Following the conclusion of the 26th round of Premier League encounters, the title race has been reignited.
Leaders Chelsea were held by Burnley to a 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge, while chasing champions Manchester City hammered Newcastle United 5-0, cutting the gap at the top to five points.
Below that, the battle for the top four is perhaps even more intriguing. Manchester United's poor away form continued against Swansea City, which allowed Arsenal to leap into third courtesy of a 2-1 win away at Crystal Palace.
Liverpool got the better of Southampton with a 2-0 triumph on the South Coast, while Tottenham Hotspur battled back late on to claim a 2-2 draw from their London derby against West Ham United.
Further down the table, Tim Sherwood's first game in charge of Aston Villa ended in a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Stoke City, with Hull City overcoming Queens Park Rangers by the same margin at the KC Stadium.
Elsewhere, there were draws played out at Goodison Park and the Stadium of Light.
Taking all of that into consideration, We have selected the 11 players that made the biggest impression for us at the weekend.
Thibaut Courtois (Chelsea)
He may not have had too much to do against Burnley, but the Belgian did make a couple of key saves to ensure that the champions elect were not defeated.
Branislav Ivanovic (Chelsea)
Yet another goal for the currently free-scoring Serbian. His finish from close range was clinical, while once again he did little wrong defensively.
Martin Skrtel (Liverpool)
Playing at the heart of Liverpool's three-man defence, Skrtel shone. He made a host of clearances and challenges against a lively Southampton attack, as well as organising those around him.
Wes Morgan (Leicester City)
Leicester may have shipped two goals on Merseyside, but it would have been even more but for some brave defending by Morgan.
Aaron Cresswell (West Ham United)
Cresswell's stock continues to rise following another impressive showing at White Hart Lane. It was his cross that assisted West Ham's opening goal of the contest.
Jonjo Shelvey (Swansea City)
The midfielder played a major role in Swansea's victory over United. It was his teasing crossing that resulted in the first goal, while his shot deflected into the net off a teammate for the winner.
Cheikhou Kouyate (West Ham United)
All-action Kouyate was on top of his game in North London. He dominated the midfield battle for large parts, while also breaking the deadlock.
Esteban Cambiasso (Leicester City)
He may be 34, yet the Argentine showed fantastic stamina levels against Everton. In the second half, he drove Leicester forward and weighed in with a goal of his own.
David Silva (Manchester City)
Usually known for his creative ability, Silva displayed a more greedy side against Newcastle. He scored twice, with the second of his goals being a real classy strike.
Edin Dzeko (Manchester City)
With Wilfried Bony waiting in the wings, a determined Dzeko showed his best form. He won a penalty, assisted another goal and scored himself.
Sergio Aguero (Manchester City)
Newcastle couldn't live with the dynamic Argentine's movement off the ball. He was a constant pest, while also scoring from the penalty spot.
Numpty of the week
Martin Atkinson: Now, being a referee is without doubt the hardest job in football. After all, they are only human and mistakes are inevitable. Yet, to make four glaring errors in the space of 90 minutes is hard to excuse. Atkinson failed to dismiss Burnley midfielder Ashley Barnes for two challenges - one of which could quite easily have broken Nemanja Matic's leg. To rub salt into the wound, the Chelsea midfielder was sent off for his reaction. The official also failed to award two obvious penalties to the home side. All in all, it was an afternoon to forget for the man with the whistle.
Goal of the week
Philippe Coutinho - Southampton vs. (Liverpool): The Brazilian was quiet for much of Liverpool's win at the St Mary's Stadium, yet his impact in the third minute was vital. Afforded enough space by the Southampton defenders 25 yards from goal, the diminutive playmaker fired his effort out of Fraser Forster's reach and into the net via the underside of the crossbar.
No comments:
Post a Comment