The team of the week Garth Crooks: Salah, Deulofeu, Maddison, Jagielka



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It was a great weekend for Liverpool, who regained their lead in the Premier League, as their rivals from Manchester City qualified for the FA Cup final.

There were also huge celebrations of Watford Gerard Deulofeu inspired a spectacular comeback in his FA Cup semifinal victory over Wolves.

Victory for Burnley moved them to eight points from the relegation zone in flight and Crystal Palace effectively sealed their safety with a late winner at Newcastle.

There were also victories for Everton and Leicester during a weekend filled with drama and magic of the FA Cup.

But who made my team of the week? Take a look below.

Goalkeeper – Ederson (Manchester City)

EdersonIn the semifinal, Manchester City vs. Brighton was not a clbadic. However, what I have never seen before, is that a guardian takes so many risks in defense with his feet.

In my time goalkeepers recovered the ball when he was in the box. Ederson plays the game as a defender and only uses his hands as a last resort. I must say that he was brilliant enough, but I sometimes think: what is the game for?

Did you know? Since his debut in the Premier League in August 2017, Ederson has kept more blank sheets in the competition (32) than any other goalie.

Defenders – Aaron Wan-Bissaka (Crystal Palace), Phil Jagielka (Everton), Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool), James Milner (Liverpool)

Aaron Wan-Bissaka: You can not go to St James's Park, win 1-0, keep the white sheet and not have at least one of your defenders in my team of the week.

I was thinking of James Tomkins, who has been constant with Crystal Palace this season, often in very difficult conditions. However, I went to get my young player of the season, Aaron Wan-Bissaka.

He was still superb against Newcastle. This fabulous talent has not looked back since his debut in the Premier League at Fulham earlier this season. This kid is a must for Manchester United.

Did you know? Aaron Wan-Bissaka has made more tackles than any other Premier League defenseman this season (115).

Phil Jagielka: I did not expect Phil Jagielka to be on the field for Everton against Arsenal on Sunday, let alone the winning goal. I thought the captain of the club was fantastic, given the lack of football from the first team he played.

The Toffees have now defeated Arsenal and Chelsea in a few weeks and have completely stopped the scathing criticism of manager Marco Silva. I wonder how long will it last?

Did you know? Only Richard Gough (37 years and 138 days), against Southampton in August 1999, scored a Premier League goal for Everton at an older age than Phil Jagielka (36 years and 233 days).

Virgil van Dijk: Which ball for Roberto Firmino of Virgil van Dijk. The Dutch international has not only pitched the ball on the pitch, it has turned a smart defense element into an attack.

This superb counter allowed Firmino to play the ball for Jordan Henderson to score the goal of Liverpool's win at Southampton on Friday.

Real Madrid and Barcelona need to have frantic discussions with their banks on the cost of buying Van Dijk. A bold auction is likely to happen sooner or later, if it's not already done.

Did you know? Van Dijk has played 2.935 minutes in the Premier League this season – without any opponent succeeding in dribbling it.

James Milner: Regular readers of my team's column of the week will know what I think about James Milner. He is the professional of the professional.

You will not hear him complaining about being on the sideline, being forced to play out of position or being badigned the responsibility of shooting the penalty kick in big games when the nerves other players are nervous.

He is the man of all situations and he came to the rescue of Liverpool at Southampton. A cool head in case of crisis.

Did you know? Only Roberto Firmino (129) has made more Premier League matches for Liverpool under Jurgen Klopp than James Milner (115).

Midfielders – James Maddison (Leicester), Luka Milivojevic (Crystal Palace), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool)

James Maddison: A Leicester player who seems to have benefited from the arrival of Brendan Rodgers.

James Maddison has become as famous for his free kicks as for his celebrations. He flew over Ben Hamer from Huddersfield like a rocket on Saturday.

However, it was the twist and turn followed by the pbading ball for Jamie Vardy that led to the Leicester penalty that did it for me. He left Huddersfield in pieces.

Did you know? James Maddison of Leicester has scored three goals in a Premier League direct free kick this season, the highest number of goals a player in a single campaign since Philippe Coutinho in 2016-17 (also three).

