Stars und Sternchen! » taking a tumble in the penalty area after

Who were the best Premier League players from the weekend games? We take a look at the man-of-the-match performances in our hotlist. Chelsea moved to the top of the Premier League thanks to a 1-0 win at Middlesbrough on Sunday, while Manchester City also made ground in the title race after their 2-1 victory away to Crystal Palace on Saturday.Tottenham also picked up a valuable three points at home to West Ham, but Liverpool had to settle for a 0-0 draw at Southampton and Manchester United were held by Arsenal. But which players starred in particular? Read on to remind yourself of the standout displays - and let us know who you think deserves the plaudits by leaving a comment or tweeting us @SkyFootball...Antonio Valencia (MANCHESTER UNITED 1-1 Arsenal) Antonio Valencia was named man of the match during Manchester Uniteds 1-1 draw with Arsenal The United full-back was a constant thorn in Arsenals side at Old Trafford. He was solid in defence and was always a threat going forward, giving Nacho Monreal in particular a torrid time.He could have had a penalty on 35 minutes, taking a tumble in the penalty area after a coming together with Monreal but referee Andre Marriner waved away the appeals. Highlights - Man Utd 1-1 Arsenal The 31-year-olds performance drew praise from Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville, who awarded the Ecuador international man of the match and described him as Uniteds best player.Yaya Toure (Crystal Palace 1-2 MANCHESTER CITY) WATCH: Yaya Toure returns with double Toure was the surprise name in Pep Guardiolas starting line-up and he repaid his managers faith with two goals as City beat Palace 2-1 at Selhurst Park.The Ivory Coast international, making his first Premier League start since April, had been out in the cold since August but he showed no signs of rustiness, rolling back the years to put in a commanding performance in the middle of the park. Highlights - Crystal Palace 1-2 Man City The lack of game time did not affect his finishing either as he scored his 76th and 77th goals for City to mark a perfect return to action and help them secure a vital victory in the race for the Premier League title.Virgil van Dijk (SOUTHAMPTON 0-0 Liverpool) Virgil van Dijk beats Roberto Firmino (L) and Joel Matip in the air In a game that Liverpool largely dominated, it was Southamptons centre-backs who helped keep them at bay. Jose Fonte and Virgil van Dijk both made crucial last-ditch tackles, and the latter was particularly impressive throughout.Speaking afterwards, former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher said Van Dijk has everything. The two centre-backs can go up against anyone in the league. Fonte is a top level player and Van Dijk has impressed everyone since he came here, even though there were some doubts coming from Celtic, he added.Southampton manager Claude Puel was also impressed, even though he added: It is not a surprise, it is not amazing. Since the beginning of the season, Virgil has been excellent. Highlights - Southampton 0-0 Liverpool Aside from a couple of chances, Van Dijk and Fonte kept Liverpools attacking trio of Roberto Firmino, Philippe Coutinho and Sadio Mane quiet.And Van Dijk made a brilliant challenge to block a shot from Mane late in the first half.Victor Anichebe (SUNDERLAND 3-0 Hull City) Sunderland striker Victor Anichebe celebrates scoring his second goal against Hull City Jermain Defoe showed his class to set Sunderland on their way to victory with a coolly-taken 150th Premier League goal at home to Hull but it was Victor Anichebe whose power in front of goal put the seal on the result.Both of his second-half strikes were powerful efforts which beat goalkeeper David Marshall at his near post, and he showed plenty of strength on the ball in between them. Highlights - Sunderland 3-0 Hull It was enough for his manager David Moyes to describe him as a baby Drogba after the game and while such comparisons may be generous at this stage, Sunderland might just have found the goal source to complement the consistency of Defoe that could prove vital in their fight for survival.Ross Barkley (EVERTON 1-1 Swansea) Ross Barkley (L) gets past Federico Fernandez during Evertons 1-1 draw with Swansea It