• Goalkeeper: Christy Pym (Exeter) – Fine saves, including one from Hal Robson-Kanu’s penalty, to prevent defeat to West Bromwich Albion from being a hammering. Dan Mullan / Getty Images
    Goalkeeper: Christy Pym (Exeter) – Fine saves, including one from Hal Robson-Kanu’s penalty, to prevent defeat to West Bromwich Albion from being a hammering. Dan Mullan / Getty Images
  • Right-back: Eric Lichaj (Nottingham Forest) – Scored surely the goal of his career with a superb volley in the victory over Arsenal. Equally improbably, it was his second of the game. Shaun Botterill / Getty Images
    Right-back: Eric Lichaj (Nottingham Forest) – Scored surely the goal of his career with a superb volley in the victory over Arsenal. Equally improbably, it was his second of the game. Shaun Botterill / Getty Images
  • Centre-back: Jordan Willis (Coventry City) – Gave the League Two team the lead against Stoke but also helped them hold on at the end to beat a team 53 places above them. Laurence Griffiths / Getty Images
    Centre-back: Jordan Willis (Coventry City) – Gave the League Two team the lead against Stoke but also helped them hold on at the end to beat a team 53 places above them. Laurence Griffiths / Getty Images
  • Centre-back: Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool) – Made a superb start to life at Anfield by heading a late winner in the Merseyside derby. He showed composure in defence, too. Phil Noble / Reuters
    Centre-back: Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool) – Made a superb start to life at Anfield by heading a late winner in the Merseyside derby. He showed composure in defence, too. Phil Noble / Reuters
  • Left-back: Jamal Lewis (Norwich) – The 19-year-old was part of a Norwich defence that kept champions Chelsea quiet at Carrow Road to earn a replay at Stamford Bridge. James Chance / Getty Images
    Left-back: Jamal Lewis (Norwich) – The 19-year-old was part of a Norwich defence that kept champions Chelsea quiet at Carrow Road to earn a replay at Stamford Bridge. James Chance / Getty Images
  • Right midfield: James Ward-Prowse (Southampton) – Ended Southampton’s wait for a win with a crisp finish in the 1-0 win over Fulham. It was his first goal of the season. Tony O'Brien / Reuters
    Right midfield: James Ward-Prowse (Southampton) – Ended Southampton’s wait for a win with a crisp finish in the 1-0 win over Fulham. It was his first goal of the season. Tony O'Brien / Reuters
  • Centre midfield: Markus Schwabl (Fleetwood Town) – Helped Fleetwood take the initiative and apply more pressure than Leicester as they were the better side in a 0-0 draw. Jan Kruger / Getty Images
    Centre midfield: Markus Schwabl (Fleetwood Town) – Helped Fleetwood take the initiative and apply more pressure than Leicester as they were the better side in a 0-0 draw. Jan Kruger / Getty Images
  • Centre midfield: Ben Godfrey (Shrewsbury Town) – The teenage midfielder, who has been borrowed from Norwich, impressed in the Shrewsbury midfield as the League One side held West Ham. Catherine Ivill / Getty Images
    Centre midfield: Ben Godfrey (Shrewsbury Town) – The teenage midfielder, who has been borrowed from Norwich, impressed in the Shrewsbury midfield as the League One side held West Ham. Catherine Ivill / Getty Images
  • Left midfield: Robbie Willmott (Newport County) – His cross led to Shawn McCoulsky’s winner against Leeds and he was the most dangerous player on show for the League One side. Rebecca Naden / Reuters
    Left midfield: Robbie Willmott (Newport County) – His cross led to Shawn McCoulsky’s winner against Leeds and he was the most dangerous player on show for the League One side. Rebecca Naden / Reuters
  • Striker: Ben Brereton (Nottingham Forest) – A revelation as his side beat Arsenal. The 18-year-old gave Per Mertesacker a harrowing afternoon and fully deserved his goal. Mike Egerton / AP Photo
    Striker: Ben Brereton (Nottingham Forest) – A revelation as his side beat Arsenal. The 18-year-old gave Per Mertesacker a harrowing afternoon and fully deserved his goal. Mike Egerton / AP Photo
  • Striker: Sergio Aguero (Manchester City) – If it was a surprise he started against Burnley, he turned defeat into victory with a brace that showed his quicksilver brilliance. Alex Livesey / Getty Images
    Striker: Sergio Aguero (Manchester City) – If it was a surprise he started against Burnley, he turned defeat into victory with a brace that showed his quicksilver brilliance. Alex Livesey / Getty Images

Football

FA Cup team of the week: Fairy-tale debut for Van Dijk, Lichaj double dumps Arsenal out

Swipe left/right on your browser to see who else made Richard Jolly's team of the week.

Richard Jolly
Richard Jolly
Greater Manchester, England

January 08, 2018

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Jurgen Klopp called it a "fairy-tale" debut as Virgil van Dijk showed just why Liverpool were prepared to make him the world's most expensive defender this month.

The Netherlands international endeared himself to the Anfield faithful with a late header winner in the 2-1 victory over bitter Merseyside rivals Everton on Friday.

The FA Cup third round accounted for one high-profile managerial casualty. Mark Hughes was dismissed by Stoke City hours after a 2-1 defeat to League Two's Coventry City.

Stoke ended the match with six forwards on the field, but former Premier League mainstays Coventry held firm, with Jordan Willis a huge reason why. The centre-back opened the scoring and led a resolute rearguard action to inflict a humiliating defeat on Stoke and signal the end of Hughes' four and a half years in charge.

Nottingham Forest booked their place in the fourth round at the expense of holders Arsenal owing to an improbable double from defender Eric Lichaj. The USA international scored surely the goal of his career with a superb volley as Arsene Wenger's Premier League side succumbed to a 4-2 defeat.

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