Steven Gerrard and the EPL Players of the Week

Another week gone, another exciting weekend of Premier League football in the books.

Swansea's mini-slump continued after a 3-0 loss to Everton, Chelsea left it late to take the three points against a resilient Stoke City side and Southampton got their first win of the season with a convincing 4-1 thrashing of Aston Villa.

West Brom squeaked out a 1-0 win over Reading, Sunderland made it four draws on the trot with a 1-1 draw against West Ham and Damien Duff shone again for Fulham in a 2-1 win over Wigan.

Liverpool lost a heartbreaker to Manchester United at Anfield, Newcastle took a 1-0 win over Norwich, Manchester City and Arsenal played out a 1-1 draw and Jermain Defoe rescued Tottenham once again with his game-winner over QPR.

It was a great weekend of football, so let's take a look at the EPL Players of the Week. 

Everton's Marouane Fellaini is turning into one of the stories of the season, as he continued his dominance in Everton's midfield in a convincing 3-0 win over Swansea City.

The Belgian international assisted Victor Anichebe for the Toffees' first goal, and nailed the coffin shut with a header from Leighton Baines' free kick.

Fellaini is emerging as one of the early contenders for player of the season. 

It was Juan Mata's tricky flick on to Ashley Cole that set up the winner for Chelsea, but Mata could have had another assist and a goal to boot in this game.

The Spaniard had a magnificent game, providing great interplay with his teammates all game and sending in killer crosses and through balls.

Mata provided the best chance of the first half for Chelsea, gifting Fernando Torres a simple chip over the Stoke defense. Torres couldn't control it off his chest and Asmir Begovic snatched it up.

He could have had a goal as well were it not for brilliant defending from Ryan Shawcross.

Chelsea's struggle to find the back of the net in this one were not down to lack of ability from Mata. He simply had a fantastic game. 

Despite going down 1-0 thanks to Darren Bent, Southampton sparked a furious comeback in the second half to win their first game of the season 4-1.

Rickie Lambert was at the forefront of the Saints attack, scoring two goals, one from the run of play and his second from the penalty spot in the dying minutes of the game.

Lambert showed great poise and skill on his first goal, displaying excellent control on the edge of the box to fire a shot low past Brad Guzan. 

The man who doesn't know how to stop scoring goals now has four on the season for Southampton, and it doesn't looks like he's slowing down soon. 

Romelu Lukaku's game-winning strike brought West Brom up to third in the Premier League standings while keeping Reading in the relegation zone. 

The Chelsea loanee fired the ball through a crowd of Reading defenders to send it right past Alex McCarthy, who didn't know anything about it until the ball was in the back of the net. 

West Brom could have taken this one by multiple goals, but in the end it was Lukaku who fired them to the well-deserved three points. 

Kevin Nolan saved a point for West Ham over the weekend in the 93rd minute, canceling out Steven Fletcher's first-half goal.

Modibo Maiga headed the ball into the path of Nolan, who volleyed it past Simon Mignolet, who himself had a fantastic game. 

West Ham looked the more productive side all game and they got the point they deserved through Kevin Nolan. 

Even though Dimitar Berbatov didn't get on the scoresheet in the 2-1 win over Wigan, he was the catalyst for Fulham's attack.

It was the Bulgarian's pinpoint cross that Hugo Rodellega latched onto for the first goal and after that, Berbatov's hold-up play and service continued to inspire Fulham's advances forward.

Berbatov is slowly looking like the transfer of the season for Fulham. Who needs Clint Dempsey? 

Steven Gerrard looked like the Gerrard of old in a controversial loss to Manchester United on Sunday.

In a game that was marred by questionable refereeing decisions regarding Jonjo Shelvey's red card and Antonio Valencia's penalty win, Gerrard and Liverpool dominated most of the match, even while a man down.

Gerrard opened the scoring after Shelvey was sent off, chesting the ball onto his right foot and volleying it home to scenes of jubilation at Anfield. 

Gerrard's runs were purposeful, his passes more accurate and his work rate resembled the Steven Gerrard Liverpool fans had grown accustomed to. 

Hatem Ben Arfa was all over Norwich over the weekend, providing a highlight-reel 30-yard pass to Demba Ba for Newcastle's only goal. 

Ben Arfa easily could have racked up the assists Sunday, as he almost provided Ba with his second right before halftime with a inch-perfect pass to Ba, but the striker couldn't get a hold of it. 

The French international had chances to put Newcastle further ahead. In the 22nd minute, Ben Arfa could have lobbed John Ruddy, but he couldn't connect with the ball. Right after halftime, Ben Arfa cut inside the Norwich defense and sent in a low shot that was well saved by Ruddy. 

Ben Arfa was simply on fire Sunday night. 

Laurent Koscielny saved a point for Arsenal against Manchester City in a well-fought game between the two clubs.

Arsenal looked the better team for most of the game, but it was Joleon Lescott that opened up the scoring with a header that squeaked by the near post.

Koscielny equalized late on with a rocket of a shot that fell to him off a corner with his first start of the season. 

The French international could not be happier with his first goal of the season, as it kept his team undefeated on the season. 

Jermain Defoe rescued Tottenham again to take the three points for Spurs over QPR. 

After going down early thanks to Bobby Zamora, Spurs equalized and took the lead in the space of about 90 seconds in the second half. 

An unlucky own goal from Alejandro Faurlin gave Tottenham the lead, followed by a shot from Gareth Bale that Julio Cesar tipped onto the ball. The ball fell to Defoe, who tapped it home. 

Defoe's fourth goal on the season gave Spurs another three points, as AVB's team looks better week after week.