EPL team of the weekend: Aguero, Sterling in all-Manchester front three

Sergio Aguero and Raheem Sterling are among a host of Manchester-based stars named to our latest Premier League Team of the Weekend.

Published : Feb 11, 2019 14:15 IST

Raheem Sterling and Sergio Aguero scored five goals between them.
Raheem Sterling and Sergio Aguero scored five goals between them.
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Raheem Sterling and Sergio Aguero scored five goals between them.

The Premier League's two Manchester clubs struck nine goals between them on a weekend in which the top three all banked maximum points.

City racked up records in thumping an overwhelmed Chelsea, while United brushed aside Fulham with ease.

Players from both teams are well-represented in our Opta-powered Premier League Team of the Weekend and there is plenty of space for some Liverpool stars to boot!

GOALKEEPER - HUGO LLORIS (TOTTENHAM)

Tottenham kept the top two in sight with a 3-1 win over Leicester City, although it was not an entirely convincing performance at Wembley Stadium.

An uncomfortable outing might well have ended in a draw had Hugo Lloris not denied Jamie Vardy from the spot on the hour.

The Foxes striker went on to score 16 minutes later but Lloris, who made nine saves, had the last laugh.

RIGHT-BACK - JAMES MILNER (LIVERPOOL)

Asked to plug a hole at right-back for the second match in succession, James Milner turned in a polished performance liked the seasoned professional Premier League audiences have come to respect.

The natural midfielder made three tackles and provided the cross from which Sadio Mane headed Liverpool into the lead against Bournemouth .

CENTRE-BACK - CHRIS SMALLING (MANCHESTER UNITED)

Phil Jones registered a rare assist during Manchester United's routine 3-0 victory at Fulham but it was his defensive partner who caught the eye at Craven Cottage.

Chris Smalling was strong and composed in winning a difficult duel against Aleksandar Mitrovic, making a team-high six clearances and completing 85 per cent of his passes for good measure.

CENTRE-BACK - VIRGIL VAN DIJK (LIVERPOOL)

Liverpool's defence has been a series of moving parts around Virgil van Dijk in recent times but the Netherlands international was his reliable self at Anfield on Saturday.

Confronted by the pace of Joshua King, 27-year-old Van Dijk barely gave an inch away as he recorded six clearances and recovered possession on five occasions.

LEFT-BACK - PATRICK VAN AANHOLT (CRYSTAL PALACE)

Patrick van Aanholt is so often a driving force on Crystal Palace's left flank and his attacking instincts helped to pin back West Ham at Selhurst Park.

Only the talismanic Wilfried Zaha directly contributed to more shots (nine) than Van Aanholt (seven) during the 1-1 draw.

CENTRAL MIDFIELD - GEORGINIO WIJNALDUM (LIVERPOOL)

Georginio Wijnaldum earned warm praise from boss Jurgen Klopp and team-mate Milner after overcoming illness to star against Bournemouth.

The level-headed midfielder produced a glorious lob of Artur Boruc before the break to go with the three goal-scoring chances he created in a selfless showing.

CENTRAL MIDFIELD - ILKAY GUNDOGAN (MANCHESTER CITY)

The scene-stealing efforts of Sergio Aguero and Raheem Sterling drew the spotlight away from Ilkay Gundogan's quietly accomplished performance in City's crushing victory over Chelsea.

As well scoring his side's fourth goal, Germany international Gundogan created two scoring chances in the Etihad Stadium whitewash.

CENTRAL MIDFIELD - PAUL POGBA (MANCHESTER UNITED)

Paul Pogba maintained his stellar scoring touch under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer by notching twice away to Fulham.

The World Cup winner beat Sergio Rico at his near post with a thumping left-footed finish and later wrapped up the result from the penalty spot.

Pogba has now netted 11 league goals this term, eight of which have been scored since Jose Mourinho's exit from Old Trafford.

RIGHT WING - RAHEEM STERLING (MANCHESTER CITY)

Sterling opened the scoring early at the Etihad Stadium, rounded it out with 10 minutes to play and was a menace in between to an overawed Chelsea.

His two goals and two chances created were just part of an incisive performance that bamboozled the visiting Blues.

STRIKER - SERGIO AGUERO (MANCHESTER CITY)

Seven days on from his last treble, star striker Aguero was at it again on Sunday as he equalled Alan Shearer's Premier League record of 11 hat-tricks.

City's all-time leading scorer produced a devastating three-goal, 43-minute period that was all the more impressive in view of a poor earlier miss that would have dented a lesser player's confidence.

LEFT WING - ANTHONY MARTIAL (MANCHESTER UNITED)

Having assisted Pogba's opener against Fulham, Martial took it upon himself to double United's advantage in breathtaking style.

The fleet-footed forward collected a pass inside his own half and breezed past several opponents on the way to a splendid solo effort.

It was a symbolic moment of a player exploring the full scope of his tremendous talent.

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