Premier League Team of the Week: Fabregas, Hazard and Mahrez All Feature
They're almost there. We repeat, they're almost there. Tottenham Hotspur's draw with West Bromwich Albion on Monday night means Leicester City need just three points from their remaining three games to win the Premier League title. Hell, they can even secure it this Sunday at Old Trafford with a win.
As a result, three of their better performers star in our Premier League Team of the Week. They're joined by a variety of others including two from Sunderland, two from Manchester City and two from Chelsea.
We've selected the best players from another thrilling weekend and slotted them into a workable formation—a 4-4-2 on this occasion. Please note: those who participated in the FA Cup this weekend are, for obvious reasons, not eligible.
Disagree with our selections? Hit us up in the comments section below to start the conversation.
GK: Vito Mannone, Sunderland
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Arsenal may have put in a fairly bleak performance at the Stadium of Light on Sunday, but Vito Mannone was still called into action several times and saved Sunderland's bacon at least twice on his own.
He made six saves in total, per WhoScored.com, springing about to deny the likes of Olivier Giroud and Alex Iwobi. The Italian's agility is one of his best attributes, and he can make some aesthetically pleasing stops when required.
Sunderland have kept three clean sheets in their last four outings; settling on Mannone as No. 1 has played a part in this.
RB: Vurnon Anita, Newcastle United
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Vurnon Anita's endured a rough April on the whole, due to having to fill in at left-back for Newcastle United. On Saturday, though, he played on the right—and what a difference that can make.
The Magpies were far from perfect defensively, but Anita stood out in the line. As the game progressed, he became bolder and bolder, and he eventually supplied an assist for one of two goals that secured Rafa Benitez a vital draw and point.
Questions may still hang over whether Anita really is a Premier League-level player, but on Saturday he took a big step in the right direction ahead of key summer decision-making.
CB: Lamine Kone, Sunderland
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Sam Allardyce really aced the January transfer window; his securing of Wahbi Khazri, Jan Kirchhoff and Lamine Kone has given Sunderland a legitimate chance of staying in the Premier League.
They all played well this weekend as the Black Cats held Arsenal to a 0-0 draw, but Kone was the pick of the bunch—earning man-of-the-match status among many fans on Twitter—with yet another commanding display at the back limiting Arsene Wenger's men to few chances.
His partnership with Younes Kaboul is very good, he's positionally sound and a handful from corners.
CB: Wes Morgan, Leicester City
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A dearth in centre-back quality this weekend means Wes Morgan sneaks into the XI to partner Lamine Kone.
The Leicester City captain didn't have too much to do, with Swansea mustering just nine shots, one of which went on target, per WhoScored.com, but he did roam forward in an attempt to exert pressure and looked like an auxiliary left-winger or striker at times.
Another clean sheet for the Jamaica international will mean he's happy again; it was the Foxes' 11th since the turn of the year.
LB: Alberto Moreno, Liverpool
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There have been many in Liverpool's ranks to benefit from Jurgen Klopp's tuition—with Adam Lallana perhaps the man who has improved the most—but Alberto Moreno has come on leaps and bounds, too.
The Spaniard's two-assist showing on Saturday against Newcastle United made him the best left-back of the gameweek; his quick thinking from a free-kick set Daniel Sturridge up to score Liverpool's first, and his good run and ball in for Lallana created the second.
His defensive skill set also came to the fore as the Reds' left flank looked solid.
RW: Riyad Mahrez, Leicester City
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Riyad Mahrez recovered from what has been a bit of a dip lately to score the opener in Leicester City's 4-0 win over Swansea City.
He latched onto a dodgy Ashley Williams pass out from the back, pushed forward and wrong-footed the goalkeeper with a lovely near-post finish. From that moment on, the Swans never came close to causing an upset.
Mahrez provided bits of magic and, crucially, an opening goal in a tense game. That's called delivering when the pressure's on, and that's what has led to him scooping the Professional Footballers' Association Player of the Year award.
CM: Fernando, Manchester City
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Fernando's enjoyed a rather intriguing late-season renaissance; he has clearly stepped his game up several levels and has seemingly become an automatic starter for Manuel Pellegrini.
Against Stoke City at the weekend he was very impressive, netting the opener with a near-post header from a Jesus Navas corner, and playing his part in a dominant Manchester City midfield setup.
This might be the longest streak of form Fernando has put together in his entire career with the Citizens to date.
CM: Cesc Fabregas, Chelsea
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SB Nation's David Pasztor described Cesc Fabregas' performance against Bournemouth as the "best of his [Chelsea] career so far." Few will argue with that statement.
His three assists were all superb, with the scything pass to Pedro to open the scoring only being bettered by the slick back-heel in the build-up to Eden Hazard's first strike.
When Fabregas dominates, Chelsea dominate.
LW: Eden Hazard, Chelsea
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The goal drought is over. Eden Hazard bagged his first (and second) Premier League goals of the season at the 27th time of asking. He has scored this season in cup competitions, but these were the first to come in the league.
A year and five days had passed since the Belgian had scored from open play (in any competition), and a nervousness and reluctance has crept into his game throughout the 2015-16 campaign. It was strange, then, to see him lash home from 20 yards in emphatic fashion to break that duck.
His second was a product of a good follow-up run into a dangerous area and consisted of an easy tapped finish.
ST: Kelechi Iheanacho, Manchester City
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Kelechi Iheanacho's goalscoring record this season has been excellent. He's netted 11 in all competitions, but more specifically, he has managed five from 520 severely broken-up minutes in the Premier League, per WhoScored.com.
A rare start for him this weekend against Stoke City saw him bag two. He struggled a little early in the game but exploded into life after settling, grabbed a brace and played a role in winning a penalty.
ST: Leonardo Ulloa, Leicester City
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B/R's Man of the Weekend, Leonardo Ulloa, also spearheads our Team of the Week. His impact in Leicester City's latest victory keeps the Foxes firm favourites for the Premier League title.
With Jamie Vardy suspended, the Argentinian stepped in knowing the pressure was on him to produce, and he bagged two goals—one a nice header, one a bundled finish from a yard—to ensure Claudio Ranieri's men ran out 4-0 winners over Swansea City.
He delivered when it really mattered.
Bench
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GK: Karl Darlow, Newcastle United
CB: Younes Kaboul, Sunderland
CM: Ashley Westwood, Aston Villa
CM: N'Golo Kante, Leicester City
Wing: Stephane Sessegnon, West Bromwich Albion
Wing: Jeffrey Schlupp, Leicester City
ST: Shane Long, Southampton
