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Premier League: Team, Player and Manager of the Month (January)
5th February 2016

Here’s our pick of the past month from the Premier League…..

Team of the month
Schmeichel
van Dijk
Huth
Simpson
van Aanholt
Firmino
Drinkwater
Ayew
Defoe
Rooney
Aguero
Kasper Schmeichel
Club:
Leicester
  • Name: Kasper Schmeichel
The Denmark shot stopper; who has played every minute of Leicester City's 2015/16 Premier League campaign, conceded just the one goal during January (Aston Villa) to keep the Foxes top of the table.
Virgil van Dijk
Club:
Southampton
  • Name: Virgil van Dijk
Saints' summer signing shone throughout January. Van Dijk put in some commanding performances after their early loss to Norwich City; helping Southampton soar to three straight league wins against Watford (2-0), West Brom (3-0) and Manchester United (0-1), without conceding.
Robert Huth
Club:
Leicester
  • Name: Robert Huth
Just another formidable figure in Leicester's impressive defensive ranks. The towering German performed brilliantly throughout January alongside captain Wes Morgan, with the Foxes conceding just one goal (Aston Villa). But more importantly he netted the crucial winner against Tottenham at White Hart Lane (0-1).
Danny Simpson
Club:
Leicester
  • Name: Danny Simpson
The former Manchester United full-back has flourished at the King Power Stadium this season, but perhaps none more so than over January. Simpson has fully won over boss Claudio Ranieri's trust since claiming the right-back position from Ritchie de Laet back in October, impressing with his solid defensive duties and effectiveness when joining in on their counter attacks.
Patrick van Aanholt
Club:
Sunderland
  • Name: Patrick van Aanholt
Early January victories against fellow strugglers Aston Villa and Swansea City have given Sunderland fans optimism of beating the drop this season. Van Aanholt played a huge part in those crucial outcomes; scoring against Villa and assisting Defoe's second strike, before netting in back-to-back league games against Tottenham (4-1) and Bournemouth (1-1).
Roberto Firmino
Club:
Liverpool
  • Name: Roberto Firmino
The £29m summer signing unarguably had the best month in a Reds shirt throughout January. Firmino netted twice in the entertaining 3-3 draw against Arsenal at Anfield; before going one better ten days later with another brace, plus an assist, in Liverpool's thrilling 5-4 victory away to Norwich City.
Danny Drinkwater
Club:
Leicester
  • Name: Danny Drinkwater
Leicester City's fourth and final player in our Team of the Month. Another ex-Manchester United youth graduate; Drinkwater has proved his Premier League pedigree with his string of masterful displays as the Foxes' starring defensive midfielder. As well as helping his teammates record three clean sheets in four games, he scored and assisted in their convincing 3-0 victory over Stoke City.
Andre Ayew
Club:
Swansea
  • Name: Andre Ayew
Consecutive Premier League wins over Watford (1-0) and Everton (1-2) have significantly boosted the Swans' survival chances this campaign, with star summer signing Andre Ayew taking many plaudits. The Ghana international scored twice and provided two assists in January, including the eventual winner at Goodison Park after setting up Gylfi Sigurdsson's opener.
Jermain Defoe
Club:
Sunderland
  • Name: Jermain Defoe
The Black Cats' pivotal victories over Aston Villa (3-1) and Swansea City (2-4) were almost single-handedly down to Defoe's predatory finishing. The 33-year-old bagged two against rock-bottom Villa at the Stadium of Light, before going one better and netting a hat-trick at the Liberty Stadium to record five goals in the space of 180 minutes of play.
Wayne Rooney
Club:
Man United
  • Name: Wayne Rooney
New Year, New Rooney. The Manchester United skipper was a rejuvenated hitman following the turn of the year, netting four goals in three games to spearhead the Red Devils' push for a top four finish this season. Rooney's best highlight was his 78th minute winner at Anfield against Liverpool (0-1).
Sergio Aguero
Club:
Man City
  • Name: Sergio Aguero
Back with a bang! In a year where the Citizens will be praying their star striker can stay injury free, the 27-year-old fired home five goals in three games to keep Man City unbeaten in the league since Boxing Day. Aguero bagged back-to-back braces in the 4-0 rout over Crystal Palace before single-handedly earning City a point in their 2-2 stalemate at West Ham United.
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Player of the month
Sergio Aguero
Club:
Man City
  • Name: Sergio Aguero
Back with a bang! In a year where the Citizens will be praying their star striker can stay injury free, the 27-year-old fired home five goals in three games to keep Man City unbeaten in the league since Boxing Day. Aguero bagged back-to-back braces in the 4-0 rout over Crystal Palace before single-handedly earning City a point in their 2-2 stalemate at West Ham United.
Manager of the month
Claudio Ranieri
Club:
Leicester
Two draws and two wins; against Tottenham (0-1) and Stoke City (3-0) respectively, for Claudio Ranieri's Foxes helped keep Leicester City top of the Premier League table during a month when some pundits predicted their bubble would burst.
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