Wednesday, 26 November 2014

Top Men: Palace trio star in XI

Joel Ward (l) and Mile Jedinak (2nd l): Celebrate beating Liverpool
Crystal Palace have three players in our Team of the Week after their 3-1 win over Liverpool, while Burnley and Chelsea contribute two each.
Check out our latest Team of the Week and then let us know your top XI using the story comment facility at the bottom of the article.
Sportmasta's Top Men (4-2-3-1): De Gea; Clyne, Clark, Shackell, Ward; Jedinak, Fabregas; Bolasie, Hazard, Eriksen; Ings.
David de Gea (Man Utd): Put in another classy display to make our line-up for the third time in six weeks. Injured his finger on international duty but you wouldn't have guessed looking at his heroics at The Emirates. He made a fine early stop from Jack Wilshere and denied Danny Welbeck too - and all behind a makeshift back three. A key player now at Old Trafford.
Nathaniel Clyne (Southampton): The marauding England full-back capped off a superb 10 days with a fine equaliser in the draw at Aston Villa. After a solid display on his debut for England against Slovenia, he repeated the showing in the 3-1 win over Scotland and returned to club duty at Villa Park to rifle in the point-saving strike with 10 minutes to go.
Ciaran Clark (Aston Villa): Bossed the Villa defence in the absence of Nathan Baker and Ron Vlaar and kept Southampton's efforts on goal to a premium. Battled all night against Saints striker Graziano Pelle and came out on top as Villa grabbed a valuable point.
Jason Shackell (Burnley): The Clarets skipper was a dominant figure as they chalked up their second straight win - with victory at Stoke. The 31-year-old was at his commanding best as he made block after block and won everything in the air to keep Stoke quiet.
Joel Ward (Crystal Palace): An ever-present at the back for Palace and quickly becoming Mr Dependable. Kept Raheem Sterling quiet and made some good bursts forward as Palace managed to keep Liverpool in check.
Mile Jedinak (Crystal Palace): Curled in a fabulous free-kick to wrap up Palace's 3-1 win over Liverpool to cap off a gutsy display from the Palace skipper. The Australian worked tirelessly in the centre of the park to eclipse Steven Gerrard et al and then showed his class late on.
Cesc Fabregas (Chelsea): Looked like being the signing of the summer and he's proving to be so with another near faultless display in Chelsea's stroll past West Brom. The schemer made 64 passes in the final third against the Baggies - more than any other player in the top five leagues all season. He also collected his 10th assist in just 12 games as he laid the second goal on for Eden Hazard.
Yannick Bolasie (Crystal Palace): A real thorn in the side of Liverpool on Sunday with his direct wing play. The lightning quick former Bristol City man tormented Javi Manquillo and Glen Johnson at Selhurst Park and laid on the first two goals before winning the deserved man-of-the-match award.
Eden Hazard (Chelsea): They love him at The Bridge and not just because his last nine league goals have all been scored there, but because he's the best player in the Premier League at the moment. He netted again in the win against West Brom and looked a menace all afternoon, as he has done all season, but now he's added consistency to his game.
Christian Eriksen (Tottenham): Spurs dominated possession in their last-gasp win at Hull and Eriksen was at the hub. The maestro's 30-yard free-kick clattered the upright to set-up the equaliser for Harry Kane and the Danish whizz produced a brilliant whipped-in winner to hand Spurs the victory.
Danny Ings (Burnley): Looked a class act in the Championship all last season and showed that form with some terrific movement and hard work in the win at Stoke. Scored two unspectacular tap-ins, but led from the front and is a real inspirational figure for the battling Clarets.

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