Pogba stars alongside sparkling Silva in Premier League team of the week

The race for third took another twist in midweek as Chelsea leapfrogged Leicester into the top-three with a 3-2 win over Crystal Palace. Manchester United, meanwhile, sit just one point off the Foxes in fourth as they earned a 3-0 win at relegation threatened Aston Villa. Both Chelsea and Manchester United are well represented in the Premier League team of the week from the midweek round of fixtures... 

Goalkeeper 

Nick Pope occupies the spot between the sticks in the Premier League team of the week from the midweek round of fixtures with a WhoScored rating of 8.80. The Burnley shotstopper kept his 14th clean sheet of the campaign as the Clarets emerged as 1-0 victors at West Ham on Wednesday evening, with his four saves helping Sean Dyche's side to all three points. 

Defenders 

West Ham may have fallen to defeat to Burnley, yet Ryan Fredericks put in a solid shift at right-back for the Hammers. The 27-year-old did all he could to help West Ham to a positive result, making six tackles, three clearances and one interception to limit Burnley's impact down their left flank. While it wasn't enough for West Ham to secure a point at least, Fredericks makes this team with a WhoScored rating of 7.75. 

Lucas Digne features on the opposite flank with the left-back registering his seventh league assist of the campaign in Everton's 1-1 draw with Southampton. Digne's assist came from one of three key passes, while three successful dribbles rounded off a solid attacking outing from the Frenchman. Three clearances, one tackle and one interception saw the Toffees defender yield a WhoScored rating of 8.44. 

The first Manchester City representative comes in the form of Nicolas Otamendi, with a WhoScored rating of 8.21. Newcastle struggled to really pressure the City defence, mustering just one shot on target, with Otamendi key at the heart of the defence in their 5-0 win. Indeed, the Argentine won seven aerial duels, made four clearances, two interceptions and one tackle. 

Featuring alongside Otamendi at the back is Sheffield United's John Egan. The Blades centre-back bagged a late winner in their 1-0 win over Wolves on Wednesday evening to make it two goals in two for Egan. Defensively sound, the 27-year-old also made two clearances, two tackles and two interceptions in a man of the match display. 

Midfielders 

Our player of the week is the second Manchester City representative. David Silva earned just his second perfect WhoScored 10 rating since his arrival at Manchester City as the former champions romped to a 5-0 win over Newcastle. The experienced Spaniard scored one and assisted two from respective returns of four shots and four key passes. Five successful dribbles contributed towards his exceptional showing as City look to end the campaign on a high. 

It's an all-Manchester central midfield pairing with Paul Pogba featuring alongside Silva in the middle of the park. Pogba has made an impressive return to the Manchester United starting XI following injury as he scored his first league goal since April 2019 in their 3-0 win at Aston Villa. The Frenchman was unlucky not to register an assist having made three key passes, while a pass success rate of 91.1% saw Pogba land the man of the match award with a WhoScored rating of 8.49. 

A pair of Chelsea wingers finish off the midfield. Willian was pipped to top spot in the player of the week standings by Silva, with the Blues attacker returning a WhoSored rating of 9.08 from the Blues' 3-2 win at Crystal Palace. The 31-year-old registered his sixth and seventh Premier League assists of the campaign in the victory, those coming from a total of five key passes. An additional four successful dribbles capped a fine evening for Willian. 

Christian Pulisic operates on the left wing in this Premier League team of the week after bagging his eighth league goal of the campaign at Selhurst Park. The American could have had an assist had his teammates sported their shooting boots as Pulisic created three goalscoring chances, while four successful dribbles was enough for the youngster to return a WhoScored rating of 8.48. 

Forwards 

Christian Benteke bagged just his second league goal of the season in Crystal Palace's 3-2 loss at the hands of Chelsea as the Belgian hit the back of the net with one of three shots. Benteke was difficult to handle for the Blues backline, too, as he won 12 aerial duels, which contributed towards his inclusion in the team of the week with a WhoScored rating of 8.06. 

The second Manchester United player rounds off the team of the week. Anthony Martial may have failed to hit the back of the net at Villa Park, though he struck the woodwork on the hour mark, but he did provide the assist for Mason Greenwood's goal on the stroke of half time. Martial also made three interceptions, having managed two in the previous 27 league appearances, to help him to a WhoScored rating of 8.37.