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Best of the Weekend

Sky Sports casts an eye over this weekend's Premier League action and picks out some of the key highlights.

Sky Sports casts an eye over this weekend's Premier League action and picks out some of the key highlights.

Goal of the Weekend

Phil Jagielka v Liverpool 

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 27:  Phil Jagielka of Everton scores a late goal to level the scores at 1-1 during the Barclays Premier League match between
Image: Phil Jagielka: Hit a stunning equaliser

"I don't think I've seen a better strike in live football," said Roberto Martinez after Phil Jagielka's stoppage-time thunderbolt rescued Everton a Merseyside derby point at Liverpool. The 32-year-old’s performances have come under scrutiny in recent weeks, the defender having lost his England place, and it was almost as though his ferocious 91st-minute equaliser allowed for the venting of some frustration at Anfield. With Liverpool defending deep following Steven Gerrard's opener, Dejan Lovren’s headed clearance rolled kindly to Jagielka, who came steaming onto the loose ball, firing a swerving first-time effort off the crossbar and beyond the flailing Simon Mignolet to stun the hosts. That it was his first Premier League goal since April 2013 made it all the more impressive.

Game of the Weekend

Hull City 2-4 Manchester City  

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Manuel Pellegrini says it was an important win for Man City

Following a composed debut against Chelsea last weekend, £32million summer signing Eliaquim Mangala was given a much harsher welcome English football in a torrid 10-minute spell at the KC Stadium. Fine finishes from Sergio Aguero and Edin Dzeko had the champions seemingly cruising towards a routine three points in East Yorkshire, but Mangala’s own goal and clumsy foul on Abel Hernandez allowed Hull to somehow level from the penalty spot inside the first half. But, fortunately for the Frenchman, his blushes were spared after the break as Dzeko notched a second before Frank Lampard made it four goals in the space of a week with two minutes remaining on the clock.

Player of the Weekend

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain 

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Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain says picking up points is the most important thing

It was a 'frustrating' 1-1 north London derby draw with Tottenham for Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger, but he will surely be delighted by the dynamic display of Oxlade-Chamberlain. The 21-year-old has found himself in and out of the starting line-up so far this season but he truly delivered when called upon for the Emirates showdown. "I like him so much," said Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp after the winger starred in front of the Saturday Night Football cameras. Oxlade-Chamberlain steered in a 74th-minute equaliser to secure Arsenal a point and his relentless tormenting of left-back Danny Rose saw him deservedly claim the Man of the Match award.

Performance of the Weekend

Chelsea 3-0 Aston Villa 

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Jose Mourinho praised Chelsea’s strength and was pleased with their display

"I think they (Aston Villa) are a good team and when you beat them in such an easy way it has to be a good performance," Jose Mourinho told Sky Sports after watching his Chelsea side ease to a 3-0 win. It was Mourinho’s 250th game in charge of the Blues and yet another Premier League three points as their formidable start to the season continued. But this was perhaps the most convincing showing so far from Mourinho’s league leaders as they brushed aside Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge. Oscar got them on their way, slotting home from inside the area after seven minutes before Diego Costa powered in his eighth goal in six games on the hour mark and Willian wrapped things up with a tap-in on 79 minutes.

Save of the Weekend

Tim Howard v Liverpool 

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Brendan Rodgers thinks Liverpool were the better side following their 1-1 draw

Dubbed the 'US Secretary of Defence' for his World Cup heroics, Tim Howard was at his best again to thwart Liverpool in the Merseyside derby. A second-half stop with his head deflected Mario Balotelli’s close-range volley onto the bar, but it was his save from Adam Lallana in a frantic first half which earns him the credit here. Lallana’s powerful header from a corner looked destined to put the hosts in front, only for Howard to show agility beyond his 35 years as he got down brilliantly to his right and beat it away.

Skill of the Weekend

Graziano Pelle v QPR 

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Ronald Koeman hails Graziano Pelle's start to the season after winning goal

"If you score this kind of goal, it gets seen all over the world!" proclaimed Ronald Koeman. On yet another weekend where Goal of the Season contenders were hardly in short supply, Graziano Pelle produced a moment of magic that should have left St Mary’s speechless. Instead, Southampton fans were of course celebrating on their way to a fourth straight win thanks to Pelle’s acrobatic strike as they maintained second place in the Premier League by beating QPR 2-1. Just two minutes after Charlie Austin had netted an almost equally-as-impressive equaliser for the visitors, Dusan Tadic found Pelle waiting inside the area with his knock-down header. The summer signing from Feyenoord teed himself up with a deft first touch before adjusting himself brilliantly while in mid-air to loop an unstoppable volley beyond Robert Green.

Controversy of the Weekend

Kevin Nolan offside goal v Manchester United 

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Sam Allardyce believes West Ham were wrongly denied a point at Old Trafford

Described by manager Sam Allardyce as "blatantly onside" and a goal that "should have stood", West Ham were denied a dramatic late equaliser at Old Trafford by the linesman’s flag. Having pulled a goal back to make it 2-1 through Diafra Sakho, Kevin Nolan thought he had secured a point when he converted fellow substitute Carl Jenkinson’s cross from close range, only to see the dreaded flag as he began to wheel away in celebration. Replays suggested Nolan’s head was playing him off and the rules state ‘consideration should be given to any part of the head, body or feet of the attacker’, but Allardyce was still adamant. “I don’t think you can base a decision on the fact that it’s a nose or a head offside,” he said, hardly impressed by the linesman’s chase back to keep up with play.

Mad moment of the Weekend

Wayne Rooney v West Ham 

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Louis van Gaal told Sky Sports he accepts Wayne Rooney's red card

Manchester United survived a nervy finale to secure their second win of the season following Rooney’s 59th-minute dismissal against West Ham with the scoreline on edge at 2-1. Perhaps still mentally scarred from the capitulation at Leicester, Rooney was overly keen to halt a swift break up-field by the visitors as he cynically hacked down the advancing Stewart Downing. Louis van Gaal had few complaints with what he described as a “professional foul” but admitted that Rooney was “too unfriendly, because you can do it in a more friendly way”. United did eventually hold on for the three points as Nolan’s goal was disallowed, but the heat would have been intensified on their captain had they let the lead slip.

Wake-up call of the Weekend

Burnley's defending at West Brom

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Sean Dyche felt Burnley never got a grip on the game in their defeat to West Brom

The Clarets had chalked up three stalemates in a row going into the Super Sunday clash away to West Brom, and would have felt fairly confident about keeping at bay a team that had scored only six goals in their previous 10 Premier League outings. However, the Albion attacking midfield of Stephane Sessgnon, Graham Dorrans and Chris Brunt completely dominated the Hawthorns affair and kept forcing corners (11 for the hosts in the match) that Burnley failed to defend properly. Craig Dawson and Saido Berahino benefitted in the first half, and the latter and Dorrans added to the goal tally in the second. "We just didn't deal with it," admitted Sean Dyche. "I won't hide behind the fact we had players missing and it was very poor we gave two goals away from corners."

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