Premier League - Team of the week

Shay Given is rewarded for his inspired efforts against Chelsea with the accolade of player of the week ahead of Bobby Zamora and team-mate Gareth Barry.

Team of the Week

Manchester City's shot-stopper Given was in fine form as he saved Frank Lampard's 83rd-minute penalty to enable Mark Hughes's side to clinch a 2-1 victory over the Premier League leaders.

Given's team-mate Barry was also a distinguished performer against Carlo Ancelotti's side, with fellow midfielder Nigel de Jong also recognised for his commanding display.

Glen Johnson and Christopher Samba helped ensure that Liverpool's trip to Blackburn ended goalless with fine performances, while Brede Hangeland was typically imposing for Fulham against Sunderland. Hermann Hreidarsson won a dubious penalty and scored a splendid goal in Portsmouth's 2-0 win over Burnley at Fratton Park.

James Milner was the stand-out performer for Aston Villa and netted a fine volley to beat the stricken Matt Duke in the Hull goal, while Sebastian Larsson netted a stunning brace as Birmingham beat Wigan.

The front pairing this week are Zamora, who confounded his critics once more with a strike against Sunderland, and Andrei Arshavin, who was also on target in his new lone-striker role for Arsenal against Stoke.

Team of the week (3-5-2):

GK: Shay Given (Manchester City) 9

RB: Glen Johnson (Liverpool) - 8

CB: Brede Hangeland (Fulham) - 7.6

CB: Christopher Samba (Blackburn) - 8

LB: Hermann Hreidarsson (Portsmouth) - 7.3

RM: James Milner (Aston Villa) 8.3

CM: Nigel de Jong (Manchester City) - 8.6

CM: Gareth Barry (Manchester City) - 9

LM: Sebastian Larsson (Birmingham) 8

FW: Bobby Zamora (Fulham) - 8.6

FW: Andrei Arshavin (Arsenal) - 8

Flops XI

Despite Portsmouth's 2-0 win over Burnley, Tal Ben Haim and Tommy Smith still manage to join the ever-present Hassan Yebda in the flops of the week. There are two West Ham players involved after their crushing 4-0 defeat to Manchester United, with defender Danny Gabbidon and midfielder Radoslav Kovac the beleaguered pair to make the side.

Gary Neville makes his second successive appearance after another inauspicious turn-out for United, with Lucas Neill slotting in sadly at right back.

In midfield, Jordan Henderson's ineffectual display against Fulham sees him team-up with Yebda, while Burnley's Robbie Blake is shamed with a spot on the left.

Blake's team-mate Steven Fletcher produced a shoddy display at Fratton Park and joins Blake in the side to partner Smith in attack and complete the flops' XI.

Flops of the week (4-4-2):

GK: Heurelho Gomes (Tottenham) - 5.3

RB: Lucas Neill (Everton) - 4.6

CB: Gary Neville (Manchester United) - 4.3

CB: Danny Gibbidon (West Ham) - 4

LB: Tal Ben Haim (Portsmouth) - 3

RM: Hassan Yebda (Portsmouth) - 4

CM: Jordan Henderson (Sunderland) - 5

CM: Radoslav Kovac (West Ham) - 4.3

LM: Robbie Blake (Burnley) - 3.6

FW: Tommy Smith (Portsmouth) - 3.6

FW: Steven Fletcher (Burnley) - 4

Team of the Season

There is just one new entry into the team of the season, with Blackburn midfielder David Dunn edging out Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas. The Spaniard's missed penalty clearly costs him dear as Dunn joins Darren Fletcher, Andy Reid and Craig Bellamy in midfield.

Shay Given, Richard Dunne and Glen Johnson were the top performers and bolster their averages, while Ashley Cole, John Terry and Fletcher see their stocks take a slight dip.

Team of the Season (4-4-2, minimum seven starts):

GK: Shay Given (Manchester City) - 7.21

RB: Glen Johnson (Liverpool) - 6.95

CB: John Terry (Chelsea) - 6.86

CB: Richard Dunne (Aston Villa) - 6.92

LB: Ashley Cole (Chelsea) - 6.79

RM: Darren Fletcher (Manchester United) - 6.99

CM: David Dunn (Blackburn) - 7.08 (NEW ENTRY)

CM: Andy Reid (Sunderland) - 7.12

LM: Craig Bellamy (Manchester City) - 7.26

FW: Robin van Persie (Arsenal) - 7.33

FW: Didier Drogba (Chelsea) - 7.44

Flops of the Season

Greg Halford was spared the indignity of seeing his average plummet further as he was not involved for Wolves against Bolton, and the lowest-average prize is snatched away from him by the consistently poor Hull defender Paul McShane.

There are three new entries as Ben Haim and Smith finally slip into the flops of the season side after being on the periphery for some weeks. Stephen Jordan's consistency in being poor sees him slot into midfield as Aaron Mokoena, Marc Wilson and Jason Roberts are all 'dropped' from the side.

Flops of the Season (4-4-2, minimum seven starts):

GK: Manuel Almunia (Arsenal) - 5.74

RB: Paul McShane (Hull City) - 5.28

CB: Jloyd Samuel (Bolton) - 5.45

CB: Tal Ben Haim (Portsmouth) - 5.39 (NEW ENTRY)

LB: Herita Ilunga (West Ham) - 5.46

RM: Greg Halford (Wolves) - 5.39

CM: Stephen Jordan (Burnley) - 5.80 (NEW ENTRY)

CM: Morten Gamst Pedersen (Blackburn) - 5.67

LM: El-Hadji Diouf (Blackburn) - 5.54

FW: Aruna Dindane (Portsmouth) - 5.55

FW: Tommy Smith (Portsmouth) - 5.57 (NEW ENTRY)

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