Our weekly Premier League awards honour the best – and worst – of the football action from the weekend.
Moment of the Week
There was a sense of inevitability that came with the announcement that Chelsea had sacked Graham Potter this weekend, a decision made after less than seven months in charge.
If Thomas Tuchel’s dismissal earlier in the campaign had been a surprise, this was significantly less so, given his replacement had won just seven of his 22 Premier League games in charge.
Potter will receive an element of sympathy from how his tenure unfolded, thrust into the biggest role of his career under an owner who has brought chaos to Chelsea.
Graham Potter's Chelsea career by numbers:
◉ 31 games
◉ 12 wins
◉ 11 defeats
◉ 8 draws
◎ 33 goals scored
◎ 31 goals concededHis 39% win rate is the lowest of any permanent manager at the club in the 21st century. ???? pic.twitter.com/xwRP34nQtD
— Squawka (@Squawka) April 2, 2023
Todd Boehly has grand ambitions for the west Londoners and has certainly dug deep into his pockets in a bid to achieve them, but the American’s scattergun splurge has left Chelsea with a squad that, while talented, is bloated, muddled and assembled with little structure or strategy.
The club’s 2-0 defeat at home to Aston Villa on Saturday leaves Chelsea 12 points adrift of the top four and an absence from the Champions League is now imminent. The next appointment at Chelsea is crucial, for a club who have spent record-breaking sums and gone backwards at an alarming rate.
Player of the Week
Manchester City will not give up their title without a fight and sent out a statement with a thrashing of Liverpool at the Etihad. The champions responded to falling behind as champions do, producing a fine performance of control and cutting edge to run out 4-1 winners.
At the heart of their win was Jack Grealish, who continued his fine form since the season’s restart with a wonderful performance. The winger was too much for Trent Alexander-Arnold to handle, as he drove forward purposely in possession and dovetailed with City’s other attacking options.
Work-rate levels ????
???????????????????? @JackGrealish ???? pic.twitter.com/eJc4mIW3e8
— Manchester City (@ManCity) April 2, 2023
His lung-busting burst back towards his own goal stopped a dangerous counter-attack and City from falling two goals behind in the first half, before Grealish ensured the hosts were level before the break after setting up Julian Alvarez’s equaliser.
He scored City’s fourth as Pep Guardiola’s side dominated after the break, improving his record to eight goal contributions in 14 games since the World Cup. He had just one in his previous 14 appearances before the tournament and appears to have found his feet at the Etihad.
Goal of the Week
What a goal and what a moment for Bournemouth.
Gary O’Neill’s side would have targeted a home fixture with Fulham as a must-win in their survival fight, but found themselves a goal down to Andreas Pereira’s opener. Enter, Marcus Tavernier, who came off the bench to inject life into the Cherries and turn the game around.
The winger extended his run to four goals and four assists in his last six appearances for Bournemouth, after firing home a sensational equaliser. Collecting a headed clearance outside the area, he jinked inside before bending an unstoppable finish past Bernd Leno.
Moment of appreciation for this angle ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/3Noxk0YydV
— AFC Bournemouth ???? (@afcbournemouth) April 2, 2023
Dominic Solanke added a second, a goal which earned Bournemouth a crucial win and saw the Cherries climb out of the bottom three.
Save of the Week
Manchester United’s concerning recent run continued with defeat at Newcastle, extending their run since winning the Carabao Cup to three league games without a win or goal scored.
Erik ten Hag’s side were second best in their 2-0 defeat at St James’ Park, though the scoreline could have been worse had Newcastle not wasted a number of clear-cut chances.
The visitors had David de Gea to thank for keeping the game goalless in the first half as the Spaniard made a big double save to deny Alexander Isak and Joe Willock from close range.
BIG DOUBLE SAVE! How has De Gea kept those two out?! ???? pic.twitter.com/tcukGitfMs
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) April 2, 2023
Stat of the Week
Brighton and Brentford produced some of the most enthralling action of the Premier League weekend, as the two European hopefuls went head-to-head in a thriller at the Amex Stadium.
Brighton dominated proceedings during the 3-3 draw on the south coast, but Brentford’s set-piece expertise ensured the Bees escaped with a point.
Roberto De Zerbi must have been left wondering how his side did not end up with a win, with Brighton’s 33 shots the most a team has recorded in the Premier League without winning.
Brighton had 33 shots against Brentford, the most a team have had in a single Premier League game without winning.
Blitz. ???? pic.twitter.com/miBkWAjBn0
— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) April 1, 2023
Quote of the Week
Jurgen Klopp cut a dejected figure following Liverpool’s 4-1 defeat at Manchester City, a performance which will cause huge concern and one which leaves their Champions League hopes hanging by a thread.
"There is nothing good to say about this game!"
Jurgen Klopp struggles to explain his side's downfall following 4-1 loss to Man City… ????
????️ @TheDesKelly pic.twitter.com/HnMdTo80Ek
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 1, 2023
Such was the dominance of Pep Guardiola’s side after the break, Klopp thanked the Premier League champions for not creating a more humiliating scoreline.
“City completely in control after that and we were open and they could do whatever they wanted. That they only scored one more goal is well, thank you. It could’ve been different and that’s really bad news for us.
“In the end, we had moments but in general how we lost everything, unacceptable.”
Donkey of the Week
It’s been a difficult start to life at Chelsea for Mykhaylo Mudryk.
Having arrived with high expectations and a sizeable transfer fee, the winger has failed to make an impact since an encouraging cameo on debut.
Mudryk looks short of confidence and his struggles were underlined with a wasteful performance against Aston Villa this weekend, as the Ukrainian squandered goalscoring chances during Chelsea’s 2-0 defeat at Stamford Bridge.
Mudryk saw a one-vs-one saved by Emiliano Martinez after winning possession in a dangerous area, before spurning another glorious chance when racing clear on goal with time to pick his finish. There is significant room for improvement from the January recruit.
Read – Premier League Team of the Week – Matchday 29
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