H
Harry Diamond
Guest
https://thefootballfaithful.com/premier-league-team-of-the-week-matchday-33-2/
What a weekend of Premier League action it has been with some shocking twists in the title race and the battle for Champions League qualification. Once again, we’re back to celebrate the weekend’s finest performers with our Premier League Team of the Week.
The last line of defence as Crystal Palace became the first team to beat Liverpool at Anfield and keep a clean sheet since Fulham in 2021.
Henderson made a host of superb stops to frustrate the home side, including a fantastic reaction save to deny Luis Diaz and another save to keep out Darwin Nunez from point-blank range.
Held firm amid mounting pressure from Arsenal in the first half with the centre-back composed and commanding at the back for Aston Villa. He made three clearances and completed 91.2% of his passes, forming an excellent partnership with Pau Torres.
Arsenal could not find a route through the big Brazilian, who has now won man-of-the-match honours in both fixtures against the north Londoners the season. Impregnable.
Joachim Andersen led the Crystal Palace backline to a clean sheet at Liverpool with the Danish defender superb alongside unorthodox centre-back partners Nathaniel Clyne and Jefferson Lerma.
Andersen won his battles in the air and put his body on the line when required while showcasing his exquisite passing range with nine completed long balls at Anfield.
The 27-year-old combines composure with commitment and made a whopping 14 clearances as the Eagles shut out their title-chasing hosts.
Excellent at the back and with a goal added in for good measure, the Swiss centre-back had an afternoon to remember against Tottenham.
Schar made five clearances, four interceptions, and was not dribbled past once at St James’ Park. He sealed a 4-0 success for Eddie Howe’s side late on, rising magnificently to meet Anthony Gordon’s corner kick and head home.
The January transfer window was a quiet one for Premier League clubs but Crystal Palace look to have secured a steal in Adam Wharton. Signed from Blackburn Rovers for an initial fee of £18m, the 20-year-old already looks an astute investment.
Wharton was an impressive performer once again as Palace secured an upset win at Liverpool, winning 8/10 ground duels, 100% of his six tackles, and offering a cool head in possession.
An England u-21 debut arrived last month after an eye-catching start to his top-flight career. A senior call-up might not be too far away on the evidence of his early impact with the Eagles.
Youri Tielemans has faced some criticism during his debut campaign at Aston Villa but the midfielder was immense in arguably his side’s biggest win of the campaign to date. The Belgian was influential in the 2-0 win at Arsenal, offering composure in deep areas of the pitch to bypass the Arsenal press and dropping in to allow the full-backs to maraud forward when required.
The brains behind a superb second half for the visitors at the Emirates, he got the assist his performance deserved when he intercepted a loose pass and freed Ollie Watkins for the second. His best display to date in Claret and Blue.
A brace from the Brazilian kept alive Fulham’s faint hopes of European football, with the midfielder scoring both goals in an impressive 2-0 win at West Ham. Fulham can be a force when in the mood and secured a comfortable victory over their London neighbours, one that saw Pereira star.
The 28-year-old opened the scoring after capitalising on a Konstantinos Mavropanos mistake, rounding Lukasz Fabianski to fire home after the Greek defender’s clearance fell into his path. He should have had another after turning wide on the stretch, before getting his second after the break from Alex Iwobi’s centre.
In brilliant form right now and staking his claim for an England place this summer. Gordon was Newcastle’s biggest threat as the Magpies stunned Spurs at St James’ Park, battling well to regain the ball and set up Alexander Isak for the opener.
He scored the second himself after capitalising on Pedro Porro’s wayward back-pass before leaving Micky van de Ven on his backside in the area.
A second assist – and eighth of the Premier League campaign – arrived when Gordon’s set-piece was met by the leaping Fabian Schar late on.
After an underwhelming first half, Doku came alive after the break in Manchester City’s 5-1 win over Luton at the Etihad.
The winger caused countless problems for Fred Oyendinma and won a penalty for the third goal after bamboozling the wing-back in the box. He then scored the fourth with a slaloming run and a composed finish, before adding an assist with a tee-up for Josko Gvardiol.
Back in the starting side and how Wolves have missed him.
Cunha scored both goals in the 2-2 draw at Nottingham Forest to take his total to 11 for the campaign in the Premier League. His first was a wonderful solo goal having run from deep inside his own half, before evading two challenges inside the Forest box and firing into the top corner.
He bundled in a second to equalise after Forest had turned the game around, earning Wolves a point in an entertaining Midlands derby. Cunha’s end product had been criticised previously, but 17 goal involvements from 25 league starts is an impressive return from the Brazilian.
We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again, there’s more than a hint of Thierry Henry about Alexander Isak. The Swedish striker is so, so cool when chances arrive and took both of his goals in clinical fashion against Spurs this weekend.
Isak embarrassed Micky van de Ven with a chop and composed finish for the opener, before racing onto Bruno Guimaraes’ long pass to slot past Guglielmo Vicario.
He’s a genuine superstar when in this sort of mood.
The post Premier League Team of the Week – Matchday 33 first appeared on The Football Faithful.
Continue reading...
Premier League Team of the Week – Matchday 33:
What a weekend of Premier League action it has been with some shocking twists in the title race and the battle for Champions League qualification. Once again, we’re back to celebrate the weekend’s finest performers with our Premier League Team of the Week.
Goalkeeper: Dean Henderson – Crystal Palace
The last line of defence as Crystal Palace became the first team to beat Liverpool at Anfield and keep a clean sheet since Fulham in 2021.
