Premier League Team of the Week: Aguero, Lukaku, Barkley and Montero Star
Welcome to the second installment of B/R's Premier League Team of the Week series for 2015-16.
We analysed every game to pick out a star XI from the weekend's fixtures, choosing the best players to form a viable formation. Only the best players in each position from this week's action make the cut, leading to several tough decisions along the way.
It's a 4-4-2 due to two wonderful striking displays on show, and that doesn't even include Christian Benteke, who thoroughly impressed on his Anfield debut.
Disagree with our selections? Hit us up in the comments section below to start the conversation.
GK: Jack Butland, Stoke City
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Unlike last week, where three or four goalkeepers were vying for a spot in our Team of the Week, we're left with a dearth of options this time around. Clangers, red cards and slow days plagued our division's No. 1s.
But Jack Butland had a pretty decent day; despite conceding two goals in Stoke City's 2-2 draw with Tottenham Hotspur, he made three key stops to keep things manageable and provide a platform for a late comeback. At 2-0 down he made a timely intervention to deny Harry Kane and prevent his side from being buried.
Asmir Begovic may be gone, but Butland flashed excellence toward the back end of last season and has started this season strongly. If he can fill the void, the Potters have simply gained £8 million to spend on other areas while replacing their former No. 1 with a similarly skilled player.
RB: Nathaniel Clyne, Liverpool
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Nathaniel Clyne's iffy first half against Bournemouth made way for an excellent showing in the second period as Liverpool claimed their second 1-0 victory of the season.
The English right-back, now the proud owner of two successive clean sheets as part of a much-improved and better-organised defensive line at Anfield, made some excellent recovery challenges and stopped Max Gradel from clicking into top gear on the left-hand side.
His speed and anticipation have already proved to be excellent attributes defensively; now, Reds fans are waiting for him to explode offensively, too.
CB: Chris Smalling, Manchester United
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Chris Smalling had his second quietly very strong game of the 2015-16 season on Friday night as Manchester United beat Aston Villa 1-0.
He didn't have too much to do early on but faced a severe test when Rudy Gestede came on, a 6'4" relentless aerial battering ram who causes havoc in the final third.
Where AFC Bournemouth's crop failed, though, Smalling succeeded: He matched Gestede aerially and softened the impact the striker made off the bench. This is something many centre-backs have failed miserably to do in the past and deserves real commendation.
CB: John Stones, Everton
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On a weekend when John Terry was withdrawn at half-time and Gary Cahill was abused by Sergio Aguero and Co., John Stones put in a slick, stylish performance against Southampton in a 3-0 win.
Chelsea are yet to make a second offer for the player, per Sky Sports, but this weekend's events may change that. Stones looked every bit the dominant, calm, measured centre-back the Blues appear to need.
Phil Jagielka also played superbly on the south coast, but there's only room for one Toffees defender. Either could have made it, but Stones just edges his elder colleague.
LB: Aleksandar Kolarov, Manchester City
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Aleksandar Kolarov has truly taken advantage of Gael Clichy's absence, staking a proper claim for the left-back slot and dominating the first two games of the season.
He owned the flank against Chelsea, pushing forward with intent and befuddling Branislav Ivanovic at times, while also defending his corner studiously, helping the Citizens earn a clean sheet.
Manuel Pellegrini has always opted for Clichy in bigger games because of his recovery pace and perceived better defensive ability, but Kolarov's made himself undroppable. Even when the Frenchman returns to full fitness, there's no guarantee he comes back in.
CM: Mesut Ozil, Arsenal
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Mesut Ozil was in filthy form on Sunday, tearing Crystal Palace's defence to shreds near-single-handedly.
His control, touch and passing were all on point, delivering a stabbed assist for Olivier Giroud's early goal and torturing the Eagles defenders for the rest of the contest. There was a particular moment where he brought a hopeful clearance down on the byline and slid the ball past Pape Souare in exquisite fashion, drawing a foul.
He times his passes perfectly and can delay them in order to draw defenders out. If his forwards resembled anything other than extremely profligate on the day, he'd have walked off with four assists at least.
CM: Jonjo Shelvey, Swansea City
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Two games in and Jonjo Shelvey is arguably Swansea City's best player of the season so far. That's in spite of Bafetimbi Gomis' two goals and Jefferson Montero's wrecking-ball performances.
He was absolutely dominant against Newcastle United, tallying up 104 touches as Swansea managed close to 65 percent of possession, per WhoScored.com. He used the ball superbly, too, probing and searching, finding key outlets high up the pitch and delivering one assist early on.
"He's a young player but, at this level, you need to be consistent. He showed that towards the end of last season and he's showing it again," Garry Monk told BBC Sport after the weekend victory.
"It's important he continues to work even harder, but he listens and wants to do it. Hopefully he gets even better."
AM/Wing: Ross Barkley, Everton
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Ross Barkley's performance against Southampton was absolutely excellent, slinking between the midfield lines with ease and wreaking havoc in the final third.
Michael Cox of uMAXit praised his ability to find and interpret space on the counter, slipping into dangerous areas and utilising lateral movement to receive passes in space. It's a prime feature of his game, and in reactive games such as this one, it comes to the fore.
Barkley still has plenty of improvements to make in the creative game; he needs to lift his head far more in order to pick out good runs. But this is a great start to what is a big season for the young man.
AM/Wing: Jefferson Montero, Swansea City
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Jefferson Montero is that winger you just don't want to face. That's the conclusion Daryl Janmaat came to about 41 minutes into Newcastle United's loss to Swansea City this weekend, collecting a second yellow for fouls exclusively on the Ecuadorian and departing the spectacle.
Last week, Branislav Ivanovic was sliced open by Montero's directness but at least managed to stay on the field. This time the speedster mixed in more regular inside runs to confuse a lesser opponent, and the end results were even more effective.
Montero ran the left flank, hit the post with a firm strike and assisted Andrew Ayew's goal to seal the victory. Demonic.
ST: Sergio Aguero, Manchester City
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True, Sergio Aguero could have scored four against Chelsea on another day and had he been a tinge sharper. But all things considered, and relative profligacy aside, he tortured the league's supposed best defence all day long.
The entire world was shocked when he failed to slot home one-on-one inside a minute, but he made up for it later by swivelling on a sixpence inside the box and guiding a lovely rolling strike home to make it 1-0.
His movement, ability to drive between the centre-backs and his pressured channel running shook the Blues to the very core.
ST: Romelu Lukaku, Everton
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What did Romelu Lukaku have for breakfast on Saturday morning? Roberto Martinez needs to figure out the answer to this question and put his striker on a diet containing only this particular meal.
The Belgian reminded us all just how dominant a player he can be, and how, on his day, he can be well worth the £28 million Everton shelled out just over 12 months ago to sign him from Chelsea.
He bullied Southampton on the counter-attack, scoring two excellent goals and teeing up several other chances for team-mates. He was too fast, too strong and, thanks to a confidence spike, instinctive in front of goal. It's often been the missing ingredient.
Bench
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GK: Asmir Begovic, Chelsea
CB: Phil Jagielka, Everton
RB: Hector Bellerin, Arsenal
CM: James McArthur, Crystal Palace
CM: Graham Dorrans, Norwich City
Wing: Nathan Redmond, Norwich City
ST: Christian Benteke, Liverpool
