Check out the best and the worst performers following the fifth round of action in the Premier League.

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• Premier League: Weekend winners and losers

How it works:

We tot up the marks out of 10 awarded in five national newspapers - Sun, Mirror, Daily Mail, Times and Guardian - to reach a total out of 50.

The top player in each position will be rewarded with a spot in the team of the week, while the worst scorers will be named and shamed in our Flops XI.

Team of the Week:

Rather unsurprisingly, Liverpool's demolition of Derby had the assembled press pack drooling over Rafa Benitez's two young guns up front, Fernando Torres and Ryan Babel. Javier Mascherano ruled the centre of the park, despite Derby fielding five in midfield, which earns him the accolade of Player of the Week. There have been fresh calls for an England call-up for Jermaine Pennant off the back of his performance down the right.

Slightly more surprising, perhaps, is the postioning of two Sunderland centre backs and goalkeeper in the team of the week. Despite manager Roy Keane's men losing 1-0 at Old Trafford, Nyron Nosworthy, debutant Danny Higginbotham and £9 million keeper Craig Gordon were not beaten until the extra muscle of Louis Saha was introduced late on.

Gael Clichy and Cesc Fabregas shone brightest in a virtuoso Arsenal performance, while Craig Bellamy's game against Reading overshadowed the fact Dean Ashton was making his first start since the 2006 FA Cup final. Brett Emerton's part in Blackburn Rovers' clean sheet sees him sneak into the side too.

Craig Gordon (Sunderland) - 38

Brett Emerton (Blackburn Rovers) - 35

Nyron Nosworthy (Sunderland) - 38

Danny Higginbotham (Sunderland) - 38

Gael Clichy (Arsenal) - 35

Jermaine Pennant (Liverpool) - 40

Javier Mascherano (Liverpool) - 42

Francesc Fabregas (Arsenal) - 41

Ryan Babel (Liverpool) - 37

Fernando Torres (Liverpool) - 41

Craig Bellamy (West Ham) - 41

Flops of the Week:

After being carved up in front of the Kop, Derby County are honoured with three of their players turning out for the Flops XI. Mohammed Camara, Robert Malcolm and new signing Andy Griffin all make it in, but to be honest it could have been any of them.

However, the Rams can't even win at losing, and are trumped by Birmingham City's amazing presence of five, thanks to their 2-0 surrender at the Riverside. Mikael Forssell misfired up front, Olivier Kapo and Sebastian Larsson produced nothing in midfield, while Stephen Kelly and Radhi Jaidi helped David Wheater score only his second goal for Boro.

Reading's Kevin Doyle was ineffective in the Reading attack, which is strange seeing as Gerald Cid had such a stinker for Bolton. Antti Niemi's contribution to the 3-3 thriller at Craven Cottage gets him in, although that was his first game of the season.

Flops of the week:

Antti Niemi (Fulham) - 19

Stephen Kelly (Birmingham City) - 19

Radhi Jaidi (Birmingham City) - 17

Gerald Cid (Bolton Wanderers) - 18

Andy Griffin (Derby County) - 20

Sebastian Larsson (Birmingham City) - 17

Robert Malcolm (Derby County) - 16

Olivier Kapo (Birmingham City) - 17

Mohammed Camara (Derby County) - 21

Mikael Forssell (Birmingham City) - 18

Kevin Doyle (Reading) - 23

Player of the Year (min three starts):

Fernando Torres (Liverpool) - 36.8 average

Steve Harper (Newcastle United) - 36.0

Micah Richards (Manchester City) - 35.8

Idiot of the Year (min three starts):

Kieran Richardson (Sunderland) - 23.3

Stiliyan Petrov (Aston Villa) - 25.0

Bobby Zamora (West Ham) - 26.3