Henderson made a host of superb stops to frustrate the home side, including a fantastic reaction save to deny Luis Diaz and another save to keep out Darwin Nunez from point-blank range.
Centre-back: Diego Carlos – Aston Villa
Held firm amid mounting pressure from Arsenal in the first half with the centre-back composed and commanding at the back for Aston Villa. He made three clearances and completed 91.2% of his passes, forming an excellent partnership with Pau Torres.
Arsenal could not find a route through the big Brazilian, who has now won man-of-the-match honours in both fixtures against the north Londoners the season. Impregnable.
Centre-back: Joachim Andersen – Crystal Palace
Joachim Andersen led the Crystal Palace backline to a clean sheet at Liverpool with the Danish defender superb alongside unorthodox centre-back partners Nathaniel Clyne and Jefferson Lerma.
Andersen won his battles in the air and put his body on the line when required while showcasing his exquisite passing range with nine completed long balls at Anfield.
The 27-year-old combines composure with commitment and made a whopping 14 clearances as the Eagles shut out their title-chasing hosts.
Centre-back: Fabian Schar – Newcastle
Excellent at the back and with a goal added in for good measure, the Swiss centre-back had an afternoon to remember against Tottenham.
Schar made five clearances, four interceptions, and was not dribbled past once at St James’ Park. He sealed a 4-0 success for Eddie Howe’s side late on, rising magnificently to meet Anthony Gordon’s corner kick and head home.
Midfield: Adam Wharton – Crystal Palace
The January transfer window was a quiet one for Premier League clubs but Crystal Palace look to have secured a steal in Adam Wharton. Signed from Blackburn Rovers for an initial fee of £18m, the 20-year-old already looks an astute investment.
Wharton was an impressive performer once again as Palace secured an upset win at Liverpool, winning 8/10 ground duels, 100% of his six tackles, and offering a cool head in possession.
An England u-21 debut arrived last month after an eye-catching start to his top-flight career. A senior call-up might not be too far away on the evidence of his early impact with the Eagles.
Midfield: Youri Tielemans – Aston Villa
Youri Tielemans has faced some criticism during his debut campaign at Aston Villa but the midfielder was immense in arguably his side’s biggest win of the campaign to date. The Belgian was influential in the 2-0 win at Arsenal, offering composure in deep areas of the pitch to bypass the Arsenal press and dropping in to allow the full-backs to maraud forward when required.
The brains behind a superb second half for the visitors at the Emirates, he got the assist his performance deserved when he intercepted a loose pass and freed Ollie Watkins for the second. His best display to date in Claret and Blue.
Midfield: Andreas Pereira – Fulham
A brace from the Brazilian kept alive Fulham’s faint hopes of European football, with the midfielder scoring both goals in an impressive 2-0 win at West Ham. Fulham can be a force when in the mood and secured a comfortable victory over their London neighbours, one that saw Pereira star.
The 28-year-old opened the scoring after capitalising on a Konstantinos Mavropanos mistake, rounding Lukasz Fabianski to fire home after the Greek defender’s clearance fell into his path. He should have had another after turning wide on the stretch, before getting his second after the break from Alex Iwobi’s centre.
Right-wing: Antony Gordon – Newcastle
In brilliant form right now and staking his claim for an England place this summer. Gordon was Newcastle’s biggest threat as the Magpies stunned Spurs at St James’ Park, battling well to regain the ball and set up Alexander Isak for the opener.
He scored the second himself after capitalising on Pedro Porro’s wayward back-pass before leaving Micky van de Ven on his backside in the area.
A second assist – and eighth of the Premier League campaign – arrived when Gordon’s set-piece was met by the leaping Fabian Schar late on.
Left-wing: Jeremy Doku – Manchester City
After an underwhelming first half, Doku came alive after the break in Manchester City’s 5-1 win over Luton at the Etihad.
The winger caused countless problems for Fred Oyendinma and won a penalty for the third goal after bamboozling the wing-back in the box. He then scored the fourth with a slaloming run and a composed finish, before adding an assist with a tee-up for Josko Gvardiol.
Forward: Matheus Cunha – Wolves
Back in the starting side and how Wolves have missed him.
Cunha scored both goals in the 2-2 draw at Nottingham Forest to take his total to 11 for the campaign in the Premier League. His first was a wonderful solo goal having run from deep inside his own half, before evading two challenges inside the Forest box and firing into the top corner.
He bundled in a second to equalise after Forest had turned the game around, earning Wolves a point in an entertaining Midlands derby. Cunha’s end product had been criticised previously, but 17 goal involvements from 25 league starts is an impressive return from the Brazilian.
Forward: Alexander Isak – Newcastle
We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again, there’s more than a hint of Thierry Henry about Alexander Isak. The Swedish striker is so, so cool when chances arrive and took both of his goals in clinical fashion against Spurs this weekend.
Isak embarrassed Micky van de Ven with a chop and composed finish for the opener, before racing onto Bruno Guimaraes’ long pass to slot past Guglielmo Vicario.
He’s a genuine superstar when in this sort of mood.
Read – Tweets of the Week: Boat party in Bilbao, Van de Ven nightmare, Bryan’s Gunn
See more – You’re having a laugh! – Five of the most notorious excuses in Premier League history
See more – You’re having a laugh! – Five of the most notorious excuses in Premier League history
Subscribe to our social channels:
The post Premier League Team of the Week – Matchday 33 first appeared on The Football Faithful.
Continue reading...