Premier League Team of the Week: Lacazette, Shaw and Deulofeu feature

Premier League best XI for Week 27, featuring Alexandre Lacazette, Luke Shaw and Gerard Deulofeu.

Alexandre Lacazette fired Arsenal back into the top four on a weekend when Liverpool regained top spot in the Premier League but still let precious points slip.

The Reds were blunted in attack by Manchester United during a 0-0 draw at Old Trafford. A point was still good enough for the visitors to leapfrog Manchester City, who were busy beating Chelsea on penalties in the Carabao Cup final.

City will be confident about quickly regaining momentum in the title race after Liverpool failed to take maximum advantage of the game in hand.

United will still be hopeful of securing a top-four finish thanks to a rapidly improving defense. Luke Shaw kept things rock-solid at the back for a unit going from strength to strength.

Watford have left it too late to disrupt the familiar pattern of the top six. Yet the Hornets are still playing some eye-catching stuff, with Gerard Deulofeu in sparkling form.

The former Barcelona forward bagged a hat-trick to light up Friday’s 5-1 away win over Cardiff. Deulofeu is helping Watford remain the best of the rest.

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

Goalkeeper Alisson Becker, Liverpool

Neither goalkeeper was worked much during Sunday’s bore draw. Even so, Alisson managed to earn a few more plaudits than his opposite number, David De Gea.

The Brazil international stopper made a crucial intervention to deny substitute Jesse Lingard what would have been a certain goal. Alisson was quicker than snot from a sneeze racing off his line to deny Lingard the chance to take the ball around him.

It was an example of the kind of superior athleticism Liverpool wisely invested £66.8 million to acquire last summer. The 26-year-old ex-Roma star delivered a performance worthy of the price tag in what could yet prove to be the defining game of this intense title race:

While the Liverpool attack is faltering, the Alisson-led defense is still stingy enough to earn the Merseyside club a major trophy this season.

Defender: Luke Shaw, Manchester United

If you listened to Jose Mourinho, you’d think Luke Shaw should be plying his trade two divisions down by now. Instead, the England international left-back is one of many Red Devils utterly rejuvenated since Mourinho was given the boot back in December.

Shaw’s transformation was completed with a masterclass against Liverpool’s main threat Mohamed Salah. The rapid forward found no joy against a full-back quick and intelligent enough to track his runs.

Shaw was also strong in the one-on-one duels. He often muscled Salah off the ball too easily, denying the league leaders the focal point of their attack.

The key to Shaw’s success was to smother Salah. He stayed tight to the Egypt international, rarely giving the prolific wide man time to get his touch right or to choose the best gap to exploit.

https://twitter.com/SkySportsStatto/status/1099703196145106944

A performance like this not only leaves Mourinho needing to wipe yet more egg off his face, it also reassures United the club has its left-back for the next decade.

Defender: Joel Matip, Liverpool

Although a litany of injuries disrupted United’s original lineup and strategy, the hosts still had the firepower to punish their great rivals. Alexis Sanchez and Marcus Rashford offered the pace to stretch Liverpool beyond breaking point, while Romelu Lukaku’s aerial strength remained a threat.

A big reason the away side didn’t buckle was the resolute performance of center-back Joel Matip. He was outstanding in the air and composed and daring on the ball.

Matip bossed Lukaku in the air and ensured United’s height advantage across the board didn’t yield a goal. The 27-year-old was also quick enough across the deck to deny Sanchez room in behind and keep an admittedly hobbled Rashford out of danger areas.

Liverpool’s inability to make hay with any of their stars up front encouraged Matip to try and add some attacking impetus. His buccaneering runs from deep had United sweating more than once, while his distribution was among the most incisive Liverpool managed all day.

Defender: Nathan Ake, Bournemouth

Bournemouth’s defenders don’t often earn some time in the spotlight, but Nathan Ake has to be commended for his performance against Wolves.

The Cherries were able to earn a 1-1 draw against in-form visitors on Saturday thanks to Ake’s athleticism and reading of the game. Ake was vital in cutting off the supply lines to dangerous striker Raul Jimenez.

He amassed the decisive clearances and last-ditch tackles as Bournemouth left Wolves frustrated. While Jimenez did eventually get his goal after scoring from the penalty spot seven minutes from time, Ake had far from disgraced himself.

The Netherlands international has refined his game and found a home at center-back since swapping Chelsea for Bournemouth. His mix of the physical with the cerebral should have bigger clubs looking the 24-year-old’s way this summer.

Midfielder: Wilfried Zaha, Crystal Palace

It’s sometimes staggering to think Crystal Palace can be left staving off relegation so often with a player as gifted as Wilfried Zaha in the ranks.

The wing wizard can be a frustrating player, but he is a mercurial talent who can turn any game the Eagles’ way when at his best. Fortunately, Zaha showed enough of his best to help inspire an emphatic 4-1 triumph away to Leicester on Saturday.

