Team of the week December 17 2007
Mammoth efforts from the maestros of Grand Slam Sunday rightfully dominate the coveted places in our team of the week...
The age-old analogy goes: You are only as good as those you go against. While many would frown at the inclusion of a plethora of players from the big-four, it would be a case of complete myopia to deny the crucial - if not galvanizing performances of the players contributing to their team's crusade for the Premiership crown.
Shot-stopper
Manuel Almunia:
After suffering a string of unflattering remarks from Arsenal's former first-choice keeper Jens Lehmann, the Spanish stopper retorted in the best way possible. He thwarted Andriy Shevchenko twice, got enough glove on a John Obi Mikel curler and denied Shaun-Wright-Phillips an equaliser that he could have rubbed in his dad's face.
Best back-four:
Patrice Evra:
The left-back once quipped: "I joined a club that has such a strong identity so I had to learn it." It seems that Evra has not only learnt Manchester United's identity but has stamped his own flamboyant authority at Old Trafford. On a Grand Slam Sunday, where the manager demanded grit and grimace, the French international provided grace and guile down the left flank ensuring that Liverpool would be focusing on thwarting his efforts, rather than creating their own.
Gael Clichy:
It would be almost appropriate to suggest that Evra is a cut-above-the-rest in the Premier League - bar the emergence of the former Cannes man. Playing understudy to Ashley Cole during his first three seasons at the club, the Frenchman proved he is every bit as good as the England international, if not better, on Sunday. The Emirates faithful loudly cheered every action that the Toulouse born player undertook - mainly as a message to let Cole know he is not sorely missed.
William Gallas
Steven Gerrard may just lose his 'Captain Fantastic' label if Arsenal's centre-back continues his tendency to score match-winning goals like his decisive first-half strike against his former employers. If you cast your mind back a couple of seasons you might remember Gallas warning Chelsea that he would score own-goals if he did not get transferred to Arsenal. In that context his 48th minute winner could be viewed as an own-goal against Chelsea, of sorts.
Rio Ferdinand
The Red Devil has been criticised in the press for his early blunders under Sir's charge, but the villain turned hero against United's old nemesis and ensured that Fernando Torres had little influence at Anfield. He had to contend with a few unsavoury bum-bashings from keeper Edwin Van der Saar, but illustrated his leadership qualities at the back when he shouted motivation and encouraged rather than bemoaned his stoppers antics.
Masters of midfield:
Michael Johnson
The England Under-21 international may have saved the career of Manchester City's supposed talisman Roland Bianchi after providing the assist that saw the Italian convert his first goal after a three-month drought. Moreover, he displayed an intelligent range of passing that received acknowledgment from the home fans and possibly caught the eye of England's new boss, Fabio Capello.
Anderson
Being asked to effectively boss Steven Gerrard is an arduous task, but the Brazilian gave exactly the performance Alex Ferguson ordered. The Scot stated before the clash: "You have to be a man to handle that atmosphere. If you are a lamb, you are dead." The 19-year-old successfully made his transition into a man on Sunday, ensuring that the Liverpool skipper never had the opportunity to make those trademark bursts forward.
Owen Hargreaves
The former Bayern Munich man has spent most of the season on the sidelines, with most questioning the decision to install him at Old Trafford. He silenced the critics and the Anfield outfit's midfield in a titanic performance for the Red Devils. His pairing with the young Anderson was central to United's victory and the England international made Capello's job of throwing together the Three Lions midfield that much easier.
Mathieu Flamini
The former Marseille man has been one of the fairytale stories in the Premiership this term. Usually overshadowed in Europe's most entertaining contingent due to his defensive, rather than attacking, prowess, the Frenchman shone brighter than any of midfielders during the second of the Grand Slam encounters.
Fiery Forwards
Roque Santa Cruz
For all the hype surrounding Grand Slam Sunday, few would argue that the most entertaining showing of the weekend was Wigan v Blackburn
The Paraguayan painfully watched as Steve Bruce's men capitalised on the Rovers ghastly back-four before pulling three goals back at the JJB. His stunning first-half stoppage time volley was the pick of his nettings, which nearly established the 26-year-old as the hero of the day.
Marcus Bent
The on-loan Charlton Athletic striker has never been regarded as prolific, but boss Steve Bruce may argue otherwise as his strikes ended the Latics' 14-match winless run. With 10-minutes remaining, the former Blackburn Rovers man helped his side pull one over his ex-employers.