was a frustrating afternoon for Everton against the Swans at Goodison but Barkley looked bright at times when his team-mates were often lacklustre.It was far from the perfect performance, as some Toffees fans may testify, but the midfielder constantly led Evertons attacks and came close to scoring on a couple of occasions. Highlights - Everton 1-1 Swansea Honourable mention to Jordi Amat at the back for Swansea, but it was his header which proved costly late on as it sailed straight to Coleman for the equaliser.Nordin Amrabat (WATFORD 2-1 Leicester City) Nordin Amrabat (C) is tackled by Shinji Okazaki (L) and Daniel Drinkwater (R) The Watford winger was a constant threat and gave Christian Fuchs in particular a torrid time, with the Austrian perhaps fortunate not to collect a second yellow card.Amrabat did blot his copybook when he failed to convert a pass from Troy Deeney before half-time but otherwise put in a good shift and played a key role in a decent win. Highlights - Watford 2-1 Leicester Steve Cook (Stoke 0-1 BOURNEMOUTH) Steve Cook (R) celebrates with Simon Francis (C) after the final whistle at the Bet365 Stadium Cook has played every minute for Bournemouth so far this season, but his showing at the Bet365 Stadium was up there with his best in a Cherries shirt.He was first to everything as Bournemouth earned their first away win of the season and their fourth Premier League clean sheet, making 11 clearances as Eddie Howes side put in the perfect defensive performance. Highlights - Stoke 0-1 Bournemouth He headed off the line in the first half from Ryan Shawcross header, but his contribution was more subtle than a key moment. He cleared everything that came into the box from Xherdan Shaqiri and Marko Arnautovic, and dealt with the physical threat of Wilfried Bony superbly.Harry Winks (TOTTENHAM 3-2 West Ham) WATCH: Harry Winks’ emotional celebration It was a dream maiden Premier League start for 20-year-old Winks, who not only scored the first equaliser for Tottenham but looked like an assured member of the team and arguably their best player.He continually set off attacks for his side, beating seasoned defenders in the West Ham back line and getting in a number of good crosses, before lurking in the box to net his first senior goal for Spurs. Highlights - Tottenham 3-2 West Ham Winks came in for praise from boss Mauricio Pochettino and if he manages to bring the same performance in multiple games, he could become a driving force behind Spurs unbeaten young guns.Victor Moses (Middlesbrough 0-1 CHELSEA) Highlights - Middlesbrough 0 - 1 Chelsea Sky Sports pundit Niall Quinn said Moses has been a revelation after his performance in Chelseas 1-0 win at Middlesbrough on Sunday.Moses, and Marcos Alonso on the other side, caused Middlesbrough problems down the flanks from start to finish as Chelsea kept a sixth successive clean sheet and moved to the top of the Premier League.After setting up Pedro for a chance that was brilliantly saved by Victor Valdes, Moses went close to scoring himself in the second half after being played through by Diego Costa.Hes had another brilliant game, said Quinn. Hes changed the scope and the ability of this team by being so good out on that right side. Also See: Toure the hero on City return Anichebe is a young Drogba Spurs fan Winks in dreamland Costa sends Chelsea top Air Max 97 From China . -- Scottie Wilbekin sat on the bench for the final minute, holding a bag of ice against his left knee. Air Max 97 Sale Cheap . Others describe it as taking the parrot for a walk. http://www.airmax97cheap.com/. -- The Oakland Raiders added a veteran presence to their young receiving group by signing free agent James Jones to a three-year contract Monday. Air Max 97 Cheap Online . A-Rod is also disqualified from any post-season play. So at the tender age of 38, he will miss all of next season. As a result of missing the coming season, hes also out $25 million (which coincidentally is my hourly rate). Cheap Air Max 97 Online . -- New York Yankees centre fielder Jacoby Ellsbury was sent for an MRI Thursday of his ailing right calf, which was negative.ST. LOUIS -- Matt Adams might want to have his fathers visit last longer. Adams homered for the third straight game -- all with his father in attendance -- and Matt Holliday