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Premier League Team of the Week - Cristiano Ronaldo, Mohamed Salah, Bruno Fernandes

Sports Mole selects its Premier League Team of the Week for gameweek 14, including Cristiano Ronaldo, Mohamed Salah and Bruno Fernandes.

The midweek round of Premier League fixtures is done and dusted, with Chelsea still leading the way at the top of the pile after sinking Watford 2-1 at Vicarage Road.

Manchester City kept pace with the Blues by beating Aston Villa by the same scoreline, while Liverpool thrashed Rafael Benitez's Everton 4-1 in the Merseyside derby.

West Ham United suffered another setback in their top four pursuit as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Brighton & Hove Albion, but Arsenal could not take advantage as they went down 3-2 to Manchester United.

Wolverhampton Wanderers' European aspirations took a hit in a goalless draw with Burnley, but Tottenham Hotspur bounced back from their continental humiliation by seeing off Brentford 2-0.

Elsewhere, Southampton and Leicester City played out a 2-2 draw, Newcastle United and Norwich City could not be separated in a 1-1 stalemate, and Leeds United saw off Crystal Palace 1-0.

Here, Sports Mole selects its Team of the Week for gameweek 14 of the Premier League season.


DEFENCE

Maximilian Kilman celebrates scoring for Wolverhampton Wanderers against Everton on November 1, 2021.© Reuters

He may not have kept a clean sheet on the day, but Edouard Mendy continues to delight between the sticks for Chelsea and played a key role in the win at Watford, making six saves to ensure his side would come away with maximum points.

The ever-versatile Stuart Dallas excelled on the right-hand side for Leeds against Crystal Palace, as the Northern Ireland international made six tackles, posted two interceptions and two blocks in a dominant defensive display.

Producing a finish that any striker would be proud of, Man City's defensive rock Ruben Dias broke the deadlock in some fashion at Villa Park from long range, and the reliable Portuguese also completed 92% of his passes on the day.

Wolves should have done much better in the final third against Burnley, but Max Kilman was a big reason why they came away with a point to show for their efforts, as the 24-year-old made six interceptions, won three of his four aerial battles and recorded a 91% pass accuracy.

Not long after Jurgen Klopp claimed that 'people forget how good he is', Andy Robertson produced one of several standout performances against Everton with two assists on the day, and the superb Scot also made five tackles during a stellar success.


MIDFIELD

Jordan Henderson celebrates scoring for Liverpool in December 2021© Reuters

Another Liverpool representative in this XI, Jordan Henderson produced a true captain's performance in the derby at Goodison Park, breaking the deadlock with a delightful curling effort before setting up Mohamed Salah's strike all inside the first 20 minutes.

An alarming lack of goals from Bruno Fernandes contributed to Man United's downfall under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, but the Portuguese playmaker bounced back in some style against Arsenal, firing home past Aaron Ramsdale while also recording four key passes and two tackles in a thrilling victory.

Completing a star-studded three-man midfield is someone who sought to quiet exit rumours from the club, as Chelsea's Mason Mount scored one before setting up Hakim Ziyech's winner at Vicarage Road to help see off a stubborn Watford.


ATTACK

Liverpool's Mohamed Salah celebrates scoring their third goal on December 1, 2021© Reuters

What else is there to say about Mohamed Salah that has not already been said? No angle was too tight for the electric Egyptian to weave his left-footed magic to beat Jordan Pickford, and he was rewarded for his pressure on Seamus Coleman with a second goal as he broke yet another goalscoring record for the Reds.

If ever there was a way to rescue a point against a top-four side, an overhead kick in the 89th minute is right up there, as Brighton talisman Neal Maupay saw his sublime effort nestle into the back of the net as the Seagulls swooped to claim a respectable draw at West Ham.

Finally, any concerns about Cristiano Ronaldo's Old Trafford return hindering this United side were quashed in midweek, as the 36-year-old picked up where he left off against Arsenal with a brace on the day - including the winner from the penalty spot - as he prepares for life under Ralf Rangnick.


SPORTS MOLE'S PREMIER LEAGUE TEAM OF THE WEEK

PL TOTW GW14

Sports Mole's Premier League Team of the Week (4-3-3): Mendy; Dallas, Dias, Kilman, Robertson; Mount, Henderson, Fernandes; Salah, Maupay, Ronaldo

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Ben Knapton
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Bruno Fernandes scores a penalty for Manchester United against Newcastle United in the Premier League on February 21, 2021
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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool16123137162139
2Chelsea17105237191835
3Arsenal1796234161833
4Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest179442319431
5Bournemouth178452721628
6Aston Villa178452626028
7Manchester CityMan City178362925427
8Newcastle UnitedNewcastle177552721626
9Fulham176742422225
10Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton176742726125
11Tottenham HotspurSpurs1772839251423
12Brentford177283232023
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd176472122-122
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham175572230-820
15Everton163761421-716
16Crystal Palace173771826-816
17Leicester CityLeicester173592137-1614
18Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1733112740-1312
19Ipswich TownIpswich172691632-1612
20Southampton1713131136-256


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