Premier League team of the weekend: Herrera highlights midfield-heavy XI

After another weekend of some great individual performances, theScore puts together a best XI from the latest slate of Premier League fixtures.

The lineup

West Bromwich Albion and Burnley could yet produce some stellar individual performances tonight, but it will take something special to displace these 11 men:

GK - Jordan Pickford

theScore's team of the weekend could be named after Pickford, who again pulled off some sensational saves against Hull City. Regardless of whether the Black Cats avoid the drop or not, they will find it hard to retain the elastic reflexes of the 22-year-old on Wearside.

DF - Nathan Ake

In a bad-tempered affair, it was Ake who was the difference when he buried Junior Stanislas' cross. Bournemouth perhaps had some Stoke City wastefulness to thank for its 1-0 win, but Ake did his bit defensively in his first Premier League start of the season with a remarkable 15 clearances.

DF - David Luiz

Luiz makes less short passes than any other Blues centre-half, but Antonio Conte has given him licence to spread expansive long balls. In Sunday's 1-0 win over Middlesbrough, he did his best Leonardo Bonucci impression: not nipping in with a tackle, but making eight clearances as he always looked to bypass the middle third and promptly change the attacking emphasis.

DF - Jose Fonte

As years have caught up with Fonte, 32, he has retreated into the background while his partner at the back, Virgil van Dijk, has taken centre stage as one of the league's best in his position. This wasn't evident in the 0-0 draw with Liverpool, however, when the Portuguese hoofed it from danger six times and snuffed out the Reds' dangerous forays forward with three interceptions.

RM - Victor Moses

Moses was especially strong in the opening stanza at Middlesbrough, linking up well with Pedro down the right and popping efforts on goal that went narrowly wide. Whether he can keep up this pace in the demanding wing-back role remains to be seen, but right now he's one of the Premier League's most-improved players.

CM - Ander Herrera

Manchester United should've beaten Arsenal on Saturday, and at the centre of all of its good work was Herrera. His closing down is tireless, but his adeptness at twisting away from opponents and making correct decisions in possession is priceless. He was the game's leader in key passes, interceptions, and touches made by a player ahead of the backline.

CM - Yaya Toure

Toure's dwindling pace and words from his fame-hungry agent Dimitri Seluk appeared to have caused an abrupt end to his Manchester City career under Pep Guardiola. But the Ivorian was a surprise call-up into the side for its trip to Crystal Palace, and scored a double in the 2-1 win.

CM - Harry Winks

What a full debut for Winks. He was involved throughout, sensibly slotting himself in pockets of space and ably filling the boots of an unfit Dele Alli in the starting XI. He made a game-high 67 passes and scored a tap-in.

LM - Patrick van Aanholt

Two quick-fire clearances off the line stopped Hull from getting into the game in Sunderland, and helped Van Aanholt's side to a precious 3-0 victory. The Dutchman also contributed an assist and made more key passes than any of his teammates.

AM - Manuel Lanzini

He may have been on the losing side, but Lanzini put in a welcome improved showing after being distinctly average for much of the 2016-17 term so far. He converted from the spot, but also made more touches than any of his colleagues and had a passing percentage second only to Dimitri Payet.

FW - Victor Anichebe

Anichebe is built like a rugby union second-row, and has the drive to shoulder a relegation scrum. His brace on Saturday made it three strikes in two starts for the Nigerian, with his second a ferocious bullet off the underside of the bar.