English football columnist Richard Jolly names his Best XI in the Premier League for the December 19-20 weekend. including Chelsea midfielder Pedro and Bournemouth defenders Adam Smith and Charlie Daniels.
Goalkeeper: Wayne Hennessey (Crystal Palace)
Chung-yong Lee clinched victory at Stoke, with a dramatic winner, but Hennessey made it possible, with a string of fine saves.
Right-back: Adam Smith (Bournemouth)
The goalscoring right-back popped up with a second significant goal in Bournemouth’s great run to set them on their way to a win at West Brom.
Centre-back: Toby Alderweireld (Tottenham)
While his former club Southampton defended in amateurish fashion, Alderweireld showed them what they are missing as Tottenham kept a clean sheet.
Centre-back: James Collins (West Ham)
A no-nonsense defender resisted with typical determination on his return to his native Wales as West Ham earned a point in the stalemate at Swansea.
Left-back: Charlie Daniels (Bournemouth)
Showed how to take a pressure penalty to secure Bournemouth’s third consecutive victory in a dramatic game at the Hawthorns.
Right midfield: Riyad Mahrez (Leicester City)
Two calmly converted penalties took his tally to 13 league goals this season and earned table-topping Leicester a 3-2 win at Everton.
Centre midfield: Alexander Tettey (Norwich)
Yes, his finish was a toe poke, but it capped an energetic display from the Norwegian and secured Norwich a famous win at Old Trafford.
Centre midfield: Ben Watson (Watford)
One of the quiet success stories of Watford’s season, he helped them dominate the midfield as Liverpool were thrashed at Vicarage Road.
Left midfield: Pedro (Chelsea)
One of many Chelsea players who looked liberated by Jose Mourinho’s departure. The Spaniard scored and starred against Sunderland.
Striker: Cameron Jerome (Norwich City)
A barnstorming run allowed him to open the scoring and set up Norwich’s first win at Old Trafford for 26 years.
Striker: Odion Ighalo (Watford)
The top scorer in English league football in 2015 added another brace after combining superbly with Troy Deeney again against Liverpool.