Premier League: Team of the Week XIV

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Right-Midfield: Emre Can (Liverpool)

The German international was sensational in midfield prior to Liverpool’s late capitulation at the Vitality Stadium against Bournemouth, and his display will have left him crestfallen over the collapse of the defence behind him and Loris Karius’ fumbling of Steve Cook’s effort that gifted Nathan Aké an unlikely winner for the Cherries.

Can’s inch-perfect ball provided the opener for Sadio Mané, in a first-half where Liverpool threatened to run riot on the South Coast.

And just when Bournemouth were mounting a recovery, he curled in a splendid third for the Reds to restore their two-goal cushion and surely kill off the hosts’ challenge. A performance undeserving of the madness that ensued afterwards.

Centre-Midfield: James McArthur (Crystal Palace)

Scottish midfielder McArthur is often a player who goes under the radar for his performances, but his influence was vital for Palace as they got a much needed win against an in-form Southampton.

McArthur sat deep in midfield alongside Joe Ledley, as Alan Pardew looked to provide more of a shield for the Eagles’ porous defence. The move paid dividends, as McArthur forced more turnovers in possession than any other player in midfield and put in the most defensive blocks.

From his deep position in midfield, he could also pick passes and act as the engine driving the team forward from defence. His 44 passes were more than any other Palace player attempted, and he maintained a completed pass percentage of 84% throughout the contest. Crucially though, having that extra weight defensively down the middle and an extra screen for the back four gave the attacking trio of Wilfried Zaha, Andros Townsend and Jason Puncheon licence to wreak havoc on the Saints defence.

A commanding performance, at a time when his team desperately needed the points. A welcome relief for Alan Pardew.

Left-Midfield: Ryan Fraser (Bournemouth)

This performance epitomised the meaning of “impact substitution”. Eddie Howe sent Fraser into the fray on 55 minutes for Bournemouth at a time when Liverpool were in control.

With his first touch of the ball, he announced his presence by winning a penalty for his team, following a lazy challenge from James Milner, before helping himself to a goal and an assist to haul his team level and become one of three substitutes to have scored and assisted in the Premier League this season. Funnily enough, it’s an all Scottish trio: Shaun Maloney and Robert Snodgrass of Hull City are the other two to have achieved the feat.

Fraser’s introduction provided the spark and enthusiasm to lift the Cherries and the home crowd just when it seemed that the game was getting away from them, and that lift and additional end product gave Bournemouth the belief that they could go on and win. None too shabby for roughly 38 minutes on the pitch and just 22 touches of the ball.