Premier League Team of the Week: Mesut Ozil, Marcos Alonso and Kevin De Bruyne feature

Premier League best XI for matchweek 18, featuring Mesut Ozil, Kevin De Bruyne and Marcos Alonso.

Mesut Ozil took to a new role like a duck to water in matchweek 18 of the Premier League season. Playing deeper than usual, Ozil ran the show and was Arsenal’s match-winner in a tight struggle against Newcastle.

Not to be outdone by a rival attacking midfielder, Kevin De Bruyne was the catalyst for leaders Manchester City taking Tottenham apart. The Belgium international’s movement, technique and eye for goal had Spurs chasing shadows.

Chelsea’s midfield didn’t dominate during a narrow win over Southampton, but the Blues could count on their goalscoring defenders, as Marcos Alonso continued his habit of finding the net.

Find out who else makes the team of the week:

Goalkeeper: Fraser Forster, Southampton

It’s not often a player on the losing side makes the team of the week, but Fraser Forster’s performance in the Saints’ goal deserves some props.

Forster consistently thwarted Chelsea attacks with point-blank saves and swift reflexes. The England international saved twice from Alonso and also repelled efforts from Gary Cahill and N’Golo Kante in the first half.

Forster isn’t always the most consistent, with a strange habit of thriving against the league’s best, but stumbling against lesser teams. When he’s on song, though, there aren’t many stoppers better than Southampton’s towering No. 1.

Defender: Marcos Alonso, Chelsea

He found himself denied by Forster on three occasions, but Alonso still managed to squeeze the winner past the keeper in first-half stoppage time. The goal came courtesy of a sweetly struck free-kick showcasing the technique which outstrips most other left-sided defenders in the division.

His goal also cemented Alonso’s status as the league’s most prolific defender, according to Sky Sports Statto:

Not content just with scoring, Alonso spent the rest of the match tormenting the Saints on the flanks. He regularly ghosted into dangerous pockets of space in the inside left channel and offered a considerable shooting threat.

Numbers from WhoScored.com showed how heavily involved Alonso was as an attacking force:

Chelsea wouldn’t be able to play their 3-4-3 formation without this level of contribution from their wing-backs.

Defender: Ben Mee, Burnley

Burnley are contending for the Champions League places because of their stingy defence. It’s a unit led by aggressive centre-backs James Tarkowski and Ben Mee.

The latter was exceptional during the goalless draw at Brighton. His timing, anticipation and power in the air left the Seagulls frustrated for 90 minutes.

Mee’s rise this season has been almost as rapid as the one enjoyed by the Clarets. The 28-year-old is a target for West Brom if the Baggies lose Jonny Evans during the January transfer window, according to John Percy of the Daily Telegraph.

Burnley would have to take leave of their senses to sell their rock at the back.

Defender: Lewis Dunk, Brighton

Burnley couldn’t keep their place in the top four because they couldn’t find a route to goal in Brighton. Lewis Dunk’s solid performance was the main reason why.

The 26-year-old threw himself into blocks and stayed strong in the air, no easy task against Burnley’s direct style. Dunk dealt well with a trio of target men up top, Chris Wood, Ashley Barnes and Sam Vokes.

Defensively solidity is going to be how Brighton stay in the Premier League. Dunk will ensure the Seagulls have it when it counts.

Midfielder: Manuel Lanzini, West Ham

There was more than an element of controversy about the way Manuel Lanzini won a penalty for the Hammers at Stoke. To say the Argentinian went over easily would be putting a polite spin on the way Lanzini tumbled to the turf amid the lightest contact.

Putting aside the incident which ultimately gave West Ham an early lead in the Potteries, Lanzini’s overall display was superb. The pint-sized playmaker effortlessly conducted his side’s best moves going forward.

Next: Ozil downs Newcastle: 3 things we learned

Whenever the Hammers needed a creative spark, Lanzini provided one, with BBC Sport detailing his impressive numbers: “his performance was compelling with four key passes, two assists and more passes (62) than any other West Ham player.”

Lanzini is the kind of difference-maker manager David Moyes needs to lean on to help West Ham move well clear of the threat of the relegation.

