Arsenal forward Theo Walcott leads the way in our TOTW after his hat-trick helped the Gunners to a 7-3 victory over Newcastle at the Emirates.

In a weekend in which 41 goals were scored across the 10 Premier League games, there is also a place for Manchester City striker Edin Dzeko, whose double helped the champions to a 4-3 win over Norwich.

Team-mate David Silva features as well, while Canaries defender Russell Martin makes the cut after scoring twice in the defeat at Carrow Road.

Frank Lampard makes his debut in our side this season following his double which secured a 2-1 comeback victory for Chelsea at Everton, and he is joined in central midfield by Wigan’s James McCarthy, who helped the Latics beat relegation rivals Aston Villa 3-0.

Liverpool striker Luis Suarez makes his fifth appearance in our TOTW, with his early double guiding the Reds to a 3-0 win at QPR. He is joined in our XI by defender Martin Skrtel.

Reading pair Adam Federici and Alex Pearce make the cut after helping the Royals earn just their second win of the season against West Ham, while Tottenham wideman Aaron Lennon rounds off our side after bagging the winner against Sunderland on Saturday.

Jack Wilshere, Jimmy Kebe and Yaya Toure all just miss out this weekend, while there is no room in the side for Rickie Lambert and Olivier Giroud either.

Jose Enrique (hamstring) was withdrawn during Sunday’s 3-0 win over QPR so is a doubt for the January 2 clash, with Stewart Downing likely to fill in at left-back. The Spaniard joins Martin Kelly (knee) on the treatment table, but Brad Jones (illness) could return.

Wes Brown (knee) is expected to miss the trip to Anfield, while John O’Shea (hamstring) failed to complete the full 90 minutes of the 2-1 loss to Tottenham on Saturday and is likely to miss the game along with long-term absentee Lee Cattermole (knee).

Titus Bramble replaced the former Manchester United defender against Spurs, and could continue to deputise against Liverpool.

• Luis Suarez has scored in three of his four Premier League appearances against Sunderland.

• Steven Gerrard is one of only two midfielders (alongside Arsenal’s Mikel Arteta) to play every minute of every Premier League game this season.

• Liverpool hit the woodwork on 26 occasions during 2012, more than any other team.

• Martin O’Neill has faced Liverpool 18 times in the Premier League, winning six, drawing seven and losing five.

• Sunderland are unbeaten in the Premier League this season in games in which Steven Fletcher (pictured right) has scored.

• The Black Cats have won just one of their last 15 Premier League away games.

QPR boss Harry Redknapp has admitted trying to “shut up shop” at half-time during his side’s 3-0 defeat to Liverpool on Sunday.

The Reds scored all three of their goals in the first half but saw their chances limited by the Rs in the second period after Redknapp introduced Shaun Derry to the midfield in place of striker Djibril Cisse.

And the Englishman has conceded that he simply hoped to prevent the scoreline becoming embarrassing for the west London side.

“At half-time, you are sitting watching the game – did you think we were going to win 4-3? No, neither did I. You have to be realistic in football,” he told reporters.

“Do you want to get beaten 8-0? Or do you want to keep a little bit of pride intact? Damage limitation is what it’s called, and it’s not a nice situation to be in, but that’s what I had to do.

“I had to change how we played and try to shut up shop. Maybe I should have done that from the start. Maybe I’ve come in thinking we need a win, and we played with an open team.

“But at 3-0 you’re thinking hang on, this could be seven or eight if we’re not careful, just like Chelsea the other day. They could’ve got 10 or 11 against Aston Villa. I didn’t want that happening today but I could see it coming when they were three up.”

The former Tottenham boss went on to lament the quality gap between his side and the expensively assembled visitors.

“What can you do? Norwich got smashed [by them] earlier in the year, how many did they let in? Five-whatever,” he continued.

“It can happen, can’t it. They’ve got better quality players, it can happen on the wrong day. There’s a difference in quality wherever you go in football.

“Chelsea, Man United, Man City, Tottenham, they’re different quality. And today, Liverpool I’m afraid had too many good players, we couldn’t get near them.

“They’ve got Joe Allen – £20 million; Henderson – £20m, Steven Gerrard worth £50m, or whatever he’s been worth. Have a look at what they’ve got.

“You’ve got to try to match that with a team that’s… It’s different levels, people don’t seem to understand. You look at the quality from back to front. They’re just a team of outstanding players who should be pushing to be in the top four.”

Redknapp also hailed the performance of Liverpool forward Luis Suarez, who took his Premier League goal tally for the season to 13 by netting twice.

“I think I’ve seen [Suarez] do that to everyone he’s played against this year,” he added.

“It’s not something he’s just suddenly done today, is it? It’s what he is. He’s the most fantastic striker. He’s one of the best, in the half a dozen in the world, without a doubt.

“My two centre-halves gave everything. They’re both 35 and they gave everything they’ve got. Clint Hill, you couldn’t ask for more.”