Premier League Awards: Title race twists and Ice-cold Isak | OneFootball

Our weekly Premier League awards honour the best – and worst – of the football action from the weekend.

Moment of the Week

Was this the weekend the momentum of the title race truly shifted? It certainly feels like it.

The champions are back on top after Manchester City thrashed Luton at the Etihad, with would-be contenders Liverpool and Arsenal each losing on home soil.

Liverpool’s loss to Crystal Palace was a shock but a continuation of flat performances in recent weeks, a result that followed the Reds’ dismal home defeat to Atalanta in the Europa League. Jurgen Klopp’s team might just have run out of steam as the season reaches the run-in.

Arsenal headed into their clash with Aston Villa knowing a win would put them back on top and provide clear daylight between them and Liverpool, having started the weekend level on points at the top. The Gunners suffered a huge setback, however, as late goals from Leon Bailey and Ollie Watkins handed visiting Villa a precious three points at the Emirates.

Arsenal are improved from last season but do the north Londoners have enough to end Manchester City’s dominance of the division? It is Arteta’s team who have blinked first, while City have the experience – and more straightforward run-in on paper – as we head into the final six games. The damage of this defeat will become clearer in the coming weeks.

Player of the Week

Alexander Isak just oozes cool, doesn’t he?

The Swedish striker continued his hot streak with a deadly double to down Tottenham this weekend, as Newcastle dented the Champions League hopes of the north Londoners with a 4-0 win at St James’ Park.

Isak might just be the most exciting centre-forward in the Premier League right now, with a blend of speed, fleet footwork and ice-cold temperament when chances arrive. His brace against Spurs was superb after an opener that saw him embarrass Micky van de Ven with a composed chop inside the Dutch defender, and a second slid past Guglielmo Vicario with ease.

There’s rarely doubt when Isak goes through against the goalkeeper, the hallmark of the best centre-forwards. It’s now seven goals in his last six games for the 24-year-old, who has moved to 17 for the season and into contention for the Premier League’s Golden Boot. He has averaged a goal every 106 minutes this season, the best minute-to-goal ratio of any player in the competition.

Goal of the Week

Catch him if you can.

Matheus Cunha returned to the Wolves side this weekend and scored twice to earn his team a draw at Nottingham Forest. The first was a sensational solo effort from the big Brazilian, who carried the ball from deep inside his own half, before spinning Andrew Omobamidele and Ryan Yates and firing home.

It’s now 11 goals for the campaign for Cunha, the best return of his club career to date. After previous criticism of his finishing, he’s beginning to turn the attributes into end product.

An honourable mention for Manchester City midfielder Mateo Kovacic.

The aesthetic of that technique is too good to ignore. A cracker from the Croatian.

Miss of the Week

Liverpool’s wastefulness in front of goal cost the Reds dearly again this weekend as Jurgen Klopp’s side lost ground in the title race with defeat to Crystal Palace.

Klopp didn’t think so, but this Curtis Jones chance might just have been the best of the lot. The reaction from the midfielder said it all – he has to hit the target.

Save of the Week

Aston Villa took a giant step towards Champions League qualification after an upset win of title-chasing Arsenal at the Emirates.

The Gunners saw a former manager and player come back to haunt them in north London, as Unai Emery masterminded a vital win on the road for Villa. Late goals from Leon Bailey and Ollie Watkins sealed the three points, though the visitors were thankful to Emi Martinez for this stunning stop with the game goalless.

The Argentine kept out his old side brilliantly with an outstretched foot to deny Leandro Trossard.

Shithousery of the Week

It’s fair to say things aren’t on the best of terms between Wolves and Morgan Gibbs-White.

The midfielder came through the ranks at Molineux and made his debut aged 16, but departed for Nottingham Forest in a club-record deal in 2022 after failing to earn a regular chance with Wolves.

Ever since he’s enjoyed getting one over his old side and celebrated in true shithouse fashion this weekend. After heading in an equaliser, Gibbs-White set off in celebration towards the Forest fans, before turning to face the Wolves contingent behind the goal.

Boiling piss.

Stat of the Week

Erik ten Hag will have wanted his Manchester United team to chase records this season.

Those records, however, were probably not ones that belong to Ian Holloway’s Blackpool.

Tweet of the Week

Micky van de Ven has done a lot right this season, but it only takes one moment to become a meme.

Read – Premier League Team of the Week – Matchday 33

See more – Premier League weekend: Five things we learned

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