Players in top-four and relegation-battles feature in this weekend's XI.
After each round of Premier League fixtures, We bring you the Team of the Weekend. Our panel of experts carefully selects 11 star performers along with a manager.
Goalkeeper: Fraser Forster, Southampton
At last, we have an accord at No. 1 in the gangly form of Fraser Forster. The Southampton stopper faced 22 shots on goal against Chelsea, proving as resolute as Paris Saint-Germain had done in the Champions League on Wednesday night. Though he was beaten early on by Diego Costa's header he was flawless from then on, not only in making vital saves from Oscar, Eden Hazard, and late on from Loic Remy, but also in dealing with the many crosses that fizzed into his box all second half. Gab Marcotti, Steve Nicol and Paul Mariner are all in agreement that he alone secured Saints a very creditable point.
Centre-back: Joel Ward, Crystal Palace
He'll have to revert to centre-back duties to squeeze into our XI, but Joel Ward shouldn't mind. He strikes you as the type of lad who'd happily drive the team coach to the ground and cut the grass before kick-off if you asked him to. Afforded license to get forward during the visit of feckless Premier League travelers Queens Park Rangers, Ward combined superbly all afternoon with Wilfried Zaha -- another chief component in Palace's victory. The full-back collected Zaha's pass and struck a shot that diverted off Sandro to register his first top-flight goal for the club and complete an excellent opening half for Alan Pardew. His goal and all-around performance were enough to warrant selection by Steve Nicol and Paul Mariner.
Centre-back: Jeffrey Schlupp, Leicester City
Oh how Nigel Pearson wishes he had 11 Jeffrey Schlupp's to call on. If all Leicester players showed as much graft and skill as the Ghanaian then perhaps the Foxes might still have a realistic shout of Premier League survival. Though another must-win game came and went with the visit of struggling Hull, it wasn't for Schlupp's want of trying, as he galloped up and down the flank all afternoon long. Paul Mariner said this was Schlupp's best game of the season, calling it a "complete performance" while Steve Nicol said his display was akin to an "old fashioned right back." He's at centre-half for TOTW purposes but this lad can play almost anywhere.
Centre-back: Jose Fonte, Southampton
Jose Fonte must have sat at home watching Diego Costa's long-running feud with David Luiz on Wednesday night with a huge smirk plastered all over his face. Not many Premier League defenders would relish facing Chelsea's premier marksman, but the Portuguese isn't an ordinary defender. He marshals the stingiest rearguard in the top flight and after watching his afternoon's work at Stamford Bridge it isn't hard to see why. Never more than a few yards away from the striker, Fonte was as pivotal as Forster in securing a point for Saints, with Steve Nicol calling him a "calming influence" and Paul Mariner lauding his treatment of Costa.
Aaron Ramsey reminded Arsenal fans what they've been missing during his injury absence.
Centre-midfield: Aaron Ramsey, Arsenal
Into the midfield and a welcome TOTW return for Aaron Ramsey. The Welshman returned from injury with an energetic display against West Ham, one that proved he is "back to his best," according to Steve Nicol. A disjointed campaign may have put pay to his attempt to recreate the majesty of last season, but if Saturday is anything to go by, he could be vital for Arsenal between now and the season's end. His enterprising run set up Olivier Giroud for the first before the Frenchman returned the favour for Ramsey's excellent second. As Gab Marcotti says, his display "reminds us just what Arsenal were missing during his layoff."
Centre-midfield: Marouane Fellaini, Manchester United
"Maybe David Moyes was on to something when he signed Marouane Fellaini," ponders Steve Nicol. The Belgian's best half in a Manchester United shirt helped to settle a vital top-four contest with Spurs and repay the recent faith placed in him by manager Louis van Gaal. Burrowing away in a centre-left channel, Spurs couldn't handle the big man, who fired United in front with a smart finish from Michael Carrick's through ball. He had a hand in the second too, converted by Carrick, and generally terrorised anyone who had the temerity to cross his path. Gab Marcotti sums it up best, labeling him an "offensive terminus."
Right-midfield: George Boyd, Burnley
"If you do what you've always done, you'll get what you've always got," crooned Sean Dyche after Burnley's famous win over Manchester City. I think I know what he means, and George Boyd is the incarnation of it: tireless, industrious and with no little silk. The 29-year-old had already gone close with a fine strike before his sublime half-volley sunk City, who offered a paltry threat even though they enjoyed a whopping 70 percent possession in the game. Steve Nicol called Boyd's goal "the sweetest half volley you will see all season" while Gab Marcotti says Boyd's near miss on the volley prior to his goal proved the game's deciding strike was no fluke.
Left-midfield: Yannick Bolasie, Crystal Palace
While notable for possibly the greatest consolation goal of all time by Matt Phillips, Crystal Palace's win over QPR was also a demonstration that Alan Pardew's side have a pair of exceedingly tricky wingers. Wilfried Zaha had a fine game, and displayed a fair amount of bravery to stare down the upright when grabbing his opener, but the provider of that goal also laid the second on a plate for James McArthur. Yannick Bolasie displayed "energy, threat, work-rate and good defensive qualities" in a sizzling performance, according to Paul Mariner. Steve Nicol adds: "Bolasie may lack style, but boy does he get it done."
Left-forward: Gabby Agbonlahor, Aston Villa
A pal of mine loves a fantasy gamble and plumped for Gabby Agbonlahor on Saturday morning. Oh how I Iaughed, repeatedly, for a few minutes before realising my mirth meant he was bound to score. He duly grabbed two, but what I hadn't quite accounted for was just how utterly abject Sunderland were. Tim Sherwood's positive intent paid off with Agbonlahor's goals, both cool finishes after some pretty woeful defending. Paul Mariner says his was a "vibrant performance" full of fine movement and solid finishing. Steve Nicol is in total agreement.
Centre-forward: Christian Benteke, Aston Villa
He's a unanimous decision anyway, but there was no doubt whatsoever that Christian Benteke would be included, if only for this line from Steve Nicol, talking of the big Belgian's relationship with Agbonlahor: "A true double act in the mould of Batman and Robin, fish and chips or cheese and onion." It was Benteke who started and finished the Stadium of Light rout, first with a cool side-footed finish, then a trademark header that Gab Marcotti thinks underlined his "physical prowess." Paul Mariner toasts his return to scoring form "just at the right time."
Right-forward: Olivier Giroud, Arsenal
And finally, Gab Marcotti plumped for Olivier Giroud, for the Frenchman was silk personified against West Ham on Saturday. After a few indifferent weeks (Monaco at home anyone?) the striker was back to flair-filler against Sam Allardyce's rapidly sinking Hammers. His first goal just before halftime was a lesson in how to finish, one that Theo Walcott hopefully took note of, while he also created a stunning second for Aaron Ramsey and had a hand in the third, pocketed by Mathieu Flamini. Gab's summary is thus: "Provider and scorer and ever more important to this Arsenal side."
Manager: Sean Dyche, Burnley
Burnley seem to like playing defending champions from Manchester at Turf Moor. After vanquishing United in 2009, City duly followed in 2015. Yes, Pellegrini's men were about as effective as Wayne Rooney's defences in the boxing ring (kitchen) but the Clarets overran them with a wealth of energy and positivity. George Boyd's winner was a stunner and his performance typified the collective spirit within Dyche's ranks, as each man harried, tackled and hassled as if their wages depended on it. Steve Nicol and Paul Mariner are fully on board with Gab Marcotti, who says: "Burnley ride their luck a little, but when you consider the disparity of resources and the intensity and intelligence of their play, you can only praise the gravel-voiced Dyche."
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