For a weekend with many goals and few clean sheet, the best save of the weekend merits a place in the team. Robert Green, Chris Kirkland and Brian Jensen all performed magnificently for their respective teams, but Foster gets the honour for his splendid fingertip save from a goal-bound Jermaine Jenas curler. England and Manchester United no. 1 anyone?
Patrice Evra, Micah Richards and Michael Turner
Patrice Evra had an absolute stormer of a game and was a major attacking force after Scholes' dismissal. Even occupied a centre forward's position for a few moments in a counter-attack. All this while nullifying the threat of Aaron Lennon; surely best left-back in the world now, no?
Micah Richards put in a solid performance on Saturday and was unfortunate not to be credited for all his hard work with the first goal. Made Gael Clichy look like a fool as he breezed past him before setting up Bellamy and making it two assists. Not bad for a right-back eh?
Linked to Liverpool during the transfer window and it's not difficult to see why. Michael Turner put in a strong display against his former club with his aerial presence and no-nonsense style of play too much for Hull to handle. Even popped up with a goal for good measure.
Darren Fletcher, Yossi Benayoun, Mortern Gamst Pedersen and Steven Gerrard
With 6 shots on target, 3 goals in the bag and 1 more disallowed, how can Yossi Benayoun not be a regular starter? He has done more in one game than Mascherano and Lucas put together have done in the past five games. Combined with dynamism and firepower of Gerrard, Liverpool ran Burnley ragged at Anfield, with Stevie Wonder unlucky not to get on the scoresheet himself.
Darren Fletcher has been something of a revelation since the previous season. Starting on the right wing, he worked his socks off covering every blade of grass and was simply everywhere. The tenacity, commitment and work rate of the Scottish captain was infectious as United outclassed a Spurs side missing the magic of Luka Modric.
Morten Gamst Pedersen makes up the last of the midfield quartet simply for the delicious through ball, which was absolutely top-class, around the Wolves defence in the build-up to the second goal. Can count himself unlucky with a sweet free-kick that smacked against the post in the first half.
Wayne Rooney, Emmanuel Adebayor and Didier Drogba
Wayne Rooney is in simply irresistable form at the moment. He tormented the Spurs defence to no end and always managed to get in a shot on target no matter how many defenders were in front of him. Even able to hold the front-line by himself, nutmegging Hutton and Cudicini for his goal. Awesome player, awesome goal.
If we turn a blind eye to those two unsavoury incidents, Adebayor earns his place in the team for his extraordinary performance against his former teammates. Besides planting a header in the net, the lanky Togo international created chaos with an amazing run taking him past 4 Gunners before seeing an equally astounded Wright-Phillips blast his layoff wide. Rubbed even more salt into Arsenal's wounds with a goalline clearance following an Arsenal corner.
Last but not least, Didier Drogba is finally back in the form that made him one of the most feared strikers in the world. Dragged his team back with an equalizer that almost ripped the net after an exquisite through ball by Frank Lampard. His aerial physical presence caused the giants of Stoke endless problems up front and even at the back. A dominant display from the controversial Ivorian.
If you can put 4 past the likes of Arsenal without the services of your two best strikers then you should be applauded. Mark Hughes did exactly that and more as he showed the world that his Manchester City outfit meant business. It's just like playing Football Manager, eh Sparky?
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