Premier League: Team of the Week IX feat. Chelsea and Liverpool stars

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Right-Midfield: Xherdan Shaqiri (Stoke City)

How the Potters missed their little Swiss magician during his time on the sidelines. His manager Mark Hughes will be just as relieved to have the winger fit and amongst the goals again, and he exhibited exactly what Stoke have been missing in recent weeks with a dynamite performance away at Hull. He bagged a brace at the KCOM Stadium to become the first player since April to score two goals from outside the box in a Premier League game and established a little more history along the way in becoming the first Stoke player to achieve this feat in the top-flight.

His first strike, cutting in from the right side and letting fly from 30 yards was spectacular, and his second was just as thrilling. What will be more pleasing for Potters fans however is his link-up play with opposite winger Marko Arnautovic, who has lacked spark in recent weeks.

Right-Centre Midfield: Danny Drinkwater (Leicester City)

Leicester City playmaker Danny Drinkwater looked back to his potent best against Crystal Palace at the King Power Stadium. Since the departure of N’Golo Kanté, more onus has been on him to play the role of engine as well as playmaker for the Foxes, and he executed it to great effect against the Eales, winning possession and breaking up play on ten occasions.

Central-Defensive Midfield: N’Golo Kanté (Chelsea)

The contribution that the records will most remember Kanté for in Chelsea’s 4-0 demolition of Manchester United is putting the final nail in their coffin, dancing past Chris Smalling and slotting home his first Chelsea goal in style, but once again he proved his worth as a workhorse in the Blues midfield to justify his big money move from Leicester.

He covered 12.45km of distance against United, more than any other player on the pitch and broke up the play and won back possession a team-high of eight times.

Left-Centre Midfield: Philippe Coutinho (Liverpool)

Philippe Coutinho once again proved his value to the Reds with an impressive showing against West Bromwich Albion at Anfield. His strike against the Baggies was his second goal in his past three Premier League games on Liverpool’s home patch, and with four goals already this season he is halfway to last season’s tally. The Brazilian was a livewire throughout the contest besides his goal and linked up wonderfully with his teammates. Jurgen Klopp has said this week that he considers his team to be title contenders, and Coutinho is a central component in that challenge.

Left-Midfield: Adama Traoré (Middlesbrough)

The former Barcelona man almost ruined Arsene Wenger’s 67th birthday with a dynamic performance on Middlesbrough’s left flank, his flashes of quality igniting what looked on paper like a bore draw.

Rumours have also emerged that the winger apparently broke the Premier League speed record over the weekend, supposedly reaching speeds of 37km/h. Although unconfirmed, it is ever likely that he gave Hector Bellerin such a torrid time.