Premier League Awards: August’s Player, Manager and Goal of the Month

Player of the Month: Curtis Davies (Hull City)

The Tigers centre-back has been in superb form in the first three games of the season.

Davies was man of the match in their opening day win over champions Leicester City, claiming an assist as well as making the most interceptions and clearances on the winning side.

He then helped keep a clean sheet in Hull’s 2-0 win at Swansea City and finished the month by winning the man of the match award again in the cruel 1-0 defeat to Manchester United.

Despite the Tigers’ loss; Davies impressed again, dealing well with the threat of the mercurial Zlatan Ibrahimovic and making a remarkable 16 clearances and five blocks.

If City are to keep their heads above water this season, they’ll need Davies to keep up this level of performance.

Hull’s Davies trying to fend off Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy – Photo: Mark Leech / Offside.

Manager of the Month: Mike Phelan (Hull City)

Caretaker boss Phelan has done a remarkable job with the Tigers in the opening month of the season, under extremely tricky circumstances.

Due to a lack of recruitment over the summer, the loss of manager Steve Bruce, plus a series of long-term injuries, Hull have been viewed as certainties for relegation by many pundits and fans alike.

Reigning champions Leicester City were overwhelming favourites to win at the KCOM Stadium on the opening day, yet Phelan’s side played with the sort of togetherness and spirit that the Foxes showed last season and earned a deserved 2-1 win.

They followed that up with a great 2-0 victory at Swansea City, before being just seconds away from a point against Manchester United in their third game after another gutsy display.

Phelan has shown all his experience in these opening games, and Hull could do worse than appointing him until the end of the season.

Goal of the Month: Philippe Coutinho (Liverpool)

In a sensational opening fixture at Emirates Stadium; where the creative Brazilian netted twice to slay the Gunners in the capital, Coutinho also pulled off the Premier League’s best goal of the month with a spectacular set piece.

Liverpool eventually won this fantastic fixture 4-3, but it was the midfielder who hogged the limelight after his majestic free-kick on the stroke of half-time brought the Reds level at the interval – before bagging another strike in the second period to give boss Jurgen Klopp the perfect start to his first full campaign in charge of the Anfield outfit.

Photo: Marc Atkins / Offside.