Premier League Team of the Week: De Bruyne, Sterling and Giroud feature

Premier League best XI for matchweek 34, including Kevin De Bruyne, Raheem Sterling and Olivier Giroud.

Kevin De Bruyne and Raheem Sterling were the catalysts for the win which ultimately won Manchester City the 2017/18 Premier League title.

Sterling and De Bruyne destroyed Tottenham in a 3-1 win at Wembley Stadium on Saturday. The Citizens were crowned champions 24 hours later thanks to Manchester United’s shock 1-0 home defeat to bottom-of-the-table West Brom.

The Baggies left Old Trafford with a first away win since August thanks to a stubbon defensive effort led by former United golkeeper Ben Foster.

This week’s fixtures began with Olivier Giroud replicating the super sub act he made his forte at Arsenal for Chelsea. Big Ollie came off the bench to score twice and keep the Blues’ top-four hopes alive thanks to a 3-2 comeback win in Southampton.

Find out who else makes the latest team of the week:

Goalkeeper: Ben Foster, West Brom

United have the best goalkeeper on the planet in the form of David De Gea, but there was a brief time in the later 2000s when Foster was considered the Reds’ next No. 1.

It never quite panned out that way, but Foster reminded United why there were once such strong believers in his talents. The 35-year-old stopper was terrific at Old Trafford, making key saves in both halves.

Foster turned away efforts from Romelu Lukaku and Alexis Sanchez during the opening 45 minutes. His save to deny Lukaku’s header after the break was even better.

This was stellar stuff from Foster, who refused to yield against his former club. The Baggies will be playing Championship football next season, but Foster should find a lifeboat with another team from England’s top flight.

Defender: Craig Dawson, West Brom

As much as City owe a thank you to United old boy Foster, the newly crowned champions should also be grateful to Craig Dawson. The veteran centre-back epitomised the last-ditch heroics common in West Brom’s defending in the red half of Manchester.

Dawson threw himself into aerial duels and was never reluctant to block a goal-bound shot. His dominance of the air helped keep Lukaku quiet, while also nullifying United in set-piece situations.

Fortunately for West Brom, Dawson was a menace at the other end. The 27-year-old went close to scoring from a corner late in the first half. Dawson’s presence had the hosts flapping every time they had to defend a delivery into the box.

Ultimately though, his defensive work stood out most. Dawson put up a wall of resistance United lacked the strength or guile to break down.

Defender: DeAndre Yedlin, Newcastle

Newcastle all-but ensured their Premier League status for another season after cold-cocking a ponderous Arsenal side 2-1 at St James’ Park on Sunday.

The Magpies triumphed thanks largely to a committed and rugged defensive effort. DeAndre Yedlin embodied both qualities as he consistently denied the Gunners supply from the left flank.

With Hector Bellerin rested, Arsenal relied on left-back Nacho Monreal for width and crosses. The problem was Monreal, who saw plenty of the ball, rarely got past Yedlin.

Monreal couldn’t outpace his younger opponent. Nor could he get the ball around the 24-year-old native of Seattle often enough. Yedlin refused to left any cross come in easily.

He was also effective going forward, playing the final pass to cap a sweeping move and tee up Ayoze Perez for the Magpies’ first goal.

Yedlin’s late blocks and dogged tracking denied Arsenal a vital attacking outlet, and meant the visitors wasted having strikers Alexandre Lacazette, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Danny Welbeck all waiting for the right service.

Defender: Mathias ‘Zanka’ Jorgensen, Huddersfield

Almost without anybody noticing, Huddersfield have quietly inched closer to Premier League survival. The Terriers moved seven points clear of the bottom three by beating Watford 1-0 at home on Saturday.

Both the victory and clean sheet were inspired by Mathias Jorgensen. The Denmark international centre-back, known as ‘Zanka,’ was alert, active and physical against the Hornets.

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Zanka stayed focus on Watford’s biggest threat, runners from advanced midfield areas. He tracked Richarlison and Roberto Pereyra, while also getting into positions to intercept Will Hughes’ attempts to supply from deep.

He excelled in space, but Zanka was also impressive at close quarters, refusing to be bullied by Watford target man Troy Deeney. Zanka’s solid defending kept Town in it long enough for Tom Ince to net a stoppage-time winner likely to prove crucial for the team promoted to the top division for the first time last season.

Midfielder: Wilfried Zaha, Crystal Palace

Like Huddersfield, Palace also took a big step toward safety on Saturday. Yet defensive nous wasn’t the decisive factor for the Eagles.

Instead, attacking talisman Wilfried Zaha destroyed Brighton in the derby. The wing wizard’s two goals sent Palace on the way to a 3-2 win and priceless three points.

Zaha was the proverbial box of tricks against the Seagulls. He tied defenders in knots on both flanks, tricking past his markers with dazzling footwork and dizzying pace.

For all his fine work out wide, one of the best things about Zaha’s game is how he drifts centrally. The former United flop has a good instinct for when to move and exploit gaps in the middle.

His second goal on Saturday was the perfect example, as Zaha flawlessly timed his dart between two defenders to head in.

Still only 25, Zaha, is a little extra consistency short of more than meriting another chance at a top-six club.

Midfielder: Eden Hazard, Chelsea

Consistency is something Eden Hazard hasn’t found too often this season. Yet there are still few players in the division as exciting to watch as Chelsea’s mercurial No. 10 when he’s in the mood.