He scored twice at the King Power Stadium to continue a goal glut that’s come at the right time for a squad with aspirations of survival:

Keeping Zaha in the mood will be enough to keep Palace comfortably safe from the drop for another campaign.

Midfielder: Robert Snodgrass, West Ham

It’s time to start talking about how well Robert Snodgrass is playing this season. The former Leeds United man is pulling the creative strings more often than most for West Ham.

Snodgrass showed how well he’s responded to the progressive tactics of manager Manuel Pellegrini by helping create two goals against Fulham on Friday. Perceptive crosses from Snodgrass consistently caused havoc among a nervy Fulham defense.

His pinpoint delivery found Issa Diop twice to get the Hammers back in it after Ryan Babel had given the Cottagers an early lead. Diop flicked one cross on for Javier Hernandez to score, albeit after appearing to use his hand.

French center-back Diop made a more telling connection when he headed in from a Snodgrass set-piece five minutes before the break.

Snodgrass now has four assists to his credit this season, proof of his growing comfort in the Pellegrini system.

Midfielder: James McArthur, Crystal Palace

James McArthur is another unsung midfielder whose talents deserve a wider audience. The 31-year-old proved his worth with a pair of assists as Palace ran riot in Leicester.

McArthur’s cross-shot may not have been intended for Michy Batshuayi, but it did allow the Chelsea loanee to net his first goal for the Eagles.

There was obvious intent and greater precision about McArthur’s next contribution. It came in the 70th minute when he lifted a deft pass to tee up Zaha for the first of his brace.

McArthur has now chipped in with five assists in the league this season. The definition of a healthy return from a player who has quietly impressed for years.

Midfielder: Gerard Deulofeu, Watford

Much like Zaha, there is no denying Deulofeu’s incredible talents. Only consistency has eluded the player who has appeared for five clubs in three different countries, despite still only being 24.

Watford could become a longterm home for the Spaniard given how well he’s responded to manager Javi Gracia. A free role between the midfield and forward lines is brining the best out of a skilled attacker who combines trickery, with vision, drive and flair.

Those qualities helped Deulofeu directly create four of the Hornets’ five goals against Cardiff. He scored three of them and provided the assist for the first of Troy Deeney’s two goals.

Deulofeu’s brilliance is steadily making Watford a team to fear, a squad primed to heap genuine pressure on members of the top six next season.

Striker: Chris Wood, Burnley

Is there a defender in England’s top flight who honestly looks forward to playing against Chris Wood? The Burnley frontman was downright nasty in the way he bullied Tottenham’s defense during the Clarets’ 2-1 win on Saturday.

Wood was a menace in the air who made almost every delivery into the box his own. His strength was too much for a back line lacking the physical fortitude to handle the New Zealand international.

Burnley’s opener came from a familiar route as Wood rose highest to connect with a corner. He planted a firm header past Hugo Lloris after shrugging off Juan Foyth with ease.

Wood’s ability to boss the game in the air helped create the hosts’ winner seven minutes from time. His presence blocked Toby Alderweireld’s path to another cross, leaving Wood’s strike partner Ashley Barnes to tap in a goal that’s all-but-finished Tottenham’s title bid.

Striker: Salomon Rondon, Newcastle

Having a player as good as Salomon Rondon lead the line is why Newcastle won’t be relegated this season. Rondon’s mix of power, pace and perceptive movement means the Magpies can always knick goals when they need them.

Possessing this level of cutting edge is a huge boost to manager Rafa Benitez. His pragmatic tactics help Newcastle keep many matches close long enough for Rondon to settle things.

Saturday’s home game against doomed Huddersfield was close for 46 minutes until Rondon opened the scoring. His thunderous shot on the turn showcased the strength key to his game.

There is also technical acumen in Rondon’s locker, though. He proved as much by picking out Ayoze Perez to seal a 2-0 win.

Acquiring Rondon on loan from West Brom is one of the more astute moves Benitez has made to help Newcastle continue to defy expectations.

Striker: Alexandre Lacazette, Arsenal

There are gaps everywhere in the Arsenal squad except up front. It speaks volumes about the Gunners’ quality up top they could leave 17-goal Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang on the bench and still count on Alexandre Lacazette to score.

The Frenchman didn’t disappoint as he found the net after just six minutes against Southampton on Sunday. An instinctive and opportunistic piece of finishing helped Lacazette redirect Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s shot and send Arsenal en route to a 2-0 win.

It was Lacazette’s 13th goal in all competitions this season, his 11th in the league. Scoring on home soil on domestic duty has become a happy habit for the 27-year-old:

https://twitter.com/unibet/status/1099676524670783490

Having two strikers as potent as Lacazette and Aubameyang is why you should believe Arsenal can still finish in the top four, despite Unai Emery still struggling to fill Arsene Wenger’s shoes.