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Premier League Team of the Week - Declan Rice, Virgil van Dijk, Bruno Fernandes

sportsmole.co.uk, 12 March 2024, 09:10
The final Premier League battle between Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola certainly lived up to the billing, as Liverpool and Manchester City's colossal clash ended in a frenzied 1-1 draw at Anfield.

With both title rivals only adding one point to their totals, though, Arsenal have reclaimed their spot at the summit with 10 games left to play, having beaten Brentford 2-1 thanks to another late goal.

Meanwhile, a place in the top four is officially Tottenham Hotspur's to lose thanks to their 4-0 crushing of fellow Champions League hopefuls Aston Villa, and Manchester United are still kicking in the European fight thanks to a 2-0 win over Everton.

Chelsea survived a late scare to post a 3-2 victory over Newcastle United on Monday night, but near neighbours West Ham United required a late intervention to hold Burnley to a 2-2 draw in the capital.

Brighton & Hove Albion and Wolverhampton Wanderers also remain in the continental mix, with the Seagulls edging past Nottingham Forest 1-0 while Gary O'Neil's men rejoiced in a 2-1 success versus Fulham.

Finally, Luton Town nabbed a dramatic equaliser in a 1-1 stalemate at Crystal Palace, and Bournemouth dramatically came from two goals down to deny Sheffield United a precious three points in a 2-2 draw.

Here, Sports Mole selects its Premier League Team of the Week for the latest round of fixtures.

DEFENCE

While Everton had their own wastefulness to blame for their two-goal defeat at Old Trafford, Man United number one Andre Onana was a reliable presence whenever called upon on Saturday lunchtime, making six stops to ensure a hard-earned clean sheet and potentially silence a few more critics.

A clean sheet eluded Arsenal during their showdown with Brentford, albeit through no fault of Ben White, who flaunted his prowess at the other end of the field with two sublime crosses for Declan Rice and Kai Havertz. On current form alone, there is no reason for the 26-year-old not to be re-integrated into the England squad, but if reports of a bust-up with Steve Holland are to be believed, White will only be donning the Arsenal colours for the time being.

Sheffield United defenders making a Team of the Week selection would have been scarcely believable before their clash with Bournemouth, but Jack Robinson put in a truly masterful performance down south. As well as pouncing to hook the ball over the line for the Blades' second, the centre-back made eight clearances, three tackles, two blocks and two interceptions during a monstrous display.

Both the Blades and Liverpool felt a sense of disappointment and frustration at full time over the weekend, but the latter's captain Virgil van Dijk deservedly collected the man-of-the-match prize versus Man City. Playing his role in marshalling Erling Haaland to magnificent effect, the Dutchman made four interceptions and two last-man tackles at Anfield, as well as managing to force Haaland wide during their captivating one-on-one battle.

From a current Liverpool player to one whom Klopp has reportedly recommended the Reds sign, Wolves left-back Rayan Ait-Nouri was too hot for Fulham to handle at Molineux, opening the scoring with a neat finish into the roof of the net and also creating a big chance for Mario Lemina, who robbed him of an assist by fluffing his lines in front of goal.

MIDFIELD

Moving onto an exceptional 19 Premier League goal contributions for the season, Chelsea starlet Cole Palmer saw Nicolas Jackson cleverly divert his strike into the back of the Newcastle net before an emphatic low finish in the second half, thereby scoring in five straight top-flight starts at home and also registering a goal and assist in the same Premier League game for the fifth time this season.

Speaking of midfielders adding more of a goal threat to their game, Arsenal's £105m man Declan Rice continues to justify his British-record price tag in his advanced midfield role, heading home his sixth league goal of the season against Brentford and also coming agonisingly close to a 25-yard stunner, only to see his curling strike hit the upright.

Some of Bruno Fernandes's on-field antics will always be lambasted by fans, pundits and even the official Fulham TikTok account, but the Man United captain was spoken about in a positive light against Everton, firing an excellent penalty past Jordan Pickford after the Englishman's mind games and also creating five chances for his teammates on the day.

One of two super subs in our latest selection, Bournemouth wing wizard Dango Ouattara defined the term game-changer during his side's stalemate with Sheffield United, cutting the deficit in half with a majestic leap and header before nodding the ball on for Enes Unal to complete the Cherries' comeback.

ATTACK

Some Burnley fans may have feared the worst when former flame Danny Ings came onto the London Stadium pitch, and the Clarets' concerns were well-founded. Moments after having one effort disallowed, the 31-year-old notched his first Premier League goal of the season with a slick turn and half volley, before also striking the woodwork during a tremendous cameo.

David Datro Fofana deserves a mention for his absolute rocket in the same game, but Tottenham skipper Son Heung-min was the first name on our gameweek 28 selection. Directly contributing to three of the Lilywhites' four efforts at Villa Park, the South Korean slipped in Brennan Johnson and cut back for Timo Werner either side of a powerful finish into the roof of the net, as Tottenham put their top-four destiny back in their own hands.

SPORTS MOLE'S PREMIER LEAGUE TEAM OF THE WEEK

Sports Mole's Premier League Team of the Week (4-4-2): Onana; White, J. Robinson, Van Dijk, Ait-Nouri; Palmer, Rice, Fernandes, Ouattara; Son, Ings

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