EPL Hot 11: Berbatov Nets 3, Bale, Valencia and Ba Keep Form in Match Day 18

Dimitar Berbatov tops the ranking in this Holiday Edition of the Premier League Hot 11. The Bulgarian's hat trick powered a surging United club past a struggling Wigan side.

Elsewhere, Gareth Bale, Antonio Valencia and Demba Ba maintained their form as some of the EPL's top in-form players.

Also, a rare appearance from a keeper in Mark Bunn claims a spot for the net-minders, as his performance kept Liverpool from a full three points.

Every week, 11 footballers in the Premier League will make up the EPL Hot 11, a fluctuating power ranking that highlights the top performers over the course of the entire season. Dependent on their match-day performances, players may move up or down the list each week.

Dimitar Berbatov

A rare start for Dimitar Berbatov resulted in a hat trick for the Bulgarian in a 5-0 win for Manchester United that moved it level with Manchester City atop the Premier League table.

It was Berbatov's seventh appearance in England's top flight and just his second start in the league. With his three-goal effort against Wigan, the 30-year-old striker is up to four goals this season a year after he recorded 20 for the club in a title-winning campaign.

Berbatov showcased fantastic quality in his first two goals, demonstrating pristine control before calm and collected finishes.

It was his fourth hat trick in a United kit.

Gareth Bale

Gareth Bale could have done no worse than to enter the January transfer window in top form and with a double in his latest performance.

The ever-coveted Welsh star has netted six times and dealt five assists over the course of eight league games, making Bale one of the hottest footballers in all of England.

A glimpse of Bale's talent can be seen in his 67th-minute insurance goal. After taking a Luka Modric through-ball near midfield, the left-footed talent took it on full sprint at the goal before the most collected chip over the keeper to secure Tottenham's three points.

Queue the €40 million bids.

Antonio Valencia

Antonio Valencia started just two games for Manchester United prior to December.

But, in four first-11 selections this month, the Ecuadorian has been a valuable asset to Sir Alex Ferguson's fiery squad.

Since his three-assist effort in his first start in seven matches, Valencia has gone on to collect three more and a goal in three subsequent first-team selections.

In the 5-0 win over Wigan on Boxing Day, the quick-paced midfielder put up a goal and an assist in a result that brought United level with City in terms of points.

After creating a goal for Dimitar Berbatov in the 59th minute, Valencia scored his own on an unstoppable, low shot into the side netting.

Demba Ba

Demba Ba is one of the hottest strikers and most consistent scorers in the Premier League this season.

With an insurance goal in Newcastle's 2-0 win over Bolton Monday, Ba is up to 14 goals on the year, including five in his last four league appearances.

The Magpies dominated, but the chances were not falling. With the game still even at 0-0 heading towards 70 minutes, Newcastle struck twice in the 69th and the 71st, with Ba netting the latter.

With Wayne Rooney and Sergio Aguero failing to score in their respective matches, Ba moved into sole possession of second place in league goals this season—just two behind leader Robin van Persie.

Juan Mata

Juan Mata may have recorded the goal of Match Day 18 in the Premier League with his fabulous 47th-minute strike that sent Chelsea ahead 1-0 against Fulham.

After Fernando Torres controlled an Ashley Cole cross, it fell for Mata, who took it first time with his left foot to lash it past David Stockdale for the score.

Mata has been worth every pound that Chelsea spent on the 23-year-old this summer, as the young Spaniard is up to four goals and seven assists on a Blues squad that has had inconsistencies up front.

Clint Dempsey

Fulham's leading scorer and assist man put in quite a showing at Stamford Bridge in a 1-1 draw with Chelsea, netting the equalizing goal that kept the match at an even keel.

Clint Dempsey turned in a 56th-minute cross from Bryan Ruiz at point-blank range just nine minutes after Juan Mata opened the scoring with a brilliant goal of his own.

That makes four goals and an assist in six games for the American in a campaign that surely looks to exceed his production from a season ago.

Danny Graham

With a goal in a 1-1 draw with Queens Park Rangers, Swansea's Danny Graham takes the title of the most productive player for the Swans.

Though he has scored only twice in four for the club, Graham terrorized the Rangers' defensive third, a duty which included a quality score inside the box in the 14th minute. A low, curling effort barely made it past a diving Patty Kenny to open the scoring.

Swansea may have even deserved a win after Graham was denied a penalty decision late in the match.

Wayne Rooney

Though Wayne Rooney got just 27 minutes of time on the field in a substitute's role in United's 5-0 thrashing of Wigan, the striker nearly got another goal as his form stabilizes after a lapse in production.

Rooney did go scoreless, but four goals in four games is still no easy feat. After all, it was just the second time this season that the England international did not start for his club.

United does have three matches over the course of nine days beginning Saturday, so perhaps Sir Alex Ferguson merely was giving his star striker a warm-up.

Mark Bunn

Blackburn managed a point in a 1-1 draw against Liverpool Monday, but it was Rovers keeper Mark Bunn who single-handedly may have kept the Reds from securing a full three at Anfield.

On two occasions, including one in the final seconds of extra time, Bunn denied point-blank strikes that would have sent Liverpool ahead.

It is not often that keepers get some recognition, but for a Blackburn side that currently occupies the cellar in the league table, the club needs every point it can muster.

Hatem Ben Arfa

If you want to talk efficiency, look no further than Hatem Ben Arfa.

The struggling Frenchman has lacked playing time so far under Alan Pardew, but just nine minutes after coming on against a seemingly worsening Bolton side, the former Marseille player netted his first goal in over a year.

Ryan Taylor's cross found Ben Arfa unmarked in the middle of the box, and the 24-year-old nailed it first time into the back of the net, leaving no chance for the keeper.

Ben Arfa's goal led to Demba Ba's lavish score just two minutes later, but it was the former who would end up securing the points after Newcastle could not seem to break past Jussi Jaaskelainen's net.

Bryan Ruiz

Fulham's Bryan Ruiz has not been the most serviceable forward for the Cottagers this season, but his play of late indeed has been promising.

After recording a great goal and an assist two matches ago, the Costa Rican delivered another assist to Clint Dempsey in what was the equalizing goal in a 1-1 draw with Chelsea Monday.

Ruiz was used mostly in a substitute's role to begin the season, but his increasing form permitted him six straight league starts, with a score and two assists coming in his last three starts.