Stock City became the first team to be relegated from the Premier League this season after relinquishing a 1-0 lead and losing 2-1 at home to now safe Palace. Still at the wrong end of the table, West Brom recorded a massive 1-0 win over champions league chasing Tottenham to further boost their chances of survival as Swansea and Southampton failed to win with the later conceding the equalizer as late as the 95th minute away to Everton.
Manchester City received their EPL trophy despite drawing 0-0 at home to Huddersfield who now require only a point in their last two games to stay up. Arsenal bid farewell to Arsene Wenger in style with a comprehensive 5-0 drubbing of Burnely at the Emirates and Chelsea defeated Liverpool 1-0 at the Bridge to match closer to at top four spot.
Here are the eleven players that stood out over the weekend according to PML Daily correspondent, Shaban Lubega.
Gk. Ben Forster (West Bromwich Albion).
The Englishman made five saves against Tottenham Hotspurs last weekend and looks unbeatable at the moment. He has been the key player for the Baggies in their bid to achieve what seemed impossible only a month ago.
RB. Victor Moses (Chelsea).
The Nigerian has had a below per season as compared to the one he had lad season as he has been in and out of the team due to injuries, prompting his manager to bring in another right back in Davide Zappacosta but against Liverpool, he did so much to suggest that he still may be the right man for the job.
With a huge task of trying to stop the pacey due of Robertson and Mane down on the left, he did it with perfection and was also effective at the other end putting in several decent crosses which woul have resulted into one or two goals had the forwards been sharper.
CB. Calum Chambers (Arsenal).
What a turn around by the Englishman over the last few months or so.
Chambers looks a shadow of the guy who used to make mistakes week in and out as he now show cases a composed and calm defender that everyone associated with Arsenal has long craved for.
Russia may be miles away from him but the new manager coming in after Wenger will surely give Chambers at least a year’s worth of chance.
CB. Antonio Rudgar (Chelsea).
Rudiger made 10 clearances against Liverpool, the highest such total by a Chelsea player at Stamford Bridge in a Premier League match in 2017-18.
Every challenge he made was cheered and every tackle was applauded. There were even chants of “Rudi” around the ground. That’s how good on the day, the fans thought he was and me watching at TV was equally impressed.
LB. Patrick Van Aanholt (Crystal Palace).
Van Aanholt is one of the few left backs that i rate so highly in the Premier League and i don’t get why one of the big teams do not try to buy him.
His 89th minute goal may have broken Stock City fans’ hearts but it was indeed worthy of winning a league game.
MF. Mark Noble (West Ham United).
As well as scoring from his only shot of the match against Leicester, Noble attempted the most (43) and completed the joint-most (34) number of passes of all West Ham players in the game.
He has never shirked a game, a tackle or an interview, and against Leicester – when you needed a big man to match the occasion – it was ‘Mr West Ham’ who came to the rescue and won the points.
MF. Jack Livermore (West Bromwich Albion).
Scored the goal that may save West Brom come the end of the season but on top of that all, asserted his authority in a midfield that featured some of the best in the league.
It is now clear as to why Southgate rates Livermore highly and i think he will be in Russia for the ‘Three Lions’.
MF. Ruben Loftus Cheek (Crystal Palace).
Chelsea do not appear to have the time or inclination to develop this talent any more than they did Kevin de Bruyne or Mohamed Salah. The on-loan Chelsea midfielder didn’t just rain on Stoke City’s parade, he sunk it.
Loftus-Cheek won more duels (14) and completed more dribbles (six) than any other player on the field during Crystal Palace’s win over Stoke City.
FW. Wilfred Zaha (Crystal Palace).
While Zaha created three chances against Stoke, the most of any Palace player, only Ruben Loftus-Cheek attempted (eight) and completed (six) more dribbles than Zaha in the match (five and four respectively).
He is indeed the heartbeat of the team but am afraid he may be on his way out of Palace come the end of the season.
FW. Olivier Giroud (Chelsea).
The Frenchman scored his third league goal for Chelsea and he is slowly establishing him self as the undisputed started at Stamford Bridge. He may not be the ideal striker that Chelsea fans would love to see lead their line but if he can keep in winning the vital points like the ones against Liverpool, who would care any ways.
FW. Pierre Emerick Aubameyang (Arsenal).
Aubameyang scored two well-taken goals and is the sort of player that fits Wenger’s criteria perfectly. Not all of Wenger’s signings have been completely successful or totally welcome. However, Aubameyang is in a different class. ,what a wonderful note to finish on.
Aubameyang has scored seven league goals at the Emirates this term; the most of any Arsenal player in their first seven home appearances in the Premier League.
Coach: Darren Moor (West Bromwich Albion).
I have run out of words to describe what may be about to happen to West Brom this season.
A month ago, the Baggies were destined for the drop but now on course for one of the greatest escapes of all time and it’s all down to man that i am sure 90% of Premier League fans didn’t know about at the start of the season.
Moor masterminded a 1-0 win at home to Spurs last weekend, a result that may turn out to be so vital to the Baggies come the end of the season.
