Our weekly Premier League awards honour the best – and worst – of the football action from the weekend.
Moment of the Week
Manchester United’s new-season optimism was in danger of fizzling out against Fulham, as Erik ten Hag’s team laboured towards a goalless draw at Old Trafford. Change on and off the pitch has lifted spirits over the summer, though familiar flaws remained on opening night.
With just three minutes remaining, however, up stepped a new arrival after his introduction from the bench. Joshua Zirkzee ghost4r into the area to connect with Alejandro Garnacho’s cross and seal a 1-0 win. It was a smart finish from the Dutchman and a dream debut.
WHAT A MOMENT 💫
Joshua Zirkzee scores on his Manchester United debut! 😍 pic.twitter.com/EP8Fzkj5BL
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) August 16, 2024
Player of the Week
Bukayo Saka has become the face of Mikel Arteta’s team at Arsenal and looks set for another huge season. Saka ensured Arsenal got their Premier League title challenge off to a winning start with a comfortable 2-0 win over Wolves at the Emirates.
The 22-year-old punished Wolves with two moments of real quality, first carving out the opener for Kai Havertz with a wonderful cross. He scored the second with a finish that flashed past Jose Sa, with Saka having now provided 84 goals and assists in the Premier League. That’s seven more than Cristiano Ronaldo managed before turning 23.
A 59th goal in Arsenal colours for our Bukayo❤️ pic.twitter.com/SGy5EAy6JW
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) August 18, 2024
Goal of the Week
Liverpool fans feeling the angst of a post-Jurgen Klopp era might just feel a little comforted following their second half performance at Ipswich. After a forgettable first period, the Reds stepped up a level at Portman Road to claim a win in Arne Slot’s first game in charge.
The opener was a brilliantly crafted move from back to front, giving the fans their first glimpse of Slot-ball in action. Trent Alexander-Arnold’s perfect pass freed Mohamed Salah in behind, who unselfishly squared for Diogo Jota to get the Slot era underway.
Sublime team move ???? pic.twitter.com/mAtlwpU2Ce
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) August 17, 2024
Miss of the Week
Look away now, Tomas Soucek.
In the 97th-minute with West Ham trailing, the Czech somehow smashed this glorious chance over the crossbar. An xG figure of 0.93 for the chance tells the story.
HOW have West Ham not equalised? ???? pic.twitter.com/MfIk43d1Qe
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) August 17, 2024
Save of the Week
The best goalkeepers need to be alert even when their involvement is limited and David Raya came up trumps when needed for Arsenal this weekend. The Spanish shot-stopper made a brilliant reaction stop from Wolves’ debutant Jorgen Strand Larsen, palming away the forward’s effort to preserve the Gunners’ 1-0 lead.
How crucial could that prove to be?
Shutting it down ⛔️ pic.twitter.com/vaUkEh5Dck
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) August 18, 2024
Stat of the Week
It looked likely that Jhon Duran would be off at Aston Villa this summer. After another clinical cameo, The Villans might want to keep the Colombian centre-forward around a little longer…
103 – Jhon Durán has scored six Premier League goals from just 616 minutes played in the competition, an average of one every 103 minutes; among players to have scored 5+ Premier League goals, only Erling Haaland (85) averages a better minutes to goals rate. Impact. pic.twitter.com/FvgQ389zhv
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) August 17, 2024
Donkey of the Week
Fabian Schar’s stupidity put Newcastle in real trouble this weekend as the Swiss centre-back was sent off for petulantly putting his head towards Southampton’s Ben Brereton Diaz. However, it’s the latter who earns this dishonourable award for his involvement as the pantomime villain at St James’ Park.
Brereton Diaz arguably initiated the contact with Schar before some rather pathetic playacting contributed to the defender’s dismissal.
Karma came around quickly, however, as the Stoke-born Chile international missed some guilt-edged chances in Southampton’s 1-0 defeat to the 10-man Magpies. Sure, the forward was doing all he can to help the newly-promoted Saints to a result but his terrible theatrics are something no fan wants to see.
Do better, Ben.
Read – Premier League Team of the Week – Saka, Kovacic, Mitoma
See more – Ranking the players with the most opening weekend goals in Premier League history
