Our weekly Premier League awards honour the best – and worst – of the football action from the weekend.
Moment of the Week
Leicester left it late to snatch the points in a real six-pointer at St Mary’s, completing a comeback to down Southampton on the south coast.
The newly promoted battle looked set to go the way of the winless Saints, who took a two-goal lead into half-time. The Foxes, however, bit back. Facundo Buonanotte pulled one back, before Ryan Fraser’s red card changed the game. Sent off for a professional foul, Jamie Vardy slammed in the resulting spot-kick to level.
With Leicester in the ascendancy, the Saints were shaking and in the eighth minute of stoppage time Southampton hearts were broken. Jordan Ayew converted from a set-piece routine to send the travelling contingent wild.
The finish, then the limbs! 🎉 🎉 pic.twitter.com/yrkCAPXryb
— Leicester City (@LCFC) October 20, 2024
It was Leicester’s latest ever Premier League goal and the first time the Foxes had won when trailing by two goals at half-time in a Premier League game – at the 64th attempt.
The win even brought all the big names out…
Roy knows! #lcfc #leicester pic.twitter.com/cqmnVoaxgD
— Cool As Leicester (@coolasleicester) October 19, 2024
Player of the Week
Ange Postecoglou’s reinvention of Dejan Kulusevski deserves its flowers. The Swede’s talent has not always been appreciated in North London with frustration over his inconsistency, but the 24-year-old is thriving right now.
In a deeper central role, Kulusevski has quietly been one of the Premier League’s best midfielders so far this season. The driving force behind Tottenham’s 4-1 comeback win against West Ham, he scored the equaliser with a drilled finish from the edge of the box, was involved in the third goal, created two chances and won eight ground duels.
He’s become the all-action presence of the Spurs side, with an ability to drift past challenges in a manner that defies his frame.
📊Dejan Kulusevski vs Premier League midfielders:
🥇 Most key passes (1st in Europe)
🥇 Most progressive runs (1st in Europe)
🥇 Most accelerations (1st in Europe)
🥇 Most deep completions (1st in Europe)
🥇 Most dribbles per 90
🥇 Most offensive duels per 90@DataMB_ pic.twitter.com/SF8TspnVVv— The Spurs Watch (@TheSpursWatch) October 19, 2024
Goal of the Week
Rarely does a set-piece routine work as perfectly as this.
Bournemouth got creative in their bid to unsettle Arsenal and Ryan Christie put the emphatic touch on a terrific training ground move. Executed with aplomb.
Substitute Ryan Christie with a SENSATIONAL finish for Bournemouth! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/m4k0DZTa6V
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) October 19, 2024
An honourable mention for Josko Gvardiol, who has created a quite insane goal catalogue from full-back in a Manchester City shirt.
An absolute ROCKET! 🚀
🤯 @JoskoGvardiol4 pic.twitter.com/YNsAKLhHsn
— Manchester City (@ManCity) October 20, 2024
Stat of the Week
The Spursy jibes were out in full force after Tottenham’s collapse at Brighton before the international break. However, the numbers – on home soil at least – tell a different story.
No side has recovered more wins from losing positions at home since the start of last season.
8 – Most Premier League home wins after conceding first since the start of last season:
8 – Tottenham
4 – Aston Villa, Man City, Man Utd
3 – Arsenal, Brighton, LiverpoolGap. pic.twitter.com/9JQEekE4FA
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) October 19, 2024
Meanwhile, Chelsea might have lost at Liverpool but there was plenty to like about their performance at Anfield. Maresca’s Blues appear on the right road.
88.1% – Chelsea’s pass completion rate was the highest on record (since 2003-04) by an away team in a Premier League game at Anfield. Courageous. pic.twitter.com/x4X67hnxiP
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) October 20, 2024
Tweet of the Week
Mini retirements and biscuit dunking, Gary Neville truly is a man of innovation.
Gary Neville invents biscuit dunking pic.twitter.com/xmPkkhAyTk
— Andy Cantwell (@AndyCantwell) October 18, 2024
Read – Premier League Team of the Week – Jones, Watkins, Son
See more – Tweets of the Week: England’s GERMAN manager and Arteta bin Laden
