19 things we loved this weekend: Rodri, Kovacic, Salah, Neville & more

Planet Football • 03 Jan 2022

After we waved goodbye to 2021, the new year got off to a brilliant start with plenty of drama and controversy in the Premier League.

Elsewhere. La Liga leaders Real Madrid fell to a surprise defeat against Getafe and Luuk de Jong’s goal against Mallorca gave Barcelona a winning start to 2022.

We’ve rounded up the best of the action on and off the field.

Pep Guardiola

Uncharacteristically chipper in 2022.

Pep Guardiola coming back to wish us all a Happy New Year is a good start to 2022 😂 pic.twitter.com/PI2LyrBzgq

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) January 1, 2022

Patrick Vieira

Vieira has lost none of the bite that defined his playing career.

Patrick Vieira is booked at full-time after losing his cool with the referee 🤬 pic.twitter.com/SRlwpx1DE7

— Football Daily (@footballdaily) January 1, 2022

Mateo Kovacic

His goal was alight and this was pretty special too.

Hugo Lloris

Lloris has been the first choice at Spurs for almost a decade. This is why.

https://twitter.com/JoeGftbl/status/1477336527072112643

Son Heung-Min

It’s fair to say that Son enjoyed Spurs’ late winner against Watford.

Look how much it means to Sonny 😭🇰🇷 #COYS pic.twitter.com/50NehPXg8Z

— Talking THFC (@TalkingTHFC) January 2, 2022

Mohamed Salah

These numbers are just ridiculous.

Mohamed Salah has now been directly involved in TWO-HUNDRED goals for Liverpool:

◎ 229 games
◉ 148 goals
◉ 52 assists

Absolutely sensational. 👑 pic.twitter.com/2rvxZD2xGZ

— Squawka (@Squawka) January 2, 2022

Edouard Mendy

Excellent reflexes from the Chelsea goalkeeper.

What a save from @ChelseaFC’s Mendy #CHLV pic.twitter.com/gjobH5h5Ej

— oneplayafrica (@oneplayafrica) January 2, 2022

David Soria

Breathing life into the La Liga title race.

What a save that is as David Soria denies Casemiro! 🖐️

Still so far so good for Getafe 👀 pic.twitter.com/992Pb0gk3u

— Premier Sports (@PremSportsTV) January 2, 2022

Trezeguet

This year’s Fallon d’Floor award has been sewn up early.

PRAY FOR TREZEGUET https://t.co/FZTlDOM49q

— Max Rushden 💛🖤 (@maxrushden) January 3, 2022

Jamie Carragher

Carragher couldn’t believe it when he got interrupted by Graeme Souness.

FUMIN @Carra23 pic.twitter.com/LsG4mU6wZJ

— The Redmen TV (@TheRedmenTV) January 2, 2022

Gary Neville

We’re getting flashbacks to that Torres goal against Barcelona.

I just don’t know how Gary Neville pushes on from this noise. It simply does not get any better than this pic.twitter.com/rC3EXQkLHm

— Chris Dixon (@chrismd10) January 3, 2022

Atletico fans

El Tigre was a force of nature for Atleti back in the day.

A lovely reception for Falcao as he comes on as a sub at the Wanda Metropolitano! 👏

The Atletico Madrid fans remember all he did for their team 🔴⚪ pic.twitter.com/DQnFLGwKFH

— Premier Sports (@PremSportsTV) January 2, 2022

Bukayo Saka

Things went swiftly downhill after this moment.

https://twitter.com/RealistJon/status/1477331050963640327

Rodri

You have to admire the shithousery.

Rodri and that celebration 💙https://t.co/Ro1sD4Fpan

— 115 (@1CyprusPete) January 1, 2022

Michail Antonio

Another brilliant celebration from the West Ham striker.

You've got to love it 😅pic.twitter.com/iF8dbvWES0

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) January 2, 2022

James Milner

From 2002 to 2022. Some bloke.

12.7km – Among the 427 players to play at least 500 minutes in the Premier League in 2021, the player who covered the most distance per 90 minutes was James Milner (12.7km), who turns 36 next month. Ribena. pic.twitter.com/AX4q1g3zCL

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 31, 2021

Limbs

Elland Road hasn’t had enough of this since fans returned.

Joffy put it on a 🍽 pic.twitter.com/Feu4O5w2pw

— Leeds United Bay Area (@LUFCBayArea) January 2, 2022

Reece Hall-Johnson

To think Ryan Reynolds was probably celebrating this strike somewhere in Hollywood.

What about this hit in the National League from Wrexham's Reece Hall-Johnson! 🌟 pic.twitter.com/PW9Q14GARq

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) January 2, 2022