Every gameweek we like to reward the best – and worst – of the Premier League action with our weekly awards.
This week’s column features Jay Rodriguez and his happy place, Sebastien Haller’s furious finish, Harry Kane’s masterclass for Spurs, Timo Werner’s wasteful finishing and Nicolas Pepe’s idiotic red card.
Moment of the Week
Ever since DJ Jordan North said “happy place, happy place, Turf Moor” on I’m A Celebrity, everyone has been bullying Jay Rodriguez into saying it in his Burnley accent. Say the line, Jay!
????️“Happy place! Happy place! Turf Moor”
The words we all wanted to hear from Jay Rodriguez ???? pic.twitter.com/gTglTNDFP6
— Soccer AM (@SoccerAM) November 23, 2020
Honourable Mention: Theo Walcott scoring for Southampton 15 years after his last league goal for the club.
Premier League Team of the Week for gameweek 9
Player of the Week
Usually, when a striker doesn’t take a shot in an entire match they have had a bad game. But not in the case of Harry Kane, who was absolutely sublime during Tottenham Hotspur’s 2-0 win over Manchester City.
Kane is arguably not just a top class striker anymore, but a complete player too. We’ve spoken a lot about his newfound playmaking abilities, which he showed off here with his ninth assist of the season, but he terrorised the usually unflappable Aymeric Laporte all day long.
Eight Premier League players who shone bright in gameweek nine
Goal of the Week
It wasn’t quite on the same level of rage as Tobin Heath’s goal in the Manchester derby in the WSL the other week, but Sebastien Haller‘s rocket at the weekend was the angriest goal of the season we’ve seen so far.
Some hit from Haller yesterday ????pic.twitter.com/8haZlGeHA8
— The Football Faithful (@FootyFaithful_) November 23, 2020
It was the West Ham United striker’s first goal from outside the box in his career, but he didn’t even celebrate it! Haller has clearly been frustrated with his recent form and lack of game time, but Haller is the club’s goal scorer in all competition with six strikes to his name, so he must be doing something right.
Honourable Mention: Danny Welbeck’s chip against Aston Villa for Brighton.
The best Premier League stats of GW9: Liverpool’s Anfield effect and Man City’s decline
Pass of the Week
Tanguy Ndombele‘s lovely lofted pass to Heung-min Son for Spurs’ opener was masterful. His adjustment just beforehand to avoid the pressure coming from Bernardo Silva was also splendid.
???? Of course you want to watch it again… #THFC ⚪️ #COYS pic.twitter.com/KT1Sz0Gt93
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) November 21, 2020
Save of the Week
Alex McCarthy made an excellent double save early on in the first-half against Wolves, keeping out Nelson Semedo’s long-range drive before denying Leandro Dendoncker on the follow-up.
The Southampton goalkeeper has put in a string of good performances ever since conceding five against Spurs in September. He made eight saves on Monday night to ensure the Saints came away from Molineux with a point – is an England call-up beckoning?
The longest unbeaten runs in Premier League history
Miss of the Week
There were several contenders for Miss of the Week on Saturday alone, but for the second week running it has to go to Timo Werner. Just as he did against Sheffield United, the Chelsea striker put himself in a golden position to score, but failed to connect with the ball properly. It simply dribbled safely wide.
To be fair to Werner, he looked excellent all game and provided the assist for Tammy Abraham’s goal, but he needs to be more clinical. Particularly if the Blues are to mount a title challenge this season.
Stat of the Week
Diogo Jota outperforming entire football clubs.
Open play PL home goals this season:
Diogo Jota 4
Man City 2
Man Utd 1— Duncan Alexander (@oilysailor) November 22, 2020
The latest piece of the puzzle: Why Diogo Jota is thriving at evolving Liverpool
Howler of the Week
What is it with Fulham and penalties? For the third time in a row the Cottagers missed from the spot, this time it was Ivan Cavaleiro, who made an absolute dog’s dinner of his attempt.
5/8 – Fulham have missed five of their last eight Premier League penalties, including each of the last three, all taken by different players (Aleksandar Mitrovic, Ademola Lookman and Ivan Cavaleiro). Woops. #FULEVE pic.twitter.com/C8LNvGGiCt
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) November 22, 2020
The winger was placed too far to the left in his runup to the spot, so he inevitably slipped when he tried to place the ball to the right-hand side of the net. Is there nobody at the club instructing these guys how to take a penalty?
Donkey of the Week
Arsenal were lucky to come away from Elland Road with a point after conceding so many chances against Leeds United, but Nicolas Pepe was fully deserving of his red card for headbutting Ezgjan Alioski.
Yes, the Leeds midfielder was theatrical in his reaction, but the stupidity of Pepe in the first place is, in the words of his manager Mikel Arteta, unacceptable.
Read: Five Premier League players who ‘had a mare’ this weekend
See Also: How an Italian cult hero became the Premier League’s youngest ever manager
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The process by which Muzzy Izzet was accepted into the Turkish setup was… unusual ????????????
???? https://t.co/6mxBplybU7 #lcfc pic.twitter.com/hjz9suRUqV
— The Football Faithful (@FootyFaithful_) November 23, 2020
