Premier League Match Day 21 TOTW-3 City players make TOTW as they edge past league leaders Liverpool

The first Premier League games of 2019 featured a make or break opportunity for Liverpool’s and Manchester City’s title challenge. Unbeaten Liverpool won’t be able to rely on a Riyad Mahrez penalty miss, as Guardiola knows anything less than 3 points and you might as well hand The Red’s their first Premier League trophy after the game.

Plus, in form Manchester United face Newcastle, Tottenham look to get back to winning ways as they play Cardiff City in Welsh territory, and Huddersfield are up against Burnley in an attempt to get much needed points as the duo face the task of staying in the Premier League.

Goalkeeper-Angus Gunn (Southampton)

22-year-old, English goalkeeper Angus Gunn was formidable against Chelsea. It was his first start in the Premier League this season and Gunn proved to his new manager (Ralph Hasenhüttl) who should be his no.1 goalkeeper.

Eden Hazard had two clear cut chances in the 90 minutes, however Gunn made a couple of exceptional saves against a world class finisher and earned a well-deserved clean sheet for Southampton.

With Angus Gunn now proving to his manager that he deserves to start week in and out for The Saints, surely this pushes Fraser Forster even further down the pecking order at Southampton?

Defenders- Andrew Robertson (Liverpool), Toby Alderweireld (Tottenham Hotspur), Victor Lindelof (Manchester United) and Patrick Van Aanholt (Crystal Palace)

Andrew Robertson: Despite the left back’s side losing 2-1 on the weekend, Robertson was exceptional all game. Raheem Sterling didn’t get an opportunity to run in the box all day as the Scottish international shut his every move down.

Liverpool’s best player assisted their only goal of the game as he pulled the ball across Manchester City’s six-yard box, where Roberto Firmino met it with a diving header.

If the rest of his squad had turned up to the Etihad as Robertson had done so, Liverpool would have had a better chance at beating the current champions.

Robertson is clearly the best left-back in the Premier League. Hands down.

Toby Alderweireld: As Tottenham’s attackers destroyed a poor Cardiff City, the London sides defence, especially Alderweireld, prevented any chance of a counter attack occurring and made it a nightmare for Neil Warnock and his team.

Belgium defender Alderweireld cleared the ball off the line whilst under pressure from Cardiff substitute Junior Hoilett and displayed some excellent passing which began a number of Spurs attacks.

When Spurs have him and Vertonghen at the back, it takes something world class to score past them.

Victor Lindelöf: Victor Lindelöf looks a different player after coming back from injury. Since returning from injury, Lindelöf has performed well against the likes of Bournemouth, Huddersfield and Cardiff, and continued his impressive form against Newcastle.

The Swedish centre-back finished the game against Rafa Benitez’s side with 100% of his tackles won, 90% pass accuracy, won the most aerial duels (7) and created two chances.

As long as Lindelöf continues his fine, it appears he will have a solid chance of regaining his starting place next season, especially because he’s only 24, he could solidify his place in Manchester United’s side for many years to come.

Patrick Van Aanholt: Even though Crystal Palace striker Jordan Ayew stole all the headlines for scoring the winning goal in their game against Wolverhampton Wanderers, Patrick Van Aanholt was their best player all game.

As fellow full back Andy Robertson did, Van Aanholt prevented Wolves winger Ivan Cavaleiro from getting into the game and bombed forward as often as possible to cause the Portuguese winger to track back.

It was Van Aanholt’s shot that reached Ayew who tapped in the goal for Palace. Therefore, the Dutch full back registered his second assist in the league this season to cap off a good away performance.

Midfielders- Christian Eriksen (Tottenham Hotspur), Fernandinho (Manchester City) and Bernardo Silva (Manchester City)

Christian Eriksen: Eriksen is becoming a common name who appears in my TOTW, but with the way he’s performing, it’s hard to not include the Danish midfielder.

