The Premier League stars who lit up Matchday 36

Arsenal's Premier League title hopes took what looks like a fatal blow against Brighton during a thrilling Matchday 36.

The trophy now looks to be in Manchester City's hands following a 3-0 win at Everton, while Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest earned handy results in their respective European and survival efforts.

Liverpool turned up the heat in the top-four race on Monday night by beating Leicester, whose hopes of avoiding the drop are now hanging by a thread.

We pick out the stars who shone the brightest as an entertaining top-flight season edges closer to its conclusion.

John McGinn (Aston Villa)

Villa responded to two successive defeats in the perfect way with a 2-1 victory over Tottenham to move level on points with their opponents.

Captain John McGinn was the star of a dominant performance for Unai Emery's men, with his swashbuckling efforts in the centre of the park putting a lacklustre Spurs to the sword.

The Scotland ace won eight duels, completed three interceptions and took on the opposition three times as his side recorded their sixth straight victory at Villa Park.

Taiwo Awoniyi (Nottingham Forest)

Taiwo Awoniyi became only the second Nottingham Forest player ever to score consecutive Premier League braces in his side's 2-2 draw with Chelsea.

The summer signing has spent much of his first season in England on the treatment table but has returned at the perfect time to help the Reds cement a three-point cushion above the drop zone.

Considering the instinctive way in which the striker headed home both opportunities, Forest may already have secured their top-flight status had Steve Cooper been able to call on the former Union Berlin man more often.

Ilkay Gundogan (Manchester City)

As he has done so often, Ilkay Gundogan made some crucial contributions against Everton to spearhead City's march towards another title.

The German scored two breathtaking goals at Goodison Park — the first a spectacular touch and acrobatic finish and the second a sumptuous free-kick to wrap up the points.

Also setting up Erling Haaland for City's second, Pep Guardiola may well be working hard to ensure the 32-year-old extends his contract beyond its expiry this summer.

Julio Enciso (Brighton)

Brighton may be set to lose a number of their stars this summer — but in Julio Enciso they have a talent more than capable of taking on the mantle.

The 19-year-old Paraguayan continued his late-season breakthrough with an exceptional performance to derail Arsenal's title bid, heading the opening goal in a 3-0 win at the Emirates.

Aside from the goal, the versatile forward proved a nightmare for Gunners right-back Ben White throughout and took more shots (three) than any other player on the field.

Curtis Jones (Liverpool)

Curtis Jones was also at the double as Liverpool moved within a single point of fourth-placed Manchester United with a convincing 3-0 win over a Leicester.

A tense encounter at the King Power Stadium looked to be going only one way once the Reds midfielder's deft first-half finish from Mohamed Salah's pass found the net.

The 22-year-old then continued to take his chance in Jurgen Klopp's engine room with an excellent touch and strike on the turn to double Liverpool's lead before the break.