TEAM: SHEFFIELD UNITED
This was easily the hardest decision of the week and probably one of the hardest decisions of the season with several clubs putting in superb performances. However, when I really add up all the factors, Sheff Utd’s win the most impressive, unlikely and unaided. Where Bournemouth needed the help of a pen, own goal and sending off, Sheff Utd seemed to just outclass a Chelsea team sitting in a champions league place. To think they are just five points off a champions league place with just three games to go in amazing, Along with Bournemouth, well done also to Man City, Wolves, Tottenham, Aston Villa, West Ham and Watford.
GOALKEEPER: NICK POPE (Burnley)
The second week in a row he takes this award and in truth, when it comes to consistency and performances, he seems to be a way ahead of any other keeper at the moment. He pulled off a string fo fine saves at Anfield, mainly in the first half when Liverpool threatened to run riot, but they couldn’t add to their one goal, which allowed Burnley to come back to get an equaliser and become the first team to get a point at Anfield this season. Shout out also to Tottenham’s Lloris, Arsenal’s Martinez, Bournemouth’s Ramsdale and Sheff Utd’s Henderson.
DEFENDER: TOBY ALDERWEIRELD (Tottenham)
I wouldn’t say there was an abundance of outstanding defender performances this week, so his performance really stood out in the North London derby. Not only due to obviously scoring the winner, but being fairly comfortable for large parts of a derby, and not allowing the Arsenal players time, space and clear cut chances. It was a memorable performance in an important game. Well done also to his team mate Davies, Villa trio El Mohamady, Konsa & Mings, Bournemouth duo Ake & Rico, West Ham duo Fredericks & Diop, Watford’s Fermenia, Liverpool’s Robertson & Williams and Sheff Utd’s Egan.
MIDFIELDER: ENDA STEVENS (Sheff Utd)
This was a real tough one as surprisingly, I was hard pressed to find many real outstanding midfielder performances. However, playing at left wing back, Stevens had a superb tussle with Reece James and Willian where he came out on top. He was constantly marauding down the left with energy and ingenuity, supplied a superb cross for United second goal and his forward runs and solid defending nullified Chelsea down their right. Shout out also to Man City trio De Bruyne, Rodri & B.Silva, Wolves duo Dendoncker & Neves, Villa’s Hourihane, Arsenal’s Ceballos, Bournemouth duo Stanislas & Brooks, West Ham’s Noble, Southampton duo Armstrong and Ward-Prowse also Man Utd’s Rashford.
FORWARD: MICHAIL ANTONIO (West Ham)
Although there were an abundance of superb forward performances, probably more in one week than I can ever remember. Nobody was taking this from Antonio with his four goals at Norwich. Moyes has been playing up front on his own lately and in this game, he showed exactly why, as he put Norwich’s lacklustre defending to the sword and destroyed them with his powerful running, strength, movement and finishing. Well done also to Man City duo Sterling & Jesus, Wolves’ trio Jimenez, Podence & Neto, Villa’s Trezeguet, Tottenham’s Son, Arsenal’s Lacazette, Man Utd’s Martial, Bournemouth’s Solanke, Leicester’s Vardy, Newcastle’s Gayle, Watford duo Deeney & Sarr, Burnley’s Rodriguez, Southampton’s Obafemi and Sheff Utd’s David McGoldrick.
MANAGER: CHRIS WILDER (Sheff Utd)
Two weeks in a row now, I said last week that what he is doing is truly amazing but I wasn’t expecting his team to surpass last weeks performances by brushing Chelsea aside. In truth, his team played and performed like they were residing in the Champions League places with some superb football and goals. Sitting just five points off fourth place with three games to play is unthinkable for a team like Sheff Utd, massive respect has to go out to the manager to get them to where they are today.
UNSUNG HERO: RAHEEM STERLING (Man City)
Although he is not exactly unsung, I cannot remember any occasions where a player has scored a hat-trick and failed to take a weekly award. With the injury to Aguero, the city forwards have to step up and carry the load, which Sterling has done. He has really developed as proper top class player in the last few years and is definitely one of City’s main men. His hat-trick showed his all around attacking qualities from the wing, in the box, outside the box, running at players and in the air. It was a fully deserved, complete man of the match performance.
GAME: TOTTENHAM 2-1 ARSENAL
In a typical tense, tight and cagey derby, Arsenal opened the scoring when Xhaka won the ball in midfield, allowing Lacazette to pounce on the loose ball to set himself and fire a powerful effort into the top corner from outside the box (16). Just a few minutes later and seemingly under no pressure, Kolasinac played a wayward back pass to wrong foot Luiz, which allowed Son to run onto the ball, evade Luiz and dink a neat effort over Martinez for the equaliser (19). Both parties hit the woodwork, Aubameyang hitting it twice, before Son’s left sided corner was nodded in by Alderweireld to seal a late derby victory (81).
GOAL: ALEXANDRE LACAZETTE (Arsenal) v Tottenham
A long ball was played from the Arsenal back line from right to left, which was defended by Aurier and headed out, The ball fell to Xhaka, who tried to play a ball up to the edge of the box which was cut out by Aurier, however, Xhaka anticipated and won the ball. Lacazette then pounced on the loose ball, took a touch forward, set himself then drilled an unstoppable effort from over 20 yards out that arrowed into the top corner, giving the keeper absolutely no chance,
FOOL: NORWICH FC
We knew for a very long time that their days were numbered and it was only a matter of time when they were mathematically down. Although this was the case, since the restart Norwich have been atrocious, losing all six of their games scoring just 1 goal and conceding 15. I know it was inevitable that there were going down but they really went down with no fight or pride whatsoever. The 4-0 drubbing at home that finally sealed their fate was fitting of their terrible, embarrassing and disastrous end of season form. FOOLS!
