Premier League: Team of the Week XVIII feat. Manchester United and Chelsea stars

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Goalkeeper: Ben Foster (West Bromwich Albion)

It was ultimately a desperately unlucky afternoon for West Brom’s Ben Foster, whose heroics almost singled-handedly earned the Baggies a point at Arsenal. He made a string of fine stops to keep the Gunners at bay, including a stunning double save to deny Alex Iwobi and then the follow up from Alexis Sanchez, before finally being breached by Olivier Giroud’s 86th minute header.

Right-Back: Antonio Valencia (Manchester United)

This man has been something of an unsung hero for Mourinho’s United this season, and although most of the plaudits from the win over Sunderland will go to Ibrahimovic, Pogba, and other goalscorers Daley Blind and Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Antonio Valencia deserves credit for his performance.

He was a workhorse throughout the game against Sunderland, constantly getting up the pitch as United looked to stretch the Black Cats, and combined well with Zlatan Ibrahimovic who often drifted out wide to run the channels. It was Valencia who started the move which led to United’s third also, slipping the ball into Ibrahimovic on the right flank, whose cross was turned in by a breathtaking back-heeled volley from Mkhitaryan, another to add to the list of memorable Old Trafford goals.

Centre-Back: Laurent Koscielny (Arsenal)

Laurent Koscielny had long been a player with ability, but with an unpredictable streak that often came at a great cost to his side. In recent seasons however, he has emerged not only as a consistent player, but a key one for Arsenal, and no other Gunner made more tackles (4) or interceptions (5) in their latest game, a match-up with a resilient West Brom that shaped up to be a very tricky encounter.

The Frenchman put in a professional performance and marshalled the back-line wonderfully against Albion, and it was just what Arsenal needed as the visitors began to establish a firm foothold in the game. They say when times are tough you realise who your characters are in a squad, and on this evidence Koscielny is one of them, and they will need him to remain fit and play to this level consistently for the Gunners to maintain their own harboured hopes of the title.

Centre-Back: Winston Reid (West Ham United)

Winston Reid’s headed goal for the Hammers away at Swansea was taken well despite the shoddy attempt at marking from the hosts, but it came at a key time to knock the stuffing out of the Welsh side at a key stage in the match. Aside from that, his overall contribution was vital, his 12 clearances and four interceptions more than any of his teammates; a stern presence at the back that never buckled in the face of Swansea’s burly forward, Fernando Llorente.

The New Zealander’s commitment to the cause has been one of the vital elements in West Ham’s recent turnaround, and he has proved himself as one of the club’s key men in the dressing room, having been one of their most consistent performers in what has been a tricky season so far.

Left-Back: James Milner (Liverpool)

The Liverpool utility man is getting better by the game in this left-back position, and his leadership and marshalling of the back-line from the position in the Reds’ comeback win over Stoke are worthy of recognition here. The England international made nine tackles, more than any other Liverpool player in a single Premier League game this season, and it marks a steady rise to prominence in the position since coming in for the hapless Alberto Moreno.

His calm and collected presence in the position has proved vital to Liverpool’s title challenge so far, in what has at times proved a somewhat fragile Liverpool defence.