Robert Green performed the goalkeeping equivalent of netting a hat-trick when he flung himself to his left to save Benjani's injury-time penalty at Fratton Park. His dramatic intervention against the Premiership's top scorer saved a point for the Hammers in a difficult away game. It was a dodgy pen too and justice was served so Robert Green is: The Equaliser.
Blackburn giant Christopher Samba celebrated signing a new contract earlier in the week by scoring, in his words, 'the best goal of his career'. The beautifully-struck injury-time winner was curled past Spurs keeper Radek Cerny to keep Mark Hughes' Rovers revolution rolling.
Jamie Carragher was a busy boy against Arsenal, as Gerrard's early strike rattled the mono-strikered Gunners into life. Forced to attack, they did so but Carragher is a formidable obstacle at the back and he was called on to make several important interventions and deservedly was named Man of the Match.
At the other end of the Anfield pitch, Kolo Toure performed a similar role for the Gunners, although the intensity of the Liverpool attacks didn't quite match the blistering pace of those Carragher faced. When the home side came though Toure was firm and solid at the heart of an Arsenal defence which will face some more stern tests in the coming weeks.
Cesc Fabregas had a nervy start to Arsenal's game at Anfield, losing possession carelessly on a couple of occasions, but grew into the game quickly after that to show the full repertoire of his mesmerising abilities. He missed a second-half sitter, but can be forgiven following an afternoon of inch-perfect passing and a well-taken equaliser.
Frank Lampard begrudgers be damned. The Chelsea man was immense in their shooting down of high-flying Manchester City, and reminded those who have been casting aspersions on his effectiveness of what he does best: slick passing, setting up goals for his team-mates and dictating the pattern of the game from the middle of the park. All that was missing was a goal, but Chelsea had six of those to savour. But can he play alongside our next selection?
Steven Gerrard, who started with the zeal of a man looking to prove a point at Anfield, bagged himself a goal after six minutes. It came from a lay-off at a free-kick (given after a move started by Gerrard) which he dispatched unhesitatingly into the Arsenal net. A couple more efforts brought saves from Almunia, and some tenacious tackling wrapped up yet another fine performance from Gerrard.
Stephen Hunt was on hand to provide Reading's front men with the platform needed to do the damage against Newcastle. These opportunities were not always grasped (hello Leroy Lita) but it was from one of Hunt's crosses from the left that the Royals grabbed their first goal. The Irishman also went close with a header later on.
Olivier Kapo's late winner had the Birmingham City faithful chanting Steve Bruce's name, something that would not have gone unnoticed by the Blues prospective new owners. Kapo had scored a penalty in the first half to equalise for the home team and then rifled in his second from the edge of the Wigan penalty area to give City a vital win.
Carlos Tevez is beginning to flex his creative muscles in a Manchester United shirt and is developing a potentially explosive partnership with Wayne Rooney. As at West Ham, the Argentinian has been slow to get going at this new club, but he nailed another two goals on Saturday, ably assisted by Rooney, as Boro were swept aside at Old Trafford.
He may have voiced a desire to move on from the Bridge, but Didier Drogba is still delivering the goods for his side and bagged another brace, one either side of half-time against Man City, in a good week for the big man. He netted in midweek also against Schalke and this rich vein of form is re-invigorating a Chelsea side which many had written out of the title race.
Manager of the week has to be Avram Grant who seems to have a thankless task on his hands. Having had to endure some unsavoury abuse from sections of his support, the Israeli has quietly, and impressively, got on with his job and has his side playing in the style he desires.
This attacking panache was unleashed on unsuspecting Manchester City who were ruthlessly demolished. Much more of this and it will be 'Jose who?' Except it won't.
