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Premier League Team of the Week - Youri Tielemans, Raheem Sterling, Phil Foden

Sports Mole selects its Premier League Team of the Week, including Youri Tielemans, Raheem Sterling and Phil Foden.

The top two again won in the Premier League this weekend, with leaders Manchester City putting four goals past Norwich City before second-placed Liverpool recorded a 1-0 win over Burnley at Turf Moor.

Raheem Sterling scored three times in Man City's 4-0 success at Carrow Road in Saturday's late start, while Liverpool picked up all three points against the Clarets on Sunday courtesy of a first-half effort from Fabinho, so the gap between the top two teams remains nine points, with the Reds having a game in hand.

Manchester United remain fifth in the table after being held to a 1-1 draw by Southampton on Saturday, while Brentford and Crystal Palace also shared the points in a goalless draw.

There were wins for Brighton & Hove Albion and Everton on Saturday, though, with the former recording a 2-0 victory at Watford, while Frank Lampard's side beat Leeds United 3-0 at Goodison Park.

Sunday's action saw Newcastle United record a huge 1-0 victory over Aston Villa courtesy of a first-half free kick from Kieran Trippier, with the Magpies now four points clear of the relegation zone.

Wolverhampton Wanderers, meanwhile, won 2-0 at Tottenham Hotspur, with the two teams swapping positions in the table, although Antonio Conte's side still have two games in hand on fourth-placed West Ham United.

The final match of the Premier League weekend took place at the King Power Stadium on Sunday, with Leicester City drawing 2-2 with West Ham, who remain fourth in the table, one point clear of fifth-placed Man United, having played a game more than the Red Devils.

Here, Sports Mole selects its Premier League Team of the Week from the latest set of fixtures in England's top flight.


DEFENCE

Newcastle United's Kieran Trippier celebrates scoring their first goal with Dan Burn on February 13, 2022© Reuters

Jose Sa has been arguably the standout goalkeeper in the Premier League this season, and he was again in terrific form for Wolves on Sunday, keeping a clean sheet in the 2-0 victory at Tottenham. Sa made seven saves during a brilliant performance, while he was also calm and composed under pressure.

A back four also includes Kieran Trippier, who netted the winner for Newcastle against Aston Villa on Sunday, with the England international finding the back of the net from a deflected free kick, but his all-round performance against Steven Gerrard's side meant that he had to be included in his side.

Michael Keane, meanwhile, put in a commanding performance for Everton against Leeds, also finding the back of the net in the 3-0 win at Goodison Park. Brighton's Adam Webster is also included, registering a goal in a fine display against Watford on Saturday, and the 27-year-old has been one of the most impressive defenders in the Premier League over the last few weeks.

The final spot in the defence is awarded to Nathan Ake, who slots in at left-back despite playing in the middle against Norwich on Saturday. The Netherlands international had a pass success rate of 92%, while he made three tackles, won four aerial duels and hit the crossbar during an all-action performance.


MIDFIELD

Leicester City's Youri Tielemans on January 19, 2022© Reuters

Leander Dendoncker was also a key contributor to Wolves picking up all three points at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday afternoon, scoring the game's all-important second goal in the 18th minute of the contest, while he had a pass success rate of 86% during a fine performance in the middle of the park.

Youri Tielemans has allegedly told Leicester that he will not be signing a new contract at the club, but the Belgium international was excellent against West Ham on Sunday, scoring his side's first of the match, while he complete 60 of his 67 passes during a brilliant individual display in the 2-2 draw.

The final midfield spot is awarded to Everton's Anthony Gordon, who was the star man against Leeds at Goodison Park on Saturday. The 20-year-old set up Michael Keane to make it 2-0 in the 23rd minute before getting his name on the scoresheet in the 78th minute, capping a brilliant performance which also included four tackles, with the youngster working back for the team when required.


ATTACK

Manchester City's Raheem Sterling celebrates scoring their fourth goal to complete his hat-trick on February 12, 2022© Reuters

As Man City struck four against Norwich, it is not too much of a surprise that two of their forwards are in this particular XI, with Phil Foden terrific operating as the centre-forward. Norwich just could not deal with the England international, who scored Man City's second of the match in the 48th minute, while he completed four dribbles and had a pass success rate of 95% against the relegation-threatened side.

Raheem Sterling, though, was the standout player for the English champions on Saturday, scoring three times in the four-goal win. The 27-year-old was a constant threat down the right for Pep Guardiola's side, and he completed his hat-trick in the final moments after Angus Gunn had kept out his penalty.

One of Southampton's forwards also had to be included in this side, and Armando Broja is unfortunate to miss out due to his excellent performance against Man United. Che Adams has been chosen as the centre-forward, with the Scotland international on the scoresheet at Old Trafford; he was a constant menace for the Saints on Saturday, working back for the team and putting pressure on the home side's defence.


SPORTS MOLE'S PREMIER LEAGUE TEAM OF THE WEEK

PL TOTW GW25

Sports Mole's Premier League team of the week (4-3-3): Sa; Trippier, Keane, Webster, Ake; Dendoncker, Tielemans, Gordon; Sterling, Adams, Foden


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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool15113131131836
2Chelsea16104237191834
3Arsenal1686229151430
4Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest168442119228
5Manchester CityMan City168352823527
6Bournemouth167452421325
7Aston Villa167452425-125
8Fulham166642422224
9Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton166642625124
10Tottenham HotspurSpurs1672736191723
11Brentford167273230223
12Newcastle UnitedNewcastle166552321223
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd166462119222
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham165472129-819
15Crystal Palace163761721-416
16Everton153661421-715
17Leicester CityLeicester163582134-1314
18Ipswich TownIpswich162681628-1212
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1623112440-169
20Southampton1612131136-255


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