Premier League Team of the Weekend: Alexis Sanchez and Daniel Sturridge back with a bang

After a slow start to the season following his exertions in Chile’s winning Copa America campaign, Alexis Sanchez rediscovered his goal scoring form with a hat-trick in Arsenal’s 5-2 defeat of Leicester City.

Manchester City were usurped at the top of the Premier League table following a second successive defeat, leaving local rivals United to return to the summit without breaking a sweat in their 3-0 destruction of Sunderland.

Here, Sportsmail presents the best XI from the seventh round of Premier League matches based on EA Sports’ Player Performance Index.

Hugo Lloris (left) embraces Harry Kane after Tottenham’s classy 4-1 defeat of Manchester City

    HOW EA SPORTS WORK IT OUT…

The EA Sports PPI is the official player rating index of the Premier League.

It measures a player’s contribution to the success of his team. The intention is to remove any opinion bias and only work with proven statistical measurements which become more accurate as the season progresses. So, what are the six indices?

1. Winning performance

2. Player’s performance per match

3. Appearances

4. Goals scored

5. Assists

6. Clean sheets

GOALKEEPER 

Hugo Lloris, Tottenham Hotspur (PPI score: 20)

The France No 1 is one of three Tottenham players included in this weekend’s team following their classy destruction of Premier League leaders Manchester City at White Hart Lane.

While City stand-in keeper Willy Caballero was creating his own personal blooper reel at the opposite end, Lloris kept his composure to deny Sergio Aguero and Co.

RIGHT BACK 

Toby Alderweireld, Tottenham Hotspur (PPI score: 40)

Spurs are reaping the rewards of convincing the Holland international to snub Southampton in favour of north London this summer.

Alderweireld rose highest to head Mauricio Pochettino’s team into the lead for the first time against City while refusing to ignore his defensive responsibilities during what could be a turning point for Tottenham this season. 

Toby Alderweireld gave Tottenham the lead for the first time as they defeated league leaders Manchester City

CENTRE BACK 

Virgil van Dijk, Southampton (PPI score: 43)

While Saints lost out on Alderweireld, they did find an alternative Dutch defender in the substantial shape of Virgil van Dijk – who had been receiving rave reviews while playing for Celtic over the past few seasons.

After completing his move on deadline day, the defender scored his first goal – with a header from James Ward-Prowse’s corner – on only his third Premier League appearance for the club. 

Former Celtic defender Virgil van Dijk (centre) scored his first goal after signing for Saints on deadline day

CENTRE BACK 

Eric Dier, Tottenham Hotspur (PPI score: 41)

Dier is the third defender from the Team of the Weekend to get on the scoresheet with a drilled effort from 25 yards providing the catalyst for Tottenham’s comeback against City.

It was the young defender’s second goal of the season and came under the watchful gaze of England manager Roy Hodgson – don’t be surprised if the 21-year-old earns a first call to the senior side this season.

Tottenham defender Eric Dier scored his second goal of the season under the gaze of Roy Hodgson

LEFT BACK 

Nacho Monreal, Arsenal (PPI score: 33)

Monreal has cemented his position as Arsenal’s left back this season, playing the full 90 minutes in each of the Gunners’ opening seven league games while Kieran Gibbs watches from the sidelines.

While the Spaniard didn’t score, he did provide two assists, following his marauding runs at the King Power Stadium, to inflict a first defeat on Leicester this season. 

Nacho Monreal provided a pair of assists as Arsenal defeated Leicester 5-2 at the King Power Stadium

CENTRE MIDFIELD 

Philippe Coutinho, Liverpool (PPI score: 47)

Liverpool’s young playmaker has been nicknamed ‘David Blaine’ by team-mates at Anfield – because of his magical ability on the ball.

Coutinho lived up to his reputation by conjuring a beautifully weighted backheel pass to set up Daniel Sturridge for the pick of Liverpool’s goals in their 3-2 defeat of Aston Villa.

Philippe Coutinho showed the magic that has earned him the nickname ‘David Blaine’ at Anfield

CENTRE MIDFIELD 

Juan Mata, Manchester Utd (PPI score: 46)

Having not initially trusted Mata, Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal must be stuffed after all the humble pie that the Spain playmaker has forced him to eat in 2015.

Despite being played out of position to accommodate Wayne Rooney and Anthony Martial, Mata provided an assist for Memphis Depay and scored his third of the season to send United top of the table.

Juan Mata acknowledges the home support after helping take United back to the top of table

RIGHT MIDFIELD 

James Milner, Liverpool (PPI score: 47)

Milner has been asked to fill the void left by Steven Gerrard  at Anfield, especially with Jordan Henderson ruled out with injury, and the industrious midfielder delivered against his former club Aston Villa.

The England international opened the scoring after only two minutes with a drilled long-range effort and also provided a one-two assist for Sturridge to net his comeback goal.

James Milner opened the scoring against former club Aston Villa with a long-range drive after only two minutes

LEFT MIDFIELD 

Dusan Tadic, Southampton (PPI score: 41)

Tadic is a creative influence on the south coast, especially at the start of the season when his energy levels are high.

The Serbian playmaker was slightly fortunate to score when his shot deflected in off Ki Sung-yueng but he deserves credit for bringing imagination into Southampton’s play during their 3-1 defeat of Swansea. 

Southampton’s creator in chief Dusan Tadic celebrates after scoring a fortunate goal against Swansea

STRIKER

Alexis Sanchez, Arsenal (PPI score: 78)

Arsenal fans have waited six games for Sanchez to rediscover his form of last season, but the Chilean forward repaid them with interest following his sublime hat-trick against Leicester.

There are few defences that can cope with Sanchez’s pace and clinical finishing and, now that he is off the mark, Arsenal are unlikely to have to wait so long for their hero to score again.

Arsenal’s Alexis Sanchez made up for lost time by scoring a hat-trick to inflict a first defeat on Leicester

STRIKER

Daniel Sturridge, Liverpool (PPI score: 66) 

Sturridge made his long awaited return from injury with a match-winning performance that eases the pressure on under-fire manager Brendan Rodgers following their 3-2 win over Aston Villa.

The England striker’s first-time volley for his opening goal did not represent a player who has been sidelined since March, while his telepathic understanding with Coutinho for his second could become a hallmark of Liverpool’s play. 

Daniel Sturridge made his long awaited return from injury to score a brace against Aston Villa