Premier League Team of the Week – Liverpool’s Coutinho shines brightest

This weekend, the team reflects some stellar performances from teams nearer to the bottom of the league that played above what was expected and helped their teams towards vital points. There is also room for some big names including, one of the biggest in Premier League history.Team of the Weekend: Norwich

Norwich win the Team of the Weekend for the first time and they could not have picked a better time to put on their most complete performance of the season. Yes, they benefited from two West Brom errors but they also scored two excellent goals of their own and defended excellently against a very dangerous counter attacking West Brom unit. This was particularly impressive after their poor performance in losing to Villa last week.

John Ruddy – Norwich

As reasonable as Mark Bunn has been whilst deputising for Ruddy, the return of their first choice keeper brought the solidity back to the Norwich defence which has done well at times this season. In his first game back from injury since November, he made 4 saves and was his usual vocal, organising self behind his defence.

Seamus Coleman – Everton

Coleman’s introduction to the team has given Everton real balance in attack as his forward forays are rivalling those of his celebrated colleague at left back, Leighton Baines. Not only is his support attack play improving, as exemplified by one barnstorming 60-yard run in to the West Ham defense to set up a chance for Steven Pienaar, but his defending has progressed at an incredible rate. It used to be his weakness but he is part of a defence that has only conceded in two of their last eight games.

Seb Bassong – Norwich

Bassong was in the Donkey team last week but he was back to his best this weekend. Detailed with stopping the rampantly in-form Romelu Lukaku, he coped admirably, competing physically with his pace and strength to help Norwich to a precious clean sheet which they built upon for a win which keeps them in the league.

Ryan Bennett – Norwich

Although Bennett can sometimes resemble a drunken Bambi on ice with poor depth perception on a revolving dance floor on a storm-borne ferry, he showed glimpses of what has made him a well-regarded talent by both Paul Lambert and now Chris Hughton. He coped well with Long and Lukaku and also caused the McAuley own goal for the pressure-removing third goal.

Danny Rose – Sunderland

Rose has been one of the best players in the league over the last month or so. It seems that Paolo Di Canio has a way of getting through to him. He has tightened up defensively but is now marauding forwards in to ever-more dangerous areas. Rather than just overlapping, which he was pretty much restricted to under Martin O’Neill, he now has license to ‘underlap’ in to Leighton Baines type areas which gives them another threat.

Jack Colback – Sunderland

Perhaps even more so than Danny Rose, Colback has improved markedly since the arrival of Di Canio. He has made this team from right back and now makes it from a midfield spot where he was deployed at the weekend. He combined the defensive tenacity that he has gained at right back with a whirlwind of activity in the midfield which stunted the Southampton passing game.

Frank Lampard – Chelsea

This isn’t even for sentimental reasons. Not only did he score two excellent goals to break the club’s goal-scoring record, but they have secured Champions League football for next season. On top of that, after the Ramires red, he led the midfield with discipline and control. He passed the ball tidily and made tackles and interceptions. His key contribution though was just through his presence on the field. When he doesn’t play, Chelsea struggle. If you’re thinking ‘that’s just some media fed rubbish’, check this out. Chelsea have failed to win 16 league games this season, Lampard only played in 7 of those and scored in two. So 9 out of 16 of the non-wins have come when he hasn’t figured, and that’s just in the league. Remind me why he is a free agent this summer?

Robert Snodgrass – Norwich

Snodgrass has often been Norwich’s only attacking threat this season and he came to the fore against West Brom once more. He scored the crucial opener which kick started things and he set up another. He was a constant out ball on the right hand side and provided a dangerous supply line when cutting in on his left foot. They need to keep him for next season.Philippe Coutinho – Liverpool

The young Brazilian magician wins the Player of the Week after an outstanding performance against Fulham. He had developed a nice link up with Luis Suarez when wandering in from the left, but since the Uruguayan’s suspension he has taken control of the team and is playing out of his mind. He has a Messi-like touch and an Ineista-like imagination and passing range. His ball with the outside of his right foot was a particularly sublime highlight.

Kevin Mirallas – Everton

Mirallas makes his way back in to this selection after causing West Ham all kinds of problems. His finish for the first goal, after some wonderful team play from Everton, was a fitting cap to an excellent move and his second, albeit deflected, was just reward for the initial run. He could prove to be Moyes’ biggest legacy.

Daniel Sturridge – Liverpool

Sturridge is strangely symbolic of Liverpool’s inconsistency and frustration. You watch him score a hat trick, which includes two top quality finishes, and you think, ‘why can’t you do this more often?’. He crushed the ball in after an excellent chest take for his first, finished smartly for his second and put in a lovely chip for the third. He is another that has come to life in Luis Suarez’s absense. If he plays like this, he looks a world beater, but he needs to show it more than once every few weeks.