Premier League Team of Week: Kane, Giroud, Hazard and Mata Star
Welcome to the 30th installment 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 4-4-2).
Alberto Moreno missed this week's selection after...well, you saw the Liverpool vs. Manchester United game. Two from that match join our selection, as well as representation from Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester City and Swansea City.
Disagree with our selections? Hit us up in the comments section below to start the conversation!
GK: Kelvin Davis, Southampton
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We really didn't think we'd ever do this given Kelvin Davis' career trajectory, juxtaposed against Southampton's astronomical rise, but here it is. He's our goalkeeper in the Premier League Team of the Week.
Alex Stewart of uMAXit Football aptly sums up what a feel-good nomination it is. The Saints stalwart, loyal to the club since 2006 despite relegation disappointment, stepped in for Fraser Forster and made several key stops to ensure his side claimed a victory and a clean sheet.
RB: Seamus Coleman, Everton
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A rough week for right-backs, but Seamus Coleman—or Seamus "Goalman," if you prefer—gets the nod after helping withstand a late Queens Park Rangers barrage and netting the opener at Loftus Road for his club.
Everton have sorely missed the goal output of Leighton Baines and Coleman, who combined for over 10 league strikes last season alone, but this lifted finish into the top corner helped achieved a valuable three points for the Toffees.
CB: Ciaran Clark, Aston Villa
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Fabian Delph received Aston Villa's official man of the match award on Saturday, but Ciaran Clark was a strong contender after mopping up absolutely everything at the back.
The defence was stretched by Swansea City's midfield diamond and two-man strike force, with Jores Okore and Leandro Bacuna struggling to identify which zone and which man to mark. But Clark cleared everything that came his way, showing great positional skills to quell danger and even clearing one off the line.
He's growing in stature this season.
CB: Mamadou Sakho, Liverpool
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The shining light in Liverpool's dismal defeat to Manchester United, Mamadou Sakho excelled at the back despite being laboured with the lead-weighted Alberto Moreno on the left side.
His passing between the lines sparked attacks, and he was consistent in the air against a real challenge in Marouane Fellaini. Many lost count of the times he cleanly dispossessed a runner and re-sparked an attack.
An excellent showing.
LB: Daley Blind, Manchester United
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Daley Blind: ankle-breaker.
No, not in a malicious way, but did you see him remove Emre Can from the equation on Sunday with an unbelievably sharp change in direction?
It looked as though Liverpool were intent on going after Blind and Phil Jones early on, but the midfield did a good job shielding, allowing the Dutchman to roam forward and cause problems.
A strong yet understated performance that epitomises him as a player.
CM: Fernando, Manchester City
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It was the sort of performance we've been waiting to see from Fernando, the type in which he simply takes over a game and dominates.
He grabbed a goal and an assist to boost his personal tally—not his area or forte, but handy—and cracked down on 10-man West Bromwich Albion defensively with a strong showing.
Overall, he's underwhelmed this season, but this was a strong performance.
CM: Jack Cork, Swansea City
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Jack Cork has proved to be an inspired signing from Garry Monk in January, lining up at the base of a midfield diamond on Saturday at Villa Park and dominating once again.
He was instrumental last Monday against Liverpool and was unfortunate to land on the losing side. He rectified that error this weekend by helping see off Aston Villa 1-0.
His calm passing and distribution at the base of the diamond was key to controlling the game.
Wing: Juan Mata, Manchester United
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Juan Mata was man of the match in Manchester United's surprise away victory at Anfield on Sunday, scoring two goals in a 2-1 win.
Playing off the right-hand side, he had his way with Moreno, jinking inside and collecting Ander Herrera's epic pass to put the Red Devils ahead. His scissor kick to double the advantage showed remarkable technique and balance to pull off.
Louis van Gaal, borderline forced into playing him this past two weeks, is reaping the rewards.
Wing: Eden Hazard, Chelsea
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As always, and as we've come to expect, Eden Hazard was fantastic for Chelsea against Hull City on Sunday.
He scored an early thunderbolt from outside the box to set the tone for a Blues win and responded superbly in the second half when his team were pegged back. His movement and recycling of the ball in and around the box was superb; the Tigers had no answer for his world-class skill.
The Belgian has been consistently excellent this season.
ST: Olivier Giroud, Arsenal
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There were some strong contenders from this spot, but Olivier Giroud edges Bafetimbi Gomis' excellent, bruising performance at Villa Park and Dame N'Doye's clever showing at the KC Stadium.
The Frenchman made it 13 goals from 14 starts in the Premier League this season, per WhoScored.com, by netting two at St. James' Park to help seal a routine win.
What seemed like a routine game became tough when Moussa Sissoko and Ayoze Perez attempted to put themselves in the shop window, and Giroud's calm finishing in front of goal allowed Arsenal to claim victory and open daylight—six points!—between themselves and Liverpool in the table.
ST: Harry Kane, Tottenham Hotspur
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Harry Kane, hat-trick hero. This is one hell of a way to prepare and warm up for your first international appearance.
The Englishman celebrated his call-up to the national side under Roy Hodgson with a clinical showing, netting two goals early on to give Tottenham Hotspur superiority before netting a third from the penalty spot in the second half.
Per WhoScored.com, he's now level with Diego Costa on 19 goals for the season in league play only.
