Premier League Team of the Week: Suarez and Aguero Lead Line, Lampard Impresses
Welcome to the latest edition of Bleacher Report's Premier League Team of the Week.
This weekend saw a number of eye-catching results—none more so than Manchester City's 6-0 evisceration of Tottenham, a beating so emphatic it seems improbable that anyone could have predicted it.
The first game of the weekend was similarly dramatic—Liverpool and Everton playing out a 3-3 draw for the ages in the early kickoff on Saturday. Later in the day, Chelsea had an altogether easier time as they demolished West Ham.
Elsewhere, there were hard-fought victories for teams at either end of the table—Arsenal edging Southampton as Crystal Palace climbed off the bottom with a key win over Hull City.
Which players from those teams stood out, though? With apologies to West Brom and Aston Villa players (who meet on Monday), click on for our selection...
Goalkeeper: Simon Mignolet (Liverpool)
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It may be somewhat contrary to give a Team of the Week nod to a goalkeeper who conceded three goals—especially when other contenders, Wojciech Szczesny among them, kept a clean sheet this weekend—but that is what we've done with Simon Mignolet.
The Liverpool goalkeeper, so impressive for much of the season, produced a number of eye-catching saves in Saturday's draw with Everton at Goodison Park—frustrating compatriot Romelu Lukaku on countless occasions before the Belgian forward found the net twice.
In total Mignolet made nine saves, with the final scoreline leaving him an unfortunate casualty of an erratic and unpredictable match. On another occasion, and better protected by some of his defenders, Mignolet may have walked away with the clean sheet and the plaudits his performance probably warranted.
Left-Back: Patrice Evra (Manchester United)
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In an otherwise stunted away performance from Manchester United, it was Patrice Evra—along with Wayne Rooney—who provided the impetus for David Moyes' side.
It seems only fitting that they should have been the two men that got on the scoresheet in the 2-2 draw, but it was Evra's all-round display that earned him the left-back berth this week.
The Frenchman's 45th-minute header was his first league goal of the season, perhaps something of a surprise considering the more offensive role he has seemed to have, particularly at home, under Moyes. The manner of his goal was also something of a surprise: a towering header from a Rooney corner that left Cardiff goalkeeper David Marshall clawing at thin eye.
Defenders do not get selected for sides on their goalscoring potential alone, however, and against a emboldened Cardiff side, Evra proved his defensive credentials. Given only intermittent assistance by Adnan Januzaj, Evra was tasked with preventing both Don Cowie and the rampaging Kevin Theophile-Catherine from producing goalscoring opportunities.
He was not always successful in that aim, but the home side did not produce a goal from that point.
Evra also underlined his standing within this Manchester United side at points, as he was appointed the peacemaker when the referee felt forced to step in and deal with certain flashpoints.
Right-Back: Angel Rangel (Swansea)
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An indication of the importance of Angel Rangel to Swansea's playing style can be found in the number of touches the Spaniard had in Saturday's away win over Fulham—131, 27 more than any other Swans player.
More than a defender, Rangel is tasked with providing an option down the right as Swansea look to build their attacks.
On Saturday at Craven Cottage, Rangel did that adeptly—although it is perhaps ironic that his contribution to the winner, a sublime individual effort from substitute Jonjo Shelvey, was a dummy run that dragged opposition full-back Kieran Richardson away from the action.
Rangel had been doing that all afternoon while remaining resolute when Fulham, struggling to get out of a real rut, pushed forward themselves. He might have had a clean sheet, too, had it not been for Scott Parker's fine strike.
Centre-Back: Laurent Koscielny (Arsenal)
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On paper, Arsenal's 2-0 victory over Southampton was relatively comfortable, albeit with Olivier Giroud needing a mistake from Saints goalkeeper Artur Boruc and a penalty to actually clinch the three points.
In reality, the confident visitors were more than a match for the Gunners for large parts of the game, with Laurent Koscielny and centre-back partner Per Mertesacker called into action on a regular basis.
For Team of the Week honours, it is Koscielny that edges the selection process, even though the Frenchman could never hope to match Mertesacker's impressive (but unsurprising) 100 percent success rate in headers.
Koscielny, however, was perhaps a touch quicker to snub out danger and looked composed bringing the ball out of defence, relieving the pressure on his side time and time again. (He led his side in tackles and clearances.)
With a World Cup place with France—which he needs to make amends to after his sending off in the qualification playoff with Ukraine—as an incentive, we might just see a few more solid performances from Koscielny.
Centre-Back: Danny Gabbidon (Crystal Palace)
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There's a lot to be said for a frantic rearguard action. Comfortable clean sheets are all well and good, but sometimes, a bit of grit and determination is called for.
That is exactly what Crystal Palace produced as they edged Hull City 1-0 on Saturday, with every member of their backline contributing to the cause. Joel Ward was his typical resolute self at right-back (for once, his teammates matched up to his standards), and Julian Speroni made one crucial save from Yannick Sagbo, but it was Danny Gabbidon who stood tallest.
