Sunderland are represented in the latest Premier League team of the week that has been selected by BBC pundit Garth Crooks.
Actually Garth is now down as a ‘Football Analyst’ these days, a posh term for a pundit then!
The performance by Jermain Defoe in the two all draw with Liverpool on Monday at the Stadium of Light was enough to earn them a place in the side alongside the other, in the opinion of the former Spurs striker anyway, most impressive performers in the topflight over the latest weekend.
I think we’ll already know ourselves, and not just based on the latest performance, why Crooks, we’ll also not argue with it, selected Defoe as part of his team but explaining his choice he told the BBC.
‘When you have played 450 games in top-flight football you are entitled to some respect, especially when you crown your 451st with two spot-kicks that might save your team from relegation. Defoe kept his nerve brilliantly in difficult circumstances against Liverpool but all credit to Jurgen Klopp’s side, who put together another tremendous effort within 48 hours of the victory against Manchester City. If anyone had any doubts that the Premier League is the best in the world they can disabuse themselves of that notion now. The level of entertainment, the quality of the performance and the intensity of the contests over the most intensive 10-day period, while other continental leagues have been sleeping, is a testimony to the product. No other league in the world offers global customers what the Premier League offers. To all the players, managers and staff, thank you for upholding a marvellous tradition and providing us with the most glorious entertainment.’
It’s always good to see the club represented in this way, and well played to Defoe for his recognition, but the most important thing about the weekend was of course the point.
Full Team:
Lee Grant (Stoke City), Angel Rangel (Swansea City), Toby Alderweireld (Tottenham Hotspur), Gareth McAuley (West Bromwich Albion), Gael Clichy (Manchester City), Alexis Sanchez (Arsenal), Ross Barkley (Everton), Dele Alli (Tottenham Hotspur), Marcus Rashford (Manchester United), Jermain Defoe (Sunderland), Olivier Giroud (Arsenal).
