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Premier League Team of the Week - Kevin De Bruyne, Diogo Jota, Christian Eriksen

Sports Mole selects its Premier League Team of the Week, including Kevin De Bruyne, Diogo Jota and Christian Eriksen.

The latest round of Premier League fixtures is done and dusted, with Manchester City still leading the way at the top after seeing off Burnley 2-0 at Turf Moor.

Pep Guardiola's men had briefly been knocked off their perch by Liverpool after their victory by the same scoreline against Watford, while Chelsea capitulated in a 4-1 loss to Brentford.

Tottenham Hotspur rose into the top four courtesy of a 5-1 thrashing of Newcastle United, and they remained there as Arsenal produced one of their worst showings of the season in a 3-0 loss to Crystal Palace.

Manchester United's Champions League aspirations also took a hit with a 1-1 draw at home to Leicester City, and West Ham United's European hopes were boosted with a 2-1 success versus Everton.

Elsewhere, Wolverhampton Wanderers sunk West Midlands rivals Aston Villa 2-1, Southampton and Leeds United played out a 1-1 draw, and there was no way through for Brighton & Hove Albion or Norwich City in a goalless stalemate.

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


DEFENCE

 Crystal Palace's Joachim Andersen celebrates after the match on March 20, 2022© Reuters

Brentford's rampant attacking forces quite rightly stole most of the headlines at Stamford Bridge, but take nothing away from David Raya's performance as the last line of defence, with the Spaniard making seven saves to ensure his side were on the correct end of the scoreline.

One may have assumed that it was Trent Alexander-Arnold providing the pinpoint cross for Diogo Jota's header against Watford, but Joe Gomez's assist summed up his exemplary showing at Anfield, with the Englishman also making four tackles in an assured display.

There could have been an argument to include a full team of Crystal Palace players this week, and one man whose contributions simply could not be overlooked is Joachim Andersen, who bagged two somewhat fortuitous assists, made six clearances and tested Aaron Ramsdale with a well-struck free-kick on Monday night.

As much as Brighton's poor finishing was to blame for their 0-0 draw with Norwich, Canaries skipper Grant Hanley certainly played his part with 13 clearances, three blocks, two tackles and six out of seven aerial battles won during a dominant performance.

Finally, Matt Doherty is not all that familiar with a left-wing back role but took to the opposite flank with aplomb during the visit of Newcastle - bravely diving forward to head home while also putting the ball on a plate for Emerson Royal to net in a Lilywhites thumping.


MIDFIELD

Brentford's Christian Eriksen celebrates after the match on March 5, 2022© Reuters

Refusing to let Liverpool's temporary rise to the summit affect him, City talisman Kevin De Bruyne was a constant presence on the Turf Moor turf - scoring a peach of a half volley with the outside of his boot while also making four key passes and playing a huge part in Ilkay Gundogan's goal on the day.

Unsurprisingly featuring in a Brentford-heavy team, Vitaly Janelt bagged the most unlikely of braces at Stamford Bridge - with his powerful effort preceding a cheeky chip over Edouard Mendy in front of the joyous Bees faithful.

The biggest smile on the Stamford Bridge turf surely belonged to Christian Eriksen, though, with the Danish playmaker continuing his remarkable return less than a year on from suffering a cardiac arrest with a well-taken effort into the roof of the net, and the Brentford man also made four clearances, three tackles and three key passes to prove to the footballing world that he is very much back.


ATTACK

Liverpool attacker Diogo Jota pictured on February 10, 2022© Reuters

The fourth and final representative in our Brentford XI did not manage to get on the scoresheet against Chelsea, but Bryan Mbeumo still played his part magnificently with two assists and will aim to kick on after a somewhat difficult first season in the top flight.

With Mohamed Salah struggling to perform and Luis Diaz and Sadio Mane both waiting their turn on the bench, Diogo Jota took on the attacking responsibility against Watford and did so expertly - producing another bullet header before winning the penalty for Fabinho to convert in the lunchtime success.

Never too far away from the action when Spurs are in their prolific mood, Son Heung-min completes the XI this week, with the South Korean scoring one and setting up another in the thumping of Newcastle, as well as registering five key passes and a 96% accuracy from the left-hand side.


SPORTS MOLE'S PREMIER LEAGUE TEAM OF THE WEEK

PL TOTW GW31

Sports Mole's Premier League Team of the Week (4-3-3): Raya; Gomez, Andersen, Hanley, Doherty; De Bruyne, Janelt, Eriksen; Mbeumo, Jota, Son


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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Arsenal36265588286083
2Manchester CityMan City35257387335482
3Liverpool35229477364175
4Aston Villa35207873522167
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs341861067541360
6Newcastle UnitedNewcastle351751378562256
7Manchester UnitedMan Utd34166125251154
8Chelsea34149116559651
9West Ham UnitedWest Ham351310125665-949
10Bournemouth36139145263-1148
11Wolverhampton WanderersWolves36137164960-1146
12Fulham36128165155-444
13Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton341111125257-544
14Crystal Palace351010154557-1240
15Everton36129153849-1137
16Brentford3699185260-836
17Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest3689194563-1829
18Luton TownLuton3668224978-2926
19Burnley3659223974-3524
RSheffield UnitedSheff Utd36372635100-6516


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