Premier League Awards – Wonderful Wharton, Kluivert’s corker | OneFootball

Our Premier League Awards honour the best – and worst of the midweek action, featuring Crystal Palace’s returning conductor and Justin Kluivert’s Golazo.

Player of the Week

Back like he’s never been away. Adam Wharton made his first league start since October in midweek and was the best player on the pitch as Crystal Palace thumped Aston Villa 4-1 in the capital. The midfielder was the orchestrator of the Palace symphony at Selhurst Park, with a crucial role in the first three goals.

Aston Villa couldn’t get near Wharton, whose ability to find space, read the game and intelligent distribution is top-class. Still just 21, he’s set for a huge future. Palace will be determined to keep hold of him for as long as possible. Meanwhile, Thomas Tuchel will be taking notes ahead of his first England squad in March.

Goal of the Week

Justin Kluivert is having himself a season at Bournemouth. It wasn’t the Cherries’ night at Brighton but Kluivert’s equaliser at The Amex was a goal to remember for the travelling fans.

The Dutchman blasted in an effort from distance for his 12th goal of the Premier League campaign. After a nomadic early career, the former Ajax talent has found himself a home on the south coast. Inclusion with the Netherlands surely beckons next month.

Manager of the Week

Crystal Palace’s stuttering start to the season has been put firmly in the rear-view mirror. The Eagles opened the campaign with an eight-game winless run, but have since improved to climb comfortably clear of trouble.

It’s now five wins in seven league games for Oliver Glasner’s side, who thrashed Aston Villa 4-1 in midweek to continue their purple patch. Palace have finished between 10th and 15th in 11 straight seasons of mid-table solidity and their current position of 12th – with a record of nine wins, nine draws and nine defeats – is perhaps Palace personified.

However, the Eagles are bang in form and next face relegation favourites Ipswich and Southampton. Back-to-back wins could move Palace within touching distance of the congested chase for European football.

Save of the Week

When Aaron Ramsdale swapped Arsenal for Southampton last summer, he probably anticipated being fairly busy this season. Perhaps, however, not this busy.

The Saints lost 4-0 at Chelsea in midweek and have conceded a whopping 65 goals and counting.

How many more would that have been without Ramsdale? His super stop from Cole Palmer was not the first time he’s prevented an already high scoreline from getting into humiliating territory.

Quote of the Week

Did Martin Keown really needed to question Forest’s decision not to use three centre-backs against strikerless Arsenal?

Still, some brutal honest from Nuno Espirito Santo here.

A little salt in the wound from the Nottingham Forest boss, as Arsenal’s title dreams went up in smoke at the City Ground.

Stat of the Week

Not even Alan Shearer, Thierry Henry, Sergio Aguero or Mohamed Salah scored 20+ goals in each of their first three Premier League seasons.

Erling Haaland has – and joins a very exclusive club.

The man’s a machine.

Read – Premier League Team of the Week – Fernandes, Wharton, Nkunku

See more – The biggest winning points margins in Premier League history

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