Premier League Team of the Week: Silva, Zaha and Sigurdsson feature

Premier League best XI for matchweek 35, featuring Bernardo Silva, Wilfried Zaha and Gylfi Sigurdsson.

Arsenal and Manchester United’s top-four hopes are damaged after their failure to deal with some of the best attacking midfielders in the Premier League.

Wilfried Zaha tore through the Gunners as Crystal Palace left the Emirates Stadium with a shock 3-2 win on Sunday. United had already been put to the sword earlier in the day, losing 4-0 away to a Gylfi Sigurdsson-inspired Everton.

The Gunners and Red Devils didn’t enjoy matchweek 35, but Manchester City sure did. Bernardo Silva and Phil Foden carried the fight as City beat Tottenham 1-0 on Saturday to keep their title charge alive.

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

Goalkeeper: Sergio Rico, Fulham

Whisper it, but Fulham have suddenly found a defense. Of course, it’s come too late to save the Cottagers from relegation, but more resolve has taken them to a pair of wins.

Fulham followed a 2-0 victory over Everton by beating Bournemouth 1-0 away on Saturday. Goalkeeper Sergio Rico was a big reason why, with the Spaniard making five key stops to deny the Cherries.

Rico was quick off his line to block runners in behind and saved with his legs when Ryan Fraser found himself in space.

Any time Bournemouth threaded passes into the box, Rico was alert and decisive enough to snuff out the danger. When the hosts went long and direct, Rico had the beating of striker Callum Wilson in the air.

It’s been a rough introduction to the pace of the game in England for the former Sevilla man, but Rico is finally showing he belongs.

Defender: Lucas Digne, Everton

Everton were quicker,  tougher and smarter than United in every area. No player did more to set the tone for the Toffees’ intense tempo than Lucas Digne.

The left-back was a raiding menace who ensured rapid transitions from defense to attack for the hosts. Digne ran United ragged going forward but never shirked his responsibilities at the back.

He also proved his value in the final third by assisting Richarlison’s opener with a long throw. Digne’s next notable attacking contribution was even better when he hit a spectacular thunderbolt to make the score 3-0:

There’s no doubt Everton got a bargain when the Merseyside club snapped up the Frenchman for £18 million from Paris Saint-Germain last summer.

Defender: Shane Duffy, Brighton

A few days removed from letting himself down, Shane Duffy made amends as Brighton banked a useful point in the fight against relegation by drawing 0-0 away to Wolves.

Duffy was the key man on Saturday as he threw himself into tackles, made timely interceptions and was decisive with his clearances. The 27-year-old made a host of the latter as he kept the ball away from lethal Wolves striker Raul Jimenez.

He was also quick enough across the deck to track the movement of Diogo Jota and block off the versatile forward’s runs in behind.

Duffy’s partnership with Lewis Dunk was the platform for some impressive results last season. It hasn’t worked as well for the Seagulls during this campaign, but Duffy can still be a rock when his club needs him most.

Defender: Calum Chambers, Fulham

Arsenal loanee Calum Chambers was technically playing as a holding midfielder, but he may as well have been a third center-back at the Vitality Stadium.

Chambers dropped back in between Maxime Le Marchand and Tim Ream to frustrate the Cherries. Bournemouth couldn’t find a way through this narrow block, with Chambers often on hand to sweep up any errant passes or block off runners from midfield.

He’s struggled to make the grade in north London since joining the Gunners from Southampton back in 2014. Even so, 24-year-old Chambers is young and versatile enough to be part of head coach Unai Emery’s plans next season.

The Spaniard’s challenge will answering where does Chambers fit best, at the base of midfield or the heart of defense?

Defender: Trent Alexander-Arnold, Liverpool

Liverpool were terrific defensively against rugged opposition in Cardiff. While there were many good performances at the back for the Reds, Trent Alexander-Arnold was as solid as any player.

The 20-year-old right-back has grown in stature this season. He’s matured from a player useful going forward to one equally comfortable in defensive areas.

Alexander-Arnold had a lot on his plate against the Bluebirds. He needed to repel the dual efforts of Joe Bennett and Nathaniel Mendez-Laing on Cardiff’s left flank.

While he was caught out at times, Liverpool’s precocious academy graduate stuck to his task well. He also showcased his own talent as an attacking outlet by raiding forward and producing several teasing deliveries from out wide.

Alexander-Arnold’s most telling contribution came when he lofted a corner into the path of Georginio Wijnaldum for the opening goal in a 2-0 win good enough to take the Reds back to the top.

