Another round of Premier League fixtures is done and dusted and Liverpool still sit pretty at the top of the table despite coming from behind twice with 10 men to rescue a 2-2 draw at home to Fulham last weekend.
However, their lead at the summit has been reduced to just two points after Chelsea extended their impressive winning streak to five matches with a 2-1 home success over Brentford, who are still yet to win on the road this term.
Like Liverpool, Arsenal could only pick up a point as they were held to a frustrating 0-0 draw by Everton at the Emirates, while Nottingham Forest have climbed back into the top four after coming from behind to beat seventh-placed Aston Villa 2-1 at the City Ground.
Forest's win allowed them to leapfrog a Manchester City side in crisis as they let a one-goal lead slip in the dying embers of Sunday's Manchester derby to lose 2-1 at home against bitter rivals Manchester United, who remain 13th but are now only five points behind the Citizens in fifth.
Tottenham Hotspur put basement club Southampton to the sword 5-0 at St Mary's, and that result proved to be the final nail in the coffin for Russell Martin, while Gary O'Neil was sacked by Wolverhampton Wanderers 24 hours earlier following a 2-1 home defeat to Ipswich Town.
Crystal Palace claimed the bragging rights from the M23 derby as they surprised many to win 3-1 at ninth-placed Brighton & Hove Albion, while Newcastle United cruised to a 4-0 home victory over Ruud van Nistelrooy's Leicester City.
Gameweek 16 concluded on Monday night when Bournemouth came from behind to rescue a point in a 1-1 draw with West Ham United at the Vitality Stadium.
Here, Sports Mole selects its Team of the Week for the latest round of Premier League fixtures.
DEFENCE
Fulham's Antonee Robinson pictured on September 14, 2024© Imago
Few would have envisaged Everton keeping a clean sheet away against Arsenal, but their resolute rearguard kept the Gunners at bay, and goalkeeper Jordan Pickford put in an inspired display between the sticks, making five saves including two crucial first-half stops to deny Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Martinelli.
Djed Spence was handed his first competitive start for Spurs against Southampton - 884 days after joining the club - and he only needed 36 seconds to provide an assist for James Maddison's opener. The right-back also produced the second-most progressive carries and passes (three each) of any player on the pitch, as well as 10 defensive actions to help the North Londoners keep a clean sheet.
Nikola Milenkovic has been a towering presence in Nottingham Forest's backline all season and he powered home his second goal in as many matches to restore parity against Aston Villa. The Serbian also won 100% of his ground duels, made six clearances and completed 94% of his passes.
Newcastle's Lewis Hall deserves a special mention, but completing our three-man backline is Fulham's Antonee Robinson, who bombed down the left flank to register his fifth and sixth assists of the season to help the Cottagers pick up a point at Anfield; only Bukayo Saka (10) and Mohamed Salah (nine) have set up more PL goals than the USA international so far this season. Robinson also led the way for duels won (eight), interceptions (four), chances created (four) and tackles won (three) on Merseyside.
MIDFIELD
Tottenham Hotspur's Son Heung-min celebrates scoring on December 15, 2024© Imago
Jacob Murphy gets the nod - just ahead of Noni Madueke - for a place on the right flank after scoring two of Newcastle's four goals against Leicester. His opener was a superb side-footed shot stroked into the bottom corner from a central position, before he wrapped up the victory with a powerful strike fired under Mads Hermansen.
One of Murphy's former teammates also makes our TOTW in the form of all-round midfielder Elliot Anderson, who won 12 duels, made the most tackles (five), created the most chances (four), completed the most dribbles (three) and assisted Forest's equaliser scored by Milenkovic.
Linking arms in the middle of the pitch with Anderson is James Maddison, who was one of Spurs' standout performers in their trashing of Southampton. As well as his first-half brace - a composed opener and delicious fifth squeezed into the top corner - the playmaker won 100% of his duels (7/7) and completed 100% of his take-ons (3/3) at St Mary's.
Son Heung-min also excelled against Southampton despite only playing the first 45 minutes. The South Korean lashed home a powerful half-volley and now boasts more goals against the Saints (13) than he does against any other team. The Spurs skipper also registered two assists, making him the club's all-time record assister in the Premier League.
ATTACK
Manchester United's Amad Diallo celebrates on December 15, 2024© Imago
In a Manchester derby lacking real quality throughout, Amad Diallo was Man United's shining light and won the penalty that Bruno Fernandes converted to restore parity before netting a majestic match-winner in the 90th minute. The 22-year-old has predominantly operated as a wing-back under new boss Ruben Amorim, but he played further forward at the Etihad and was top of the charts for both dribbles completed (5/8) and shots on goal (four), while he also won seven duels and completed 94% of his passes.
Another standout attacker on Sunday was Crystal Palace's Ismaila Sarr, who contributed to all three of his team's goals against Brighton. He did not know much about his assist that ricocheted into the path of Trevoh Chalobah, but he deserves all the plaudits that come his way for scoring either side of half time - a close-range header and a composed right-footed finish that sealed the victory.
Completing our front three is Newcastle talisman Alexander Isak, who was in the right place at the right time to nod home his goal from close range, while he also set up Murphy for the Magpies' fourth goal, produced four key passes and completed a match-high six dribbles during an impressive display against Leicester.
PL TOTW GW16
Sports Mole's Premier League Team of the Week (3-4-2-1): Pickford; Spence, Milenkovic, Robinson; Murphy, Anderson, Maddison, Son; Diallo, Sarr; Isak
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