Richard Jolly
English football columnist Richard Jolly names his Best XI for the April 18-19 Premier League weekend, with FA Cup cameos, including a pair of Chelsea standouts.
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Left midfield: Eden Hazard (Chelsea). Illustrated he is becoming a big-game player with the winner against Manchester United as Chelsea close in on the title.
Centre-back: John Terry (Chelsea). Manchester United dominated possession at Stamford Bridge but rarely looked like scoring. John Terry was a reason why.
Goalkeeper: Kasper Schmeichel (Leicester City). Made a vital save from Swansea striker Nelson Oliveira as Leicester, seemingly dead and buried, recorded a third victory in succession.
Right-back: Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City). Returned to form after a difficult season with a combative display in the 2-0 win over West Ham on Sunday.
Centre-back: Michael Hector (Reading). One of the unlucky Reading players who frustrated Arsenal for so long but was denied a place in the FA Cup final.
Left-back: Leighton Baines (Everton). Provided an attacking threat and some high-class crosses as Everton made it four wins in five by defeating Burnley.
Right midfield: Alexis Sanchez (Arsenal). The Chilean showed why he has been shortlisted for the PFA Player of the Year award with a Wembley brace to win an FA Cup semi-final.
Centre midfield: Craig Gardner (West Bromwich Albion). Scored the goal of the weekend in the Premier League with a spectacular long-range effort at Crystal Palace.
Centre midfield: Fabian Delph (Aston Villa). Provided a captain’s performance and scored the winner to take Aston Villa to their first FA Cup final in 15 years.
Striker: Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur). Became the first Tottenham player since Gary Lineker in 1992 to reach 30 goals in a season with the third in the win at Newcastle.
Striker: Christian Benteke (Aston Villa). The Belgian’s renaissance under Tim Sherwood continued with an equaliser goal in the FA Cup semi-final win over Liverpool.
