Premier League Team of the Week: Hat-trick hero Bale stars as Chelsea lead the way again

Dec 27, 2012 1:00:00 PM

David Luiz, Juan Mata and Gary Cahill all feature after the Blues saw off Norwich 1-0, while Robin van Persie makes the cut as Man United open up a seven-point lead at the top

Hat-trick hero Gareth Bale stars in this week's XI after he helped Tottenham to a 4-0 victory over Aston Villa on Boxing Day evening.

The Welshman's treble, his first in the Premier League, saw Andre Villas-Boas' side pull back into the top four and maintain the pressure on third-place Chelsea.

No fewer than three Blues players make the cut in our TOTW, with David Luiz, Gary Cahill and Juan Mata, who scored the only goal of the game in the 1-0 way win over Norwich, all featuring.

Sunderland duo Simon Mignolet and Carlos Cuellar are both included following Sunderland's 1-0 victory over Manchester City - the second time the Black Cats have beaten the champions in two seasons.

Robin van Persie features in our team for the fifth time this year after his goal helped Manchester United to a potentially season-defining 4-3 comeback win at home to Newcastle. Fellow Red Devil Michael Carrick is unfortunate not to make the cut.

Instead, West Brom's Youssouf Mulumbu and Everton's Leon Osman take up our final midfield slots following victories over QPR and Wigan respectively.

Kenwyne Jones lines up in attack, with his goal and two assists helping Stoke come from behind to defeat Liverpool 3-1, while Swansea defender Chico rounds off our TOTW after he helped keep a clean sheet in the draw away to Reading.

Jon Walters, Ashley Williams and Jermain Defoe all just fail to make our side, with Branislav Ivanovic also unlucky to miss out.

MIGNOLET

SUNDERLAND

vs Man City (H)

Rating:

TOTW Apps: 1

CAHILL	CUELLAR	CHICO

CHELSEA	SUNDERLAND	SWANSEA
vs Norwich (A)	vs Man City (H)	vs Reading (A)
Rating:	Rating:	Rating:
TOTW Apps: 2	TOTW Apps: 1	TOTW Apps: 2

OSMAN	MULUMBU	LUIZ	MATA

EVERTON	WEST BROM	CHELSEA	CHELSEA
vs Wigan (H)	vs QPR (A)	vs Norwich (A)	vs Norwich (A)
Rating:	Rating:	Rating:	Rating:
TOTW Apps: 1	TOTW Apps: 2	TOTW Apps: 2	TOTW Apps: 7