All but two Premier League teams have now hit the 30-game mark in the 2024-25 season, and as has been the case for the past few months, Liverpool continue to canter towards the crown.
The Reds' 1-0 Merseyside derby win at home to Everton saw them maintain their 12-point advantage over Arsenal, whose 2-1 success over Fulham at least ensured the gap would not grow any further.
Nottingham Forest are still sitting pretty in the bronze medal position thanks to their 1-0 beating of Manchester United, whose arch-rivals Manchester City strolled to a 2-0 home win over doomed Leicester City.
However, the champions were knocked out of the top four by Chelsea when the Blues claimed a 1-0 victory over London rivals Tottenham Hotspur, and Newcastle United remain hot on the coat-tails of both teams after their 2-1 triumph against Brentford.
Aston Villa cannot be discounted in the top-four race after their 3-0 beating of Brighton & Hove Albion, but Bournemouth's European aspirations suffered another damaging blow in a shock 2-1 loss to Ipswich Town.
Finally, Southampton's hard-earned point in a 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace should prove inconsequential, but Wolverhampton Wanderers eased any demotion fears with a 1-0 win over West Ham United.
Here, Sports Mole selects its Premier League Team of the Week for gameweek 30.
DEFENCE
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Had Alex Palmer been donning the Ipswich shirt since the start of the season, the Tractor Boys' predicament may not be so dire. Nevertheless, the 28-year-old put in another terrific shift versus Bournemouth, pulling off five saves, three high claims and two punches at the Vitality Stadium.
One of two Ipswich heroes manning the backline in this week's selection, Palmer was aided by the steadfast efforts of Dara O'Shea against the Cherries, as the former Burnley man produced an astounding 14 clearances and five blocks, as well as winning three of his four aerial duels.
Our centre-back duo in gameweek 30 registered no fewer than 26 clearances between them, as Forest's man mountain Murillo registered 12 of his own when Man United came to town, including a heroic last-gasp goal-line intervention from Harry Maguire that is worthy of a place on its own.
Fabulous full-back performances were not few and far between this week - Neco Williams and Nico O'Reilly deserve special mentions - but Malo Gusto just edges out the duo for the left-back slot after an all-round delightful display versus Spurs, in which he created two chances, put in two interceptions and found the mark with 90% of his passes.
Gusto must deputise at left-back this week thanks to the marvellous exploits of Kieran Trippier, who was a duelling machine in Newcastle's victory versus Brentford, winning nine of his 10 battles on the ground while also registering two key passes for the EFL Cup winners.
MIDFIELD
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Entering his nomination for the Premier League's Goal of the Season award, Sandro Tonali's effort for Newcastle against Brentford surely falls into the unrepeatable category, as the Italian somehow fizzed an outrageous effort from a tight angle into the roof of the net with Mark Flekken's help. He won five of his seven ground duels too, although that statistic is largely trivial after that scintillating strike.
Any and all other Premier League players - including Nottingham Forest skipper Ryan Yates - should not replicate Tonali's strike no matter how hard they try, but the Englishman was nevertheless a driving force in the Tricky Trees' success over Man United; it was his headed clearance that went down as the assist for Anthony Elanga's solo goal, while he also made three interceptions, two blocks, two tackles and won four fouls in a typically combative midfield show.
ATTACK
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Still thriving under the wing of his fellow Spaniard Unai Emery, Aston Villa's Marco Asensio produced another sensational super-sub display versus Brighton with a composed finish and assist for Donyell Malen; his former contribution means that he is now on eight goals for the Lions in all competitions, more than any other Premier League player since his Villa debut.
Also playing a significant role in the slaying of the Seagulls, Morgan Rogers teed up Asensio to slot home after registering his first assist of the game for Marcus Rashford, although his late injury was a slight dampener on an otherwise perfect evening for Emery.
Sticking with the theme of prolific chance creators, Liverpool's Luis Diaz provided the helper for Diogo Jota's winner against Everton in what was one of six key passes the Colombian made in the victory, the most of any Reds player in a Premier League Merseyside derby since Mohamed Salah also registered six in December 2017.
Salah's powers waned in the visit of Everton, but an electrifying Egyptian does force his way into our four-strong attack; Man City's shiny new toy Omar Marmoush capitalised on Leicester's defensive disaster to put the seal on a two-goal win, one in which he had a staggering nine shots as he terrorised Ruud van Nistelrooy's backline all evening long.
SPORTS MOLE'S PREMIER LEAGUE TEAM OF THE WEEK
Sports Mole's Premier League Team of the Week (4-2-3-1): Palmer; Trippier, O'Shea, Murillo, Gusto; Tonali, Yates; Rogers, Asensio, Diaz; Marmoush
Ben Knapton
