Smalling, Herrera, Sterling and Wijnaldum in team of the week

Newcastle's four-goal hero leads the way in a team that found the net 14 times this weekend

Georginio Wijnaldum
(Image credit: Alex Livesey/Getty Images)

In the event Jurgen Klopp's first game in charge at Liverpool ended in a goalless draw, while Steve McClaren's Newcastle stole the show with a 6-2 demolition of Norwich on Sunday.

Raheem Sterling scored the first hat-trick of his career as Man City maintained their goalscoring form with a 5-1 win over Bournemouth, but Arsenal and Man United maintained the pressure on the league leaders, while Chelsea moved up the table with victory over Aston Villa, although they remain in the bottom half.

But who were the star performers of the weekend? Here's our pick of the expert's picks:

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Goalkeeper: Simon Mignolet

The Belgian keeper did his bit for new manager Jurgen Klopp as Liverpool held Spurs to a draw. He "produced several impressive saves to secure a clean sheet at Tottenham, where it was vital for morale that Liverpool avoided defeat," says Sport.co.uk, while Mignolet also gets the nod from Harry Redknapp in the Daily Telegraph:

Defence: Hector Bellerin (Arsenal), Chris Smalling (Man United), Mamadou Sakho (Liverpool), Carl Jenkinson (West Ham)

The Arsenal full back put in a "typically-energetic performance" says Sport.co.uk, as the Gunners broke down a spirited Watford side. "His assist for Aaron Ramsey's goal was a perfect vignette of his silky prowess," adds ESPN.

Smalling is another player to make Redknapp's Telegraph team and was the highest-scoring defender in Fantasy Premier League. It was "another solid performance and a clean sheet for the England international, who has become a stalwart at Old Trafford", says Goal.com

ESPN's experts believe French defender Sakho produced his best game for the club and "a vital block on Tottenham midfielder Dele Alli was the standout moment in a determined display".

His Hammers career has been a "rollercoaster" but Jenkinson is a player with "a terrific will to succeed", says Garth Crooks of the BBC, and "his goal against Crystal Palace smacks of a full-back developing a taste for the art".

Midfield: Georginio Wijnaldum (Newcastle), Raheem Sterling (Man City), Morgan Schneiderlin, Ander Herrera (both Man United)

After scoring four goals for the Magpies against Norwich, Wijnaldum is a unanimous choice among the pundits. "Quite apart from his clinical finishing, our pundits thought the 24-year-old's passing and movement were a joy to watch," says ESPN. His performance earned him a massive 25 Fantasy Premier League points.

Sterling may have scored one fewer than Wijnaldum, but he too is a unanimous choice and registered an impressive 19 fantasy points. His hat-trick was impressive "given his occasionally-erratic finishing is frequently criticised", says Sport.co.uk.

It's been tough going for Schneiderlin since he joined Man United, but "against an Everton side who failed to turn up for this normally feisty fixture, Schneiderlin looked very comfortable", says Garth Crooks of the BBC. "He provided Ander Herrera and Wayne Rooney with all the props they required to put an ordinary Everton to the sword."

Talking of Herrera, the Spaniard scored one and set up another in what Goal.com calls a "lively midfield display", which also earned him a place in the Daily Express team of the weekend.

Attack: Wilfried Bony (Man City), Jamie Vardy (Leicester)

Two goals for Bony showed that he is an adequate substitute for Sergio Aguero, while Garth Crooks of the BBC was taken by his "impressive partnership" with Sterling. The pair's understanding is a "useful asset", even if it is unlikely to oust that of Aguero and David Silva.

Leicester striker Vardy is the league's top scorer after two more goals against Southampton, and he has now scored in six consecutive games. "He personified the indomitable spirit the Foxes have shown this season under Claudio Ranieri," says ESPN.