TEAM: BOURNEMOUTH
Although there were arguably better performances this week from teams that scored more goals. As a collective, Bournemouth deserved recognition.
They have the longest unbeaten run in the league this season with an away win at Fulham. They are now in a great position to play in Europe next season for the first time.
Well done to Man City. Arsenal and Brighton.
GOALKEEPER: SENNE LAMMENS (Man Utd)
In truth, he has been a revelation for United this season, and there is no coincidence that their change in form coincided with his being in the team.
At Sunderland, he put in a man-of-the-match performance to earn an away draw in a game where United were poor and deserved to lose, but he just couldn’t be beaten.
Shout out to Arsenal’s Raya. Tottenham’s Kinsky. Everton’s Pickford. Forest’s Sels. Bournemouth’s Petrovic and Brentford’s Kelleher.
DEFENDER: MAXIM DE CUYPER (Brighton)
Once again, there were few in the running for this and some who arguably could have been here instead, but collectively, over the past few weeks, the Brighton man deserves recognition.
He has been putting in good performances for a while; this week, he bagged two assists and was again a combination of attacking flair and defensive reliability.
Well done to his teammates, Dunk & Van Hacke. Arsenal due Gabriel & Saliba. Man City’s Guehi. Sunderland’ Alderete. Spurs’ Porro, Leeds duo Bijol & Struijk. Everton’s Tarkowski.
West Ham’s Mavropanos. Bournemouth’s Senesi. Palace’s Richards. Newcastle’s Botman. Chelsea’s Colwill and Man Utd’s Mazraoui.
MIDFIELDER: ISMAILA SARR (Crystal Palace)
He has now really established himself as a goal-getting attacking midfielder who is a constant threat for Palace.
He notched another goal this week, which added to his midweek goals that put Palace into a European final. He has twenty goals in all competitions, the first Palace player to reach this landmark in over a decade.
Shout out to his teammate Munoz. Man City duo Doku & Silva. Arsenal duo Trossard & Rice. Liverpool’s Gravenberch. Brighton duo Hinshelwood & Minteh. Villa duo Barkley & McGinn. Chelsea’s Enzo. Forest’s Anderson.
Newcastle trio Guimaraes, Tonali & Barnes. Spurs duo Bentancur & Tel. Burnley duo Anthony & Mejbri. Fulham’s Cairney. Sunderland duo Xhaka & Le Fee. Man Utd’s Fernandes and Leeds duo Justin & Ampadu.
FORWARD: ERLING HAALAND (Man City)
The Premier League’s top scorer, once again by a few goals, was at it again in his quest to help his team fight to the death for this title.
He got an assist and scored a goal against Brentford, taking his tally to 26 league goals.
Well done to his teammate, Marmoush. Bournemouth’s Rayan. Palace’s Mateta. Burnley’s Flemming. Everton’s Beto. Leeds’s Calvert-Lewin. Villa’s Watkins.
MANAGER: ANDONI IRAOLA (Bournemouth)
To say he has worked miracles is more than an understatement. Losing his better players every season, but somehow justseems to replace them with more quality.
He has orchestrated the longest unbeaten streak in the Premier League this season, which is 16 games, with Bournemouth on the verge of playing European football and still in the running for a Champions League place.
Shout out to Arsenal’s Arteta. Man City’s Guardiola and Brighton’s Hurzeler.
UNSUNG HERO: JAMES TARKOWSKI (Everton)
With Everton still with an outside chance of qualifying for Europe, every point is valuable in the last few games of the season, and every performance is vital.
He put in a captain’s performance, scoring in the first half, then assisted one in the second to take the lead before Palace equalised. He showed his desire and determination at the back, which deserved a win, although it wasn’t to be.
Well done to Man City’s Doku. Bournemouth’s Rayan. Brighton’s Hinshelwood. Sunderland’s Xhaka. Arsenal’s Trossard. Forest’s Anderson and Burnley’s Flemming.
GAME: CRYSTAL PALACE 2-2 EVERTON
Everton took an early lead when Tarkowski touched in at the far post after the ball came off a Palace player at the near post (6). Sarr then equalised in the first half with a powerful left-footed effort at the second attempt (34).
In the second half, Tarkowski played a long ball for Beto to run onto, use his strength, beat his marker and slot home (47).However, Metata levelled for Palace a second time when he swept in Mitchell’s cut back from the left (77).
There was also a good game at Burnely who drew 2-2 with Aston Villa.
GOAL: MATHYS TEL (Tottenham) vs Leeds Utd
A corner was swung in from the left and powerfully headed out by the Leeds defender to the edge of the box.
The ball fell to Tel, who took one touch to set himself and with a box full of players in front of him, he curled a wonderful effort into the top, far corner of the net.
There were also good goals from Liverpool’s Graverberch and Man City’s Doku.
FOOL: CHRIS KAVANAGH (Referee) West Ham v Arsenal
Although I could have gone with Fulham’s Anderson for his sending off just six minutes after Bournemouth got a red card, Kavanagh’s cowardly decision takes it.
This decision will live long in the League’s history books. It’s not the fact that there was a possible foul on Raya, but in the same moment, there were three fouls on West Ham players. So, how can you give one and ignore the others? FOOL!
