Premier League Team of the Week: Costa, Martial, Zouma and Alderweireld Impress
With the crazy, festive Premier League period residing, one would think normality—in terms of expected performances and results—would resume. But this is the 2015-16 season where chaos and unpredictability reign supreme, and we were treated to yet more shocks, golazos and surprises.
West Ham have two in our Team of the Week selection after a brilliant win over Liverpool, while Chelsea boast three after destroying a very strong Crystal Palace side. But who else made the cut?
We've selected the best performers from said thrilling weekend and slotted them into a workable formation—on this occasion, a 4-3-3.
Disagree with our selections? Hit us up in the comments section below to start the conversation.
GK: Artur Boruc, AFC Bournemouth
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Artur Boruc is capable of shifting from the sublime to the ridiculous in the space of a game. There are matches where he appears to erect an impenetrable barrier in front of his net, saving everything directed toward it, but others when he (literally) throws the game away.
Fortunately for AFC Bournemouth, he was in fine form this weekend. A clean sheet against Leicester City is a real achievement whatever form they're in, and he saved a Jamie Vardy penalty to preserve the scoreline and rescue the Cherries a vital point.
He just edges Petr Cech for a spot in our Team of the Week.
RB: Adam Smith, AFC Bournemouth
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Adam Smith has come from absolutely nowhere to become a veritable defensive star. When he's not scoring crackers from 25 yards, Smith is putting in mammoth defensive displays.
His stat line—six tackles, four completed dribbles and two clearances—exemplifies his all-action display this weekend, buckling up defensively against Leicester City's talented wingers and pushing forward on the counter despite tired legs with the team down a man.
AFC Bournemouth have lost a lot of players to injury this season but keep producing new performers from thin air. Smith is simply the latest in a long line.
CB: Kurt Zouma, Chelsea
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Kurt Zouma put in a monstrous display for Chelsea this weekend as they recorded a 3-0 win over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.
It's a horrible place to go at the best of times, but on Sunday the rain lashed down and made things slippy and slidey for the players. Conditions like this make life tough for defenders judging the flight and path of balls, but Zouma repelled every ball into the box or the channels convincingly.
There was one particular moment where his major strengths shone through: Chasing Wilfried Zaha back after a quick free-kick, he ate up the ground and slid in perfect to block the forward's shot.
CB: Toby Alderweireld, Tottenham Hotspur
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Toby Alderweireld continues to impress and amaze with his long-range passing ability, setting up Dele Alli's sumptuous goal with a stunning, raking ball that dropped in behind Everton's defensive line on Sunday.
It's the second time he's assisted the most direct of Alli goals this season—the other being against Sunderland in very similar circumstances—and it's a borderline undefendable move.
Defensively he was strong too in a very stretched game, making several key blocks and clearances as Everton turned up the pressure late.
LB: Patrick Van Aanholt, Sunderland
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Patrick van Aanholt delivered the killer opening goal in Sunderland's bout with Aston Villa on Saturday, benefitting from an enormous deflection off Micah Richards but still claiming it as his own.
In fairness, it deserves to be attached to his name: his regular, penetrating runs forward caused Alan Hutton—who refuses to close down wide runners quickly enough every weekend—all sorts of issues, and it's the sort of fearlessness and desire the Black Cats badly need if they're to survive this season.
DM: John Obi Mikel, Chelsea
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"To watch a player defend so elegantly is a beautiful thing," manager Guus Hiddink said of John Obi Mikel after Chelsea's 3-0 win over Crystal Palace, per B/R's Garry Hayes.
The Nigerian has emerged as the Blues' knight in shining armour following a rough 2015, providing balance and steadiness to a midfield previously lacking it. His combination play and partnership with Cesc Fabregas unlocked new levels in this team, and Mikel is the source point for it all.
His 95 percent pass accuracy helped Chelsea move through the gears, and he stepped in with some vital challenges too.
CM: Fernandinho, Manchester City
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Fernandinho put in a lion's shift on Saturday to help Manchester City overcome Watford. He played in multiple positions, ran himself into the ground and set the tone for a brilliant comeback.
The Brazilian drove forward from midfield regularly, evoking a tenacity and intensity many of his team-mates failed to match and was strong at centre-back when forced to fill in later on too.
CM: Mark Noble, West Ham
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There were a few options for the final central midfield spot, but we've opted for Mark Noble. He deserves it for a truly tremendous, warrior-like display in West Ham's midfield on Saturday.
The Hammers completed a historic double over Liverpool for the first time in more than 40 years, and it was achieved via a gritty, determined midfield display of which Noble was the chief protagonist.
His sweeping cross for Andy Carroll's header was great, his goal-line clearance for Lucas Leiva's shot was fantastic and he soldiered on and won the physical battle, giving West Ham an edge to hammer home.
Wing: Anthony Martial, Manchester United
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Anthony Martial is a rare, shining bright star for Manchester United. Even when they play poorly and scrape together victories, fans can rest assured in the knowledge that he will entertain them.
His one-goal, one-assist effort was every bit the match-winning performance it sounds like. He tore Swansea's right side apart using pace, directness and incredible dribbling skill.
His headed goal to open the scoring was a very good one—down into the turf, allowing it to bounce into the corner—and his cross for Wayne Rooney's winner was firm and well aimed.
Wing: Michail Antonio, West Ham
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Michail Antonio isn't a terribly sophisticated, fancy player, but he does have his veritable strengths. As a bruising, counter-attacking runner, very few can stop him in full flow.
Liverpool fell foul of his bursts forward on Saturday, with Alberto Moreno and Nathaniel Clyne in particular both struggling to get a handle on him. He's big, bruising and incredibly direct—a recipe for disaster for Liverpool given Clyne and Moreno's somatotypes.
His goal was richly deserved, and he was a thorn in manager Jurgen Klopp's side all day.
ST: Diego Costa, Chelsea
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When Diego Costa is in this sort of form he's borderline unstoppable. Crystal Palace tried their utmost but were ultimately cut to ribbons by his movement, speed, power and final-third efficiency.
Damien Delaney and Scott Dann each picked up a yellow card in trying to limit his influence, flailing in the wake of his great channel runs. With Cesc Fabregas picking them out, he turned in a lethal display, finishing with a goal and an assist to his name.
Is Costa back? We must wait a month declaring it so—there have been too many false dawns before—but if Hiddink gets the best from him, Chelsea will be ferocious once again.
Bench
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GK: Petr Cech, Arsenal
CB: James Collins, West Ham
CB: Laurent Koscielny, Arsenal
LB: Ben Davies, Tottenham Hotspur
CM: Alex Tettey, Norwich City
Wing: Stephane Sessegnon, West Bromwich Albion
ST: Jermain Defoe, Sunderland
