EPL – Outside90's team of the week – Matchday 7

EPL – Outside90's team of the week – Matchday 7 [VIDEO]

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Adam Pallotta
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Outside90’s Adam Pallotta selects the best individual performances from the latest round of Premier League action for our team of the week.

GK – Hugo Lloris (Tottenham Hotspur)

Hugo Lloris put his unconvincing history against Manchester City to rest with a confident display between the posts on Saturday night, amassing seven saves from 22 attempts during Tottenham’s 4-1 win. After conceding 17 goals in the last five Premier League fixtures against the Sky Blues, the trend looked to continue for the French international after Kevin De Bruyne’s successful low drive from the right of the box opened the scoring for the visitors. Lloris – behind an uncharacteristically stable backline – responded assertively through a number of vital saves to keep the Spurs in the contest against a persistent, but overall misfiring, Manchester City attack.

RB – Daryl Janmaat (Newcastle United)

In a resolute first-half for the home side, Daryl Janmaat impressed along the right-wing in his decision-making and shackling of livewire Eden Hazard (one shot, one cross, and was an important contributor in Newcastle’s early two-goal lead over Chelsea. Despite the Magpies surrendering their advantage in a lacklustre ending, the Dutchman was arguably Newcastle’s most dangerous on the attack. He repeatedly forced the opposition into error and turned defence into attack – delivering the assist for the opener. A bold individual performance in a team that completely faltered in the second-half, he retains his spot in Outside90’s Team of the Week.

Team of the Week EPL7

CB – Virgil van Dijk (Southampton)

After a performance to forget against Manchester United the previous week, Virgil van Dijk reasserted himself with elegant authority in Southampton defence and led his team to a 3-1 victory against a strangely subdued Swansea outfit. Demonstrating his patent combination of strength and speed, he won all of his aerial duels. His defensive craft was clearly too great for his direct opponent, Swansea striker Bafetimbi Gomis, who only managed seven touches and was substituted at half-time. Van Dijk scored his first Premier League goal – a powerful near-post header from a well-constructed corner sent in by James Ward-Prowse – topping-off a commanding performance from the 24-year old. He came close to adding to a goal of his own, with a perfectly struck free-kick that forced a save from goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski.

CB – Toby Alderweireld (Tottenham Hotspur)

The Belgian centre-half played arguably his most complete game since signing for the Spurs, collecting 12 clearances, two crucial blocks and a surprise goal, against an uninspired Manchester City team at White Hart Lane. Netting just 19 times in 244 career appearances, Alderweireld rose highest to punish a sluggish visiting team with a simple header from an Erik Lamela free-kick – his first goal for his new club. It put Tottenham in front just after the restart and from that point they maintained a stranglehold over their opponents. He formed a robust partnership alongside club captain Jan Vertonghen, with the pair repelling the City attack with 23 clearances between them. Alderweireld demonstrated confidence when transitioning the ball out of defence, and commitment in the tackle. Together he and Vertonghen handled the movement of Pellegrini’s forwards with ease, particularly that of 2014-15 Golden Boot winner Sergio Aguero, who was able to test the gloves of Lloris just once.

LB – Nacho Monreal (Arsenal)

Nacho Monreal has made undeniable progress this current campaign, and his performance in the victory over Leicester – more specifically, against the red-hot Riyad Mahrez – was exceptional and helped Arsenal leave King Power Stadium with three dominant points. The Spaniard does not possess the same explosive pace and agility as many of the world’s best left-backs, however, his reliability is a welcome strength to a team that often wavers between outstanding and ridiculous. The Spaniard has seen his career stabilise this season and has been the preferred choice over highly-rated England International Kieran Gibbs. He created two goals over the weekend and comfortably quelled the influence of Mahrez (only three successful passes into the box and only forcing one save from Petr Cech). Monreal transitioned the ball from defence to attack on multiple occasions, recording a total of four interceptions and nine clearances. His steadfastness has helped the Gunners concede just seven goals in the Premier League this season, but will have another tough task this weekend against the in-form Juan Mata from Manchester United

