Premier League team of the weekend: Phillips turns the screw
After another weekend of some great individual performances, theScore puts together a best XI from the latest slate of Premier League fixtures.
The lineup
Middlesbrough and Hull City could yet produce some stellar individual performances tonight, but it will take something special to displace these 11 men:
GK - Lee Grant
Jack Butland has his work cut out in usurping Grant at Stoke City after overcoming a long-term ankle injury. The unglamorous 33-year-old loanee from Derby County made four key saves, shutting the door on Burnley.
RB - Kyle Walker
Walker soldiered on after being booted in the face by Neil Taylor, combining his breathless work going forward with four tackles - more than Tottenham Hotspur's centre-halves and midfield put together - in the 5-0 stuffing of Swansea City.
CB - Marc Muniesa
Buoyed from having his family watching in the stands, the ex-Barcelona academy player began a move deep in his own half that culminated in him volleying in Stoke's second against Burnley. Muniesa also contributed 10 clearances en route to the Potters' clean sheet.
CB - Damien Delaney
Crystal Palace went back to basics to secure a much-needed win against Southampton after six straight defeats. Delaney didn't produce anything fancy, but hammered 12 balls from danger to ensure Saints striker Charlie Austin wasn't able to poach, but was certainly scrambled.
LB - Nacho Monreal
Monreal isn't going to give up his left-back spot to Kieran Gibbs anytime soon. The 30-year-old joined attacks and played dangerous crosses into the area from the first whistle, and was also vital in keeping West Ham United's Edimilson Fernandes and Manuel Lanzini quiet.
RM - Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
Oxlade-Chamberlain's preseason showings gave hope to Arsenal fans that the winger could finally bring consistency to his game. At West Ham, he earned his sixth start of the season, justifying his selection ahead of Alex Iwobi with a goal, an assist, and six enterprising dribbles.
CM - Christian Eriksen
A slow start to the season for Eriksen has been quickly forgotten. The Dane added two opportunistic efforts in Spurs' sinking of the Swans, assisted Heung-Min Son's beauty, and made a game-high seven key passes (six more than all of Bob Bradley's Swansea ranks).
LM - Ryan Fraser
Junior Stanislas had to limp off during Bournemouth's rousing 4-3 comeback win over Liverpool, and his replacement Fraser promptly put his name in the hat for a starting berth in his absence. The Scot was introduced in the 55th minute, and in the time he had he won a penalty, assisted for Steve Cook, and nabbed a goal himself.
FW - Matt Phillips
Phillips is on a tear. The former Blackpool youngster made it three assists and three goals in his last four league outings as he eviscerated Watford's right-hand side. His goal came when he drifted inside from West Bromwich Albion's right, however, easily picking out the bottom corner from over 20 yards.
FW - Diego Costa
A display of maturity and teamwork from Chelsea's rehabilitated frontman Costa. He's using his strength and aggression correctly - at times bullying Nicolas Otamendi and John Stones on Saturday - and has a new-found awareness of his colleagues' whereabouts. A goal and an assist from the Spaniard in a 3-1 win at Manchester City.
FW - Alexis Sanchez
The third effort of his hat trick was the best: honing in on goal, flooring Darren Randolph with a stutter-cum-stepover, and then dinking the ball over him. Sanchez has been a revelation as a No. 9, and now shares top spot in the scoring charts with Costa on 11.
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