Garth team of the week

Manchester City were beaten at home by Spurs, and the race for the title was thrown wide open by a hard-earned win for the Reds over the Canaries.

There was a lot to talk about, including the discovery of goals and the refusal of Chelsea to bow out of the title chase.

Who made my team of the week? You can make your own selections at the bottom of the article.

Garth Crooks Team of the Week for 20 February

Goalkeeper - Alisson Becker (Liverpool)

Alisson Becker

Alisson is one of the best goalkeepers in the game. His distribution is getting better. He is not as good as Ederson when it comes to passing and controlling the ball with his feet in difficult situations, but he is quite brilliant when it comes to identifying which strikers are available and where defences are vulnerable. His delivery for the second goal of the game was absolutely amazing. I have seen Alisson do this before when he kicks the ball out of his hands and finds the player he is looking for, but they fail to finish the job. The Egypt international was equal to it.

Did you know? Alisson provided the second assist of his career, this time in the form of Salah. The Brazilian has registered more assists than any other goalkeeper.

Defenders - Craig Dawson (West Ham), Harry Maguire (Man Utd), Antonio Rudiger (Chelsea)

Craig Dawson, Harry Maguire and Antonio Rudiger

He did it against a better side in each game. Craig has a penchant for goals. He had it at three other places. He is a very dangerous opponent in the penalty area, but he is also an excellent defender. They are no longer a soft touch. Eddie Howe has the financial resources to turn the Magpies into something very interesting.

Did you know? Since the start of the year, the central defender has scored 19 goals in the premier league, with 14 of them coming via the head.

The England centre-back has been under a lot of scrutiny this season. The Man Utd skipper has not buckled under the pressure. He is the whipping boy for United's poor performances, but he is not allowed to affect his performances because he is not on the field. He outfought Diego Llorente to nod home United's opener. This was a big win for United and although they didn't keep a clean sheet, Maguire played his part in an impressive victory away from home.

Did you know? Man Utd had not scored from a corner in the league this season. All four of his strikes for Manchester United in the competition have been headed. Seven of his 11 top-flight goals have come away from home.

His performance against Crystal Palace had a hint of audacity. I get the impression that if his team is boring or struggling to find the net, he takes it upon himself to do something about it. His shot from 30 yards would have found the net if Vicente Guaita had not blocked it. There is a lot of talk about whether or not he has come to some sort of agreement with the club regarding his contract. The club don't want to lose him but this has been going on for a long time. Either he wants to play for the club on a long-term basis or not. It is time for it to be sorted out.

Did you know? In the game against Crystal Palace, Rudiger had more touches than any other player.

Midfielders - Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Bruno Fernandes (Man Utd), Emile Smith Rowe (Arsenal), Dejan Kulusevski (Tottenham)

Bukayo Saka, Bruno Fernandes, Emile Smith Rowe, Dejan Kulusevski

Mikel Arteta seems to be finding himself under the influence of youth with a hint of experience. One of his most influential players is the youngest, Bukayo Saka. I have already said what I think about this player, so I don't think there is any more I can say. English players are starting to look attractive to the likes of Barcelona and Real Madrid again, as we are coming into a period in the modern game. I don't think they can afford the likes of Saka. It is fortunate for the team.

Did you know? He has seven goals and four assists, the most of any under-21 player and a haul bettered only by Trent Alexander-Arnold and Mason Mount.

I don't have much time for a manager who leaves their most talented player on the bench against a top-class side and still expects to get something out of the game. In the first half, the lambs were slaughtered by Manchester United. Raphinha was left on the sidelines against a team like United. Bruno Fernandes played in very difficult conditions and was outstanding. He covered every blade of grass, scored a brilliant goal and demonstrated what top-class players have to offer.

Did you know? He has scored six goals against Leeds, more than any other opponent in the competition. The Portuguese scored more league goals against the Whites than any other Red Devil.

