The top of the Premier League has an unfamiliar look to it today, with Southampton and West Ham both sitting pretty in the Champions League places after an excellent weekend for the upstarts.
Of the so-called 'big teams' Arsenal were the only ones to win this week as league leaders Chelsea drew at Man United, Liverpool fired blanks against Hull and Man City suffered another shock defeat, this time to the Hammers.
How long the likes of Southampton, West Ham and other pretenders like Swansea can maintain their positions among the elite remains to be seen. They may not last the distance but their presence at the top of the table makes a refreshing change for the neutrals.
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But who were the stand-out performers this weekend? Here's our pick of the experts picks:
Goalkeeper:
Eldin Jakupovic (Hull City)
There is little concensus at the back this week, and Jukupovic is awarded the gloves thanks to his score on fantasy football and the fact that he kept a clean sheet at Anfield despite being Hull's third choice keeper. "Kept Liverpool at bay and frustrated the Reds' £16m-man Mario Balotelli," says the Daily Star. He was also The Guardian's man of the match.
Defence:
James Collins (West Ham), Leighton Baines (Everton), Curtis Davis (Hull City)
Opinions are split on the weekend's best defenders and because of the confusion there is only room for three at the back this week. West Ham hero Collins is a unanimous choice at ESPN. "He took on the form of a one-man wall at times during a City siege late in the game and was as pivotal as any man in claret and blue."
Alongside him is Baines, who distinguished himself with yet another assist this week. "The Englishman started a little rough this season—in particular his defensive skill set looked questionable—but now he's coming in to some excellent form and making a decisive impact in most games," says Bleacher Report. Hull's point at Anfield, with two keepers and Michael Dawson all missing, was "largely down to the impressive Davies, who is really fulfilling his long term potential at the KC Stadium", says website Caughtoffside.
Midfield:
David Silva (Man City), Alex Song (West Ham), Nemanja Matic (Chelsea), Alexis Sanchez (Arsenal), Sadio Mane (Southampton)
There's is a lot more agreement in midfield than in defence this week. Silva may have been on the losing side at Upton Park but he scored a "magnificent" goal says Garth Crooks of the BBC and he was "the only player in the City team who seemed up for the fight against West Ham". Former Arsenal man Song impressed everyone this week. "West Ham have bagged themselves a superb deal to secure Alex Song for a season on loan from Barcelona, and he proved why in the 2-1 win over Manchester City," says ESPN, whose experts describe his show as a "statement performance".
Matic put in a "wonderful" display for Chelsea at Old Trafford says Caughtoffside. "The Serbian is perhaps the Blues' most important player and deserved to be on the winning side. Sanchez is rapidly becoming Arsenal's key man and he was the highest scoring fantasy league player this week. It was "another impressive performance which proves the Chilean has taken to life at Arsenal with ease", according to the Star. Saints goalscorer Mane is adapting to life in the Premier League with aplomb, says Garth Crooks of the BBC. He scored the winner on Saturday and was "the driving force behind another impressive victory for Ronald Koeman's side".
Attack:
Samuel Eto'o (Everton), Wilfried Bony (Swansea)
Everton striker Eto'o rolled back the years against Burnley scoring twice and only being denied a hat-trick by the post. It was an "ageless" performance says ESPN's panel, and it proves that "brains can be more important than legs". Bony hit two goals as Swansea overpowered Leicester on Saturday evening. "The Swans played some wonderful football at times, with Bony often the lynchpin between the midfield and the attack. He scored two excellent goals and left the park to a standing ovation after 83 minutes," says Garth Crooks of the BBC.
