Tottenham are now just one point away from table-topping Manchester City after beating them 2-0 at White Hart Lane on Sunday, ending City’s 100 per cent winning start to the season in the process.
Elsewhere, there were wins for Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal. But in a week of many draws, who were the top performers?
Laurent Koscielny reacts to his last-gasp winner for Arsenal at Burnley – Photo: Mark Leech / Offside.
Here’s SHOOT’s Top 5 Premier League Players of the Weekend…
Roberto Firmino (Liverpool)
Photo: Marc Atkins / Offside.
The Brazil international scored and won a penalty as Liverpool came from behind to win 2-1 at struggling Swansea City.
Leroy Fer had put the hosts ahead, but Firmino levelled just after the interval when he guided the ball into the near corner with his head from Jordan Henderson’s cross.
With seven minutes remaining, Modou Barrow’s awful clearance, which went high above his penalty area, saw Angel Rangel bundle over the 25-year-old attacker, allowing James Milner to convert the resulting spot kick.
Incidentally, Milner has now scored four goals this season, all of which have been penalties, from the four shots he has had this season.
Christian Benteke (Crystal Palace)
Photo: Simon Stacpoole / Offside.
Palace’s record signing notched his third goal in five Premier League games as Alan Pardew’s side returned to Selhurst Park with a valuable 1-1 draw at Everton.
Behind after a Romelu Lukaku free-kick, Benteke & Co. looked rejuvenated after the interval as the Belgium international looped home an excellent header from Joel Ward’s cross.
The 25-year-old is looking to get his career back on track after a disappointing 12 months at Liverpool and he seems to be far more comfortable in being the star name in the team, like he was at Aston Villa, compared to being a bit-part player, like he was on Merseyside.
Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham)
Photo: Mark Leech / Offside.
Alongside Toby Alderweireld, Kyle Walker and Danny Rose, the Spurs defence were on top of their game as they won 2-0 against leaders Manchester City.
The clean sheet was the least they deserved as they first kept Sergio Aguero, and then Kelechi Iheanacho quiet, reducing the Citizens to just six shots on target.
The goals came in the first-half through an Aleksandar Kolarov own goal and Dele Alli, but it was the Belgium international who impressed the most through a series of impeccably timed blocks and interceptions as Spurs remain unbeaten in the league.
Diego Costa (Chelsea)
Photo: Charlotte Wilson / Offside.
A goal and an assist for the former Atletico Madrid striker as Chelsea got back to winning ways by defeating Hull City 2-0 at the KCOM Stadium.
The 27-year-old was a constant handful and struck the post before his pass found Willian who curled a lovely strike into the top corner on the hour mark to put the Blues ahead.
Minutes later the Spain international scored an almost identical goal as he found the same top corner with minimal back-lift after Nemanja Matic’s shot had been blocked.
Antonio Conte’s side are now up to seventh in the league after not winning in September, despite a good start to the season.
Dimitri Payet (West Ham United)
Photo: Charlotte Wilson / Offside.
Payet netted his first goal in the league this season, and what a goal it was too in order to draw West Ham United level with Middlesbrough.
Picking it up on the left wing, the France international took the ball past Antonio Barragan and then Marten de Roon as he advanced into the area, before gliding past three defenders and rolling the ball into the far corner to equalise after Christian Stuani had put the visitors ahead.
The Hammers have struggled this season and are currently in the bottom three, with their reliance on the 29-year-old talisman growing game-by-game as manager Slaven Bilic’s job has reportedly come under scrutiny.