Eriksen, 26, scored Tottenham’s 2nd goal of the game in the 12th minute as he fainted and dragged the ball back, before slotting the ball past Etheridge in the Cardiff goal. A sublime finish from a player in sensational form.

No wonder the likes of Barcelona and Real Madrid are linked with him.

Fernandinho: When Brazilian midfielder Fernandinho, was missing and City lost their games against Crystal Palace and Leicester City, it showed how important he is for City’s structure.

Furthermore, to solidify his importance to Pep Guardiola’s team, he was dominant against a Liverpool side who were unbeaten in the league. Fernandinho was strong in his challenges from the first kick and bullied Liverpool’s front three, especially his fellow Brazilian Firmino.

This pressure was huge because Liverpool struggled to strain passes together and barely created any clear-cut chances.

The title race is still alive!

Bernardo Silva: The second of my three chosen Manchester City players who played very well against league leaders Liverpool. The Portuguese winger worked tirelessly all game, ensuring the likes of Lovren and Van Dijk were never too comfortable in possession, preventing Liverpool to play their game.

40 minutes in, Silva darted past Trent Alexander Arnold and assisted Aguero’s outrageous finish-but once his side were 1-0, he never stopped.

He made countless run’s around Liverpool’s box and troubled The Red’s all night. Silva ran 13.7km on the pitch-his hard work and determination is a trait to envy.

Forwards- Troy Deeney (Watford), Sergio Aguero (Manchester City) and Marcus Rashford (Manchester United)

Troy Deeney: Watford captain Troy Deeney took his goal tally for The Hornets to 117 as he scored two goals in his sides 3-3 draw against Bournemouth (which looked like it would be 6-6 at half time).

A well worked goal from Watford was completed by an inch perfect cross by Sema which reached Deeney, who clinically dispatched the ball past Begovic. The second was a combination of poor defending and smart attacking play.

Nathan Ake allowed Gerrard Deulofeu to run at him, but once the Watford winger was tackled, Deeney was straight onto like a Tiger on its prey and put his side 2-0 early in the first half.

Despite Bournemouth brining the game back to 3-3, Deeney displayed his experience as Gareth Southgate watched on from the stands.

Sergio Aguero: Surely Sergio Aguero is in the Top 5 strikers in the world? He has no right to score from the impossible angle that was on offer, but he did so with ease and put his side, deservingly, 1-0 up against league leaders Liverpool.

Alisson is a very good goalkeeper, but with the power the argentine used, the ball was always going to go in the goal once it’d left his foot. Even though late in the game he drifted, you always have to be alert when in the presence of one of the world’s best strikers.

Marcus Rashford: I was tempted to put West Ham’s Marko Arnautović in this final spot in my team, however Marcus Rashford’s performance at St James’ Park was miles better than the Austrian’s against Brighton.

Terrific hold up play all a game helped get his team mates to push forward and his movement helped to create chances left, right and centre all game.

His accurate freekick was the problem for Newcastle Dúbravka who spilled the ball into the path of substitute Romelu Lukaku and Rashford later scored in the 80th minute to assert Manchester United’s dominance against a struggling Newcastle United.

Poor Rafa.

Overview

Tottenham managed to get back to winning ways after coasting past Cardiff put’s the London side to 3rd in the Premier League as they start 2019 as they mean to end it.

Chelsea fall further from their rivals, Spurs, as Sarri’s men couldn’t beat The Saints.

But Arsenal and Crystal Palace managed to secure 3 points as they beat Fulham and Wolves respectively.

Manchester City’s win against Liverpool closes the gap to four points) and brings the pair to have the same goal difference (39), but most importantly it piles the pressure on Jurgen Klopp’s men as they know a couple of mistakes and its game over.

Any side with a world class striker has a chance of winning the league because goals win games. But a side with a world class goalkeeper, midfielders and forwards, it’s hard to say that Manchester City aren’t going to close the four-point gap and overtake Liverpool.

Problem is, the ball’s in Liverpool’s court no matter the City results…