Premier League Team of the Week: Kante, Alisson and Aubameyang involved

Premier League best XI for matchweek 14, including N’Golo Kante, Alisson Becker and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

N’Golo Kante, Alisson Becker and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang were the main men for their clubs as Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal all enjoyed derby wins in the Premier League on Sunday.

Kante acted as the driving force during Chelsea’s 2-0 win over Fulham at Stamford Bridge. Later, brave goalkeeping from Alisson kept Liverpool in the game long enough to snatch an injury time winner to beat Everton deep into the Merseyside derby at Anfield.

In between, Aubameyang was the star of the show as Arsenal fought back to hammer Tottenham 4-2 in a north London derby at the Emirates Stadium. The division’s in-form striker scored two goals and assisted another as the Gunners stretched their unbeaten run to 19 matches in all competitions.

It wasn’t all about Sunday, though, as several players starred on Saturday.

James Maddison inspired Leicester to beat Watford 2-0 at home, while Felipe Anderson was brilliant during West Ham’s away day thumping of Newcastle.

Find out who else makes the team of the week:

Goalkeeper: Alisson, Liverpool

Alisson was everything a top goalkeeper should be during Liverpool’s dramatic tussle with Everton. The Brazil international was decisive, quick off his line and brave when it counted.

Alisson defied belief when he somehow stopped a header from Andre Gomes on his line during the first half. While the point-blank stop had physics professors scrambling to formulate explanations, confidence defined how Alisson later thwarted Theo Walcott.

He was swift and nimble coming out to meet the winger’s run. Alisson’s bold ploy prevented the former Arsenal man from rounding him and tapping into an empty net.

In a game ultimately defined by a goalkeeping blunder by Jordan Pickford at the other end, Alisson kept his nerve and made the right choices.

Defender: Andrew Robertson, Liverpool

Divock Origi profited from Pickford’s error to be the hero, but Liverpool ultimately owed the three points to a water-tight defense in front of Alisson. Left-back Andrew Robertson was as impressive as any member of the back four.

The former Hull ace carried the fight to the Toffees with a series of typically raiding runs. While Robertson couldn’t produce his usual pinpoint end product from the flanks, he did succeed in keeping raiding Everton right-back Seamus Coleman subdued.

Robertson’s runs forward didn’t just nullify Coleman. They also diluted the threat posed by Walcott, who was forced to track back more than he likes to before being withdrawn with injury.

Everton tried to overload Robertson with runs from Bernard and Gylfi Sigurdsson after the break. Fortunately for Liverpool, the 24-year-old Scotland international stayed alert and kept his discipline during an assured display.

Defender: Joe Gomez, Liverpool

Robertson and Alisson were complemented by the commanding performance of Joe Gomez. The center-back had the confidence to get tight to Everton’s roaming forward Richarlison.

Gomez rarely gave Richarlison time on the ball, even though the Brazilian tried to drag him into uncomfortable pockets. Nor did he allow the ex-Watford star an opportunity to spin in behind and use his pace.

Eventually, Richarlison opted to drop off the front just to escape the aggressive attentions of Gomez. The result was an Everton side lacking a true cutting edge in the final third despite some attractive approach play.

Still just 21, Gomez has already established himself as the best partner for Virgil van Dijk in the middle of a Liverpool back four stingy enough to win the title.

Defender: Cesar Azpilicueta, Chelsea

The money Chelsea have spent to extend Cesar Azpilicuta’s contract is the best investment the Blues have made in a while. Chelsea are increasing the right-back’s wages from £120,000 to £150,000 per week, according to Matt Law of the Daily Telegraph.

Truth be told, the defender would be good value at twice the price. Whether Chelsea play a back four or with a three-man defense, Azpilicueta is still the best defender on the books.

The 29-year-old was his usual solid and aggressive self during the win over Fulham. Azpilicueta expertly tracked the runs of Ryan Sessegnon, ensuring the swift left-sided forward never got the wrong side.

While his positional sense and recovery pace were unerring, Azpilicueta was just as strong when static. He was brave in bossing Fulham target man Aleksandar Mitrovic in the air, rarely giving the Serbian powerhouse an uncontested jump for a free header.

Azpilicueta is the rock underpinning the revamped back line Maurizio Sarri has put together.

Midfielder: Leroy Sane, Manchester City

It’s scary to think Manchester City still haven’t quite figured out just how special a player Leroy Sane is. The German has only started seven games in England’s top flight this season while he’s split time with summer signing Riyad Mahrez.

Limited playing time hasn’t prevented Sane from producing some truly gaudy numbers after he assisted one of the leaders’ three goals against Bournemouth on Saturday:

Sane also has five goals to go with as many assists in league action. The 22-year-old’s eye for a pass might even be exceeded by his incredible close control and acceleration.

If Sane stays fit and focused he’ll eventually mature into the star talent Pep Guardiola builds his awesome team around.

