After each round of Premier League fixtures, ESPN FC brings you its Team of the Weekend. Our panel of experts carefully selects 11 star performers along with a manager.
Do you agree or disagree? You can have your say on those picked or overlooked in the comments section at the foot of the article or on Twitter using the hashtag #ESPNFCTOTW.
Goalkeeper: He may have been beaten in injury time as West Ham lost a 2-0 lead to draw the battle of the London strugglers at Selhurst Park, but it would have been a bleaker afternoon for the Hammers without Joe Hart. Hart made some fine stops and, having been criticised for his handling, was assured in that department. "Made saves to keep Palace at bay," says Paul Mariner, while Gab Marcotti points out that West Ham would have found things "much worse without him between the sticks" and Steve Nicol praises the England man for an improved showing.
Right-back: Manchester City roll on and served up more scintillating football in their entertaining win at West Bromwich Albion. When Pep Guardiola signed Kyle Walker, the idea was that the full-back would contribute both in defence and attack -- and that's just what he did here, providing a splendid assist for Raheem Sterling and putting in some strong challenges to halt home attacks. Mariner hails a "great" performance and Marcotti notes: "We all knew he could go forward, but he also stood out defensively."
Centre-back: It wasn't pretty, but Manchester United won three big points to get them back on track when Tottenham visited Old Trafford. On an often stop-start afternoon in the rain, defender Phil Jones continued his fine form to keep Spurs' openings to a minimum. Jones showed exemplary positioning and read the game coolly, closing down threats before they could develop and using the ball both simply and well. "Really solid," says the approving Nicol, while Mariner salutes "a tower of power for United: he coped with everything Spurs threw at him."
Centre-back: Last weekend's home defeat to Bournemouth set alarm bells ringing at Stoke, meaning a visit to a Watford side playing well wasn't really what the doctor ordered for Mark Hughes and Co. But Stoke stepped up with a terrific defensive performance, winning 1-0, and it's no surprise that Ryan Shawcross was at the heart of that success. The long-serving defender was at his best, winning a succession of key headers and providing tidy work on the ground, too. "The big man is back, and what he brings goes way beyond the pitch," says Marcotti.
Left-back: Half-time boos rang out at the Emirates as Arsenal trooped off with Swansea a goal to the good. Who could step forward to change the game? Well it turned out to be Sead Kolasinac, who hammered home the equaliser and then motored forward again to provide the cross from which Aaron Ramsey scored the winner. Hailed by Arsene Wenger as proof that there is still such a thing as a transfer bargain, Kolasinac also linked up well with Alexis Sanchez, and Mariner says: "He looks like a winner -- and he was one on Saturday," while Nicol praises his "big influence" and Marcotti adds: "Like a freight train down the left."
Wide midfield: If Fernandinho provided another City masterclass then so did Leroy Sane, who, for the umpteenth time, was in fine form for Guardiola's table-toppers. He opened the scoring with a peach of a finish, blasting the ball past Ben Foster with aplomb, and offering a consistent threat whenever City attacked. Mariner has no doubt about his quality, saying: "He's taking the Prem by storm this season -- he got a goal and an assist, could and maybe should have had more, and works hard for the team," while Marcotti adds: "This time last year, he wasn't playing. Now he is -- and he's devastating."
Central midfield: Who's the man at the heart of Manchester City's majestic season? You can easily make a case for Fernandinho, who produced another tip-top performance at West Brom. It was all-action in all departments, with his excellent pass giving Sane the chance to open the scoring, his powerful shot (which took a slight deflection) adding City's second and the usual crisp challenges, slick passes and smart interceptions on show. "The only people who say he's underrated are the fools who underrate him," says Marcotti, sternly. "Helps keep the whole shebang together." Nicol, meanwhile, hails "one of the best" in the league.
Central midfield: It wasn't just that Aaron Ramsey arrived on cue to score the winner for Arsenal as they made it over the line against Swansea, it was also that his performance provided a calming influence on what was often far from an easy afternoon for the Gunners. Ramsey kept things moving in a cagey first half with some calm passing, but really came alive after the break to augment Arsenal's attacking with some darting late runs into the area as well as taking on a more protective role. "Played a little deeper than he normally does, protected the back four well and popped up with the winner," says Mariner.
Wide midfield: "He's the main man at Chelsea," says Nicol. "Every time he gets the ball, you just know that something will happen." And didn't Bournemouth's defenders just know it when Eden Hazard grabbed the winner on the south coast to provide the champions with three valuable points. Hazard floated around with menace and purpose all evening, making jinking runs, always looking for a decisive pass and taking advantage of defensive hesitation to fire an angled shot inside the near post after the break. Mariner describes him as "the difference maker" and Marcotti adds: "He inspires and invents."
Forward: If you want to see an unsung Premier League footballer doing his job superbly, go and watch Brighton striker Glenn Murray. Murray was pivotal to promotion from the Championship last season and, after getting back into the team, shows every sign of being just as important to the battle to stay in the top flight. A selfless forward who links play superbly, uses the ball wisely and takes his chances efficiently, Murray added to his two goals in the big win at West Ham with another to secure a home point against Southampton. "Everyman/Cult Hero does it again," is Marcotti's verdict. "Three goals in two games and four precious points for Brighton."
Forward: Over now to the man who beat our goalkeeper of the week in the last minute, Crystal Palace's Wilfried Zaha. Among the relentless bleakness of the Eagles' start to the season, one of the few straws for their fans to clutch at was the prospect of Zaha's return from injury. He has sparkled in the two league matches at Selhurst since his comeback, helping to secure four points. Zaha never gives up, and his composed finish pulled this game back from the brink. "Inspires them," says Nicol while Mariner adds: "A constant threat and a super individual goal." Marcotti says: "Never stops running with quality -- and Palace will need more of that if they are to stay up."
Manager: Jose Mourinho, you feel, would have thoroughly enjoyed his side's win over Tottenham precisely because of the lack of plaudits it got for entertainment value or flowing football. Mourinho's side frustrated Spurs at Old Trafford, grinding out a stubborn victory that may not live that long in the memory but could yet prove to be pretty important. The manager was booed when he substituted Marcus Rashford for Anthony Martial; he was vindicated when Martial nicked the winner with less than 10 minutes left. "He got it right," says Nicol, while Mariner adds: "In the game of the weekend, he got his tactics spot-on and made the key change for the winner. Shrewd in-game coaching."