Premier League: Team of the Week XXXI feat. Liverpool and Tottenham stars

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Goalkeeper: Simon Mignolet (Liverpool)

The Belgian has had his fair amount of critics throughout his stint at Anfield, but Klopp’s full-time embrace was not only testament to the importance of this result to the Reds’ cause, but also the performance of Mignolet and how vital his contribution was to securing the points. Mignolet came up with three world-class saves throughout the contest, the pick of the bunch his final big save to thwart Saido Berahino from point-blank range, after having somehow kept out Charlie Adam’s earlier effort when a poor Georginio Wijnaldum header back into the danger-zone left three Stoke players onside and queuing up for a shot inside the six-yard box.

The former Sunderland custodian has been a born-again player since his return to the starting line-up, and repaid the faith shown in him by Jurgen Klopp with a return of 53% of shots inside the box saved this season. Those points could be massive in helping Liverpool reclaim a Champions League berth, and albeit they could and probably should have been closer to the title than they are, there are undoubtedly signs of progress.

Right-Back: Kieran Trippier (Tottenham Hotspur)

For a man who’d only managed three Premier League starts this season, his performance against Watford when once more asked to come into the breach in place of Kyle Walker was exceptional. He was not only defensively solid, but was just as much of a threat in getting forward as the man he deputised, and set the tone for his performance by escaping down the right early on and playing an inch-perfect ball into Vincent Janssen, from which the Dutch striker would have scored had he been more alert, his effort ricocheting off his knee and onto the crossbar.

On another day, Trippier may have had a hat-trick of assists, were it not for some wasteful finishing. His pass achieved the right result later in the second-half when he played the ball inside for Son Heung-Min to score with a wonderful half-volley at the far post, and he almost set up the South Korean for a hat-trick, playing a lovely first-time curled through-ball, which the former Leverkusen man cannoned onto the bar. Overall though, an energetic and threatening performance from former Burnley man Trippier, ensuring Kyle Walker has not been a critical miss. That surely says more about the strength in depth of this Spurs side, despite lacking numbers in the striking positions. Remarkable.

Centre-Back: James Collins (West Ham United)

It has been a frustrating season for the Welshman. Having spent time on the sidelines through omission and injury, Collins had a big point to prove when under-pressure West Ham boss Slaven Bilic threw him into the fray in his starting line-up against Swansea, and the veteran more than stepped-up to the plate. He also appears to be a steady presence and a good omen generally for the Hammers, with the East Londoners having won four of the seven league games he has featured in this season following this latest triumph, which begs the question as to why he hasn’t featured more often.

West Ham needed to arrest their slide, however, and the experience of Collins, let alone the presence he offered in the air, was vital in seeing out the game, and helped keep Swans danger-man Fernando Llorente firmly on a leash.

Centre-Back: Eric Dier (Tottenham Hotspur)

Another week, and another commanding performance from one of the country’s most impressive up and coming defensive players. He was largely solid against Watford, helping his side keep a clean sheet which will boost morale in what at times might seem a futile pursuit of leaders Chelsea, but his crowning moment of the game was his goal.

Six minutes after Dele Alli’s speculative snapshot from distance had curled into the top-corner to hand Spurs the initiative, Dier effectively put the game beyond the Hornets, firing home superbly with a first-time shot from the edge of the box when Son Heung-Min’s deflected cross found its way to his feet.

Left-Back: Marcos Alonso (Chelsea)

Having seen Tottenham dispatch Watford so comfortably in the early Saturday kick-off, all eyes were on Chelsea in the evening encounter with Bournemouth, as the football world waited for the Blues to match their rivals’ hand. They did it with some style, and that was owed to a solid defensive performance, but also a show of deadly attacking masterclass on the counter, and Marcos Alonso was key in both aspects.

What was largely picked up on in the aftermath of this encounter was not just how effective Chelsea can be with the ball, in how they monopolise possession, but how clinical they can be without it when recovering the ball and breaking at will. Alonso was an effective presence in sitting deep and making runs forward when required, but he put the gloss on his performance with a wonderful goal to mark his fifth of the season.

With Chelsea just one goal to the good against a Bournemouth side threatening to equalise, the Spaniard stood over a set-piece late in the game. No questions asked, he sumptuously curled the ball over the wall and into the top right-corner, with goalkeeper Artur Boruc rooted to the spot, and the Bournemouth wall able to do little but stand and admire.