Premier League Team of the Week: Silva, Fernandinho and Shaqiri involved

Premier League best XI for matchweek 12, with David Silva, Fernandinho and Xherdan Shaqiri involved.

Manchester City remain the class of the Premier League after toying with Manchester United during a 3-1 derby win on Sunday. David Silva and Fernandinho ran the game from City’s irrepressible midfield.

Liverpool are doing their best to keep pace with the Citizens and had Xherdan Shaqiri to thank for inspiring a 2-0 win over Fulham at Anfield. Shaqiri netted the Reds’ second to cap a performance of industry and ingenuity at the tip of midfield.

Find out who else makes the team of the week:

Goalkeeper: Joe Hart, Burnley

Joe Hart hasn’t been rewarded for solid performances recently. So it was fitting he recovered from conceding 13 goals in defeats to City, Chelsea and West Ham to hold Leicester goalless on Saturday.

Hart kept the Clarets in it after the visitors made a shaky start on an emotional day at the King Power Stadium. The Foxes were playing their first game on home soil since owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha was one of five fatalities from a tragic helicopter crash.

Leicester couldn’t get past Hart, who denied Demarai Gray with a smart early stop. The 31-year-old stayed strong to see off further efforts, even after the visitors upped their game after the break.

Hart has done a lot to revive his career and repair his reputation with some fine displays this season. He’ll be the key to Burnley’s bid for survival.

Defender: Andrew Robertson, Liverpool

No Liverpool player did more to carry the fight to Fulham than raiding left-back Andrew Robertson. The enterprising Scotland international stretched the Cottagers defense out of shape with a series of swift and well-timed runs forward.

Whenever he did break forward, the former Hull ace did so with purpose. His passes and crosses into the box were perceptive and precise.

Robertson became Liverpool’s most consistent supply line and it was no surprise when he teed up Shaqiri to clinch the points. Better finishing from those ahead of him would have seen the 24-year-old add to his impressive tally of three assists in the league.

Of all the money Liverpool have spent in recent seasons, the £8 million paid up front to acquire Robertson is one of the Merseyside club’s smartest investments.

Defender: Yerry Mina, Everton

Yerry Mina made the most of his long-awaited debut for Everton as he helped the Toffees earn a goalless draw away to Chelsea. Mina frustrated the Blues with a stubborn, no-nonsense approach to defending.

The Colombia international led by example as he fearlessly threw himself into challenges. Mina was strong in the air and imposing on the deck.

Chelsea’s main forwards knew Mina was around as a series of physical challenges from the former Barcelona flop left more than a few battered and bruised.

There was silk to go with the steel, though, as Mina showcased his quality in possession. It added up to a complete performance:

On this evidence, the just over £27 million Everton invested in Mina will prove a bargain.

Defender: Juan Foyth, Tottenham

Tottenham’s defense has looked shaky recently, but they rediscovered their resolve at the back during Saturday’s 1-0 win away to Crystal Palace.

The clean sheet was built on the determination and quality shown by Juan Foyth. There were commendable powers of recovery evident in the 20-year-old center-back’s performance.

Foyth conceded two penalties on his league debut against Wolves last time out. The Argentinian showed no ill effects from his rough first outing as he kept Palace in check.

His biggest challenge was tracking the pace along the Eagles’ forward line. Palace were without injured attacking talisman Wilfried Zaha, but the hosts still had Andros Townsend and Jordan Ayew making swift runs from out to in.

Foyth stayed composed and resisted rash challenges. Instead, he held his position well and timed his tackles brilliantly.

He proved just as effective at the other end when he was on hand to net the winner with a brave diving header.

Learning from mistakes so quickly is an invaluable trait in one so young. It hints at Foyth’s ability to develop into something special for Spurs.

Defender: Conor Coady, Wolves

Wolves exposed the myth Arsenal have been transformed since Unai Emery succeeded Arsene Wenger this summer. The Gunners have had their moments, but they remain frail defensively and temperamental in attack.

It was the latter issue Wolves exposed in Sunday’s 1-1 draw at the Emirates Stadium. Arsenal created few chances largely because the Wolves back five was held together brilliantly by Conor Coady.

The former Liverpool academy product has become an accomplished center-back in England’s top flight. He’s the central figure between Willy Boly and Ryan Bennett in Nuno Espirito Santo’s defensive setup.

It means Coady is tasked with organizing the line. He’s also responsible for launching attacks from the back with astute distribution.

Coady did both things well in north London. His performance helped Wolves keep marquee names Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Alexandre Lacazette and Mesut Ozil in check.

The fact it took a fortunate cross-shot from Henrikh Mkhitaryn to draw the Gunners level late on, spoke volumes about Wolves’ resolve.

