It was a Premier League weekend packed with drama, emotion and interventions which could prove so crucial come the end of the campaign.
From the raw emotion which greeted Ukraine international Andriy Yarmolenko as he scored in his first West Ham appearance since the outbreak of war in his native country, to the Christian Eriksen effect in West London – nine months after the Danish international nearly lost his life.
From the misery deepening around one of England’s great clubs to the exhilaration provided at another by arguably the greatest ever player the game has witnessed, here were Premier League highlights galore.
And what we are left with is a race for European berths and a battle to beat the drop which remain delicately poised.
If you don’t take my word for it, just study the SBOTOP Premier League betting odds.
A league of his own
To my amazement, there are some people who think Manchester United made a mistake in resigning Cristiano Ronaldo last summer.
Oh yes, what a terrible mistake it was to sign one of the greatest football players of all time for around £12 million. What were United thinking?!
On Saturday night, he returned from injury and fired home a hat-trick – the 59th of his incredible career – to set another new all-time record (he now holds such records for club and country) for the most goals scored with 807.
Few possess his supreme will to win, unsated even at 37. No more needs to be said.
Football world comes together to show Ukraine unity
It was a moment which brought two football clubs and two sets of opposing fans together.
Andriy Yarmolenko had already been welcomed on to the field with a warm reception from both West Ham and Aston Villa supporters.
But after firing home the opening goal with 19 minutes remaining, he shed tears as he dropped to his knees in celebration and was embraced by his team-mates – some Villa fans even applauded.
Pablo Fornals sealed victory when he powered Said Benrahma’s cutback before Villa pulled one back late on through Jacob Ramsey.
In many ways though, the result was secondary.
Brentford ease closer to safety
24 hours before that wonderful story in the east end of London, came another in the west end of the city.
The importance of having a striker who can find the back of the net was clear as Ivan Toney’s late double sunk rivals Burnley and moved them nine points clear of their opponents.
Yet not only did the result push Brentford closer to retaining their Premier League status, a point not lost on manager Thomas Frank by the way he acknowledged supporters at full-time, but it was another day to savour the football of Christian Eriksen
In what was only his third senior match since suffering a cardiac arrest last summer, Eriksen set up the opening goal with a sumptuous delivery, showcasing his quality and meaning he has now 63 Premier League assists to his credit – the same number as Southampton legend Matt Le Tissier.
For all football fans, the Danish international’s return has been truly wonderful to see.
Everton in sorry state
Do I think Everton will be relegated? Not at all.
There is still far too much talent in their ranks and I fully expect them to finish well clear of the drop zone.
Do I think Everton’s relationship with new coach Frank Lampard will last more than two years? Not a chance!
For appointing a boss with such limited Premier League pedigree makes no sense to me, especially considering they had Rafa Benitez (a good manager at the wrong club) and Carlo Ancelotti (one of the modern greats) as their previous incumbents.
After losing at home to Wolves – their captain Conor Coady, who hails from Merseyside, heading the only goal four minutes after the restart – Everton find themselves in above the bottom three only on goal difference, though they have games in hand on the teams around them.
They will survive but I find it hard to believe Lampard will be able to take them where they want to go.
Leeds have lift off; road looks too steep for heartbroken Canaries
The odds have always been stacked against Norwich City surviving this season, regardless of which manager was in charge.
Yet their spirit has rarely been questioned.
Unfortunately for the Canaries, their last-gasp defeat at Elland Road will likely be one setback too many.
When Kenny McLean met an incisive cross from Teemu Pukki and fired an equaliser with 90 minutes on the clock, there was renewed hope.
Yet just three minutes and 35 seconds later, home teenager Joe Gelhardt had quite possibly changed the course of the entire race against relegation.
As the substitute lashed Raphinha’s delivery beyond Norwich goalkeeper Tim Krul, the entire home bench raced down the touchline to envelop him in hugs of utmost relief.
Leeds fans celebrated not only new boss Jesse Marsch’s first win (following two defeats) in three games since succeeding Marcelo Bielsa but the end of a run of six straight defeats which had carried their team to the brink of the bottom three.
Talk about a highly inspired substitution.
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