Weekend awards: Best goal, moment, assist and more!

Football writer David Coverdale hands out his personal accolades for Matchweek 16.

Best goal - Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa)

Morgan Rogers is making the "knuckleball" his own.

The Villa playmaker scored a memorable free-kick using the technique – popularised by Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Ball – against Leeds United last month.

But Rogers’ knuckleball strike at West Ham United on Sunday was perhaps even more impressive because it came in open play.

With 11 minutes remaining and the game at the London Stadium tied at 2-2, Rogers picked up the ball from Victor Lindelof, took a couple of touches and then let fly from 25 yards, with the power and dip of his shot bamboozling goalkeeper Alphonse Areola.

Watch: Rogers' sensational strike v West Ham

"I know I’ve got the quality from distance, I work on that kind of shot," Rogers told the BBC's Match of the Day.

"I'm just really grateful it went in and it helped us win the game."

Rogers' goal was voted the best of the weekend by fans on the Premier League WhatsApp channel and had pundits lining up to praise it.

"We have seen this technique before on free-kicks," said former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher on Sky Sports. "But what I haven’t seen before is people getting goals in open play using this technique. That is what makes this special."

Ex-Arsenal forward Theo Walcott added on BBC Sport: "You think of Ronaldo and how he was able to manipulate the ball the way he wants. Well, Rogers is able to do that.

"If you give him time and space you are in trouble because of the way he hits the ball."

Most touching moment – Jordan Henderson (Brentford)

When Henderson scored his first goal for Brentford against Leeds United on Sunday, he knew exactly how he was going to celebrate.

It has been five months since Diogo Jota tragically died in a car crash at the age of 28.

But Henderson had his former Liverpool team-mate firmly in his thoughts after netting his first Premier League goal in four years (below left), as he recreated Jota's trademark celebration of sitting down and pretending to play a video game (below right).

"I don’t score many goals, so when I did, I always thought that I would dedicate it to him," the Brentford midfielder told Sky Sports after the 1-1 draw with Leeds.

"He was a good friend. We will never forget him. We will always remember him. I can only imagine what the lads at Liverpool are going through."

As well as Henderson’s homage to Jota, poignant tributes were paid to two other much-loved players over the weekend.

At the Stadium of Light, a minute’s applause was held for former Sunderland forward Gary Rowell (below left), who died aged 68 on Saturday, as home fans sang, "We all live in a Gary Rowell world."

Meanwhile at the London Stadium, a giant tifo of Billy Bonds was displayed in the stand named in his honour (below right). West Ham’s FA Cup-winning captain Bonds died aged 79 last month.

Best atmosphere – Stadium of Light (Sunderland)

It had been almost 10 years since the last Tyne-Wear derby in the Premier League, but Sunderland supporters certainly made up for lost time.

They created a thunderous atmosphere at the Stadium of Light for the visit of rivals Newcastle United, which helped their team secure a memorable 1-0 win.

Sunderland fans greeted every tackle with a huge cheer, and they took the roof off when Newcastle striker Nick Woltemade headed into his own net at the start of the second half.

Watch: Sunderland fans cheer EVERY TACKLE against Newcastle

There was another deafening roar when referee Peter Bankes blew his full-time whistle to confirm the Black Cats’ seventh win over Newcastle in their last eight top-flight meetings.

"This is like nothing else I have seen, the stand is bouncing," said former Leeds goalkeeper Paul Robinson.

It was no wonder Sunderland’s staff and players, who posed for a picture in front of their fans at the Roker End, thanked their supporters after the match.

Watch: The full-time scenes from the Tyne-Wear derby

"The atmosphere was impressive," said Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris. "I think now the lads are able to connect with the stands."

Black Cats skipper Granit Xhaka added on Instagram: "The atmosphere was unbelievable – you pushed us to this win."

Fastest goal – Mateus Fernandes (West Ham)

Mateus Fernandes ensured Hugo Ekitike’s record for the fastest goal of the 2025/26 Premier League season lasted less than 24 hours.

The in-form Liverpool forward netted against Brighton & Hove Albion after just 46 seconds on Saturday. But it proved to not even be the quickest strike of the weekend as Fernandes notched for West Ham after only 30 seconds on Sunday.

The Portuguese midfielder fired past Marco Bizot from a tight angle after Villa defender Ezri Konsa lost the ball in the box.

"It was my first goal here, and it was a good start for us, so it was a nice moment," said Fernandes.

His goal was both the earliest scored by West Ham and the earliest conceded by Villa in a Premier League match.

Unfortunately for Fernandes and the Hammers, they conceded just eight minutes later and went on to lose 3-2 to Villa to stay in the bottom three.

Before this weekend, Newcastle defender Malick Thiaw held the record for the fastest goal of the season, for his header against Everton after just 52 seconds last month.

Watch: The five FASTEST GOALS of 2025/26

Best assist – Harry Wilson (Fulham)

With six goal contributions in his last four Premier League matches, Harry Wilson is on fire for Fulham right now.

In the Cottagers’ 3-2 win at Burnley on Saturday, the Welsh winger scored one and provided two assists – and it was his piece of play for his side’s second goal which really caught the eye.  

With the game locked at 1-1 in the 31st minute, Antonee Robinson clipped the ball over the top to Wilson, who brought it down out of the sky with an exquisite touch.

The 28-year-old then looked up and lifted a cross right on to the head of the unmarked Calvin Bassey, who nodded home to give Fulham the lead.

Watch: Wilson's wondrous assist for Bassey's goal

"I feel really good at the minute," said Wilson. "As an attacking player, it’s always good when your numbers are good and it was nice to get a couple of assists."

Wilson joined Fulham, initially on loan, from Liverpool in 2021, the first signing made by Marco Silva at Craven Cottage.

"He is in the best moment of his career so far," said Silva. "Both assists were top and his goal was a top, top level.

"I believe this is going to be the best season for him in terms of numbers."