EPL Team of the Weekend: Liverpool pair flourishes as Hazard hits heights

Eden Hazard's return to scoring form and Liverpool's excellence are recognised in the latest Opta-led Premier League Team of the Weekend.

Published : Dec 17, 2018 11:29 IST

Eden Hazard had a hand in both goals for Chelsea, starring in its 2-1 win over a spirited Brighton and Hove Albion.
Eden Hazard had a hand in both goals for Chelsea, starring in its 2-1 win over a spirited Brighton and Hove Albion.
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Eden Hazard had a hand in both goals for Chelsea, starring in its 2-1 win over a spirited Brighton and Hove Albion.

There were standouts aplenty as Liverpool swept aside Manchester United in another show of strength and two of Jurgen Klopp's title contenders have been rewarded with spots in our latest Opta-guided Premier League Team of the Weekend.

Eden Hazard adds extra class to the XI after getting back on the scoresheet for Chelsea, while West Ham's rich vein of form earns it a pair of places.

GOALKEEPER - MARTIN DUBRAVKA (NEWCASTLE UNITED)

Newcastle United put six points between itself and Huddersfield Town with a precious 1-0 win at a sodden John Smith's Stadium.

Salomon Rondon hit the winner but Martin Dubravka was just as important, the goalkeeper making five saves to protect a crucial clean sheet.

RIGHT-BACK - PABLO ZABALETA (WEST HAM)

West Ham is dismissing early doubts over its direction under Manuel Pellegrini and Pablo Zabaleta is doing just the same.

The right-back was in vintage form during the 2-0 victory at Fulham, making three tackles and four interceptions to help the Hammers notch a fourth successive victory.

CENTRE-BACK - TOBY ALDERWEIRELD (TOTTENHAM)

Tottenham needed Christian Eriksen's late intervention to escape with a welcome 1-0 win over Burnley at Wembley.

Toby Alderweireld was in top form in the 90 minutes that preceded the hard-earned winner, dealing capably with Ashley Barnes and recovering possession on a team-high 12 occasions.

CENTRE-BACK - CONOR COADY (WOLVES)

He made a vital last-ditch challenge on Joshua King in the early stages of Wolves' win over Bournemouth and Conor Coady did not let his standard slip from there.

The centre-back inspired his team to a 2-0 triumph - its third win on the trot - with five clearances and two blocks.

LEFT-BACK - ANDREW ROBERTSON (LIVERPOOL)

Jose Mourinho commented after Manchester United's loss to Liverpool that he became tired merely watching Andrew Robertson race up and down the touchline at Anfield.

The numbers illustrate that the Scotland skipper's contribution involved more than just tireless running - he created four scoring chances to help keep the visitor firmly on the back foot.

RIGHT MIDFIELD - ROBERT SNODGRASS (WEST HAM)

Robert Snodgrass' renaissance at West Ham seems certain to continue if his creative display away to Fulham is a guide.

The 31-year-old carved out two chances and took it upon himself to get the scoring underway at Craven Cottage, a curling first-time finish giving Sergio Rico no chance.

CENTRAL MIDFIELD - DOMINGOS QUINA (WATFORD)

Watford ended a six-game winless sequence with its nervy 3-2 success against Cardiff City and welcomed a possible new star in teenager Domingos Quina.

Quina, 19, completed 89 per cent of his 88 passes and, better yet, netted what proved the winner with his maiden Premier League goal 22 minutes from full-time.

CENTRAL MIDFIELD - GEORGINIO WIJNALDUM (LIVERPOOL)

There was only one man to rival the number of chances Robertson created in Liverpool's win on Sunday and perhaps nobody had more of an influence without scoring than Georginio Wijnaldum.

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Jurgen Klopp celebrates with his players following Liverpool's win over Manchester United
 

His four key passes and game-high 105 touches were allied to an impressive passing accuracy of 91 per cent in an all-action showing at the heart of midfield.

LEFT MIDFIELD - EDEN HAZARD (CHELSEA)

Eden Hazard was in sensational form for Chelsea against Brighton and Hove Albion, setting up Pedro's opener and scoring himself in a 2-1 victory .

No Blues player had more shots than Hazard's two or created more chances than the Belgian, who made three opportunities for team-mates in total.

STRIKER - GABRIEL JESUS (MANCHESTER CITY)

Gabriel Jesus waited 11 games and a total of 487 minutes to score his first Premier League goal since August but, once one came, another soon followed in Manchester City's 3-1 win over Everton .

The Brazil striker scored a brace from both of his attempts at goal against the Toffees.

STRIKER - DANNY INGS (SOUTHAMPTON)

Southampton got up and running under Ralph Hasenhuttl in dramatic fashion as Charlie Austin nodded in a late winner against Arsenal, ending the Gunners' 22-match unbeaten ru n.

But it was Danny Ings who had given the Saints the platform from which to claim a vital three points, his first-half double marking the first time the striker has scored two headers in an English league game.

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