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Sports Mole's Premier League Team of the Week

Sports Mole selects 11 players to form its Premier League Team of the Week from the 28th round of matches.

It was another positive weekend for Chelsea, who, having defeated neighbours Fulham 3-1 at Craven Cottage, saw their lead at the top of the table extended by four points thanks to Arsenal's 1-0 loss away at Stoke City.

That defeat for the Gunners also benefited Liverpool as they leaped into second spot after their 3-0 win at Southampton.

Meanwhile, Tottenham Hotspur and Everton kept their slim hopes of qualifying for next season's Champions League alive with 1-0 home wins over Cardiff City and West Ham United respectively.

As for the relegation battle, Crystal Palace collected a point from their trip to Swansea City, while Norwich City slumped to a 4-1 defeat away at Aston Villa.

So, with another round of matches concluded, Sports Mole has picked out the 11 players that made the biggest impression over the last two days.

Simon Mignolet (Liverpool)
With the score 1-0 in his side's favour, the Belgian goalkeeper showed good reflexes to turn away Jay Rodriguez's goalbound effort. After that, Mignolet looked calm and composed between the posts.

Leandro Bacuna (Aston Villa)
It was a textbook attacking full-back display from Bacuna, who got his name on the scoresheet to help Villa record three vital points over Norwich.
Michael Dawson (Tottenham Hotspur)
The Spurs captain's lack of pace has been exposed on occasions this season, but he was at his defensive best to keep Cardiff's attackers at bay at White Hart Lane.
John Terry (Chelsea)
Chelsea may have cruised to victory at Craven Cottage, but they were sometimes on the back foot during a goalless first half. Alongside Gary Cahill, Terry ensured that the Chelsea net was not breached until the closing stages of the match.
Leighton Baines (Everton)
Believe it or not, Baines's assist for Romelu Lukaku's goal was the first that the Everton full-back had made all season.

Eden Hazard (Chelsea)
By his standards, Hazard was relatively quiet during the opening 45 minutes against Fulham. However, he came to life in the second half, causing numerous problems and setting up two goals.
Steven N'Zonzi (Stoke City)
To beat Arsenal, you have to unsettle their midfield technicians and N'Zonzi did that for the entire 90 minutes at the Britannia Stadium.
Moussa Sissoko (Newcastle United)
The Frenchman has been inconsistent this term, but he was back to his best with a brace of goals as Newcastle eased to a victory away at Hull City.
Andre Schurrle (Chelsea)
Schurrle will not have featured as much as he would have liked since joining Chelsea in the summer, but his hat-trick will have done his chances of gaining more regular action before the end of the campaign no harm.

Luis Suarez (Liverpool)
By his standards, Suarez had been suffering with a goal drought of late. He showed against Southampton that he had not lost his clinical touch, though, with an instant finished that arrowed into the bottom corner of the net.
Christian Benteke (Aston Villa)
With their team losing 1-0, the Villa crowd were at boiling point until Benteke stepped up the plate by scoring two goals in as many first-half minutes.

Numpty of the week

Alan Pardew: The job of a manager, among other things, is to set an example to his players. It seems that nobody has told Newcastle boss Pardew, who added another offence to a growing list at Hull. When David Meyler took exception to Pardew allowing the ball to run underneath his foot, in the ensuing square-up Pardew aimed a headbutt in the direction of the Hull midfielder. He was sent to the stands and now faces a hefty suspension from the Football Association.

Goal of the week

Christian Benteke (Aston Villa vs. Norwich City): The visiting Canaries were on top and leading 1-0 when they were stunned by Benteke's brilliance. Having collected a cross from Ron Vlaar on his chest, the Belgian international then beat John Ruddy with an acrobatic volley that flew into the roof of the net.

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Liam Apicella
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Aston Villa's Zaire-born Belgian striker Christian Benteke jumps to score their first goal during the English Premier League football match between Aston Villa and Norwich City at Villa Park in Birmingham on March 2, 2014
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Today's games header
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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool14112129111835
2Chelsea1594235181731
3Arsenal1585229151429
4Manchester CityMan City158342721627
5Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest157441918125
6Aston Villa157442323025
7Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton156632522324
8Bournemouth157352320324
9Brentford157263128323
10Fulham156542220223
11Tottenham HotspurSpurs1562731191220
12Newcastle UnitedNewcastle155551921-220
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd155461918119
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham155372028-818
15Everton143561421-714
16Leicester CityLeicester153572130-914
17Crystal Palace152761420-613
18Ipswich TownIpswich151681427-139
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1523102338-159
20Southampton1512121131-205


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