also went deep, helping the St. Louis Cardinals to a 5-2 victory and series sweep Sunday over the Washington Nationals. Adams gave St. Louis a 2-0 lead in the second inning with a two-run shot on an 0-2 pitch, his sixth homer of the season. Adams father, Jamie, has been visiting from Pennsylvania on Fathers Day weekend. "Unfortunately, hes going to go home," Adams said. There were going to meet before Adams father left for the airport. "He might give me a big hug and start crying," Adams said. "Hes an emotional guy." Adams has homered in all three games since coming off the disabled list with a torn calf muscle. Holliday put St. Louis up 3-0 in the third with his fifth home run. St. Louis manager Mike Matheny never doubted his sluggers would start to hit the long ball after a slow start. The Cardinals are last in the National League in homers. "Weve been saying for months now these guys have done that," Matheny said. "Its not a surprise. Its not like these guys have never hit any home runs in their lives. I think that everybody just thought that we were either brainwashing them not to hit home runs or else they all lost it collectively and both of them are ridiculous." Last year, Adams had 17 homers in 108 games and Holliday had 22 in 141 games. "We knew that our power didnt go anywhere," Adams said. "We knew the type of hitters we are. We go out there on daily basis and grind through our at-bats." Jaime Garcia (3-0) pitched seven innings, allowing five hits and a run for St. Louis. He struck out six and walked two. Trevor Rosenthal got the final out for his 20th save. Washingtons Doug Fister (5-2) had his five-start winning streak snapped. He pitched six innings, allowing seven hits and four runs. "The two home runs were the biggest things for me," Fister said. "I need to find a better effort." St. Louis has won 12 of the last 14 regular-season meetings with Washington. The Nationals are 2-18 in the newest version of Busch Stadium. "We have a bitter taste in our mouths going home," Nationals outfielder Scott Hairston said. &"I think we definitely didnt play up to our capabilities.dddddddddddd" The Nationals loaded the bases in three innings, stranded 10 runners and scored on two bases loaded walks. The timely hit didnt come for Washington. "Its the ebbs and flows of the game," Washington manager Matt Williams said. "Its that time of the year where heavy legs start to set in a little bit." Garcia pitched out of a one-out, bases-loaded jam in the second. Third baseman Matt Carpenter caught Sandy Leons grounder on a short hop and threw out Hairston at home. Garcia then struck out Fister. Jayson Werth drew a bases loaded walk in the fifth to cut the lead to 3-1. "I didnt have my best stuff today but at the same time you go out there and you compete," Garcia said. "You battle and you keep your team in the game." St. Louis got the run back in the fifth, when Kolton Wong snapped an 0-for-16 skid with a leadoff triple and scored on a sacrifice fly by Holliday, who has 999 RBIs in his career. Craig doubled home Holliday in the seventh for a 5-1 lead. Rosenthal walked pinch-hitter Adam LaRoche in the ninth with the bases loaded to make it 5-2. NOTES: Reliever Carlos Martinez will make his second career start Monday when the Cardinals host the New York Mets. Martinez is taking the start in place of Adam Wainwright (elbow). ... Before Sundays game, the Cardinals purchased the contract of left-handed pitcher Nick Greenwood from Triple-A Memphis and optioned outfielder Randal Grichuk back to the affiliate. ... After starting 1,114 MLB games at third base, and 12 in left field, Ryan Zimmerman started Sunday at first base for the Nationals. ... Washingtons Danny Espinosa was hit by a pitch in the second inning, the eighth time this season. ... Washington CF Denard Span was scratched from the lineup due to back stiffness and replaced by Nate McLouth. ... St. Louis native boxer Devon Alexander threw out the first pitch. Alexander (25-2 with 14 knockouts) is a former WBC and IBF light welterweight champion and a former IBF welterweight champion. He has a welterweight fight against Robert Guerrero (31-2-1) on June 21. ... Randy Choates one-pitch win in Saturdays game made him the sixth pitcher in Cardinals history to throw one pitch and record a victory. ' ' '