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Sports Mole's Premier League Team of the Week

Sports Mole selects the most impressive 11 players from the 10th round of 2015-16 Premier League matches.

All eyes were on Manchester and the North East this weekend, but while one derby lived up to the billing, the other flattered to deceive.

At Old Trafford, entertainment was in short supply as Manchester United and Manchester City played out a 0-0 draw, yet at the Stadium of Light Sunderland ran out 3-0 winners against Newcastle United.

Elsewhere, there were home wins for Leicester City, West Ham United and Arsenal, while Swansea City, West Bromwich Albion, Watford and Tottenham Hotspur all picked up maximum points on the road.

However, Jurgen Klopp is still waiting for his first victory as Liverpool manager, having seen the Reds held to a 1-1 draw by Southampton at Anfield.

Here, Sports Mole has looked back over the 10 encounters to pick out 11 of the most impressive players.


Costel Pantilimon (Sunderland)
Any goalkeeper will tell you that it doesn't matter how you keep the ball out of the net just as long as you manage to do it. That's certainly an adage that Pantilimon took to heart against Newcastle as he thwarted everything that was thrown at him, no matter how unorthodox the save. None of the away side's eight shots on target got the better of him.

Antonio Valencia (Manchester United)
While his refusal to use his left foot and inability to pick out a teammate with a cross on a consistent basis are sources of frustration, Valencia's display against rivals City should still be lauded. The Ecuadorian used his physicality and pace to shackle the lively Raheem Sterling, while he was always a willing runner up and down the right flank before he limped off late on with an injury.
Nicolas Otamendi (Manchester City)
Wayne Rooney's lack of mobility may make him an easy centre-forward to mark at present, yet that should take nothing away from the standard of Otamendi's performance. The Argentine was in a dominant mood at Old Trafford to produce what was his best showing since he arrived in England from Valencia during the summer.
Laurent Koscielny (Arsenal)
A centre-back that is effective in both penalty areas is a precious commodity and in Koscielny, Arsenal certainly have that. The Frenchman made it 2-0 to the Gunners when he rose highest to head in and he then went on to back that up with a dominating display in the heart of the home side's defence.
Aaron Cresswell (West Ham United)
On top form, there are few better left-backs in possession of the ball in the Premier League than Cresswell. He sent a number of dangerous crosses into the Chelsea box, one of which ended with the winning goal being scored by Andy Carroll. He also did a decent job defensively to keep Chelsea talisman Eden Hazard quiet.

Andre Ayew (Swansea City)
The Ghanaian's goals from midfield are making him one of the signings of the summer. He may have been a little quiet in his last couple of outings, but Ayew came to life at Villa Park. The 25-year-old rounded off his display late on when he showed good predatory instincts to score the winning goal from close range.
Yann M'Vila (Sunderland)
When Sam Allardyce arrived at Sunderland, he will have been delighted to find that M'Vila was a part of his squad. Quite simply, it seems that the French midfielder is a tailor-made Allardyce-type player. Along with Lee Cattermole, M'Vila covered plenty of ground and made a number of crucial interceptions.
Dimitri Payet (West Ham United)
Name a better summer signing after 10 games than Payet? Tough, isn't it? The attacking midfielder sparkled once again, even without getting his name on the scoresheet. It was his corner that ended in Mauro Zarate's opening goal and he also featured heavily in Carroll's winner. The down side for the Hammers is that if he continues producing these type of performances, it's going to be difficult to keep hold of the Frenchman.
Mesut Ozil (Arsenal)
Against Everton, the talented German laid on his seventh assist of the season - no player has created more goals. But for some poor finishing, he would have also had some more assists, having carved out five clear opportunities for his teammates against Everton. The 27-year-old has his critics, but right now he's in top form.

Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur)
Well, this was certainly an emphatic way to answer the doubters. With just one Premier League goal to his name prior to the trip to Bournemouth, the Spurs frontman took out his frustration on the Cherries. Kane drew the North Londoners level from the penalty spot and then went on to score two typical centre-forward's goals.
Odion Ighalo (Watford)
Strike partnerships seem to be a thing of the past right now, but Ighalo and Troy Deeney seem determined to keep that candle burning brightly. It may have been Deeney that got his name on the scoresheet during Watford's impressive win at the Britannia Stadium, but Ighalo's display was the eye catching one. The Nigerian set up both of his team's goals in the Potteries.


Numpty of the Week

Artur Boruc: Manager Eddie Howe may have refused to blame Boruc for his Bournemouth side's heavy 5-1 defeat at home to Spurs, but the truth is, the Polish goalkeeper had a shocker at Dean Court.

Of Tottenham's five goals on the South Coast, three came as the result of mistakes from Boruc, who had an afternoon to forget. It's a worrying time for the Cherries, given that substitute keeper Adam Federici looked equally as error-prone a week ago against Manchester City.

Goal of the Week

Troy Deeney - Stoke vs. (Watford): After nine games without a Premier League goal, Deeney ended the wait in style with a neat finish to put Watford in front.

Ighalo was the creator as he cleverly flicked the ball into his strike partner's path. Rather than take an instant shot, Deeney steadied himself, which allowed him to pass the ball into the bottom corner of the in-form Jack Butland's net.


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Raheem Sterling of Manchester City celebrates scoring his team's fourth and hat trick goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Manchester City and A.F.C. Bournemouth at Etihad Stadium on October 17, 2015
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Premier League Team of the Week
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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Arsenal34245582265677
2Manchester CityMan City33237380324876
3Liverpool34228475344174
4Aston Villa34206871502166
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs32186865491660
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd33165125150153
7Newcastle UnitedNewcastle331551369541550
8West Ham UnitedWest Ham34139125463-948
9Chelsea32138116157447
10Bournemouth34129134960-1145
11Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton331111115254-244
12Wolverhampton WanderersWolves34127154654-843
13Fulham34126165054-442
14Crystal Palace34109154456-1239
15Brentford3498175259-735
16Everton34118153648-1233
17Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest3479184260-1826
18Luton TownLuton3467214775-2825
19Burnley3458213769-3223
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd3437243392-5916


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