Premier League Team of the Week: Salah, Mane and Mata feature

Premier League best XI for matchweek 36, featuring Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Juan Mata.

Liverpool and Manchester City once again traded top spot in the Premier League over the course of a weekend. Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane went goal-crazy to ensure first place belonged to the Reds on Friday.

City were back in charge by the end of Sunday, though, thanks to a gritty 1-0 win away to Burnley.

Things remain just as unpredictable in the race to finish fourth. Arsenal look off the pace after being put to the sword by James Maddison and Leicester.

Maddison turned on the style for the Foxes on Sunday, before Juan Mata helped Manchester United draw 1-1 with Chelsea at Old Trafford.

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

Goalkeeper: Kepa Arrizabalaga, Chelsea

Kepa Arrizabalaga is no longer just the guy who refused to be substituted during the Carabao Cup final. He’s now a goalkeeper Chelsea can trust to save and protect points.

The former Athletic Bilbao stopper was in fine form against United. Kepa was agile and decisive when turning away Romelu Lukaku’s early effort. Chelsea needed the 24-year-old again to rebuff a shot from center-back Eric Bailly.

These are the kind of contributions the Blues paid £71 million, a world-record for a ‘Keeper, to get last summer. Fortunately, they are becoming more frequent from a player growing in confidence each week.

Defender: Andrew Robertson, Liverpool

PFA Player of the Year winner Virgil van Dijk isn’t the only reason for Liverpool’s defensive improvement this season. Left-back Andrew Robertson has also become a linchpin for the title-chasing Reds.

The Scotland international is one of the key figures in the pressing game manager Jurgen Klopp prefers. Robertson’s engine and pace help Liverpool transition from defense to attack in an instant.

When Liverpool do the latter, Robertson is a key creative outlet. The 25-year-old added two more assists to his record-equalling tally during the 5-0 win over Huddersfield.

Some clubs, including a few of Liverpool’s rivals, would wish to have a provider this prolific from the back:

Full-backs aren’t just useful in Liverpool’s success. They are essential weapons who can deliver the title.

Defender: Issa Diop, West Ham

West Ham’s 1-0 win away to Tottenham on Saturday was inspired by a rock-solid defense. The stout unit was led by rugged center-back Issa Diop.

He was the player most often between Spurs and a goal. The Frenchman was at his best to block through passes, track runners and stand tall in front of shots.

A performance like this offers further proof for why the ultra-athletic former Toulouse man is one of the best players outside the top six. Arsenal, Chelsea and United would be negligent if they didn’t ask about his availability this summer.

Defender: Aymeric Laporte, Manchester City

City typically bossing possession at Turf Moor didn’t mean a day without pressure for those at the back. Fortunately, Aymeric Laporte stood up well to Burnley’s attempts to turn the game into a direct, long-ball slugfest.

The center-back stayed strong in the air against battering ram strikers Chris Wood and Ashley Barnes. Laporte was so decisive he forced the Clarets to vary their approach.

Even when going short, the hosts still couldn’t get past City’s defensive rock.

Aside from his destructive output, Laporte was also near-flawless in possession. His quality ensured City had few problems building moves from the back and playing through a disciplined Burnley midfield.

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While Van Dijk rightly earns a lot of plaudits, Laporte’s success at City has been largely overlooked. The fact is he’s been good enough to make the £57 million paid back in January 2018 look like a bargain.

Defender: Ryan Fredericks, West Ham

Diop wasn’t the only member of the Hammers’ back line who stood out against Spurs. Right-back Ryan Fredericks was also a formidable presence.

Fredericks handled the dual threat posed on Tottenham’s left flank by Ben Davies and Danny Rose. Neither player got beyond the 26-year-old often, despite repeated attempts.

While he’s not always noted for what he does going forward, Fredericks still managed to get into some dangerous positions. He combined well with goalscorer Michail Antonio and helped keep lone striker Marko Arnautovic supplied with crosses.

Fredericks is the most unheralded member of West Ham’s improving back four. He might also be the most important.

Midfielder: Ryan Babel, Fulham

Fulham’s surprisingly strong Premier League goodbye tour continued with a 1-0 win over Cardiff on Saturday. Ryan Babel got the goal, his second in the last three matches, all wins for the Cottagers.

