GK: Shay Given, Manchester City - 91 (89)
City may have actually lost their last league game - 2-0 away to Everton - but prior to that they'd notched up five straight victories in impressive style. Given has been central to that. City gaffer Mancini has said Given is one of the top five keepers in the world. We reckon, right now, he's the No. 1.

Def: Paul McShane, Hull - 80 (73)
Arguably, based on his outrageously brilliant performance last time out in the league, our goalkeeper this week should be Hull's stopper Boaz Myhill. But never mind that, the same game saw an admirable show from McShane, so welcome him to the team.

Def: Juan, Roma - 91 (91)
Roma went into their last game looking to make it nine straight victories at the Stadio Olimpico, and that's exactly what they did against Genoa, leaping into third place in Serie A in the process. A mean Roma defence boasting Brazilian Juan allowed the visitors only one shot on goal over 90 minutes in the 3-0 victory.

Def: Matthew Upson, West Ham - 88 (81)
West Ham moved out of the Premier League relegation basement at the weekend after earning a solid draw away from home at Aston Villa, despite not being able to field any senior strikers for the game. Hammers captain Upson led the back line admirably, against the odds, complimenting well a top-class performance from keeper Robert Green.

Def: Javier Zanetti, Inter Milan - 91 (89)
Inter showed their grit last weekend when they came back from two goals down in the second half against a determined Bari side. The consistent Zanetti played his full part so enjoys a place in the team this week, although who knows where his place will be after the Derby della Madonnina brings Milan to a rapt halt next weekend.

Mid: Luis Valencia, Manchester United - 88 (86)
Man Utd produced a performance last weekend that speared the financial gloom gathering over the club's boardroom. The resounding 3-0 victory underlined Alex Ferguson's wisdom in acquiring winger Luis Valencia, who provided a series of dangerous crosses, not least the one that was turned in by new-boy Mame Biram Diouf for his first goal since joining the team this month.

Mid: Frank Lampard, Chelsea - 94 (87)
There'll be even greater pressure on Lampard to produce the goods for Chelsea now Michael Essien has been ruled out for weeks through injury while playing at the Africa Cup of Nations. But if anyone can rise to it, Lampard can. His two goals in Chelsea's masterclass humiliation of Sunderland last weekend prove it.

Mid: Cesc Fabregas, Arsenal - 91 (82)
Anyone from Bolton will be unlikely to applaud the inclusion of Arsenal's inspirational skipper in the team of the week again. Back-to-back league fixtures between the two sides saw Fabregas score in each, and his masterful bossing of the first game emphasised his growing reputation as one of the best midfielders on the planet.

Mid: Stephane Sessegnon, Paris Saint-Germain - 90 (83)
Paris Saint-Germain are having a torrid time of it in Ligue 1. Their January hasn't been fun at all, with a cup exist at the hands of lower league opposition and two league defeats. However, forget January for a second and their last game was a 4-0 victory over Grenoble, which saw an impressive Sessagnon set up two of the goals. He didn't play in the January games, either, which does perhaps goes some way to propping up his Live Season score.

Fwd: Lionel Messi, Barcelona - 95 (95)
Barcelona spanked Sevilla last weekend. And the man doing most of the spanking was that man Messi. Hi netted his 100th goal for Barca in scoring two of his side's four goals on the day. And it was sweet compensation after Sevilla had knocked the Catalan giants out of the Spanish cup just a few days earlier.

Fwd: Wayne Rooney, Manchester United - 94 (92)
Rooney is probably playing some of the best football of his life at the moment. And that includes his performance in Manchester United's defeat at the hands of Man City mid-week - he was by far his side's best player that day. But Live Season counts league performances and his goal against Burnley last weekend caps a period of scintillating form for the England man.