Hazard found his motivation once the Blues went 2-0 down. He proceeded to take the game to Southampton, attacking from all angles.

Effortless switching of positions allowed Hazard to thread passes between the lines for multiple runners. He also combined at close quarters with Willian, Pedro and Giroud, exchanging flicks and tricks to leave Saints defenders chasing shadows.

More than anything else, though, Hazard WANTED the ball. He showed for it constantly, never hiding, but instead dragging Chelsea back from the brink.

Hazard’s mix of endeavour and ingenuity was rewarded when he netted the equaliser with a fine strike in the 75th minute.

The goal drew Hazard level with a prolific scorer from Chelsea’s recent history, per Squawka Football:

In this form, Hazard is a match-winner on any stage against any opposition.

Midfielder: Georginio Wijnaldum, Liverpool

Georginio Wijnaldum makes the best XI for the second week in a row after once again proving a model of efficiency for Liverpool. The gifted and versatile Netherlands international was faultless on the ball during Saturday’s 3-0 win over Bournemouth at Anfield.

Squawka Football showed Wijnaldum literally didn’t waste a pass:

Wijnaldum used the ball with care and intelligence. He found full-backs on the overlap, released midfield runners from deep and made sure the supply lines stayed open to Liverpool’s terrific trio up top.

A Liverpool team built to press relentlessly at a frenetic pace needs Wijnaldum. His calmness and assurance offer a vital counterpoint to the gung-ho dynamism of Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino.

Midfielder: Kevin De Bruyne, Manchester City

De Bruyne was masterful at Wembley, gliding from one pocket of space to another to unlock Tottenham’s deep defensive structure. Spurs were picked apart early and often because they had no answer for De Bruyne’s varied range of movement, nor his astute vision and artful use of the ball.

City’s peerless schemer made sure those around him always had an easy pass. He also never tired from trying the through passes the Champions have made their modus operandi this season.

De Bruyne’s best pass was a sensational, one-touch piece of improvised skill to release Sterling. Few players would have dared attempt such a deft flick of a ball coming out of the sky.

The fact De Bruyne backed his ability and made good merely summed up his classy performance. Spurs’ midfield enforcer Mousa Dembele never even laid a glove on him.

He may be usurped for personal awards, but Goal’s Sam Lee still believes De Bruyne’s season has been one for the ages:

The creative Belgium international has been the most influential figure in a title-winning side loaded with players who specialise in running games.

Midfielder: Raheem Sterling, Manchester City

While De Bruyne has been at or his near best for most of the season, Sterling had a point to prove after two dismal displays in defeats to United and Liverpool.

The winger missed key chances in both games, but answered his critics emphatically with the way he tormented Tottenham. Sterling’s pace made him a constant threat, but what stood out more was how intelligently he used his best asset.

City’s No. 7 attacked gaps from multiple areas of the pitch. He was a force on the right, but never wasted a chance to run beyond centre-forward Gabriel Jesus.

Sterling also chose the right moments to swap flanks with Leroy Sane and attack from the left. He charged off the left when he won the penalty for City’s second goal, being felled by Spurs ‘keeper Hugo Lloris after yet another direct run.

Sterling showed his instinct for goal hasn’t deserted him completely when he pounced to smash in the visitors’ third with 18 minutes remaining. He struggles to score when in one-on-one situations, but the England international has great anticipation in the box.

Sterling’s latest goal brought up a notable landmark, per OptaJoe:

It’s clear proof of the strides the 23-year-old continues to take.

Striker: Chris Wood, Burnley

Burnley aren’t giving up on a top-six finish ahead of Arsenal. The Clarets continued an impressive recent run by beating Leicester 2-1 at Turf Moor on Saturday.

Once again, Chris Wood proved the catalyst in attack. The prolific target man scored his ninth goal in 20 league appearances when he beat Leicester goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel at the second attempt.

Wood spent the rest of the match bullying Leicester’s usually tough back four. He was particularly aggressive in holding off center-backs Harry Maguire and Wes Morgan.

Aside from his physicality, Wood knew when to spin in behind and stretch the visitors. His deceptive pace took him clear of Leicester’s last line more than once, offering Burnley a different kind of threat.

Wood has made the club-record £15 million the Clarets paid Leeds United last summer look like a true bargain.

Striker: Olivier Giroud, Chelsea

Giroud was rarely fully appreciated for what he brought to Arsenal. Slowly but surely, though, the French striker has managed to win over his doubters during nearly six Premier League seasons.

The three-time FA Cup winner is now a Chelsea player, a fact the Blues should be thankful for after his stunning cameo in Southampton. Giroud bagged a brace off the bench, beginning with a trademark thumping header in the 70th minute.

ESPN’s Alex Shaw summed up how such contributions have become the norm for this curiously unheralded star:

Giroud’s double, along with Chelsea’s comeback from 2-0 down, were completed eight minutes later thanks to a pinpoint shot on the turn in a crowded box.

Goals are a significant part of Giroud’s game, but so is his quality link play, perhaps the best around. Don’t take my word for it, see what Hazard told Sky Sports (h/t Football.London’s Kevin Beirne):

"Yeah he’s a great target man. Maybe one of the best in England so when we pass the ball we can go around him. Not just me, but Pedro and Willian when we are playing. Yes, he is a good point of reference."

Like he did at Arsenal, Giroud will steadily become a player Chelsea can ill-afford to be without.