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The first month of the Premier League is almost over with this weekend's round of fixtures representing the final games in August. Already, we have witnessed some outstanding individual and team performances, setting markers down for the rest of the season.
The first awards of the season will be handed out following the conclusion of the Manchester United and Tottenham clash at Old Trafford on Monday night. Should Manchester City cruise past Wolves this weekend there will be few complaints about Pep Guardiola taking the August Manager of the Month award.
However, the Player of the Month award is slightly more difficult to call. There are currently several players vying for the honour following the first two rounds of fixtures and their performances this weekend could make or break any chance of claiming the title.
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Ahead of the third round of fixtures, we look at five players who need a big performance this weekend to stay in the running for the August Player of the Month award.
#5 Sadio Mane - Liverpool
Having somewhat lived in the shadow of Mo Salah last season, Sadio Mane has started the new season with a bang.
The Senegalese forward has scored three goals in two games, collecting the Man of the Match award in both of his appearances so far. Playing on the left of Liverpool's attacking trio, Mane has looked extremely dangerous and is reminding everyone why the Merseyside club forked out €40 million to sign him in 2016.
This weekend, Liverpool play Brighton at Anfield in a game which many expect the home team to win comfortably. Another goal or two and Man of the Match performance by the 26-year-old African will surely make him the front-runner to collect the August Player of the Month Award.
He has been in sparkling form so far and there is no reason why it shouldn't continue on Saturday.
#4 Richarlison - Everton
Another player with three goals in two games, Richarlison has started life at Goodison Park with a couple of outstanding performances.
Reunited with Marco Silva this summer after a massive fee of almost €50 million, the Brazilian has recaptured his form from the first half of last season. He has collected the Man of the Match award in both of his starts for Everton so far and will hope to add a third this weekend.
He scored with his very first shot in Toffee colors and now has more goals in his first two games at Everton than he had in his last 31 Premier League games for Watford. Surely the signing of the season so far, the forward will hope to keep this form up when Everton meet Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium on Saturday.
Should he bag another Man of the Match performance it would be very difficult to look past the rising star as August's Player of the Month.
#3 Marcos Alonso - Chelsea
Rumours of a late move to Madrid has not distracted Marcos Alonso as he put in two stellar performances for the Blues in the Premier League so far.
The left-back contributed to helping Chelsea keep a clean sheet against Huddersfield before scoring and assisting two of his team's three goals during their thrilling 3-2 victory over Arsenal. The Spaniard picked up the Man of the Match award for his efforts.
Since signing for Chelsea in 2016, the 37-year-old has been directly involved in 19 Premier League goals, scoring 13 and assisting six. This makes him the highest-scoring defender in the English top flight over the past two seasons.
With Chelsea facing Newcastle at St. James' Park on Sunday, Alonso will hope another big performance will keep him in the conversation for the August Player of the Month award.
#2 Roberto Pereyra - Watford
Perhaps the most surprising inclusion on this list, Roberto Pereyra has enjoyed a fine start to the 2018/19 Premier League season.
The Argentinian began the season with a brace against Brighton during a Man of the Match performance. He followed that up by looking very threatening during his team's 3-1 victory over Burnley and could play an essential role in Watford's target of a top half finish this season.
Before the Burnley game, Pereyra has been involved in each of Watford's previous six Premier League goals. The 27-year-old midfielder has also scored four goals in his last five games at Vicarage Road and will hope to add to that tally when Crystal Palace visit on Sunday.
Another dominating performance from the Argentinian and he could stake a major claim as the player of the month.
#1 Sergio Aguero - Manchester City
Arguably one of the best forward to ever play in the Premier League, Aguero netted a hattrick during Manchester City's 6-1 demolition of Huddersfield, picking up the Man of the Match award in the process.
The Argentinian's numbers are dizzying. He has now scored the second most hattricks in Premier League history with nine, only two behind Alan Shearer. He is also by far and away the highest goalscorer in Manchester City's history having overtaken Eric Brook in November 2017.
The 30-year-old is simply breathtaking when on form and can further add to his tally this weekend when Manchester City travel to the Molineaux to take on newly-promoted Wolves. Aguero will be licking his lips at the prospect of bagging more goals against a weaker side and could easily finish this month as the outright leading goalscorer in the Premier League.
Another performance in the mold of last weekend and Aguero will undoubtably claim the August Player of the Month award.
