EPL Fans’ Top 5: Swansea star Ayew leads, Southampton duo feature

1. ANDRE AYEW (SWANSEA) – 8.33

The Ghanaian striker scored his 9th and 10th Premier League goals of the season to confirm the Swans’ Premier League status and condemn Liverpool to a 3-1 defeat in south Wales.

Ayew, 26, who has enjoyed a strong first season in England, headed home after 20 minutes and then fired into the bottom corner to seal the points and Swansea’s first three-goal haul of the season, in-between a fine goal by Jack Cork and what proved to be little more than a consolation goal for Christian Benteke.

Swansea may face a battle this summer to retain Ayew’s services with several other clubs in England rumoured to be interested in his signature.

2. MARK NOBLE (WEST HAM UNITED) – 8.21

The Hammers captain scored twice as the east London side stepped up their ambitions to win a European place next term with a 3-0 rout over West Brom.

Noble, fresh from his recent testimonial at Upton Park, put Slaven Bilic’s side firmly in control on the stroke of half-time – bundling home Cheikhou Kouyate’s delivery, adding to the Senegalese midfielder’s earlier strike.

The boyhood Claret and Blue ace then smashed home an exquisite volley from inside the penalty area, his fourth goal in two games, following good work down the left-hand side from in-form Andy Carroll.

3. SADIO MANE (SOUTHAMPTON) – 8.09

The Senegalese striker was unstoppable as he scored a hat-trick to fire the Saints to an impressive 4-2 home win over Manchester City at St. Mary’s Stadium.

Shane Long put the hosts ahead before the 24-year-old ran onto Dusan Tadic’s through ball from the right-hand side following an incisive breakaway from Ronald Koeman’s men.

Mane then put City to the sword and made it 3-1, poking the ball home on the goal line following a Steven Davis corner which Virgil van Dijk had earlier headed against the bar.

But the talented forward, who has been heavily linked with Manchester United this term, arguably saved the best until last as he again latched onto Tadic’s through ball before calmly stroking the ball past Joe Hart for his third of the afternoon.

4. KARL DARLOW (NEWCASTLE UNITED) – 7.82

As far as afternoons go for a goalkeeper, the former Nottingham Forest man won’t be forgetting this one in a hurry.

Not only did he save a dramatic late penalty from Toon star Yohan Cabaye in the 1-0 win over Crystal Palace, the 25-year-old shot-stopper, who is filling in for Newcastle’s two first-choice goalkeepers, made a series of stunning saves for Rafael Benitez’s men.

Comewhat the end of the season, Darlow’s performance and clean sheet could well make the difference between Premier League and Championship football.

5. VIRGIL VAN DIJK (SOUTHAMPTON) – 7.52

The Red and Whites centre-back is proving to be a class act for Koeman’s men and one of the key men behind Saints’ European football push.

Van Dijk, who arrived on the south coast from Celtic last September, has been a key link between defence and attack for his side – and had a hand in two goals at the weekend.

His second-half header from a corner flicked off the bar, allowing Mane to tap home and he also made a crucial tackle to help release Southampton’s forward stars in the build-up to the striker’s hat-trick.