MFF December Premier League Team Of The Month

MFF December Premier League Team Of The Month 2023/24

We are back with another team of the month to round off 2023. The December team takes on a 3-5-2 formation. A packed month meant that a few players were unlucky not to make the cut. For instance, a hat-trick hero did not get in and no West Ham players were able to squeeze in despite a solid month from them. Remember, the team of the month now features players in their positions in the Premier League’s official ‘Fantasy Premier League’.

Goalkeeper

Jordan Pickford (Everton)

It was a tight decision this month for the goalkeeper position, however, Pickford edged out Bournemouth’s Neto. Pickford kept the most clean sheets in the league with four in December. England’s number one made no less than 23 saves in seven matches to end the calendar year. In the 2-0 win against Chelsea, he made key stops from Enzo Fernandez and Cole Palmer. In the 2-0 away victory over Burnley, he was forced into a good save from Zeki Amdouni. Pickford now has six clean sheets for the campaign, which puts him joint-top with Liverpool’s Alisson and Manchester United’s Andre Onana.

Defenders

Marcos Senesi (Bournemouth)

Since late October, Bournemouth have really kicked into form and Senesi has contributed massively especially in December. The Argentine centre half helped Andoni Iraola’s outfit to three clean sheets in December, as well as contributing offensively too. In the 2-0 away win at Crystal Palace he opened the scoring with a header from a corner after it had been flicked on by Luis Sinisterra. Senesi was on the scoresheet again in the shock 3-0 victory at Manchester United with another header from a corner after some poor marking. He was then assisting as he put in a great ball for Dominic Solanke to head in as the Cherries won at Nottingham Forest 3-2.

Marcos Senesi rises to head in as Bournemouth embarrassed Manchester United. Image from ‘dailymail.co.uk / getty images’.

Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool)

By his standards, Alexander-Arnold’s season began slowly, but he is now consistently performing. December began in the most emphatic fashion for him, in the 4-3 win over Fulham at Anfield. His brilliant free-kick opened the scoring, but ended up being given as an own goal by Bernd Leno. Fulham led 3-2 late on, but Wataru Endo levelled, and then Alexander-Arnold controlled the ball on his chest and volleyed in the winner. The England international then assisted Virgil van Dijk’s goal in a 2-0 victory away at Sheffield United. Jurgen Klopp’s side drew 1-1 at home with Arsenal and the right back supplied the equaliser for Mo Salah with a good ball from his own half.

Alfie Doughty (Luton)

If Luton are to stay up, then Doughty will play a key role for them. His marauds and quality delivery proved vital in December. The Hatters were beaten 4-3 by Arsenal, due to an injury time Declan Rice goal. Luton were leading 3-2 at a stage and Doughty setup their first two goals from two corners. Luton then kept a clean sheet as they won 1-0 at home to Newcastle. Rob Edwards’ men then got three points away at Sheffield United as it ended 3-2. Doughty opened the scoring as he turned his man inside out before beating Wes Foderingham at his near post. Doughty then assisted two more times as they fell 3-2 at home to Chelsea.

Midfielders

Leon Bailey (Aston Villa)

Bailey has now worked his way into the starting XI after having produced key moments coming off the Villa bench. The Jamaican international cut in off the right to give the Villans the lead in a 2-2 draw at Bournemouth. Villa then had two important home games, and Bailey contributed as they won both games 1-0. He scored a deflected late winner as they beat Manchester City, in a game they should have scored more in. They scored an early goal as they beat Arsenal, and it was Bailey who assisted John McGinn’s winner. Unai Emery’s men came from behind to beat Brentford 2-1 and Bailey’s cross was headed in by Alex Moreno for 1-1. Villa ended December with a 3-2 home triumph over Burnley and Bailey again opened the scoring.

Leon Bailey grabs a late winner as Aston Villa edged a 1-0 victory over Manchester City. Image from ‘bbc.co.uk / reuters’.

