Weekend awards: Best goal, assist, save and more

Football writer David Coverdale looks at the standout players and moments from Matchweek 6.

Best goal – Igor Thiago (Brentford)

Igor Thiago endured a frustrating first year in English football.

Having moved to Brentford from Club Brugge for a reported £30million in July 2024, the Brazilian suffered an injury and then an infection to his knee, limiting him to just eight appearances without scoring in his debut Premier League campaign.

However, following the summer departures of Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa, Thiago has been tasked with leading the line for the Bees this season – and he is certainly making up for lost time.

The 24-year-old’s first-half brace against Manchester United means he has now netted five times in seven games in all competitions this season, with his stunning opener on Saturday voted the best goal of the weekend by fans on the Premier League WhatsApp channel.

With the match just eight minutes old, Jordan Henderson picked up a loose ball close to his own penalty area and glanced up to spot Thiago in space just inside Man Utd's half.

Henderson then launched a raking long ball over the top for Thiago, who beat Harry Maguire’s offside trap and raced towards goal, before unleashing a left-footed strike on the half-volley into the top left corner.

Watch Thiago's first goal v Man Utd

"Today I was watching a video where a guy was saying how you need to fail to become great in a situation," Thiago told Brentford's official website after the match.

"In so many situations like this, I have missed, and then now in the Premier League I have scored. I am so happy."

When Thiago doubled his tally with a scrappier goal 12 minutes later, he became just the second player to net twice in the opening 20 minutes of a Premier League match against Man Utd, after Alexis Sanchez for Arsenal 10 years ago.

"He barely played last season because of injury, but he looks like he can fill the void left by Mbeumo and Wissa," Alan Shearer, the Premier League’s all-time top goalscorer, said on the BBC’s Match of the Day.

Best assist - Lucas Digne (Aston Villa)

Aston Villa’s difficult start to the season looked set to continue on Sunday when they went behind in the third minute against Fulham.

However, one pass from Lucas Digne changed the match – and perhaps the course of Villa’s campaign.

In the 37th minute, Emiliano Martinez rolled the ball out to his left-back just outside his box.

Digne then took a couple of touches before brilliantly picking out Ollie Watkins with a pinpoint long pass in between Fulham centre-backs Joachim Andersen and Calvin Bassey.

Watkins’ finish was every bit as good as Digne’s delivery, as he beat Bassey to the bouncing ball and lifted it over Bernd Leno to end a nine-game scoring drought, the joint-longest goalless run of his Villa career.

Watch Digne's assist for Watkins v Fulham

From then on, there was no looking back for the hosts, as John McGinn and Emi Buendia scored in the second half to secure Villa's first Premier League win of the season.

For Digne, it was the 30th assist of his Premier League career, making him the 12th French player to achieve that milestone in the competition.

Best save – Sam Johnstone (Wolverhampton Wanderers)

After keeping a clean sheet in Wolverhampton Wanderers’ midweek EFL Cup win over Everton, Sam Johnstone kept his place in the team for the fixture at Tottenham Hotspur.

And the English goalkeeper more than repaid his manager Vitor Pereira’s faith as he helped his side pick up their first Premier League point of the season.

Johnstone’s most impressive moment came in the 15th minute when he somehow reacted to push Mohammed Kudus’ point-blank header on to the bar.

Watch Johnstone's save v Spurs

He denied Kudus again with another smart stop shortly after and kept Spurs at bay until the 94th minute, when Joao Palhinha brilliantly equalised with a strike he had no chance of saving.

Johnstone’s display, coupled with the turnaround in Wolves’ fortunes, should ensure he is again selected over Jose Sa for Sunday’s visit of Brighton & Hove Albion.

“I’m there to try and make saves and keep the lads in a game,” he said. “Tonight, the couple of saves I made kept us in it.

“We’ve been in a bad spot the last few weeks, so getting a point away at Spurs, you take it. But we’re so close to getting three that the lads are absolutely gutted.”

Some of the other standout saves from Matchweek 6 came in Crystal Palace’s late win over Liverpool, with Dean Henderson brilliantly tipping a Ryan Gravenberch piledriver on to the post, while Alisson flung himself across his goal to deny Yeremy Pino. 

Best skill – Lucas Bergvall (Spurs)

It ultimately counted for nothing, but Lucas Bergvall appeared to have made the assist of the season so far in Spurs’ dramatic draw with Wolves.

With the match still goalless midway through the first half, Bergvall produced a beautiful backheel to fool the Wolves defence and complete a one-two with Kudus, who curled home what he thought was the opener.

Unfortunately, for both the scorer and provider, the goal was immediately chalked off as Kudus was flagged offside.

Watch Bergvall's brilliant backheel to set up Kudus

It was, however, another reminder of the skills that Bergvall has to offer in what has been a strong start to the season for the Swede under the management of Thomas Frank.

Indeed, Spurs’ only Premier League defeat this season came when the midfielder did not start the match against AFC Bournemouth.

“Spurs have their mojo back under Thomas Frank and, of the players he inherited, Bergvall has arguably made the biggest leap forward,” Chelsea legend Pat Nevin said to the BBC.

“Some players just need to know the manager believes in them to suddenly become an even better player and a more forceful presence.”

Most wholesome moment – Johnny Giles at Elland Road

Leeds United fans had no idea what to expect when the club released a statement advising them to be in their seats by 14:45 on Saturday for a “special announcement” before kick-off.

Many supporters posted sarcastic responses on social media and yet they ended up being treated to an appearance at Elland Road from one of their all-time greats, Johnny Giles.

The 84-year-old Irishman received an emotional standing ovation as he was presented on the pitch to receive a Lifetime Achievement Award for his services to the club.

Giles made 527 appearances for Leeds between 1963 and 1975, winning two top-flight titles and the FA Cup, as well as being a European Cup runner-up in 1975.

“Congratulations Johnny, you are an iconic figure of the club and we are honoured to call you one of our legends,” Leeds said in a statement.

Giles was actually not the only legend in attendance for the Bournemouth match, as Lucas Radebe was welcomed on to the pitch at half-time to another rousing reception.

The South African defender, who captained Leeds when they achieved their best Premier League finish of third place in 1999/2000, has been appointed an official club ambassador.

More reaction from Matchweek 6