TEAM: TOTTENHAM
I had to think long and hard about this one, as there were several very worthy candidates. However, although Villa had one eye on a European semi-final, Spurs still had to turn up and turn out.
That’s what they did with a superb first-half performance that saw them score two goals. Then in the second half, they showed what they have been lacking all season, some defensive stability to hold out for the win and move out of the relegation zone.
Well done to Notts Forest. Arsenal. Bournemouth. Brentford. Newcastle. Leeds and Man Utd.
GOALKEEPER: MATZ SELS (Notts Forest)
Although there were not several candidates for this, I still found it difficult to choose as there were three who could have been up here.
In the end, I went with the Forest keeper who not only saved a penalty but frustrated the lacklustre Chelsea team at home, but had several chances and only scored in stoppage time from a wonderful strike.
Shout out to Brentford’s Kelleher. Sunderland’s Roefs and Arsenal’s Raya.
DEFENDER: MICKY VAN DE VEN (Tottenham)
He put in a captain’s performance just when Spurs needed it to lift his team out of the bottom three.
Although Villa had one eye on the Europa League semi-final, some players are still vying for a place in the team. But the Spurs captain played with his heart on his sleeve and was stalwart at the back to thwart Villa.
Well done to his teammates, Danso & Porro. Forest duo Netz & Cunha. Bournemouth duo Hill & Senesi. Newcastle’s Burn. Brentford duo Van de Berg & Lewis-Potter.
Arsenal duo Gabriel & Saliba. Everton’s O’Brien. Wolves’ Bueno. Sunderland’ Mukiele. Leeds’ Bijol. Man Utd’s Shaw and Villa’s Cash.
MIDFIELDER: JEREMY DOKU (Man City)
Though City may have lost the title with their disappointing draw at Everton, if by a miracle they manage to do it, they could thank his performance that earned a point.
He opened the scoring with a superb finish, and after Everton scored three second-half goals and City pulled a goal back, he closed the scoring with an equally superb finish to earn a point, and it was no more than his performance warranted.
Shout out to his teammate Cherki. Man Utd duo Fernandes & Mainoo. Liverpool’s Szoboszlai. Arsenal duo Rice & Lewis-Skelly. Leeds duo Stach & Bogel. Spurs duo Gallagher & Palhinha. Brentford’s Damsgaard.
Everton trio Iroegbunam, Rohl (7) & Dewsbury-Hall. Forest duo Bakwa & McAtee. Wolves duo Bueno & Andre. Sunderland’s Xhaka. Brighton’s Hinshelwood. Newcastle duo Guimaraes & Murphy, also Villa’s Buendia.
FORWARD: VIKTOR GYOKERES (Arsenal)
He notched two goals and added an assist in what could be a crucial weekend in the Premier League title race.
All of his abilities were on show as he was in the right place at the right time to score the first. He then showed great hold-up play and awareness to feed Saka for the second. He then showed his powers in the air to head in the third and round off the victory.
Well done to his teammates, Trossard & Saka. Everton’s Barry. Forest duo §-[Awoniyi & Jesus. Man Utd duo Cunha & Sesko. Man City’s Haaland. Spurs duo Richarlison & Kolo Muani. Leeds’ duo Okafor & Calvert-Lewin.
Bournemouth duo Rayan & Kroupi. Brentford duo Ouattara & Thaigo. Newcastle do Osula & Barnes. Chelsea’s Joao Pedro and Burnley’s Tchaouna.
MANAGER: ROBERTO DE ZERBI (Tottenham)
In just three games in charge, he has led Tottenham to back-to-back wins for the first time this season to move them out of the bottom three.
Although he came into dire circumstances, his two games have been favourable against relegated Wolves at home and at Villa, who were preparing for a European semi-final second leg. However, he has risen to the occasion and given Spurs hope.
Shout out to Forest’s Pereira. Arsenal’s Arteta. Man Utd’s Carrick. Bournemouth’s Iraola. Brentford’s Andrews. Newcastle’s Howe and Leeds’ Farke.
UNSUNG HERO: THIERNO BARRY (Everton)
His two goals could have well decided the Premier League title race. He came off the bench in the 64th minute with Everton trailing by a goal.
However, by the 81st minute, Everton were 3-1 up. He had some luck, but he showed awareness, anticipation, sharpness and clinical finishing to get his two goals, and if it weren’t for Man City’s firepower, he could have won the game.
Well done to Leeds’s Stach. Spurs’ duo Gallagher. Forest duo Awoniyi & Bakwa and
GAME: EVERTON 3-3 MAN CITY
Doku opened the scoring in the first half with a lovely finish (43). However, in the second half, Everton equalised when Barry capitalised on Guehi’s horrendous error (68). Everton then took the lead when O’Brien headed home at the near post from a corner (73).
Everton then scored a third when Barry tapped in from a few yards (73). Haaland then pulled a goal back (83) before Doku earned a point at the death with a wonderful curling effort from outside the box (90+7).
There was also a good game at Man Utd, who beat Liverpool 3-2
GOAL: JOAO PEDRO (Chelsea) vs Notts Forest
Deep into stoppage time, Gusto found himself just outside the right corner of the box. He cut back onto his left foot and swung a ball into the box.
At the back post, Cucurella headed it back across to Joao Pedro, who took it on his chest and, in one motion, executed a picture-perfect overhead kick into the top far corner.
There were also two good goals from Doku and one good team goal finished by Okafor.
FOOL: CHELSEA
West Ham could have been here, and Ballard for a stupid red card. However, Chelsea has really hit a miserable patch and is breaking records for all the wrong reasons with a sixth straight league defeat.
They lost a forest team sitting sixteenth in the league, and near the bottom three all season, with one eye on their midweek European game, so they played what could only be described as a third-string team. But still played Chelsea off the park. FOOLS!
