Monday, December 15, 2025
HomeOpinion/FeaturesPremier League Awards: Sunderland supremacy, sublime Sangare, rampant Rogers

Premier League Awards: Sunderland supremacy, sublime Sangare, rampant Rogers

Our Premier League Awards honour the best – and worst – of the weekend’s top-flight action, featuring Sunderland’s derby delight, Ibrahim Sangare’s masterclass and Morgan Rogers’ golazo. 

Moment of the Week

Sunderland’s win over Newcastle United was a decade in the making. The last Tyne-Wear Derby in the Premier League was nine years ago, while the Black Cats’ last win over their bitter rivals was in 2015.

They should have come into this game at the Stadium of Light as underdogs; a newly-promoted club up against a Champions League team back by vast Saudi wealth. But the hosts never looked the least bit cowed by the odds on Sunday, making the Magpies look meek by comparison.

It was a fiesty affair full of full-blooded challenges, verbals and even a schmozzle right at the end. It was not the prettiest game you will ever watch, but a throwback to when winning the physical battles was number one on the agenda in the English derby.

This was a proper derby, decided by a wild own goal. It doesn’t matter how they go in, though. The joy, the exultation, the bliss that would have washed over the Sunderland fans at the moment of the final whistle must have been out of this world.

Read – Sunderland boss celebrates ‘special’ derby win over Newcastle

Player of the Week

Ibrahim Sangare turned in his best performance for Nottingham Forest so far, right before he jets off to play at AFCON.

The Ivorian midfielder came away with two assists and a goal as the Tricky Trees smashed a sorry Spurs side at the City Ground on Sunday. He stole the ball off Archie Gray in his box before teeing up Callum Hudson-Odoi for a simple tap-in. There was a fair amount of fortune for his second assist, but his late goal to wrap up proceedings was an absolute stunner.

Read – Thomas Frank admits Forest drubbing ‘a step back’ for Spurs

Goal of the Week

There were several top quality goals from which to pick this week, but Morgan Rogers takes the biscuit with his wonder strike to clinch victory over West Ham United.

It was not only a brilliant hit, but a hugely important goal too as Aston Villa came from behind to win 3-2, in large part thanks to Rogers’ brace.

Read – Premier League Team of the Weekend: Ekitike, Rogers, Wilson

Assist of the Week

Harry Wilson has been on a tear recently and continued his excellent form against Burnley on Saturday, setting up two goals and scoring another with a composed finish.

For his second assist, the Fulham winger brought the ball down with a delicious touch before gently lobbing the ball onto the head of Calvin Bassey.

What makes it all the more impressive is that Wilson revealed afterwards he almost lost the ball in the floodlights, but he managed to make the most of the situation regardless.

Read – Arteta slams ‘unacceptable’ Arsenal defending against Wolves

Stat of the Week

Who knows what the future holds for Mo Salah, but if this was the last time we see him in a Liverpool, then he broke one more record on his way out.

The Egyptian winger was introduced midway through the first half against Brighton and went on to set up Hugo Ekitike’s second goal, his 89th assist for the Reds in the Premier League.

It was also his 277th goal involvement in the top flight for the Merseyside outfit, more than any other player has managed for one club in the Premier League era.

Read – Most Premier League goal involvements for one club

Howler of the Week

I cannot recall the last time there were so many own goals in a single weekend. Wolves put the ball in their own net twice, while West Ham’s Konstantinos Mavrapanos accidentally diverted the ball past Alphonse Areola against Villa.

There was a major slice of misfortune in each of those, with the guilty parties unsighted when the ball hit them. Nick Woltemade, on the other hand, put his head full force into the ball when he scored his first own goal for Newcastle at the weekend.

It was an unstoppable header, bouncing in off the crossbar and past a helpless Aaron Ramsdale.

Read More – Televised FA Cup third-round ties confirmed

See Also – 30 of the most iconic football photos ever taken

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Ste McGovern
Ste McGovernhttps://bsky.app/profile/stemcgovern.bsky.social
Freelance football writer with bylines for The Football Faithful, Manchester Evening News, BirminghamLive, MARCA, Balls.ie and the Nottingham Post.
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