Football
Michael Wade 6y

Olivier Giroud, Mohamed Salah in our latest Premier League Team of the Weekend

After the most recent round of Premier League fixtures, ESPN FC presents its Team of the Weekend, selected by Paul Mariner and Steve Nicol.

Do you agree or disagree? You can have your say on those picked or overlooked in the comments section at the foot of the article or on Twitter using the hashtag #TOTW.

Goalkeeper: It has not been an easy season for Ben Foster in the West Bromwich Albion goal, but the performance he put in against his former club Manchester United in the unexpected 1-0 win at Old Trafford showed that the 35-year-old still has a lot to offer at the highest level. Notable in particular was an excellent save to deny Romelu Lukaku during the second half and Steve Nicol was impressed enough to put him forward for a place in our Team of the Weekend.

Right-back: It is no surprise to see Trent Alexander-Arnold picked by both members of our panel after another solid showing in Liverpool's defence, this time in the 3-0 win against Bournemouth. Paul Mariner noted that the 19-year-old full-back was "defensively very solid and offered himself going forward in attack" during a game in which he assisted Mohamed Salah's goal and also helped keep a clean sheet. "He just gets better every time he is on the field," Nicol added.

Centre-back: In what must be a Team of the Weekend first this campaign, we have a second West Brom player in our XI. Ahmed Hegazi was a rock in defence against United and helped the Baggies keep a first clean sheet in the Premier League since Jan. 13. "West Brom might be going down, but Hegazi will probably stay in the Premier League," Nicol noted.

Centre-back: Partnering Hegazi at the heart of our defence is Vincent Kompany, who appears to have overcome his problems with injury to return as Manchester City's leader on the pitch. Mariner is full of praise for the Belgian, and said: "He gave a very powerful performance, not to mention a great ball over top for Gabriel Jesus to score the opener." He also noted that Kompany kept Harry Kane quiet all day during the 3-1 win against Tottenham at Wembley.

Left-back: Manchester City's makeshift defender Fabian Delph completes the backline after catching the eye of both members of our panel. "He keeps surprising people with his quality in an unfamiliar position," Mariner said. Usually a midfielder, Delph was a steadying influence as City rebounded from demoralising defeats against Manchester United and Liverpool (twice) to overcome Spurs in a victory that ultimately clinched the title.

Midfield: Eyebrows were raised when Liverpool splashed out on Arsenal's Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain last summer, but the 24-year-old has quietly excelled under Jurgen Klopp and become an important performer in a team set to finish in the Premier League's top four for a second successive campaign. The Ox is "unrecognisable" to Mariner, who said: "He has transformed under Klopp to become a dynamic two-way midfielder."

Midfield: The clamour for Jonjo Shelvey to be considered for England's World Cup squad will continue after he starred in Newcastle's come-from-behind win against Arsenal that took them above the 40 point-mark and surely made them safe for the season. The 26-year-old had the most touches of any Newcastle player and caught the eye of Nicol, who praised him for handling the responsibility of becoming "Newcastle's focal point."

Midfield: Tom Ince completes an all-English midfield trio after coming off the bench to score a goal that took Huddersfield Town seven points above the relegation zone and one which could go a long way to keeping them in the Premier League. Mariner highlighted Ince's "tremendous impact from the bench," while Nicol was similarly impressed.

Forward: It is not an understatement to say that Crystal Palace are a better team when Wilfried Zaha is on the pitch and with two goals in the 3-2 win against rivals Brighton he showed why he will likely have a big say in the Eagles' fate. They are not mathematically safe yet, but Nicol is sure "Zaha will keep them up," while Mariner added: "In a massive game for Palace their top man was tops."

Forward: Olivier Giroud lifted some of the pressure from Antonio Conte's shoulders at Chelsea by coming off the bench to score twice and snatch victory from the jaws of defeat in a remarkable eight-minute spell. Giroud moved from Arsenal to Stamford Bridge in order to play more often, and his brace has surely given Conte food for thought. He is picked by both members of the panel as the man to lead our attack. "What an impact," Mariner exclaimed.

Forward: Who else to complete the XI but Mohamed Salah. As Liverpool cruised to victory against Bournemouth the Egyptian scored his 30th of the Premier League campaign and 40th in all competitions. "He scored an amazing goal, was a constant threat and a joy to watch," Mariner said. Nicol agreed, and added: "You can't pick a team without him."

Manager: The panel have called Pep Guardiola in off the golf course to manage our XI this weekend as Manchester City finally clinched the title. "He's got it, I don't know what it is but he has got it," Nicol said. After wobbling of late, Guardiola said the game against Tottenham at Wembley was now the most important of their season. "He had to get his players up for a difficult game at Spurs," Mariner noted, "But he did that and everything he did in the game came off."

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