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Sports Mole's Premier League Team of the Week

Sports Mole's Premier League Team of the Week
© PA Photos
Sports Mole picks out its Premier League team of the week following another explosive seven days of action.

There were some stunning individual performances in the Premier League over the past week with a number of players turning in match-winning displays for their sides.

Shinji Kagawa earned all the plaudits at Old Trafford as Manchester United opened up a 15-point lead at the top of the table with a 4-0 win over Norwich City, while a Luis Suarez hat-trick saw Liverpool notch up the same scoreline at Wigan Athletic.

Meanwhile, it was seven good days for Gareth Bale thanks to three vital goals for Tottenham Hotspur in their victories over West Ham United and Arsenal respectively.

At the other end of the table, Queens Park Rangers caused a stir in the relegation battle as they picked up only their third win of the season with a 2-1 triumph at fellow strugglers Southampton, but Reading's survival hopes took a blow with a 3-1 loss at Everton.

Here, Sports Mole selects the 11 players who proved their worth in England's top flight.

Pepe Reina (Liverpool)
The Merseysiders may have romped to a 4-0 win at Wigan, but the Spaniard was forced into a number of impressive saves to keep the Latics at bay.

Branislav Ivanovic (Chelsea)
Ivanovic did well against a dangerous West Brom side as a composed, consistent 90 minutes from the versatile Serbian helped his team to a 1-0 win.
Jan Vertonghen (Spurs)
It was a typically-frantic North London derby against Arsenal and the steady Belgian came through with flying colours as Tottenham got one over on their neighbours.
Ashley Williams (Swansea)
Swansea avoided a hangover against Newcastle following their League Cup win last weekend thanks to a focused, well-drilled display - exemplified by their captain.
Leighton Baines (Everton)
Yes, him again. Baines did what he does best during the Toffees' victory over Reading: Bombing up and down the left side with nothing but full commitment.

Philippe Coutinho (Liverpool)
The Brazilian is still finding his feet in English football, though you wouldn't have guessed it with two fine assists in the Reds' victory at Wigan.
Shinji Kagawa (Man Utd)
The quicksilver Japanese international stole the show at Old Trafford with a wonderful hat-trick during United's 4-0 triumph against Norwich.
Steven Pienaar (Everton)
One goal and one assist for the tireless South African capped a fine display in Everton's win over Reading.
Gareth Bale (Spurs)
Despite his goal, Bale may not have been at his influential best in the North London derby, but his match-winning performance at West Ham at the start of the week proved that he is British football's man of the moment.

Luis Suarez (Liverpool)
A second hat-trick of the season at Wigan could well have etched the unstoppable Uruguayan's name onto the PFA Player of the Year trophy.
Wayne Rooney (Man Utd)
While Kagawa wrote the headlines at Old Trafford, Rooney was rewarded for a sharp performance against Norwich with a peach of a goal.

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Jack Prescott
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Newcastle's Moussa Sissoko celebrates his goal against Chelsea on February 2, 2013
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Sports Mole's Premier League Team of the Week
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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool16123137162139
2Chelsea18105338211735
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest1810442419534
4Arsenal1796234161833
5Newcastle UnitedNewcastle188553021929
6Bournemouth188552721629
7Manchester CityMan City188463026428
8Fulham187742623328
9Aston Villa188462629-328
10Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton176742726125
11Tottenham HotspurSpurs1872939261323
12Brentford177283232023
13West Ham UnitedWest Ham186572330-723
14Manchester UnitedMan Utd176472122-122
15Everton173861522-717
16Crystal Palace183871826-817
17Leicester CityLeicester173592137-1614
18Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1733112740-1312
19Ipswich TownIpswich172691632-1612
20Southampton1813141137-266


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