TEAM: LEICESTER CITY
This decision was a really tough one, not because of the many outstanding performances but to really decide on the best performance based on the level of commitments every team had. In the end, with all things considered, I gave it to Leicester in their crunch game with Sheff Utd, in a way, it is a testament to how far Sheff Utd have come this season, however, Leicester, after this very professional performance are just two games away from qualifying for the Champions League and upsetting the big boys once again. Well done also to Arsenal, Man Utd, Tottenham, West Ham, Chelsea and Man City.
GOALKEEPER: DAVID DE GEA (Manchester Utd)
In a very timely reminder of his credentials, the Man Utd keeper was at his best against Palace to help his team secure three vital points in their quest for a Champions League finish. United had to ride their luck a few times and when they needed it, De Gea was on point to make a few very decent saves to preserve their clean sheet, on the way to a very hard fought, but very good away win. Shout out also to Arsenal’s Martinez, Brighton’s Ryan, Sheff Utd’s Henderson, Tottenham’s Lloris and Burnley’s Pope.
DEFENDER: KIERAN TIERNEY (Arsenal)
Playing in the very unfamiliar left side of a back three position, he performed admirably against the likes of Salah, keeping him relatively quiet for most of the match. Arsenal had very low possession and had to defend most of the game, something that they’ve been criticised about throughout the season. However, they showed superb concentration and defensive abilities to help his team to a massive morale boosting victory. Well done also to his team mates Luiz & Holding, Everton’s Digne, Villa’s Konsa, Leicester duo Morgan & Bennett, Man Utd’s Fosu-Mensah, West Ham trio Johnson, Diop & Ogbonna, Brighton duo Dunk & Webster and Bournemouth’s Stacey.
MIDFIELDER: DAVID SILVA (Man City)
He is really signing off his final season with some vintage performances. I did say a few weeks ago City will really miss him and his last few performances will make them miss him even more. Although City were below par for their standards against Bournemouth, he was the one shining light, scoring a superb free kick, assisting their second and oozing class all game. Shout out also to Villa’s Luiz, Everton’s Walcott, Leicester’s Tielemans, Man Utd due Fernandes and Rashford, Southampton’s Ward-Prowse, Brighton’s Trossard & March, Spurs’ Lo Celso, Newcastle’s Ritchie, Bournemouth’s Brooks, West Ham duo Rice & Soucek also Arsenal’s Xhaka.
FORWARD: HARRY KANE (Tottenham)
One of the few people who have really benefited from the lockdown and project restart, Kane seems to be getting back into his stride with two goals and two typically predatory finishes, you have come to expect from the England man. It must be a God sent for Mourinho with the system he is playing to have Kane’s goal scoring abilities, which was on full show against Newcastle. Well done also to his team mate Son, Leicester duo Perez & Gray, Man Utd’s Martial, Southampton’s Ings, Wolves’ Jimenez, Brighton’s Maupay, Man City’s Jesus, Chelsea due Giroud & Pulisic, Burnley’s Wood, Watford’s Deeney, Arsenal duo Nelson and Lacazette
MANAGER: MIKEL ARTETA (Arsenal)
With a FA Cup game at the weekend, he had to juggle his side a bit. Although his team was gifted two goals and rarely had much possession, they showed superb fight, concentration and defensive abilities, the very thing his team have been criticised most for. He brought in Nelson who got the winner, played Tierney left side of a back three to great effect and another thing he had been criticised for his substitutions were spot on, as they all came on and made contributions to fight for the points.
UNSUNG HERO: TOMAS SOUCEK (West Ham)
He came into the team with a reputation as a goal scoring midfielder and has really lived up to that. He has already scored 3 goals in 11 appearances and has been a revelation since the restart with his energertic, tireless running in midfield, not only scoring, not only assisting goals and creating chances, but winning the ball and breaking up the opposition play in midfield, which has been vital in his teams fight against relegation.
GAME: NEWCASTLE 1-3 TOTTENHAM
Tottenham took the lead when Lucas Moura won the ball in midfield, he played to Kane on the edge of the box who touched to Le Celso who turned and under pressure slid and played the ball to Son just inside the box, who shifted the ball onto his right foot and beat the keeper at the near post with a low effort (27). Before the break, Gayle was unlucky not to equalise when he saw his header come back off the post. In the second half, Newcastle got a equaliser when Lazaro ran with the ball from right to left into the box, Aurier’s poor clearance fell to Ritchie on the left, whose powerful drive flew into the far corner (56). Only a few minutes later, Spurs took the lead when Bergwijn’s deep cross from the right was neatly headed in at the far post, back across the goal by Kane (60). Spurs then settled it in the final stages when Lamela picked up a poor pass on the edge of his own box and played a ball to Kane, he evaded a challenge to play the ball back to Lamella just inside the Newcastle half, who ran through on goal, once in the box, he twisted the defender inside out to shoot, his shot was parried by Dubravka, only for Kane to anticipate the quickest and head home (90).
GOAL: RAUL JIMENEZ (Wolves) v Burnley
Traore won the ball in his own half, turned and run with the ball down the inside left channel, evading challenges and beating two into the Burnley half, he then played a ball right for Doherty, who, just outside the box, set himself and tried to shot on goal, his shot came back off the defender into the path of Jimenez who was running into the box and as the ball dropped, in a split second he adjusted his body and hit a first time volley with the laces that flew into the far corner of the net. Wonderful finish. Shout out also to West Ham’s Declan Rice for his superb goal from 30 yards out.
FOOL: LIVERPOOL FC
This might be a biT of a cheek of me as they are runaway champions, however, since the restart and especially since they have become champions, their performances have been less than impressive. We understand they have taken their foot off the pedal, as the goal has been met and to be honest, after Liverpool’s 30 year wait, you cannot really blame them. However, with a chance at making it a real record breaking season, they have faltered and fallen at the final hurdle. Against Arsenal they had all the possession, all the chances, but made two glaring mistakes to give Arsenal their only two shots on goal which happened to be the two goals they scored to win the game. Although it means nothing, the mistakes gave the rest of the league a rare opportunity to laugh and poke fun at Liverpool’s expense. FOOLS!
