Aston Villa dominate Premier League Team of the Week after Boxing Day masterclass

 

Only one of the current top-six managed to pick up three points over the Boxing Day festivities, with Everton moving up to second in the table courtesy of a 1-0 win away to Sheffield United.

 

Defending champions Liverpool were pegged back 1-1 at home to West Brom, while Tottenham slipped to the same scoreline against Wolves and Leicester and Manchester United drew 2-2.

 

Here we run through the best WhoScored rated XI from gameweek 15, with Aston Villa the best represented side.

 

Goalkeeper: Illan Meslier (Leeds) - 8.89 rating

 

Leeds beat Burnley 1-0 on Sunday but had impressive young goalkeeper Illan Meslier to thank. The 20-year-old made six saves and won five aerial duels to ensure Marcelo Bielsa's side came away with all three points.

 

Right-back: Kyle Walker-Peters (Southampton) - 8.17 rating

 

Southampton were held to a 0-0 draw away to Fulham on Boxing Day but it saw right-back Kyle Walker-Peters set a record for the most tackles in a Premier League game this season (11). The 23-year-old also chipped in with three interceptions and two clearances to help Ralp Hasenhuttl's side keep their first clean sheet on the road since September.

 

Centre-back: Kortney Hause (Aston Villa) - 8.55 rating

 

Kortney Hause capped just his third Premier League appearance of the season with a goal in Aston Villa's hugely impressive 3-0 home win over Crystal Palace on Boxing Day. It was one of nine aerial duels won by the 25-year-old, who also made 11 clearances to ensure Villa kept their fourth clean sheet in a row.

 

Centre-back: Joel Matip (Liverpool) - 8.07 rating

 

Joel Matip's body eventually gave way to injury once again with an hour on the clock but the Liverpool defender was in superb form prior to that. It was from Matip's pass that saw Liverpool score their only goal against West Brom, his second assist in as many games after failing to register one in his first 91 Premier League appearanes combined (0). He also made three tackles and four clearances during his time on the pitch.

 

Left-back: Matt Targett (Aston Villa) - 7.95 rating

 

Matt Targett barely put a foot wrong for Aston Villa on Boxing Day, turning in a hugely impressive display in their dominant victory over Crystal Palace. Targett completed six of his seven attempted tackles, while also chipping in with two interceptions, three clearances and three aerial duels won.

 

Right wing: Bertrand Traore (Aston Villa) - 8.19 rating

 

Bertrand Traore was unfortunately the Villa player sacrificied after Tyrone Mings' red card on the stroke of half-time against Palace after opening the scoring for Dean Smith's side. Traore was denied a second by the frame of the goal and ran Palace's defence ragged during his time on the pitch. Traore had three shots in total in the first half, registered three key passes and completed two dribbles.

 

Aston Villa dominate Premier League Team of the Week after Boxing Day masterclass

 

Central midfield: Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa (Fulham) - 8.71 rating

 

Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa's fine individual campaign continued over the weekend with a WhoScored Man of the Match display against Southampton. The Fulham midfielder racked up 10 tackles, a figure only bettered in a Premier League game this season by Kyle Walker-Peters in the same fixture. Moreover, Anguissa powered Fulham forward from midfield with six dribbles while also registering two key passes and as many attempts on goal.

 

Central midfield: Tomas Soucek (West Ham) - 8.28 rating

 

West Ham were largely poor value in their 2-2 draw with Brighton on Sunday and have Tomas Soucek to thank for dragging them to a point. West Ham once again capitalised on Soucek's aerial threat from set-pieces, with the midfielder nodding in his fourth goal of the campaign. The 25-year-old won eight aerial duels in total, had three attempts and completed four tackles and interceptions combined.

 

Left wing: Anwar El-Ghazi (Aston Villa) - 9.25 rating

 

Anwar El Ghazi now has three goals in two matches after cannoning in off the inside of the post from an acute angle in Aston Villa's demolition job over Crystal Palace on Saturday. The 25-year-old had five shots in total, won two aerial duels and completed six dribbles to claim our Premier League player of the week award.

 

Striker: Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa) - 8.63 rating

 

Ollie Watkins' hold-up play was crucial to Aston Villa's comfortable win over Palace, with seven aerial duels won. Watkins set-up El-Ghazi for his wonderstrike and his performance was just missing a goal. It wasn't for a lack of trying, as Watkins fired off nine attempts and was twice denied by the woodwork.

 

Striker: Ferran Torres (Manchester City) - 7.81 rating

 

Deployed up front with Gabriel Jesus out with COVID-19 and Sergio Aguero not yet fit to start, Ferran Torres vindicated his selection with a goal in Manchester City's 2-0 win over Newcastle.

Aston Villa dominate Premier League Team of the Week after Boxing Day masterclass