stamford Bridge with Nicolas Jackson, Moises Caicedo, Malo Gusto, Roberto Sanchez and Axel Disasi all playing against Nottingham Forest on Saturday.

And what a sorry show they put on for the home fans with Forest thoroughly deserving of their 1-0 win in west London.

Anthony Elanga’s second half goal was the difference with Chelsea’s new boys looking bereft of ideas and at a loss as to what to do on the pitch.

Stat of the Weekend

Mohamed Salah was the subject of a late bid from Saudi Arabian side Al-Ittihad this week with the Petrostate side reportedly offering Liverpool €200m for his services on deadline day.

Salah though, is priceless to Jürgen Klopp’s side with Opta revealing a stat on Sunday which showed just how vital he is to the Reds.

With his second half goal in their 3-0 win over Aston Villa, Salah became the first player to score or assist in 10 consecutive appearances in the Premier League … since Mohamed Salah between August-December 2021.

Unbelievable stuff.

Quote of the Weekend

As if Manchester United’s last minute defeat to Arsenal wasn’t bad enough on Sunday, a war-of-words then broke out between coach Erik ten Hag and Jadon Sancho.

Sancho was left out of the squad for the defeat with Ten Hag saying it was because of the winger’s lack of effort in training.

Sancho then replied in kind with a remarkable statement of his own via social media.

“Please don’t believe everything you read! I will not allow people saying things that is completely untrue,” he posted.

“I have conducted myself in training very well this week. I believe there are other reasons for this matter that I won’t go into, I have been a scapegoat for a long time which isn’t fair! All I want to do is play football with a smile on my face and contribute to my team.

“I respect all decisions that are made by the coaching staff, I play with fantastic players and grateful to do so which I know every week is a challenge. I will continue to fight for this badge no matter what!”