Midfielder: Xherdan Shaqiri, Liverpool

Shaqiri is fast becoming indispensable to Liverpool because of what he adds to an otherwise workmanlike midfield. What the former Stoke winger provides is flair and ingenuity to complement the graft and discipline of Fabinho and Georginio Wijnaldum.

Moving off the flank into a central role is helping Shaqiri showcase more of his wizardry. It worked like a treat against Fulham as he threaded passes between the lines and released runners with some deft touches and cute flicks.

Of course Shaqiri’s best touch was the sweet volley to net Liverpool’s second goal. The stylish finish continued the recent trend of the Switzerland international proving decisive in the final third:

For all their quality going forward, the Reds have struggled to replace the guile of Philippe Coutinho at the tip of midfield. Giving Shaqiri more chances in the key role will soon make the problem a thing of the past.

Midfielder: Aron Gunnarsson, Cardiff

Aron Gunnarsson did some fine, quiet but necessary work to give Cardiff the platform to earn just a second league win of the season. The Bluebirds came from behind to beat Brighton 2-1 at home, with Gunnarsson anchoring midfield and effectively screening a nervy defense.

Gunnarsson rarely left his position just ahead of the back four. The Iceland international was decisive and precise with his tackles.

He won the ball back quickly and got Cardiff going with neat and intelligent distribution. There wasn’t much quality in possession from the home side, but what there was came from Gunnarsson.

Cardiff needed Gunnarsson’s brand of steady and assured control, even after Brighton went down to 10 men in the first half. The Bluebirds have a chance to graft their way to a few more positive results with a player this skilled underpinning midfield.

Midfielder: Fernandinho, Manchester City

Fernandinho may be the most important player in City’s awesome squad because he does things no other midfielder at Pep Guardiola’s disposal can. Those things include breaking up play with just the right mix of aggression, discipline and smarts.

Those traits saw Fernandinho routinely stymie United’s attempts to break at source. His work-rate also allowed the tireless Brazilian anchorman to track back and cover the gaps left by raiding full-backs Benjamin Mendy and Kyle Walker.

This was a masterclass in how to play defensive midfielder by Fernandinho, who continues to defy father time:

Yet for all the commendable work he does as a destroyer, nobody should overlook Fernandinho’s quality going forward. His creativity produced a wonderfully angled pass to set Bernardo Silva up for an early sighter.

Fernandinho delivered another peach of a ball when he played David Silva in behind to create a second promising chance.

No midfielder in the division combines destructive tendencies with artistry as effectively as Fernandinho.

Midfielder: David Silva, Manchester City

It’s taken a while, but David Silva is finally being fully appreciated for his extraordinary talents. He’s not only City’s best player, streets ahead of Kevin De Bruyne and Sergio Aguero in importance.

Silva is also the most significant signing City have made in the last 10 years. He’s been the fulcrum of three different title-winning teams.

It’s a distinction usually reserved for the truly special midfielders. Names like Patrick Vieira, Paul Scholes and Frank Lampard.

Silva is in the same bracket, but he may know no equal in the annals of the Premier League:

The pocket-edition playmaker has something unique. Silva is always busy, but the game never looks like a chore for him.

There’s an effortless endeavour about the way he beavers about the pitch finding space and hunting possession. Silva’s mastery of possession often belies how hard he works to dominate it.

For the second season in a row, Silva was easily the best player on the pitch in the first Manchester derby of the campaign. His opening goal wasn’t a surprise, nor was his ownership of the ball in tense moments.

It also won’t be a shock if Silva adds a fourth title to his glittering City resume.

Striker: Salomon Rondon, Newcastle

Newcastle moved up to the heady heights of 14th thanks to finally getting Salomon Rondon on the pitch. The Magpies now know why they loaned the Venezuela international from West Brom after he bullied and battered Bournemouth’s defense on Saturday.

Rondon scored both of Newcastle’s goals in a 2-1 home win to inflict a second-straight defeat on the previously impressive Cherries. He was typically menacing in the air and formidable playing with his back to goal.

The hosts had a natural focal point to aim for with Rondon leading the line. They were able to play up to, around and off the 29-year-old former Malaga ace.

Newcastle’s relegation worries will soon be over if Rondon stays fit.

Striker: Raul Jimenez, Wolves

Another on-loan striker, Raul Jimenez isn’t proving his value with goals. Instead, the No. 9 borrowed from Benfica has become a vital creative outlet for Wolves.

Jimenez tallied his fourth assist of the season when he crossed for Ivan Cavaleiro to score at Arsenal. The thoughtful pick-out summed up the selfless skills Jimenez is using to make Wolves tick in the final third.

His eye for a pass and ability to hold the ball up are helping make the most of pace from wide areas. Runners from deep, including Ruben Neves and Joao Moutinho, who both possess a fierce shot from distance, can usually expect to be teed up by a nifty touch from Jimenez.

There’s a lot to like about the way Wolves have approached a return to England’s top flight. Yet their cerebral center-forward stands out most.