If Liverpool do beat City to the title, it will be because of a defense that’s so much more than the dominant presence of Virgil van Dijk.

Midfielder: Wilfried Zaha, Crystal Palace

Wilfried Zaha hasn’t lost the ability to make you think he belongs at one of Europe’s biggest clubs. The mercurial winger was in the mood against Arsenal as he tied defenders in knots, slid deft passes between the lines and added one more goal to a burgeoning tally on his travels:

Arsenal simply had no answer for Zaha’s pace, strength and trickery. He was afforded the freedom to roam from flank to flank, showcasing subtle movement which left Gunners defenders baffled.

Zaha’s tough running and relentless appetite for goal forced Shkodran Mustafi into yet another costly error, this one leading to a second goal for Palace.

The Eagles wouldn’t be fending off the threat of relegation without Zaha’s particular brand of wizardry.

Midfielder: Phil Foden, Manchester City

Phil Foden didn’t look out of place starting arguably the most important game of City’s domestic season. The 18-year-old playmaker instead appeared right at home alongside Ilkay Gundogan and Fernandinho in the City engine room.

Inspiration was needed against a Tottenham team good enough to send City packing from the Champions League in controversial fashion in midweek. The exit meant no quadruple for the Citizens, but a domestic treble is still a possibility after Foden’s first top-flight goal saw off Spurs.

Aside from scoring, Foden moved the ball well, displaying the technique and flair demanded by manager Pep Guardiola. His off-the-ball runs may have been more important, though, with City needing more energy and drive from the middle of the park.

Foden was key in helping City match Spurs’ for industry en route to three vital points.

Midfielder: Gylfi Sigurdsson, Everton

Not unlike Zaha, Gylfi Sigurdsson isn’t the most consistent. Yet also not unlike Zaha, the Iceland international is worth the price of admission when he’s on form.

Everton’s classy No. 10 had his swagger back for the visit of United. Sigurdsson struck a peach of a shot for the Toffees’ second goal, leaving David De Gea stranded from distance.

Not content with adding another spectacular goal to an already robust collection, Sigurdsson turned provider for Everton’s fourth. The slide-rule pass to release substitute Theo Walcott was ideally weighted to match the former Arsenal winger’s pace and perceptive run.

A goal and an assist were suitable rewards for a creative masterclass from one of the better players not representing a member of the top six:

Sigurdsson should continue thriving for Marco Silva, a manager who builds his teams around guile in the attacking areas of midfield.

Midfielder: Bernardo Silva, Manchester City

This season’s City go only as far as Silva takes them. He’s become the oil in the engine, the midfielder Guardiola needs more than Kevin De Bruyne and David Silva.

The former Monaco man was the ultimate worker bee against Tottenham. Silva chased and harried Spurs players as he led the City press from the front.

In addition to forcing mistakes and winning tackles, Silva also showcased his own radar for creating a chance or two. There was even time for him to go for goal himself and keep Tottenham stand-in stopper Paulo Gazzaniga in work.

This was a complete performance from the model of a modern midfielder.

Midfielder: Gerard Deulofeu, Watford

Gerard Deulofeu is so well-travelled it’s easy to forget he’s still just 25. It’s also easy to forget he was once considered the jewel of Barcelona’s famed academy, La Masia.

The reminders of Deulofeu’s outrageous natural talent have been flooding back ever since he joined Watford. Two more superb individual goals helped the Hornets win 2-1 away to Huddersfield.

Both goals were typical of the artistry, clever feet and impish bravado Deulofeu can bring to any match.

Snapping up Deulofeu for an initial £11.5 million last summer now looks like one of the bargains of the season. He’s given Watford a special player other teams fear and fans can’t help but love to watch.

Striker: Ayoze Perez, Newcastle

Ayoze Perez continues to be one of the most underrated players in the Premier League. The Spaniard has dragged Newcastle out of the relegation mire in recent weeks, scoring clutch goals and showing off skills some bigger names can only dream of replicating.

Fresh from heading in the winner to beat Leicester, Perez netted three more goals to see off Southampton on Saturday.

Each goal showcased a different attribute of the 25-year-old’s versatile game. The first was all about running power and control, as well as the deft, angled finish across the goalkeeper and into the bottom corner.

Movement and timing were the keys to the second, as Perez kept up with play, arriving in the box to meet Salomon Rondon’s cross. Perez later became a fox in the box when he redirected Matt Ritchie’s header into the top corner from close range.

He’s been the something extra the Magpies have needed to ensure safety.