Premier League Team of Week: Yaya Toure, Mane, Pelle and Koscielny Shine
Welcome to the 37th, and penultimate, 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 4-2-3-1).
Southampton feature four players after destroying Aston Villa 6-1 at St Mary's Stadium on Saturday, while two from Manchester City and two from Old Trafford also make the cut.
Disagree with our selections? Hit us up in the comments section below to start the conversation.
For a look at criteria for inclusion, please see our selections from early April.
GK: Joe Hart, Manchester City
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This one was easy.
Joe Hart's selection in goal—a highly contested spot in most Team of the Weeks—is blindingly obvious thanks to some stellar saves at the Liberty Stadium.
Early on he palmed a Nathan Dyer shot wide after Eliaquim Mangala had slipped, then he pushed a goal-bound Federico Fernandez header over the bar, displaying immense elasticity and agility.
Finally, he stood firm to deny Bafetimbi Gomis after ghosting in between the centre-backs, capping a marvellous day despite the concession of two goals.
RB: Nathaniel Clyne, Southampton
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Nathaniel Clyne put in one of his best showings for weeks on Saturday, dominating his flank as Southampton destroyed Aston Villa 6-1.
Villa have used their left side to great effect since Tim Sherwood took over, but Clyne dealt with the scrutiny and attention well, locking down his zone, forcing the ball elsewhere and even creeping forward to assist Graziano Pelle's goal late on with a brilliant first-time cross.
CB: Marc Muniesa, Stoke City
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Marc Muniesa has had a quietly efficient season, in a similar way to Federico Fernandez over at Swansea City, and he's emerged as Stoke City's go-to option alongside Ryan Shawcross.
He starred at the back during the Potters' 0-0 draw with Burnley this week, shutting down Ashley Barnes and Danny Ings while going close to stealing the victory with a late effort saved by Tom Heaton.
CB: Laurent Koscielny, Arsenal
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Laurent Koscielny capped another consistently excellent season for Arsenal with a very good individual display at Old Trafford this weekend.
He dealt as well as possible with the dual threat of Marouane Fellaini (air) and Radamel Falcao (ground), and he impressed greatly when defending the latter one-on-one.
There will be questions over who partners him in the defence in 2015-16, but he is the cornerstone of an improving line.
LB: Danny Rose, Tottenham Hotspur
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Danny Rose has had a great season filled with personal improvement, and there's no better way to thank the fans for their support than with a goal and a clean sheet in the final home game of the season.
His red hair, dyed for the occasion, caused something of a stir in the ground and on social media before kick-off, but come full-time, the only thing fans were muttering about was his all-action, complete performance from left-back.
CM: Claudio Yacob, West Bromwich Albion
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Claudio Yacob got sent off the last time West Bromwich Albion met Chelsea (at Stamford Bridge), and his early exit resulted in one of the most one-sided games of the 2014-15 season.
So Monday evening will have pleased him a little; he played a starring role in a fantastic 3-0 victory over the Premier League champions and didn't even pick up a yellow, let alone a red.
Per WhoScored.com, he registered seven tackles and broke up play superbly in midfield. He intimidated youngster Ruben Loftus-Cheek and forced hesitancy into the Blues' play.
CM: Yaya Toure, Manchester City
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Just when you think he's down and out, destined to leave British shores with a whimper, Yaya Toure puts in an explosive performance and reminds the world what he's truly capable of.
Both his goals against Swansea City were incredibly similar, taken from the same sort of position outside the box and hit with the same brute-force velocity. You might say Lukasz Fabianski could have done better for both, but you try stopping a shot unleashed by Toure when he's in the mood.
Wing: Shane Long, Southampton
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Sadio Mane's performance stole the show at St Mary's Stadium on Saturday, but it's arguable Shane Long was the best player on the pitch.
Not just for his golazo—a wonderful, 40-yard strike that dipped over Shay Given following a turnover from Ashley Westwood—but for his all-round industry and good work setting up Mane for his finishes.
Long totalled two goals and two assists, continuing his run of habitually strong performances against Aston Villa.
AM: Sadio Mane, Southampton
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Sadio Mane recorded the fastest hat-trick in Premier League history on Saturday afternoon. The time span between his first and third against a beleaguered Aston Villa side was just two minutes and 56 seconds, per BBC Sport.
He ran riot and forced the partnership of Jores Okore and Ron Vlaar into a series of errors, seizing on them ruthlessly and slotting home two easy finishes, in addition to one lovely top-corner strike.
When he's in the mood, there really is very little you can do to stop him.
Wing: Ashley Young, Manchester United
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Ashley Young has emerged from the shadows and become Manchester United's "unlikeliest hero" this season. Just like last week, at Selhurst Park, he was the star for Louis van Gaal's side as they bagged a 1-1 draw against Arsenal.
Young drove forward and forced Aaron Ramsey into a defensive, protection-based role ahead of Hector Bellerin, with his directness and willingness to float a cross in causing the Gunners all sorts of issues in the first half.
He bagged the assist for Ander Herrera's goal and worked hard from the left throughout.
ST: Graziano Pelle, Southampton
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It would have felt unfair if Graziano Pelle hadn't got in on the scoring action against Aston Villa on Saturday, because he constructed most of the chances from deep and serviced Sadio Mane superbly with flick-ons.
Finally, as time was winding down, he slammed a Nathaniel Clyne cross into the roof of the net past a distinctly fed-up Shay Given. Well deserved indeed.
Throughout the match he beat Jores Okore in the air, allowing Mane to run through and create chances. The Saints went route one because it was very effective, and it was very effective because of Pelle.
