Huth, Mahrez, Ramsey, Cech and Firmino in team of the week
As Leicester take a stride towards the title, three of their players feature in the selection
There were few goals on a weekend that could turn out to be one of the most significant in recent English football history, as Leicester City established themselves as genuine title favourites with a stunning win over Manchester City at the Etihad.
Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur both won to maintain the pressure on the leaders, but the Foxes are now five points clear at the top of the table while Manchester United and Chelsea fought out a 1-1 draw in a match that will have no bearing on this year's title.
But who were the stars of the weekend's action? Here's out pick of the experts' picks:
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Goalkeeper: Petr Cech (Arsenal)
If the Gunners can overhaul Leicester and win the title this year, it will be in part down to their keeper. He was in fine form against Bournemouth and gets the nod ahead of David de Gea and Fraser Forster.
"So calm and composed behind the Gunners' defence," says Goal.com. "Made several fine stops to keep the visitors' clean sheet intact and avoid any late drama."
Defence: Robert Huth (Leicester), Maya Yoshida (Southampton), Joleon Lescott (Aston Villa), Kieran Tripper (Spurs)
Burly centre-back Huth struck twice in what could go down as the defining game of the season. It makes him the top scorer in Fantasy Premier League and he is an ever-present in this week's selections. "He certainly knows how to put the wind up Manuel Pellegrini's boys," says Garth Crooks of the BBC.
Saints defender Yoshida scored against West Ham and then rallied the defence to hold out after Victor Wanyama was sent off. The game was not a classic, but Yoshida "won't mind too much", says The Offside Rule website. "He will just be glad his first goal of the season and his defensive performance secured three points for the Saints."
Another defender who got on the scoresheet was Lescott. He makes Harry Redknapp's team of the week in the Daily Telegraph and Steve Nicol of ESPN says he is "leading the miracle charge" for bottom club Villa.
The final berth goes to Spurs defender Tripper, who kept his side's title challenge going with the winner against Watford. "There wasn't much to separate Spurs and Watford in this encounter apart from Kieran Trippier's penetrating runs down Tottenham's right flank," says the BBC's Crooks.
Midfield: Riyad Mahrez, N'Golo Kante (Leicester), Aaron Ramsey (Arsenal), Jesse Lingard (Manchester United)
Mahrez was majestic once again. He "stole the show", says ESPN, setting up the Foxes' first goal and then scoring a wonderful second. He must now be favourite for player of the season, says the website.
Shoring up the Leicester defence was Kante. "[City's] Yaya Toure has rarely looked so old and slow as he tried to keep pace with the tenacious Frenchman. A dynamic, omnipresent display," says Goal.com.
Arsenal midfielder Ramsey helped get the Gunners back on track against Bournemouth and his display was the "outstanding feature in an otherwise routine performance", says Crooks of the BBC.
The final berth goes to Lingard, who scored a sensational goal on the turn for Manchester United against Chelsea. He "capped a dangerous display with the best goal of the weekend", says Goal.com.
Attack: Roberto Firmino (Liverpool), Romelu Lukaku (Everton)
Liverpool striker Firmino is the "Premier League’s latest star", says The Offside Rule website. "With Christian Benteke out-of-form, Daniel Sturridge only just off the treatment table and Divock Origi simply unable to find the net, Firmino has been deployed up top and is bang in form."
Everton striker Lukaku scored from the penalty spot as the Toffees beat Stoke 3-0. He makes both the Fantasy Premier League team of the week and also Harry Redknapp's team of the week in the Daily Telegraph.
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