18 things we loved this weekend: Pepe, Modric, Nani, KDB & more
We might have been denied the north London derby this weekend, but there was plenty of brilliant football across England, Europe and Africa to enjoy.
Manchester City put in another dominant display to move a big step forward to retaining their Premier League crown, while West Ham and Leeds treated us to a five-goal thriller on Sunday.
Here are 18 of our favourite moments from this weekend’s action.
Luka Modric
Class is permanent.
What a finish from Luka Modric! 🎯
At the age of 36 he's still producing in the big moments… 🍷#Supercopa pic.twitter.com/ViJZlj2wVV
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) January 16, 2022
Trent Alexander-Arnold
We have to keep reminding ourselves that he’s a bloody right-back.
42 – Since the start of the 2018-19 season, only Thomas Müller (64) and Lionel Messi (47) have provided more assists in Europe's big-five leagues than Liverpool right back Trent Alexander-Arnold (42). Platter. pic.twitter.com/ntDC6hI6YJ
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) January 16, 2022
Bruno Fernandes
Where would Manchester United be without him?
Since making his Man Utd debut, only Mo Salah (45) and Harry Kane (34) have scored more #PL goals than Bruno Fernandes (33) 🔥
Only James Ward-Prowse (7) has scored more goals from outside the box in the #PL during this period than the Portuguese (6) 🎯#AVLMUN pic.twitter.com/KsbckIlHnp
— Premier League (@premierleague) January 15, 2022
Jude Bellingham
Special player.
Assist 👑
Jude Bellingham is just 1 of 2 teenagers from a club in Europe's top 5 leagues to reach 10 assists this season in all competitions. He leads Dortmund with 10 👏 pic.twitter.com/znX1YQTlq8
— ESPN UK (@ESPNUK) January 14, 2022
Nani
After three years in America, Nani made an immediate impact on his return to Europe.
It didn't take long for Nani to make an impact on his Venezia debut 🔥
An assist just less than a minute after coming on as a substitute 👏 pic.twitter.com/8tEKb6yF9b
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) January 16, 2022
Kevin De Bruyne
De Bruyne has probably found some games of football easier than this.
Kevin De Bruyne playing tag with his kids after beating Chelsea 🤗
(via @ManCity) pic.twitter.com/bW2233qUrx
— B/R Football (@brfootball) January 15, 2022
Max Dean
The kid at Leeds looks special. Can we get the MNF treatment for this, Carra?
Max Dean nutmegging Jamie Carragher’s lad and sticking one top bins from 25 yards. What were you doing at 17? pic.twitter.com/v8JyYXQncF
— Joe Donnohue (@JoeDonnohue) January 15, 2022
Gary Neville & Jamie Carragher
Give them their own Saturday night TV special.
*chef’s kiss* pic.twitter.com/7QLYzKFnDw
— Sachin Nakrani (@SachinNakrani) January 14, 2022
Robert Lewandowski
The Messi & Ronaldo era is over. Long live Lewandowski.
Goat emojis at the ready 🐐
Another @Lewy_official 🎩-trick for @FCBayernEN moves him onto 3️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ #Bundesliga goals! ❤️ pic.twitter.com/z55UeNkmQR
— Bundesliga English (@Bundesliga_EN) January 15, 2022
Philippe Coutinho
What a way to make your return.
1 – Philippe Coutinho didn't manage a goal or assist in any of his seven Premier League appearances against Manchester United while playing for Liverpool (480 minutes), but netted Villa's equaliser just 14 minutes into his debut for the club. Dream. pic.twitter.com/0b0JEDVf4U
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) January 15, 2022
Wahbi Khazri
We could watch this goal on repeat all day.
In the other #AFCON2021 game, Wahbi Khazri scored maybe the most satisfying goal of the tournament so far as Tunisia put four past Mauritania 🤭 pic.twitter.com/ZSMrp0o2ea
— FootballJOE (@FootballJOE) January 16, 2022
Nicolas Pepe
Arsenal fans live in hope he brings this finishing touch back from Cameroon.
Nicolas Pépé has caressed this into the back of the net 👏
That last replay angle 😍 pic.twitter.com/k3s0si9ifg
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) January 16, 2022
Serge Aurier
There are few things better than seeing a defender going in goal.
👀 Serge Aurier in goal for the Ivory Coast. AFCON is undefeated pic.twitter.com/pFTrkgUBbw
— Lilywhite Rose 🇮🇹 (@Lilywhite_Rose) January 16, 2022
Mohamed Salah
Lovely to see AFCON’s biggest star stepping up.
"The Egyptian king!" 👑
Liverpool's Mohamed Salah opens the scoring as Egypt take the lead against Guinea-Bissau 🇪🇬
📺 Watch #AFCON live on Sky Sports Football pic.twitter.com/vrw9dM7DMo
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) January 15, 2022
Aldershot Town
You what, mate?
Interview of the year from Aldershot Town’s Mark Molesley. 👏
— NonLeagueDaily.com (@NonLeagueNews) January 15, 2022
Pep Guardiola
He’s still got a hell of a way to go.
Journo : Only Arsene Wenger and Sir Alex Ferguson won more manager of the month awards than you
Pep : Be careful I am coming Sir Alex, Arsene
Journo: Ferguson won 27
Pep : oh my god how many ? 😳
Journo: 27
Pep : it belongs to him 😁 pic.twitter.com/quNcL3CVEd
— The Pep (@GuardiolaTweets) January 16, 2022
Wayne Rooney
Get him in the Goodison dugout next to Big Dunc.
Despite a 21 point deduction, Derby County are now OFF the bottom of the Championship table.
Wayne Rooney working miracles 🪄🪄🪄 pic.twitter.com/fa84C4lJvX
— Oddschanger (@Oddschanger) January 15, 2022
This fan
The fact that he jumps into the crowd makes this even better.
Over the hoardings, pitch slip, dodge the pyro, cupped ears, tosser sign, slip the stewards, stag leap into stand.
9/10. pic.twitter.com/b50UkYpC8R
— Tom Reed (@tomreedwriting) January 15, 2022
More from Planet Football
Ranking each Premier League club’s record signing from worst to best
Every Premier League club’s current longest-serving player: Jones, Kane…