Premier League Team of Week: Coutinho, Puncheon, Young and Henderson Star
Welcome to the 27th instalment of our Premier League Team of the Week for the 2014-15 season.
We analysed every game to pick out a star XI from the weekend's fixtures, choosing the best players to form a viable formation (in this case, a 4-5-1).
After losing their seventh Premier League game in a row, Aston Villa players are understandably absent, but Crystal Palace and Liverpool feature after gaining impressive wins.
Disagree with our selections? Hit us up in the comments section below to start the conversation!
GK: David Ospina, Arsenal
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Julian Speroni was a consideration here after putting in a very clean performance at Upton Park, but David Ospina's clean sheet pipped him to the post—a magnificent retort from the 2014 World Cup star.
ESPN FC's James McNicholas heaped praise on the former OGC Nice 'keeper following Arsenal's 2-0 victory over Everton this weekend:
"The Colombian maintained his place and produced a vastly improved performance, including one outstanding slide tackle on Lukaku. In the second half, a fingertip save denied the same player and ensured Arsenal would keep a clean sheet."
RB: Daryl Janmaat, Newcastle United
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Newcastle United claimed an important victory and clean sheet over Aston Villa on Saturday, and right-back Daryl Janmaat was one of the few players on the pitch to excel in a gritty 1-0 affair.
The Dutchman was been quietly excellent this season after signing from Feyenoord over the summer, and he teed up Papiss Cisse for the only goal of the game after bombing forward late in the first half.
CB: Scott Dann, Crystal Palace
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Scott Dann put his body on the line over and over to help Crystal Palace see out a 3-1 victory against West Ham United this weekend. He shut up the shop late on and refused to be beaten by West Ham's relentless pressure.
His goal—Palace's second—gave the team genuine belief that they could go on and win the game, as he used his massive 6'2" frame to ease Winston Reid aside and head home.
A 9/10 performance.
CB: Joleon Lescott, West Bromwich Albion
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Joleon Lescott put in a warrior-like performance at the heart of West Bromwich Albion's defence on Saturday, keeping a far superior Southampton side at bay to give his side the 1-0 upset victory.
The Saints pushed and pushed, picking up 62 per cent of the possession, per WhoScored.com. They even switched to a 3-4-3 shape in order to get more men further forward, but nothing would get past the former England international.
Lescott and manager Tony Pulis are a match made in heaven.
LB: Marcos Rojo, Manchester United
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This was a performance that reminded us of the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
Marcos Rojo stepped in at left-back for Manchester United this week due to Luke Shaw suffering yet another ailment and performed well—though it must be made clear that we scraped the bottom of the barrel for a left-sided defender this week.
He bombed forward well and put in a few inviting crosses while sewing up matters at the other end with ease, as United closed out a 2-0 win over Sunderland.
DM: Francis Coquelin, Arsenal
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Francis Coquelin redefined the concept of "blood and thunder" on Sunday, exiting Arsenal's 2-0 win against Everton a little early due to a broken nose sustained in a challenge.
The Frenchman broke up play superbly throughout the match as the Toffees probed for a weakness. After the Gunners went ahead late in the first half, they fell into a more comfortable defensive shell, allowing Coquelin to do his dirty work in front of the defence.
CM: Jordan Henderson, Liverpool
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The past week or so has fully prepared Jordan Henderson for the upcoming captaincy of Liverpool Football Club. If starring in a Nivea advert doesn't do it, then scoring a golazo and leading your side to an emotional victory over a league rival will.
His pearler of a strike early against Manchester City set the tone for a magnificent Reds performance in the 2-1 win, and his brilliant work rate and perseverance in midfield forced mistakes from Manuel Pellegrini's men throughout.
Another excellent display.
CM: Jason Puncheon, Crystal Palace
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Jason Puncheon lined up in central midfield for Crystal Palace at Upton Park on Saturday, spearheading the play through the central zones and leading counter-attacks from inside.
He was ruthless with set pieces, delivering all three Palace goals on a plate for Scott Dann and Glenn Murray, and his incisiveness when breaking forward should be studied by Wilfried Zaha. He made the right decisions at the right time—an invaluable trait.
AM: Philippe Coutinho, Liverpool
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Philippe Coutinho was the star man for Liverpool against Manchester City, clearly benefiting from a rest in midweek while his colleagues toiled in Turkey.
He grabbed the goal his brilliant performance deserved, arrowing one into the top corner from outside the box, and he tormented Yaya Toure's midfield throughout with surging runs and neat touches.
The Player of the Week.
AM: Ashley Young, Manchester United
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Perhaps unsurprisingly at this stage, Ashley Young was the star performer in a Manchester United performance.
A 2-0 victory over Sunderland was hard-fought and battled for, with two-goal Wayne Rooney taking the headlines, but Young once again showed how much he's come on in the last six months.
Creative, tricky and quick, his return to the starting XI after a fairly lengthy injury lay-off was impressively smooth.
ST: Raheem Sterling, Liverpool
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No goals for Liverpool's Raheem Sterling this week, but the Englishman's fearsome performance will have Vincent Kompany rocking back and forth in a soft white room for weeks to come.
His movement confused the Manchester City defence and lured the centre-backs into idiotic challenges, opening space for colleagues such as Adam Lallana (two disallowed goals), Jordan Henderson and Philippe Coutinho (both scored wonder strikes).
We struggled for a true striker this week due to Glenn Murray's red card and many others no-showing, but Sterling deserves a spot and continues to improve at a rapid rate.
