The 10 best players of Premier League Gameweek 33 – ranked
The business end of the season has brought about the usual thrills and spills from all corners of the Premier League.
Control of the title race has changed hands, the confusion of the relegation battle continued and the desperate fight for European places looks like a battle royal for the incompetent.
Here are your best players from Gameweek 33, ranked.
10. Jeremy Doku (Man City)
Doku shone for Man City / James Gill – Danehouse/GettyImages
It’s been an inconsistent debut season at Manchester City so far for Jeremy Doku, but on the right day he looks like one of the world’s best.
He tore apart Luton Town in the champions’ 5-1 win at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday, reminding Pep Guardiola exactly why he needed such a fast and tricky winger in the first place.
9. Bruno Fernandes (Man Utd)
Fernandes came to Man Utd’s rescue / Charlie Crowhurst/GettyImages
Poor Bruno Fernandes has scarcely enjoyed the opportunity of playing for a Manchester United that isn’t completely useless since his 2020 move from Sporting CP.
The Red Devils’ captain was again on hand to pull them back from the brink over the weekend, coming up with a brace to twice bring United level in their 2-2 draw at Bournemouth.
8. Fabian Schar (Newcastle)
An all-round performance from centre-back / Visionhaus/GettyImages
If you want to know how good Fabian Schar’s performance against Tottenham Hotspur was, Newcastle United fans were quick to hail him as the club’s best pound-for-pound signing on social media after rounding off the scoring in a 4-0 win.
The Magpies activated a £3m release clause in his Deportivo La Coruna contract in 2018 and will not have had a single regret about it.
7. Andreas Pereira (Fulham)
Pereira’s double saw Fulham to victory / Richard Pelham/GettyImages
A lot of talk heading into West Ham United vs Fulham was regarding the form and future of the Irons’ mercurial Lucas Paqueta, who has again been linked with a move to Man City.
But the show at the London Stadium was stolen by a Brazilian midfielder dressed in white, with Andreas Pereira coming up with a match-winning brace.
6. Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace)
Deano Hendo kept a huge clean sheet / Visionhaus/GettyImages
While Jordan Pickford hasn’t done much to suggest he should be replaced as England’s number one (despite his best efforts to start such a conversation on Monday), there’s a real fight to secure the seat behind him on the plane to Euro 2024 this summer.
Dean Henderson, now starting for Crystal Palace in place of injured Three Lions rival Sam Johnstone, strengthened his case for re-selection with a stunning performance in their 1-0 win at Liverpool.
5. Nicolas Jackson (Chelsea)
Just know that this image is exactly what Jackson intended and led to a goal / Justin Setterfield/GettyImages
For anyone who wants to jump off the Darwin ‘Darwizzy’ Nunez hype-train, you are welcome aboard the Nicolas Jackson express.
His showing in Chelsea’s 6-0 drubbing of Everton had it all – a clever assist, a lovely goal, and a petty argument over who should be allowed to take a penalty before obviously relenting to Cole Palmer.
Genius.
4. Matheus Cunha (Wolves)
Back with a bang / Matthew Lewis/GettyImages
If Wolves’ best players weren’t so injury prone, they might stand a chance of, I don’t know, winning the treble maybe.
Matheus Cunha made his first start since returning from his most recent lay-off in some style, scoring twice in a 2-2 draw at Nottingham Forest. His first goal was straight out of an EA Sports FC playbook in which the player only has one analog stick and one-star skill moves.
3. Youri Tielemans (Aston Villa)
One who got away for Arsenal / Mike Hewitt/GettyImages
When Leicester City were shopping out-of-contract Youri Tielemans to try and snag a transfer fee for him in the summer of 2022, Arsenal were one of the sides who sniffed around before ultimately deciding against a move.
He was one of the best players on the Emirates Stadium pitch when his Villa side won 2-0 there on Sunday. Not a single Gunners midfielder could hold a torch to him.
2. Alexander Isak (Newcastle)
AI would not be able to replicate this image / George Wood/GettyImages
Prior to Tottenham’s defeat at Newcastle, Micky van de Ven was lauded as one of the Premier League’s best defenders.
He was totally deserving of the praise, barely putting a foot wrong in his 20 appearances before his St James’ Park shocker.
And that is total testament to the skill of Alexander Isak. Great players have the capacity to embarrass anyone. On this occasion, the Swede kept skinning Van de Ven again and again.
When Isak completely changed his momentum and sent the giant Dutchman crashing to the floor leading to the opening goal, the game changed with it. That’s a proper striker right there.
1. Cole Palmer (Chelsea)
The man of the moment / Justin Setterfield/GettyImages
Four goals. A perfect hat-trick before the half-hour mark. Shutting Jackson and Noni Madueke up by scoring another penalty.
Ladies and gentlemen, Cole Palmer is your player of the week.
Source: 90mins
