Premier League Team of the Week: Martial, Salah and Pedro feature

Here’s the Premier League best XI for matchweek 29, featuring Anthony Martial, Mohamed Salah and Pedro.

Anthony Martial was at the forefront of Manchester United bullying Manchester City in a one-sided derby in the Premier League on Sunday. United won 2-0 at Old Trafford, with Martial opening the scoring and adding to his burgeoning reputation as a complete center-forward.

Defeat for City means Liverpool need just two more wins to wrap up the title. The Reds scraped past Bournemouth 2-1 on Saturday, with Mohamed Salah inspiring a comeback at Anfield.

Liverpool are out of City’s reach, but United have Chelsea and a place in the top four very much in their sights. The Blues did their bit to ensure they will be playing in the Champions League next season by hammering Everton 4-0 at Stamford Bridge.

Pedro was one of two Chelsea stars who shone brightest on Sunday, scoring one goal and assisting another.

Find out who else is in the latest team of the week:

Goalkeeper: Bernd Leno, Arsenal

Dean Henderson’s triple-save heroics for Sheffield United against Norwich were the stuff good memes are made of, but Bernd Leno had the more complete game between the sticks.

The Arsenal goalkeeper was his team’s best player during a narrow 1-0 win at home to West Ham. Leno made a series of impressive saves on Saturday, the best involved him clawing away a Michail Antonio header while off balance and already diving the other way.

Standing up to shots and headers wasn’t the only thing Leno did well. The German was also quick off his line and decisive in the air. His swift decision making thwarted Sebastien Haller after the Hammers’ striker had been played through.

Leno owed the Gunners a performance following his mistake against Olympiacos in the last 32 of the Europa League. He’s made his share of errors, but the 28-year-old has generally been one of the few players Arsenal can count on for consistency this season.

Defender: James Milner, Liverpool

Of course he’s naturally a midfielder, but James Milner was drafted into a role as an emergency left-back against the Cherries. Milner’s solid performance out of position helped Liverpool rest assist-machine Andy Robertson and not lose too much in the process.

Milner set the tone for the leaders with a series of well-timed and crunching tackles. His commitment to track back and make sure everyone around him was in the right position helped Liverpool withstand significant pressure.

For all his leadership qualities, Milner’s best contribution was the remarkable goal-line clearance from under the bar to turn away a lob from Ryan Fraser.

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Versatile and experienced squad players like Milner are the bedrock of title-winning squads.

Defender: Lewis Dunk, Brighton

Lewis Dunk’s performances usually determine whether Brighton earn or drop points. It was the same story on Saturday when the Seagulls held Wolves to a 0-0 draw at Molineux.

Dunk held together a back line rarely pulled apart by the pace of Diog Jota, the intelligent movement of Raul Jimenez and Adama Traore’s power. Wolves weren’t short of potential match-winners in the final third, but none managed to find a way around Dunk.

The burly center-back timed his tackles well, didn’t shy away from aerial duels and was neat and efficient in possession. These are the qualities Dunk has been displaying for a while in England’s top flight.

He belongs in the lineup for a genuine title-contender.

Defender: Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Manchester United

Aaron Wan-Bissaka is usually lauded for his defensive chops, but the 22-year-old showcased more of the attacking side of his game against City.

Wan-Bissaka wasn’t shy about getting forward. He used his pace and power to leave markers trailing and usually produced teasing crosses at the end of his raids.

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Better than taking one step forward and two steps back, Wan-Bissaka made sure his defensive work was still up to par. He kept Raheem Sterling under wraps with the minimum of fuss thanks to precision tackles, raw strength and recovery pace.

Midfielder: Pedro, Chelsea

Frank Lampard has relished trusting youth this season, but Sunday taught the Chelsea boss never to overlook the value of experience. There was a place in the starting XI for 32-year-old Pedro for just the eighth time in the league this season.

The former Barcelona man was so effective it begged the question why hasn’t he been picked more often? Pedro teed up Mason Mount to score Chelsea’s opener after just 14 minutes, before netting the second himself seven minutes later.

Pedro’s finish summed up everything good about his game. The timing of his run, as well as the deft first touch to control the ball, were both impeccable. So was the cool finish to beat Jordan Pickford.

