Gerrard, Suarez and Rosicky star in team of the week
Liverpool provide the spine as Arsenal, Man City and Villa heroes add steel to this week's selection
DEFEAT for Chelsea and wins for their three title rivals this weekend, including a remarkable triumph for Liverpool over Manchester United, have thrown the title race wide open. The Blues remain top but they are now only four points ahead of second-placed Liverpool and Arsenal in third, and both teams have a game in hand on the leaders. Man City are fourth, six points behind the Blues, but they have three games in hand and will go top if they can win them all. There were some excellent individual performances this week, so who makes the all-star XI? Here's our pick of the experts' picks: Goalkeeper: David Marshall (Cardiff).
Yet another fine performance from the Bluebirds' number one wasn't enough to earn his side a share of the spoils against Everton. Were it not for Marshall's heroics Cardiff's fate could have been sealed some time ago. Reflecting on his performance against Everton, ESPN notes: "Marshall made at least four world-class saves and, ultimately, was beaten by a deflection and a slice." Defence: Seamus Coleman (Everton), Ron Vlaar (Aston Villa), Laurent Koscielny (Arsenal), Jon Flanagan (Liverpool).
Coleman's mis-hit goal for Everton that earned them victory over Cardigg had more than an element of luck to it, but they all count. It was his sixth goal of the season, not bad for a full back, and it made him the highest scoring defender in Fantasy Football, with 11 points. Villa captain Vlaar is always central to their best performances according to Bleacher Report, which says the inspiring defender "was dominant in the box at Villa Park this weekend". Arsenal's clean sheet at White Hart Lane was largely down to the efforts of Koscielny. "The Frenchman was a beast at the back for the Gunners," says website FTBPro. Young Liverpool defender Flanagan caught the eye of many pundits this week. "At no stage in the game did Flanagan look nervous or overawed," says Garth crooks of the BBC.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Midfield: Fabian Delph (Aston Villa), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), David Silva (Man City), Thomas Rosicky (Arsenal).
Every member of this week's midfield ended up on the scoresheet. Delph's back-heeled goal against Chelsea earned Villa the result of the weekend. "Villa got what they deserved against Chelsea and Fabian Delph was at the centre of everything they did well with his energy and work-rate," says Crooks of the BBC. Gerrard scored twice from the spot against Man Utd but was denied a hat-trick of penalties when his third spot kick hit the post. But it wasn't just his penalty-taking that earns him a place. "Gerrard set the tone for a comfortable victory," says the ESPN panel of experts. Silva's season has been stop-start but "he announced his return to brilliance at the perfect time", says Goal.com as he inspired ten-man Man City to victory over Hull. Rosicky downed Spurs with a wonder strike after just two minutes of the north London derby. But it wasn't just the goal, says Crooks of the BBC. "Rosicky then went onto play a major part in defending that lead in one of the grittiest displays I've seen from an Arsenal side at White Hart Lane in a good while." Attack: Jay Rodriguez (Southampton), Luis Suarez (Liverpool)
Southampton striker Jay Rodrigues gets plenty of plaudits for what Bleacher Report calls a "stupendous performance" against Norwich. "He grabbed a goal, an assist and caused mayhem with his speed and dribbling ability." The final spot goes, as usual this season, to Liverpool striker Suarez, who won a penalty and scored in the Reds' win over Man Utd. "The Uruguayan’s performance demonstrated just how little Manchester United are getting out of Van Persie and Wayne Rooney in comparison, as he terrorised whoever stood in his way," says ESPN.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Quincy Jones, music icon, is dead at 91
Speed Read The legendary producer is perhaps best known as the architect behind Michael Jackson's 'Thriller'
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Moldova's pro-West president wins 2nd term
Speed Read Maia Sandu beat Alexandr Stoianoglo, despite suspicions of Russia meddling in the election
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
2024 race ends with swing state barnstorming
Speed Read Kamala Harris and Donald Trump held rallies in battlegrounds over the weekend
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
The Premier League's spending cap: levelling the playing field?
Talking Point Top clubs oppose plans to link spending to income of lowest-earning club, but rule could prevent success gap from widening
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Is a new English football regulator an own goal for the game?
Talking Point PM hails 'historic moment for football fans' but West Ham owner warns it could 'ruin' Premier League
By The Week UK Published
-
2023-2024 Premier League predictions: champions, relegation and golden boot
feature A look at the top flight talking points and pundit picks for the new season
By Mike Starling Published
-
Man City: can ‘one of the best sides in history’ win the treble?
feature Guardiola’s Premier League champions have two more trophies in their sights
By The Week Staff Published
-
Premier League: Man City vs. Arsenal predictions
feature What the pundits say about tonight’s title race showdown at the Etihad
By Mike Starling Last updated
-
Antonio Conte leaves Tottenham after ‘extraordinary’ rant at players
feature After another year without a trophy, Spurs are now searching for a new manager
By The Week Staff Published
-
Liverpool 7 Man Utd 0: ‘welcome to Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool 2.0’
feature Anfield’s ‘new front three’ were on fire in the humbling of their bitter rivals
By Mike Starling Published
-
Man City’s financial charges: what next for the Premier League champions?
feature The club is alleged to have breached financial rules around 100 times over a nine-year period
By Mike Starling Published