Premier League Team of the Week: Sterling, Ramsey, & Coleman Excel
Welcome to the latest edition of our Premier League Team of the Week, where we take a selection of this week's best players and slot them into a workable XI.
There were a number of great performances and many excellent showings must go unheralded; four goalkeepers, four left-backs, six central midfielders and five centre-backs could easily have made the cut.
Don't agree with our selection? Make your feelings known in the comments below by creating your own lineup.
GK: Hugo Lloris, Tottenham Hotspur
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Hugo Lloris continued his fine form as Tottenham Hotspur defeated Fulham on Saturday.
He saved a penalty late on, denying Steve Sidwell his second goal of the match with a point-blank stop, made an epic save on Hugo Rodallega just after half-time and showed remarkable agility throughout.
Tough break for Vito Mannone to miss out here.
RB: Seamus Coleman, Everton
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Seamus Coleman obliterated Alex Buttner on the flank as Everton beat Manchester United this weekend, with the Dutchman simply unable to stop the right-back's marauding runs.
The former Sligo Rovers man has come into his own as a top-tier full-back this season, and it's performances like these—albeit against second-string opposition—that affirm his class.
CB: John Stones, Everton
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Many in John Stones' circumstances—a 19-year-old centre-back thrown in at the deep end of a title race—would crumble, but the England youth international is prospering.
He lost regular partner Sylvain Distin to injury at half-time yet remained near-perfect, with Wayne Rooney's single second-half run the only concern to the Everton defence.
Stones shows ball-playing prowess, positional awareness and great aggression when needed.
CB: Laurent Koscielny, Arsenal
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Arsenal's 3-0 victory over Hull City looks comfortable on paper, but they were subjected to immense pressure for long stretches at the KC Stadium; they really earned their win.
Laurent Koscielny was in demonic form at centre-back for the Gunners as usual, mopping up most of the mess, winning headers and calming his teammates down.
LB: Ben Davies, Swansea City
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Ben Davies had a good, solid game at left-back for Swansea and picked up an assist for one of Wilfried Bony's goals.
The Swans secured a win that likely lifts them clear of the relegation scrap, condemning Newcastle to a fifth straight defeat.
No Luke Shaw? The England international got a great report card from BBC's Match of the Day, but the flagship show wholly failed to point out his rough ride defensively. A mixed bag from him.
RM: Marc Albrighton, Aston Villa
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Marc Albrighton—the man Paul Lambert often benches—was the man to cause Luke Shaw those problems.
Every time he plays he electrifies the crowd. His defensive work ethic helps shield the club's suspect right-backs, while his offensive production gives Villa the best chance at a goal—either directly or through an assist.
He tore Shaw a new one on Saturday, outlining just how much work the Southampton man has to do in that phase of his game.
CM: Aaron Ramsey, Arsenal
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Aaron Ramsey breathed life into Arsenal on Sunday.
The energy and vertical running he brought to midfield created all three goals the Gunners scored, with the Welshman notching the first, setting up the second with his chest and and creating the rebound for his third.
Oh, how they've missed him.
CM: Victor Wanyama, Southampton
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Victor Wanyama's performance against Aston Villa stands as a reminder to all managers: If your defensive midfielder is clever enough and physical enough to stop counterattacks, you can go a long way.
The Kenyan broke up play superbly in front of Jose Fonte and Dejan Lovren, limiting Villa's speedsters to very few chances on goal.
He also recycled possession unusually well, misplacing very few passes, and won 70 percent of his headers, per WhoScored.com.
LM: Christian Eriksen, Tottenham Hotspur
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Christian Eriksen turned in another magnificent showing against Fulham on Saturday, once again proving he's the man to build a team around at White Hart Lane.
His vicious Ashley Young-esque deliveries from set pieces decided a tight game, seeing Younes Kaboul and Paulinho profit in front of goal.
CF: Raheem Sterling, Liverpool
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Raheem Sterling furthered his status as Liverpool's true in-form player to end the season by scoring two critical goals on Sunday.
His first effort, though a product of a slight nick, was remarkable, beating John Ruddy all ends up from 25 yards. His second, via a massive deflection, was deserved after running from inside his own half to engineer the chance.
How good will he get?
ST: Wilfried Bony, Swansea City
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If you're paying big money for a striker, he needs to be able to convert when it matters the most.
Wilfried Bony netted his 12th and 13th goals of the Premier League season on Saturday against Newcastle United, scoring a towering header and converting a last-gasp penalty.
His nickname, "Daddy Cool," is apt.
Bench
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GK: Vito Mannone, Sunderland
FB: Leighton Baines, Everton
CB: Dejan Lovren, Southampton
DM: Mile Jedinak, Crystal Palace
CM: James McCarthy, Everton
AM: Steven Naismith, Everton
ST: Lukas Podolski, Arsenal
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