Monday 22 January 2018 07:43, UK
Who were the best Premier League players from the weekend games? We take a look at the man-of-the-match performances in our hotlist...
Fresh from scoring three goals in his last two games, the midfielder was in dynamic mood. Crashing into tackles to disrupt Tottenham's flow while also providing great quality from set-pieces with his gem of a right-boot. He really should have had an assist to his name but Stephens managed to head wide in the first-period after Ward-Prowse had put a free-kick on a plate for him.
Hazard was in the mood at the Amex Stadium. Every time he got on the ball he terrified Brighton's defenders and his finishing was at its exquisite best as his double inspired Chelsea to a comprehensive away victory.
His performance left Jamie Redknapp, who was watching the game in the studio for Sky Sports, purring.
"If VAR looked at his performance today, then some it would have been illegal as he was that good," the former Liverpool midfielder said. "Willian was fantastic as well - as was Batshuayi, but Hazard was playing a different game. He was at his energetic, beautiful best today."
With Sanchez looking set to leave, keeping Ozil seems imperative for Arsenal based on this performance.
Returning to the side after nearly three weeks out, he pulled the strings for the Gunners and produced a number of clever flicks and one-touch passes. He also set up Lacazette's goal with a sublime backheel, and even though his influence faded in the second half, it was a brilliant display.
With Burnley threatening sporadically at Turf Moor, Phil Jones' positioning was impeccable.
He registered a team-high 13 clearances and five interceptions and won an impressive 90 per cent of his aerial duels against Burnley's front men.
Jones has been impressive for United of late and has contributed heavily to Mourinho's side going five games without conceding in all competitions.
West Brom's big man up front was a handful for the Everton defence throughout, but his courage to continue playing after his involvement in McCarthy's injury was admirable. The Venezuela international was in floods of tears while medical staff were tending to McCarthy, but he pulled himself together to see out the game.
And he so nearly claimed all three points for the Baggies with a host of chances late on, notably his stoppage-time effort which struck the bar, a testament to his composure and professionalism.
The England striker was a thorn in the side of the Watford team, constantly putting the centre-backs under pressure and calmly slotting home his penalty, which he won. Wague had a torrid time, giving away a penalty and then pulling up injured chasing Vardy.
Despite the 3-0 defeat by Manchester United last Monday, Bauer emerged with credit from his Stoke debut having had little time to get to know his new team-mates.
The Austrian's marauding runs caused United problems that night, and the 25-year-old was bombing forward frequently once more as he provided an outlet down the right as well as solidity in defence.
The West Ham skipper threw himself about in the middle of the park, and on one occasion even flew in to make a diving header interception.
Four tackles, one clearance and three interceptions tells you only half the story of Noble's contribution for West Ham, for he was equally as impressive when setting the hosts up on the attack.
All this after Noble revealed to Jamie Redknapp in Friday's Daily Mail he makes sure the players' bonuses are shared with every staff member - the man is West Ham through and through.
Aguero scored the first perfect Premier League hat-trick since the Argentina international himself recorded one against, of all teams, Newcastle in October 2015.
Not only that, but in the absence of the injured Gabriel Jesus, the 29-year-old showed yet again just what a key figure he is in Guardiola's line-up, calming City nerves by opening the scoring before half-time.
And then the forward ended any hope of a Newcastle fightback by netting his and City's third near the end, the player's seventh Premier League hat-trick since August 2011 and his 138th league strike for the club in just 200 appearances.
