Garth team of the week

Manchester City andLiverpool both won as they continue to fight for the title, while other teams earned victories to boost their chances of staying in the league.

Who made the Team of the Week? You can make your own selections at the bottom of the article.

Garth's team of the week

Goalkeeper - Jordan Pickford (Everton)

Everton keeper Jordan Pickford saves a shot from Chelsea's Antonio Rudiger

Pickford kept a clean sheet. The keeper made two great saves to help the team win. He was forced to sprint across his goal line before diving to make the most amazing double handed save I have ever seen.

Pickford spread himself in order to block the shot which almost knocked him out and would have put other mortals in the Royal Infirmary. The England number one did a great job. Pickford has given Frank Lampard a chance after the Toffees lost to the Blues.

Did you know? Pickford has made 14 saves and conceded one goal in the two meetings between the two teams.

Defenders - Nathan Ake (Manchester City), Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool), Cristian Romero (Tottenham)

Cristian Romero, Virgil van Dijk and Nathan Ake

Nathan Ake's goal was impressive, but the way the Manchester City defender kept Struijk at bay with his right arm was even more impressive. Ake wouldn't allow the defender back into the game after he found him on the wrong side.

The first half of the FA Cup semi-final was difficult for Ake. This was a different City and a different Ake to the one that they faced in the previous game, and they will have to find an extra gear if they are going to survive in the top flight this season.

Did you know? Ake has scored 10 goals from corners. Chris Wood has more such goals than anyone else.

Another enjoyable day at the office for Van Dijk. I thought this was a great performance. Having played Villareal in the semi-finals of the European competition on Wednesday night, travelling to St James Park for a 12:30pm kick-off on the same day and coming away with a victory was outstanding.

I think the Football Writers Association have picked the wrong player for their prestigious Footballer of the Year award, and I have written about it in "Crooks of the Matter".

Did you know? Van Dijk has the best success rate of any player in the league who has had 100 or more aerial battles.

The Argentine defender's first tackle went through Patson Daka like a knife through butter while his second challenge left Caglar Soyuncu reeling on the ground without so much as an ounce of sympathy from the referee.

The tackles by Romero were straight out of a 1980s coaching manual. Son got his first goal. The South Korean didn't need any help with his second. When you thought the English game was over, the help of Moss gave you hope.

Did you know? The most played Spurs player with 900 minutes played this season is Romero, who is playing the most tackles and intercepts in the premier league.

Midfielders - Anthony Gordon (Everton), Naby Keita (Liverpool), Rodri (Manchester City), Josh Brownhill (Burnley)

Anthony Gordon (Everton), Rodri (Manchester City), Josh Brownhill (Burnley), Naby Keita (Liverpool)

Gordon: This was a huge win forEverton and they deserved it. Anthony Gordon was one of their best contributors. Gordon was left out of my team last week but he was back in it this week after another great performance.

If they can win their game in hand and hold their nerve, anything is possible.

Did you know? Richarlison and Anthony Gordon have both scored four goals for Goodison Park this season.

The Reds were back at the top of the table for a short time after Naby Keita's superbly taken goal, which was the result of James Milner's challenge for the ball.

I was certain that Milner got to the ball first. The referee judged the tackle perfectly. Thiago has been playing particularly well lately and has found himself sharing the defensive role with Keita. Both men can be relied upon to do what is necessary to get a result.

Did you know? The most tackles per 90 for any player with at least 900 minutes played is by Keita.

The ball from Phil Foden into the box for Manchester City's first goal was absolutely delightful. Rodri seems to be finding the net with regularity these days.

The way he attacked the ball left Kalvin Philips completely exposed. They are in a fight for survival with bothEverton andBurnley. When they first burst onto the scene, they gave the then-champions a fright and now they don't have that same level of fear.

It is proving difficult for a team to play with their heads and not their hearts.

Did you know? Rodri has scored five goals in 29 appearances for City this season, as many as he had scored in 69 games in his first two seasons.

The way Brownhill took his goal in the dying minutes of the match against the Hornets was amazing. I have not seen them play like this since they joined the league.

I don't want to rain on Sean Dyche's parade, but something has happened to the Clarets since he left. There is a freshness to their game and a belief amongst their players I have never seen before. There is now a lot of confidence in Burnley. The way they are playing could keep them in the game.

Did you know? Brownhill has been directly involved in three goals in his last three games, as many as in his first 71 appearances in the competition.

Forwards - Son Heung-min (Tottenham), Gabriel Jesus (Manchester City), Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa)

Son Heung-min (Tottenham), Gabriel Jesus (Manchester City), Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa)

Son: Two goals by Son Heung-min may have put Spurs back into the top four but if they don't stay there, speculation will inevitably return over the future of Antonio Conte and Harry Kane.

The refusal by Spurs to take the money and run is starting to look bad. Son is capable of taking over Kane's mantle, but how long can Spurs keep him when he is constantly being linked with some of the biggest clubs in Europe? If Spurs are to keep the Italian, they need the top four. Son is not going anywhere.

Did you know? Son Heung-min has scored 11 goals with his left foot this season, which is more than any other player in the competition, and he is the only one to score more goals with his weaker foot.

Jesus: I think that the man is one of the best coaches in the world, but he must see that he has to play Gabriel Jesus for the rest of the season and not persist with the false number nine formation.

Jesus is the only genuine forward in the club. He has been scoring goals for fun since the manager put the centre forward back into his starting line-up.

Jesus's first touch was emphatic. Everyone can see that the player is happy again and it is important that they don&t sacrifice the forward for more creativity in the team. He surely has enough of that.

Did you know? Jesus has scored in three consecutive appearances for Manchester City for the first time since November 2020, while the Brazilian has netted six goals in the last three games.

Watkins said that the way the Villa player created space and then smashed it past Tim Krul was top class.

Watkins has done his job all season. I can never fault Watkins for his work rate - sometimes his finishing may need a little tweaking, but not on this occasion. The goal for Danny Ings was created by Watkins sliding tackled on Brandon Williams. It was the difference between the championship and the points for Villa.

Did you know? Watkins has scored at least 11 goals for the club since his debut, more than any other player.

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The Crooks of the Matter

I don't disagree with the choice of the Football Writers Association, but I was taken aback by their decision to award Mohamed Salah this year's honour of Footballer of the Year. There is no doubt that the Liverpool forward is a superstar and he has had an impressive goal scoring season.

In my opinion, the best player for the Reds this season is Virgil van Dijk. He should have won the award. Readers will not be surprised by my choice as the defender is in my team almost on a weekly basis.

Van Dijk is the best defender in the world, but he doesn't get the same attention as the Egyptian who scores the goals. My team of the week is often full of goal scorers. The Football Writers Association went for the popular vote, but not the right one.

Defenders rarely lift this award. Emlyn Hughes was the last defender to win for the Reds. He was an incredible competitor and not a great defender. He wasn't in Van Dijk's class.

Alan Hansen was the closest player I have seen to the Netherlands captain in pace, quality and vision and was let slip through the fingers of the football writers.

It will be necessary for Van Dijk to be in the team for the title to be won by Salah.

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