ARSENAL, Man City and Chelsea remain neck and neck at the top of the table after a weekend in which all three teams won.
Arsenal disposed of Fulham at the Emirates, while City hit four against Cardiff to take their goals tally to a barely credible 103 in just 34 games this season. Chelsea, who had the toughest task of the three, made light work of Man United on Sunday to stay in touch with the leaders.
Those three are now out on their own after Liverpool dropped points against Aston Villa, although Everton could go fourth tonight if they beat West Brom.
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Despite the dominance of those three sides, this week's team of the week is not dominated by the big boys and features players from nine different teams.
Here's the pick of the expert's picks.
Goalkeeper:Jack Butland (Stoke)
Stoke ended up losing to Crystal Palace on Saturday, but Butland's outstanding triple save to deny Joel Ward, Jason Puncheon and Stuart O'Keefe was the goalkeeping hightlight of the weekend and kept Stoke in the game. Stoke ended up losing 1-0 but "Butland is the reason why the score was so close", says Bleacher Report.
Defence:
Ryan Bennett (Norwich), Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Kyle Walker (Spurs), Ron Vlaar (Aston Villa).
Norwich earned a vital win over Hull thanks to a late goal from Bennett, but as ESPN notes that was not his only contribution, he also kept Nikica Jelavic quiet as the Canaries recorded a clean sheet. Chelsea defender Cahill had a hand in two of the Blues goals against Man United and was a "pillar of aerial strength" according to Bleacher Report. Walker was impressive at both ends of the field says ESPN and gets the credit for Spurs' second goal against Swansea, say ESPN's experts. The final place goes to Villa defender Vlaar who was "hugely impressive" against Luis Suarez says Garth Crooks of the BBC.
Midfield:
Santi Cazorla (Arsenal), Yohan Cabaye (Newcastle), Adam Johnson (Sunderland), Yaya Toure (Man City).
Arsenal stay top thanks to two goals from Spanish midfielder Cazorla, described by Jamie Redknapp of the Daily Mail as "a maestro" who can play with either foot. "He makes the ball talk and he’s got a football brain the size of a planet." Newcastle midfielder Cabaye was also on target twice against West Ham and was "the best player on the pitch" according to The Independent. Johnson makes the team for the second week, after following up his hat-trick with another goal against Southampton. Sunderland are struggling, but Johnson "is the man carrying the fight for Gus Poyet at the moment", says ESPN. The final spot goes to Man City enforcer Toure. It was a display of pace, power, goals and control says Crooks of the BBC. Indeed Toure may be "currently the best midfield player in the world".
Attack:
Emmanuel Adebayor (Spurs), Samuel Eto'o (Chelsea)
An unusual strikeforce this week as, for once, it does not feature Suarez. Instead the first spot goes to Adebayor, who scored twice for Spurs against Swansea. "His link-play, movement, tackling and influence made him unrecognisable from the moody figure who has previously sulked at Spurs," says the Daily Mirror. Alongside him is Eto'o of Spurs, who notched a hat-trick against Man United and was the highest-scoring Fantasy Football player this week. His performance proves "class and brains are permanent" says Gabrielle Marcotti of ESPN.
