It was a fascinating weekend of Premier League action. Chelsea have gone top of the league tonight on the back of a staggering 590 scoreless minute scoreless streak. Liverpool were held without a goal for only the second time this season and even Sunderland won a game.
We've picked our team of the weekend. It's full of Sunderland players, though Yaya Toure makes an unlikely appearance.
GK – Jordan Pickford (Sunderland)
David Moyes threw 22-year-old Pickford into action after Vito Mannone got injured three games into the season. Sunderland had been rooted to the bottom of the table.
Until yesterday’s 3-0 victory over Hull. Pickford was the star of the show, with five saves including a spectacular double stop at 2-0 to prevent the Tigers from getting back into the game. His message to Sunderland fans was clear after match: 'get your rave on'
.@JPickford1 has a message to the #SAFC fans ahead of Saturday night... #gettheraveon
➡ https://t.co/JuI4iT3YGc pic.twitter.com/IUBDqGFOFk— Sunderland AFC (@SunderlandAFC) November 19, 2016
RB- Cesar Azpilicueta (Chelsea)
The Spanish international has really settled in as a centre back in Antonio Conte’s 3-5-2 system at Stamford Bridge, but we’ve reverted him to RB here. He won all of his aerial duels, had a 95% pass success rate and dealt with Alvaro Negredo quite easily.
CB – Nathan Aké (Bournemouth)
It was a pretty good day for Nathan Aké. The young defender, on loan at the Vitality from Chelsea, was making his first start for Bournemouth. Coming up against the sheer strength of Wilfried Bony would usually trouble any centre back. Not Aké. He was solid in defence and managed to grab the only goal of the game in the first half.
First start, first goal, first winner for @NathanAke 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽
— Ollie Glanvill (@OllieGlanvill) November 19, 2016
Huge win! Perfect away performance. Congrats @NathanAke for his first cherries goal 🙌🏽🙌🏽
— Steve Cook (@SteveCook28) November 19, 2016
CB - Jose Fonte (Southampton)
Liverpool fans had been crowing about the Firmino-Mané-Coutinho partnership all season. The Southampton defence kept all three of them quiet, with Fonte the star after making a goal saving tackle on Coutinho. He made three important interceptions as the Saints held for a 0-0.
Defenders José Fonte and @VirgilvDijk give their thoughts on #SaintsFC's goalless draw with #LFC: https://t.co/J9eAKhyXyr
— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) November 19, 2016
LB – Patrick Van Aanholt (Sunderland)
Van Aanholt was crucial to Sunderland getting themselves off the bottom. He made a couple of key goal line clearances, snuffed out the threat of Robert Snodgrass and grabbed himself an assist to boot.
RW- Victor Anichebe (Sunderland)
Yes, Jermaine Defoe scored his 150th Premier League goal and deservedly took the headlines, but Anichebe had a fantastic game. His second and third goals of the season ensured the Black Cats’ second consecutive win.
CM – Yaya Toure (Man City)
Toure reminded Pep Guardiola and the Premier League just how good he can be, combining first with Nolito to give City the lead, and then Kevin De Bruyne to slot home the winning goal. At his rampaging best, not many people can stop Yaya. His performance at Palace on Saturday showed he’s almost at that level.
Poetry. Every touch from @YayaToure in the win over Palace. https://t.co/ohuPS0Ij84 #mcfc pic.twitter.com/U3RajaGGEu
— Manchester City (@ManCity) November 20, 2016
CM – Roberto Pereyra (Watford)
Pereyra played a major part in both of Watford’s goals over champions Leicester. It was his cross that Troy Deeney flicked on for Etienne Capoue to score, and he curled a second goal in minutes later. A lot was made of his £15 million move from Juventus, he backed it up with his game on Saturday.
— Alan Flatley (@alflats11) November 19, 2016
LW – Juan Mata (Man United)
Mata awoke what was a dull enough early kick off with his goal 68 minutes into the meeting of United and Arsenal. He had an 86% pass success rate and a lot of the United attacks went through the Spaniard. Far cry from a few months ago.
CF – Gylfi Sigurdsson (Swansea)
Bob Bradley is still in search of his first win as Swansea manager, but Sigurdsson had almost given him that. He topped the stats for crosses and shots and made 27 passes. He annoyed Everton all game, winning and subsequently converting a penalty just before the break.
6 - Gylfi Sigurdsson has been directly involved in six of Swansea's 11 goals in the PL this season (3 goals, 3 assists). Pivotal.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) November 19, 2016
CF – Jermaine Defoe (Sunderland)
His third goal in as many games was his 150th in the Premier League. That puts him alongside distinguished pundits like Michael Owen. Defoe pretty much singlehandedly kept Sunderland up last season and even though he’s 34, has plenty left in the tank, as we saw against Hull.
