Manchester City's relentless form continued as they moved three points clear at the top of the Premier League table in gameweek 21 courtesy of a narrow 1-0 win over rock-bottom Sheffield United.
Liverpool were the only other team in the top six to record a victory as they continued their return to form with a 3-1 triumph over West Ham United at the London Stadium on Sunday.
That result saw them capitalise on dropped points for Manchester United, who were held to a goalless stalemate by Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium, and Leicester City, who were beaten at home by Leeds United.
Tottenham Hotspur also slumped to another defeat at Brighton & Hove Albion, while Aston Villa and Newcastle United were victorious on the road - the latter ending their poor run of form against the odds at Everton.
Thomas Tuchel picked up his first win as Chelsea boss by beating Burnley, while Crystal Palace overcame Wolverhampton Wanderers and relegation rivals West Bromwich Albion and Fulham played out a 2-2 draw.
Here, Sports Mole selects its Premier League team of the week for gameweek 21.
There were a few contenders for the gloves in this week's team, with Karl Darlow, Illan Meslier and Vicente Guaita all worthy of honourable mentions, but the spot goes to Aston Villa's Emiliano Martinez, and not for the first time this season.
The Argentine once again pulled off a string of important saves to keep Southampton at bay as Villa escaped from St Mary's with all three points, while Matty Cash also played his part in that clean sheet with a crucial clearance - although he was also fortunate not to give away a penalty for handball.
Cash narrowly beats Luke Ayling to the right-back spot in an unorthodox defensive quartet which includes three natural full-backs and a central midfielder. On the opposition flank, Marcos Alonso earns his spot courtesy of his well-taken goal to seal the points for Chelsea on his return to the team.
Alonso is joined in this XI by his clubmate and fellow scorer against Burnley, with club captain Cesar Azpilicueta getting the first goal of the Tuchel era as a reward for his marauding attacking play despite being one of the three centre-backs.
Azpilicueta is, of course, perfectly at home at the heart of the defence, and Liverpool skipper Jordan Henderson is beginning to look that way too. The makeshift centre-back looked as solid as a seasoned professional in that position against West Ham, winning 100% of his duels and taking possession back 11 times - more than anyone else on the pitch.
Henderson's partner at the back Nat Phillips also deserves a mention, as do Tyrone Mings and Liam Cooper, but the latter's Leeds teammate does make the cut in midfield, with the versatile Stuart Dallas getting the equaliser against Leicester.
Indeed, Leeds are the best-represented team in this week's XI with three selections. Jack Harrison capped off a fine performance with the third goal late on to wrap up victory and edge out Jack Grealish to a place in the team, but the star of the show was undoubtedly Patrick Bamford.
The striker was involved in all three goals, scoring a stunner of his own in the middle of two assists - the second of which showcased his unselfish manner as he laid the ball on a plate for Harrison despite having a golden chance of his own.
Arguably the shock of the weekend was Brighton's win over Tottenham, and Alexis Mac Allister and Leandro Trossard are among the players who earn an honourable mention due to their role in that, but the only Seagulls player to make the cut is Pascal Gross, who assisted the solitary goal of the game in addition to hitting the woodwork himself.
Miguel Almiron was involved in the other big shock at the weekend as Newcastle beat Everton at Goodison and he too deserves a mention, although he was outshone by Callum Wilson, who scored twice to end the Magpies' drought on the road, and was only denied a hat-trick by the woodwork.
The only player to match Wilson's two-goal haul this weekend was Mohamed Salah, who ended a drought of his own in style with his first Premier League goals in seven games. The first was a textbook curling effort into the far corner, but it was the second which stole the headlines as an instant piece of control and composed finish capped off a devastating counter-attack.
Barney Corkhill
