Premier League Team of the Week: Yakubu, Robin Van Persie and More

As we head deeper into winter, the Premier League gets hotter and hotter. There were some great matches this weekend, including a 5-1 victory for Manchester City, an important 4-2 triumph for Blackburn Rovers and a pressure-relieving 3-0 win for Chelsea against Newcastle.

Elsewhere, Manchester United secured a 1-0 victory over Aston Villa, and Marin O'Neill watched his new side surrender a 1-0 lead and Stoke saw off Everton.

Tottenham Hotspur grabbed a 3-0 win over struggling Bolton, Arsenal continued their resurgence with a 4-0 trouncing of Wigan and West Brom came from behind to get a point against QPR.

So, with all that action, here is your Premiership Team of the Week, lining up in a 4-3-3 formation.

Fulham's encounter with Liverpool takes place tonight, so it hasn't been forgotten. The players from that match will be considered for next week's side.

GK Tim Krul

Tim Krul is a truly fantastic goalkeeper. The Dutchman has been brilliant all season, and this weekend was no different.

Newcastle may have lost 3-0, but it would have been far, far worse if Krul had not made a string of excellent saves.

Krul did well to push Frank Lampard's penalty onto the post early on and continued to make saves, denying Daniel Sturridge on multiple occasions. 

There was nothing Krul could have done about Chelsea's goals; his centre-backs had been lost to injury, and Newcastle were left with 10 men on the field.

Jussi Jääskeläinen just loses out despite a great showing against Tottenham Hotspur.

LB Kieran Richardson

Kieran Richardson ended up on the losing side against Wolves, but got a goal after running half the length of the pitch and finishing powerfully before making a vital clearance in his own box just minutes later.

Sunderland are struggling, but the arrival of Martin O'Neill should rejuvenate them. They will need players like Richardson to maintain their form, and others to find theirs, if they are to move up the table.

CB John Terry

It hasn't been a great season for John Terry. Some suspect performances and off-field problems have not helped Chelsea's relatively poor start to the season.

This weekend, however, Terry was back to his best. There were none of the slips or lapses in concentration that have become more regular than they once were, and he put in a performance that put David Luiz to shame.

His positioning was good, exemplified by a great block on the line with the goalkeeper truly beaten, and he provided stability in a match which was far less one-sided than the 3-0 scoreline might suggest.

CB Thomas Vermaelen

Thomas Vermaelen got his second goal in two games as he capitalised on Robin van Persie's corner with a powerful header and was also involved in Mikel Arteta's goal, playing the ball in to the midfielder.

Vermaelen was not overly busy at the back, but dealt with Wigan's occasional attacks with relative ease. There is no doubt that Vermaelen will come up against tougher oppositions, but he seems to provide Arsenal with a great deal of stability at the back.

RB Micah Richards

Micah Richards is in fantastic form, and his showing in Manchester City's drubbing of Norwich was no different. His breaks down the right wing are an important part of City's attacking prowess, and he is reliable in defence.

He carried the ball very well and created plenty of chances for the rampant Manchester side. He did well to keep the ball in play on the byline and create a chance for City in the second half.

Micah Richards will be pushing hard for a place in the Euro 2012 squad, and he is not doing his chances any harm at the moment with a string of great performances.

LM Gareth Bale

Gareth Bale put in a great performance against Bolton Wanderers as he caused his traditional slice of havoc with a performance full of pace and skill.

Fittingly, the Welshman opened the scoring with a clever, if lucky, flick and did much the same for the third goal, except the ball fell to Defoe, who tapped in.

His passing was good as well, but it was his runs down the wing that caused real problems, especially when he switched flanks with Aaron Lennon.

Tottenham have had great results for the last 10 or so games, and Bale's form will only help them keep it up.

CM Yaya Toure

The figure of Yaya Toure jogging around midfield must be incredibly reassuring for Manchester City fans.

He provides solidity to a side full of attacking potential, but also contributes in attack. He scored with a lovely curled finish and was involved in the build up for City's fourth goal, as he played a perfectly weighted chipped ball for Andy Johnson to play in Mario Balotelli.

Yaya Toure is as important to City's success as their host of deadly attacking players. They need the control he provides in order to be able to flourish.

Phil Jones just loses out after a good showing and well-taken goal against Aston Villa.

RM Juan Mata

Juan Mata is proving to be a very useful signing for Chelsea. He was, once again, excellent against Newcastle.

Mata provided the assist for Chelsea's first goal with a cross which Didier Drogba converted, and he continued to be influential throughout.

His beautiful turn and run down the left wing was a particular highlight, and he continued to create chances with his skill and crossing.

ST Steven Fletcher

Scottish striker Steven Fletcher scored a vital double to haul Wolves back from the brink and secure them all three points against Sunderland.

His first goal was a striker's header at the far post, doing just enough to beat the goalkeeper, but his second was an excellent turn and volley that showed real class.

Fletcher will need to keep scoring if Wolves are to replicate the early season form and put greater distance between themselves and the relegation zone.

ST Robin Van Persie

Robin van Persie was not as influential as he has been at times this season, but he still managed to get a goal and set up two, one with a well-placed corner and one after forcing the goalkeeper to parry his effort.

RVP missed a couple of chances, but he was still very much Arsenal's main threat and, with a role in three of Arsenal's four goals, was vital to their win.

ST Yakubu

Yakubu was in lethal form against Swansea as he grabbed all four of Blackburn's goals against Swansea. His first was a magnificent curled strike with his left foot whilst running.

He continued to cause problems and did well to redirect a powerful driven shot with his head before getting another classic striker's goal with a header inside the six-yard box.

He got his fourth with a coolly taken penalty as Blackburn got a vital win. The Yak is lethal on his day, and Steve Kean will be desperately hoping that the Nigerian keeps performing.