Another staggering weekend of football in the best league in the world brought some world class finishes and performances, ThisIsFutbol took a moment to bring you our Premier League Team of the Week. Just to let you know, we won’t be choosing Eden Hazard and Steven Pienaar to be holding midfielders, like BBC football pundit Garth Crooks did. *shakes head*
Formation: 4-3-3
Goalkeeper: Ali Al Habsi – Without this keeper, Wigan could have been done and dusted against Chelsea in the first half, and he produced a goalkeeping blueprint on how to keep a clean sheet against Southampton this weekend, regularly coming to his sides rescue, especially with his finger tip save from Saints captain Adam Lallana, a game changing save. Al Habsi made six saves in the game, definitely enough to make it for our goalkeeper spot this week.
Right Back: Rafael Da Silva – The young Brazlian right back had an absolute storming game against Fulham on Saturday, even helping himself to a goal. There will always be questions about his defensive abilities, but going forward, Rafael is one of the most exciting right backs in the world on his day, and it showed on Saturday with a priceless goal. Will need to step up to defensive abilities if he is to nail the right back spot at Old Trafford.
Centre Backs: Gary Cahill and Per Mertesacker – Gary Cahill topped off a great week for his team with a goal against Reading, and marshalling a good performance versus Newcastle at the weekend. And as for Mertesacker, you may be rubbing your eyes in disbelief, but he also had a great game against a Stoke side who Arsenal usually crumble to, Mertesacker looked suitably comfortable alongside Vermaelen, and did his best to stop the threat of Peter Crouch, a new look defensive Arsenal side? Two clean sheets in two games. Unheard of.
Left Back: Glen Johnson – Johnson and Sterling looked very threatening on the left hand side, which could provide a future link once Sterling gets more game time. Johnson looked very solid, an attribute that isn’t always linked with the player. A top performance for the England defender, and a top result for Liverpool, who outplayed City for vast periods of the game.
Deep lying playmaker: Joe Allen – Man of the match performance from the young Welshman, Completing 43/46 passes, a 93% pass rate, continually finding space for attacking threats, and for his home debut, not bad at all. A real coup from Rodgers to bring him from Swansea to Anfield, will be a key player for the Kop for years to come.
Box to box/Attacking midfielder: Moussa Dembele – Unreal. The former striker now plies his trade in Fulham’s midfield, and wow, he has adjusted to his new role brilliantly. Not many midfielders turn up at Old Trafford and totally dominate the pitch, but this Belgian did. 80 touches, 49/50 passes, 98% pass rate, 2 shots, 3 key passes, 7 tackles won, completed 9 dribbles. The stats say it all. The complete midfielder.
Attacking midfielder: Eden Hazard – Another Belgian in the team, this time Chelsea’s Number 17. Hazard has simply ran the show since joining Chelsea in the summer, in his three games for the West London club he has six assists and one goal, astounding on the ball and off it, his positional awareness is top class, if Hazard is to keep this form up, Chelsea could be serious contenders for the title this season.
Right sided striker: Robin van Persie – A perfect home debut for the Dutchman, his first goal for the club, flew into Mark Schwarzer’s net, a clinical finish. If United are to claim their 20th Premier League title, then van Persie will need to show the same of performances he shown for Arsenal last season, this was a nice start for Man United’s number 20.
Left sided striker: Fernando Torres – It seems El Nino has finally found his form, Chelsea’s great start to the season has been mainly down to Torres and Hazard, who have linked up perfectly alongside Juan Mata. He took his goal superbly well against Newcastle United. A big season for the Spaniard.
Central striker: Nikica Jelavic – Jelavic was instrumental in Everton’s 3-1 win over Aston Villa at Villa Park on Saturday, and he took his goal superbly well. One quote about Jelavic says it all, “His second touch is usually to celebrate”. An astounding striker, probably one of the best all round finishers in the Premier League.
^^^ Pretty decent strikeforce, huh?
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Bullshit team that. Baines and Pienaar ripped Villa apart.