Premier League Team of the Week: Pogba, Mahrez and Fraser feature

Premier League best XI for matchweeks 21 and 22, featuring Paul Pogba, Riyad Mahrez and Ryan Fraser.

Paul Pogba finally looked like a midfielder worth £89 million when he helped Manchester United snap a poor run of form in the Premier League. Pogba was the star of the show on New Year’s Day as the Red Devils won 2-0 at Everton.

As good as Pogba was, Mahrez may have been even better over matchweeks 21 and 22. Leicester’s wing wizard collected two assists and a wonder goal. Speaking of goals, Ryan Fraser got two as Bournemouth hauled themselves further away from relegation trouble.

Find out who else makes the best XI:

Goalkeeper: Thibaut Courtois, Chelsea

He may have been beaten twice during the superb four-goal draw at Arsenal on Wednesday, but Chelsea would have been turned over had it not been for Thibaut Courtois.

The towering goalkeeper made exceptional saves to deny Alexis Sanchez, Alexandre Lacazette and Mesut Ozil. His all-action display followed a more comfortable one to keep a clean sheet against Stoke.

United’s David de Gea has rightly hogged the headlines at his position this season. However, Courtois is keeping alive the debate about who is the best goalkeeper in the Premier League.

Defender: Ciaran Clark, Newcastle

Two clean sheets in a row helped Newcastle collect four points to move clear of the drop zone. Ciaran Clark was the bedrock for the Magpies’ miserly defending.

The former Aston Villa center-back led by example, contesting everything in the air and committing himself bravely, first in the goalless draw against Brighton. Playing as the foil for skipper Jamaal Lascelles, Clark then stayed steady and composed whenever his team was put under pressure during the vital 1-0 win at Stoke.

Having a partnership as tough and complementary as the Clark and Lascelles double act gives Newcastle the platform to achieve safety.

Defender: Phil Jones, Manchester United

No defender threw himself into as many challenges or made as many blocks and interceptions as Phil Jones. The England international was a true talisman in helping United keep consecutive clean sheets against Southampton and the Toffees.

Jones’ defending was more last ditch against the Saints, who acquitted themselves well to earn a 0-0 draw at Old Trafford. It didn’t help summer signing Victor Lindelof still struggled with the pace of play in England’s top flight.

Things were easier at Everton, where Marcos Rojo was always prepared to step out and put a foot in. Even with better support, though, Jones still stood out as the linchpin of the Red Devils’ stout back four.

Defender: Jan Vertonghen, Tottenham

He’s missing regular partner Toby Alderweireld, but Jan Vertonghen is still managing to hold Tottenham’s defense together. The Belgium international was composure personified during the 2-0 win over Swansea.

Vertonghen won his aerial duels and timed tackles well on the deck. The ex-Ajax star was also incisive with his passing from deep, a crucial attribute in Tottenham’s possession-based game.

Spurs weren’t exactly tested by the division’s most fluent attacks over the New Year’s period. Even so, Vertonghen deserves credit for keeping things tight and ensuring Spurs have opened a two-point gap on local rivals Arsenal.

Midfielder: Riyad Mahrez, Leicester

Mahrez is in a true purple patch at the moment, just in time for the January transfer window.

It would be mind-boggling if some of the division’s biggest clubs weren’t making the Foxes offers they can’t refuse for their best player. Not many attackers can match Mahrez for creative output, eye for goal and a flair for the spectacular.

He showed his knack for supply by teeing up Jamie Vardy to score in the 2-1 loss to Liverpool at Anfield. Mahrez also provided the assist for Vardy’s stand-in, Islam Slimani, to score Leicester’s second during the subsequent 3-0 win over Huddersfield.

It was Mahrez who opened the scoring against the Terriers thanks to an outrageous first-time volley in the box. The goal continued his rich vein of form in front of goal recently, a run detailed by WhoScored.com:

Manager Claude Puel remains adamant Mahrez will stay through the winter window, according to BBC Leicester Sport. Yet it’s long overdue for the top clubs to come calling.