Luka Milivojevic: As I said earlier, it was a fabulous victory for Crystal Palace at St James's Park.

The Eagles have not won in Newcastle since 1998. The goals were not easy to reach in this match, but once Wilfried Zaha was eliminated in the box and Luka Milivojevic took the lead. advantage, the match was over. The Serbian International is mortal in penalty and that is what has been proved.

It was hardly surprising that Rafa Benitez had a face like a thunderclap after the fact and was happy to say to anyone who was ready to listen to Newcastle not being safe yet – nor its long-term future in Newcastle.

Did you know? Luka Milivojevic has scored 10 Premier League penalties against Crystal Palace this season. Only Andrew Johnson in 2004-05 (11, also with Crystal Palace) scored more goals in a single campaign of the competition.

Jordan Henderson: The fantastic captain took up the stage against Southampton and told Jurgen Klopp where he could stick his position on the bench.

Jordan Henderson had the right to feel good, having replaced Georginio Wijnaldum, and then scored the goal of getting the match far beyond the Saints.

Personally, I think that Henderson was treated rather harshly with Klopp relegating him to the position of replacement. But that may have just given him that extra boost and brought Liverpool closer to that elusive title.

Did you know? Henderson is the first substitute to score a goal, score a goal and receive a yellow card in a Premier League match since Graziano Pelle did it against Crystal Palace in May 2016.

Attackers – Mohamed Salah (Liverpool), Gerard Deulofeu (Watford), Jamie Vardy (Leicester)

Mohamed Salah: Salah came back to form with a bang against a Southampton team very in the mood.

The Egyptian international has announced his return with a trademark finish and ripped his shirt with a provocative look at Liverpool fans who dared to doubt him. This is the worst news possible for Manchester City.

It was like watching Lazarus come out of the grave. No wonder Liverpool fans go crazy. Their boy is back.

Did you know? Mohamed Salah scored 50 goals in just 69 appearances for Liverpool in the Premier League; Only Alan Shearer (66 years old in Blackburn) and Ruud van Nistelrooy (68 years old in Manchester United) have crossed the threshold of the least applications for a single club of the competition.

Gerard Deulofeu: I do not think I have seen such a magnificent goal in the FA Cup semifinal. The goal of Gerard Deulofeu to bring back Watford in the game against the Wolves was magnificent.

What I do not understand with Deulofeu, is how he can be so sublime in a game and so painfully ordinary the following. The Spaniard arrived, played for 46 minutes and left after suffering a blow.

I find Deulofeu as frustrating as it can be devastating. I did not want to pick him – but he just coached his team in the FA Cup final. I do not think I have a choice.

Did you know? Gerard Deulofeu is the seventh player to score twice in the FA Cup semifinal and the first since Willian for Chelsea against Tottenham in April 2017.

Jamie Vardy: It looks like Jamie Vardy is organizing one of those parties that Leicester fans are singing all the time. The appetite of the English striker for the goals seems to have come back since the arrival of Brendan Rodgers.

I warned former manager Claude Puel that it was far better to reconcile his differences with Vardy than to leave him on the bench. It was never going to end, so it has been proven. There was only one person to win this battle and it was not Puel.

Did you know? Leicester striker Vardy has scored in each of his last four league games against Huddersfield (five goals total), including all three in the Premier League (four goals).

The crooks of the material

I played at Bernabeu and Nou Camp. Anfield and Old Trafford are comparable in terms of atmosphere and meaning. But nothing prepares me for the grand opening of the new White Hart Lane.

Tottenham Hotspur has a habit of doing quite well and last Wednesday night was no exception.

The BBC has invited me to join Radio 5 Live's commentary team for the match between Spurs and Crystal Palace. It was one of the most memorable nights of my life. The game was nothing special – but the importance of this state-of-the-art stadium was.

It's a new era in football. Supporters arrived hours before the match to buy everything they could afford and were encouraged to leave the stadium only long after the final whistle.

Meanwhile, the arena seemed to badume the majesty of an opera with supporters on both sides, even reluctantly, forced to behave accordingly. It was not just a football match but an experience. The game? The Spurs won 2-0.

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