Premier League team of the week: Week 37
Well, the good news after gameweek 37 of the Premier League is that there was plenty of excitement at both ends of the table. The bad news is we’re running out of narratives for the final day.
Brentford kicked off the weekend by piling the misery on Tottenham, Roberto Firmino scored on his Anfield farewell but Liverpool couldn’t quite keep their top-four hopes alive enough, Arsenal handed Manchester City the title on a platter and Newcastle secured a return to the Champions League.
Here are the 11 players who impressed us the most this weekend.
GK: David de Gea
Manchester United’s 1-0 win away at Bournemouth, coupled with Liverpool’s 1-1 draw with Aston Villa, meant that David de Gea will be the standalone winner of this season’s Golden Glove.
The Spaniard didn’t have a lot on his plate at the Vitality Stadium but had to be alert to keep out Dominic Solanke and Kieffer Moore in either half.
With terms over a new contract nearly agreed, De Gea will be hoping to add another Golden Glove to his collection next season.
90min rating: 7/10
RB: Serge Aurier
Arsenal’s title challenge came to an end this weekend after falling to a 1-0 defeat at Nottingham Forest, and former Tottenham right-back Serge Aurier revelled in such a result on social media post-match.
On the pitch, the Ivorian put in a monstrous shift, dominating the right flank and shutting down the Gunners‘ left-hand side.
That result meant that Forest secured a second-successive season of Premier League football. Kudos to Aurier and co.
90min rating: 8/10
CB: Felipe
Alongside Aurier was towering Brazilian Felipe, who has put in a number of huge performances down the final stretch of this season to save Forest.
This weekend, he gobbled up compatriot Gabriel Jesus and put his heart and soul into ensuring his side kept a clean sheet.
Felipe was replaced by Willy Boly with just over ten minutes remaining at the City Ground and to his credit looked as if he had nothing left to give.
90min rating: 7/10
CB: Tyrone Mings
You only need to see the names of the first four players in this team to understand what a strange season this has been.
Tyrone Mings has been one of Aston Villa’s biggest success stories this season since Unai Emery took charge.
Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard said Mings would only be able to start for Villa agin when he could look him in the eye and tell him he’s ready. It’s only fitting that the centre-back dropped a tremendous performance at Anfield (even if he was fortunate to escape a red card).
90min rating: 8/10
LB: Rico Henry
For the umpteenth time since promotion, Brentford’s Rico Henry strengthened his case for an England call-up with an impressive display against a top-six opponent.
The left-back managed to silence Arnaut Danjuma and the departing Lucas Moura in the Bees‘ 3-1 win at Tottenham, forcing the two wingers to clog the space for Harry Kane and Dejan Kulusevski to operate in.
At the other end, Henry’s crossing was wicked and swerving – if Ivan Toney had been playing, he would have ended the day with an assist to his name as well.
90min rating: 8/10
CM: Casemiro
If it weren’t for the seven games in which he’s missed through ill-discipline, Casemiro would have a major shout of being named in the Team of the Year.
He of course brings a backbone and physicality to Manchester United’s midfield, but his qualities on the ball have often been appreciated at Old Trafford.
Casemiro scored the Red Devils‘ winner at Bournemouth, finding the net with a wonderfully improvised overhead kick.
90min rating: 7/10
CM: Kalvin Phillips
As it turns out, Kalvin Phillips is actually half-decent if he is given a chance to play football.
The midfielder’s first start for Manchester City came in Sunday’s pedestrian 1-0 win against Chelsea, but he was a major reason why that victory was so easy.
Phillips was able to control the midfield battle, silencing nine-figure Enzo Fernandez and outrunning the energetic duo of Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Conor Gallagher.
90min rating: 8/10
CM: Lucas Paqueta
At long last, West Ham are enjoying the luxuries of a £50m Brazilian midfielder.
Lucas Paqueta’s talent has always shone through but he has become one of the Hammers‘ top contributors in recent months, clawing their way out of relegation trouble and reaching the Europa Conference League final.
He had the ball on a string in West Ham’s 3-1 win at home to Leeds, notably providing Manuel Lanzini with a jaw-dropping assist.
90min rating: 9/10
RW: Bryan Mbeumo
Brentford were penned in during the first half of their game at Tottenham and deservedly went into the break a goal down, perhaps a little fortunate that margin was not wider.
After the break, Thomas Frank made changes to free up the in-form Bryan Mbeumo, who twice punished Spurs with an out-to-in run off the right flank and twice found the bottom corner.
The Cameroonian then teed up Yoane Wissa for the clinching goal in north London. Who needs Toney, eh?
90min rating: 9/10
CF: Evan Ferguson
It’s a huge compliment to Evan Ferguson that he is continually compared to a young Harry Kane. What’s scary is England and Tottenham’s all-time leading scorer was nowhere as good as the Irishman was at his age.
The 18-year-old’s brace in Brighton’s 3-1 triumph over Southampton screamed of Kane and ensured that the Seagulls will be playing European football next season – only a major collapse of epic proportions will see them denied a place in the Europa League.
90min rating: 8/10
LW: Jacob Ramsey
How many young players can cleanly strike a volley? How many can do so with their weaker foot? How many can do so and score in front of the Kop end, caressing the ball past Alisson of all goalkeepers in the process?
That’s exactly what Jacob Ramsey did at Anfield. Aston Villa’s point at Liverpool means Europa Conference League qualification is in their own hands heading into the final day of the season.
90min rating: 8/10
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