Sports Mole picks its Premier League Team of the Week, including Chris Wood, Alejandro Garnacho and Phil Foden.
The 2023-24 Premier League season has reached the halfway point and Liverpool sit pretty at the top of the table following their 2-0 victory over relegation-threatened Burnley on Boxing Day.
Arsenal missed the chance to climb to the summit after suffering a 2-0 home defeat to a resilient West Ham United outfit on Thursday, while North London rival Tottenham Hotspur were comprehensively beaten 4-2 at Brighton & Hove Albion on the same evening despite a late fightback on the South Coast.
Both Manchester United and Manchester City came from behind at half time to claim maximum points, with the Red Devils beating third-placed Aston Villa 3-2 at Old Trafford on Boxing Day, just over 24 hours before the Citizens, fresh from their Club World Cup triumph, claimed a 3-1 success over Everton at Goodison Park.
Chelsea have climbed into the top half of the table courtesy of a 2-1 home victory against Crystal Palace, but Newcastle United have slipped down to ninth following a disappointing 3-1 defeat to Nottingham Forest, who secured their first win under new head coach Nuno Espirito Santo.
Wolverhampton Wanderers celebrated the biggest win of gameweek 19 as they thrashed Brentford 4-1 in a chaotic contest away from home, while Bournemouth continued their impressive run of form by beating Fulham 3-0 at the Vitality Stadium.
A five-goal thriller was witnessed at Bramall Lane on Boxing Day, as Luton Town came from behind to collect three crucial points in a 3-2 win at basement club Sheffield United, boosting their hopes of survival.
For the final time in 2023, Sports Mole selects its Premier League Team of the Week for the latest round of fixtures.
DEFENCE
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Few would have anticipated Arsenal drawing a blank in front of goal at the Emirates against West Ham, but the Gunners could not find a way past West Ham goalkeeper Alphonse Areola, who stood firm to make eight saves, including six from inside the penalty box, while he was also the source of several counter-attacks as he successfully completed 11 long balls.
The entire West Ham backline deserves an honourable mention for their spirited display in North London, but one standout defender was former Arsenal man Konstantinos Mavropanos, who marked his return to the Emirates with a towering second-half header as well as five clearances, three interceptions and two successful tackles in a colossal display at the back.
Emerson Palmieri also played a significant role at left-back in helping the Hammers claim all three points, as the Italian successfully won seven ground duels, completed 21 of his 25 passes, made five clearances, two ball recoveries and also won a penalty which Said Benrahma ultimately had saved by David Raya in stoppage time.
As impressive as Trent Alexander-Arnold‘s display was in Liverpool’s win at Burnley, the Englishman has been pipped to the post in our latest TOTW by Chelsea’s Malo Gusto, who delivered a man-of-the-match performance against Crystal Palace. Not only did the 20-year-old set up Mykhaylo Mudryk for the opening goal, but he also completed more successful passes (91), had more touches (129) and made more interceptions (three) than any other player on the pitch at Stamford Bridge; Gusto also made three final-third entireties, won six ground duels, three tackles and won back possession on eight occasions in a stellar display at right-back.
MIDFIELD
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Anthony Elanga enjoyed one of his finest showings in a Nottingham Forest shirt during the win at Newcastle, which was somewhat overshadowed by a certain New Zealander, but he nevertheless created two big chances, and subsequently provided two assists, as well as made three key passes, five ball recoveries and won four ground duels whilst operating on the right wing.
Dominic Solanke has been stealing the headlines for a number of weeks at Bournemouth, but Alex Scott deserves a special mention following his classy performance in midfield against Fulham. The 20-year-old weaved his way through multiple challenges in midfield as he drove into the box and provided a magnificent assist for Justin Kluivert to net the opening goal. Scott also boasted an 89% passing accuracy, won six ground duels, made five clearances and four recoveries at the Vitality Stadium.
Another playmaker who excelled in gameweek 19 was Man City star Phil Foden, who slammed in a superb equaliser from outside the box in the win at Everton – his ninth goal of the campaign. He also completed 94% of his passes as well as three take-ons, created three chances and won five ground duels during another standout performance as a number 10 for Pep Guardiola‘s side.
Alejandro Garnacho takes a spot on the left flank for the purposes of our latest TOTW, but Erik ten Hag‘s decision to start the Man United youngster on the right wing proved to be a stroke of genius against Aston Villa, as the Argentine scored two second-half goals – and had another marginally ruled offside – regained possession five times, completed three dribbles and won two ground duels en route to claiming the Man of the Match award.
ATTACK
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For the second successive week, Chris Wood features in our TOTW following an exceptional display in front of goal against his former club Newcastle. The New Zealander made a destructive return to St James’ Park and became just the second Forest player after Kevin Campbell in 1996 to score a Premier League hat-trick, tapping home his first from close range before netting two special solo strikes within the space of seven second-half minutes to take home the match ball.
Few will argue against the notion that Hwang Hee-chan has been Wolves’ best player of the 2023-24 campaign thus far, and the South Korean was at his brilliant best once again on Wednesday as he scored his ninth and 10th Premier League goals of the season in a comfortable victory at Brentford. Prior to withdrawing on the stroke of half time through injury, Hwang rounded Mark Flekken to tap his first goal into an empty net, before showing his class to score his second, flicking the ball over the head of Ethan Pinnock and firing a first-time strike into the bottom corner.
Another player at the double in gameweek 19 was Brighton’s Joao Pedro, who coolly converted from the penalty spot twice after skillfully setting up Jack Hinshelwood for the opening goal in a thrilling win for the Seagulls over Spurs. The Brazilian forward – who has now scored eight penalties in all competitions so far this season – was a real livewire throughout the contest and a particular menace during Brighton’s high press, winning eight duels and making seven ball recoveries as well as winning two out of two tackles, defending “for 90 minutes like a centre-back” according to Seagulls boss Roberto De Zerbi.
Sports Mole’s Premier League Team of the Week (3-4-3): Areola; Gusto, Mavropanos, Emerson; Elanga, Scott, Foden, Garnacho; Hwang, Wood, Pedro
