The Premier League was dealt it’s first big end-of-season change at the top of the table as Manchester City claimed a vital victory to establish a two-point lead over chasing Arsenal and Liverpool.
Pep Guardiola watched his City side star in a 5-1 thrashing of Luton as Mikel Arteta’s Gunners were beaten by Aston Villa and Jurgen Klopp endured a shock Anfield defeat against Crystal Palace.
It was also a frustrating weekend for Manchester United as they were held to a 2-2 draw by Bournemouth that all-but ends their quest for the top four, but it was another dominant Stamford Bridge performance from Chelsea inspired by Cole Palmer’s four-goal haul.
Meanwhile the situation at the bottom of the division remains as lively as ever with Nottingham Forest grabbing a single point against Wolves to stay a point above the relegation zone.
But who tops Mail Sport’s POWER RANKINGS on the back of another action-packed round of fixtures? Who had a quiet week, and who rose to the occasion?
10. Morgan Gibbs-White (new entry)
If it wasn’t for a few talented individuals amongst Nottingham Forest’s ranks then relegation would be an almost inevitable outcome this season.
Morgan Gibbs-White is one of those players as he starred in the weekend’s 2-2 draw against Wolves with a goal and was also involved in the build-up for Danilo’s goal.
The talented playmaker is at the heart of everything positive Forest do and was elusive as Wolves midfielders struggled to get near him during a four-goal thriller at the City Ground.
9. Andreas Pereira (new entry)
Sir Alex Ferguson once told Andreas Pereira that there was always a place for a Brazilian in his Manchester United team. His promising career at Old Trafford didn’t work out but he finally appears to have found his footballing home in London.
Two goals against West Ham was the difference as Marco Silva’s side starred in the 2-0 win with Pereira finding the back of the net twice as his silky footwork and cool finishing helped Fulham get over the line.
The 28-year-old is at his best by making later runs into the box when Fulham break on the counter-attack as he proved against an unusually unconvincing West Ham.
8. Alexis Mac Allister (down one)
Liverpool’s 1-0 defeat against Crystal Palace could be the result that eliminates them from the title race altogether, but Alexis Mac Allister is one player who can hold his head high as he again impressed with a battling midfield performance.
The Argentine has slotted into Liverpool’s midfield with ease since making his summer switch from Brighton and helped create several counter-attacking chances against Palace that none of the Reds forwards could finish.
Mac Allister attempted to find a breakthrough with some speculative shooting as Klopp’s fairytale Liverpool ending teeters on turning into a nightmare.
7. Anthony Gordon (new entry)
Gareth Southgate must be wishing one of his England wingers would give him a reason not to pick them for the European Championship as he tries to finalise his competition squad and Anthony Gordon isn’t making his dilemma any easier.
The 23-year-old ran the show in Newcastle’s 4-0 thrashing of Tottenham and deserved his 10th Premier League goal of the season as Eddie Howe got a win that will do his chances of staying in charge at St James’ Park no harm.
Gordon has been electric for Newcastle this season and is delivering on the potential that the Magpies spotted when they forked out £45m to Everton for his signature.
6. Jeremy Doku (new entry)
Man City can hurt opposition teams in so many different ways and Jeremy Doku is turning into one of Pep Guardiola’s biggest threats during the end of season run-in.
He won the penalty for Erling Haaland’s goal against Luton and got his deserved reward by scoring City’s fourth goal in the dying embers of the game after cutting inside and rolling the ball into the bottom corner.
The 21-year-old was expected to be a player for the future when he joined in the summer but is already becoming a star by justifying his selection ahead of Jack Grealish.
5. Bruno Fernandes (new entry)
The Manchester United captain looked exasperated at full-time against Bournemouth and deservedly so after scoring twice but watching the Cherries share the Premier League points on offer.
Fernandes brilliantly pulled United level for the first time by smashing a volley into the roof of the net, before keeping his calm from the penalty spot to haul Erik ten Hag’s side level for the second time in the game.
There aren’t many players in this current Man United squad who can boast they are amongst the Premier League’s best but Fernandes is one of those as he grabbed his eight goal of the season.
4. Phil Foden (no change)
The Man City superstar didn’t feature against Luton as Guardiola decided to rest him for Wednesday’s visit of Real Madrid but keeps his place in the Power Rankings given his stunning recent form.
It seems that the City manager is now viewing Foden as a central attacking player rather than out on the wing but now means he and Kevin de Bruyne are competing for the same position.
Foden is becoming City’s most influential player this season and could be the difference in the reigning champions lifting a fourth consecutive English top-flight title next month.
3. Alexander Isak (up two)
Rio Ferdinand hailed Spurs defender Micky van de Ven as a ‘Rolls Royce’ before Newcastle’s 4-0 weekend win, but Alexander Isak made him look more like an aged Ford in dire need of repair.
There has been talk of Newcastle sanctioning a sale for the Sweden star in the summer as they try to balance spending with the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules, but Magpies fans will be desperate to see Isak stay.
His agility to manoeuvre the ball with expert close control is second to none in England, while his finishing has transformed Isak into one of Europe’s most deadly strikers.
Isak left Van de Ven on the floor as he twisted and turned his way towards goal and snatched his 17th goal of the season.
2. Ollie Watkins (up six)
It’s difficult to understand how Southgate is considering anyone but Watkins to play back-up striker to Harry Kane in the summer as the Aston Villa star bagged his 19th Premier League strike of the season.
The 27-year-old has demonstrated his stunning finishing capabilities this season with a catalogue of different strikes and added another brilliant goal to his tally against Arsenal after holding off Emile Smith-Rowe and chipping David Raya in sublime fashion.
He was a constant nuisance to Arsenal’s usually concrete defence of Gabriel and William Saliba as Watkins switched between dropping deep to get involved in build-up play and stretching play with runs in behind.
Watkins was the difference as Villa dealt Arsenal’s title ambitions a potential deadly blow and it’s no surprise to see him now being linked with a move to the Gunners after his stunning weekend audition.
1. Cole Palmer (no change)
Seven goals in his last two Stamford Bridge outings keep Cole Palmer top of our Power Rankings as the Blues youngster starred again with four brilliant strikes against Everton.
It’s been a hugely underwhelming season for Chelsea and Mauricio Pochettino, but Palmer is providing a source of joy and optimism for the future as we approach the business end of the season.
Palmer needed just 29 minutes to secure another hat-trick as the Blues ran riot against an embarrassed Toffees side with his third goal the pick of the bunch as the 21-year-old punced on a Jordan Pickford mistake to lob the goalkeeper from 30-yards out.
He later showed his maturity to take control of a penalty scuffle as Chelsea players fought to take a second-half spot-kick and subsequently scored his fourth goal of the match to move as he moved level with Erling Haaland at the top of the Premier League’s goalscoring charts.
Where there used to be a discussion over whether Palmer should go to the Euros with England, the new topic is debating whether he should be a starter in Germany and rightly so after a stunning year so far for the ex-Man City star.
