Xabi Alonso has been named TIA player of the month for the second month in a row. His performances at the heart of a Liverpool team who swept all before them has impressed the majority of TIA members. Peter Crouch came second and Stevie Gerrard third.

In six unbeaten games, with five wins, six clean sheets and eleven goals Liverpool produced their best November results for years and Xabi was at his brilliant best.

The month started at home to Anderlecht. With the snarling Sissoko at his side, Alonso was at his passing best, keeping the opposition at bay, maintaining possession and setting up Liverpool attacks. In the next game away to Villa Liverpool surpassed their best away performance of last year (at Villa) with a controlled display and clininal finishing Alonso sealed the victory with a great goal.

On the bench for the Portsmouth game, Xabi came on for Cisse in the 69 minute with Liverpool 2-0 up and cruising. His calm passing secured the result and another three points and a clean sheet. An injury kept him out of the draw with Betis and the crucial away win at Manchester city. But he was back to his awesome best away to Sunderland. Alosno’s magic was decisive. He swivelled and hit a half-volleyed pass from his own half. The pass sailed between Gary Breen and Hoyte to the free Garcia, who rolled his shot past Alnwick.

Alonso produced an even better pass for Liverpool’s second goal, freeing Steven Gerrard who rounded Alnwick and then prodded the ball into the empty net. He capped a fine performance with an outrageous attempt to score with a long-range free-kick near the end.

The TIA members who voted for him said:

Xabi for me - the passes against sunderland swung it! Gimme5Djimi5
Alonso fro me he has been excellent the past few weeks capping it off with a sublime display against sunderland! Donks
Had to be Alonso again for me im afraid. In my opinion hes been the best midfielder in the premiership during November. LLTallJay