Richard Jolly
English football columnist Richard Jolly names his Best XI in the Premier League for the October 4-5 weekend.
Goalkeeper: David de Gea (Manchester United). Saved Leighton Baines’s penalty and made two brilliant injury-time stops to deny Everton at least a point at Old Trafford.
Right-back: Branislav Ivanovic (Chelsea). Continued his terrific start to the season by snuffing out Arsenal’s threat as Jose Mourinho’s team won a derby in emphatic fashion.
Centre-back: Nathan Baker (Aston Villa). Defended superbly in a great rearguard action against Manchester City, though it was not enough to earn Villa a point.
Centre-back: Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham). Almost scored at one end and kept a clean sheet at the other as manager Mauricio Pochettino got a win against his former club Southampton.
Left-back: Andrew Robertson (Hull). Provided the cross for Mohamed Diame to open the scoring against Crystal Palace as the young Scot continues to impress at the KC Stadium.
Right midfield: Riyad Mahrez (Leicester). Created Leicester’s first goal and scored their second as he tormented Burnley in Saturday’s entertaining 2-2 draw.
Centre midfield: Jordan Henderson (Liverpool). Delivered a much-needed win for Liverpool with an assured finish and set up Adam Lallana’s goal with a lovely back-heel.
Centre midfield: Gylfi Sigurdsson (Swansea). Only Cesc Fabregas has more assists than the Icelander, who set up both goals in the 2-2 draw with Newcastle.
Left midfield: Eden Hazard (Chelsea). Man of the match against Arsenal. His superb, slaloming run led to the penalty he converted himself to break the deadlock.
Centre forward: Steven Fletcher (Sunderland). Ended his long drought in style with two goals as Sunderland belatedly recorded their first league win of the season.
Centre forward: Papiss Cisse (Newcastle). Seems to be mounting a one-man campaign to save Alan Pardew’s job. He scored two equalisers at Swansea.
Follow us on Twitter @SprtNationalUAE
