Premier League Team of Week: Kane, Mangala, Zouma and Hazard Star
Welcome to the 33rd 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 4-3-3).
There were a reduced number of games due to the FA Cup action (please note: FA Cup performers are not included in the Premier League Team of the Week). Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester City and Chelsea all earned wins at the weekend, and they also have two players included here.
Disagree with our selections? Hit us up in the comments section below to start the conversation!
GK: Tom Heaton, Burnley
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Tom Heaton's had a quietly strong season. That may be an odd thing to say about the goalkeeper playing for the Premier League's bottom club, but it remains a true statement.
On Saturday, he was very good against Everton, making seven saves in total, per WhoScored.com, and stopping a Ross Barkley penalty to stave off the Toffees' assault for as long as possible.
He eventually conceded and his team fell 1-0, but no 'keeper looked more impressive than Heaton this weekend.
RB: Marc Albrighton, Leicester City
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Marc Albrighton excelled as a makeshift right wing-back for Leicester City on Saturday, providing energy, hard running and superb crossing ability from the flank in his club's 2-0 victory over Swansea City.
He, along with a few others of note, was key to the Foxes winning their third Premier League game in a row. They've given themselves a real chance of staying up thanks to this late surge, and Albrighton may emerge as an unlikely factor in their bid.
CB: Eliaquim Mangala, Manchester City
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There's a first time for everything, and in this case, it's a first for Eliaquim Mangala making our Premier League Team of the Week.
He's had a season to forget in general, but in the absence of Vincent Kompany, he put in an impressive performance during the 2-0 victory against West Ham United.
B/R's Rob Pollard was similarly impressed, writing, "The centre-back showcased his wonderful pace and strength, and produced a series of blocks and tackles that repelled West Ham’s rare forays forward. He looked comfortable and confident, which he rarely has since his introduction to the side earlier in the season."
CB: Joleon Lescott, West Bromwich Albion
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It's no small matter to nullify Glenn Murray these days, but Joleon Lescott managed it at Selhurst Park on Saturday. The resulting clean sheet and 2-0 win likely ensures West Bromwich Albion are safe from relegation.
This was the sort of commanding performance Baggies fans hoped for a little more often when the former Manchester City man's signature had been secured, but at least he provided a big showing at the right time.
LB: Cesar Azpilicueta, Chelsea
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Cesar Azpilicueta should have struggled against Manchester United, but Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho protected him from Marouane Fellaini and allowed the Spaniard to match up against players more his size.
The job he did against Juan Mata was excellent, as Azpilicueta dealt with his compatriot's movement and attempts to find passing space in fine fashion. It's some comeback from a difficult afternoon dealing with Matt Phillips of Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road last Sunday. In the end, Azpilicueta played a critical role in Chelsea' 1-0 victory over the Red Devils.
DM: Kurt Zouma, Chelsea
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How do you stop a problem like Fellaini? Well, putting Kurt Zouma in a man-marking role on him, stopping the service from the source, is a good start.
Mourinho wasn't afraid to respect Fellaini's aerial prowess, and he drew up a plan to stop the Belgian, asking his young French centre-back to play out of position in midfield (again) and man-mark Manchester United's No. 31.
It worked a treat. The 1-0 victory, devoid of any Fellaini impact, more or less sealed the title for the Blues.
CM: Nabil Bentaleb, Tottenham Hotspur
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Paulinho was given the official Man of the Match award for Tottenham Hotspur's 3-1 win over Newcastle United, but it was Nabil Bentaleb who ran the midfield.
The Algerian mopped up, started attacks and crushed the Magpies' attempts to mount a comeback. Paulinho looked good, but he was given the freedom of the field thanks to the dirty work done by his colleague.
CM: Esteban Cambiasso, Leicester City
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Leicester City won their third game in a row on Saturday, beating Swansea City 2-0 at the King Power Stadium. It's a genuinely remarkable run that deserves all the praise it gets.
Esteban Cambiasso has been at the heart of everything good for the Foxes and he put in a brilliant shift once again at the weekend. His driving runs created avenues for the the home side, and he managed seven tackles in the engine room, per WhoScored.com.
RW: Jesus Navas, Manchester City
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Jesus Navas has taken a lot of stick this season—particularly from national and London-based media outfits who don't watch him often enough—but the winger redeemed himself, or at least did so in part, with a very good performance against West Ham.
He picked up two assists—one for Sergio Aguero and one for a comical James Collins own goal, in off the underside of the bar after chipping the goalkeeper—and showed improved final-third delivery and quality.
LW: Eden Hazard, Chelsea
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It's pretty rare that we construct a Premier League Team of the Week and don't at least consider Eden Hazard, and after his game-winning performance against Manchester United this weekend, it shouldn't be a surprise to find him here again.
The Belgian starred on the counter-attack, scoring a magnificent one-on-one goal past United's David de Gea and hitting the bar with a flick from an acute angle following Didier Drogba's good work on the right.
He's been the best player in the Premier League this season and deserves every superlative he receives.
ST: Harry Kane, Tottenham Hotspur
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Harry Kane played an excellent all-round game at St. James' Park, linking play and becoming Tottenham Hotspur's main creative threat over the course of the game.
He scored a late goal to reach 30 in all competitions for the campaign—a phenomenal achievement—and wreaked havoc in the final third all afternoon. A truly complete player, he showcased his technical skill set as well as his finishing.
