Our weekly Premier League awards honour the best – and worst – of the football action from the weekend.
Moment of the Week
The best viewing of the weekend was found at the Etihad as Tottenham bounced back from a dreadful run of form to reignite the Premier League title race.
Having beaten Manchester City on the Premier League’s opening weekend, the north Londoners repeated the trick with a 3-2 win at the champions, snatching three points with a stoppage-time winner from Harry Kane.
WOW!!!! What a game this has been!! ????????
Just moments after Manchester City equalised from the penalty spot, Harry Kane blows the title race WIDE OPEN again with his second of the evening!
???? pic.twitter.com/8rmLdPBI43— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) February 19, 2022
Spurs had been clinical to twice take the lead, but Riyad Mahrez’s 92nd-minute penalty looked to have rescued a point for Pep Guardiola’s side after Cristian Romero had been penalised for a handball.
Moments later, however, Spurs scored a dramatic winner as Harry Kane rose highest to head home and spark wild celebrations from the travelling supports and Antonio Conte on the touchline.
It was the kind of chaotic, captivating twist in the tale that makes the Premier League box-office viewing, as Kane haunted his former suitors and breathed new life into Spurs’ top four challenge.
Player of the Week
Has there been a better centre-forward performance in the Premier League this season?
Harry Kane was simply outstanding as Spurs beat Manchester City, a return to his finest form as the England captain was influential and clinical at the Etihad.
Kane was the finest footballer on show as the north Londoners secured a last-gasp win, the man who City had sought to sign to boost their title hopes having been the opponent who instead dented them.
Harry Kane’s game by numbers vs Man City:
100% shot accuracy
38 touches
13 final third passes
11 final third entries
4 duels won
3 touches in opp. box
3 shots
3 shots on target
2 chances created
2 goalsHe was sensational. ???????????? pic.twitter.com/tVnMKwm2bJ
— Squawka (@Squawka) February 19, 2022
The 28-year-old produced an exhibition of subtle touches, vision, and customary ruthless finishing, first involved in the first goal as his sweeping pass on the turn sent Son Heung-Min racing in behind.
Kane then guided in Son’s cross to restore Spurs’ advantage, before getting across Kyle Walker to head home the dramatic winner and cap one of the best individual showings of the season.
Goal of the Week
Liverpool were below their best and found themselves chasing the game against Norwich on Saturday, with Milot Rashica’s deflected effort having handed the Canaries a shock lead at Anfield.
It took two goals in three minutes to turn the tide with each impressive in their own right, Mohamed Salah netting his 150th goal for the club in all competitions with a fine individual effort.
Sadio Mane’s initial equaliser earns our Goal of the Week accolade, however, an audacious piece of athleticism and acrobatics to fire past Angus Gunn.
????????????????????????????????????????????????.
Super Sadio with a brilliant bicycle kick to get us back in the game ???? #LIVNOR pic.twitter.com/wGG0EhRXuW
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) February 19, 2022
Kostas Tsimikas’ header appeared almost out of reach for the Senegal international, but a contortion of the body and overhead kick brought Liverpool back into the game.
Save of the Week
Jordan Pickford deserves a mention for his close-range save from Valentino Livramento, but we’ve chosen Hugo Lloris’ full length dive to deny Ilkay Gundogan as our Save of the Week.
The France international was making his 400th appearance for the north Londoners and his long spell with the club has seen Lloris often come to his side’s rescue, including this moment of athleticism to claw away Gundogan’s bending effort.
It was a save that helped lay the foundation for a memorable Tottenham win, as Antonio Conte became the first Spurs manager to win at the Etihad since Pep Guardiola’s arrival at Manchester City.
Pulling out a HUGE save on his 400th Spurs appearance.
???? Our Captain.
???? @cinchuk pic.twitter.com/5u2hwTp82P
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) February 20, 2022
Stat of the Week
Thomas Tuchel was critical of Romelu Lukaku’s performance following an anonymous showing from the Chelsea forward this weekend, with the Belgian setting a new Premier League low for touches.
Lukaku had just two touches in the first half – the first being an initial pass from kick off – and ended the game with seven in total, the lowest ever recorded by an outfield player who has played the entire 90 minutes since Opta first began to collect the data in 2003/04.
Romelu Lukaku broke the record for the fewest touches in a single Premier League game (7) for a player who has played the full 90 minutes since this data became available in 2003/04 ????
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) February 20, 2022
Having scored twice during Chelsea’s Club World Cup success last week, it was hoped that the 28-year-old could use that tournament as a springboard to a successful second half of the season.
Lukaku instead failed to get into the game and there are definite problems at present between the record signing and his role in Chelsea’s system.
Donkey of the Week
Brighton were battered at home by a Burnley side previously without an away win this season, the Seagulls out of sorts in a disappointing defeat at the Amex Stadium.
Graham Potter’s side had a number of poor performances, but Shane Duffy enduring a particularly torrid afternoon as he struggled to deal with the threat of Wout Weghorst.
His mix-up gifted possession to Weghorst in the build-up to Burnley’s second, whilst he was turned far too easily as Josh Brownhill cut inside to fire home.
The Irishman was also involved in a heated exchange with goalkeeper Robert Sanchez after a moment of indecision in the Brighton box, whilst he was careless in possession on occasion and received a caution during a disappointing day at the office.
Read – Five of the best players to have played for Leeds and Manchester United
Read Also – Five times Kylian Mbappe has lit up the Champions League
