It’s not every week in the Premier League you see finishing as clinical as the sort that we have witnessed in the last few days. Last week you can read Stars of the week for round 1. If you missed it you can read here.
Matchweek 2 was, in fact, a record-breaking weekend in terms of goals scored in a standard 10 match weekend, with a staggering 44 scored. With that said, we could give all the plaudits this week to the forwards, with 7 of them enjoying multi-goal matchweeks. However, players from all over the pitch stood up to be counted in Matchweek 2.
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Stars in Premier League – Round 2
1. Goalkeeper: Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa)
One of the few clean sheets of the weekend was kept by new Aston Villa keeper Emiliano Martinez, who became an instant Villa Park hero by saving a penalty from Sheffield United’s John Lundstram. The stop was absolutely crucial to Villa securing victory on their opening match day, and to do so on his debut for his new club made it extra special.
2. Defender: Tariq Lamptey (Brighton and Hove Albion)
One of the other rare defensive successes this weekend was Tariq Lamptey of Brighton, who helped his side achieve a very impressive 3-0 victory at Newcastle. Although substituted off after an hour, it was a thoroughly impressive hour, to say the least. Inventive and dynamic for Brighton up and down the right flank, Chelsea will surely be regretting letting him go so easily.
3. Midfielder: Helder Costa (Leeds United)
Although a number of midfielders got in on the goal fest this weekend, many of them were able to do so by playing as wide forwards on the flanks of a standard 4-3-3 formation. I’ve therefore given this week’s star midfielder award to Leeds United’s Helder Costa, who played on the right-hand side of a more traditional midfield four, and who got forward with devastating effect to score two goals in Leeds’s first top flight win for 16 years.
4. Forward: Son Heung-Min (Tottenham Hotspur)
This was a difficult decision between Spurs duo Son Heung-Min and Harry Kane, who both wreaked havoc on a woeful Southampton defence. I’ve narrowly gone for Son, who was outstandingly clinical with virtually every opportunity he got in front of goal and made Southampton pay by hitting a very rare four goal haul. Could that be the game to ignite Tottenham’s season?
5. Manager: Roy Hodgson (Crystal Palace)
Who saw that coming? Having ended last season dreadfully, Crystal Palace have shocked almost everyone at the start of 20/21 by securing two wins out of two. Roy Hodgson deserves a lot of credit, not only for turning around Palace’s fortunes after an incredibly short pre-season, but also for securing the Eagles’ first back to back wins at Old Trafford in Premier League history. If they keep this up, safety will be secured almost unthinkably early.
Sports journalist, content writer and passionate football lover.