Differing emotions rang across Merseyside at both ends of the table as Liverpool blinked first in the title chase, held 1-1 by Antonio Conte’s Tottenham side, while Frank Lampard’s Everton picked up a massive three points in their battle against relegation.
West Ham bounced back from Europa League heartbreak as they thrashed Norwich 4-0, while Manchester United fell to a fifth straight away defeat to Brighton by the same scoreline, a new low for the season.
But who stood out for the right reasons this week?
GK: Jordan Pickford (Everton)
Once again, the Everton shot-stopper was immense as his side pulled off a major win against a Leicester City side licking its wounds from a Conference League exit in midweek. England’s no.1 is proving his value to Frank Lampard time and time again.
Some of those saves yesterday… 🤌@JPickford1 🔥 https://t.co/CJ5XEKqHb1 pic.twitter.com/4z0UWBSprK
— Everton (@Everton) May 9, 2022
Joao Cancelo excelled once more as Pep Guardiola’s side stuck five past Eddie Howe’s Newcastle United. Cancelo provided an assist and kept a clean sheet as the Cityzens took another step towards another Premier League title.
CB: Cristian Romero (Tottenham)
What a signing the centre-back has been for Antonio Conte’s side, with the Argentine holding together a defence that, on paper, looks weak. Romero looks set to be a stalwart at the heart of the Lilywhite’s defence for a long time to come.
We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again.
Romero is quality. pic.twitter.com/m2aZvjNTIh
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) May 8, 2022
CB: Marc Cucurella (Brighton)
What a transition moving Cucurella to centre-back in a back 3 has been for Brighton. The Spaniard has flown under the radar for much of the season but grabbed his first goal in the hammering of Manchester United.
CM: Moises Caicedo (Brighton)
Caicedo only made his debut last month, but has already gone on to excel, and opened his Brighton account with the opener against Manchester United alongside an all-round brilliant performance in the engine room for the Seagulls.
😯 4 of Brighton’s 11 Premier League wins this season have come in the 6 games Moises Caicedo has started
💪 Some impact he has had for the Seagulls! pic.twitter.com/WDBnJDTBYZ
— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) May 9, 2022
CM: Said Benrahma (West Ham)
The first of two West Ham players making up the midfield, Benrahma starred with 2 goals in a game against a tired-looking Norwich side. The win keeps their hopes of Europa League football next season alive and kicking.
⚽️ 9 goals
🅰️ 12 assistsSaid Benrahma registered his 20th and 21st #PL goal involvement against Norwich. Only Jarrod Bowen (30) and Michail Antonio (28) have more at @WestHam since his debut#NORWHU pic.twitter.com/epjgyqwjD7
— Premier League (@premierleague) May 8, 2022
RM: Jarrod Bowen (West Ham)
While Declan Rice keeps attracting attention, Bowen continues to be the star of the West Ham side, grabbing two assists for David Moyes’ side.
Jarrod Bowen has joined Mo Salah as the only players in the Premier League with 10+ goals and 10+ assists… pic.twitter.com/H2T2GTeU9D
— West Ham Central (@WestHam_Central) May 8, 2022
LM: Raheem Sterling (Manchester City)
A brace of goals took Sterling to the player with the most goals for Manchester City in the Pep Guardiola era, and the Englishman turned in a top drawer performance for the Cityzens against Newcastle.
50 – Raheem Sterling’s opener was his 50th Premier League goal at the Etihad Stadium, becoming the second player to reach the milestone at the ground after Sergio Aguero (106). Nifty. pic.twitter.com/hFebSHqvYQ
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) May 8, 2022
CAM: Emi Buendia (Aston Villa)
Buendia has largely been underwhelming since he arrived in the midlands in the summer transfer window, but picked up a goal and an assist as Aston Villa saw off a spirited Burnley side for just their second win in their last 5 games.
ST: Eddie Nketiah (Arsenal)
Eddie Nketiah has certainly begun to answer even his most dedicated detractors, with another two goals to help the Gunners ease past a Leeds side heading in a downward spiral, taking him to four goals and an assist in the last four games and spearheading Arsenal’s Champions League push.
🔥 𝗘 𝗗 𝗗 𝗜 𝗘 🔥 #ARSLEE pic.twitter.com/hlbqaDHSGB
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) May 9, 2022
ST: Romelu Lukaku (Chelsea)
It has been a torrid campaign for Romelu Lukaku, but he managed to get his first goals of the calendar year with a brace against Wolves, even though he did not end up on the winning side.
It was a different Belgian to the one we have seen for much of the season.
