EPL Hot 11: Match Day 19/20

In a combined, winter edition of the Premier League Hot 11, we bring you an updated look at the power rankings from the past two rounds of league play.

With every club playing two matches over the course of six days, there were countless opportunities to shine in a short amount of time.

Dimitar Berbatov picked up a double during that span, running his goal tally up to six in four consecutive starts as he tops the rankings.

Tim Howard gets a shout-out after perhaps one of the most peculiar and brilliant goals of the season.

Other notables include Demba Ba, Yakubu and Craig Bellamy.

Every week, 11 footballers in the Premier League will make up the EPL Hot 11, a fluctuating power ranking that highlights the top performers over the course of the entire season. Dependent on their match-day performances, players may move up or down the list each week.

Dimitar Berbatov

Dimitar Berbatov has had a nice run of things lately, making three straight starts for Manchester United.

After his hat trick against Wigan on Boxing Day, the Bulgarian added two more in a New Year's Eve fixture against Blackburn.

Though he went scoreless in 56 minutes of play in a 3-0 loss to Newcastle in the club's most recent contest, Berbatov has scored six times in his last four matches.

He has been known to go on scoring spurts every now and then, with several goal droughts sprinkled throughout the season. Though he claims the top spot in this edition of the EPL Hot 11, perhaps this will be the start of another goalless stand.

Antonio Valencia

As one of the hottest providers in the league, Antonio Valencia has vaulted towards the top of the assist table with seven creations in six contests, putting him in a tie for second place with Samir Nasri.

Though he has just one goal on the season, Valencia has impressed of late, giving Sir Alex Ferguson reason to reward the Ecuadorian with those six consecutive first 11 selections.

Valencia's current run of good form has him level in assists with Nani, marking both as the best providers for United.

Yakubu

In Blackburn's 3-2 win over Manchester United on New Year's Eve, Grant Hanley may have provided the winning goal, but it was Yakubu's double that put Rovers in a position to capture three points at Old Trafford.

His two-goal effort brought Yakubu's tally to 12 on the season, and it also marked the fourth time that the Nigerian has scored at least twice in a game this year.

The former Everton star sits behind Wayne Rooney, Sergio Aguero, Demba Ba and Robin van Persie atop the list of the Premier League's top scorers.

Craig Bellamy

In the first fixture of Match Day 19, Liverpool picked up a 3-1 result against Newcastle. And with the help of a Craig Bellamy double, the Reds got their fourth win in eight matches.

It was Bellamy's third and fourth goals of the season as the former Manchester City man made just his fifth league start for Liverpool this season.

The last time the Welshman scored a double was in September 2009 against Manchester United.

Peter Crouch

Peter Crouch makes his debut in the Hot 11 after his decisive double in Stoke City's 2-1 win over Blackburn at Ewood Park just over a week ago.

The lanky striker has not found the goal too much this season, just six goals so far, but with three in his last two appearances, perhaps the former Tottenham man is finding his feet with the Potters.

Crouch's first goal, a technical control and volley at the near post, marked his 100th league goal in the 17th minute. Just minutes before halftime, Crouch scored in almost the same fashion, taking a Matthew Etherington cross before controlling it on one touch and firing the ball home with his second.

Demba Ba

After a Boxing Day goal against Bolton, Demba Ba went cold against Liverpool in a match that had Newcastle drop 3-1 to the Reds at Anfield.

But in a dominating 3-0 win over Manchester United, Ba recorded perhaps one of the Premier League's top goals of the season in the 33rd minute to open the scoring.

A real striker's goal, Ba flashed his athleticism, balance and nose for goal as his effort from just inside the box gave the keeper no chance.

Ba has made quick work to squash the transfer rumors as he is preparing for the African Cup of Nations.

Robin Van Persie

Robin van Persie has cooled down somewhat, but that has not kept him from maintaining a place in the EPL Hot 11 as well as the top spot in the scoring race.

The Dutchman did not score in the Gunners' most recent game against Fulham, but the Arsenal captain scored his 17th of the season in a 1-0 win against QPR in Match Day 19.

His goal makes four in seven games, as Arsenal was bumped to fifth after its loss to the Cottagers in Round 20.

Stephen Ireland

Stephen Ireland was once considered to be one of the more promising creators in the Premier League, but those reputable days have passed for the former Manchester City midfielder.

Now with Aston Villa, the 25-year-old picked up a goal and an assist in a convincing 3-1 win over Chelsea on Match Day 19.

Ireland equalized in the 28th minute, just five minutes after Didier Drogba opened the scoring with a penalty. Then in the 86th minute, Ireland provided the final ball to Darren Bent, who sealed the three points for Villa from the center of the box.

Tim Howard

Keepers do not often get the recognition they deserve in the Hot 11, unless they perform brilliantly to keep their side afloat for points.

In Tim Howard's case, his team lost 2-1 to Bolton a week ago, but it was his goal that earns him a debut in the rankings.

The American, with the help of some swirling winds at Goodison Park, booted a ball from his box to the opposite end. After a bounce in front of Adam Bogdon's box, the ball swept up over the Bolton netminder for the opening goal.

Grant Hanley

For two clubs headed in opposite directions, Blackburn's Grant Hanley made everyone forget about that with his 80th minute winner in a 3-2 decision over Manchester United in Round 19.

After Yakubu and Dimitar Berbatov battled to make it 2-2, Hanley beat United keeper David de Gea twice from a corner kick to finish for Rovers' third win this season.

Hanley's goal was his first ever in the Premier League.

Simeon Jackson

With perhaps the grittiest score of the past two match days, Simeon Jackson stole a point for Norwich City in the process of denying Fulham its full three points with a 94th minute header just moments before the final whistle.

The Canaries continue to hover at midtable, and with Jackson's second goal in three games, Paul Lambert's side have maintained itself nicely in its first season after promotion.