Premier League Team of the Week XXIV feat. Leicester and Manchester United stars

Add as preferred source on Google

Embed from Getty Images

Anthony Martial: Anthony Martial picked up where he left off against Derby County in Manchester United’s victorious FA Cup escapade, once more terrorising the opposition right-back; Glen Johnson in this instance. Five goal-scoring chances came from the Frenchman’s dazzling feet, with his ability to beat a man on either side proving to be a great challenge to Stoke City’s defence. Martial knew when to release the ball to a team-mate and when to attack Johnson by himself, with the right option being chosen time after time as the youngster displayed an innate ability to make an astute decision. Never was this demonstrated more acutely than when he supplied Wayne Rooney with a first-time pass, allowing the England man to notch his seventh goal in as many matches. Martial’s cross was so precise that Rooney did not have to break stride, presenting him with the easiest of chances, and one which he duly put away.

The promising French talent also added a goal to his name against Hughes’ men, scoring The Red Devils’ second of the day. Getting on the end of a marvellous attacking move by Manchester United, Anthony Martial hit a strike with great finesse past Jack Butland into the top corner; his sixth Premier League goal to date. This was a goal of genuine quality, both in the build-up and the finish, displaying exactly the sort of play which the Old Trafford faithful have been yearning for.

Jamie Vardy: On a day where Liverpool enjoyed much of the play and could well make a case for at least earning something from the game, Jamie Vardy was the man to make the difference – a factor that The Reds on the other hand simply did not possess. Mignolet may have arguably been slightly too advanced from his line but nevertheless, it took nothing less than a supreme strike from the English number nine to beat the Belgian stopper from such an angle and distance. As Roy Hodgson watched on from the stands at the KP Stadium, Vardy’s first goal will of course have delighted him due to the terrific technique and improvisation on display, but his second goal was almost equally as pleasing because of the awareness to snaffle up the chance in such an emphatic fashion. Benefitting from a blocked Okazaki effort, the former Fleetwood man was sharper than Dejan Lovren and fired the ball past an onrushing Mignolet into the top-most corner of the goal. Leicester City’s dream appears to be well and truly on, and with Vardy returning to the untouchable levels of the first half of this campaign, it will take a strong side to stop them.

Embed from Getty Images

Harry Kane: Once more linking exceptionally well with England’s up-and-coming star; Dele Alli, Harry Kane bagged a brace against a beleaguered Norwich side in the Premier League. Kane scored for the third game running and opened his account for the day from the penalty spot. Refreshingly for an Englishman, he never looked like missing and dispatched the ball confidently into the corner from 12 yards out. The break-through star of last season was lively throughout the match and gave Norwich City’s new central defender; Timm Klose, a Premier League debut which he will want to forget.

Confident in his own technical ability on the ball, Kane is far from restricted to operating solely within the width of the penalty area and after one of his many forays to the left flank, he twisted and turned past a hapless Joao Pinto, fired off a shot only to see it smack against the woodwork. The post to the goalkeeper’s right was struck again by the in-form Kane before he would finally add to his tally, this time stroking a shot towards the goal after benefitting from a mix-up by Mulumbu. Kane’s second came in the final minutes of the match, caressing the ball home with a cultured strike from his left foot.

[vfv id=”16″]

Featured Image: All rights reserved by Alex Hannam