Chelsea are sitting pretty at the top of the table, Liverpool had a great win and then flopped against a smaller team, and Arsenal were Arsenal. Your typical Premier League game week.
Seeing as we forgot to update our fantasy Premier League teams in time, we were able to watch all the games with no form of bias. It also meant we could pick out the best players and throw them into our team of the week.
GK - Artur Boruc
Despite the 3-0 defeat, Swansea actually tested Artur Boruc more than the Cherries tested Lukas Fabianski. The big Pole had to make five saves, and was forced to come out and claim a number of dangerous crosses from the boot of Gylfi Sigurdsson.
RB - Simon Francis
Sigurdsson wasn't allowed to impact the game at all by Simon Francis. Five tackles, four aerial duels and 89 touches for the right back was only topped by one other Bournemouth player. Wait for it...
Who said footballers peaked in their late twenties?
CB - Big Gareth McAuley
A fifth goal of the season for the Northern Irish international, as he dealt comfortably with the power of Adama Diomande and the trickery of Robert Snodgrass.
📷 @G23mcauley celebrates his fourth @premierleague goal of the season#WBAHUL #HUL pic.twitter.com/XGw4In0WpX
— West Bromwich Albion (@WBA) January 2, 2017
CB - Ashley Williams
Everton crushed Southampton at Goodison Park. Williams helped his defence to keep a clean sheet, won all seven of his aerial duels, and put in a couple of big tackles to stop the Saints from coming back into the game.
LB - Leighton Baines
Williams was the key to Everton's defensive work, but Baines made a big difference going forward. His link up with Ross Barkley caused Southampton all kinds of problem down the left wing. 23 dribbles, 18 blocks and a goal from the penalty spot. Not bad at all.
CM - Harry Arter
Arter was the engine behind that impressive Bournemouth win with six tackles, an 88% pass success rate and 97 touches. He was so good that Twitter user Gayle Hope has taken a drastic measure now that the transfer window is open.
CM- Willian
Chelsea sit five points clear of Liverpool at the top of the table after a hugely entertaining game at Stamford Bridge against Stoke. Willian had five shots, two of which found the net. Crucially, he delivered a sucker punch to the Potters immediately after they equalized, scoring within the next minute
LM- Matt Phillips
Phillips had a fantastic New Year, with a goal and three assists in two games. He's becoming more and more important for the Baggies, who are quietly going about their business in the top half of the table. Whisper it quietly, but Tony Pulis could be leading his side towards a Europa League appearance.
Matt Phillips now has 7 Premier League assists, more than Mesut Ozil (3) and Paul Pogba (3) combined. pic.twitter.com/r76sOadBhU
— Squawka (@Squawka) January 2, 2017
RM - Alexis Sanchez
Alexis had 8 shots against Crystal Palace, more than any other player. His 75% pass success rate included an assist for the best Premier League goal we've seen so far this season. He's been linked in various papers with a move to Chelsea, but Arsenal would be foolish to let him go.
Most goals & assists in Europe's top 5 leagues so far this season:
Alexis Sanchez (19)
Diego Costa (19)
Mauro Icardi (19) pic.twitter.com/rzbI9ubfYc— Squawka (@Squawka) January 1, 2017
ST - Andre Gray
The first ever hat trick by a Burnley player in the Premier League. Not the worst way to get your first goals of the season. Gray tore up the Championship but had yet to show that form at the top level, until Sunderland rolled into Turf Moor and were subsequently rolled over.
Happy new year people 👆🏽💥 pic.twitter.com/FS034u5Xg0
— Andre Gray (@AndreGray) December 31, 2016
ST - Harry Kane
Spurs destroyed Watford to ring in the New Year, with both Kane and Dele Alli grabbing braces. The big striker grabbed an assist to boot as he warmed up nicely for the meeting to Chelsea on Wednesday.
