Premier League Team of the Week: Lukaku, Jorginho and Kepa feature

Premier League best XI for matchday 29, featuring Romelu Lukaku, Jorginho and Kepa Arrizabalaga.

Much-maligned stars proved their doubters wrong in the 29th week of this Premier League season. Kepa Arrizabalga and Jorginho have their critics, but they won a few over after starring as Chelsea beat Fulham 2-1 away on Sunday.

Romelu Lukaku isn’t everybody’s idea of a top striker, but he continued a sudden purple patch for Manchester United on Saturday. Lukaku scored twice as the Red Devils edged past Southampton 3-2 at Old Trafford to move into the top four.

Defenses were on top elsewhere, as Arsenal, Liverpool and Everton all excelled at the back in tough derby fixtures. Key center-backs Virgil van Dijk and Michael Keane particularly impressed.

Find out who else made the team of the week:

Goalkeeper: Kepa Arrizabalaga, Chelsea

Kepa won himself few fans when he refused to be substituted in the Carabao Cup final against Manchester City at Wembley. Yet being fined and dropped surprisingly worked wonders for the 24-year-old, who marked his recall with an outstanding display at Craven Cottage.

The world’s most-expensive goalkeeper justified his £71 million price tag. He saved twice to prevent what looked like certain goals for Aleksandar Mitrovic.

Tom Cairney and Joe Bryan were also denied by a goalkeeper determined to make amends.

On this evidence, Chelsea have a stopper set to become one of the best in the division in the very near.

Defender: Nacho Monreal, Arsenal

Few Arsenal players carried out head coach Unai Emery’s plan as well as Nacho Monreal. The left-back played a key role in a defensive setup that left Tottenham Hotspur flummoxed during Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Wembley.

Monreal was tasked with keeping raiding Spurs right-back Kieran Trippier in check. He stuck to this task diligently and also ensured Alex Iwobi didn’t shirk his responsibilities to track back.

Monreal also knew when to tuck in and help center-backs Laurent Koscielny and Sokratis Papastathopoulos shackle Harry Kane. Tottenham’s danger man loves to peel into the pockets in the inside channels, but he routinely found himself outnumbered thanks to Monreal’s smart positioning.

Aside from sterling work defensively, Monreal also posed a significant threat going forward. He combined brilliantly with Iwobi on the overlap, and his smart pull-back would have given Arsenal a 2-0 lead had Alexandre Lacazette’s finishing been up to par.

Monreal’s experience and discipline made Emery’s subtle and cagey gameplan work.

Defender: Virgil van Dijk, Liverpool

Liverpool’s inability to click between the midfield and forward lines will ultimately cost the Reds the title. In the process, the failing will also waste an exceptional season from Virgil van Dijk.

The priciest defender on the planet was a colossus against Everton at Goodison Park. He bossed everything in the air, reacted quickest to runners in the box and regularly cleared deliveries along the deck.

Van Dijk also managed to be one of Liverpool’s few effective players going forward. His distribution was typically astute and precise, while the 27-year-old offered a significant aerial threat from set-pieces.

Van Dijk is a true talisman at the back who isn’t even showing signs of buckling under the weight of having to carry Liverpool’s title challenge.

Defender: Michael Keane, Everton

Liverpool’s star forwards were out of sorts, but their task wasn’t made easier by a resolute defensive showing from Everton. The Toffees’ rearguard action was led by Michael Keane, who made a host of heroic blocks and well-timed tackles.

He stood tall against a Jordan Henderson shot after Mohamed Salah saw Liverpool’s best chance saved by Jordan Pickford in the first half. Salah was in again after the break and appeared certain to score until Keane took the ball off his toe with an inch-perfect intervention.

This was the kind of performance that offered a reminder of why Everton paid £30 million for Keane back in 2017. He hasn’t always delivered since, but Keane can be the linchpin of a top-flight defense when at his best.

Defender: Diogo Dalot, Manchester United

It’s not exactly genuine to list Diogo Dalot among the defenders since he starred this week as a makeshift right-sided forward. However, the 19-year-old is a right-back by trade and surely United’s future at the position with Antonio Valencia set to leave in the summer.

For now, United caretaker manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is turning to Dalot to help cover injuries to Alexis Sanchez, Jesse Lingard and Anthony Martial. He provided more than just cover against the Saints, instead proving the catalyst for United’s dramatic victory.

Dalot created goals for Andreas Pereira and Lukaku as part of an enterprising star turn:

United could have a special player in the making in the former Porto fledgling who is starting to make his mark in the Premier League.