Midfielder: Mesut Ozil, Arsenal

His goal was the kind of wonder strike sure to live long in the memory. But there was so much more to Ozil’s performance than the epic volley which beat the Magpies 1-0 on Saturday.

The Germany international bossed possession from the first minute. He always offered an outlet to Arsenal defenders and holding midfielder Granit Xhaka.

Ozil also used deft touches and intelligent running of the ball to combine brilliantly with Jack Wilshere, Alexis Sanchez and Alexandre Lacazette. Had the finishing of those ahead of him been better, Ozil would have added an assist or two to his day’s tally.

As it was, the silky schemer had to be content with continuing his fine recent form in the final third, per OptaJoe:

On this evidence, the Gunners must do all they can to convince the player whose contract expires next summer to sign a new deal.

Midfielder: Kevin De Bruyne, Manchester City

De Bruyne took his time to get going against Spurs, but he was the class of the game once he clicked into gear. His best contributions included smashing a screamer of a shot through Tottenham goalkeeper Hugo Lloris to double City’s lead.

The goal came after De Bruyne had been felled by a nasty challenge from Dele Alli. His reponse was perfect, as he made it clear to Alli and Co. they could try and make the game physical, but he was going to continue playing the right way.

Part of playing the right way involved De Bruyne getting forward more often. The absence of David Silva meant there was more license for the Belgian to make runs beyond the forward line.

One such run saw terrific acceleration force Jan Vertonghen into giving away a penalty. Gabriel Jesus missed the spot-kick, but De Bruyne never let up picking passes and getting in behind.

Midfielder: Nemanja Matic, Manchester United

De Bruyne is expected to get forward, but runs in behind aren’t something Manchester United defensive midfielder Nemanja Matic is known for.

Yet the 29-year-old made himself a menace with several well-timed breaks forward during United’s 2-1 win away to West Brom on Sunday. His sudden bursts from deep caught the Baggies cold twice, leading to both of the visitors’ goals.

As usual, Matic never shirked his defensive duties. He cut out his share of passes between the lines and rarely wasted his own opportunities in possession.

Sky Sports Statto detailed all of Matic’s many contributions:

United have missed the drive and flair of Paul Pogba going forward, but they could ill afford to be without Matic’s intelligence in deeper areas for long.

Midfielder: Philippe Coutinho, Liverpool

A first-half masterclass from Philippe Coutinho sent Liverpool on their way to a comfortable win at Bournemouth on Sunday. The Reds’ classy No. 10 scored the first and assisted his side’s third, teeing up free-scoring Mohamed Salah to find the net.

Coutinho still had time for one more assist, as he curled a pinpoint cross onto the head of Roberto Firmino to make it 4-0 at the Vitality Stadium.

This was the kind of complete display Coutinho has been making the norm this season. His creative influence remains the catalyst for everything this dynamic Liverpool team does going forward.

Striker: Christian Benteke, Crystal Palace

There was no missed penalty controversy for Christian Benteke this week. Instead, the beefy Belgian frontman ended his scoring drought and provided a clinic in how to lead the line in England’s top flight.

Benteke headed in Crystal Palace’s opener in the shock 3-0 win at Leicester City. He turned provider to set up the second, sending the lively Wilfried Zaha clear to score.

The Leicester back four simply never got to grips with Benteke. His pace, power and ability to play with his back to goal made Palace’s counter-attacking approach work.

If he can repeat this performance, Benteke will be pivotal for the Eagles’ bid to beat the drop.

Striker: Roberto Firmino, Liverpool

Liverpool are a better side whenever Firmino is asked to lead the line. The Brazilian stood out as a fluid-moving No. 9 against the Cherries.

Not only did he score, but Firmino’s varied movement pulled the Bournemouth defence apart and created space through the middle for others to exploit. Firmino’s intelligent use of the channels allowed Salah to come off the wing and attack centrally.

Whenever Firmino would drop deep, Coutinho was free to run beyond him. No matter how often Liverpool rotated positions in the final third, it was Firmino’s runs dictating exactly how the shape shifted.

He is the unsung hero of the Reds’ lethal attacking quartet, but the one who truly makes this side click going forward.