Lots of goals. Lots of entertainment. Just another week in the Premier League. Here is the PL Team of the Week!
Another exciting set of fixtures in the Premier League ended with Arsenal finally getting the better of United to regain the fourth spot after much time. While Chelsea was held to a 1-1 draw at Wolves, Tottenham lost 2-1 against Saints. Just 17 days ago, Spurs were a comfortable 10 points ahead of neighbours Arsenal. Fast forward to the present and the gap is reduced to one. That's how much unpredictable the League can be. Brighton and Newcastle won their respective matches to be 5 and 6 points clear of the relegation zone.
In our round to the Premier League, here is the Team of the Week for round 30:
Goalkeeper:
Bernd Leno: The former Bayern Leverkusen Keeper has kept Petr Cech at bay for several weeks now and he has truly justified his selection in this game. He was on the rescue for Arsenal when and where needed. He was decisive and didn't refrain himself from coming out of his box to help his defenders out. He had two-three beautiful saves to stop Lukaku and Rashford from scoring.
Defenders:
Nathan Ake: The former Chelsea man has been a revelation at the back for Bournemouth this season. And he was on top of his game when they visited Huddersfield. They were 2-0 up at the 66th-minute mark and all the honours were on Ake and company to see out the game. And they did so in some style. Ake stood like a leader in the heart of their defence.
Virgil Van Dijk: It seems as if the Team of the Week is incomplete without this man. He has been that good since joining the Reds from Southampton. The Dutch international was yet again impressive in the 4-2 win over Burnley. He was rock solid in defence. Putting his body on the line and breaking their attacks every now and again. He was a clear winner in the aerial duels too.
Emerson Palmieri: Emerson started the game on the left side of the defence and made the side his own. He was constantly intercepting the ball and was quick to release it to the midfielder too. He posed a threat going forward too and provided the perfect support to Hazard on the left. This kind of performances has prompted Sarri to pick him over Marcos Alonso in the squad.
Trent Alexander Arnold: Alexander Arnold has been one of the most consistent performers in the Liverpool squad. He was brilliant defensively, breaking the tempo of the game from time to time. And as always, he was effective offensively too. Providing quality crosses into the box. He tore apart Burnley’s defence from the right side of the pitch. He is gradually developing into one of the best right-backs in the world.
Midfielders:
Granit Xhaka: One of those physical midfielders left in Europe, Granit Xhaka is an excellent reader of the ball and is at just about the right place at the right time. And it was his goal that started the thing off for Arsenal. United were gradually coming into the game before Xhaka's strike found its way into the back of the net. He was firm in defence too, seeing his side get only the fourth clean sheet of the season.
Dale Stephens: It was an important fixture in the relegation battle for Brighton and Hove Albion. Dale Stephens was in top form as they clinched a clinical 2-1 away win at Crystal Palace to go 5 points clear of the relegation zone. Against the Eagles, you have to be on the toes to match the physicality of the Palace side. And Stephens equalled them by defensive the duel battles. He was impressive offensively too, threading good passes for the forwards to deal with it.
James Ward Prowse: The midfielder was on target yet again as he scored from a freekick for the second week running. He scored the winner from just outside the penalty box. The England international was solid in defence too, providing cover to the defence line when required. He was a major threat moving forward, supplying those pinpoint crosses into the box. He is just the man that the Saints need to get them off the relegation trouble.
Forwards:
Raheem Sterling: The former Liverpool man was clinical in front of goal as he scored a hat trick to go just three goals behind in the race for the golden boot. City knew that only a win will do with Liverpool just lurking behind them at second. And Sterling proved his manager's faith in him by getting three past the Watford keeper. Pep Guardiola has reinvented him as a player and it seems that the left flank suits him as well.
Ayoze Perez: Newcastle were 2-0 down at the half-hour mark at home to Everton. And not many fancied them to get something in the game. But Ayoze Perez had different thoughts as he scored two and set up another to see his side go six points clear of the relegation zone. His two goals came in the last ten minutes to turn the match right on its head. He has been instrumental for Newcastle in this fight against relegation.
Jamie Vardy: Jamie Vardy was yet again in the scoring charts as he scored two and set up another to get past Fulham. The game was finely poised at 1-1 at the 51-minute mark. Both the teams had everything to play for. But Vardy was quick to see his side through by scoring twice in just about 7 minutes. He was a threat throughout the game, running at defenders and beating them with pace every now and again.
