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

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Coach: Aitor Karanka (Middlesbrough)

Formation: 5-3-2

Aitor Karanka is becoming something of a specialist in organising his side in a manner which earns them points on the road against more illustrious opponents in the Premier League. A fortnight after his team had put in a superb defensive display at Arsenal to earn a point, a game they might have won themselves were it not for an array of missed chances, his side were back to deny another of the big boys, after Maarten de Roon’s stoppage time leveller denied Manchester City at the Etihad.

The ‘Boro rode their luck at times in the first-half, Victor Valdes called into action on several occasions to bail out his defence, whilst Sergio Aguero, Ilkay Gundogan and Kevin de Bruyne all fluffed their lines in front of goal, before Aguero managed to break the deadlock two minutes prior to the interval. The visitors had been playing some risky stuff at the back and were giving the ball away far too easily, inviting City onto them.

Cue Aitor Karanka’s half-time team talk. And it was just the tonic his side needed after emerging for the second half a seemingly different team.

Alvaro Negredo’s audacious attempt from just over the halfway line was a warning that ‘Boro’s confidence had been re-ignited, and the engine began to build towards full throttle as Middlesbrough continued to create opportunities despite City having the lion’s share of possession.

Claudio Bravo was forced to smother the ball at the feet of Adam Forshaw to halt one counter-attack and Stewart Downing missed a guilt-edged chance after another quick break up the field.

The visitors had to wait for injury-time for their just desserts, and they got it when George Friend’s inch-perfect cross was met by Maarten de Roon, who steered a powerful header beyond Claudio Bravo to snatch a hard-earned point for Middlesbrough.

After the match, Aitor Karanka told BBC Sport:

“It was an amazing result. In the first half we went on to the pitch with too much respect for them.

“I told them at half-time we weren’t just there to defend and that we could play like we did in the second half. I was pleased with our performance.

“Two weeks ago at Arsenal was more difficult than today because Arsenal didn’t score and we were organised. Our reaction was really good and it is a big step to showing how good we are.”

It was one of the eyebrow raising results of the weekend, and Karanka’s half-time revival show means that he is more than deserving of a place in the dugout for this week’s pick.