What footballing weekend! The English Premier League produced all the goods with 40 goals in 10 games. A Friday night screamer, a comeback of the weekend from Watford, top of the table showing the bottom where they belong, only for Liverpool to absolutely embarrass their ‘forever rivals’.
A number of players really stole the show, and like last week and every week, it’s so difficult to pick a squad. Here goes.
This week’s formation is 4-4-2.
Goalkeeper – Lukasz Fabianski
We know how many goals went in this weekend throughout the Premier League, making it a difficult weekend for goalkeepers. Only Alisson, Edouard Mendy and Lukasz Fabianski kept clean sheets, and Emiliano Martinez saved a penalty but conceded three. The West Ham keeper made four crucial saves against Spurs with one-point blank effort from Harry Kane.
Defender – Trent Alexander Arnold
TAA set up Liverpool’s second goal in the 5-0 won at Old Trafford, and his enthusiastic overlapping and efforts in keeping a clean sheet. While he was targeted by many for leaving space behind him and his defensive capabilities, he proved otherwise against a star-studded attack in Manchester United.
Defender – Kurt Zouma
A rock at the back for West ham, Kurt Zouma is used to training against his fellow teammate Michail Antonio and found no problem defending Harry Kane. He marshalled the backline to a point of preventing a shot at goal for Tottenham in the second half in their derby win.
Defender – Antonio Rudiger
While the Chelsea defence did not have much to do, the structure of Chelsea plays its part in nullifying opposition and Antonio Rudiger has become part and parcel of that structure on the left side of the back three.
Defender – Ben Chilwell
For the second week in a row Ben Chilwell makes my EPL team of the week, and with all the credit to him. Scoring for the second Premier League game running in Chelsea’s 7-0 demolition of Norwich. Chilwell makes life more difficult for boss Thomas Tuchel when his direct opposition Marcos Alonso is in red hot form himself.
Midfielder – Mason Mount
Mason Mount had not found the back of the net in 24 previous Premier League matches, but then delivered everything at once with a Chelsea hat-trick including an assist at Stamford Bridge. A much-needed performance form the young Englishman.
Midfielder – Naby Keita
Another player making their name a staple on my EPL team of the week and surprisingly so, Naby Keita who opened the scoring at Old Trafford was able to control the midfield transitions and tempo at times. Keita was instrumental in Liverpool’s third goal but was unfortunate to be on the end of a bad challenge being stretchered off the field to end arguably his best performance in a Liverpool jersey.
Midfielder – Phil Foden
Phil Foden hit the back of the net twice and set up once as Manchester City impressed in a 4-1 victory at Brighton Hove and Albion. He has seemed to find form through the middle of the park dropping deep and finding the right passes to progress the play.
Midfielder – Emile Smith-Rowe
A run from deep in his own half saw him running at pace with the ball at his feet to net Arsenal’s third against Aston Villa in a performance of the night from the Gunner’s number 10. Also providing the assist to Thomas Partey’s first ever Premier League goal in Arsenal colours. With the goal and assist, coupled by key runs and passes throughout the game, the 21-year-old earned himself the man of the match award and very deservedly so.
Forward – Mohamed Salah
The ever-present player in my team, and nobody can argue otherwise is Mohamed Salah, the ‘Egyptian King’. The first player to record a hattrick at Old Trafford in the English Premier League and providing an assist to top off the performance proves why he is in the upper echelon of football players at this very given time. Hats off to you Mo.
Striker – Joshua King
Coming back to haunt his old club, Joshua King put three past Everton at Goodison Park over the weekend unable to hold himself from celebrating his second and third goal. Failing to give him a start last season meant he wanted to taste the back of the net against his former employers, but three goals? What a performance under his new manager, Claudio Ranieri.
Written by Joshua Gaillard