Matchday 24 introduced its fair proportion of twists and turns to the Premier League, with some high-scoring video games and vital outcomes.
Liverpool continued their surge in direction of the title with a 2-0 victory away at in-form Bournemouth.
Arsenal did all they may to remain in contact with the Reds on the summit, trouncing a poor Manchester Metropolis aspect 5-1 on the Emirates Stadium.
Nottingham Forest, who had been crushed 5-0 final weekend by Bournemouth, responded in good trend by recording a 7-0 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion.
Wolverhampton Wanderers moved out of the relegation zone with a 2-0 win over Aston Villa, whereas Everton continued their spectacular kind by resoundingly beating Leicester Metropolis 4-0.
There’s nonetheless one recreation left to be performed on Monday night time, as Chelsea host West Ham United, now led by former Blues’ boss Graham Potter.
With Man Metropolis, Newcastle, Bournemouth and Villa all dropping this weekend, Enzo Maresca’s aspect can re-enter the highest 4 with all three factors.
Who had been the people who shone on Matchday 24? Right here is the Premier League Staff of the Week:
Goalkeeper – Jordan Pickford (Everton)
Everton’s revival beneath David Moyes continued with a 3rd straight Premier League victory, taking the Toffees 9 factors away from the underside three with a recreation in hand.
Their 4-0 win over Leicester featured three early targets, adopted by organisation and self-discipline for the remainder of the sport.
Jordan Pickford was instrumental in ensuring Everton’s outfield gamers didn’t give their opponents an inch and stored their clear sheet intact.
England’s primary additionally acquired an help, as his punt up-field within the first minute discovered its manner into the opposition field and arrange Abdoulaye Doucoure to attain.
Proper-back – Djed Spence (Tottenham Hotspur)
Going into their recreation away at Brentford, Spurs hadn’t received within the league since December.
Thomas Frank’s free-scoring and thrilling aspect had been seven factors forward of the Lilywhites earlier than kick-off, and there have been some ominous indicators for Ange Postecoglou’s males.
With no specialist centre-backs on the pitch because of their unbelievable damage disaster, Spurs’ 2-0 victory was stunning however well-earned.
Spence featured because the left-back on Sunday, displaying his versatility and staking a declare to grow to be an unequivocal starter.
The Englishman was assured on the ball, introduced depth and tranquility throughout defensive phases and largely stored Brentford’s talisman Bryan Mbeumo quiet.
Tottenham have an enormous week arising as they journey to Anfield for the second leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final tie.
Spurs have a 1-0 result in defend, and the win and clear sheet on the Gtech Neighborhood Stadium ought to function the proper morale-booster.
Centre-back – Maxence Lacroix (Crystal Palace)
Crystal Palace are as soon as once more hitting kind within the second half of the season.
Lacroix had certainly one of his finest video games in a Palace shirt since becoming a member of from German membership Wolfsburg in the summertime.
Supervisor Oliver Glasner introduced Lacroix to Germany from Souchaux in 2020, and he’s as soon as once more getting one of the best out of the centre-back.
With Chris Richards and Marc Guehi alongside him in a again three, the 24-year-old hardly put a foot mistaken in opposition to Manchester United.
He stored the house aspect at bay as Palace recorded their fourth-straight clear sheet in opposition to the Pink Devils.
Centre-back – Matt Doherty (Wolverhampton Wanderers)
Matt Doherty greater than performed his half in nullifying Aston Villa’s harmful trio of Jacob Ramsey, Morgan Rogers and Ollie Watkins.
Wolves pulled two factors away from the drop-zone with their first victory since Boxing Day.
Supervisor Vitor Pereira can be hoping that that is the impetus his males have to go on a strong run and proceed their stint within the high flight.
Left-back – Myles Lewis-Skelly (Arsenal)
Myles Lewis-Skelly got here into Arsenal’s aspect earlier within the season following an damage to Riccardo Calafiori however has virtually established himself as an everyday.
The 18-year-old was unlucky to be despatched off at Wolves final weekend, however the crimson card was subsequently rescinded, permitting him to start out in opposition to Man Metropolis on Sunday.
The reigning champions had been the architects of their very own downfall on a number of events, however Arsenal had been on high of their recreation and didn’t permit the guests to breathe.
Lewis-Skelly’s youthful exuberance was exemplary and resonated all through the pitch and the group.
The cherry on high of the cake for the Englishman was getting his first purpose for his boyhood membership and rounding it off with an Erling Braut Haaland celebration.
Central midfield – James Garner (Everton)
James Garner began his first recreation for Everton since October on Saturday.
The previous Manchester United midfielder spent over three months out with a again damage, and his return may very well be an enormous optimistic for the Toffees.
Garner coated each blade of grass and registered a nice help, drilling a low through-ball with surgical precision to separate the Leicester centre-backs and arrange Beto to attain.
Central midfield – Declan Rice (Arsenal)
Declan Rice was completely all over the place in Arsenal’s 5-1 victory over Man Metropolis.
With Thomas Partey beginning in midfield, the Englishman was capable of again the Arsenal press in Metropolis’s defensive third, and the guests had been pressured into mistake after mistake.
Rice additionally arrange the targets scored by Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri.
Proper-winger – Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
There isn’t a lot left to say about Mohamed Salah this season that hasn’t already been mentioned.
In probably the most troublesome Premier League fixtures at present, away at Bournemouth, Liverpool wanted their fundamental man to face up and be counted.
Salah unerringly dispatched his penalty within the first half to provide the league leaders the benefit going into the break.
The house aspect pushed for the equaliser after the break, however Salah dealt the hammer blow. His good curling effort accomplished an important victory.
Left-winger – Antony Elanga (Nottingham Forest)
Inconsistency has marred Antony Elanga’s profession, however there are days when he’s near unplayable.
The 22-year-old was an absolute livewire in opposition to Brighton on Saturday and supplied assists for 3 of the seven targets scored by Nottingham Forest.
Elanga relied on some good particular person talent to create house and arrange Chris Wooden for the striker’s first two targets. He additionally created Morgan Gibbs-White’s purpose.
Striker – Chris Wooden (Nottingham Forest)
Chris Wooden has already surpassed his previous-best purpose tally within the Premier League, with 14 video games nonetheless left to play.
The New Zealander’s imperious kind in entrance of purpose has been an enormous motive for Forest forcing their manner into rivalry for Champions League qualification.
With a hat-trick within the 7-0 victory over Brighton, Wooden has now scored 17 instances within the Premier League, with solely Salah and Haaland bagging extra.
Striker – Jean-Philippe Mateta (Crystal Palace)
Jean-Philippe Mateta’s brace at Outdated Trafford on Sunday takes his tally of Premier League targets in 2025 to 6 after netting simply 4 instances within the first half of the season.
After a torrid begin to the season that had them floundering simply above the relegation zone, Palace are actually wanting like a strong unit as soon as once more.
This victory moved them forward of Man United into twelfth place.
GW24 – Staff of the Week