Midfielder: Max Meyer, Crystal Palace

Palace fans have been waiting for Max Meyer to prove his worth after he looked like a bargain as a free-transfer import from Schalke. The German playmaker finally delivered during Saturday’s 2-0 home win over Burnley.

Meyer was central to some quite breathtaking football from the Eagles. He was the catalyst for several slick moves thanks to his vision, flair and technique.

His range of passing meant the runs of wide forwards Wilfried Zaha and Andros Townsend were rarely wasted. Meyer also combined brilliantly with central midfielders James McArthur and Luka Milivojevic.

It’s not often Palace produce football City would be proud of, but Eagles fans may get used to this eye-catching fare if Meyer proves his stylish performance against the Clarets was no fluke.

Midfielder: N’Golo Kante, Chelsea

Sarri didn’t need to let N’Golo Kante play a holding role to get the Frenchman back to his best. Instead, Kante just needed the freedom to do what comes naturally, namely influence games in every area of the pitch.

Kante was everywhere against Fulham, running Chelsea’s local rivals ragged. He burrowed forward from the right flank, foraged for the ball in the middle and tracked back to deny the Cottagers any threat on the break.

There was more than industry and tenacity to Kante’s performance, though. He also showed off a growing penchant for creativity when he supplied the pass for Pedro to open the scoring:

Kante isn’t completely comfortable yet with a more forward-thinking remit from Sarri. But perhaps the Italian’s deployment of Kante will begin to look like genius as the season progresses.

Midfielder: James Maddison, Leicester

Fresh from suspension following his diving shame, Maddison thankfully offered a timely reminder of his considerable potential. The 22-year-old had gone off the boil somewhat after a fast start following his step up from Norwich City in the summer.

Maddison is back to his best, though, based on the way he glided between the lines against Watford. The artful young creator picked his passes with care, thought and the intent to produce magic in the final third.

While Maddison played several runners in behind, his own eye for goal ultimately stole the show. The attacking midfielder scored a peach when he volleyed in after a neat bit of work to bring Marc Albrighton’s cross-field pass under control.

Maddison’s development should keep England manager Gareth Southgate riveted. The Foxes’ burgeoning star can be something the Three Lions have too often viewed as a luxury, a natural No. 10.

Midfielder: Felipe Anderson, West Ham

Anderson was not short of wizardry as the Hammers put on a clinic during a 3-0 dismantling of the Magpies. The visitors attacked with the assurance and quality typical of a Manuel Pellegrini-coached team.

Pellegrini has never been afraid to indulge flair players like Anderson. His patience is paying off after the Brazilian added to his growing tally with a superb solo goal to cap the scoring:

The goal was the signature moment of an eye-catching performance as Anderson tormented Newcastle with pace, power and trickery.

Aside from his runs on the left, Anderson also threaded some astute passes for strikers Marko Arnautovic and Javier Hernandez. He didn’t waste possession and gave the away side ample capability as a counter-attacking force.

Slowly but surely Anderson is becoming the kind of mercurial talisman fans of a club Eyal Berkovic, Paolo Di Canio and Dimitri Payet once thrived for have become used to seeing.

Striker: Javier Hernandez, West Ham

As good as Anderson was, the Hammers still needed Hernandez to rediscover his ruthless streak in front of goal. The one-time Manchester United goal-getter didn’t let Pellegrini down as he scored two goals any natural finisher would be proud of.

The first saw Hernandez sweep in a precise cross from Robert Snodgrass. It was a a decisive and accurate touch from a player who is at his most dangerous from inside the box.

Hernandez also proved he hasn’t lost his pace when the 30-year-old raced clear to meet a headed flick from Arnautovic. The cool finish slid underneath Martin Dubravka showed Hernandez is still deadly when one-on-one.

Pellegrini has usually built his teams around prolific strike partnerships. He’d be wise to keep Hernandez alongside Arnautovic.

Striker: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Arsenal

Aubameyang menaced Tottenham’s defense from the off in the red half of north London. His knack for playing on the shoulder of the last defender, allied with his pace, made him a constant threat to break clear.

The 29-year-old’s range of movement also caused Tottenham a host of problems. An early run out of the middle and onto the left flank drew a foul from Serge Aurier, prompting the full-back to berate Foyth.

Aubameyang was the man Arsenal turned to when the hosts were awarded a penalty after Vertonghen inexplicably stuck a hand out to block Shkodran Mustafi’s header.

The Gunners’ leading source of goals was unerring from 12 yards. Aubameyang was cooler still when Ramsey teed him up on the edge of the box as he curled in a terrific effort without even needing a touch to set himself.

The most prolific striker in England’s top flight simply isn’t wasting chances when they come his way:

Lest there be any doubt about there being more to Aubameyang’s game than goals, he showcased his skill with a terrific reverse ball to set Lucas Torreira free to score the Gunners’ fourth.

A player this effective scoring and creating in the final third can carry Arsenal to a top-four finish.