At 34, Gabbidon is not quite as quick as he once was, but on Saturday, his experience shone through as he guided Palace to a fortunate three points. He won 75 percent of his aerial duels and made at least three crucial tackles.
Centre-back might be one of the first areas new manager Tony Pulis addresses in January, but for one week at least, Gabbidon and his teammates rose to the challenge.
Centre-Midfield: Steven Nzonzi (Stoke City)
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Mark Hughes—who picked up his 100th Premier League victory this weekend—may have been tasked with making Stoke City a more attractive side to watch this season, but every side needs a bit of steel, and Steven Nzonzi helps provide it for the Potters.
The Frenchman was an effective presence against an admittedly bereft Sunderland side at the Britannia Stadium, proving a complimentary presence to the more attack-minded nature of midfield partner Charlie Adam.
Nzonzi won every one of his aerial duels and completed 84 percent of his passes, winning back possession and using it sensibly before scoring the 81st-minute goal that clinched the three points with an adroit finish.
Nzonzi edges Fulham's Scott Parker for the holding midfield role in our side because, unlike Nzonzi's effort, we cannot be completely sure Parker meant his goal...
Centre Midfield: Frank Lampard (Chelsea)
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Frank Lampard, welcome back.
It would not be unfair to suggest that Lampard has not been the same all-action midfielder he once was in recent times, but on Saturday evening he offered a glimpse of what once was with a brilliant display.
Perhaps it was playing his old team, West Ham, that inspired Lampard to his two-goal performance. Either way, Lampard was a critical part of the Blues' easy 3-0 success, running from box to box without relenting and getting his rewards with a trademark goal to partner his earlier penalty.
The days of Lampard being his side's driving force in attack are probably gone—why would he be, with gifted talents of the ilk of Oscar and Eden Hazard to call upon?—but on Saturday, he was briefly at the centre of everything good his side did once again.
Attacking Midfield: Oscar (Chelsea)
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Speaking of Oscar...
If it remains somewhat unclear why Jose Mourinho was so keen to make an example of Juan Mata at the beginning of the season, it is easy to understand why the Portuguese put his complete trust in Oscar to fulfill his side's No. 10 role.
On Saturday Oscar was a pivotal presence for Chelsea, winning the penalty that enabled Lampard to open the scoring through his alertness before firing a fine second that effectively sealed the points.
The Brazilian, aided by Eden Hazard, seemed to torture West Ham at will. Mourinho will expect to see many further performances like this—Mata, perhaps not so much.
Right Wing: Jesus Navas (Manchester City)
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It took just 15 seconds for Jesus Navas to open the scoring for Manchester City against Tottenham on Sunday, but his subsequent performance was every bit as memorable.
Navas' goal was beautifully taken—lifting the ball over Lloris as it dropped in off the far post—but he only stepped up his performance afterwards, revelling as City tore Andre Villas-Boas' Spurs apart.
The ex-Sevilla man has often been described as giving City width they lacked last season, but on Sunday he was as effective moving centrally as he was in his more familiar position, confusing the Spurs defence as they struggled to work out whether they should be picking up him, Alvaro Negredo or Sergio Aguero.
The results were rarely kind on the visitors. Aguero and Negredo may get all the plaudits in the aftermath, but Navas was equally important.
Left Wing: Luis Suarez
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A long flight back from halfway across the world, limited sleep, no time to train with your teammates... none of that could prevent Luis Suarez from once again being arguably the most influential player on the pitch this weekend.
In a truly cracking game against city rivals Everton, Suarez scored a fabulous free-kick and petrified the opposition time and again—even getting a horrific tackle from Kevin Mirallas (who, that indiscretion apart, is perhaps unlucky not to get in his side) for his troubles.
Suarez remains a polarising player, but you cannot deny he tends to deliver when the occasion demands it. Saturday was just another occasion. (We hope tasking him with starting out on the left wing motivates him in our 4-2-3-1 formation.)
Striker: Sergio Aguero (Manchester City)
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It is a mark of just how valuable Manuel Pellegrini knows Sergio Aguero to be for his Manchester City side that he withdrew Aguero from service after just 68 minutes of the game against Spurs. He was one goal short of a hat-trick, a feat most strikers like to stay on to pursue.
Aguero, however, had already served his purpose—adding two goals to his growing season totals to put Spurs (who have scored less as a team than he has as an individual so far in this Premier League campaign) thoroughly to the sword.
After testing Hugo Lloris with the initial shots that led to both Navas' immediate opener and City's second (Negredo's follow-up going in off Sandro), Aguero finally got on the scoresheet with a simple tap-in from Navas' great cross.
Another shortly after halftime sealed the win. But it was his all-round display that so impressed; the Argentina international seemed to make barely a single mistake in touch or decision-making throughout.
Arguably the best player in the Premier League so far this season, Aguero was once again critical as City flexed their considerable muscles.
Honourable mentions: David Marshall (Cardiff), Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa (Newcastle), Scott Parker (Fulham), Kevin Mirallas (Everton), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Romelu Lukaku (Everton), Alvaro Negredo (Manchester City).
