By Neil Leverett and Niall Clarke
- Liverpool return to our team of the week in dominant style, after their 5-0 thrashing of Watford at Anfield
- Arsenal, Southampton and Everton claim two spots apiece after their respective league wins
- Manchester United shrug off injury crisis to beat Crystal Palace, as Newcastle United win again
PREMIER LEAGUE, UK – After their emphatic 5-0 thrashing of Watford at Anfield, Liverpool grab a triple in our team of the week. But which players made the cut in our XI?
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Angus Gunn (GK) – Southampton lifted themselves out of the relegation zone with a 2-0 win at home to Fulham and it was their goalkeeper that was one of the stars of the show. Gunn made four saves on his way to keeping a clean sheet at St. Marys’. The 23-year-old has a bright future ahead of him and with performances like this he can become a staple in the Saints’ starting XI.
Trent Alexander-Arnold (RB) – Liverpool’s back line was in rare form on Wednesday. They were so good in an attacking sense it feels like we should have had them up front in our team of the week. Alexander-Arnold scored a hat trick in Wednesday’s 5-0 thrashing of Watford. A hat-trick of assists that is. The Englishman set up both of Sadio Mane’s goals before finding the head of Virgil van Dijk later on, capping off a great attacking performance at right-back.
Virgil van Dijk (CB) – Van Dijk has received a lot of praise this season for his performances in the Liverpool back line, but one thing that has not been lauded over is his goal-scoring ability. Until now. The Dutch defender morphed into a striker as he scored twice against Watford. The first being a header from Alexander-Arnold’s free kick and the second converting Andy Robertson’s cross. He could not quite get his hat trick, but we cannot hold that against him can we?
Fabian Schar (CB) – Goal-scoring centre-backs was one of the themes of this gameweek, and Schar was amongst them in Newcastle United’s win over Burnley. His however did not come from a set piece header, but rather a sublime 30 yard effort that went in off the post to set the Magpies on their way to a 2-0 win at St James’ Park. The Swiss was on a roll on Tuesday as he also made seven clearances on his way to a clean sheet.
Andy Robertson (LB) – And finishing our triple threat of Liverpool defenders is Robertson who like Alexander-Arnold, proved a threat from the full back position. The flying Scotsman assisted twice as the Reds kept their position at the top of the Premier League table. He first set up Divock Origi before planting the ball on the head of van Dijk to make it 5-0. It was a ruthless performance by Liverpool and as always, Robertson had a key role in the victory.
Midfielders
Idrissa Gueye (CM) – After being linked heavily with a switch to Paris Saint-Germain in January, Everton’s Senegalese midfield maestro has to dig in and go back to work after seeing his dream move to the French champions be denied. Against the Bluebirds on Tuesday night his lack of appetite for Everton did not show, as Gueye was instrumental in his side’s cruise at the Cardiff City Stadium. Grabbing an assist, as well as making three key passes and the same number of tackles, it was a red-letter day for Gueye.
Oriol Romeu (CM) – Ralph Hasenhuttl has guided the Saints from the choppy waters of relegation it appears, and against fellow strugglers Fulham it was Romeu who was the star man for Southampton. The Spaniard more known for his tough tackling than his exploits in front of goal, scored the opener against the Cottagers, which sparked their home win. Aside from his goal, the former Chelsea man was a dynamo in midfield making five interceptions and producing six blocks or tackles.
Forwards
Henrikh Mkhitaryan (RAM) – Mkihtaryan has become a largely forgotten figure after a combination of injury and poor form, but the flying winger is putting together a good run of form as we approach the business end of the campaign. For the second game running, Mkhitaryan both netted and set up a goal – adding a further assist also, as Arsenal’s attacking quartet put Eddie Howe‘s men to the sword.
Gylfi Sigurdsson (CAM) – The Toffees’ sticky spell has coincided with the dip in form of the Icelandic number ten, but against Cardiff City on Tuesday night, Sigurdsson was at his best. Scoring a brace in the Welsh valleys,
Mesut Ozil (LAM) – Arsenal’s enigmatic German continues to provide genius and consternation in equal measure such has been his inconsistent turn this season, but against the Cherries it was very much the former on show. Ozil scored and provided a sumptuous assist in the Gunners’ 5-1 hammering of Bournemouth, who must now be eyeing this weekend’s north London derby against an out-of-sorts Spurs side. In a roaming central to left wing role on Wednesday night, Ozil in total provided five key passes that rivaled his Armenian team-mate for performance of the night.
Romelu Lukaku (ST) – For many Manchester United fans, the inclusion of Marcus Rashford up front has been a a direct domino effect of the Reds Devils’ new attacking era under Ole Gunner Solskjaer. However, with Rashford out injured against the Eagles the much-maligned Belgian took centre stage for an injury-ravaged United. Scoring twice at Selhurst Park, the Belgian saw his side home and to victory against a side that could have given Solskjaer his first league loss.
Do you agree with our picks? Get in touch.
Premier League Gameweek 29 game of the week sees Tottenham Hotspur host Arsenal at Wembley Stadium in the north London derby.
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