Tottenham dominate our team this midweek following their fine 4-0 win at Newcastle, a number of below-par performances from other clubs and a couple of postponed matches due to the adverse weather around the United Kingdom on Wednesday.
There is fierce competition for the goalkeeper gloves this week, with Cardiff City’s David Marshall and West Ham’s Adrian both putting in four-star, top-of-the-match winning performances on Tuesday, while Hugo Lloris was key for Tottenham 24 hours later.
The decision goes to Adrian (4), who kept out Norwich City with a number of fine saves before the Hammers nicked a vital victory late on.
Southampton’s Calumn Chambers (4) gets the right-back spot after a fine performance at Hull. James Collins (3) and Laurent Koscielny (4) make up the centre-back partnership: Collins was dependably solid as the Hammers beat Norwich, thanks in no small part to his late header, while Koscielny just about edges out his Arsenal team-mate Per Mertesacker after both men did a fine job of keeping Robin van Persie quiet after the Dutchman wasted a great opportunity presented to him by Mikel Arteta early on.
Kieran Gibbs (3.5) gets the left-back spot after dealing well with Antonio Valencia and providing Olivier Giroud with a number of crosses.
The majority of rest of the team is composed of Tottenham players after they picked up a vital win in the race for the top four.
Etienne Capoue (4) and Steven Gerrard (4) form the double-pivot. Spurs’ Frenchman controlled the centre of midfield and served as a springboard for his side’s attack on Wednesday; Gerrard, meanwhile, set up Daniel Sturridge with a world-class pass, before netting a last-minute penalty to move the Reds to within four points of first place.
Two more Spurs players provide the attacking thrust from midfield, with Paulinho (4.5) and Nabil Bentaleb (4) helping tear Newcastle to shreds at St James’ Park. All three Spurs midfielders are making their debuts in the Premier League Team of the Week.
Adebayor (4) is one of the strikers in our XI after he scored twice against the Magpies to justify his continued selection by Sherwood.
He is partnered by Saido Berahino (4) who just about muscles out West Brom team-mate Victor Anichebe and Liverpool’s Daniel Sturridge (both 3.5). The Baggies striker had Chelsea worried for the duration of their 1-1 draw and provided an inch-perfect cross for Anichebe’s leveller.