A trio of England internationals helped Everton hold high-flying Manchester City to a 0-0 draw at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday evening.
John Stones, Phil Jagielka and Leighton Baines – who have 75 England caps between them – formed three-quarters of an imposing Toffees back four that put in a supreme display to deny a relentless City side.
And England No.1 Joe Hart had a quieter evening at the other end, but had to be alert to deny Everton on multiple occasions in the first half.
At St Mary’s, another England goalkeeper Fraser Forster also kept a clean sheet on his first game after ten months out with a patella tendon injury.
Forster, along with England left-back Ryan Bertrand, kept Watford at bay as Shane Long’s first-half header and Dusan Tadic’s eight-yard strike handed Southampton a 2-0 triumph.
At Anfield, there were seven England players on display as Liverpool played out an enthralling 3-3 draw with Arsenal.
Joe Allen scored a 90th-minute equaliser for a Liverpool side containing Nathaniel Clyne, Adam Lallana, James Milner and Jordan Henderson as the Gunners – featuring Theo Walcott, Kieran Gibbs and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain – lost two points right at the death.
Elsewhere, Jamie Vardy returned from groin surgery and although he didn’t score, his Leicester outfit picked up a 1-0 win away to Tottenham Hotspur.
England Under-21 international Duncan Watmore was a late substitute for Sunderland as Jermain Defoe notched a hat-trick in their 4-2 win away at Swansea.
And in the Championship, Moses Odubajo, who has six England U20 caps, was a rock as Hull City beat Cardiff City 2-0 thanks to goals from Abel Hernandez and Sam Clucas.