Michael Olise (Crystal Palace)

Since returning from injury, Olise has been on fire. The Eagles are a real attacking threat when they have him and Eberechi Eze on the pitch, and there is no surprise that they have started picking up points again. Olise scored an injury time penalty to salvage a huge point for Roy Hodgson’s men as they came from 2-0 down against the champions Manchester City. Olise assisted Jordan Ayew’s header, when they drew 1-1 with Brighton with a lovely cross to the back post. Palace lost 2-1 away at Chelsea, but Olise scored a fine goal, controlling Ayew’s ball and firing in a volley. The Frenchman was then at the double, as his two smart finishes meant they ended the month with a 3-1 home win over Brentford.

Richarlison (Tottenham)

After a tricky first year in North London, Richarlison has finally settled. He scored five times in December and seems to have found his form at a critical time as Heung-Min Son departs for the Asia Cup. The Brazilian bagged a brace in the 4-1 home dispatching of Newcastle, as he capitalised on some poor defending with a header and a close-range finish. He headed in Dejan Kulusevski’s teasing cross as Spurs won 2-0 at Nottingham Forest. He got on the end of Brennan Johnson’s ball to give Ange Postecoglou’s men the lead again when they edged past Everton 2-1 at home. Another home win saw him grab the third goal as they got past Bournemouth 3-1, a scoreline that flattered them.

Cole Palmer (Chelsea)

Not many expected Palmer to have the impact he has had already at Stamford Bridge. Eyebrows were raised when he wanted out at Manchester City, but his decision has been compounded. Mauricio Pochettino seems to have pulled off a masterstroke with this signing. Palmer edged out the West Ham duo of Mohammed Kudus and Jarrod Bowen to make the cut for December. Chelsea lost 2-1 at Manchester United, but Palmer scored a fine individual goal to level the game up. The Blues broke down a stubborn Sheffield United thanks to a goal and assist from him in the second half as it ended 2-0. He returned from suspension, to score two fabulous goals at Luton. He also assisted Noni Madueke’s powerful strike in the 3-2 victory.

Heung-Min Son (Tottenham)

The Korean is off to the Asia Cup, but he left his club side with a great month before flying away. Spurs drew 3-3 with Manchester City, and Son scored the opener after they hit them with a swift counter attack. He scored at the wrong end to level things up, but redeemed himself as he assisted Giovani Lo Celso to make it 2-2. The Lilywhites, won 4-1 against Newcastle, here Son provided goals for Destiny Udogie and Richarlison, before scoring himself from the penalty spot. Son got the second goal in another home win over Everton that ended 2-1. Ange Postecoglou’s men lost 4-2 at Brighton, but Son assisted a goal for substitute Alejo Veliz. Son rounded off the calendar year with a clinical left footed finish on the break as Tottenham beat Bournemouth 3-1.

Forwards

Matheus Cunha (Wolverhampton)

Cunha gets more and more valuable to Wolves every time he steps onto the pitch. The Brazilian’s smart linkup play and dribbling ability was not overlooked, but he was being wasteful in front of goal. Things clicked however, in December. An emphatic finish got them a consolation goal in a 2-1 defeat at Arsenal. Cunha then assisted Hee-Chan Hwang in a 1-0 win over Burnley. Cunha then started and finished the move to level things up in a 1-1 draw with Nottingham Forest. In a 4-1 victory at Brentford, he laid the fourth goal on for Jean-Ricner Bellegarde. The month concluded with Cunha scoring and assisting as Wolves beat Everton 3-0 at Molineux.

Dominic Solanke (Bournemouth)

Solanke’s great season continued in December. The Cherries talisman began the month putting them ahead 2-1 with a good turn and finish against Aston Villa, before it ended 2-2. When they travelled to Manchester United, Solanke opened the scoring with lovely finish to round off a good team move. The highlight of his month was a hat-trick away at Nottingham Forest, where he won the game with his second towering header of the match as late as the 94^th minute. Andoni Iraola’s men next welcomed Fulham to the Vitality Stadium and Solanke scored from the penalty spot in a 3-0 triumph. His six December goals took him to 12 for the season, only Erling Haaland and Mo Salah have more.