Liverpool returned to the top of the Premier League table with a 2-0 victory away to Cardiff City on Sunday. A goal each by Georginio Wijnaldum and James Milner saw the Red leap-frog Man City who had a day earlier defeated Tottenham Hotspurs 1-0, back to the league summit.
Liverpool have now accumulated 88 points, two ahead of City who still have a game in hand.
In the battle for third and fourth, all of Man United (6th), Arsenal (4th) and Tottenham (3rd) lost their weekend’s fixtures as United were humiliated 4-0 by Everton while Arsenal went down 3-2 at home to Crystal Palace. Chelsea who are 5th have a chance to go third when they host Burnley on Monday night.
Tottenham have 67 points, Arsenal 66, level with Chelsea while Man United still have 64.
Elsewhere, there were victories for Watford, Fulham and Newcastle this past weekend. Watford defeated Huddersfield 2-1, Fulham were 1-0 winners away to Bournemouth while Newcastle beat Southampton 3-1.
Here are the XI players who stood out for me this past weekend.
GK: Ederson (Man City)
Made up to four top-notch saves and kept a clean sheet as City defeated Tottenham 1-0 on Saturday.
RB: Aaron Wan-Bissaka (Crystal Palace)
Wan-Bissaka made eight interceptions in Palace’s win at Arsenal; the most of any player on Match-Day 35.
LB: Lucas Digne (Everton)
Outstanding on the day and also had time to score one of the goals as Everton beat Man United 4-0 on Sunday.
CB: Shane Duffy (Brighton)
After a run of losses, Brighton needed to be strong at he back if they are to get anything away to Wolves and it was Duffy who came up with the goods in defence as they drew 0-0 at the Molineux.
CB: Aymeric Laporte (Man City)
After his struggles in mid-week, Laporte produced his usual strong and assured performance in City’s 1-0 win at home to Spurs on Saturday.
MF: Georginio Wijnaldum (Liverpool)
Wijnaldum scored Liverpool’s opener in the 2-0 win at Cardiff.
MF: Gylfie Sigurdsson (Everton)
Sigurdsson scored once and also created more chances than any other player (4), on the pitch.
MF: Phil Foden (Man City)
Eighteen-year-old Foden scored his first Premier League goal for Manchester City in the 1-0 win at home to Tottenham on Saturday.
FW: Ayoze Perez (Newcastle United)
The Newcastle striker scored a hat-trick from just three shots in the 3-1 win at home to Southampton.
FW: Wilfred Zaha (Crystal Palace)
Zaha scored one and also created three chances for Palace in their 3-2 win at Arsenal.
FW: Gerrard Deulofue (Watford)
Scored a brace as Watford defeated Huddersfield 2-1 away from home on Saturday afternoon.
