Mane, Long, Hart and Smalling all make team of the week
Three players each from Man Utd and Southampton and two from Man City make this week's XI
The penultimate weekend of the season saw few surprises, but did feature several notable performances including a record-breaking hat-trick for Southampton striker Saido Mane, who found the net three times in the space of three minutes against Aston Villa.
The Saints' 6-1 win over the FA Cup finalists was the most eye-catching result of a weekend, which also saw Crystal Palace ruin Steven Gerrard's Anfield farewell, Leicester complete their great escape from relegation and Arsenal tighten their grip on third place ahead of Manchester United.
But who makes this week's team of the week? Here's our pick of the experts' picks:
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.
Goalkeeper: Joe Hart (Man City)
The England stopper was in fine form against Swansea. He made seven saves in a game that finished 4-2, including one "absolutely jaw-dropping effort to deny Federico Fernandez", says the Daily Telegraph.
Defence: Nathaniel Clyne (Southampton), Danny Rose (Spurs), Chris Smalling, Antonio Valencia (both Man United)
Clyne is the first Southampton player to make the team. "Pitted against Jack Grealish, the England international kept the Aston Villa youngster quiet and looked to get forward with regularity himself," says Goal.com. Tottenham defender Rose is the first of several unanimous choices in this week's XI. He scored a fine goal as Spurs beat Hull 2-0. "Rose was lively on his flank and uncorked a screamer," says ESPN pundit Gab Marcotti.
Smalling captained Man United against Arsenal on Sunday and impressed Garth Crooks of the BBC. "His performance against the Gunners was consistently high but what is becoming glaringly apparent are his leadership qualities," he says. Team-mate Valencia also makes the cut after what the Daily Express calls "a strong showing" against the Gunners at Old Trafford.
Midfield: Yaya Toure (Man City), Yannick Bolasie (Crystal Palace), Ashley Young (Man United)
He's not had the greatest season and may be leaving at the end of the campaign, but City midfielder Toure reminded everyone what he is capable of. "With two superb goals in an important win, Yaya Toure was back to his very best," says Caughtoffside. Bolasie, meanwhile, was instrumental in Palace's party-pooping win at Anfield. He "gave the Liverpool defence a torrid time and played his part in the Eagles' first two goals", says Goal.com.
The final berth in a three-man midfield goes to another United player, Young. He was the "stand-out performer at Old Trafford in the draw against Arsenal," says the Telegraph. He "set up Ander Herrera's goal and caused Hector Bellerin problems all afternoon".
Attack: Saido Mane, Shane Long (both Southampton), Romelu Lukaku (Everton)
No surprise about Mane's presence in the team after the fastest hat-trick in Premier League history. Crooks describes him as "electric" but warns that his stunning performance may have got people talking about a big-money move away from St Mary's. "That's the last thing Saints manager Ronald Koeman wants to hear," he says.
Mane's team-mate Long is also a unanimous choice. Mane may have grabbed the headlines but, as the Telegraph notes, Long "became the first player since Luis Suarez to score two goals and register two assists in a Premier League game". The final place in the team goes to Lukaku. "With an assist and then a well-taken late winning goal, Romelu Lukaku showed his importance for Everton," says Caughtoffside.
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
-
Today's political cartoons - November 2, 2024
Cartoons Saturday's cartoons - anti-fascism, early voter turnout, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Geoff Capes obituary: shot-putter who became the World’s Strongest Man
In the Spotlight The 'mighty figure' was a two-time Commonwealth Champion and world-record holder
By The Week UK Published
-
Israel attacks Iran: a 'limited' retaliation
Talking Point Iran's humiliated leaders must decide how to respond to Netanyahu's measured strike
By The Week UK 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