Team of the Week: Leicester City stars lead the way on a glorious weekend in the Premier League

Leicester stalwart Andy King and Foxes finisher Jamie Vardy both make the cut as Benjamin Wills picks his best XI from the weekend’s top-flight action.
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Goalkeeper: Artur Boruc (AFC Bournemouth)

Premier League debutants Bournemouth have been assured of a place in the Premier League for a while now and can be forgiven for taking their foot off the gas, although Artur Boruc has not let up.

The Poland international did allow a Salomon Rondon header into the back of his net, but he redeemed himself with four saves, one of which denied Craig Gardner from the penalty spot.

Boruc guessed the right way to deny the midfielder’s initial effort and then somehow kept out the rebound – again from Gardner, whose goal-bound header was palmed away.

Right-back: Antonio Valencia (Manchester United)

Manchester United’s 1-0 win over relegation-threatened Norwich City at Carrow Road was by no means a thriller, but Antonio Valencia’s decent form continued.

Valencia’s long ball started the move that culminated in the game’s one and only goal, sending Wayne Rooney clear to set up the winner that Juan Mata tucked past John Ruddy.

Centre-back: Virgil van Dijk (Southampton)

Virgil van Dijk signed a new six-year deal at Southampton on Saturday and he showed why he was worth the huge contract during the Saints’ 2-1 win at Tottenham.

Harry Kane barely got a sniff at White Hart Lane as van Dijk was a towering figure at the heart of Southampton’s defence.

The Dutchman made a whopping 12 clearances over the course of the contest.

Centre-back: Chancel Mbemba (Newcastle United)

Newcastle United’s 0-0 draw at Aston Villa did nothing to aid their plight against relegation, especially after Sunderland’s 3-2 win over Chelsea, but a second clean sheet on the bounce is something to be proud of at least.

Chancel Mbemba was arguably the pick of the bunch at the back, keeping an, albeit flat, Aston Villa attack at bay.

Left-back: Jonny Evans (West Bromwich Albion)

Tony Pulis sides have always been built on solid defences and as a result Jonny Evans has had a chance to revitalise his career since joining the Baggies.

Evans put in a good shift at the Vitality Stadium and had a role in starting attacks for the Baggies as well.

Right midfielder: Dušan Tadić (Southampton)

Southampton’s hopes of finishing in a Europa League spot were given a boost, with Dušan Tadić assisting both goals for the away side.

The Serbian winger set up the first of Steven Davis’ two goals with a neat cut-back and he was at it again in the second half, as was Davis.

Tadić’s second assist was an easier one, as he teed up the Northern Irishman with a short pass.

Centre midfielder: Andy King (Leicester City)

Leicester were finally officially crowned Premier League champions on Saturday and their fairy tale story just gets better by the week. Andy King, a youth academy graduate at the club, was the star of the show on the most famous day on his club’s history.

A cross from King led to Jamie Vardy’s first goal and then the Foxes’ record goalscoring midfielder found himself on the score-sheet with his second goal of the season.

King slotted home first time past Joel Robles in the Everton goal to keep the never-ending party going.

Centre midfielder: Steven Davis (Southampton)

Before the weekend Steven Davis had only scored two goals all season, but by the end of play on Sunday he had doubled his tally for the campaign.

Tottenham winger Son Heung-min gave Spurs the lead at White Hart Lane, but Davis hit back with both of Southampton’s goals to give his side the vital three points.

Davis made it 1-1 with a close-range strike, but his second was more extravagant as he beat Hugo Lloris from the edge of the box.

Left midfielder: André Ayew (Swansea)

When you are a team not challenging for silverware, a European spot or battling to stay up, you can get accused of being ‘on the beach’. That term will offend Swansea.

The Swans swept aside West Ham in the penultimate match at Upton Park, with André Ayew netting one and setting up another in a comfortable 4-1 win.

Ayew tapped in Stephen Kingsley’s cross to put the Welsh side 2-0 up and then he combined well with Bafétimbi Gomis on the counter attack to compound West Ham’s thoroughly miserable afternoon.

Striker: Dwight Gayle (Crystal Palace)

Crystal Palace only needed a point to mathematically make them secure from relegation, but they got all three thanks to Dwight Gayle’s brace.

Charlie Adam gave Stoke the lead at Selhurst Park, but Gayle pegged the Potters back with a controlled side-footed finish into the bottom corner.

And Gayle completed the turnaround with a sumptuous free-kick – despite slipping over in the execution – with just over 20 minutes of the match remaining.

Striker: Jamie Vardy (Leicester City)

Jamie Vardy has been the poster boy for arguably the best sporting achievement ever, and he showed why on Leicester’s day of celebration with another two goals.

Vardy gave Leicester the lead after just five minutes when he poked in Andy King’s searching cross and he doubled his tally by converting from the penalty spot.

He went on to miss a second penalty of the evening, meaning he missed out on a hat-trick and remains a goal behind Harry Kane in the race for the golden boot. Well, you can’t have everything in life, can you?

Read more from Ben Wills here.

Follow Ben on Twitter @_BenWills

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