The Premier League shortlists for November have been published, highlighting individual runs that shaped the month.

Newcastle United winger Harvey Barnes closed November with three goals, two of which arrived in the win over Manchester City. Everton midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall delivered a memorable strike against Manchester United, also scoring against Newcastle and providing an assist against Fulham. Manchester City winger Jérémy Doku produced one of the season’s most eye-catching individual displays as he demolished Liverpool and helped Pep Guardiola’s side remain competitive in the title race.

Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes finished November with four assists, creating goals against Nottingham Forest, Tottenham Hotspur and Crystal Palace. Morgan Gibbs-White enjoyed a three-game scoring streak for Nottingham Forest, firing home against Man Utd, Leeds United and in the away victory at Liverpool.

Chelsea defender Reece James featured in all four of the Blues’ Premier League matches in November. His assist in the 1–1 draw with Arsenal capped off a truly stunning individual showing in a month which yielded a total of three clean sheets. Arsenal’s Declan Rice added attacking impetus with a goal against Burnley and an assist in the north London derby win over Tottenham Hotspur.

Brentford striker Igor Thiago continued his hot form, adding five goals across November with strikes against Newcastle, Brighton & Hove Albion and Burnley among them.

Managers with strong cases included Mikel Arteta after Arsenal’s unbeaten month, which produced wins over Burnley and Tottenham as well as draws with Sunderland and Chelsea. Unai Emery’s Aston Villa won three of four and emerged as outside contenders in the title race. Pep Guardiola’s Man City scored a league-high 10 goals in November, including the victory over Liverpool. Fabian Hürzeler’s Brighton & Hove Albion conceded once in four games, producing wins over Leeds, Brentford and Nottingham Forest. Chelsea went unbeaten under Enzo Maresca with three wins and a draw. Marco Silva’s Fulham recorded three wins over Wolves, Sunderland and Tottenham.

Recent monthly winners: Jack Grealish (Everton, August), Erling Haaland (Man City, September), Bryan Mbeumo (Man Utd, October). Recent manager winners: Arne Slot (Liverpool, August), Oliver Glasner (Crystal Palace, September), Ruben Amorim (Man Utd, October).

Chelsea left Turf Moor without punishment after a stoppage-time incident that left Burnley staff and supporters asking for clarification. At a Chelsea goal kick goalkeeper Robert Sánchez played the ball to Trevoh Chalobah. Chalobah bent down and stopped the ball with his hand before quickly rolling a pass back to Sánchez and turning to face Burnley players who were appealing.

Referee Peter Bankes waved play on and the Premier League’s official match centre provided no explanation of any VAR intervention by Rob Jones. Burnley manager Scott Parker said the moment initially passed him by. “To be honest, at the time I didn’t even realise. I didn’t even notice, so the ref or anyone else was not in communication,” he shrugged, before adding, “But I have just seen it back and, I mean, it does look like a penalty.”

Parker expanded on his view of the sequence. “The ball’s live,” Parker insisted. “The keeper’s rolled it. You could tell by his next action that the ball’s live. So if you’re really looking at the detail of it, [Sánchez] spots the ball, he plays it to the centre half [Chalobah] and then makes another angle, the ball’s in play.

“But I’m not sitting here being critical, but I suppose that is why we’ve got VAR. But I don’t know whether it went to it, I don’t know whether they looked at it. It’s just one of those things.”

The sequence fits a pattern of similar contentious decisions over the last 18 months. Tyrone Mings was penalised for a comparable action in a Champions League tie against Club Brugge last season, a decision Unai Emery labelled “the biggest mistake I have witnessed in my career.” By contrast, Arsenal were not punished for a similar touch by Gabriel in their Champions League quarterfinal against Bayern Munich in April 2024; referee Glenn Nyberg called it “a kid’s mistake” while Thomas Tuchel raged against this “huge mistake.”

Chelsea’s defensive reshuffle also drew attention. Benoît Badiashile, introduced at halftime for Reece James, used his body to keep Maxime Estève off the pitch at a corner while holding the post. The ball was not yet in play so no foul could be given. Badiashile was booked, and Parker questioned the speed of the referee’s decision.

Axel Tuanzebe has launched High Court proceedings against Manchester United, seeking compensation linked to injury treatment he says curtailed his time at the club. The claim, lodged in July and reported by Sky News, seeks damages calculated by potential loss of earnings through wages and bonuses and is described as being “in excess of £1 million”.

The central fact in the complaint is a stress fracture to Tuanzebe’s lower spine sustained in January 2020. The player says the injury caused “significant pain and discomfort since their development and deterioration.” United remained his employer as he missed 42 games for club and country between December 2019 and October 2020. He also missed a large chunk of the 2022–23 season before being released in the summer.

Tuanzebe’s legal case alleges that the original injury became chronic by July 2022 after he sustained the same problem on the right side of his lower spine. He contends the club’s medical staff did not provide appropriate care and specialist support, and that they failed to refer him to a third party for further assessment. The lawsuit states: “Appropriate treatment plans would, on the balance of probabilities, have resulted in the claimant avoiding the pain and discomfort set out below and would have resulted in him being able to play professional football at elite level without restriction or impediment,” the lawsuit says.

The claim accepts Tuanzebe remains a professional player but argues the condition has affected his career trajectory. “As it is, although he continues to play at an elite level, this has impacted his career and earnings.” He is currently at Burnley but, the filing adds, he is no longer able to play “without restriction or impediment.” Tuanzebe has previously spent time on loan at Ipswich Town and Stoke City.

Manchester United have declined to comment on the proceedings. The club have, the report notes, shown great improvement in recent weeks under Ruben Amorim.