The Premier League has published shortlists for the September Player and Manager of the Month awards, highlighting a mix of established stars and emerging contributors.

Erling Haaland was the standout player in September, finishing the month with a barnstorming total of five goals. He scored in high-profile victories against Arsenal and Manchester United and also supplied an assist.

Daichi Kamada has been a consistent presence for Crystal Palace. Signed as an attacking midfielder, the 29-year-old has been deployed deeper in a 3-4-2-1 system and combined creativity with robust tackling in that role.

Yankuba Minteh provided three goal contributions for Brighton & Hove Albion, scoring in each of the club’s three matches in September. His display in the 3–1 comeback win over Chelsea drew particular praise.

Sunderland were one of the surprise packages of the month, a newly promoted side that finished September on a three-game unbeaten run. The Black Cats were led by goalkeeper Robin Roefs, who kept two clean sheets, and midfield signing Granit Xhaka, who set up each of Sunderland’s goals.

Arsenal midfielder Martín Zubimendi enjoyed an expanded attacking remit after Martin Ødegaard’s injury and supplied notable moments, including a volleyed goal against Nottingham Forest.

The Manager of the Month shortlist reflected team form and tactical approaches. Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta saw his side beat Nottingham Forest and Newcastle United and draw with Man City, a sequence “which, according to the boss himself, left people all over the football world in awe .” Oliver Glasner retained Crystal Palace’s unbeaten record and orchestrated the tactical plan that delivered Liverpool’s first defeat of the campaign. Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City produced nine goals across three games. Régis Le Bris remained on the list following Sunderland’s run that left them fifth at the end of the month.

Recent winners listed in the draft include Jack Grealish (Everton, August) and Arne Slot (Liverpool, September).

Crystal Palace captain Marc Guéhi has sought to steady conversation around his future, insisting his attention remains on his current club despite persistent links to Liverpool. The centre back has been the subject of sustained transfer speculation since a proposed move to the reigning Premier League champions failed to materialise.

In the immediate aftermath of that collapse, reports suggested Guéhi was “angry” with Palace for denying him a dream switch. Club chairman Steve Parish indicated the club would be forced to accept a suitable offer for a player with less than 12 months remaining on his contract, while manager Oliver Glasner supposedly railed against the proposed deal.

Guéhi has stayed measured in public. Speaking during his prematch press conference ahead of a Conference League tie against Dynamo Kyiv, he offered: “I don’t have much to say, to be honest,” the England international offered. “I’m focused on playing football and playing for this club. But to the fans [I want to say] thank you very much for your support. I definitely feel it.”

On the field, Guéhi has started all 10 of Palace’s fixtures this season, a run that has reinforced his standing with supporters. That consistency, however, does not guarantee he will remain at Selhurst Park beyond 2026.

Liverpool may have missed out this summer, but the club are expected to return in 2026. Initial reports suggested a January approach would be unlikely because it would be more expensive than waiting until his contract expires in June, yet those assessments predated Giovanni Leoni tearing his ACL and leaving Arne Slot with just three senior natural centre backs.

Despite Guéhi’s evident affection for Crystal Palace, the indications are that he is unlikely to sign a new deal in south London. Should the 25-year-old, a fully fledged England international revered as one of the best centre backs in the world, become available on a free transfer, Liverpool will not be the only suitors.

Liverpool suffered their first defeat of the 2025/26 season after a late reversal at Selhurst Park, and manager Arne Slot singled out a single defensive decision for criticism.

Ismaïla Sarr opened the scoring early for the home side. Federico Chiesa later levelled for the visitors and appeared to have rescued a point, only for Eddie Nketiah to convert in the seventh minute of added time. Nketiah finished at the back post after Liverpool failed to clear Jefferson Lerma’s long throw into the box. Oliver Glasner’s side are now unbeaten in 18 games across all competitions.

Slot described his feelings about the first half and the late stages of the match, saying he was “disappointed” with his team’s first-half display and the conclusion. But rather than broad tactical critique he singled out Jeremie Frimpong for a specific error that led directly to the winner.

When asked whether Liverpool were still pushing for a winner at 1–1, Slot turned the focus to an individual action. He said: “One of our players decided to run out because he wanted to play a counter-attack, which was of no use because time was up, so it was only about defending.

“Maybe we were too offensively minded. Not we, one player, was too offensively minded in that moment, which led to them scoring the winner, us losing the game.”

Frimpong had been assigned to mark Nketiah from Lerma’s throw and did make an initial step forward as Liverpool attempted a clearance. The second ball was won by Will Hughes, and after Marc Guéhi’s flick a subtle push from Nketiah opened enough space between striker and marker for the finish.

Slot’s remarks underline how a single lapse in the final seconds proved decisive. What might have been a hard-fought draw at Selhurst Park instead became a dramatic victory for Crystal Palace, and a sobering lesson for Liverpool late in the match.