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Premier League Team of the Week – Matchday 34

Each week we delve through the Premier League’s weekend action and compile our divisional Team of the Week from the fixtures’ finest performances.

Manchester City moved top of the Premier League table after a hard-fought win at Fulham, while Manchester United ended Aston Villa’s unbeaten run at Old Trafford to strengthen their position in the top four.

Elsewhere, Liverpool climbed above Spurs after beating the north Londoners in an enthralling encounter at Anfield, Brighton kept alive their European ambitions with a record-breaking win over Wolves, and there were important wins for Bournemouth, Newcastle and Crystal Palace.

Here is The Football Faithful’s Premier League Team of the Week.

Goalkeeper: Bernd Leno – Fulham

Bernd Leno was unable to do his old side a favour in the Premier League title race, but kept his current club in the contest for large periods during Fulham’s 2-1 defeat to Manchester City.

The German goalkeeper made a string of saves to frustrate the visitors, including seven saves from inside the box, with Pep Guardiola calling Leno ‘the best player of the game’ at Craven Cottage.

He has been an astute addition for Marco Silva following Fulham’s return to the Premier League.

Right-back: Trent Alexander-Arnold – Liverpool

Continued his reinvention in a hybrid role with another performance of creative class and elite distribution when stepping into central areas. It’s now six assists in five games for Alexander-Arnold since Klopp’s tactical tweak, after a superb cross picked out Curtis Jones for the opening goal in Liverpool’s 4-3 win over Tottenham.

Alexander-Arnold’s positional change remains a work in progress for the balance of the team, with Ibrahima Konate having struggled on occasion to cover the area vacated at right-back. For the former, however, it has been a welcome switch and one which has allowed him to find his form.

Centre-back: Adam Webster – Brighton

Brighton’s defensive options won’t get their due credit for the club’s six-goal thrashing of Wolves, but the foundation of Lewis Dunk and Adam Webster at centre-back was again flawless in the Seagulls’ success.

Webster battled well against Diego Costa and was confident with the ball at his feet (91% pass accuracy), with the central defender an underrated component of a Brighton side aiming high.

The first, but not last, Brighton star to feature in this XI.

Centre-back: Victor Lindelof – Manchester United

Victor Lindelof has taken his chance in the Manchester United side, with injuries to Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane having seen the Swedish centre-back earn an extended run in the team.

Lindelof produced another accomplished performance as United beat Aston Villa to strengthen their position in the top four, with the defender recording a 97% pass accuracy and making seven ball recoveries.

Lindelof dealt with the threat of the in-form Ollie Watkins and was assured in possession, while his brilliant goal-line clearance from Douglas Luiz ensured the Red Devils claimed all three points.

Left-back: Pervis Estupinan – Brighton

Estupinan bounced back from a difficult evening at Nottingham Forest in midweek with a solid showing as Brighton produced the performance of the weekend to maul Wolves.

The Ecuadorian was full of endeavour down the left and delivered a nice cross for Danny Welbeck to head home from close range, his fourth assist of the Premier League season.

The left-back had some difficult moments defensively early on but recovered to play his part in Brighton’s record-breaking win.

Midfield: Jefferson Lerma – Bournemouth

Bournemouth moved 10 points clear of the Premier League’s relegation places after a 4-1 win over Leeds at the Vitality Stadium.

Jefferson Lerma was the architect of a big win for the Cherries, as the midfielder scored a four-minute brace to put the home side in control. The Colombian curled home a brilliant opener, before capitalising on Illan Meslier’s mistake to turn in a second moments later.

The Bournemouth fans sang for Lerma – out of contract this summer – to sign a new deal and the club’s all-but-confirmed safety for another season might tempt the midfielder into extending his stay. He will be a big miss if he moves on this summer.

Midfield: Billy Gilmour – Brighton

Brighton’s forgotten man proved there’s plenty in reserve at the Amex Stadium, as Gilmour shone on a rare start for Roberto De Zerbi’s side.

Gilmour was poised in possession and passed through lines, leading the game for ball recoveries (9), accurate final third passes (12) and pass accuracy (92%).

It’s been a challenging period for Gilmour who has seen his career stall over the past two seasons, but this was a reminder of what he can bring to De Zerbi’s possession-dominant side.

The Scotland international excels in the pass-and-move mantra of the Italian and showed he can be the solution if Brighton’s in-demand midfielders depart this summer.

Midfield: Pascal Gross – Brighton

Pascal Gross returned to his favoured midfield role for Brighton this weekend, with Moises Caicedo and Alexis Mac Allister named among the substitutes.

The German continued his excellent individual season with two goals as the Seagulls thrashed Wolves 6-0 to record their biggest-ever Premier League win, converting a confident first from Julio Enciso’s pass on the run.

Gross’ second was a thing of beauty, as the midfielder lashed home a stunning effort after his first touch sat up invitingly to hit. It was the 31-year-old’s eighth goal in the Premier League this season – no Brighton player has more.

Comfortable in any area of the pitch and a prolific chance creator, Gross’ £3m arrival from FC Ingolstadt has been one of Brighton’s best bargains.

Midfield: Eberechi Eze – Crystal Palace

Eberechi Eze is enjoying his best football right now and it’s fair to say the Crystal Palace fans – and neutrals – are quite enjoying watching him.

The 24-year-old has been a revelation since Roy Hodgson’s return to Selhurst Park and was outstanding once again as the Eagles won a thriller 4-3 with West Ham. The midfielder performs with freedom on the pitch and was at the heart of Palace’s best football.

He went down softly for the penalty, but stepped up to convert the spot-kick with trademark calm. He can’t be far away from the England reckoning on current form.

Forward: Callum Wilson – Newcastle

Callum Wilson came off the bench to turn the game around for Newcastle against Southampton, with the forward’s introduction a game-changing moment at St James’ Park.

Wilson took just nine minutes to equalise after Stuart Armstrong’s opener for the Saints, before rounding Alex McCarthy to score a second after Theo Walcott’s own goal had put Newcastle ahead. He tormented Southampton and was cruelly denied a hat-trick after hitting the woodwork late on.

It’s now five goals in a week for Wilson and 15 for the season in the Premier League. It’s perhaps time that Eddie Howe found a way to fit the England international and Alexander Isak into the same starting XI.

Forward: Deniz Undav – Brighton

Denis Undav has had to be patient for his chance at Brighton this season, but produced a fine performance as Roberto De Zerbi’s much-changed side thrashed Wolves.

The German scored his first Premier League goals with a brace at the Amex Stadium, turning home a poacher’s effort from close range before scoring a delightful dinked effort for his second. This will represent a huge confidence boost to the 26-year-old, who scored 27 goals in all competitions for Union Saint-Gilloise last season but has struggled for starts at Brighton this season.

It’s now five goals in just six starts in all competitions for Undav this season, who will hope to capitalise on Evan Ferguson’s absence with a run in the side.

Read – Premier League weekend: Five things we learned

Read Also – Noughties Nines: Andriy Shevchenko – Rossoneri royalty

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