There is just one Premier League game left before Christmas and we are taking a look at the standout performers from the nine games played on Saturday and Sunday during Gameweek 17.
It was a weekend that saw Arsenal secure the Christmas number one spot, while Manchester City’s rising tide flowed once more and the Leeds United revival gathered momentum.
After Saturday and Sunday’s fixtures, here are our 11 selections for the top-flight team of the week, with a very attacking 4-3-3 formation.
Goalkeeper – Robert Sanchez (Chelsea)
He was beaten twice in the 2-2 draw with Newcastle at St James’ Park, but Chelsea’s Robert Sanchez still had a good day in the North East.
Sanchez came in for major criticism last season, but he’s rewarding Enzo Maresca’s decision to stick with him and but for him Newcastle might have been out of sight long before the Blues recovery was launched.
Defender – Reece James (Chelsea)
Reece James is operating just ahead of the back four at times and he played a captain’s role against Newcastle, igniting the comeback with a wonderful free-kick that flashed past home keeper Aaron Ramsdale.
James was 100 per cent on his tackles won and helped the Blues pick up a good point on the road.
Defender – Dan Ballard (Sunderland)
No victory for Sunderland this weekend, but the Black Cats earned another clean sheet in the stalemate at Brighton.
Northern Ireland international Dan Ballard is having a superb season and he won 17 duels and made four successful tackles as the Seagulls were left frustrated.
Defender – Jaka Bijol (Leeds United)
Leeds were convincing 4-1 winners at Elland Road against a Crystal Palace side amongst the best travellers in the league previously and Slovenia central defender Jaka Bijol played his part at both ends, teeing up Dominic Calvert-Lewin for the crucial second goal before half-time.
Now with a goal and an assist in four games, Bijol and Leeds are unbeaten in that run and the 26-year-old was one of the standout performers in this 4-1 triumph.
Defender – Trai Hume (Sunderland)
With Conor Bradley excelling at Liverpool and Ballard flying for Sunderland, Northern Ireland could be hard to break down come the World Cup play-offs in March as Trai Hume is also excelling for the Black Cats.
He won two aerial duels, was successful in eight of 12 ground duels and won five of seven tackles in the draw at the Amex Stadium.
Midfielder – Tijjani Reijnders (Manchester City)
Dutch midfielder Tijjani Reijnders was an eyecatcher as Manchester City briefly went top of the pile following their 3-0 win over West Ham at the Etihad.
He could have been on the scoresheet early in the first half, but got there seven minutes before the interval when he was on the end of a flowing City move.
Midfielder – Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa)
Morgan Rogers was the match-winner at Villa Park as his brace ensured Aston Villa’s winning stretched to 10 games – their best as a top-flight team in 111 years.
Rogers has scored six times in six league games and his Sunday double feature a pair of similar curling right-foot finishes into the top corner as Unai Emery’s side remained three points of top spot.
Midfielder – Anton Stach (Leeds United)
Leeds United have really hit some form and the pressure has been released on Daniel Farke in the dugout.
Germany international midfielder Anton Stach now has two goals in three games, adding to his strike against Liverpool with a delightful curling free-kick that put the cherry on the sparkling win for the Whites over visitors Palace.
Striker – Nick Woltemade (Newcastle United)
After his own-goal condemned Newcastle to defeat in the Tyne-Wear derby last week, Nick Woltemade admitted he wanted ‘to give something back to the fans to say ‘thank you’ to everyone’ who had reached out after that miserable moment.
It has been a really productive few months since Woltemade joined the Magpies and he scored both Magpies goals in the home draw with Chelsea.
He was alert to get on a rebound after Anthony Gordon’s shot was saved on four minutes before deftly guiding home a cross from the rejuvenated England winger to make it 2-0, before the Blues battled back for a share of the spoils.
Striker – Erling Haaland (Manchester City)
Just the 19 league goals for man City’s Erling Haaland so far this season after his brace in the win over West Ham – only one other player has reached double figures.
His two finishes were typical Haaland efforts, alert and ruthless in the box, while he also he teed up Reijnders for his goal, while the Norwegian so nearly completed a hat-trick in stoppage time.
Striker – Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Leeds United)
The upturn in fortunes for Leeds owes much to the fitness and form of Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
He was the star of the show at Elland Road with a fine first-half double in the 4-1 win over Crystal Palace, netting for a fifth consecutive league game – the joint-longest run of any Leeds player in Premier League history.
There was nothing flashy about either finish from the 28-year-old, but his goals were worth their weight in gold for the Whites.
