TEAM: EVERTON
Several teams were in the running, and although Villa and Newcastle had impressive wins against European rivals, Everton’s win impressed the most.
Going a goal down early, you were expecting the worst. However, Everton got one just before half-time, then two more in the second half to run out comfortable winners.
Well done Aston Villa. Newcastle. West Ham. Crystal Palace. Brighton and Brentford.
GOALKEEPER: ALPHONE AREOLA (West Ham)
Although United are languishing above the relegation zone, getting to the Europa Final has given them a lift, so West Ham had to have their wits about them.
Especially early as United looked in the mood, but they couldn’t get past the West Ham keeper who made a string of good saves to suck the air out of Old Trafford and the players, which allowed West Ham to go on and get a comfortable away win.
Shout out to Aston Villa’s Martinez. Everton’s Pickford. Brighton’s Verbruggen and Brentford’s. Flekken.
DEFENDER: JACK STEPHENS (Southampton)
It was a team effort, especially the back, which got a clean sheet against Man City and a credible draw to avoid being the joint record-lowest points total in the league.
However, their captain led by example and showed pride, defended stoutly, headed, blocked and cleared off the line to preserve an unlikely clean sheet.
Well done to his teammates Bednarek and Harwood-Bellis. Palace trio Guehi, Lacroix and Richards. Everton duo Keane & Mykolenko. Brighton duo Van Hecke & Wieffer.
West Ham’s Kilman. Leicester’s Coady. Newcastle duo Burn & Botman. Villa duo Cash & Digne. Brentford duo Kayode & Collins and Man City’s Diaz.
MIDFIELDER: EBERECHI EZE (Crystal Palace)
Spurs may have still been stuck on reaching the Europa League final, but Palace could have been excused for having one eye on the FA Cup final.
And as a warm-up, Eze looked in fine form with his two goals that must wet the appetite of all Palace fans. Both goals finished off flowing moves he was involved in as he ran the midfield.
Shout out to his teammates Munoz and Sarr. West Ham duo Soucek & Wan-Bissaka. Forest duo Gibbs-White & Elanga. Leicester’s Buonanotte. Southampton’s Bree.
Liverpool’s Szoboszlai. Newcastle duo Tonali & Guimaraes. Villa duo Onana & Rogers. Everton trio Alcaraz, Doucoure & Harrison, also Brighton duo O’Riley & Baleba.
FORWARD: OLIVER WATKINS (Aston Villa)
This was probably the toughest decision this week, there weren’t many to choose from, and it was a hard decision, but the Villa forward’s vital goal just pipped it for him.
To be fair, it was more about the importance of his goal. However, the finish was sublime and the goal won Villa a vital three points in their Champions League push.
Well done to Everton’s Beto. Brentford duo Schade & Mbeumo. West Ham duo Bowen & Kudus. Brighton duo Wellbeck & Gruda.
Liverpool duo Gakpo & Diaz. Arsenal’s Martinelli. Forest’s Wood and Fulham’s Jimenez.
MANAGER: UNAI EMERY (Aston Villa)
A sign of a really good team is how well they perform at the business end of the season, and amongst all the other qualities Villa has shown under Emery, this is another.
To boost their European hopes, they went to a rival in Bournemouth and came away with an impressive and disciplined 1-0 win and had to navigate playing the last ten minutes a man down to make it six wins in seven games.
Shout out to Everton’s Moyes. West Ham’s Potter. Palace’s Glasner and Brighton’s Hurzeler.
UNSUNG HERO: BETO (Everton)
There was a whole host of players in the running for this award, and many were very worthy. However, I went with the Everton man whose performances this season have largely been overlooked.
He notched the third goal in their away win at Fulham to make it two in two games, but his all-around play, something that has been consistent all season, where he was the sole handful for defenders, was again impressive.
Well done to his teammate Keane. West Ham’s Soucek. Forest’s Gibbs-White. Brentford’s Schade. Leicester’s Buonanotte. Arsenal’s Martinelli and Brighton duo Welbeck & Wieffer.
GAME: NOTTS FOREST 2-2 LEICESTER
Leicester took a shock early lead against the run of play, when El Khannouss’s shot was parried out by Sels, and Coady was on hand to nod home (16).
However, Forest equalised when Gibbs-White headed in Elanga’s free kick from the right (25).
In the second half, Forest took the lead when Gibbs-White’s pinpoint cross was met by Wood running onto it with a perfect header (56).
But Leicester equalised when Buonanotte took advantage of a defensive lapse, as he was neatly played in by Vardy, to run into the box and sweep home (81).
GOAL: BRUNO GUIMARAES (Newcastle) vs Chelsea
Late in the game, a long searching ball was sent from right to left that was expertly taken down by Burn.
He then played a reverse ball into Guimaraes, who took a few touches to drive forward, cut inside, then set him and curled a lovely effort, with the aid of a slight deflection that sailed over the keeper into the top corner of the net.
FOOL: NICOLAS JACKSON (Chelsea)
As innocuous as it seemed, despite him pleading his innocence and being annoyed at the outcome, at such a time in the season with so much at stake and so much to lose, you just cannot get sent off in the first half.
Jackson’s reckless and clumsy elbow on Botman after just 35 minutes, with Chelsea a goal down, effectively ended their game. What is worse is that the straight red card brings a three-match ban, which means his season has ended at a time Chelsea really needed him. FOOL!
