So another round of fixtures comes to a close in the Premier League, with Arsenal holding on to their position at the top while the bottom of the table remains as tight as ever in the battle to avoid relegation.

Sunderland’s latest victory over Newcastle moved them further clear of the trap door, while Manchester United’s slump continued as Stoke City beat the Premier League champions for the first time since 1984.

In the titanic clash at the Eithad Stadium, Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea secured a 1-0 win courtesy of a Branislav Ivanovic strike, while Everton moved to within two points of neighbours Liverpool in the quest to secure a Champions League spot.

But it is at Cardiff City where we start for Goal‘s Team of the Week, with goalkeeper David Marshall (4.5) in inspired form as the hosts survived a late onslaught to secure three precious points against fellow strugglers Norwich City.

At centre-back, Curtis Davies (3.5), who has been one of Hull City’s shining lights following their return to the Premier League this season, earns a place, while Ryan Shawcross (3.5) and James Tomkins (3.5), who impressed in West Ham’s 2-0 victory over Swansea, also feature.

Eden Hazard (4.5) was once again the star of the show for Chelsea as the west Londoners came away from the Etihad Stadium with all three points, while team-mates Ramires and Nemanja Matic were unfortunate to miss out on a spot in Goal’s XI.

Arsenal midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (4), starting in a central role against Crystal Palace, also claims a place in the team, with his two well-taken goals enough to keep the Gunners on top of the table, and Jack Colback (4) was on the scoresheet as Sunderland defeated Newcastle 3-0.

Stoke defied the odds to defeat Manchester United on Saturday, with Charlie Adam (4.5) grabbing two goals including a stunning long-range strike while a Red Devils loanee, Wilfried Zaha (4), made an impact as substitute to help Cardiff past Norwich.

In the two attacking slots, Jay Rodriguez (4), who scored a terrific curling shot to seal victory over Fulham, is partnered by Fabio Borini (4.5) with Sunderland team-mate Jozy Altidore and West Ham’s Andy Carroll narrowly missing out.

The Reds centre-back gave the ball straight to Victor Anichebe on the edge of his own area, who buried the equaliser as the two teams drew 1-1 on Sunday

Liverpool defender Kolo Toure is disappointed at his “crazy” error which presented West Brom with their equaliser in Sunday’s 1-1 draw at the Hawthorns.

With the Reds leading 1-0 thanks to a Daniel Sturridge goal, the Ivorian presented the ball straight to the feet of Victor Anichebe on the edge of the box, the former Everton man punishing the mistake by firing home and earning his side a point.

Toure was frustrated with his mistake as Liverpool missed out on what would have been a fourth win in five matches.

“It was a terrible pass by me,” the centre-back told The Liverpool Echo. “I should have passed to one of our players but instead I passed it straight to the striker.

“I just didn’t see [Anichebe]. I should have played it to Aly [Cissokho] on the side. I made a very bad pass.

“I don’t know why I passed the ball into the middle of the pitch, it was crazy.

“I’m disappointed for me and the team. It’s hard to take, especially for me, because we played well.

“The manager knows how disappointed I am. My pass put the team in a difficult situation.”

The 41-year-old is adamant the club did all it could to sign the Ukraine international and insists he will not focus on his inactivity in the January transfer window

Brendan Rodgers insists Liverpool were not to blame over the failure to sign Yevhen Konoplyanka.

The Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk winger looked set to be on his way to Anfield with Liverpool’s managing director Ian Ayre flying out to Ukraine in order to complete the deal.

But while the proposed move collapsed late on Friday evening, Rodgers, who also missed out on Mohamed Salah following the Egyptian’s switch to Chelsea, insists the club were thorough in their pursuit of the Ukraine international.

“The club did everything possible to get the player in,” said Rodgers.

“In every aspect – the finance, we had our chief scout and managing director and doctor out there to conclude the deal – and from our point categorically Ian Ayre did a brilliant job trying to negotiate.

“I’ve heard the problem mentioned was about the money, but that was not a problem. It just wasn’t to be.

“I feel really sorry for the player because he was obviously desperate to come but it’s gone now and we will review it in the summer.”

Despite enduring more frustration in the transfer market, the former Swansea City boss refused to lay the blame with the Merseyside club’s owners Fenway Sports Group.

When asked about Liverpool’s inactivity in the January transfer window, Rodgers said: “It’s of no consequence now.

“I don’t focus on that, I’m really only focused now on working with the players that I have. There’s no point in me looking back.

“We’ve some wonderful people at the club, we’re very much together here as a club and I’m very conscious that whatever frustrations I have, I would never let you guys (journalists) know, that’s one thing for sure.

“This is a football club that I want to stay together and keep together for the longer term. It will never be broken by stuff that might be written in the papers and announced.

“I’m the type of person that if I have an issue and a problem, I don’t need to ring up journalists and give them little snippets to put out there.

“It’s not my way of working and if I’ve got an issue I’ll speak with the owners, but I’ll be diplomatic about it in the way that I’d do it and it certainly wouldn’t be out in the public, that’s for sure.”