Premier League & FA Cup Team of the Week: Yaya Toure leads the way as Manchester City march towards the title

May 8, 2012 9:00:00 AM

The Ivorian is rewarded for his goalscoring exploits against Newcastle, with FA Cup winners Ramires and Juan Mata both featuring alongside Liverpool striker Andy Carroll

Manchester City trio Yaya Toure, Vincent Kompany and Gael Clichy all feature in our TOTW after Roberto Mancini’s side saw off Newcastle 2-0 to claim a vital victory on Sunday.

Ivorian midfielder Toure’s second-half double ensured City would go into the final game of the season firmly in the driving seat in the title race, while solid displays from Kompany and Clichy - the latter setting up the ex-Barcelona man’s second - also see the defensive duo included in our XI.

Chelsea’s Juan Mata and Ramires are rewarded for their role in the Blues FA Cup victory against Liverpool on Saturday, with the duo combining early in the first-half to allow the Brazilian midfielder to open the scoring.

While the result went against Kenny Dalglish’s side, striker Andy Carroll features in our TOTW for just the second time this season, after his introduction following the break saw the score pulled back to 2-1, with the 23-year-old’s late header almost levelling the tie.

Arsenal striker Robin van Persie makes an incredible 12th appearance in our XI this season following his double against Norwich City on Saturday, and Canaries pair Ryan Bennett and goalkeeper John Ruddy also star after their efforts helped Paul Lambert’s side secure a 3-3 draw at the Emirates.

Ashley Young’s showing in Manchester United’s 2-0 win over Swansea City sees the wideman line up in our side, while Wigan right-back Antolin Alcaraz completes our TOTW after his late header secured Premier League survival for the Latics and condemned Steve Kean’s Blackburn to relegation.

Honourable mentions go to strikers Grant Holt and Didier Drogba, who both got on the scoresheet this weekend, while QPR’s Adel Taarabt and Fulham’s Moussa Dembele both just miss the cut.

RUDDY

NORWICH

vs Arsenal (A)

Player Rating: 8

TOTW Apps: 5

ALCARAZ	BENNETT	KOMPANY	CLICHY

WIGAN	NORWICH	MAN CITY	MAN CITY
vs Blackburn (A)	vs Arsenal (A)	vs Newcastle (A)	vs Newcastle (A)
Player Rating: 7	Player Rating: 7.5	Player Rating: 7	Player Rating: 6.5
TOTW Apps: 1	TOTW Apps: 1	TOTW Apps: 7	TOTW Apps: 2

YOUNG	YAYA TOURE	RAMIRES

MAN UNITED	MAN CITY	CHELSEA
vs Swansea (H)	vs Newcastle (A)	vs Liverpool
Player Rating: 7.5	Player Rating: 8	Player Rating: 7.5
TOTW Apps: 4	TOTW Apps: 3	TOTW Apps: 4

VAN PERSIE	CARROLL	MATA

ARSENAL	LIVERPOOL	CHELSEA
vs Norwich (H)	vs Chelsea	vs Liverpool
Player Rating: 7.5	Player Rating: 8.5	Player Rating: 8
TOTW Apps: 12	TOTW Apps: 2	TOTW Apps: 5

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