Midfielder: Ryan Fraser, Bournemouth

Bournemouth started the week needing points and duly got three thanks to Fraser. The diminutive Scottish winger bagged a brace to see off Everton on Saturday, Dec. 30.

He took his goals well, showcasing the skill and composure that make him a hidden gem in the Premier League. Still just 23, Fraser is accomplished technically and versatile enough to also play in the middle.

Players such as Fraser are essential to the open and progressive style Cherries manager Eddie Howe wants his team to play.

Midfielder: Christian Eriksen, Tottenham

Christian Eriksen was the creative heartbeat for a free-flowing Spurs side at Swansea. The Danish playmaker strolled through the lines always looking to split gaps with his vision and technique.

How to get near Eriksen was a riddle the Swans couldn’t solve. In the end, the pass-master had been the most influential figure on the pitch, per Sky Sports Statto:

Eriksen was also one of Tottenham’s busiest attacking players during the 1-1 draw with West Ham at Wembley on Thursday. His industry and quality between the midfield and forward lines still act as the catalyst for Spurs’ best football.

Midfielder: Paul Pogba, Manchester United

Pogba was the inspiration for United’s most attractive and fluid performance of the season. The visitors to Goodison Park played without a natural target man while Romelu Lukaku and Zlatan Ibrahimovic missed out, but produced more free-flowing football between the lines.

Anthony Martial starting at striker helped, with his pace and willingness to peel onto the flanks creating space through the middle for runners from deep. Jesse Lingard, scorer of United’s second, profited from those spaces, but it was Pogba who made the shape-shifting stylistics possible.

The Frenchman’s freedom of movement was a joy to watch as he regularly took up menacing positions all across the final third. His favourite area was the inside left, from where Pogba teased Everton’s defenders with sly passes down the side and fizzed crosses in front of goalkeeper Jordan Pickford.

Next: Have Swansea made the right managerial choice?

Pogba assisted Martial to score United’s first, before releasing Lingard for the second late on. Those assists were the flourish for an imperious performance from an oft-misunderstood midfielder.

Despite his stocky frame and height, Pogba is no tough-tackling destroyer. Instead, he’s a pure flair player who is better the more freedom he has further forward.

Midfielder: Eden Hazard, Chelsea

Eden Hazard is a mercurial talent who is worth the price of admission when he’s on song. Unfortunately for Arsenal, Chelsea’s magician was in the mood at the Emirates Stadium.

Hazard dazzled and dizzied the Gunners all night. His pace, slalom-style runs and classy touches had Arsenal chasing shadows, while crafting numerous chances for the Blues.

One of the best came after a typically deft backheel teed up former Gunner Cesc Fabregas, but the Spaniard could only lift his shot wide.

It was left to the man himself to get Chelsea on the scoresheet courtesy of a second-half penalty. Hazard dispatched the spot-kick coolly to reach a personal milestone for his club, per Sky Sports Statto:

There is no more exciting player in the league when Hazard is in this type of form.

Striker: Andy Caroll, West Ham

Things looked desperate for West Ham when they trailed bottom side West Brom at home on Tuesday. However, the apparently dire situation was merely the cue for forgotten man Andy Carroll to play the hero.

Carroll scored twice, including netting the winner deep into injury time, to save the Hammers on the second day of 2018. Save is the operative word, since Carroll’s goals lifted West Ham out of the bottom three.

The Hammers are only two points above the drop after Thursday’s draw with Spurs, but even the slightest breathing space is priceless. Just as valuable is the knowledge they have a striker in Carroll who still knows where the net is.

Striker: Sergio Aguero, Manchester City

He’s not always favoured by manager Pep Guardiola, but Sergio Aguero still rarely lets Manchester City down. The prolific Argentinian scored the leaders’ third in a 3-1 win over Watford on Tuesday.

It was the defining contribution from a lively performance offering proof of Aguero’s enduring value. The free-scoring No. 10’s trickery, deceptive strength, acceleration and quality in front of goal means he’s sure to remain among the division’s top scorers.

City will need Aguero’s goal now Brazilian Gabriel Jesus has been ruled out for up to six weeks after suffering a knee injury in the 0-0 draw against Crystal Palace on New Year’s Eve.