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

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Right Attacking-Midfield: Paul Pogba (Manchester United)

After a challenging start to his return to Old Trafford, Paul Pogba is now starting to live up to his billing as the most expensive player in the world and has been one of the driving forces behind United’s return to form. Against Sunderland he was a commanding presence in midfield, and the 23-year-old Frenchman capped off a marvellous performance in midfield with a cool pass into Ibrahimovic, who bagged United’s second of the game to put the result beyond doubt. All three of his Premier League assists this season have supplied the mercurial Swede with a goal, and their chemistry is looking all the more devastating to the opposition by the game.

Centre Attacking-Midfield: Dele Alli (Tottenham Hotspur)

Spurs’ win at Southampton will sadly be more remembered for Mike Dean’s controversial decision to dismiss Nathan Redmond, but that can’t take anything away from Dele Alli’s individual performance, who has now been involved in 26 goals (16 goals, 10 assists) in his 50 Premier League appearances, one more than Christian Eriksen had at this stage, and only eight Spurs players have been involved in more in their opening 50 Premier League appearances for the club.

His two goals and assist on the night represent a ruthless streak in front of goal developing in the player that lacked slightly in his first season in the Premier League, his first, a lovely headed strike, and his second a clinical finish. The alternative source of goals to Harry Kane that the youngster is now starting to provide can only bode well for Mauricio Pochettino, and for England.

Left-Attacking Midfield: Eden Hazard (Chelsea)

Belgium international Hazard was as ruthless and potent as ever as Chelsea reached a club record 12 straight wins in the Premier League, and his wonderfully taken goal ensured he became the sixth player to score 50 Premier League goals for Chelsea after Frank Lampard, Didier Drogba, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, Gianfranco Zola and Eidur Gudjohnsen.

In the absence of Diego Costa it looked as if Michy Batshuayi would step unto the breach, but Antonio Conte’s deployment of Hazard as the lone striker demonstrated the sheer amount of trust the Italian has in the versatility and ability of his players.

Hazard is another who is enjoying a new lease of life under Conte’s oratory at Stamford Bridge, and if this free-scoring form continues, then another title to add to the successes of two years ago may well be on the horizon.

Centre-Forward: Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Manchester United)

The lack of the Zlatan Ibrahimovic factor may be the reason why Paris Saint-Germain are toiling in their race for the Ligue 1 title in France and having to keep the pace with both Monaco and shock leaders Nice. Ibrahimovic even at the age of 35 has been involved in 14 Premier League goals this season (12 goals, 2 assists), at least eight more than any other Manchester United player, and his developing chemistry with Paul Pogba is setting the league alight by the week.

When he first arrived at Old Trafford, myself having personally wanted him in this league years ago, I thought it may have been too late, but the Swede has an innate ability to talk up his game and back it up on the pitch, with next to no one seeming capable of disrupting his rhythm.

He scored one and set up the other two in United’s 3-1 triumph over Sunderland, and only Lionel Messi has scored more goals in 2016 than Zlatan.

                                                                   Premier League: Team of the Week XVIII

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Coach: Slaven Bilic

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