Premier League Team of the Week: Lallana, Gerrard and Suarez Star
November 10, 2013Premier League Team of the Week: Lallana, Gerrard and Suarez Star
Welcome to the latest edition of our Premier League Team of the Week.
There were some shock results, dominant performances and big scores, but which players impressed most on an individual level?
We've crafted a 4-3-3 formation out of 11 awesome showings. If you feel we've missed someone, join the conversation and add in your XI below!
GK: Tim Krul, Newcastle United
Tim Krul put on a masterclass of goalkeeping at White Hart Lane on Sunday—the sort that should be shown to all aspiring youngsters.
He ended up with 14 saves—a seasonal record thus far—as he palmed, parried and punched his way to an astonishing clean sheet against Tottenham Hotspur.
That's back-to-back victories for Alan Pardew's men, having faced Chelsea and Spurs.
RB: Leandro Bacuna, Aston Villa
Leandro Bacuna put in another wonderful showing on Saturday, further endearing himself to the Aston Villa faithful.
His free-kick—a 25-yard golazo—allowed a dull game to explode. And as he moved further up the field, his side's influence and control over Cardiff City increased in the two-nil win.
For a team like Villa, battling for a mid-table spot, a player like Bacuna can be a hugely valuable commodity.
CB: Phil Jones, Manchester United
Phil Jones split his afternoon's work between centre-back and defensive midfield, excelling in both roles.
Both Manchester United and Arsenal were incredibly static in the centre of the pitch, and Jones was the only man mobile enough to dribble into space and attempt to make things happen.
Dropping into the defensive line, he settled instantly, held firm in the centre under strong pressure from the visitors, and committed to every challenge.
A clean sheet against the Gunners? Always a positive.
CB: Wes Brown, Sunderland
Sunderland held on to escape with a famous 1-0 victory over Manchester City on Sunday, with Gus Poyet working yet more magic as he begins to move through the gears on Wearside.
The Citizens threw everything at Vito Mannone's goal. but the defence refused to yield and Wes Brown put in a titanic showing in the centre of the line.
The oft-maligned centre-back even chipped in with an assist for the only goal of the game.
LB: Phil Bardsley, Sunderland
Three weeks ago, Phil Bardsley was in the doghouse with his own fanbase. After his winning goal against Manchester City, though, they're finding it difficult to dislike him.
He had been dropped completely by the former management, but Gus Poyet saw fit to reintroduce him. He's responded with a goal in each of his last two games, and, for a left-back, that's not bad going.
DM: Morgan Schneiderlin, Southampton
Morgan Schneiderlin scored his first goal of the season against Hull City, and the look on his face told the whole story.
He's a terrific defensive performer and an interception magnet, but he rarely finds himself hitting the back of the net with any regularity. Adding goals to his game would make him a near-perfect outlet and drive his price up even further.
A complete performance from the Frenchman.
CM: Steven Gerrard, Liverpool
Steven Gerrard was instrumental in Liverpool's destruction of Fulham this weekend and was substituted in the 67th minute. Job done.
His passing was stunning, picking up two assists and helping his side achieve irresistible dominance in an extremely one-sided, 4-0 encounter.
The deep-lying playmaker role Brendan Rodgers has crafted for him exemplifies Gerrard's strengths and (largely) masks his weaknesses, allowing the captain to continue to dictate things despite his advancing years.
CM: Jonny Howson, Norwich City
Jonny Howson has been Norwich City's Player of the Season so far, and Saturday saw him put in yet another excellent performance.
The impact a fit (and confident) box-to-box midfield presence can do wonders to your team—just ask Aston Villa (Fabian Delph) and Arsenal (Aaron Ramsey)—and Howson is Chris Hughton's most consistent weapon.
The former Leeds United man hit the post during his side's 3-1 win over West Ham United.
WF: Adam Lallana, Southampton
With Roy Hodgson looking on, Adam Lallana celebrated his first call-up to the national side in style by tearing Hull City to shreds in the 4-1 victory.
After the game, midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin admitted he believes his colleague is "one of the best talents in England" to Sky Sports, and on current form, he's not far off.
Lallana waltzed through the Tigers defence as it wasn't there, and his goal involved him beating four of them before sliding home.
WF: Luis Suarez, Liverpool
Luis Suarez took 10 shots against Fulham on Saturday, so perhaps his goal tally should have been higher.
He scored two, though, and although the Cottagers defence isn't performing well, he still put them to the sword with several mazy runs that were near-impossible to stop.
After returning from suspension, the Uruguayan has quietly put together a prolific streak of games and currently sits tied for first in the top goalscorer charts with eight.
ST: Rickie Lambert, Southampton
Adam Lallana will take the plaudits, but don't doubt how integral Rickie Lambert was to Southampton's crushing victory over Hull City.
He converted a penalty to essentially seal the win, driving an unstoppable piledriver into the top corner, and provided the assist for two other goals on the day.
If he can take this form into the international break, he'll have one foot on the plane to Brazil.