Another Premier League gameweek with plenty of goals, 35 in total, is done and dusted and league leaders Liverpool kick-started 2024 with a thrilling 4-2 home victory over an out-of-sorts Newcastle United outfit on New Year's Day.
Title challengers Arsenal have slipped to fourth in the table following a disappointing 2-1 defeat at London rivals Fulham, allowing both Aston Villa and Manchester City to leapfrog them in the table courtesy of 3-2 and 2-0 wins over relegation-threatened Burnley and Sheffield United respectively.
Tottenham Hotspur have moved to within one point of the top four thanks to a 3-1 home win against an in-form Bournemouth side, while Brighton & Hove Albion have climbed to seventh place despite sharing the spoils with sixth-placed West Ham United in a goalless draw at the London Stadium on Tuesday.
Manchester United's inconsistent run of form continues following a 2-1 defeat at Nottingham Forest, but Chelsea claimed their third top-flight win in four matches after beating a spirited Luton Town outfit 3-2 at Kenilworth Road.
Three points were also collected by Wolverhampton Wanderers and Crystal Palace, with the former comfortably beating Everton 3-0 at Molineux and the latter coming from behind to put a troubled Brentford side to the sword 3-1 at Selhurst Park.
For the first time in 2024, Sports Mole selects its Premier League Team of the Week for the latest round of fixtures.
DEFENCE
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No goalkeeper made more saves than Newcastle's Martin Dubravka (10) in gameweek 20, but despite his valiant efforts between the sticks against Liverpool, the Slovakian has been edged out of our latest TOTW by West Ham shot-stopper Alphonse Areola, who followed up his impressive performance at Arsenal with another defiant display in the goalless draw at home to Brighton, making eight saves to help the Hammers keep a fourth successive clean sheet.
While Wolves captain Max Kilman deserves plenty of plaudits for his performance and goal against Everton, the centre-back is pipped to the post here by fellow goalscoring teammate Craig Dawson, who made more clearances (seven), more interceptions (three), won more tackles (three) and won more aerial duels (six) than any other Wolves player during a stellar defensive display at Molineux.
Fulham left-back Antonee Robinson must have thought that he would in for a long afternoon when Arsenal's Bukayo Saka nipped in front of him to score a fifth-minute opener. However, the American responded in admirable fashion as he went on to make more blocks (six), more interceptions (three) and won more ground dules (seven) than any other player, while he also won six out of six tackles in a fine defensive performance at Craven Cottage.
Alfie Doughty has established himself as one of Luton's most effective players so far this term, and he contributed to his fourth goal in five games when he set up Ross Barkley from a corner in the defeat at Chelsea. The versatile wing-back also boasted the most touches (86), key passes (four), interceptions (two) and remarkably completed more crosses (20) than every other player combined (18) on the pitch at Kenilworth Road.
MIDFIELD
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Showcasing his best form in a Crystal Palace jersey so far this season, Michael Olise has scored four goals in his last four games including a brace in a man-of-the-match display against Brentford, following up an unorthodox volley at the far post with a smart left-footed strike into the bottom corner. The skillful winger also completed five of his six dribbles, 87% of his passes and four crosses, as well as winning seven ground duels on the right flank.
Another standout midfield performer from gameweek 20 was rising star Cole Palmer, who contributed to all three of Chelsea's goals in the win at Luton. The Englishman arrowed a well-struck opener into the far corner before setting up Noni Madueke for the second, and he capped his excellent display by coolly rounding Thomas Kaminski to slot home the Blues' third midway through the second half.
Starting just his fourth Premier League game of the season, Giovani Lo Celso made his mark as the chief creator for Tottenham in their victory over Bournemouth, registering two assists – the latter a brilliant first-time through-ball for Son Heung-min with the outside of his boot – as well as contributing with 10 ground duels, nine ball recoveries, three successful dribbles, three successful tackles and a 92% passing accuracy.
While Man City lynchpin Rodri is unfortunate to miss out on a place in our latest TOTW, his teammate Phil Foden makes the cut following yet another man-of-the-match display for the champions. The Stockport-born playmaker has thrived operating as a number 10 in recent weeks, and not only did he register his fifth and sixth assists of the campaign in the win over Sheffield United, he boasted a 98% pass accuracy and completed at least twice as many key passes (six) than any other player on the Etihad turf.
Completing our five-man midfield is Nottingham Forest star Morgan Gibbs-White, who just edges out teammate Anthony Elanga after he slotted home a superb late match-winner against Man United as well as made more final-third passes (13), produced the most crosses (six) and won back possession (eight) more times than any other player during an energetic display to help the Tricky Trees claim their first win over the Red Devils since 1994.
ATTACK
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Liverpool's thriller with Newcastle was certainly an eventful one for Mohamed Salah, who began the evening by firing a first-half spot kick straight at Dubravka. However, the Egyptian king would later make amends for his penalty miss by giving the Reds the lead shortly after half time, becoming just the fifth Premier League player in history to score 150 goals for a single club. Salah then played a crucial part in goals scored by Curtis Jones and Cody Gakpo, assisting the latter with a beautiful outside-of-the-boot pass, before redeeming himself from the penalty spot four minutes from time. Salah also boasted more touches in the opposition's box (20), more passes in the final third (28) and made more key passes (five) than any other player at Anfield.
Joining Salah in our attack is Wolves' Matheus Cunha who tormented Everton all afternoon with his movement, pressing and clinical touch in the final third. The Brazilian finished off a well-executed team move with a thumping close-range finish to double Wolves' advantage, before he turned provider when Dawson directed his low cross beyond Jordan Pickford to help Gary O'Neil's side extend their winning run to three games.
SPORTS MOLE'S PREMIER LEAGUE TEAM OF THE WEEK
Sports Mole's Premier League Team of the Week (3-5-2): Areola; Doughty, Dawson, Robinson; Olise, Palmer, Lo Celso, Foden, Gibbs-White; Salah, Cunha
Oliver Thomas
