Our best XI from the weekend’s Premier League fixtures.
With no Monday night game due to the impending third round of the League Cup, the latest round of fixtures in the Premier League season has drawn to a close, with shocks being the order of a weekend that saw Liverpool beaten at West Ham United and newly promoted Leicester City come from two goals behind to beat sorry Manchester United 5-3 at the King Power Stadium.
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Having taken a look at all of the weekend’s matches, this is the most impressive XI that we’ve selected from the games:
GK) Tom Heaton (Burnley)
Former Manchester United youngster Tom Heaton was impressive between the sticks for Burnley as they ensured a third successive clean sheet and 0-0 draw against Sunderland at Turf Moor on Saturday afternoon – Heaton is excellent at marshaling a back line that has started the season fantastically.
RB) Calum Chambers (Arsenal)
Solid stuff from young Calum Chambers as his Arsenal side breezed to victory at Villa Park courtesy of three quick-fire first half goals – Chambers wasn’t overly tested by a Villa side hit by illness but did what he was asked to do extremely well.
CB) John Terry (Chelsea)
Chelsea captain John Terry was immense at the back for his side as they drew at Manchester City, repelling almost everything that the defending Premier League champions were able to throw at him – although there was a cruel irony in old mate Frank Lampard coming on to ruin Terry’s clean sheet.
CB) Craig Dawson (West Bromwich Albion)
West Brom’s 1-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane was one of a number of eye-catching weekend results and centre back Craig Dawson did as much as anyone to help the Baggies over the line, putting a shaky start to the season behind him and really dominating the Spurs attack.
LB) Patrick van Aanholt (Sunderland)
The former Chelsea youngster seems to have found a new leaf of life at Sunderland under Gus Poyet after making a permanent move this summer – the Dutch international did everything that was asked of him in a defensive capacity whilst also coming within a lick of paint of winning the Turf Moor stalemate against Burnley.
CM) Alexandre Song (West Ham United)
The former Arsenal man and Barcelona loanee Alex Song was absolutely superb for West Ham as they recorded a shock victory over Liverpool at Upton Park on Saturday evening – helping Sam Allardyce’s side to build the platform for their win by physically dominating a timid Liverpool midfield.
CM) James Milner (Manchester City)
England international James Milner once again delivered when asked to do a job for his manager in a big game, covering endless amounts of ground, particularly when his side went down to ten men, quelling Cesc Fabregas and also impressing with his neat use of possession.
ACM) Mesut Ozil (Arsenal)
Perhaps the single stand-out player of the weekend, previously maligned playmaker Mesut Ozil ran riot at Villa Park after being restored to his preferred central role – Ozil scored the opening goal, picked up a fine assist for Danny Welbeck’s finish and generally caused chaos for the hosts.
FW) Jamie Vardy (Leicester City)
Whilst it was strike partner Leonardo Ulloa who continued to steal the headlines with another two goals, Leicester’s comeback victory over Manchester United was engineered by the pace and work rate of former non-league forward Jamie Vardy, who run amok in behind the United defence thanks to his lightning speed, scoring once and winning two penalties.
FW) Danny Welbeck (Arsenal)
After missing glorious opportunities to open his Arsenal account in the matches against Manchester City and Borussia Dortmund, striker Danny Welbeck desperately needed to find the net against Aston Villa this weekend. That he did, but the ability with which Welbeck linked up with midfield runners was equally impressive from an Arsenal perspective.
SC) Papiss Cisse (Newcastle United)
Newcastle United striker Papis Cisse earned his position in this side by almost single-handedly saving the job of manager Alan Pardew – Cisse has not looked like the player that the Magpies initially appeared to have signed from Freiburg for quite some time, but the clinical nature with which he took his two goals at St. James’ Park could indicate that the Senegalese striker is back in form.