RM –  Juan Mata (Manchester United)

Mata’s rapid rise for the Red Devil’s this season continued at the weekend, as he pulled all the strings and his composure allowed him to virtually dance around a recoiled Sunderland team in their 3-0 home victory. Since the arrival of summer signings Memphis Depay and Bastian Schweinsteiger, Mata has risen to the challenge to cement his position in a contested line-up. His dexterity and quick-thinking was on show when he set up Depay for the opening goal, following a pinpoint pass from Daley Blind. He showcased his ability to cut inside from the wing and create headaches for the Black Cats, while delivering the ball at a 92% success rate. The 27-year-old winger added his name to the scoresheet in the last minute of normal time, a deflected cross falling to his feet which he drilled back into the net with a composed finish. He even came close to making it two, when a long-range strike to the bottom-left corner was pushed around the post by an outstretched Costel Pantilimon.

CM – Lucas Leiva (Liverpool)

It did not win many headlines, but Lucas Leiva’s performance in Liverpool’s 3-2 win over Aston Villa was pivotal in gaining momentum in a lively second-half. He dictated play through the middle from a deep-lying positon and as Aston Villa striker Rudy Gestede led the comeback in the late stages, Lucas coolly commanded the match through sensible decision-making. The Brazilian finished the match with 124 touches, 108 passes at 93% accuracy and 11 tackles in an excellent display.

CM – Santi Cazorla  (Arsenal)

In the absence of tackle machine Francis Coquelin due to suspension, it was a big call for Arsene Wenger to keep Santi Cazorla in the side to face unbeaten Leicester at King Power Stadium rather than replace him with a more physical presence. In Arsenal’s hard-fought 5-2 win, Cazorla did more than justify his manager’s decision as he demonstrated a surprising appetite for the contest and showcased his incisive passing (91% success rate), vision, and creativity.

He battled long and hard in the middle of the ground in an end-to-end encounter of counter-attacking action – forcing two saves from goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel, and creating four clear-cut chances on goal. He provided the eye-catching pass to Theo Walcott, who netted to spark the eventual comeback from the visitors. Since his debut for the Gunners in August 2012, Cazorla has provided more assists (32) than any other player in the Premier League and Wenger will hope his stirring form continues as the Gunners approach a challenging two months.

LM – Alexis Sanchez (Arsenal)

After eight games without a goal, Arsenal’s most explosive and dangerous player, Alexis Sanchez, finally burst into life as he fired a hat-trick to condemn Leicester to their first loss this Premier League campaign. Along with his three well-developed goals, the lightning quick winger created seven scoring chances and played with the sharpness that spectators had been expecting. His first was a clever finish at the far post, the second a header at full-stretch to poke it over goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel, while the third was purely individual brilliance from the Chilean as he skipped around N’Golo Kanté and rocketed from long range into the bottom-corner.

His achievement at the weekend etched his name in history books as the first player to score a hat-trick in each of the Premier League, Serie A, and La Liga.

ST – Romelu Lukaku (Everton)

Romelu Lukaku returned to the venue where he first made headlines and delivered an all-round excellent performance. The Belgian big man inspired a second-half resurgence to help Everton claim a comeback 3-2 win over West Bromwich Albion. The Baggies held a two=goal lead just after the restart, but Lukaku exploded into action and looped a header past Boaz Myhill from a tantalizing Gerard Deulofeu cross. He then played provider with a nice through-ball to Arouna Kone to level the scoreline and completed a memorable comeback, utilising his great strength to jostle the ball in.

ST – Daniel Sturridge (Liverpool)

Daniel Sturridge showed great composure and was back to his lethal-striking best in Liverpool’s 3-2 weekend win. He contributed two goals, his first a well-taken volleyto complete a tidy one-two play with James Milner and his next was just as easy on the eye – a give-and-go with Philippe Coutinho to finish past Brad Guzan with precision. His goals helped to regain advantage and steady the ship when the game was in the balance. The Englishman instigated most of the attacking play with terrific, positive runs into the box.

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