Premier League Team of the Week: Murphy, Eze, and Johnson Shine Brightly

The run-up to the climax of the Premier League season continues, with teams vying desperately for points while players are eager to make their mark.

Liverpool encountered a setback in their pursuit of the title, suffering a 3-2 defeat away to Fulham. However, they maintain a comfortable 11-point lead, as Arsenal could only manage a 1-1 draw against Everton earlier in the day.

Southampton became the first side to be relegated this season after succumbing to a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Tottenham. In the highly anticipated Manchester derby, Manchester United and Manchester City played to a 0-0 draw, while Newcastle, Aston Villa, and Crystal Palace all secured victories.

Brentford’s 0-0 draw against Chelsea was hardly one for the archives, but goalkeeper Mark Flekken would be pleased, having notched his first clean sheet of the season.

The Dutch shot-stopper made six saves during the fixture, including two outstanding stops to thwart efforts from Pedro Neto and Reece James.

Aston Villa’s Andres Garcia impressed during his 45 minutes on the pitch, helping his team secure a vital 2-1 win over fellow Champions League contenders Nottingham Forest. The 22-year-old defender provided an excellent cross for Marco Asensio in the first half, which went to waste before he was replaced by Ezri Konsa for the second half.

On Newcastle’s left wing, Tino Livramento stood out as the Magpies cruised to a 3-0 victory over Championship-bound Leicester. Livramento created the most chances in the game, including a lovely cross that was converted by Jacob Murphy for Newcastle’s opening goal.

Keane Lewis-Potter delivered a spirited performance that warranted three points as Brentford held Chelsea to a draw at home. Lewis-Potter won a game-high nine duels, completed four dribbles, created a significant chance, and contributed with two clearances and interceptions each.

Substitute Pablo Sarabia made an impactful entry for Wolves against Ipswich, scoring and assisting in the second half of a crucial 2-1 comeback victory for the visitors. Sarabia was instrumental, setting up Jorgen Strand Larsen’s winner, which lifted Wolves 12 points clear of the relegation zone.

Crystal Palace’s standout player, Eberechi Eze, played a pivotal role in their 2-1 win over Brighton in one of the season’s most eventful matches. Eze provided both assists, the first coming just three minutes in as he expertly set up Jean-Philippe Mateta and later finding Daniel Munoz early in the second half.

Fulham’s Alex Iwobi put in an impressive performance, contributing a goal and an assist as the Cottagers put a dent in Liverpool’s title hopes. Following Ryan Sessegnon’s equaliser, Iwobi’s deflected shot gave Fulham the lead before he set up Rodrigo Muniz in a remarkable 15-minute spell that saw three goals for the home side.

Colombian winger Luis Diaz made a valiant effort to salvage a result for Liverpool off the bench, scoring to narrow the deficit in the second half. Despite his efforts and stretching Fulham’s defence, it was a disappointing outing for Arne Slot’s men, who still enjoy a substantial lead at the top of the table.

Murphy maintained his fine form with two goals within 11 minutes to help Newcastle take control against Leicester. His first was a simple tap-in, followed by a well-timed reaction to capitalise on Fabian Schar’s spectacular long-range shot that hit the crossbar, completing his brace.

West Ham had to contend with a spirited performance from Bournemouth to earn a 2-2 draw, with Jarrod Bowen netting his eighth Premier League goal of the season. The Hammers’ lead came as Bowen connected well with a header from Mohamed Kudus’ cross into the bottom corner, but Bournemouth battled back valiantly.

Brennan Johnson rounded off a stellar performance, scoring twice to push Southampton closer to relegation. His first was a stunning strike into the top corner, with his second a deft flick past Aaron Ramsdale. He also won a penalty late in the game, which Mathys Tel converted.