Dazzling duo fire Everton out of drop zone: Premier League team of the week

Everton and Nottingham Forest replaced in the bottom three by Leeds and Leicester after dramatic weekend

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  PREMIER LEAGUE TEAM OF THE WEEK: (3-5-2): GK: Aaron Ramsdale (Arsenal). Played a key part in a valuable clean sheet and win at Newcastle, producing a superb block on Fabian Schar to preserve Arsenal’s 1-0 lead and again late on to keep out Allan Saint-Maximim. Any team with designs on winning the title need a top goalkeeper and Ramsdale is exactly that. EPA

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  CB: Nayef Aguerd (West Ham). His heroics for Morocco brought the defender into the spotlight but he has been good for West Ham all season. The pick of an excellent defensive display as the Hammers kept Manchester United at bay in a 1-0 win. AFP

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  CB: Benoit Badiashile (Chelsea). Scored to restore Chelsea’s lead at Bournemouth – his first for the Blues – and defended superbly, while his accurate long-range passing helped Chelsea launch counter-attacks. Chelsea have a major talent on their hands so it baffles he’s not a regular. AFP

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  CB: Toti (Wolves). Scored the only goal of the game and helped Wolves keep a clean sheet in the Midlands derby victory over Aston Villa, ensuring his team bounced back from the 6-1 battering at Brighton. PA

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  CM: Abdoulaye Doucoure (Everton). By far Everton’s best player since Sean Dyche arrived (when he’s not suspended), and scored the first two goals to set the Toffees on their way to a stunning 5-1 win at Brighton, which might just save their Premier League status. Getty

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  CM: Declan Rice (West Ham). The best player on the pitch as West Ham beat Manchester United, dominating the midfield, providing structure and support, and driving his team forward. Whether Rice will still be at West Ham next season could be one of the summer’s major transfer sagas. PA

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  CM: Ilkay Gundogan (Manchester City). Scored both goals as Manchester City won their 10th game in a row with a 2-1 win over Leeds to take control of the title race. Could’ve had a hat-trick but missed his penalty. Reuters

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  RW: Willian (Fulham). After brief, ill-fated spells at Arsenal and Corinthians, Willian’s time at the top level looked over. But the Brazilian has been revitalised at Fulham this season and was excellent in their 5-3 destruction of Leicester, scoring the first and fifth goals. Getty

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  LW: Dwight McNeil (Everton). Tore Brighton to shreds on the left wing, first assisting Doucoure’s second goal before scoring Everton’s fourth and fifth. AFP

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  CF: Taiwo Awoniyi (Nottingham Forest). Another key contribution at a vital time for Forest, Awoniyi setting his side on course for victory over Southampton with the first two goals in a thrilling 4-3 win. Forest are now out of the drop zone and will need Awoniyi to keep firing to ensure their safety. Getty

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  CF: Harry Kane (Tottenham). Moved above Wayne Rooney in the Premier League’s all-time top scorers list, his 209th goal proving the difference in Tottenham’s 1-0 win over Crystal Palace. Will Kane still be a Spurs player next season, though? PA

The biggest talking points from the most recent Premier League matches focused on the bottom end of the table as the handful of clubs involved in the battle to avoid relegation continued to fight for their lives.

Entering the weekend, Everton and Nottingham Forest occupied the two places above bottom side Southampton, but a remarkable sequence of results has changed the landscape.

Four of the bottom five were involved in Monday night matches, and Leicester City did themselves no favours by getting trounced 5-3 by Fulham at Craven Cottage.

The defeat became even more damaging when Everton later thrashed Brighton and Hove Albion 5-1 at the Amex Stadium, and Nottingham Forest edged Southampton in a 4-3 thriller at the City Ground.

With Leeds United losing 2-1 at Manchester City, the bottom three now comprises Southampton in 20th, Leeds in 19th, and Leicester in 18th with just three matches remaining.

Elsewhere this past weekend, Chelsea ended their five-match losing run with a 3-1 victory at Bournemouth, Tottenham beat Crystal Palace, and Wolves defeated Aston Villa – both derbies ending 1-0 to the hosts.

Liverpool then continued their late season charge by collecting a sixth straight victory with a 1-0 win over Brentford at Anfield.

On Sunday, Arsenal kept the pressure on City with an entertaining 2-0 win at third-placed Newcastle United, before Manchester United slumped to a second straight defeat with a 1-0 loss at West Ham.

There were several impressive individuals performances across the Premier League last weekend, so check out the photo gallery above for our team of the week. To move on to the next photo, click on the arrows or swipe if using a mobile device.