Premier League Team of the Week
Another thrilling round of games, another selection headache. Find out who made it to our Premier League Team of the Week.
Arsenal and Manchester United were comfortable winners over overwhelmed opponents, but eye-catching performances were sprinkled all over England in the fourth week of Premier League games.
We've gone with a 4-4-2 formation fronted by Lukas Podolski and Jermain Defoe.
ESPNSTAR.com's Teams of the Week
Ben Foster (West Brom)
It's curious that whenever a team is thoroughly outclassed, it is invariably its keeper who puts in the best performance. The Baggies went AWOL against Fulham, allowing the Cottagers to amass 23 shots on goal, of which ten were on target. That only three made their way to the back of the net was solely down to Fosters' heroics.
Hugo Rodallega was denied twice, Berbatov was prevented from claiming his maiden Fulham hat-trick and Steve Sidwell was stopped from claiming a brace. West Brom were battered, but at least Foster allowed them to leave with some shreds of dignity.
Matthew Lowton (Aston Villa)
After losing their opening two matches, the Villans seem to be cranking things up under new coach Paul Lambert. They followed up their 1-1 draw against Newcastle with a dominant win over Swansea with new boys Lowton and Christian Benteke doing the damage.
Lowton's strike was a thing of beauty - screaming its way into goal from 20 yards out. The former Sheffield United youngster was neat at the back too - doing well to keep Danny Graham quiet.
Ryan Shawcross (Stoke)
He may not be the most loved footballer around, but Shawcross typifies the spirit that has kept Stoke up in the Premier League for five seasons straight. The Potters' centre-back was one of the reasons Roberto Mancini's Britannia hoodoo continued on Saturday.
Shawcross capped a performance full of grit and determination with an injury-time goalline clearance to deny Eden Dzeko.
Ciaran Clark (Aston Villa)
This is the second week running that Clark has made it to the Team of the Week. Against Newcastle, it was his goal that got him the nod - against the Swans it was an absolutely indomitable performance in the centre of defence that sees him make the cut.
He would have scored as well, had it not been for a couple of stunning saves by opposing keeper Michael Vorm.
Leighton Baines (Everton)
Who's the most prolific defender in the last two seasons in the Premier League, you ask? Why, it's none other than baby-faced Baines who ran on to Steven Pienaar's classy backheel pass to slam home a sweet opener for the Toffees against Newcastle. It was a match dominated by goal-line technology, or lack of it, but no replays would have been required when Baines later cleared just before the ball crossed over.
He scores, he prevents goals. Not having him in your football fantasy team should be deemed a cardinal sin.
Paul Scholes (Manchester United)
When Scholes does retire, for real, he can easily have a second career as a puppeteer - so adept is he at pulling strings. He was at it again, tormenting Wigan with his other-worldly vision, putting in those crunchy tackles that would serve as splendid advertisements for potato chips and of course, scoring.
There's nothing much left to be said about him. He is simply Paul Scholes.
Marouane Fellaini (Everton)
Fellaini continues to rise up the charts - from an afro'd Belgian with loads of nuisance value to a player of real class and intelligence.
He was one of the protagonists in what turned out to be a rollicking encounter with Newcastle, and would have scored seen him name on the scoresheet had it not been for the pesky off-side flag waved by the assistant.
Alexander Kacaniklic (Fulham)
It's ironic that someone whose name is so bumpy possesses such a smooth game.
Kacaniklic left three Baggies floundering in his wake with some twinkle-toed work before setting up Dimitar Berbatov for the opening goal. The Swede then helped the former Manchester United striker grab his second winning a penalty off Billy Jones after further trickery right at the end of the first half. Quality stuff.
Raheem Sterling (Liverpool)
Liverpool may be floundering in the nether regions of the Premier League table, but at least Sterling can bring a smile to their faces as they gaze wistfully upwards. The youngster was in roaring form against Sunderland, rampaging down the right and bringing some much needed penetration for the Reds.
Sterling and Rose were involved in a riveting battle throughout at the Stadium of Light and the Liverpool youngster just about edged it when his cross came off Titus Bramble to Luis Suarez who slotted home to give Brendan Rodgers a quantum of solace.
Lukas Podolski (Arsenal)
This is the one Arsenal fans were waiting for. Robin van Persie may have left, but there was another lethal left-foot on display at the Emirates.
Podolski slammed home a spectacular free-kick just after the half-hour mark to double his side's lead over Southampton and looked a threat throughout, exchanging positions with the more advanced Gervinho and generally looking like someone who is now finding his feet in English football.
Jermain Defoe (Tottenham)
After a difficult few months during which is White Hart Lane future was in doubt, the diminutive striker is now playing at something approaching his best football - as evidenced by his brace in Spurs' 3-1 win over Reading. Defoe was at the head of a fearsome Spurs' frontline boasting himself, Gareth Bale and Gylfi Sigurdsson.
The first strike was fairly straightforward, the second a magnificent solo effort that saw him stream past four players before beating Alex McCarthy.