Gameweek 33 delivered decisive swings at both ends of the table and several standout individual displays. FotMob’s ratings identify nine players who shaped the round across a series of key matches.

Curtis Jones (rating 8.4) was deployed at right back by Arne Slot in the Merseyside derby and responded with a dominant defensive and possession performance. Jones recorded 28 defensive contributions, more than double any other player on the pitch, while also leading the match for touches (118), attempted passes (84) and completed passes (79). He emerged from his duel with Iliman Ndiaye unscathed.

Erling Haaland (8.4) produced the goal that pulled Manchester City back into the title race. The Norway forward played the full game despite heavy attention from Arsenal defenders William Saliba and Gabriel, endured his undershirt being ripped and an attempted headbutt, and finished with a memorable smirk at the camera after the final whistle.

Jaydee Canvot (8.4) has taken on greater responsibility since Marc Guéhi’s mid-season exit and impressed again in Crystal Palace’s draw with West Ham United. Canvot frequently won his confrontations with Jarrod Bowen and showed notable composure on the ball, repeatedly stepping into midfield to drive his team forward.

Leeds United produced three of the week’s top performers. Noah Okafor (8.5), 25 years old, forced an early advantage by assisting Leeds’ opener and then scoring the second inside the opening 20 minutes. Dominic Calvert-Lewin (8.6) sealed the win with a 95th-minute penalty after a game in which he was disruptive both on the ground and in the air and likely had earlier chances to score. James Justin (8.7) opened the scoring with an acrobatic overhead kick and combined attacking impact with a team-leading 17 defensive contributions.

Xavi Simons (8.7) stood out in Tottenham Hotspur’s 2–2 draw with Brighton & Hove Albion, leaving the match with a goal and an assist, celebrating his stunning strike with real emotion before the late equaliser.

Elsewhere the round brought relegation heartbreak for Tottenham Hotspur and confirmation of Wolverhampton Wanderers’ tumble out of the top flight, emphasising the high stakes of Gameweek 33.

More dropped points for Tottenham Hotspur have left Roberto De Zerbi’s men in the drop zone, clinging to life in the Premier League alongside West Ham United, Nottingham Forest and Leeds United. Safety remains within reach, but the final month promises decisive swings depending on form and fixtures.

Leeds sit 15th after a thumping 3–0 win over Wolves, a result that all but condemned Rob Edwards’s side to the Championship. For the three clubs below them, a strong finish is essential if they are to avoid joining that fate.

Standing points: Tottenham 31, West Ham 32, Nott’m Forest 33, Leeds 39.

Tottenham (remaining): Wolves (A) – April 25; Aston Villa (A) – May 3; Leeds (H) – May 11; Chelsea (A) – May 17; Everton (H) – May 24. Despite troubling form, Spurs will like their odds against Wolves. Three points there are a necessity before a trip to Villa Park. The home game with Leeds could prove pivotal; dropped points would leave Chelsea and Everton on the docket to decide Spurs’ fate.

West Ham (remaining): Crystal Palace (A) – April 20; Everton (H) – April 25; Brentford (A) – May 2; Arsenal (H) – May 10; Newcastle (A) – May 17; Leeds (A) – May 24. West Ham get extra days to prepare for Crystal Palace and will need their best form across fixtures against Everton and Brentford. With league leaders Arsenal ahead and a trip to St James’ Park one week later, the Hammers must channel results to stay clear.

Nottingham Forest (remaining): Burnley (H) – April 19; Sunderland (A) – April 24; Chelsea (A) – May 4. Europa League matches against Aston Villa come between domestic fixtures. After the second leg of the semifinals, Vítor Pereira’s men return to take on Newcastle, then travel to Old Trafford on the second-to-last matchday before hosting Bournemouth on May 24.

Leeds (remaining): Bournemouth (A) is the biggest remaining challenge; their final stretch otherwise avoids the league’s top teams. How each of these schedules plays out in the closing weeks will determine who secures safety and who faces relegation.

With national teams required to submit World Cup squads to FIFA by May 30, every appearance now carries added weight for American players. The past week produced clear positives and growing concerns for the USMNT pool.

Haji Wright played 28 minutes for Coventry City in a 1–1 draw with Blackburn Rovers as his club secured promotion to the English top flight for the first time in 25 years. Wright entered in the 62nd minute and registered a single shot in that match. Across the Championship campaign he has 16 goals and an assist in 29 games, placing him second in the Golden Boot race behind Žan Vipotnik. That goalscoring return and the prospect of remaining with Coventry for the Premier League step up have strengthened his appeal for a World Cup roster spot, even if he is not a guaranteed starter.

Brenden Aaronson is enjoying one of his best seasons with Leeds United. He played 86 minutes in Monday’s Premier League fixture against Manchester United, creating an assist on a day Noah Okafor netted a brace in a 2–1 victory at Old Trafford. Aaronson now has four goals and four assists in 31 Premier League matches this season and is pushing to make his second World Cup after debuting in Qatar. While Leeds remain concerned about relegation, the club also prepares for an FA Cup semifinal against Chelsea after ousting West Ham United. “The biggest thing was the Premier League, staying up and just having a great season, which I think we’ve done and we’ve put ourselves in a great position,” Aaronson told ESPN . “And then the cherry on top is being in the FA Cup and getting to the semifinals … It’s going to be a massive game for this club and for this team.”

Chris Richards continued his rise with Crystal Palace, producing 10 defensive actions and nine clearances in Conference League action against Fiorentina as Palace advanced 4–2 on aggregate despite a 2–1 loss. He also delivered nine defensive contributions in a league win over Newcastle, a match settled by Jean-Philippe Mateta’s 94th-minute penalty.

By contrast, Christian Pulisic’s form remains a concern. The 27-year-old has gone 17 goalless games for AC Milan after a 3–0 loss to Udinese in which he recorded three attempts but no shot on target. Since his last goal he has one assist, versus Torino in March, and he struggled for the USMNT against Portugal and Belgium. Tim Ream’s veteran presence still matters, but recent showings with Charlotte FC raise questions about his level against top attackers.