EPL 2016-17: Team of the Week - Gameweek 8
Who knew that when the Premier League returned after the international break, Bournemouth would slot in six goals against Hull City? Aside from the Cherries’ scintillating display, Chelsea shone and Manchester City continued to suffer. Tottenham Hotspur just about held onto their unbeaten run so far this season but the highlight of the week was Liverpool’s game against Manchester United on Monday night.
After a late end to the gameweek here is Sportskeeda’s Premier League Team of the Week:
Goalkeeper
Maarten Stekelenburg
Stekelenburg proved his worth to Ronald Koeman this week as he saved two penalties against Manchester City. The keeper did really well to deny both Kevin De Bruyne and Sergio Aguero from the spot and was his team’s saviour after they couldn’t stop shooting themselves in the foot.
He made a couple of crucial saves and became only the seventh keeper in the league to save two penalties in a single game.
Defenders
Cesar Azpilicueta
The Spanish defender seems to have found his groove now that he’s back playing in his favoured position of right back. He has now kept two consecutive clean sheets in the league – a massive improvement from the opening weeks of the season.
He regained possession from Leicester City a total of nine times, more than any of his other teammates.
Steve Cook
Bournemouth defender Steve Cook had an unusually good night but it could have also ended quite differently. Even though he saw a shot from Hull’s Ryan Mason deflect off of him and into the back of his own net, he redeemed himself a few short minutes later.
Right before halftime, Cook headed the ball in from a free-kick and restored his team’s lead.
Eric Bailly
Bailly repaid Jose Mourinho’s trust in him with yet another confident and solid performance. In spite of the waves of attack from Liverpool, he made sure Daniel Sturridge stayed cut off from the rest of his teammates for most of the night.
With six interceptions and a block, the former Villarreal defender is quicky cementing his place in the starting line-up.
Jose Cholevas
The Greek national put in a solid performance for the Hornets on Sunday. Cholevas scored the only goal of the game soon after half-time. A sublime strike into the top corner proved too much for Boro keeper Victor Valdes and his job was done in the ninety minutes with their clean sheet intact, and three points in the bag,