Leaning on a proven winner like Pedro to support his young charges is the best way for Lampard to ensure Chelsea hold onto fourth spot.

Midfielder: James McCarthy, Crystal Palace

Halting the momentum Watford gained by thrashing Liverpool 3-0 to end the leaders’ 44-game unbeaten domestic run was the daunting challenge facing Crystal Palace on Saturday.

It called for tenacity, resilience and industry. Fortunately for the Eagles, James McCarthy embodied all of those traits at Selhurst Park.

The former Everton man was tasked with shielding the Palace defense. He screened the back four brilliantly, denying space for Watford’s runs from out to in.

Ismaila Sarr had made the same tactic work superbly against Liverpool, but the winger was regularly thwarted by McCarthy. So was Roberto Pereyra, who drifted off the flank to play behind striker Troy Deeney, but found himself in direct combat with McCarthy, a mismatch that suited Palace.

Midfielder: Dani Ceballos, Arsenal

Dani Ceballos has been tough to define during his loan spell from Real Madrid. He hasn’t been the forward-thinking and creative maestro the Gunners have needed to support Mesut Ozil. Nor has he offered the willingness to break beyond the strikers the way Aaron Ramsey did before the Welshman was allowed to join Juventus last summer.

Slowly but surely though, Ceballos’ ideal role is becoming clear. He is a deep-lying playmaker whose application and technique suit the pressing-with-possession style Mikel Arteta wants from his team.

Ceballos excelled in both phases of the game against West Ham, producing a complete performance at the heart of the engine room:

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Performances like this make keeping Ceballos beyond this season a necessity for Arteta’s rebuild in north London.

Midfielder: John Lundstram, Sheffield United

John Fleck has attracted most of the plaudits in the Blades’ midfielder this season, but it would be a mistake to underrate the value of John Lundstram.

He’s been a useful creative outlet for Chris Wilder’s team, a status underlined when he collected his third assist of the campaign to help beat the Canaries. Billy Sharp met Lundstram’s cross for the decisive goal at Bramall Lane on Saturday, but the quality of the delivery exceeded the finish:

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Technique on this level is why the Blades have been able to surprise those who mistakenly viewed Wilder’s group as merely workmanlike. Lundstram, who has also found the net four times, has usually accounted for the little something extra in this team.

Midfielder: Willian, Chelsea

Somebody is going to get the bargain of the summer if Chelsea are unable to come to terms with Willian. The Brazil international is set to be available on a free transfer once the season concludes, and his mix of flair, versatility and shooting power are still assets at the highest level.

Everton received two brutal reminders about the 31-year-old’s enduring magic on Sunday. Willian curled in a superb shot on 51 minutes, before firing in the corner for Olivier Giroud’s goal three minutes later.

Chelsea have young talents like Callum Hudson-Odoi and Christian Pulisic waiting to take Willian’s place. Yet, there aren’t many forwards who play anywhere along the front with this level of vision, skill and cutting edge.

Striker: Anthony Martial, Manchester United

He’s strangely not always adored by United fans, but Martial continues to defy his critics. The Frenchman’s goals have ensured the Red Devils have gone from strength to strength, despite the absence of the injured Marcus Rashford.

One of Martial’s best qualities is his willingness to take shots quickly. His decisive streak caught Ederson cold in the City goal, and in the process, kept Martial on pace for his finest season in a United shirt:

The numbers show Martial is trending upwards, while the performances make him a player Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s forward line can ill afford to be without for long.

Striker: Mohamed Salah, Liverpool

For reasons beyond understanding, there are still people waiting for Salah to falter and lend credence to the ridiculous idea he is a one-season wonder. Yet, the Egypt international continues to deliver during his third campaign with Liverpool.

Salah’s goal against Bournemouth was his 16th in the league. It’s kept him on pace to retain the golden boot as the division’s top scorer, a distinction Salah shared with Sadio Mane and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang last season.

What keeps Salah among the goals so consistently is his ability to turn even half chances into quality finishes. He did it against the Cherries, finding the bottom corner unerringly on the turn after collecting a wayward pass from Mane.

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Salah’s numbers place him in a class by himself during Liverpool’s modern era. He’s also the main reason the club is returning to the summit of the English game.