The smart finish, a curled effort 11 minutes from time, produced Babel’s fifth league goal of the campaign. Put together with three assists, those goals represent a more-than solid return from a player signed on a six-month contract back in January.

Babel isn’t the reason Fulham have been relegated. Instead, he’s proved he still has a lot left to offer at the top level.

Midfielder: James Maddison, Leicester

James Maddison has proved he’s not out of place in England’s top flight as one of the revelations of the season. The player who joined Leicester from Norwich last summer has emerged as the classiest attacking midfielder for his country.

Maddison’s game isn’t that of a typical England international. He’s not about imposing physical power nor relentless running.

Instead, the technically gifted 22-year-old plays like a true No. 10.

His flair, vision and subtle movement destroyed Arsenal’s 4-4-2 shape at the King Power Stadium:

Fittingly, it was Maddison who unlocked an Arsenal defense that ironically became more resilient after right-back Ainsley Maitland-Niles was sent off for a second booking in the first half.

Maddison’s sweetly angled cross dropped perfectly to be met by the run of Youri Tielemans. The assist was typical of a player who has an innate gift for seeing where the chances will develop:

Expect Maddison to be even more productive next season and soon encourage bids from members of the top six.

Midfielder: Juan Mata, Manchester United

It was no coincidence the Red Devils produced their best display in a month with Juan Mata back in the lineup. The Spaniard’s artistry, intelligence and endeavor made United proactive, fluid and efficient against Chelsea.

His most notable contribution was to find the net after 30 minutes to cap a precision exchange of passes. Goals have never been a problem for this bizarrely underrated schemer.

Mata’s unerring radar also improved the pace and quality of United’s passing. His crafty use of space at the tip of a midfield diamond helped provide the guile and fluency manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s team had been missing in the final third.

United aren’t out of the top-four race just yet, and if Solskjaer is smart, he’ll continue starting Mata while hope for playing in next season’s Champions League flickers.

Striker: Sadio Mane, Liverpool

The keys to Mane’s success have been well-known for a long time. Pace, perceptive movement and power have helped the Senegal international boss Premier League defenses for both Southampton and Liverpool.

One quality not often associated with Mane is aerial prowess. The 27-year-old proved he can be just as much a factor off the ground as on it by powering in a pair of headers against the Terriers.

Both goals showed how comfortable Mane has become when he drifts off the wing into central positions. Klopp’s willingness to play Mane through the middle has paid off and taught him how to take his chances like a classic striker.

Mane’s ability to keep pace with Salah in the scoring charts is the main reason why Liverpool have stayed on City’s heels in the title race.

Striker: Callum Wilson, Bournemouth

If there’s one striker who has emerged from obscurity this season it’s Callum Wilson. The Bournemouth frontman has always had the talent but injuries have often limited his opportunities to show it.

Wilson has also been victim to the Cherries’ apparently repeated attempts to upgrade his position. Ill-fated deals for Jermain Defoe (now on loan at Rangers) and Dominic Solanke (perma-crocked since arriving from Liverpool in January) haven’t changed the fact Bournemouth are most dangerous whenever Wilson leads the line.

The 27-year-old was at his best during Saturday’s 3-3 draw away to Southampton. Wilson assisted for Dan Gosling, before finding the net himself on two separate occasions.

A striker who both scores and creates on a regular basis is a must in the modern game. It’s why Wilson shouldn’t be short of big-name suitors during this summer’s transfer window.

Striker: Mohamed Salah, Liverpool

For a player often deemed to be less effective than last season, Salah is still finding the net consistently. The Egypt international’s brace on Friday took him to the front of the race for the division’s Golden Boot.

Numbers like these prove Salah is still the Liverpool player opposition teams fear the most. They have good reason to be scared since Salah’s pace can take him beyond any marker.

Meanwhile, few strikers have such a ruthless appetite for goal. Salah is never shy about taking on a shot, often letting fly so quickly goalkeepers barely have time to react.

His performances will remain pivotal in Liverpool’s bid for Premier League and Champions League silverware.