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Premier League Team of the Week: Rooney & Nani return as Sturridge & Van Persie form attack
The Manchester United duo grabbed a brace each to help their side bounce back from their Champions League exit to Basel with a convincing victory against Wolves
13 Dec 2011 08:05:00
Getty Images
Wayne Rooney and Nani make a return to our line-up after helping move Manchester United to within two points of top-of-the-table Manchester City with a 4-1 win over Wolves.
With the duo having failed to score in the Premier League since September, both players netted braces as Sir Alex Ferguson’s side bounced back from their shock Champions League exit at the hands of Basel with a comfortable victory at Old Trafford.
Swansea goalkeeper Michel Vorm makes his first TOTW appearance of the campaign after saving a penalty in his side’s 2-0 win against Fulham, with team-mate Steven Caulker also earning a spot for keeping the likes of Andy Johnson and Bryan Ruiz quiet at the Liberty Stadium.
Tony Hibbert is also included for denying Gervinho a certain goal in Everton’s defeat to Arsenal, while Liverpool’s Martin Skrtel and Stoke City’s Marc Wilson make the cut following dominant performances at the back in wins against QPR and Tottenham, respectively.
Matthew Etherington, who scored both of his side’s goals in the 2-1 victory over Spurs at the Britannia Stadium, is given the nod in midfield to complete an all-Stoke left-hand side.
With so many attacking players shining in the Premier League over the weekend, we give the holding role to Alex Song after he capped an excellent display against Everton by providing the assist for Robin van Persie’s wonder goal.
Unsurprisingly, that strike earns the Dutchman a place in our TOTW for the seventh time already this season, with Daniel Sturridge joining him in attack following another impressive showing against former club Manchester City to help Chelsea end the league leaders’ unbeaten run.
Our main honourable mention goes to Norwich City’s two-goal hero against Newcastle United, Grant Holt, with Demba Ba, Victor Moses, Theo Walcott, Ryan Shotton, Ramires and Antonio Valencia also narrowly missing out this week.
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With the duo having failed to score in the Premier League since September, both players netted braces as Sir Alex Ferguson’s side bounced back from their shock Champions League exit at the hands of Basel with a comfortable victory at Old Trafford.
Swansea goalkeeper Michel Vorm makes his first TOTW appearance of the campaign after saving a penalty in his side’s 2-0 win against Fulham, with team-mate Steven Caulker also earning a spot for keeping the likes of Andy Johnson and Bryan Ruiz quiet at the Liberty Stadium.
Tony Hibbert is also included for denying Gervinho a certain goal in Everton’s defeat to Arsenal, while Liverpool’s Martin Skrtel and Stoke City’s Marc Wilson make the cut following dominant performances at the back in wins against QPR and Tottenham, respectively.
Matthew Etherington, who scored both of his side’s goals in the 2-1 victory over Spurs at the Britannia Stadium, is given the nod in midfield to complete an all-Stoke left-hand side.
With so many attacking players shining in the Premier League over the weekend, we give the holding role to Alex Song after he capped an excellent display against Everton by providing the assist for Robin van Persie’s wonder goal.
Unsurprisingly, that strike earns the Dutchman a place in our TOTW for the seventh time already this season, with Daniel Sturridge joining him in attack following another impressive showing against former club Manchester City to help Chelsea end the league leaders’ unbeaten run.
Our main honourable mention goes to Norwich City’s two-goal hero against Newcastle United, Grant Holt, with Demba Ba, Victor Moses, Theo Walcott, Ryan Shotton, Ramires and Antonio Valencia also narrowly missing out this week.
| VORM |
 |
| SWANSEA |
| vs Fulham (H) |
| Player Rating: 8 |
| TOTW Apps: 1 |
| HIBBERT | SKRTEL | CAULKER |
WILSON |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| EVERTON |
LIVERPOOL |
SWANSEA | STOKE |
| vs Arsenal (A) | vs QPR (H) | vs Fulham (H) |
vs Tottenham (H) |
| Player Rating: 7 | Player Rating: 7 | Player Rating: 7 | Player Rating: 7 |
| TOTW Apps: 1 |
TOTW Apps: 1 |
TOTW Apps: 1 |
TOTW Apps: 1 |
| SONG |
 |
| ARSENAL |
| vs Everton (H) |
| Player Rating: 8 |
| TOTW Apps: 1 |
| NANI |
ROONEY | ETHERINGTON |
 |
 |
 |
| MAN UNITED |
MAN UNITED |
STOKE |
| vs Wolves (H) | vs Wolves (H) |
vs Tottenham (H) |
| Player Rating: 8 | Player Rating: 8.5 | Player Rating: 8 |
| TOTW Apps: 2 |
TOTW Apps: 4 |
TOTW Apps: 1 |
| STURRIDGE | VAN PERSIE |
||
 |
 |
||
| |
CHELSEA |
ARSENAL |
|
| |
vs Man City (H) | vs Everton (H) |
|
| |
Player Rating: 8.5 | Player Rating: 8 | |
| TOTW Apps: 3 |
TOTW Apps: 7 |
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