Emile Smith Rowe had only one thing on his mind when he received the ball, and that was a goal. The player claimed in his interview that he has been working on his finishing. I saw a player with the ability to score a goal, but also carve the opportunity out for himself. It is rare for a player to be in a position to both score and create at the same time. If they can find a top-class forward to replace Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, they could find themselves firing on all cylinders again.

Did you know? Smith Rowe is the only English player with nine goals in the league.

It was Dejan Kulusevski's first start in a Spurs shirt. The Swede took his goal calmly and looked very comfortable. I like the fact that this kid doesn't seem to be overly excited and may prove to be a valuable addition to Spurs. If you are a fan, hearing that Conte is enjoying his time at Spurs is comforting. Man Utd made a mistake by not buying the Italian manager when he was available, and Spurs must give him whatever he wants in order to do his job.

Did you know? Kulusevski became the fourth Swedish player to score on his first start in the English top flight, following in the footsteps of Martin Pringle, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Johan Elmander.

Forwards - Mohamed Salah (Liverpool), Harry Kane (Tottenham), Son Heung-min (Tottenham)

Mohamed Salah, Harry Kane and Son Heung-min

If there were any residual disappointment from the African Nations Cup final, then we saw the last of them in the demolition of Norwich. The Egyptian star was at his best against the Canaries. The perfect fit for a forward line capable of taking up the reins of a newly opened title race was Sadio Mane and Luis Diaz. The title race is very interesting because of Spurs victory over Manchester City. Spurs have provided snookers to get back into the title race.

Did you know? The 10th player to score 150 goals in all competition for the club, and the second fastest to reach this total, was Salah.

Four games without a goal doesn't tell the whole story of Harry Kane, he hasn't made my team for some time. He has not been in the best of form and the team has not been great. This performance was close to being off the chart. Kane and Son Heung-min did a great job of distributing the game. The most famous match between Spurs and Manchester City was in 1981 when Spurs beat City in a match in north London on a Thursday evening. Spurs fans of a certain age have not forgotten that game.

Did you know? Since September 2009, when Michael Owen scored for Manchester United, the winning goal against Manchester City has been scored by Kane. It was the second latest winner in the competition scored against a side starting the day top of the table since sports analytic firm Opta started recording exact times six years ago.

The ball for Dejan Kulusevski was perfect. The Sweden international made up the ground to join Son in order to give him the option to shoot or pass. Son waited and drew Ederson out of his goal as the City players were chasing him. As you thought Son was going to shoot, the South Korean superstar passes the ball square to Kulusevski who coolly finishes. It was textbook football that set the tone for the rest of the game. Son and Kane had an excellent partnership, with Kulusevski being an excellent support act.

Did you know? The duo of Harry Kane and Son Heung-min have assisted one another for 36 goals in the competition, which is the most of any pair in the history of the competition.

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The Crooks of the Matter

Two important issues involving fans have emerged in the past two weeks with both topics receiving short shrift from a prominent football club and the players' union. I was very happy to see the PFA fight back and insist that supporters who assault players should be banned for life. The response came after a fan ran on to the pitch and tried to get to the players.

The use of the Y-word made their fans feel uncomfortable, and it was time to move on from the term with the club. About time as well. I have never understood why the club's executives have been tolerant of this nonsense for so long.

Fans running on the pitch should have been banned a long time ago. Fans ran on the pitch at will in the 80s.

I asked the referee how long the fans were left on the pitch after I could see them running on the pitch. The official wouldn't tell me how much time was left to play, so he sent me away with a flea in my ear.

When I was chairman of the PFA, I made it clear that if fans ran on the pitch and harmed a player, I would hold them responsible. The referee gave me a 60-second warning notice in order for me to alert my teammates that he was about to blow the whistle.

It was the same as well, we pushed them towards the second division and their fans were not happy about it. The 60 seconds before the game were more tense than the game itself as we raced to the tunnel.

The thought of fans running on to the pitch and not knowing what they have in their possession was the most nerve-wracking experience I have had playing the game.

The safety of the players has always been paramount. It was then and it is now.

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