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Liverpool midfielder Joe Allen. Martin Rickett/PA Archive/Press Association Images
Who's in?

Star men: here’s our Premier League team of the week

Check out who made it into our top XI after Week 2 of the new season.

GK:  Ali Al-Habsi (Wigan Athletic)

The Latics ‘keeper pulled off a number of excellent saves to keep the Saints at bay in the visitor’s 2-0 win at St Mary’s on Saturday. The Oman international had to be at his best to keep out a Rickie Lambert header and his block on Danny Fox’s volley was superb.

CB: Angel Rangel (Swansea)

Full-back Angel Rangel was in top form for the Swans and put them on track for a second consecutive Premier League win by opening the scoring on 20 minutes. Nice build-up play allowed Rangel some space down the right and his shot was on target but really should have been kept out by Jussi Jaaskelainen.

CB: Gary Caldwell (Wigan)

Having occasionally grabbed the headlines for defensive mistakes in the past, Scottish international Gary Caldwell was a rock in defence for Wigan over the weekend. Alongisde Antonio Alcaraz and Ivan Ramis in a three-man backline, the club captain performed admirably.

CB: Jonas Olsson (West Brom)

A solid display from Jonas Olsson as the Baggies earned a last-gasp point against Spurs at White Hart Lane. The 29-year-old Swede kept Jermain Defoe and then Emmanuel Adebayor relatively quiet before James Morrison snatched an equaliser for the away side.

RM: Michu (Swansea)

After his incredible Premier League debut, Michu was back terrorising defences on Saturday. As well as putting in a fine shift in the middle of the park, the former Rayo Vallecano player capitalised on James Collins’ lazy back-pass to poke beyond Jaaskelainen for his third goal of the season.

MF: Joe Allen (Liverpool)

Looking beyond the couple of defensive blunders, Liverpool played some tidy football against the current title holders and new signing Joe Allen was at the heart of it. Sky Sports gave the Welsh midfielder man of the match in the 2-2 draw and deservedly so.

MF: Shinji Kagawa (Manchester United)

The Japanese international looks another great addition to English football. He is constantly on the move and will gladly take possession from a team-mate even when he is being marked by a couple of opponents. Scored one of the easiest goals he ever will to open his Manchester United account.

LM: Steven Pienaar (Everton)

While Maroaune Fellaini is winning all the plaudits, returning schemer Steven Pienaar has also been brilliant for the Toffees in the first two games of the season. His goal, a 20-yard curler, to beat Shay Given was also one of the stand-out strikes of the weekend.

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FW: Eden Hazard (Chelsea)

It doesn’t seem to be taking the league’s newest Belgian addition much time to adjust to life in England. People balked at the money Chelsea shelled out for him in the summer but Hazard is clearly the real deal and scored his first league goal for the club from the spot in the 2-0 win over Newcastle.

FW: Fernando Torres (Chelsea)

When Fernando Torres is trying rabonas and scoring toe-pokes from the edge of the box, you know his confidence is back. With Didier Drogba out of the way, El Nino now finally seems capable of shouldering the burden of being the Pensioners’ No.1 striker.

FW: Robin van Persie (Manchester United)

One shot, one goal. That’s how Robin van Persie’s Manchester United stats read as he reeled away from a splendid first-time finish in the 3-2 win over Fulham on Saturday afternoon.

Manager: Michael Laudrup (Swansea)

The Premier League? Pffff. Legendary Danish midfielder Laudrup couldn’t have asked for a better start to life in England after his attacking side recorded two wins, eight goals and zero conceded.

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