Football Blog: Early season awards

Best result - Premiership: Everton 1 Arsenal 6. Its one thing trouncing a relegation threatened side like Hull 6-1, but to to it to Everton at Goodison was remarkable, especially when everyone was writing Arsenal off, and Everton as one of their main challengers for a top four spot.

Biggest shock: Burnley 1 Man United 0. Second game of the season, did United get caught cold or are Burnley just that good at home. Results since then indicate that they are looking just as formidable at Turf Moor. They are yet to face another top four side there but don't bet against them replicating the feat.

Best result- Championship Middlesborough 0 West Brom 5. Well this was a slap in the face to Gareth Southgate wasn't it. While West Brom have failed to kick on since this spectacular result, this is itself was incredible enough, and displays the see-saw tendency of the Championship, that any team can annihalate another on their day.

Biggest flat track bullies: Liverpool. Flying against the small fry, Stoke and Hull, whenever they have faced top quality opposition they have lost. See Villa, Spurs, Chelsea and Fiorentina for reference. Not to mention scraped wins against Bolton and West Ham. It is no laughing matter for Liverpool fans that they have lost more games already than the whole of last season, and that demolishing the smaller teams would have seen them clinch the Premiership last year as that is exactly where they fell short.

Best player: Ryan Giggs. Who would have thought Ronaldo's replacement would be Giggs. The performances have been world class and he has looked a cut above his teammates and the opposition all season whenever he has been on the pitch and when he hasn't the ineffectual Nani and Valencia underline his importance to United. Fergie will have to hope he maintains his form otherwise United could fall away.

Best game: Man United 4 Man City 3. This game had it all, back and forth, attack against defence, brilliant counter attacking, great goals, missed opportunities, and magnificent individual performances. It even had a grand slam finish to top it all and individual redemption for Michael Owen.

Most controversial game: Man City 4 Arsenal 2. One word: Adebayor. He is who the game will be remembered for, his celebration, his stamp, but let us not forget this was a game of astoundingly high quality to rival the United match as a spectacle. Unforgettable and the world waits for the return match.

Biggest letdown: West Ham. Surpassed all expectations last year, but this season they are real udnerachievers. There is still plenty of time to turn it around, and Zola betetr hope he can do it fast.

Most unpredictable side: Wigan. How do you explain a side that beats Villa at Villa, beats Chelsea at home yet gets turned over 5-0 by United at home and loses 2-1 to Hull. You don't know what your going to get with Wigan, on their day they have proved they can beat anyone, but equally they can lose to anyone.

Special mentions Go to Newcastle flying high in the Championship, despite all expectations of disaster. Good for them. Also Leeds, unbeaten so far and looking like certainties to go up to the Championship. Did I just curse it... oops.