Each week we delve through the Premier League action and compile our divisional Team of the Week from the fixtures’ finest performances.
The midweek games saw relegation rivals Leicester and Everton play out an entertaining draw, while Arsenal and Manchester City maintained their title challenges with comfortable wins over Chelsea and West Ham respectively.
Elsewhere, Liverpool’s winning run continued and Brighton secured a last-gasp win over Manchester United to climb into the Premier League’s top six.
Here is The Football Faithful’s Premier League Team of the Week.
Goalkeeper: Daniel Iversen – Leicester
A big performance in a fixture Leicester could not afford to lose, Iversen made a string of saves during the Foxes’ 2-2 draw with Everton.
The Danish goalkeeper made fantastic stops from Alex Iwobi, Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Abdoulaye Doucoure to earn his side a point, with the 25-year-old justifying his inclusion as number one across the run-in.
Three big #LEIEVE saves from Daniel Iversen ???? pic.twitter.com/cWjN3EabKk
— Leicester City (@LCFC) May 3, 2023
Leicester will need more performances of this standard from Iversen as Dean Smith’s side look to preserve their top-flight status.
Right-back: Trent Alexander-Arnold
Trent Alexander-Arnold’s fine form continued as Liverpool recorded a fifth consecutive Premier League win against Fulham.
The nominal right-back was the creative hub of Liverpool’s performance as he stepped into midfield and commanded possession in central areas, a tactical tweak which has brought the best from the 24-year-old’s talents.
Trent on the turn ???? pic.twitter.com/r1bZoR0Mtk
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) May 4, 2023
Alexander-Arnold was involved in much of Liverpool’s best work and defended well when required. After a challenging campaign, he is enjoying his football right now.
Centre-back: Caglar Soyuncu – Leicester
Caglar Soyuncu has come in from the cold to play his part in Leicester’s survival bid, with the centre-back – frozen out under Brendan Rodgers – a fixture in the side under Dean Smith.
The Turkey international has been brought back in as Leicester look to improve defensively won several vital headers against Everton. He chose the perfect time to score his first Premier League goal since October 2021, as the defender turned in a loose ball to equalise for Leicester.
LEICESTER ARE LEVEL!
What a response ⚡ pic.twitter.com/4DAVCNLz7I
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) May 1, 2023
It could prove to be a massive goal in the Foxes’ season.
Centre-back: Nathan Ake – Manchester City
Nathan Ake returned to the Manchester City side this week and opened his account for the Premier League season with a crucial goal against West Ham.
West Ham had frustrated Pep Guardiola’s side during the opening 45 minutes at the Etihad, before Ake’s header broke the deadlock just four minutes after the restart. Ake’s goal was a fine moment in what has been an excellent season for the Dutch defender, an understated part of City’s challenge for three trophies.
Nathan Ake's FIRST Premier League goal of the season ????
WHAT a time to get it ???? pic.twitter.com/odnfqrVJLU
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) May 3, 2023
His comfortability in covering central and wide areas defensively has been a key factor in City’s successful change of system.
Left-back: Pervis Estupinan – Brighton
An all-action performance from Estupinan as Brighton moved into the top six with a late win over Manchester United.
The Ecuadorian was full of endeavour down the left flank and made one superb recovery challenge on Marcus Rashford, as the Seagulls secured a crucial result in their push for European football.
Marc Cucurella was named as Brighton’s Player of the Season last term, but Estupinan has ensured the Spaniard has not been missed this season. Estupinan’s arrival as his replacement has represented brilliant business from Brighton, who earned themselves a £47m profit in the process.
Midfield: Alexis Mac Allister – Brighton
Impressive at the heart of the Brighton midfield against Manchester United, the Argentine was full of work-rate defensively and poised in possession. He came close with efforts in either half, before keeping his cool to smash home a stoppage-time penalty and earn the Seagulls three points.
Mac Allister’s future appears away from Brighton, with Manchester United and Liverpool linked with a summer move to sign the midfielder. On the evidence of his performances for club and country this season, he would considerably improve the engine room options of each,
Midfield: Martin Odegaard – Arsenal
Martin Odegaard led the charge as Arsenal returned to winning ways with an emphatic win over Chelsea.
The midfielder was at the centre of everything for the Gunners in a midfield masterclass, one which saw the Norwegian score twice to move to 14 goals in the Premier League this season. His first was exquisite as he arrived to place Granit Xhaka’s cross into the top corner, before the same combination did the damage for the second as Odegaard swept in from a similar position.
No midfielder has scored more goals in the Premier League this season than Odegaard, who has been directly involved in 21 goals for the Gunners. It’s been a coming-of-age season for the Arsenal captain.
Right-wing: Alex Iwobi – Everton
Everton remain alive in the Premier League’s relegation battle after a spirited performance to draw at Leicester.
In a game the Toffees could not afford to lose, Sean Dyche’s side earned a point in a pulsating clash. Alex Iwobi was among Everton’s most impressive performers and forced a fine save from Daniel Iversen, with the Nigerian posing problems for Leicester in a roving position from the right.
Iwobi lost possession in the build-up to Jamie Vardy’s goal for Leicester, but redeemed himself with a precious equaliser for Everton after firing a calm finish past Iversen.
Left-wing: Jack Grealish – Manchester City
Jack Grealish has got better and better in a Manchester City shirt this season and the winger’s influence was again evident as the Premier League leaders broke down a stubborn West Ham this week.
Grealish hit the woodwork in the first half and won the free-kick for Nathan Ake’s opener as the Hammers struggled to deal with his positivity in possession. The England international then set up Erling Haaland for his record-breaking 35th goal of the Premier League season and now has five goals and assists in his last six league appearances.
Forward: Jamie Vardy – Leicester
Jamie Vardy turned back the clock with a vintage performance during Leicester’s draw with Everton. The veteran forward caused issues for Everton all evening with intelligent runs in behind and earned his reward with Leicester’s second of the evening.
Vardy raced onto James Maddison’s pass to round Jordan Pickford and score, while he came agonisingly close to a second after turning Michael Keane and lifting a delicate effort onto the crossbar.
Add in the usual mix of work-rate and this was a performance that Leicester needed from their talisman.
Forward: Gabriel Jesus – Arsenal
Gabriel Jesus led the line during Arsenal’s impressive 3-1 win over Chelsea, a result which ensured the Gunners maintained the pressure on Manchester City.
The Brazilian battled brilliantly against Chelsea’s centre-backs and adds a different dimension to Mikel Arteta’s team with his desire to unsettle defenders.
That tenacity was crucial to Arsenal’s early dominance of the game and Jesus effectively settled the clash as a contest after firing home the Gunners’ third goal before half-time.
55-0 – Gabriel Jesus has now scored in 55 Premier League matches and never ended on the losing side when doing so (W50 D5) – this is the most times a player has scored in a game in the competition without ever losing, surpassing James Milner (54). Charm. pic.twitter.com/Lb0CTYO0zS
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) May 2, 2023
It’s now 10 goals and five assists in 20 league starts for the 26-year-old this season, who has proven to be an astute addition at the Emirates.
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