Comment article editor Caspar Goodwin fills in for Sam Bernard this week, in a typically unpredictable weekend of Premier League football as Chelsea finally won a game, Leicester continued their potentially title winning form and a plucky Watford side outclassed Klopp’s Liverpool. Meanwhile Sam Bernard takes a (not so) well earned rest from his Burn FM duties in sunny Barbados.
Goalkeeper: Hugo Lloris (Tottenham Hotspur)
Tottenham’s brilliant form seems to be going somewhat under the radar, with Leicester stealing all the attention. They have just sneaked into the top four and certainly deserve their place.
After some shaky displays in recent weeks from Tottenham’s captain, Lloris has put that behind him with a brilliant display and clean sheet against Southampton. He wasn’t called upon too frequently, but he dived low to his right to save a fierce shot from Mané, before superbly denying James Ward-Prowse, who looked certain to score only for a strong left hand from Lloris. Maintaining this standard will be crucial in fulfilling Tottenham’s top-four aspirations.
Defender: Christian Fuchs (Leicester City)
Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez have stolen all the plaudits with Leceister sitting top at Christmas, but the whole team has been in superb form over the course of the season. Providing solid foundations on which the forward players can build on and take advantage of.
Fuchs shone yesterday in his left back position, providing frequent blocks and interceptions that denied Everton the chance to get back into the game, most noticeably in the closing minutes.
Defender: Branislav Ivanovic (Chelsea)
It was odd to see a player who is usually a fan favourite booed when the stadium announcer read his name out before kick-off, but that appears to be the state of affairs for a fragmented Chelsea at the minute.
On the pitch, however, Ivanovic silenced any doubters with an excellent performance that was much needed in front of a hostile home crowd. He scored the first with a powerful header having out-jumped Coates, before whipping in a wicked ball that found its way to Pedro who poked the ball in from inside the box.
Ivanovic seemed to play with the attacking intent and solidity at the back that had been missing for some time under Mourinho’s management.
Defender: Fabricio Coloccini (Newcastle)
Leaving John Terry out of the side after a much improved display was difficult, but Coloccini gets the nod as he played an important part in a well-earned point for Newcastle in a game that was dampened by heavy rain.
He scored Newcastle’s only goal, after Villa criminally left him unmarked in the box and he obligingly beat Brad Guzan from close range. Defensively, he provided some reassuring stability in a defence that has leaked goals too often this season: it is another point that will take them further away from the relegation zone.
Defender: Adam Smith (Bournemouth)
It was an eventful game for Adam Smith, who has firmly established himself at the heart of Bournemouth’s Premier League defence. He was on the end of a horrific challenge from James McClean, who was subsequently sent off, but also scored a goal from the edge of the box, beating Boaz Myhill with a low shot that fizzed into the bottom right-hand corner of the net.
It wasn’t quite as good as the goal he scored against Everton a little while ago, but it means Bournemouth sit above Chelsea in the League at the Christmas break. They would have taken that at the beginning of the season.
Midfielder: Riyad Mahrez (Leicester City)
Picking Riyad Mahrez to go in the team of the week yet again seems unfair. But his form never seems to deteriorate. He only scored a brace of penalties this week, and didn’t even have anything to do with the Leicester winner, so I suppose there is still room for improvement.
He placed his first penalty perfectly beyond the outstretched arm of Tim Howard, before sending him the wrong the way for the second, after an excellent through-ball to Vardy being brought down in the box.
Midfielder: Mesut Özil (Arsenal)
After the timid performances of last season, Özil has been under-pressure to show his true class, and finally show why Real Madrid were so sad to see him go. He has done so now.
He dictated the tempo of the play against Man City, and outclassed Yaya Toure, who was made to seem lethargic by Özil’s play and added another two assists to his extraordinary tally of 15 so far this season.
Midfielder: Moussa Dembélé (Tottenham Hotspur)
Moussa Dembélé has to be one of the most underrated players in the Premier League, I suppose because he goes about his business so quietly.
Whilst Dele Alli perhaps also warrants a place in this team, Dembélé played a crucial role in frustrating Southampton, with excellently timed slide-tackles, powerful runs and calmly played passes that allowed Spurs to control the pace of the game. With him in the centre of midfield, Tottenham look like a difficult team to break down, which hasn’t always been the case.
Midfielder: Jordan Ayew (Aston Villa)
For a side who have not looked like scoring in recent weeks, Jordan Ayew is one bright note in what has been a pretty awful season for Aston Villa so far. His superb goal, created out of nothing, was a real indicator of his class. Receiving the ball with his back to goal, he swivelled and fired a curling effort into the top corner from 20 yards.
He gave Newcastle’s defence a torrid time all evening, and should have been rewarded with an assist, but Gestede couldn’t quite reach a cross from the right wing. If Villa are to stay up, Ayew will have to play a key role.
Attacker: Cameron Jerome (Norwich)
Norwich have lost the last three games at Old-Trafford 4-0. To come away with a 2-1 victory shows what a fantastic display it was, Cameron Jerome being one of the unlikely stars of this performance.
He scored one goal, perhaps not the prettiest, but he beat De Gea from close range and provided an assist as well, driving into space before sliding it into the path of Tettey, who finished with an awkward looking toe-poke that appeared to bamboozle De Gea.
Attacker: Shinji Okazaki (Leicester City)
Playing in a side with Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez means it can be difficult to burst outside of their increasingly large shadows. Okazaki’s contribution in the victory over Everton though did just that. He was an irritation to the Everton defence all game, quickly closing down the defence and chasing any apparent lost causes.
He won the first penalty after being held in the box, and scored a poacher’s goal that put the game beyond Everton. Okazaki is more than just a ‘back-up’ player for Mahrez and Vardy, and should be considered an excellent player in his own right.
Caspar Goodwin.
Feature image courtesy of Flickr user Stuart Macfarlane.