Midfielder: Wilfried Zaha, Crystal Palace

He’s a mercurial talent, but there aren’t many players more exciting than Wilfried Zaha when his game is on song. The winger was in peak form as Crystal Palace won 3-1 away to Burnley on Saturday.

Zaha routinely tied the Clarets in knots with his pace and trickery. His end product was also on point as Zaha found strikers and midfield runners in pockets of space between the midfield and forward lines.

The combinations between Zaha and full-backs Jeffrey Schlupp and Aaron Wan-Bissaka on the overlap routinely stretched Burnley beyond breaking point.

When it came time to add a flourish of his own, Zaha didn’t disappoint. He twisted and turned his way into a superb shooting opportunity before drilling a low effort underneath Clarets stopper Tom Heaton.

Zaha in this form is close to unstoppable and a reason the Premier League continues to enthral and entertain.

Midfielder: Idrissa Gueye, Everton

As solid as Keane was at the back, Idrissa Gueye was just as rugged and resourceful in midfield. The Senegal international was relentless in his pursuit of the ball, snapping into tackles and positioning himself to make several timely interceptions.

Gueye played a key role in smothering Liverpool’s isolated front three. Without having to worry about a forward-thinking playmaker in the Liverpool midfield, Gueye was free to press Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah.

Whenever one of the Reds’ prolific wide forwards dropped deep, there was Gueye to deny them space and time on the ball.

Everton’s midfield enforcer was also able to showcase the more progressive aspects of his game. As the Toffees grew into the match, Gueye felt emboldened enough to carry the ball forward and pick smart passes for runners out wide.

This was the kind of complete performance that explains why Paris Saint-Germain have shown interest in the former Aston Villa man.

Midfielder: Declan Rice, West Ham

Declan Rice’s maturation from promising center-back into accomplished holding midfielder has been one of the highlights of West Ham’s season. The 20-year-old continued his rapid rise by scoring the opening goal in the Hammers’ 2-0 win over Newcastle on Saturday.

Rice planted a header from Manuel Lanzini’s corner. He then proceeded to stifle the Magpies attempts to create clear-cut chances.

Strong tackling, excellent positional sense and smart distribution kept Newcastle out of the danger areas. Rice also took away the pockets of space Newcastle’s record signing Miguel Almiron wanted to exploit with his pace.

Manager Manuel Pellegrini has the linchpin in the middle to build a more consistent and expansive team around next season.

Midfielder: Jorginho, Chelsea

Those who have doubted Jorginho this season can treat themselves to a slice or two of humble pie. The ball-playing midfielder is growing into the role as the cornerstone of manager Maurizio Sarri’s team.

It means Jorginho is finally starting to marry his steady skill in possession with keener defensive instincts. He displayed both against Fulham, dictating the flow of passing from deep, while also finding the time to make his own decisive contribution in the final third.

Jorginho scored the winning goal when he delicately and precisely converted Eden Hazard’s pass. The finish capped an imperious display:

This is the Jorginho Chelsea fans hoped they were getting for £57 million last summer. He’s just taken a little longer than expected to show up.

Striker: Diogo Jota, Wolves

Diogo Jota’s conversion from winger to versatile striker is one of the many reasons Wolves have defied expectations this season. Jota’s latest magnificent outing saw him inspire Saturday’s 2-0 win over Cardiff.

Pace, perceptive movement and unerring timing made him almost impossible to track for an overwhelmed Cardiff back line. Those qualities sent Jota in behind to score the opener when he started a slick exchange of passes before racing clear to collect Morgan Gibbs-White’s pass and finish with a coolness belying his tender 22 years.

It took just two minutes for Jota to turn provider as he soon teed up Jimenez to double Wolves’ advantage after a deft one-two.

Jota’s versatile game makes him a player big clubs should go after this summer.

Striker: Romelu Lukaku, Manchester United

Lukaku can be maddeningly inconsistent, but the formidable No. 9 can also be a force of nature when he’s on form. The burly Belgian is in the mood at the moment after adding two more goals to his tally.

He accounted for United’s second and third goal against Southampton, both excellent examples of a natural finisher who has found his smile again. United have counted on the 25-year-old recently after he also bagged a brace against Crystal Palace.

Having Lukaku deliver gives United one more match-winner up top. It’s a frightening thought for the opposition since Solskjaer can also rely on Marcus Rashford, Sanchez, Lingard and Martial when everybody is fit.

This enviable contingent of goal-getters are United’s ticket to staying in the top four.