Team of the Week: Manchester City star annihilates QPR, while Manchester United, Leicester and Villa breathe a sigh of relief

By Benjamin Wills.

This week’s standout performers from a rampant Manchester City and Stoke, along with star men from Aston Villa, Leicester, and Manchester United, all of whom appeared to secure their targets for the season.

Embed from Getty Images
Goalkeeper: Kasper Schmeichel (Leicester City)

Leicester’s 2-0 win over Southampton on Saturday extended their run to six wins from their last seven games. It’s a run that has seen them escape the bottom three and could well have kept them in the Premier League for another season.

While Riyad Mahrez’s brace (more on that later) seemed to have had the game won by the 20 minute mark, Schmeichel kept the Foxes in front with three impressive saves, and kept a vital clean sheet.

Right-Back: Geoff Cameron (Stoke City)

While not the most crucial result of the weekend, Stoke’s 3-0 win over Tottenham certainlty raised the most eyebrows, as did the lack of threat Spurs posed, with Cameron going a long way to suggesting why.

Cameron shut out any Tottenham threat as Stoke recorded their first ever top flight double over the Lilywhites.

Centre-Back: Jonas Okore (Aston Villa)

Aston Villa’s rejuvenation under Tim Sherwood continued as a 1-0 win over fellow Claret and Blue wearers West Ham secured 14th spot for the Villains for another week.

Tom Cleverley’s third in three games sealed the three points but defender Jonas Okore should get the plaudits for a rock-solid display at Villa Park, with the Hammers limited to just one shot on target.

Centre-Back: John Terry (Chelsea)

Another fine afternoon for John Terry – the Chelsea captain led his title winning side out to a guard of honour pre kick-off and he left the pitch with plenty of honour too.

Terry headed the hosts in-front after just five minutes and was defensively sound for the rest of the 85, with only a Steven Gerrard header denying him another clean sheet for the season.

Left Back: Aleksandr Kolarov (Manchester City)

Manchester City relegated Queens Park Rangers in some style on Sunday, smashing the Rs 6-0, in what was the most convincing result of the weekend.

Kolarov kept a clean sheet in what was more than a routine victory, and even got himself on the scoreboard with a trademark free-kick that Robert Green had no chance with.

Right Midfield: Riyad Mahrez (Leicester City)

Winning Manager of the Month is said to be a footballing curse, not for Nigel Pearson, however, as a double from Mahrez kept up Leicester’s fine form.

Mahrez made it 1-0 with a low drive seven minutes in, and doubled Leicester’s lead 12 minutes later when he turned in Jamie Vardy’s pull back. The King Power stadium shook at the full-time whistle as safety looks to be secured.

Centre Midfield: Stephen N’Zonzi (Stoke City)

Along with centre midfield partner Charlie Adam, N’Zonzi is one of the most underated players in the league.

Like Adam, N’Zonzi scored for Stoke on Saturday, and put in another accomplished performance as the travelling Spurs team were stunted the midfield general’s display. Stoke are not set for a top 10 finish for no reason.

Centre Midfield: Marouane Fellaini (Manchester United)

His winning goal was scrappy, but his overall outing in Manchester United’s 2-1 win at Crystal Palace was anything but as he hardly put a foot wrong.

Fellaini was the target of the United boo boys all of last season, but has well and truly silenced them this campaign, as he impressed in a red shirt yet again with Louis van Gaal’s side all-but guaranteeing their place in the top four.

Left Midfield: Ashley Young (Manchester United)

Young, in the same vein as Fellaini has transformed boos to cheers this season as he looks a new player under Van Gaal.

The ex-Villa winger provided the assist for both of United’s goals in Saturday’s evening kick-off, getting fouled for Juan Mata’s converted penalty before he whipped in the cross for Fellaini’s late headed winner.

Centre-Attacking Midfield: David Silva (Manchester City)

One of the Premier League’s most enjoyable players to watch, Silva again dictated the play at the Etihad stadium with what looked like complete ease.

City’s silky Spaniard notched another two assists in the 6-0 romp of QPR and scored one himself in a showing that would have seen him named Man of the Match on any other day, but someone else decided to steal the show.

Striker: Sergio Aguero (Manchester City)

Sergio Aguero was the man that stole Silva’s limelight, as two assists and a goal was trumped by three goals and two assists.

Aguero famously likes scoring against QPR, and helped himself to three of them this weekend, the first of which came after just four minutes after he was allowed to run unchallenged and chip the ball over Green for 1-0.

Number two came five minutes into the second half with an equally as cool finish past the QPR keeper, and goal number 31 of the season – his highest tally in a City shirt came from the penalty spot.

Who would be in your team of the week?

Read more from Benjamin Wills here.

Follow @BenjaminWillsSJ