After the most recent round of Premier League fixtures, ESPN FC presents its Team of the Weekend, selected by Gab Marcotti, Paul Mariner and Steve Nicol.
Do you agree or disagree? You can have your say on those picked or overlooked in the comments section at the foot of the article or on Twitter using the hashtag #TOTW.
Goalkeeper: Southampton manager Mark Hughes said his side's desperately needed win over Bournemouth had been reward for their recent improvement, and he would have been grateful to Alex McCarthy after a tense 2-1 triumph. McCarthy made fine stops to thwart Nathan Ake and Lewis Cook with the match in the balance and, after the Saints had taken the lead for the second time, conjured a couple of great reflex saves to deny Ryan Fraser. "Important saves that keep Southampton's survival hopes going," says Steve Nicol, with Paul Mariner acclaiming "a crucial contribution."
Defender: Everton fans have been unhappy with their style (or perceived lack of it) in recent matches. But when Seamus Coleman plays as he did at Huddersfield, they can enjoy a dash of flair at both ends of the pitch. Coleman was calm in the face of spells of frenetic pressure, bringing the ball out of defence with skill and style and bombarding forward to create chances at the other end as spaces opened up. "He's still one of the best attacking full-backs around," notes Gab Marcotti, with Mariner saying Coleman is "back to his best" after returning from a broken leg.
Defender: Arsene Wenger suffered a late 2-1 defeat on his last Old Trafford appearance as Arsenal manager, but nobody could have done more to try and prevent it than Konstantinos Mavropanos, to whom he gave a debut. To say Mavropanos vindicated his manager's judgment would be an understatement: the 20-year-old was superb, commanding in the air, composed on the deck and passing the ball with an unhurried poise that made it seem as though he had been in the first team for months. It was a performance that left an admiring Nicol saying: "He was absolutely great on his debut."
Defender: It may seem strange to see a defender from a side that won 5-0 in the lineup, but the platform for Crystal Palace's trouncing of Leicester was built by Mamadou Sakho, who made sure the Foxes' dangermen barely had a sniff. Sakho won the ball in the air time and again in a towering display, making key interceptions and also finding time to conjure a pass a midfielder would have been proud of for Ruben Loftus-Cheek's goal. "Several Leicester strikers are still in his pocket," is Marcotti's succinct summing up, with Mariner enjoying Sakho's "commanding performance in both boxes."
Defender: Paul Lambert hasn't lost at Anfield as manager of Norwich, Aston Villa or Stoke, and Erik Pieters played a huge part in keeping his run going on Saturday. Not many players can say they have kept Mohamed Salah at bay this season, but Pieters can, and he also helped prevent Liverpool from clicking into gear more generally. Pieters exemplified Stoke's spirit and, although he may have been fortunate to escape punishment when the ball hit his arm in the area, had one of his finest matches for the club. Both Nicol and Mariner pick him, the latter saying: "He kept Salah quiet and had a strong all-round game."
Midfield: West Brom fans must wonder what might have been after their dramatic improvement under Darren Moore continued with a 1-0 win at Newcastle, but at least some pride has returned to the Baggies. Matt Phillips provided the latest injection with the winner at St James's Park and offered much else in a non-stop showing. West Brom's threat on the counter owed a great deal to him, with his running giving them a constant outlet. His thumping finish was an indicator of both his and their renewed confidence, prompting Nicol to sing his praises.
Midfield: "Doing what he always does," says Nicol of Manchester City's Fernandinho, who has shown extraordinary consistency in City's extraordinary season and makes yet another appearance in our team. City, by and large, strolled to their latest victory at West Ham, with Fernandinho keeping them ticking beautifully thanks to his customary high-quality passing and adding a goal when he arrived in the area to sweep home the fourth. "Still the hub of Pep Guardiola's wheel, at least in terms of being a two-way player, and got on the scoresheet too," says Marcotti.
Midfield: Everton's Idrissa Gueye was at the heart of matters at Huddersfield with a steely, steady contribution enabling them to take control of a match that had begun in a whirl of Terriers intensity. Keeping count of the number of challenges Gueye won would have been tough, and he also found a spare moment in which to roam into attack and score the clinching second. "Absolutely tireless," purrs Mariner, with Marcotti delighting in the way Gueye "protected Everton's sometimes wayward centre-backs."
Midfield: Saints boss Hughes used to worry about Dusan Tadic when he was an opposition manager, but now he can sit back and enjoy his skills. Two-goal Tadic made the difference against Bournemouth, and showed admirable composure on the ball throughout. He rounded off a slick attack with the nonchalant finish that put them in front and restored that lead in style, winning the ball, driving forward and thumping it home. "Massive win, fuelled by him," says Marcotti. "They may yet stay up," and Nicol and Mariner hail Tadic for being the big influence in what could be a big result.
Forward: Tension? What tension? A big game for Palace turned into a big win and, when that happens, you know Wilfried Zaha will have been heavily involved. Zaha tormented Leicester, settling nerves when he rounded off a slick move early on, forcing Marc Albrighton into the foul that saw him sent off and setting up James McArthur to double the lead. Everything good that Palace did, and there was much of that, involved him. "He's just crucial for them," says Nicol, while Mariner notes that Zaha is "playing great at the sharp end of the season." Marcotti adds: "He demolished Leicester almost on his own."
Forward: "His movement is just fantastic," says Nicol. Of whom does our Liverpool legend speak? Manchester City's Gabriel Jesus, that's who, after a masterful display of link play and cunning running against the Hammers. Jesus was in the middle of so much for Guardiola's side, his neat touches keeping moves flowing and his darting movement creating space. His work was exemplified by City's third goal, which he started with a pass to Raheem Sterling and finished by sidestepping a challenge before slotting in. "Will pose a major challenge to Sergio Aguero next season," notes Marcotti.
Manager: When Roy Hodgson took over at Palace, they had lost all four Premier League games without scoring. Although the same thing happened in the next three, Hodgson didn't panic and a win over Chelsea lit the fuse on the recovery that has them all but safe. Ups and downs have been navigated and key games won, with boyhood Palace fan Hodgson lauded by the Selhurst faithful. He's another unanimous choice, Marcotti saying: "He's done it with a rather limited side as well -- much respect" while Nicol admires his unflappable approach and Mariner adds: "Has them headed for safety after the worst possible start to the season."