One full week of fixtures into March, it’s quite evident that we’re at another point in the season where the matchweeks can become blurred and move around quite rapidly, with a few teams now actually passing the 28 game mark due to the ever changing mashup of fixtures. But while the logistics get confusing, the football itself at least continues, for the most part, to be highly entertaining.
The big story of the weekend was the spectacular and fascinating demise of Manchester City’s near-endlessly long winning run, with a 2-0 home defeat at the hands of bitter rivals Manchester United. Elsewhere, Harry Kane and Gareth Bale demonstrated what a stunning double act they can be with an exquisite performance for Spurs, and Chelsea’s great start to life under Thomas Tuchel continued with a triumph over high-flying Everton. Here are our five stars of the week for Premier League Matchweek 27.
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Stars in Premier League – Gameweek 27
Goalkeeper: Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa)
Kicking things off with the goalkeeping position, it feels like Emiliano Martinez has become almost a constant fixture in our weekly five this season, but once again the Argentine performed spectacularly in a performance that was right up there with his best.
Having made a decent save from Pedro Neto, Martinez then made a spectacular point blank stop from Conor Coady to keep the match goalless and preserve another solid point for his side.
We’re running low on superlatives to describe the goalkeeper’s form, other than to say he’s having a simply wonderful season.
Defender: Luke Shaw (Manchester United)
Although Manchester United’s defensive stability has been questioned in recent weeks, the form of left back Luke Shaw has gone from strength to strength in that time, and reached a new height on Sunday when he delivered a near perfect performance on Derby day.
Not only did the England defender do an excellent job of keeping Mahrez quiet down the flank, but he also broke forward regularly with purpose and even scored his second ever Premier League goal with a sweeping finish into the corner.
A near-perfect game from one of United’s players of the season.
Midfielder: Kai Havertz (Chelsea)
Image source: talksport.com
It’s taken quite a while for Kai Havertz to showcase what he might be truly capable of in English football, but Chelsea’s record signing turned in a dazzling display against Everton on Monday night to remind everyone just why so much hype has surrounded him.
Playing in a front three with Timo Werner and Callum Hudson-Odoi, Havertz’s deflected shot from inside the box went in off of Everton defender Ben Godfrey, with the German midfielder also going on to win a penalty for his side that sealed the win in the second half.
This was just a glimpse of what the prized attacking midfielder can do, and Chelsea fans will be hoping it is the first of many.
Forward: Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur)
Following Gareth Bale’s wonder show last week, it was another Tottenham man who takes the attacking spot this week – the sensational Harry Kane.
Tottenham’s talisman scored and assisted two apiece against London rivals Crystal Palace, including an unstoppable effort from outside the area which landed right in Vicente Guaita’s top corner.
Kane’s reignited partnership with Gareth Bale is looking stronger by the week, and when you also factor in the talent of Heung Min-Son, it looks like the Spurs front three are all on-song again at an absolutely crucial part of the season.
Manager: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (Manchester United)
After halting Manchester City’s relentless 21 match winning run, there was only ever going to be one winner for this week’s manager of the week – Manchester United’s Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
United went at City from the get-go, forcing the home side onto the back foot. Although the Red Devils got a huge boost early on with a penalty inside the first minute of the match, the way they navigated the rest of the contest, – even scoring a decisive second goal – was expertly measured and disciplined.
As well as picking up an amazing three points and tightening United’s grip on second place, Ole also had the satisfaction of winning a derby away from home for the third time in a row – who would’ve thought it?
