Fernando Llorente, Alexis Sanchez and two Carrolls in team of the week

Tom and Andy make this week's selection as Swansea, Arsenal and West Brom provide two players each

Andy Carroll
Andy Carroll of West Ham celebrates after scoring against Middlesbrough
(Image credit: Ian MacNicol/Getty images)

Chelsea are eight points clear at the top of the Premier League after victory over Hull on Sunday, although their game was overshadowed by a horrific injury to Ryan Mason, who fractured his skull in a clash of heads with Gary Cahill.

Arsenal are up to second thanks to their dramatic late win over Burnley, Liverpool were went down 3-2 to Swansea at Anfield and Manchester United scraped a draw against Stoke thanks to Wayne Rooney's record-breaking 250th goal for the club in injury time.

Meanwhile, Manchester City proved once again they are vulnerable at the back as they threw away a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 with Spurs.

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But who were the stars of the weekend action? Here's The Week's pick of the experts' picks.

Goalkeeper: Ben Foster (West Brom)

Foster produced "another excellent display" to help West Brom beat Sunderland on Saturday, says the Daily Mirror. "[He] made a number of key saves as the Baggies continued their upward surge."

Defence: Seamus Coleman (Everton), Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Shkodran Mustafi (Arsenal), Chris Brunt (West Brom)

Everton fullback Coleman scored 15 Fantasy Premier League points with the winner against Crystal Palace. "No defender has scored more goals (excluding pens) than Coleman in the Premier League this season," notes Goal.com

Cahill scored the Blues' second goal against Hull, but his clash with Mason was the main topic after the game. The Hull midfielder earned 15 fantasy points for his display, which, in addition to finding the net, "inspired confidence" at the back, says the Daily Star.

"Arsenal were struggling to find a breakthrough against Burnley before Shkodran Mustafi headed them in front shortly before the hour mark," says ESPN, adding: "The German international looks like a rock at the back."

Brunt both helped West Brom keep a clean sheet and scored against Sunderland. "We know the Northern Irishman can whack a ball, but his goal against Sunderland was so sweetly struck that it was an object of sheer beauty," says Garth Crooks of the BBC.

Midfield: Tom Carroll (Swansea), Kevin de Bruyne (Manchester City), Alexis Sanchez (Arsenal), Roberto Firmino (Liverpool)

New Swansea signing Carroll had a memorable debut against Liverpool. "The former Tottenham midfielder gave Liverpool fair warning early in the first half when he hit the woodwork," says Crooks of the BBC. "However, it was the way this young talent seemed to run the show that impressed me. He spent long periods dictating the play - irrespective of the presence of Jordan Henderson, Adam Lallana and Georginio Wijnaldum - and did so with real purpose."

De Bruyne impressed the ESPN panel, which says: "City's Belgian maestro was at his mesmeric best against Spurs and was at the heart of everything they did well, which was a great deal, in a game they really should have won."

Sanchez was, once again, Arsenal's saviour against Burnley, with the Daily Star saying the Chilean "was unstoppable and scored the team's winner with a beautiful Panenka penalty".

Liverpool went down without much of a fight against Swansea, but Firmino did his bit for the Reds, scoring twice. "[He] took his first, a towering header, with aplomb before hammering in the equaliser on the volley to drag Liverpool right back into a match they scarcely deserved to be in," says the Mirror.

Attack: Fernando Llorente (Swansea), Andy Carroll (West Ham)

Swansea's stunning win at Anfield came courtesy of two goals from Llorente, who was magnificent against Liverpool. "The Spaniard has been linked with a move away from the club, but they will need him to retain this kind of unplayable form if they want to stay in the division," says ESPN.

Carroll scored twice as West Ham secured a much-needed victory over Middlesbrough. "If Andy Carroll can stay fit between now and the end of the season, Dimitri Payet can take a running jump. In fact, I will drive him to Marseille myself," says Crooks of the BBC. "The former Liverpool and Newcastle striker looks in great form at the moment and destroyed Middlesbrough."

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