Another weekend of Premier League football with more VAR controversy is done and dusted, and table-toppers Arsenal have seen their lead at the summit cut to three points after being held to a 1-1 draw at home against Brentford.
The Gunners' nearest challengers Manchester City responded to the Premier League's allegations of breaching numerous financial rules with a defiant 3-1 victory at home against Aston Villa, while Manchester United consolidated third place with a hard-fought 2-0 win away at Leeds United.
Eddie Howe's Newcastle United remain in the top four, but they had to settle for a 1-1 draw away at Bournemouth – the Magpies' fifth league draw in six matches – while Brighton & Hove Albion extended their unbeaten league run to five games with a 1-1 draw at Crystal Palace.
Six days after beating Man City on home soil, Tottenham Hotspur suffered a disappointing 4-1 away defeat at Leicester City, while a London derby between West Ham United and Chelsea ended 1-1 at the London Stadium.
European hopefuls Fulham kept their top-seven dreams alive with a routine 2-0 success at home against Nottingham Forest, and at the wrong end of the table, Wolverhampton Wanderers came from behind with 10 men to win 2-1 against basement club Southampton, who decided to sack head coach Nathan Jones less than 24 hours later.
The final fixture of the gameweek saw Liverpool claim their first three points in 2023 after beating Merseyside rivals Everton 2-0 at Anfield on Monday night.
Here, Sports Mole picks its Premier League Team of the Week for the latest round of fixtures.
DEFENCE
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David de Gea marked his 400th Premier League appearance for Man United with his ninth clean sheet of the season in the victory at Elland Road. The Red Devils relied on their Spanish shot-stopper to keep out a wealth of Leeds attacks, making six saves – the most that he has made in any top-flight game so far this season – including three important stops when the two teams were level.
De Gea is not the only member of Man United's backline to force his way into our XI, as Luke Shaw continues to shines at both ends of the pitch under Erik ten Hag. In recent weeks, the 27-year-old has taken to the centre-back role like a duck to water and he produced another excellent performance at the back against Leeds, winning 10 duels, regaining possession seven times as well as making three blocks and clearances before moving into a familiar left-back role and curling a delightful cross for Marcus Rashford to head home the opener.
One player who is thriving under the tutelage of Fulham boss Marco Silva is defender and captain Tim Ream, who features in our Team of the Week for the second successive week after another resilient defensive display for the Cottagers. The 35-year-old American won all four ground duels, made three interceptions and four clearances to help Fulham keep their seventh clean sheet of the season.
For the purposes of our latest Team of the Week, Pervis Estupinan slots into the back three despite shining as an advanced left-back in the draw at Crystal Palace. The Ecuador international, who posed a constant threat down the left channel, was wrongly denied his first Brighton goal in the first half due to a 'human error' by VAR, before providing a superb assist for Solly March to volley home from close range.
MIDFIELD
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Leicester's James Maddison was a constant menace to Tottenham's backline in their comfortable win at the King Power. While donning the captain's armband, the playmaker calmly slotted home his ninth goal of the season to put the Foxes 2-1 in front before threading the ball through for Harvey Barnes – who also deserves an honourable mention – to score their fourth goal of the afternoon.
Adapting to the Premier League can take time for many players, but Chelsea's British record signing Enzo Fernandez has settled in quickly to his new surroundings under Graham Potter. The 21-year-old astutely dictated play from midfield in the draw with West Ham – just his second appearance for the club – and assisted fellow new recruit Joao Felix with a perfectly-weighed pass, while his all-round game will have impressed the travelling Blues supporters. Indeed, no Chelsea player completed more passes (84), recovered possession more often (7) or made more tackles (3) than Fernandez.
From one lynchpin to another and Rodri put in a man-of-the-match performance to help Man City ease to victory against Aston Villa. The Spaniard, who at times slotted into central defence, scored the game's opening goal in the third minute with a thumping header at the near post, while he also created more chances (4), won more aerial duels (9), completed more passes (90) and completed more successful passes in the final third (27) than any other player at the Etihad Stadium.
Man United's Fred has narrowly missed out on a place in our first XI, but 18-year-old Liverpool starlet Stefan Bajcetic has made the cut after an impressive all-round display in his first Merseyside derby for Jurgen Klopp's side. Described by Mohamed Salah after the game as Liverpool's "best player" since bursting onto the scene in August, the energetic Spaniard was named man of the match after contributing with five duels, five recoveries, three accurate long balls and two key passes.
Indeed, Liverpool's Egyptian king Mohamed Salah joins teammate Bajcetic in our Team of the Week, and the attacker appeared to be back to his best as soon as he finished off a devastating counter-attack, which heavily involved Darwin Nunez, by netting his 100th goal at Anfield. Salah had the most touches in the opposition's box (9), won more duels (8), successfully completed the most take-ons (3), had more shots (6) and more shots on target (3) than any other player against Everton, and the Reds will be hoping that he can build on his stellar showing as they bid to keep their slim top-four hopes alive.
ATTACK
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For the second successive week, Kelechi Iheanacho features in our Team of the Week after another standout performance in front of goal for Leicester. The Nigerian followed up his three goal contributions against Aston Villa with two more in the Foxes' 4-1 win against Tottenham, teeing up Maddison with an assist before curling a sweet strike beyond Fraser Forster into the far corner to net his first home goal of the season.
Another striker to inflict misery on a North London outfit was Ivan Toney, who capped off an excellent performance against Arsenal with a close-range header – albeit in controversial circumstances – to rescue a point for Brentford. No player won more ground duels (17), aerial duels (12) or created as many big chances (2) than the Englishman, who has now moved onto 14 Premier League goals this season.
SPORTS MOLE'S PREMIER LEAGUE TEAM OF THE WEEK
Sports Mole's Premier League Team of the Week (3-5-2): De Gea; Ream, Shaw, Estupinan; Maddison, Fernandez, Rodri, Bajcetic, Salah; Iheanacho, Toney
Oliver Thomas
