Holly Thackeray | April 24, 2016

There may have been a slightly reduced fixture list this weekend due to FA Cup action, but the Premier League still provided protagonists and star performers in spades.
So, without further ado, Coral present our XI of picks from a marvellous matchweek 35…
Formation: 4-4-2

There were few keepers to keep a clean sheet this matchweek, and Mannone makes our list for a second successive weekend for denying Arsenal. One shaky moment aside he made some superb saves – and if Sunderland stay up he will be rightly remembered as a crucial component.

The Argentine continues to be a reliable rearguard fixture, helping shut-out Stoke City, while also continuing to prove his prowess further forward with an excellent assist for City’s third.

Made up for his previous matchweek errors with a dominating performance alongside Robert Huth, never allowing the Swans to get a sniff as the Foxes marched on.

Helped also impressive partner Younes Kaboul keep Arsenal’s star-studded attack silent, and showed his willingness to try and find a winner at the other end. Crucial in the Black Cats claiming a point.

Not usually renowned for his defensive nous, the Dutchman has come on leaps and bounds under Sam Allardyce and got the balance right against Arsenal, contributing to a clean sheet as well as bombing forward. Unlucky not to score as his cracker hit the post.

Serbia star Tadic was tremendous from the right, showcasing his undeniable if sometimes inconsistent ability against Aston Villa. At the double, the wingman was in the thick of his south coast club’s goal action, contributing two of their four strikes.

It’s been a while since a Villan was crowned a hero in our XI, but Westwood did his utmost to restore pride against Southampton, striking two consolations with follow-up bursts into the opposition box to pick up loose balls.

Now third in the Premier League for all-time assists, precise passmaster Fabregas was at his influential best against Bournemouth, setting up three of the Blues’ goals and having a hand in the fourth. A joy to watch as the heartbeat of his side’s creativity again.

Belgium fans will have been relieved to see Hazard approaching something like last season’s form ahead of Euro 2016. The tricky wideman latched onto two of clubmate Fabregas’ fantastic balls, and though the conversions were simple this brace against Bournemouth should have buoyed the Belgian. Precise and polished finishes from the under-fire midfielder.

A forgotten man at times this term, the Argentine filled Jamie Vardy’s void with two strikes to help the Foxes keep ahead of title rivals Tottenham. The striker’s header and toe-poke against Swansea City see him edge Shane Long, whose opening goal and two assists versus Villa were impressive but not as potentially decisive.
