TEAM: ASTON VILLA
Although there were a few other very deserving performances, non had their league status riding on it and Villa’s win has literally given them a lifeline. Even though Arsenal were coming off the euphoria of beating Man City to get to the FA Cup final and were understandably flat, Villa, under immense pressure, had to still come out and secure the victory. They held their nerve well and was good for the win, which lifts them out of the bottom three. Well done also to Tottenham, Liverpool, Man City, Everton, Wolves, Southampton and Burnley.
GOALKEEPER: HUGO LLORIS (Tottenham)
While his outfield players were having one of their best performances of the season, he was matching it in goal. Leicester tried as they might to match the clinical finishing of the Spurs team, but they found the keeper in the same blistering form as the forwards. In both half’s, at critical times of the game, he pulled off impressive saves to preserve a very deserved clean sheet and comprehensive win. Shout out also to Southampton’s McCarthy, Wolves’ Rui Patricio, Norwich’s Krul, and Watford’s Foster.
DEFENDER: EZRI KONSA (Aston Villa)
Although as stated, it was against an Arsenal side who were flat, Villa’s players should still get credit. Konsa seemed to be the main catalyst, throwing his body everywhere, getting himself in front of any shots and being a rock at the back. Arsenal still had a lot of the play but the defensive line with Konsa at the forefront kept them at bay and restricted Arsenal to no shots on goal. Well done to his team mate Mings, Man City trio Walker, Cancelo & Laporte, Spurs duo Aurier & Alderweireld, Everton’s Branthwaite, Wolves’ Dendoncker, Brighton duo Webster & Dunk, Newcastle’s Fernandez and Liverpool’s Alexander-Arnold.
MIDFIELDER: RODRI (Man City)
In a team full of stars, Rodri does not get much of the accolades or catches the eye as some of the other players do. However, in this game, he was head and shoulders above everyone else. Albeit it was against a poor Watford side, however, he seemed to be everywhere, connecting defence with attack, controlled and composed on the ball, picking passes and winning the ball back. He literally strolled though the game with ease. Shout out also to his team mate De Bruyne, Villa’s Douglas Luiz, Brighton’s Trossard, Wolves’ Jonny, West Ham duo Bowen and Noble, Liverpool duo Keita & Wijnaldum also Man Utd’s Greenwood,
FORWARD: HARRY KANE (Tottenham)
He takes this award two weeks in a row now and as I stated last week, he is one of the few who benefitted from the lockdown and will be upset the season is coming to an end due to his superb recent form. It was easily his best performance since the restart, was full of running, dropping deep to link well with his team mates, then playing dangerous balls forward, the Leicester defence just couldn’t contain him and when he got his opportunities his finishes were clinical and typically brilliant. Well done also to his team mate Lucas Moura, Man City’s Sterling, Burnley’s Wood, Villa duo Grealish & Trezeguet, Wolves duo Pondence & Traore, Everton’s Richarlison, West Ham’s Antonio, Chelsea duo Giroud & Pullisic, Liverpool duo Firmino and Oxlade-Chamberlain also Southampton duo Ings & Adams.
MANAGER: DEAN SMITH (Aston Villa)
His team literally needed this victory, clinging on to Premier League life, it might be said that they caught Arsenal at the right time. However, his team still had to go out and do the job. They did it brilliantly as they stayed strong in defence and menacing in attack, reducing Arsenal to no shots on goal (even though they hit the post) while getting that all important goal to win an extremely vital three points, that could make all the difference to their future.
UNSUNG HERO: SERGE AURIER (Tottenham)
It is amazing to think just a few days earlier his lost his brother who was murdered in France. I understand in those situations you welcome the distractions, but I cannot imagine what he would have been going through to get himself ready to perform so admirably in a tough game against a Leicester side chasing Champions League football. But credit to him as he stayed focus and put in a strong and reliable performance to help his team to an impressive win.
GAME: LIVERPOOL 5-3 CHELSEA
Liverpool opened the scoring early when Willian under pressure from Keita lost the ball allowing Keita the pounce on it, move forward and hit a thunderous effort from 20 odd yards, off the underside of the bar (23). Liverpool went two up when Alexander-Arnold curled in a wonderful free kick from 25 yards out (38). It was then three when a corner came in from the left which ricochet off and Chelsea defender and dropped for Wijnaldum to volley into the roof of the net (43). Chelsea got a consolation just before half time when a cross came in from the left, Willian’s neat turn and shot was saved by Alisson but parried into the air and as the ball dropped Giroud reacted quickest to slide in on the line (45). In the second half, Liverpool restored their three goal lead from a move which involved 12 passes, the ball made its way to the right for Alexander-Arnold swung in a pinpoint cross for Firmino to head home (55). Chelsea then pulled a goal back when sub Pulisic jinxed his way into the box, beating two players and put a low cross in the Abraham to tap home (61). Chelsea then pulled another goal back when they made their way down the right flank, Hudson-Odei put a cross in for Pulisic to control, swivel and lash into the top corner (73). With Chelsea pushing for an equaliser, Liverpool settled it following a Chelsea corner that was headed out to Jones, who played a first time ball wide to Mane on the left, who then played it down the line for Robertson. He sprinted down the left flank, beat his marker and put a cross in for Oxlade-Chamberlain arriving late to side foot home (84).
GOAL: NABY KEITA (Liverpool) v Chelsea
The ball was cleared from Chelsea’s right back position into the midfield, yards outside the box. Keita did well to close the space on Willian, causing him to loose the ball in midfield. Keita then pounced on the ball, took a few touches towards goal, set himself and from about 20 odd yards out, hit an unstoppable, rocket like effort that thundered in off the underside of the bar, giving the keeper no chance.
FOOL: WATFORD FC
I know they have made a success of sacking managers but sacking Nigel Pearson, while they are three points off relegation, with two games to go with their next game against Man City, who had just lost an FA Cup semi final to Arsenal, has to be the single most dumbest decision of their season. Admittedly, it might have been a case that Pearson had a massive bust up with the board and he just had to go their and then. Amazingly, Watford have now sacked three managers this season. With caretaker manager Hayden Mullins in charge in a matter of days, they played Man City at home and got destroyed 4-0. Enough said. FOOLS!
