The Premier League was back for the last round of fixtures before the FA Cup weekend and it certainly wasn’t short of drama and entertainment.
Liverpool survived a huge scare from Crystal Palace to win yet again, whilst Manchester City’s victory over Huddersfield keeps them four points behind the leaders.
Harry Winks’ stoppage time winner ensured that injury-hit Spurs stay five points behind City, whilst Chelsea fell further behind the top three by losing to fifth placed Arsenal.
The Gunners and Manchester United are now only three points away from fourth place, with the battle for qualification for the UEFA Champions League intensifying.
Wolves’ entertaining 4-3 win over Leicester sees them leap into eighth place, but losses for West Ham and Everton keep them in 10th and 11th place respectively.
Southampton’s second win in succession and Burnley’s draw with Watford takes both sides three points away from the relegation zone, which is occupied by Cardiff, Fulham and Huddersfield, who all lost.
Who is peaking at just the right time and who’s getting worse? Here are our winners and losers.
Winners:
1) Diogo Jota – Wolves
The winger became only the second Portuguese player to score a hat-trick in the Premier League, the first being Cristiano Ronaldo.
Jota’s expert finishing proved to be the difference in a thrilling encounter with Leicester as he netted a late winner to snatch all three points for his side.
He’s had his fair share of injury problems recently, so this is a missive boost for his confidence as Wolves look to push for a Europa League spot.
A hat-trick for the Portuguese.
2) Mohamed Salah – Liverpool
Salah has been Liverpool’s key man on multiple occasions already this season and he was the difference maker yet again as Liverpool battled to a 4-3 win over Palace.
His first goal was a clever finish with the outside of his left boot, whilst the second was tapped home from just a few centimetres after a howler by Palace goalkeeper Julian Speroni.
Salah did put a dampener on his performance with a clear dive, but he emerged with the last laugh at Anfield.
Salah proved decisive once again.
3) Fabian Schar – Newcastle United
Schar was only in the team because of an injury to Ciaran Clark and he took his opportunity with both hands.
The defender got his name on the scoresheet twice, his first a mesmeric solo run from the halfway line before a curling finish into the corner.
His second had an element of fortune as he prodded the ball into the net from a corner, but with a performance like that, Clark may find it hard to get back into the team.
Schar makes his mark.
Losers:
1) Lucas Digne – Everton
Digne has been one of the signings of the season so far but he had an afternoon to forget at the St Mary’s Stadium.
The left-back was matching Nathan Redmond stride for stride before he accidentally poked the ball into his own net from outside the box.
It was a brilliant finish from Digne, but sadly for him, it was at the wrong end of the pitch.
Not a goal to remember for Digne.
2) Andy Carroll – West Ham
Carroll was handed a start by Manuel Pellegrini in the absence of Marko Arnautovic but he failed to prove himself.
The Englishman had the best chance of the match from one yard out but somehow managed to blaze the ball over the bar.
Pellegrini admitted that his miss was a turning point in the match and with West Ham looking to sign a striker this month, Carroll’s future at the club doesn’t look bright.
A shocking miss from the West Ham striker.
3) Fernando Llorente – Tottenham
Another striker who got his chance to start for his club but failed to make it count.
Llorente made the worst possible start to the match against Fulham as he diverted the ball into his own net from a corner.
The experienced forward then had a couple of great headed chances to make up for his error, but he failed to trouble Sergio Rico in goal.
A night to forget for Llorente.
