The 2021-22 Premier League season is inching ever closer to its conclusion, as Manchester City still lead the way with four games remaining after putting four unanswered goals past Leeds United.
Liverpool remained close behind after seeing off Newcastle United 1-0, but Chelsea's grip on third place loosened slightly as they went down 1-0 to an Everton side fighting for their top-flight status.
Arsenal now find themselves just three points behind the Blues after a 2-1 win at West Ham United, while Tottenham Hotspur got back on track with a 3-1 success over Leicester City.
Manchester United's final home game of the season saw them ease to a 3-0 success over Brentford, but Wolverhampton Wanderers' European hopes suffered another blow in a 3-0 defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion.
Elsewhere, Burnley came out on top 2-1 versus Watford in their basement battle, Crystal Palace left it late to beat Southampton by the same scoreline, and Norwich City's relegation was confirmed with a 2-0 defeat to Aston Villa.
Here, Sports Mole selects its Team of the Week for the latest round of Premier League fixtures.
DEFENCE
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While Newcastle would have certainly lost by more against Liverpool had it not been for the heroics of Martin Dubravka, Everton number one Jordan Pickford put his body and face on the line for the Toffees in their win over Chelsea, somehow scrambling across goal to keep out Cesar Azpilicueta's effort in one of the saves of the season and dominating his area throughout.
Standout right-back performances were at a premium in the latest round of fixtures, but Nathaniel Clyne came up with a vital assist for Eberechi Eze's equaliser against Southampton while also making two tackles as Patrick Vieira's side ground out a hard-fought victory.
Amid swathes of criticism of Man United's centre-backs, World Cup winner Raphael Varane - who has not been without his own problems this term - used all of his strength to score his first Premier League goal for the club, albeit a deflected one, while also registering three interceptions and a 97% pass accuracy at Old Trafford.
A maiden goal in the English top flight also fell Rob Holding's way at the London Stadium, with the Arsenal man filling in for the injured Ben White and rising highest to direct an accurate header into the far corner, as well as winning all six of his aerial battles and making three blocks in a solid showing.
Finally, Nathan Ake may have only lasted an hour at Elland Road due to injury, but the Dutchman - who could be reuniting with former club Bournemouth next season - took his goal like a striker would after shrugging off the challenge of Pascal Struijk, and he won both of his ground duels for the reigning champions.
MIDFIELD
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It would not be a goal-laden Man City performance without Phil Foden getting in on the act one way or another, and the England starlet came up with two assists against Leeds, providing a glorious free kick for Rodri to finish before slotting in Gabriel Jesus in a playmaking masterclass.
While Foden was all about the attacking at Elland Road, timeless veteran James Milner provided the midfield stability in the Liverpool engine room at St James' Park, winning all three of his aerial duels, making three tackles and four key passes, while a well-timed yet controversial challenge on Bruno Guimaraes preceded Naby Keita's winning goal.
In contrast, Oriol Romeu did not end up on the winning side at the weekend, but it was impossible to overlook the Southampton man's contribution. While also making the net ripple with a strong header, the Spaniard was here, there and everywhere with four key passes, four interceptions and four tackles at St Mary's, as well as a 100% success rate from five aerial duels.
ATTACK
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Man City's Gabriel Jesus has certainly picked an ideal time to hit a rich vein of form amid links with a summer exit from the club, as the Brazilian's hot goalscoring streak continued with a clinical finish after a great first touch against Leeds, where he also made five key passes in a clear selection message to Pep Guardiola.
Prior to the enforced introduction of Danny Ings due to Leon Bailey's injury, Villa looked short of ideas against Norwich, but the Englishman immediately came up with a fantastic assist for Ollie Watkins via a long ball before turning and finishing in the dying embers to send the Canaries back to the second tier.
Finally, Antonio Conte's reaction on the touchline said it all when Son Heung-min curled in a stunning effort from outside the area to wrap up a much-needed win over Leicester City, during which he bagged a brace for himself while his corner also met the head of Harry Kane, with the Premier League's deadliest duo up to their old tricks again.
SPORTS MOLE'S PREMIER LEAGUE TEAM OF THE WEEK
Sports Mole's Premier League Team of the Week (4-3-3): Pickford; Clyne, Varane, Holding, Ake; Foden, Milner, Romeu; Jesus, Ings, Son
