FotMob match ratings provide the framework for this roundup of the 10 best performers from Premier League gameweek 13. The list highlights players whose contributions shaped results across a busy weekend.

Maxim De Cuyper began Sunday’s trip to Nottingham Forest in an unfamiliar position as a winger and finished up front, racing through the centre to fire home Brighton & Hove Albion’s opening goal in a hard-fought victory.

Nottingham Forest’s highest-rated player of the match was midfielder Elliot Anderson, who produced a rich individual display. He created a game-high six chances, won 12 duels and completed six dribbles, leading the match in those statistics.

Aston Villa extended their winning run to five in all competitions with a 1–0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers. Scotland international John McGinn played the pass that set up Boubacar Kamara’s stunning winner and finished the game with four chances created, the most on the pitch for Unai Emery’s side.

Liverpool’s 2–0 victory over West Ham United featured multiple narratives. Alexander Isak scored his first Premier League goal for the Reds, Florian Wirtz produced one of his best displays of the season, and Lucas Paquetá’s late red card drew attention. Cody Gakpo combined for Isak’s goal with an assist on the hour and then sealed the result with a stoppage-time strike.

Sunderland recovered from two goals down to beat Bournemouth 3–2. Enzo Le Fée converted the penalty that initiated the comeback and later assisted Brian Brobbey for the winning header.

Brentford’s Igor Thiago scored twice in a 3–1 win over Burnley. His tally of 11 goals in 13 games for the Bees is bettered only by the 14 of Manchester City’s Erling Haaland.

Manchester United looked in trouble against Crystal Palace until Bruno Fernandes supplied two assists in quick succession: a free kick for Joshua Zirkzee’s equaliser and another dead-ball delivery that allowed Mason Mount to score the winner. Fernandes now has five assists this season and leads the Premier League in that statistic.

Newcastle United’s 4–1 win over Everton featured strong displays from two young players. Lewis Miley, making only his third start, scored, assisted and produced notable defensive work. Malick Thiaw headed Newcastle in front after 56 seconds and added another header to seal the Magpies’ first away win of the season; he also won six aerial duels and made five headed clearances against Thierno Barry.

Manchester City’s Phil Foden struck twice in a dramatic 3–2 win over Leeds United, scoring the fastest goal of the season at 59 seconds and then the winner a full 90 minutes later. City manager Pep Guardiola reflected: “Phil has that [mentality] … ‘Give me the ball, I want to dribble, I want to score and win the game.’” “He has this ambition and mentality since he was a little boy and I’m happy for what he did. He was the man to win the game.”

Opta’s supercomputer still rates Arsenal as the most likely Premier League winner after a weekend that left the title race intact.

Arsenal shared the points in the London derby, a result that followed Moisés Caicedo’s red card and left Chelsea with a draw as the best possible outcome in the circumstances. Arsenal sit on 30 points after Gameweek 13, but Opta projects them to finish on 81.39 expected points and assigns a 79.14% chance of lifting the trophy.

Manchester City moved back into contention with a 3-2 victory over Leeds United secured by a last-gasp winner from Phil Foden. City currently have 25 points and, on Opta’s model, are expected to finish on 70.27 points with an 11.30% probability of winning the title. Chelsea remain third in the projection with 24 current points, an expected 65.94 points and a 4.08% title chance.

Opta’s forecast suggests Arsenal would complete the season 11 points clear of Manchester City, and that claiming the league with 81 points would match Leicester City’s 2015–16 total, described in the projection as the fifth fewest points collected by a Premier League winner of all time. For Arsenal, the unwanted statistical footnote is secondary to ending a 21-year Premier League title drought.

Beyond the title race, Opta predicts the battle for Champions League qualification to be tight. Liverpool are projected to finish fourth after their 1-0 win over West Ham United, with an expected 63.35 points. Aston Villa are close behind on an expected 63.14 points, followed by Brighton and Crystal Palace in the congested pack.

Newcastle United are forecast to climb back into the top half and finish around eighth on 58.03 expected points. Manchester United’s 2-1 comeback over Crystal Palace nudged them up in the projection, with Brentford rounding out the top 10. According to the model, the top five clubs are most likely to secure Champions League places, while Arsenal remain the clear favourites to take the title.

Last weekend delivered more Premier League drama and a clutch of notable scalps. Arsenal’s trip to Chelsea is the standout clash of Gameweek 13, and four of the traditional ‘Big Six’ who tasted defeat last weekend will be seeking quick responses.

Brentford meet Burnley in a fixture that may yet produce late drama. Igor Thiago scored and missed a stoppage-time penalty in Brentford’s 2–1 defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion, and the Brazilian has failed to score in only five of Brentford’s league matches this term. Burnley have lost three successive matches and five of their last six away, so Brentford are forecast to come through comfortably. Prediction: Brentford 3–1 Burnley.

Manchester City have stumbled since the international break, with back-to-back defeats at Newcastle United and at home to Bayer Leverkusen. Pep Guardiola rung the changes midweek and was punished, but is likely to select a more familiar lineup against Leeds United. Leeds have struggled on their travels this season. Prediction: Man City 3–1 Leeds.

Sunderland remain one of five teams unbeaten at home, though they suffered their first defeat of November to Fulham last time out. Bournemouth fought back from two goals down to avoid a third straight loss and will target another positive result. Prediction: Sunderland 1–1 Bournemouth.

Everton and Newcastle both beat Manchester clubs last weekend. Everton stunned Man Utd 1–0 at Old Trafford despite playing with 10 men for around 75 minutes after Idrissa Gueye’s dismissal for raising his hands to his own teammate Michael Keane. Newcastle beat Man City 2–1, but a midweek defeat to Marseille has exposed their away vulnerability. Prediction: Everton 2–1 Newcastle.

Tottenham have conceded 11 goals across their past three matches and face fatigue after a 5–3 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain. Fulham have won two of their last three and will look to exploit Spurs’ wobble. Prediction: Tottenham 2–2 Fulham.

Crystal Palace’s three successive clean sheets and fifth-place position make Selhurst Park a difficult assignment for a Manchester United side that suffered a heavy loss to Everton. Prediction: Crystal Palace 1–0 Man Utd.

Aston Villa, fresh from a Europa League trip to Young Boys, host Wolves, who remain without a league win under Rob Edwards. Prediction: Aston Villa 2–0 Wolves.

Nottingham Forest have back-to-back wins, including a 3–0 victory at Anfield, but Brighton sit sixth and can move closer to the top four. Prediction: Nottingham Forest 1–2 Brighton.

Liverpool’s run of poor results, including a 4–1 home defeat to PSV Eindhoven, meets a resurgent West Ham that is unbeaten in three. Prediction: West Ham 3–2 Liverpool.

Chelsea and Arsenal both recorded big Champions League wins midweek and meet in a London showdown. Chelsea remain Arsenal’s closest challengers; this one looks tight. Prediction: Chelsea 1–1 Arsenal.