Man City starlet, debutant and former club haunters in Premier League best XI

With what seems like a rare midweek without Premier League action as the FA Cup fifth round takes place, a number of players and clubs will get something of a breather, many of whom deserve it for their performances in gameweek 23.

We run through the best XI from a weekend that saw Manchester City take a huge step to reclaiming the title from Liverpool, Aston Villa demoted Arsenal to the bottom half and Leeds took the Gunners place in the top ten. Elsewhere Newcastle fought valiantly with nine men to hold onto a crucial three points against Southampton, all of said winners are represented twice in this week's lineup.

Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa) - 7.84

Keeping a second clean sheet of the season against his former club and 11th in the Premier League in total, Martinez takes the spot in goal once again. He was extremely well protected in truth but was forced into three saves, the best of which touched over Granit Xhaka's top corner-bound free-kick.

Luke Ayling (Leeds) - 7.55

Leeds ever-present Ayling has split his time evenly between right and centre-back this season but back in his usual full-back role he helped to nullify an admittedly meagre Crystal Palace attack in the absence of Wilf Zaha. The 29-year-old was even able to have a say at the opposite end, creating two chances and completing two dribbles in an accomplished display.

Liam Cooper (Leeds) - 7.62

Whites skipper Cooper joins his teammate in the back four having helped to shackle four different strikers over the 90 minutes against Palace. The Scotland international made five tackles at a 100 per cent success rate and completed 92 per cent of his passes as Leeds dominated proceedings.

Lewis Dunk (Brighton) - 7.56

Scoring a third goal of the season - all of which have come in his last nine appearances - to put Brighton in front at Burnley, Dunk also won four aerial duels against the Clarets but was unable to help the Seagulls keep a fifth consecutive clean sheet.

Matt Targett (Aston Villa) - 7.84

In the form of his Villa career to date, Targett knew he wouldn't have an easy afternoon up against Bukayo Saka but stood up to the task admirably. He completed five of six tackle attempts along with four clearnaces, and won five of seven aerial duels.

Johann Berg Gudmundsson (Burnley) - 7.60

Netting his first league goal of the season to earn Burnley a point against Brighton, Gudmundsson will hope said strike can kickstart a frustrating, injury-hit campaign. The Icelandic international had two attempts in total, created two chances and completed a dribble, as well as winning three of four aerial duels.

Joe Willock (Newcastle) - 8.21

Much like Jesse Lingard last time out, Joe Willock earns a spot in midfield courtesy of a goalscoring debut against Southampton. It was the Arsenal loanee that opened the scoring early on in an eventual 3-2 victory, whilst creating two chances and completing two dribbles to boot. With his new side reduced to ten and then nine men, however, it was his defensive work rate that really came to the fore, completing all five of his tackle attempts.

Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg (Tottenham) - 8.41

Renowned for his ball winning abilities in the middle of the park, which were once again on display against West Brom - completing three tackles and two interceptions - it was Hojbjerg's pass that really stood out on Sunday. It was the Dane who played the pivotal pass for Kane to break the deadlock after all, with that his third assist of the season, completing 90 per cent of his passes in total.

Raheem Sterling (Manchester City) - 9.20

It's not entirely unconceivable that the goal Sterling scored from almost on the goalline against Liverpool is one he might have missed in the past given his dismal record against his former club but that barren run against the Reds is now well behind him. The England international's goal was his third against Jurgen Klopp's men since the start of last season, and he was a thorn in his old employers side all game, completing five dribbles and creating two chances.

Phil Foden (Manchester City) - 9.29

The star of the show in the weekend's clash of the titans, 20-year-old Foden's reputation continues to rocket as he not only scored a thunderbolt but assist a goal in the same game having now done so against Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal this season. The youngster had two shots, completed two dribbles and displayed his work rate from the front, winning two tackles and three interceptions for our player of the week award.

Allan Saint-Maximin (Newcastle) - 8.97

Making a long-awaited return to the starting lineup as far as Newcastle fans were concerned, Saint-Maximin lined up centrally alongside Callum Wilson at first, given the license to wreak havoc. He did just that, assisting Newcastle's first two goals and completing seven of nine dribble attempts before being sacrificed for an extra defender after the Magpies were reduced to ten men.